Ten headlines we could be writing in 2016

All-synthetic quality Highland bagpipe now reality

For the first time in history an excellent-sounding Highland pipe with every component made from synthetic material will be an option for serious pipers. Advances with Delrin, carbon-fibre, Gore-Tex, Teflon and other man-made products now make it possible to create an instrument as good as anything out there and with far more stability. A high-quality chanter reed made from synthetics – the final piece in the man-made puzzle – will emerge, and further advances in “hydrophobic” materials will take moisture control, steadiness and tuning to whole new levels.