Bob Hardie, Muirheads, Strathclyde Pol. PB

South African piper Nicholas Taitz has just emailed from Guernsey to tell me that it was on this day (March 10, 1962) that my old pipe major Bob Hardie was appointed P/M of Muirhead & Sons. Three years later, as everyone should know, the band took the World Championship title again (Forfar?) and went on to complete five in a row at Perth in

1969 (see pic). The run ended in 1970 when they came second to

Shotts at Aberdeen after the goalposts had been shifted from MSR to Medley. I joined the band that year and it was downhill all the way thereafter I'm afraid!! I learned a lot though, and Hardie, as I've written in the PT, was a very fine piper and musician. He would be appalled at some of the playing you hear from bands and soloists today and I think he would have appreciated my comments on the lack of expression in the 2/4 march on CoP Radio. He was also a stickler for the proper gracing of tunes, taking plenty of time over scores, inserting and discarding all sorts of superfluous and ill-placed technique. The Scots Guards book was the worst he used to say, and always favoured the Seaforth way of setting things out.
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Quantative easing is a much used phrase these days down Threadneedle Street way. Should it also be applied to Strathclyde Police PB? It may be too early to say that the pressure is beginning to pay off but reports from Stewart Street HQ seem to be offering a slight glimmer of hope. Can't say too much at the moment but will keep you posted. There's another communication on its way from MSP Stuart MacMillan so keep checking for that.

I wonder if the RSPBA has been in touch with the Chief Constable. I think they should be concerned at the prospect of losing one of their top bands. A timely letter from the top men to Mr House the Chief Constable pointing out how valuable the band is to the pipe band world would not go amiss. It would do the RSPBA good too to be seen to be standing up for its membership.

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The recession doesn't seem to have affected Otago Street yet and thanks to all those in the big wide piping world who keep supporting us with their orders for books, instruments and all your odds and sods.
Congratulations to student John Frater on his fourth prize in the Archie Kenneth and hard luck to those of our students who didn't make the list. Dugald MacNeill tells me it was an enjoyable day with lots of good piping even from those outside the list.

Brian Donaldson (right) joined the ranks of CoP teachers this week and has been greatly appreciated by those in his charge. Brian will be well

know to all those follow the solo piping and band scenes. Formerly of Dysart and Dundonald PB, the Scots Guards, Inveran Bagpipes, and Jimmy Tweedie, Brian is an expert pipemaker, a Gold Medallist and winner of most of the other top prizes on offer.

A 'welcome on board' too to Bill Geddes the runner up in the Inverness Gold Medal last year. Bill stood in to do some evening class teaching for us this week. I always feel it is a good idea to give the younger generation as much experience of teaching as possible. It is the only way they get good at it and we need as many good teachers as we can get, don't we?