At Pitt Street

Petition poster handover went well with no arrests and a good turnout of press. Hopefully we will get a decent show in the media tomorrow and tonight but whatever the outcome it was worth doing. I asked the guy at the Pitt Street HQ reception to hand over the poster to Mr House the Chief Constable. Let's hope he takes the sentiment it displays on board. Stuart McMillan the MSP was there with me and Willie Park piped. Bemused looks from passersby and various cops as they went about their duties. I made the point to the Press Association girl that.....well you've read it all before. Let's see what happens now. I say again - the Worlds next year without the police band is a real possibility.
I hope you all like the poster and thanks to Hugh Clarkson for making it up for us free of charge.
Someone asked me what the PT gets out of doing this sort of thing. Not a lot really save the satisfaction of knowing that you are doing something that is right. If the Piping Times cannot campaign to help save this band then it is not worth the paper it is printed on. Silence from many quarters of the piping and pipe band world is deafening mind you. Some heads are so far below the parapet they must be eating worms. But I am quite happy to put the magazine in the firing line for the good of piping, all sanctimony aside.
The PT and its readers got very little credit for bringing the television cameras to the Worlds and now we are having them streamed live over the internet. It is nice to be right about something once in a while. We can of course gauge the strength of a magazine by the pressure it can exert. We won the BBC fight and we will continue to do whatever we can for the police band. I am sure our readers would expect nothing less. Thanks again to all those who took the trouble to sign the petition.

Petition Poster

We will be presenting the petition poster re the Strathclyde Police band at the police's Pitt Street Headquarters at 2pm. Hopefully there will be some Press there. Anyone who wants to come along will be welcome. Will only take a few minutes I suppose. Stewart McMillan the MSP will be there with me. Probably be just a case of posing for a photograph or two and then handing in the poster. When I last looked we have more than 3,100 names (quite a few 'anonymous' right enough) but significant I think nevertheless.

My colleague in the Whistlebinkies, Eddie McGuire is also Scotland and Northern Ireland branch Chairman of the Musician's Union. Following the stories last week he has written to the Scotsman:

Dear Sir,
The quality of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band first deeply impressed me 33 years ago when I heard them at the Lorient Festival in Brittany. I have always kept those standards in mind when writing music that combines pipe bands with our leading orchestras. Moreover, since then they have performed at hundreds of community events keeping the ideal of local policing alive. They need time and support to keep their championship standards high. That's why I fully agree with the call from the Principal of the College of Piping, Robert Wallace, in Tuesday's Scotsman, to prevent this pipe band being cut. If a band with well over a century of tradition and 22 World Pipe Band Championship titles to its credit could go, then other forces may be tempted to follow suit, especially in the light of proposed 'national' streamlining. There is a petition in support on the College of Piping website,
Eddie McGuire
Chair, Scotland & Northern Ireland Region Musicians' Union

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I've had a distressing email from Bob Lawson in Edinburgh telling me that local stalwart Neil Gillies had died. Neil would have been known to those on the games circuit in the 70s and 80 and latterly he was a great supporter of the Highland Pipers Society in Edinburgh and also the Scots Guards Club. The last time I spoke to him was at Newtonmore a couple of years ago when he congratulated the College for bringing out the CD of Robert Reid's recordings. Condolences to Neil's family a this sad time.

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Another great victory for Stuart Liddell's Inveraray band yesterday at Banbridge. Four straight firsts from every judge. Doesn't happen too often. There's a good interview with Stuart in the next edition of Pipe Band magazine. By the way, how good is the RSPBA results service? They must have been on air last night within seconds of the announcements on the park.

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PT will be sent out tomorrow. News of a new piping school in the north of Scotland, second instalment of Angus MacKay (I'm, re-running Campbell of Kilberry's piece he did for the magazine back in 1954) plus all the other goodies. Jeannie has a piece on the CoP band. It will be competing at Gourock at the Europeans and Barry Donaldson, the pipe major, says we have so many pipers we might be the biggest band on parade at the Worlds. Incidentally the RSPBA has, as expected, graded the band 4b. In all this we must not lose sight of the band's raison d'etre. That is to offer pipers who have never played with a band before the opportunity to compete. Others coming over for the Worlds and who have attended CoP outreach schools are also keen to get involved and that is fantastic. But the bottom line is that we want all participants to enjoy joint music making and those who need the experience to get it.

Scotsman Responds

The Scotsman has redressed the balance re the band. They ran a
news story yesterday and a comment piece from myself. The news story headlined 'Police officers pipe up for rebellion' read:
A rebellion has broken out among members of a police pipe band after senior officers decided it could no longer perform at community galas and other events.At least ten members of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band have lodged an official complaint against senior management over moves they say will bring about the end of the 126-year-old institution.The band's 15 police members are angry at a decision taken by Chief Constable Steve House to require the permission of a divisional commander, Chief Superintendent Anne McGuire, to take part in charity fundraisers, village fêtes and other events.That has resulted in the band missing a number of events in the past few weeks, including an annual taxi outing for disabled children and the Govan Fair. The band, which numbers about 40 in total and is made up of its 15 police members and civilian staff and guests, is world-renowned in piping circles. Last year it performed at about 20 events, but is struggling to cope with changes to the police members' shifts that make it much harder to practise.The Scotsman understands ten members have put their names to an official complaint. So far, efforts to resolve the grievances – which are being handled internally – have failed. Now its supporters are warning that the band will fold within a matter of months or even weeks, with morale among its members said to have hit the floor.Last week, Chief Superintendent John Pollock told The Scotsman he believed it was time to call time on the band to save money. Sources within Strathclyde Police have suggested the band costs as much as £700,000 in officer time and expenses.The band's supporters call that claim "ridiculous", saying the positive publicity and boost to community relations provided by the pipers far outweigh the money spent. College of Piping principal Robert Wallace says the band costs about £30,000 a year – and insists it is worth every penny."Strathclyde Police says it believes in community involvement. What better way to engage with the community than with the pipe band?"For 40 years they have taken disadvantaged kids on the annual taxi ride to Troon. They've taken part in galas across the force and are a highlight at the Govan Fair. Now the force has decided the band should not take part in any of these events."Assistant Chief Constable John Neilson confirmed that "several officers within the pipe band have utilised the force grievance procedure".He said: "As this is an ongoing process, I am unable to outline at what stage each grievance is at. However, work is ongoing in an effort to conciliate individual grievances."
My comment piece read: Only in Scotland could musicians playing our national music to a world class level be so despised. It beggars belief that the philistines who occupy police headquarters at Pitt Street in Glasgow could plot the demise of the iconic ensemble that is Strathclyde Police Pipe Band – and gloat about it in the name of force efficiency, as did Chief Superintendent John Pollock last Friday. His outburst stuck in the craw of every right-thinking Scot. No one should be under any illusion as to what the future of the band is. Morale is so low that I doubt they will exist next year and a 123-year tradition, a proud history of 22 World Pipe Band Championship titles and the affection of an entire community will be gone. Can you imagine the Royal Marines telling their musicians they weren't needed any more? To say it costs hundreds of thousands of pounds to keep the band going is nonsense. They receive £29,500 per year from the force.You could barely buy a fraction of the good PR the pipe band gives Strathclyde Police for that price, playing as they do at dozens of public events throughout the year.The economic argument is further rent asunder when you consider that the World Pipe Band Championships generates around £4 million for the Strathclyde and Scottish economy every year. Strathclyde Police Pipe Band are an integral and essential part of that endeavour. Can you envision the Scottish Premier League without any of the top teams? That is what we are talking about here.This August the Championships are to be streamed live around the world over the internet, a decision announced yesterday by the BBC. It is almost unthinkable that in 2010 they will do so without this band filling our screens at some point in the day. Oh yes, say the police authorities, we are very supportive of them and proud of their traditions.What they don't get is that their traditions are at the very top end of the musical scale.Cut their practice time, cut their opportunities to play in public and they will very quickly become a second or third-rate outfit that no one wants to hear. Will you be happy about that Mr House, when you and 40,000 others attend the closing ceremony at Glasgow Green in August?
Some of the comments which accompanied the story on the Scotsman website are disappointing basically calling for the band to 'get back on the beat' and 'join the real world'. This, I believe is the heart of the matter. Scotland just does not understand or value its culture enough. I cannot imagine the authorities in Brittany, for example, forcibly disbanding one of their top ensembles. Inroads have been made in getting the piping and pipe band message across but until our music is properly taught as part of the Scottish schools music curriculum we will always have an uphill struggle.

Scotsman story on Strathclyde Police PB

Outrageous story in the Scotsman today re the Strathclyde Police PB. It reads:
'SCOTLAND'S oldest and most celebrated police pipe band should be scrapped to boost the fight against crime, a senior officer has told The Scotsman.
Chief Superintendent John Pollock said that growing pressure on police budgets means that the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band is now a luxury that the force can no longer afford.He said that ceasing to bankroll the band is one of several "hard decisions" that Strathclyde's chief constable, Steve House, should make to ensure the force is able carry out its primary role of protecting the public.It is understood that several hundreds of thousands of pounds are being spent every year on the pipe band, both in terms of the time devoted by serving officers to practising and performing and the expense of travelling to major competitions throughout Scotland and overseas. But the amount of resources devoted to running the band has come under the spotlight in recent months, amid tight spending settlements and a Scottish Government efficiency drive on the public sector that is requiring police forces to find annual savings of 2 per cent................Mr Pollock, who is president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, is urging Mr House to go even further and pull all funding from the band due to growing pressure on core police services from tighter public spending and growing demands on forces.He said: "Difficult decisions will have to be taken by chief constables."If we accept we are in a hard place at the moment, then I think some hard decisions will have to be taken. One example, in my own force, is the pipe band. What is the financial legitimacy of continuing to fund the pipe band?"There is undoubtedly a fine tradition, so it's not going to be an easy decision."Mr Pollock added: "I'm not saying I don't like the pipe band. But when harsh realities come, what would the public expect of us?"For the sum of money spent on the band we would have a number of additional officers on the street and a number of different supervisors making sure officers are doing what they are asked to do."I recently asked a senior figure in the private sector, what would you do? He said, from the business side, scrap it; from the emotional side, keep it."We don't have that luxury."Mr Pollock stressed that he would be fully supportive of the band if members chose to practise and perform in their own time, or if the government chose to fund it through money for culture and the arts."But I don't think it should fall to the police and to the public," he added.
Mr Pollock is clearly a patsy set up by the Chief Constable to fly an anti-band kite for him. The facts are that the band gets a budget of £29,500 a year at the moment. As a rule they do not go abroad to compete unless in a one-off situation like Alden Biesen a few years ago. There are 15 serving officers in the band. 80% of their time is on policing and 20% on practising and playing at public events. Compare this to the mounted branch who recently moved to a new farm in Ayrshire at a cost of £3m and whose officers spend 65% with their animals and 35% policing.
What is most outrageous about Mr Pollock's outburst, however, is that he is Chief Superintendent of Complaints for Strathclyde Police. He is meant to be impartial. Yet at the moment there are currently 10 officers from the band going through the force grievance procedure. How can he possibly rule on their individual cases when he has got it in for the band like this? Comments welcome.

Scots Guards 3, Alex MacIver

Composer Bruce Thomson was on the phone today and told me that the Scots Guards are preparing a book three. They've asked Bruce for a few of his excellent tunes. Should be a good collection if 1 & 2 are anything to go by. Most pipers have a wide selection of tune books; most will have SG 1&2 too. The settings may be over embellished but one thing is sure - you can usually find the tune you are looking for within the covers of the Scots Guards Collection.

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I hear thunder and lightening played havoc with the contest at Strathmore at the weekend. The promoters had no option but to cancel things half way through the piobaireachd. Prizes were awarded to those who had played.

Difficult decision this for the organisers. They did get one thing right however - stopping the contest to make sure safety was not compromised

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Strathclyde Police band members who have registered a grievance with the force over the way their work conditions were changed without their knowledge have received replies. I can tell you that they are not happy with what they have been told. Everything is to be reviewed again in November and no guarantees re the band have been given. Most of the ten are taking the

procedure to stage two.

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Hector Russell pointed out to me that this year is the 20th

anniversary of the passing of our old

pipe major Alex MacIver (right). Alex was from the island of Lewis and a friend of P/M Donald Macleod's. He was a noted composer, producer of Gaelic plays and of course took the 214th BB pipe band to unheard of heights. Think today's Inveraray band with only himself as the adult in the ranks and you are getting close. The 214 regularly featured in Grade 2 prizelists when they played 'up'. The boys were all 17 or under, most a good bit.

The other remarkable thing about Alex was the numbers of drummers he produced who played at the very top. Think Joe Noble, Alex Connell, Rab Turner, Stirling McMurchie, Andy Hosie and you'll get the picture. I think it was because of the music he imparted. Alex had a natural feel for it and would spend hours explaining and cajoling until tunes had the required lift. He knew that if the drummers played this way they would take the pipers with them.

I remember the Friday night he approached me and Archie MacLean after band practice. I was 12 and Archie (now on the solo judging panel) 14. We were informed in Alex's best military style that we would be playing in the Worlds the following day at Dam Park, Ayr. 'Stirlingshire Militia', 'John Roy Stewart' and 'Dr MacPhail' was the set. No sleep that night and yes, the story has a happy ending. We won.

Such was Alex's reputation that John Maclean, Archie's father and a respected pipe band judge, had sent him along to be tutored up in the ranks of the 214. This pattern was repeated when Bob Hardie sent his son Jim to the band to be followed by Iain MacDonald, son of Angus, the then pipe major of the City of Glasgow Police.

The piping world is full of unsung heroes such as Alex MacIver. They work away for the love of the art, not taking a penny for their trouble. It's thanks to them that we are where we are in the modern day. No one had any money in Glasgow back in the late 50s and 60s so let's salute all those who did their bit - not just at the centre of the piping universe - and laid a solid foundation from which the piping and pipe bands have just kept on growing.

Meetings, CoP Radio, Donald MacPherson

Busy week with meetings of the Piob Soc Music Committee and General Committee. I don't think either committee has ever been stronger and it was a great pleasure for all members to welcome Duncan Watson, Aberdeen, to the ranks. It was the first time Duncan had been in the Royal Scottish Pipers' Society rooms in Edinburgh and was able to take a tour and admire the fantastic selection of photographs they have adorning the walls. These alone are good reason to visit the rooms if you ever get the chance. The Archie Kenneth Quaich is one. Get along if you can. All the great names are there and it is funny how the passage of time confers a mystique on individuals no longer with us.

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A student told me today something that I hadn't noticed before. The CD recordings of last year's Worlds don't have the atmospheric 'By the right. Quick march!' of the pipe majors nor the applause of the audience at the end. Pity that. The roar Shotts got when they turned and faced their listeners should have been captured for posterity.

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Just finishing off CoP Radio for June and as you may have noticed on the Fast News the 'Piob of the Month' is from a recording I discovered in the archives of Donald MacPherson (left) playing for and winning the 1986 Senior Piobaireachd at Oban. I think it was his twelfth win. His tune is the 'Sister's Lament'. I remember recording the tunes in the rather murky Phoenix Cinema on my Sony Professional tape recorder. The quality isn't bad considering. Caught a few of the other tunes as well, including my own. It was the first time I had been in with the big boys and must say I felt a little intimidated - as one should. Great experience though. Just to be there among those titans was a thrill. Anyway, Donald is at his brilliant best. He inhabits the tune. That's the only way I can describe it. The pipe and technique are a given of course and then, in masterful fashion he demonstrates just why he was so imperious when at his best. The other significant thing about the recordings are that they were of a contest where the small tunes minus T & C were set. I played 'Salute on the Birth', Jim MacGillivray the 'Old Woman's Lullaby', Murray Henderson the 'Park No1' and Donald the 'Sister's' to name four. So a suitable presage for 2010 when the small tunes are set again. Only this time we need to play two tunes to get in the money. Things don't get easier do they?

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The briefing note for the recent visit of Prince Charles to the Piping Centre makes embarrassing reading. Why they continue to undermine the good work they do by issuing such spin is beyond me. Here's the opener: 'In 1989 Sir Brian and Lady Ivory (Oona) recognised that the impetus for the future development of piping could pass overseas and that a central focus of Scotland's cultural life was therefore in danger of being lost. They raised £6,000,000....'.

Nothing would be gained by me repeating any more. Suffice to say that the good people who work at the Centre and those who populate its board deserve better. The piping world will be able to read a more balanced version of events which led to the formation of the Centre in due course.

Govan Fair, SPA KO, Markinch

Iain MacDonald, Regina, has passed on this interesting pic and caption re my last post. Thanks for that Iain. It reads: The Govan Fair Procession, led by the Govan Police Pipe Band, on Langlands Road, perhaps 1940s or 1950s. The famous sheep's (more accurately, ram's) head is borne aloft behind the band. The Govan Fair appears to have originated at the end of the 15th century. The Govan weavers revived the annual festival in 1757 and the procession on the first Friday of June became one of the most popular events of the year. It continued until 1881 when, with the traditional weaving trade in terminal decline and the old village swamped with newcomers seeking work in Govan's engineering and shipbuilding industries, the celebrations ended through lack of support. Members of the Old Govan Club revived the Fair in 1920. It is now organised by the Govan Fair Association, which donates all proceeds to charity..... Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Museums. The caption is clearly wrong as the band would have been the City of Glasgow Police Pipe Band by then and I'm not sure it is actually the police. It's all of interest though. It seems there was a 40 year gap in the Fair so my 123 years attendance by the police band is somewhat awry. No matter - still pretty vindictive of the force to ban them.      Incidentally I hear that despite earlier security fears both Strathclyde and Lothian and Borders will be attending the British at Banbridge. Don't know about D&G'way, Central Scot, Fife or Grampian. I can't quite understand what all the fuss is about. Bands continued to travel and play in Ulster all through the worst of the Troubles and things are clearly a lot better now.

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The latest heat of the SPA KO is this Friday at the CoP. Pipers are Douglas Murray and Donald MacPhee so a very high standard of playing can be expected. I hope to record proceedings for CoP Radio. John Mulhearn got pretty miffed when he was broadcast last month. I forgot to get clearance from him to use his performance on air. So, apologies again John. That said I do think it important to reiterate that no one made any money out of the show and it is good publicity for the SPA. It helps with the all important backsides on seats and thus helps the promoters fund the event and pass on substantial prizes to the pipers. John got through so he'll be in line for a decent cheque. All rights regarding performance and material remain with the piper. Everyone wins really. 

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I hear that there was a good standard of performance at Markinch yesterday with Gavin Walker continuing his recent good run. Gavin is one of the top pipers with Strathclyde Police and pleasing to see that he is able to maintain his focus despite the doubts over the band's future. Young Keith Bowes is keeping up the momentum too, taking 2nd in the ceol mor. I think he was well placed at Blair Atholl, or maybe it was Bathgate. I judged Keith a year or so ago at the Highlands and Islands and was critical of his fingering  -- too pipe bandish. He clearly has taken my advice (and no doubt that of others) to heart and come out fighting. No one wants to score points by taking cheap shots at young players. Most, shall we say, mature individuals in the piping game proffer advice in the hope that it will be taken positively and acted upon. Good on you Keith for doing just that.

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I hope readers are not put off by the few ads peppering this page. Google suggested that I allow them on in return for some payment. I suppose if these ramblings can earn a few bob for the College then its no bad thing.

Latest Slap Down for Cops/Jim and Pearl/CPA/ PT Pix

I wouldn't normally come back on so soon but the blog material keeps coming in. Just learned for example that Strathclyde Police will not be playing at the Govan Annual Fair Day on Friday. The first time in 123 years they won't be there. Seems the band phoned up to check what time the organisers wanted the band there and was told that they had received a letter from the police top brass that they were sorry but the band wouldn't manage. No one thought to tell the P/M of course. If ever you wanted an indicator as to the contempt the band is now being held in then there you have it. For those who don't know, the Strathclyde Police band started out as Govan Burgh Police pipe band and became the City of Glasgow Police Pipe Band when Govan was absorbed into the growing Glasgow city conurbation. So given its origins the gig at the Govan Fair was pretty much part of the band's duties. Not any more. Vindictive or what?

On a brighter note a quartet from the band will be playing at the West End Festival on June 13

. They're on the bill for an evening concert with harpist Cheyanne Brown and cellist Seylan Baxter at the CoP.

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Pearl drums have confirmed Jim Kilpatrick joins their stable; Press Release: Date: 2 June 2009 Pearl welcomes

Jim Kilpatrick into the Pearl family!Belfeld, NLD – Pearl is proud to welcome Jim Kilpatrick, the first class leading drummer of the The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead, to the strongest team of Pipe drummers and bands in the world. Pearl’s roster also includes such talents as Eric Ward (Strathclyde Police), Barry Wilson (Scottish Power), Reid Maxwell (Simon Fraser University) and Drew Duthart (Scottish Lion -78^th Fraser Highlanders).Jim Kilpatrick is a true legend who started his pipe band career at the age of 15 by winning the World Drum Corps and World Pipe Band Championships (the first of his 18 World Drum Corps Championships) with the House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead. In the Pipe and Marching scene his role is enormous, not only as a player, but also as a Worldwide Educator and as a Clinician. Her Majesty The Queen has recognized this and has rewarded Jim for his services to Music by giving him the title "MBE" (Member of the British Empire).Pearl is the world leading manufacturer of Drums, and has a large assortment of Marching drums in which the Pipe Band instruments are a core part. The Pipe band instruments are made with passion and attention to detail. Key to the Pipe Band drums is the special shell technology and the use of sophisticated materials in combination with stunning appearance. Equally important is the tonal character, of which Jim says, “Being a performer who plays in competitions and on clinics all over the world, it is important for me to know that my equipment is not only going to look great, but sounds the best! I am blown away by the purest sound I have ever experienced as a player with my Pearl pipe band snare drums, and bass and tenor drums. Everything about them just feels right.”To learn more about Pearl’s Pipe Band instruments, please visit www.pearldrum.com or come and see Pearl’s stand at the World Pipe Band Championships 15 August 2009 Glasgow.
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CPA Presidente JA Smith sent me this: The CPA Grading Committee is a representative group of piping experts from the competition communities, all of whom are internationally respected competitors or judges with a detailed knowledge of the competition scene.
We are delighted to announce that Willie McCallum has agreed to chair this year’s Grading Committee, and we are very pleased that all of last year’s Committee have agreed to stay on for another year. We are also delighted to announce that Alasdair Gillies has agreed to join the Grading Committee, ensuring that the US piping scene is now represented. The significant representation of overseas based members who either compete or judge in Scotland is designed to ensure that the grading process is as internationally comparable as possible.
The 2009/10 Grading Committee comprises:
Willie McCallum (Chair), Alasdair Gillies, Jack Lee, Bill Livingstone, Donald MacPhee, Malcolm McRae, James Murray, Iain Speirs, Greg Wilson. The timetable for the 2009/10 grading process will be released during October 2009.

When on the committee myself I always felt the surest way of ensuring we got it right was by doing the leg work. It was never good enough to rely on hearsay evidence about a piper's playing or something you'd heard in the tuning field or practice hall. You actually had to go and sit through performances given in a competition environment. Given the numbers these days the guys above have their work cut out and good on them for giving of their valuable in this way.

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Readers have sent in a few pix. Dr Christian Grosser, Germany : Hi Robert, Thank you also for the rest of the recordings. They helped me out. Here for your amusement two pictures of the same man in totally different worlds. That´s what I´m doing when I´m not playing the bagpipe! Hours of boredom, minutes of thrill and seconds of terror- would be a great description of my job. All the best! Hope to see you soon! Christian.

Nicholas Taitz, South Africa and Guernsey: Piping at a Gaelic football

event here in Guernsey…. Of course sporting the Blue Ramsay…. Nick

If you are a PT reader and have any snaps you want me to publicise please send them in. If they can get into the crowded print PT well and good; if not I can use them here.

Piping Exams, Piob Soc Web Comm., Cops

The SQA and PDQB met last week to finalise details of the new exam structure which will see piping and drumming exams receive further national recognition from the qualifications authority. It is hoped that there will be a formal launch in November. Candidates will have to pay for this recognition however. Fees could double I fear, though nothing is yet finalised. I will do whatever I can to make sure they are as affordable as possible - this in keeping with the College's ethos that lack of money should not hinder anyone's progress in piping. We are a genuine charity after all.

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The Piob Soc Web Committee met at the weekend under the chairmanship of Peter McCalister. Peter (right) was the recent winner of the 'C' Grade Piobaireachd at Blair Atholl games with 'The MacKays' Banner'. Quite an achievement for him considering that he stepped up from the amateur ranks just last year. Another in the same boat is Douglas Gardiner who took a couple of good prizes at Bathgate last Saturday, so well done to both.

The committee reviewed progress and I think all will agree that in two years the Society website has made huge headway. The content is quite remarkable and all credit to webmaster John Dow. Joining has never been easier too. £15 and a few clicks of the mouse and you can avail yourself of historic documents and sound clips of some very fine playing from pipers you would otherwise probably never get a chance to hear. John tells me that only about half of the Society membership have actually registered on the site. Can I encourage those who haven't to do so now? You will not regret it for one minute.

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MSP Stuart McMillan has called to say that he has gathered sufficient cross party support for his motion re the Strathclyde cops and a debate may be held in the Scottish Parliament, possibly in the new session starting September. If the police powers that be thought this was going to go away then they'd better think again. I could point them in the direction of Duncan Watson's piece in this month's PT but I don't want them choking on their mince and potatoes in the executive canteen at Pitt Street. Things will be bad enough after the national press picked up the story on Saturday. This is how the 'Scotsman' reported it:
'Pressure is mounting on Strathclyde Police to save its world famous pipe band from 'a death by a thousand cuts'. MSPs from all parties have backed a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling for action to be taken to save the former world champion pipe band.West of Scotland SNP MSP Stuart McMillan, who put down the motion, said that the band was under threat because of cost-saving measures by the force. He told The Scotsman that police officers in the band, who make up half its membership, are no longer allowed to serve on the same shift – meaning they cannot practise together. This has led to fears that non-police officers in the band will leave. ........'The football analogy is like telling Chelsea's players they can no longer train together,' said Mr McMillan, a keen bagpiper himself. 'Basically, this band is one of the top five in the world and it has to be able to practise and compete to maintain that status.' What we have here is a death by a thousand cuts.' He said it was completely inappropriate in Homecoming Year to cut investment in a leading Scottish attraction....... Strathclyde Police Pipe Band is 126 years old and was created by an act of parliament in 1883 as the Govan Police Band. It has won 20 World Pipe Band Championships, including 11 championships in the years from 1979-91, and an unrivalled six in a row.However, Strathclyde Police has promised the band is not in danger. Assistant Chief Constable John Neilson said: 'The Chief Constable is aware of the affection that exists for the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band and is justifiably proud of its achievements."The pipe band will continue for the foreseeable future. However it must be remembered that it is made up of police officers and members of police staff and that they have a responsibility to provide policing services to the people who live and work in the Strathclyde Police force area."The pipe band will continue to compete in major competitions and support community events throughout the force area to spread the public reassurance message of Strathclyde Police.''

Standard response and no guarantee that the band will be given the time and resources needed to stay at the top of Grade 1 but I hear that we may have some definitive news from the force tomorrow. Hopefully good news.