Sorry to hear of Bert Smith’s passing today. He was a lifetime enthusiast for the pipe and a superb teacher with James and Calum Beaumont only two of the many pipers he set on the path to competition success. Bert starred in a number of bands in his career, BP Grangemouth, Wallacestone, Muirhead & Sons. Has there been a nicer man in piping? Bert had been ill for some time and spent the last three weeks in Strathcarron Hospice. Bert’s funeral is at 1.30 pm on Friday, October 26th at Dundas Funeral Parlour, Grangemouth, then to Grandstable Old Cemetery at 2.15pm and thereafter to Lea Park Hotel, Grangemouth. More in the PT. Sincere condolences to Ella and family.

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Apologies to London. On CoP Radio I gave the date of the championship as Nov 2 when it should have been Nov 10. Number of entries looks very healthy – but so many events a late finish guaranteed.
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Juvenile bands out there might be interested in this festival in Hungary:

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Craig ‘Haggis’ MacFarlane (pictured below) has sent this re his China fundraiser: ‘Hi..well..we succeeded in the China Kiltwalk… there was only seven of us in the group..but only 3 for Kiltwalk..we raised a good few quid though.. we did about 100 miles apparently. I had intended piping a lot as we walked, but that wasn’t really possible due to the extremely precarious wall! Very high, with no side walls…often with loads of roots and crumbling areas. I still piped at every available opportunity though..it was brilliant to play in such wild scenic places..perfect for piping. We were only in Beijing for 2 nights, the rest of the time we were hundreds of miles away. Everyone me met loved the pipes..and the kilts..we lost count of the times people happily exclaimed ‘SOOGOLAND!!’ and pointed to the kilts etc..the people were really friendly..not at all like we are sometimes led to believe. Our guide thought I was insane to want to take pipes, as I say..it wasn’t flat walking. A lot of it was very tricky..he loved it though. A brilliant experience that will always make me laugh. I was also kindly given some reeds by Murray Henderson, moisture system and bag by Bannatyne, and a cool custom cover and t-shirt from Alasdair at custom pipe bag covers…very kind indeed. Kiltwalk is growing steadily  http://www.thekiltwalk.co.uk/main/  a lot of money has been raised…why not join in .’

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Worlds CDs are now on sale from the CoP Shop as you probably know. The CDs contain the bands in the order they played rather than in the order in the prizelist. Some applause has been cut out to fit everything in. Will be reviewed in due course in PB mag. I’ve had a quick listen and it is amazing how different bands sound in the recorded medium rather than the live. For example, I didn’t hear the early E SLoT had in the MSR on the day, but there it is on the recording loud and clear. Doesn’t affect the musicality of their performance however. I still think they won the MSR.

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This from Iain Watson, President of the SPA: ‘The Scottish Pipers Association will be holding another Christmas Social Piping Night (Casual Dress) in The College of Piping on Friday 7th December 2012.Starting at 7:30pm. There will be a refreshment bar. Entry will be by donation at the door. The intended line up is drawn from the ranks of our established top professional players and also includes three of the best up and coming players around who are already starting to make their mark, both in the big competitions and around the games circuit. William Geddes – Dunvegan Gold Medallist, Ex Member of Strathclyde Police Pipe Band; Dougie Murray – Former winner at Oban and Inverness, Gold Medal prize-winner and member of Fife Police Pipe Band; Margaret Dunn – First female to become a former winner, Silver Medallist & Pipe Major of the Cullen Pipe Band.  Piping Instructor and The Piping Centre; Neil Walker – Former winner at Oban, former member of Strathclyde Police Pipe Band and former Pipe Sergeant of Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band; Craig Muirhead – 3^rd Prize winner in the A Grade competition at Oban and a member of the Scottish Power Pipe Band; Gavin Ferguson, consistent B Grade winner at Oban & Inverness and member of Scottish Power; Graham Drummond – 2^nd in B Grade March at Oban member of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band.’

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