Finlay Johnston gave a sterling performance yesterday. I meant what I said to the audience that if Finlay keeps this level of playing up he will definitely be challenging for the prizes in the Gold Medal at Oban and Inverness. Finlay’s tune was Farewell to the Laird of Islay. It goes without saying that there was no hint of a miss in the fingering and the Henderson pipe was in full resonant form. Wonder whose reeds he plays?
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Great to see Hugh MacCallum and his charming wife in the audience and both looking so well. As this month’s Editorial says, Hugh is one of the great players of his generation and I know he will have been impressed with young Finlay.
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Dysart pipe corps came next. I had to leave early but the chanters were as crisp as the playing. P/M Greig Canning is making headway. The man who started so many pipers in Fife, Jim Penman, was at Finlay’s recital to and stayed on for Dysart. Not many people know this but Jim was the man who started Jim and Douglas Murray on the road to glory. Jim has just taken over as P/M of Western Australia Police and Douglas is winning prizes everywhere he plays these days.
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Susan Miller (nee MacLeod) called in earlier in the day and as she left she overheard someone learning one of her dad Donald’s tunes. Intrigued we went through to the main hall and there was an 11 year old on the summer school working on the strathspey Captain Colin Campbell. Susan was delighted. Good tunes stand the test of time, generation after generation. See video. Susan MacLeod
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Today’s Piob of the Day sponsored by the Piobaireachd Society is from David Wilton (1pm) a very fine piper and member of the Scottish Power band. After David we will have some tunes from Sid Moore, Strathclyde Police, and then the Glasgow Skye PB under Kenny MacLeod. Admission is £2.
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Congratulations to Innes Smith on his big success on Skye. There have been many favourable comments about his playing at the College Lecture earlier this year and nice to see him getting his dues. You can hear Innes on CoP Radio until Aug 15.
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Alex McConnell of the Queensland Pipers has sent this: This is an early notice that at our next meeting on 27 August, we will be having a Pair of Pipers Competition. Junior Contest test piece:  3-5 minutes of music including at least 4 parts of 2/4 or 6/8 March time (rest own choice); Senior contest test piece: 5-7 minutes of music (own choice). To be eligible for the Junior Contest, both players must be graded C (formerly Sub-Intermediate) or below.  If either or both players are graded B (formerly Intermediate) or above they will play in the senior division. The Junior Contest is planned to start at 7.30pm. so please arrive in time to be ready to play.  Enter by phone (07 3397 4512), email (), before 7.15pm on the night (junior) or 7.45pm (senior),  No entry fee. Prizes: Senior 1st $100, 2nd $50, 3rd $30; Junior 1st $80, 2nd $40, 3rd $30