Pipe Band tartans 1992 v. 2025

[OC Richard]

I was recently gifted the programme to the 1992 British Pipe Band Championships held at the London Road Playing Fields, Stranraer by member StickMan.

Of course I took note of the tartans worn by the Grade One bands, the bands that set the style standards for all the grades beneath.

The older tartans still held sway, including

MacLean of Duart (4 bands, some "weathered")

Royal Stewart (2 bands)

Prince Charles Edward Stuart (2 bands)

Caledonia, ancient (2 bands)

Hunting Fraser, ancient (2 bands)

and one band each for

Black Stewart
Murray of Atholl
Hunting Sinclair, ancient
MacPherson, ancient
Stuart of Appin
Hunting Menzies
Princess Elizabeth
Princess Mary
City of Glasgow
MacLeod of Skeabost (weathered)

I had to look some of these up.

According to the SRT Princess Elizabeth was being sold under that name during the reign of George VI. It appears to be a simplified Royal Stewart.

Hunting Sinclair appears to be an Allen Brothers thing, as is the Fraser that's the basis for Hunting Fraser.

MacLeod of Skeabost, well, that's what the Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band has long called their MacLeod of Harris weathered tartan. I don't see any difference.

City of Glasgow sent me on a hunt. The SRT has over 40 tartans with Glasgow in the title, none called that. The closest title is Glasgow City of Culture.

However I found an old 1990s video of the band competing and their tartan looked to be the Wilsons Madder or Glasgow Rock and Wheel and Madder Rock and Wheel.

I found two mills still offering it, House of Edgar using very dark colours, and Lochcarron who have substituted pink for madder! https://www.lochcarron.co.uk/glasgow...-tartan-fabric

Much of this is to be contrasted with the 2025 Grade One World Pipe Band Championships tartans.

Of the 14 bands 6 are wearing bespoke 21st century tartans save for one designed in 1995.

Clan tartans still appear:

Cameron (VS)
MacLean of Duart, weathered
MacKay, blue (VS)
MacCallum, ancient
Hunting Fraser, ancient (based on the VS Fraser)
MacBeth

with Isle of Skye rounding out the field.