When I read this article it had all the hallmarks of a classic April Fools joke, but no - it turns out that McCallum Bagpipes are supplying the Sultan of Oman’s Royal Guard with flexible blowsticks for their camel-mounted pipers!

The Sunday Post - “Bendy bagpipes for the Sultan’s bands”

Apparently it’s difficult to ride a camel and play the bagpipes at the same time - the ride is bumpy and teeth get knocked out. When McCallum Bagpipes’ Omani distributor passed the news of this problem to the good people at McCallum, the company responded with their characteristic ingenuity and now mounted pipers the world over can breathe a sigh of relief.