Year 3 No 8 – April 1980
The Dingwall A&F Club was founded in May last year. After three very successful informal musical evenings we were given a gala launching by our first guest artiste Bobby MacLeod. ‘The Master’ received a tremendous ovation and would have been kept playing by all his fans all night had not the Club chairman intervened on behalf of the ‘Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Musicians.’
Three local worthies, Neil Macdonald, Callum Maclean and Bill Macdonald, had long wanted a Club in the Dingwall area and, ideal premises having been found in the shape of the Ross County Club, we were on our way. On our first informal night in June, we were honoured to have as well as many amateur players, the personnel from at least four local bands – the Tain SDB, Hector MacRae, the Strathpeffer Band and Ian Fraser.
Their support, and the very welcome support of Ian Redford (Chairman) and Committee members of the Highland A&F Club, enabled us to get off the launching pad with a bang. Support from listeners, amateur and professional musicians, has helped us to keep up a very high standard.
We are just now basking in the reflected glory that Leslie Currie brought to the Club by winning the Open fiddle Competition at Musselburgh in February. Leslie, a modest man, had to be forced by Committee members into attending the Festival at all, let alone entering the competition. He has the congratulations and good wishes of us all.
We have acquired a decrepit looking piano which, after its recent sojourn in the Mountain Rescue Hut in Ullapool, has been successfully rescued itself.
Our guest artistes so far have been (in order) Bobby MacLeod, Graeme Mitchell Trio, Angus Fitchet, Dermot O’Brien, John Ellis, Frank Thompson, Alan Clarke and Ken Slaven, Gordon Pattullo, Florence and Mackie Burns and Alex Green. We look forward to the Currie Brothers and john Ellis in the next couple of months.
As we are based in such a beautiful part of the country, we see many holidaymakers. We warmly welcome members of other Clubs to drop in during the summer months. You will be given a real Highland welcome.
The warm thanks of the Committee and myself are due to all non-players and players alike. The players have included Pat Bain, Bobby Calderwood, Lachie Campbell, Melenie Christie (7), Bobby and Brian Coghill, Sandy Coghill, The Drummond Twins (Joan and Julie), Davie Fraser, Gordon Fraser, Jock Fraser, Colin Hendry, Rosslyn MacDonald, Dougal MacDougal, Ally MacGregor, David MacKenzie, Duncan MacLean, Rory MacLeod, Alastair MacNab, Archie MAcPhee, Hector MacRae, Christine Mathieson, Alastair Pirie, Jamie Pirie, Hamish Polson, Ian Redford, Jimmy Ross, Sandy Ross, Walter Rutherford, Brian Stanger, Frank Thompson, Norman Urquhart, Lindsat Weir, and Graham Wilson – all accordions.
Fiddle – Leslie Currie, Gordon Fraser, Ian MacGillivray, Donald MacKillop, Dan MacKenzie, Sandy Morrison, Fiona Pirrie, John Pirie, George Rayburn and Stewart Reid.
Piano – Dave Bowen, Malcolm Fraser, Alan MacFarlane, George MacIntosh, Hamish Menzies, George Pirie, Maureen Rutherford and Bill Wilson.
Drums – John Bonner, Finlay MacDonald, Billy Nelson, Sandy Snell, Jock Stephen, Ian Ross and Eck Wilson.
Bass – Frank Gale.
Guitar – Norman MacKillop and Ian MacDonald.
Banjo – David Gordon.
Mike Shaw (Chairman)
The Dingwall A&F Club was founded in May last year. After three very successful informal musical evenings we were given a gala launching by our first guest artiste Bobby MacLeod. ‘The Master’ received a tremendous ovation and would have been kept playing by all his fans all night had not the Club chairman intervened on behalf of the ‘Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Musicians.’
Three local worthies, Neil Macdonald, Callum Maclean and Bill Macdonald, had long wanted a Club in the Dingwall area and, ideal premises having been found in the shape of the Ross County Club, we were on our way. On our first informal night in June, we were honoured to have as well as many amateur players, the personnel from at least four local bands – the Tain SDB, Hector MacRae, the Strathpeffer Band and Ian Fraser.
Their support, and the very welcome support of Ian Redford (Chairman) and Committee members of the Highland A&F Club, enabled us to get off the launching pad with a bang. Support from listeners, amateur and professional musicians, has helped us to keep up a very high standard.
We are just now basking in the reflected glory that Leslie Currie brought to the Club by winning the Open fiddle Competition at Musselburgh in February. Leslie, a modest man, had to be forced by Committee members into attending the Festival at all, let alone entering the competition. He has the congratulations and good wishes of us all.
We have acquired a decrepit looking piano which, after its recent sojourn in the Mountain Rescue Hut in Ullapool, has been successfully rescued itself.
Our guest artistes so far have been (in order) Bobby MacLeod, Graeme Mitchell Trio, Angus Fitchet, Dermot O’Brien, John Ellis, Frank Thompson, Alan Clarke and Ken Slaven, Gordon Pattullo, Florence and Mackie Burns and Alex Green. We look forward to the Currie Brothers and john Ellis in the next couple of months.
As we are based in such a beautiful part of the country, we see many holidaymakers. We warmly welcome members of other Clubs to drop in during the summer months. You will be given a real Highland welcome.
The warm thanks of the Committee and myself are due to all non-players and players alike. The players have included Pat Bain, Bobby Calderwood, Lachie Campbell, Melenie Christie (7), Bobby and Brian Coghill, Sandy Coghill, The Drummond Twins (Joan and Julie), Davie Fraser, Gordon Fraser, Jock Fraser, Colin Hendry, Rosslyn MacDonald, Dougal MacDougal, Ally MacGregor, David MacKenzie, Duncan MacLean, Rory MacLeod, Alastair MacNab, Archie MAcPhee, Hector MacRae, Christine Mathieson, Alastair Pirie, Jamie Pirie, Hamish Polson, Ian Redford, Jimmy Ross, Sandy Ross, Walter Rutherford, Brian Stanger, Frank Thompson, Norman Urquhart, Lindsat Weir, and Graham Wilson – all accordions.
Fiddle – Leslie Currie, Gordon Fraser, Ian MacGillivray, Donald MacKillop, Dan MacKenzie, Sandy Morrison, Fiona Pirrie, John Pirie, George Rayburn and Stewart Reid.
Piano – Dave Bowen, Malcolm Fraser, Alan MacFarlane, George MacIntosh, Hamish Menzies, George Pirie, Maureen Rutherford and Bill Wilson.
Drums – John Bonner, Finlay MacDonald, Billy Nelson, Sandy Snell, Jock Stephen, Ian Ross and Eck Wilson.
Bass – Frank Gale.
Guitar – Norman MacKillop and Ian MacDonald.
Banjo – David Gordon.
Mike Shaw (Chairman)