Pipe band drummer banned

THE world’s most successful pipe band drummer has been barred from competing at Saturday’s World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow because of a comment he made on Facebook.

The action was taken against Jim Kilpatrick, 16 times the world solo drumming champion, by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA).

According to the Pipes/Drums website, Mr Kilpatrick has been suspended from competitions for three months after posting a controversial comment.

Following a disappointing result for his band, the House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Band, at the British Championships in Annan in June, Mr Kilpatrick posted: “one of the most predicable shaftings on the calendar” – a remark that could be interpreted as a criticism of RSPBA judges.

The website said Mr Kilpatrick had received a letter from the RSPBA saying the organisation had a “duty” to protect its
adjudicators.

In a message on the website, Mr Kilpatrick said: “There was no way that these comments were meant to hurt any individual or any association or any other member of the other bands competing.”

The RSPBA could not be contacted last night.