Box and Fiddle
Year 25 No 08
April 2002
Price £1.75
44 Page Magazine
4 month subscription £7 + p&p £2.40
Editor – Karin Ingram, Hawick
B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
Summer time is coming, the clocks have gone forward and the evenings are getting lighter. (The clocks actually went forward a week early inn the Todd household, and Charlie was at the NAAFC Executive Committee meeting at one o’clock – at least that was better than last year when he forgot to change them and was late!) For the first time you’ll be able to read your B&F magazine while you’re lazing in the sun. The response has been such that the Executive Committee decided that it should become an all-year-round publication. Many Clubs don’t meet in the summer, so we’re giving readers the opportunity to be ‘Summer Subscribers’ – the 4 summer issues will be sent by post, and they can then resume buying from their Club in September. Summer Subscriptions in the UK will be at a cost od £9.40 (incl P&P). The Annual Subscriptions will start in September.
Thank you to everyone who has written or phoned to say how much they enjoy the magazine. It could not be produced in its present format without the help of many people – Culross the Printers, who go out of their way each month to help us with any problems we may have, whether with computers or timescales; and the Executive Committee who keep me right with their musical knowledge; the Clubs who send in their reports each month; Heather McLean, the unofficial B&F secretary; Alison Riddell who proof reads every month; everyone who contributes articles, columns or letters; and, of course, you the readers. Thank you all.
Karin Ingram
Musselburgh 2002
by Neil Copland
Saturday, 2nd March 2002 saw the 28th Annual Accordion & Fiddle Championships (Musselburgh Festival) organised by the N.A.A.F.C. Thankfully the severe weather and foot and mouth disease that were around last year were nowhere to be seen this time. Indeed, it was a lovely, crisp Spring morning that greeted the competitors and their supporters as they arrived in Musselburgh for this annual jamboree of all that is good about the Accordion & Fiddle scene and our music at the moment.
We all arrived at the Brunton Hall eagerly anticipating the delights that the current crop of competitors were going to present to the distinguished panel of adjudicators. Entries this year were around 180, which is down a wee bit from the last few years. Especially affected by the reduction were the Classical Accordion sections, and to a lesser extent the Traditional Accordion, and two Open Championship Sections. The Junior Fiddle classes however, bucked this trend and what a competition we had for the two Junior Fiddle sections. This continuing increase in the Junior Fiddle numbers is all down to three or four school music teachers, who are now actively involved in promoting the playing of Scottish fiddle music in schools. They are to be commended for pushing hard on this matter and getting the results as was evidenced at the Brunton Halls last month.
The drop in entries is a trend that I have noticed in all Festivals during the current ‘season’ and there seems to be no particular reason for this happening. We can only hope that numbers pick up again over the next few years to get all Festivals back on the level of entries experienced in the past. This year we had competitors from Carlisle, Dingwall, Inverness, the Borders and our first ever competitor all the way from Shetland – young Maggie Adamson. All our competitors were winners just by being there and competing even if they didn’t manage to take home a trophy this time around. The support of all teachers (both accordion and fiddle) and the parents of their pupils is greatly appreciated by the Festival Committee.
As you will know, the chosen composer for this year’s Open Fiddle Championship class was Bob Edward and it was my great pleasure to welcome Bob’s son, Bobby and his family home from Canada to be present at the Festival. Bobby and his family were thrilled to hear of the choice of Bob’s music and it was therefore apt that Bobby should present the Banchory Strathspey and Reel Society Trophy to Graeme Davidson, himself from Banchory, after the evening play-off. Bob Edwards was a great stalwart of fiddle festivals with his young charges in years gone by and is very sadly missed by those who knew him through his promotion of the playing of Scottish music by youngsters, particularly in the Tayside area.
It was also a privilege to welcome to the concert Margo Gibson, daughter of the late Alex Little, whom we all knew so fondly as a former Chairman of the Festival as well as a very keen promoter of youngsters playing the traditional music of our heritage. Margo and her family had very generously donated a new challenge trophy in Alex’s memory, and it was therefore fitting that she be present to present it to the first ever recipient, David MacKenzie of Dingwall. The trophy will now be competed for annually as the Overall Junior Accordion Championship.
The competition for the two Open Championships reached their climax during the evening concert with four of the most talented young fiddlers on the scene at the moment vying to become the new champion. As mentioned earlier, the honours this year went to Graeme Davidson of Banchoey, but the three runners up Perdy Syres-Gibson, Erin Smith and Ingrid Hammond made sure that it was a very difficult evening for the two adjudicators. The accordion Championship final was equally exciting with Susan MacFadyen beating off the challenges of Liam Stewart and Graeme MacKay to take the title after a nail-biting play-off. I can also confirm that the chosen composers for these sections for the 2003 Festival are James Scott Skinner (fiddle) and Iain MacPhail (accordion). These choices will give competitors some great opportunities to showcase their talents.
The adjudication panel this year comprised no fewer than five new faces to our Festival (Jim Berry, Iain Cathcart, Andrew Knight, Gus Millar and Michael Paton) as well as three ‘veterans’ – Gordon Pattullo, Alan Preston and Gordon Simpson. Every one of the adjudicators commented most highly on the quality of playing they heard throughout the day. In responding to the quality of adjudications, I have been approached by a number of parents who wished it recorded that the manner and style of the adjudicators’ comments and criticisms were very well put over and received by the young competitors. As a former competitor myself, it was always nice to think that your adjudicator was giving you a very personal and genuine commentary on your performance and this certainly has been the feedback this year from parents and teachers. Thanks then are due to the competitors for their extremely good performances, and also to the adjudicators for their equally good performances.
The Brunton Hall complex continues to be an ideal venue for the Festival and with the availability of the Theatre this year, coupled with the small drop in the number of entries, we did not have to use any external venues. I have however, already had information that the Main Hall that the Brunton Hall complex will not be available for 2003 due to refurbishment. Be assured however, that the Festival Committee is already actively pursuing how we can make next year’s event as much of a success as any before it. Watch the B&F, or the website for more news on this matter as it emerges over the coming months.
Once again, by careful scheduling and good time management by stage crews in the various halls, we achieved the desired aim of ensuring that the only competition taking place by 4pm was the Band Section in the Main Hall. The hall was packed and the atmosphere was something else. What a super climax to another great day of music, fun and socializing. The Band competition was recorded by Ken Mutch and the BBC Take the Floor team for transmission as one of two special features on the Festival that were broadcast during March. The other feature gave those who couldn’t be at the Festival the chance to hear some of the new Champions as they played in the Prize-Winners’ Concert in the early part of the evening. My thanks go again to Ken Mutch and the BBC team for their continued support of the Musselburgh Festival. The concert this year was compered by John Caskie as a solo venture due to the unfortunate absence of his ‘partner in crime’ over the last few years, Jennifer Forrest. Haste Ye Back Jennifer, as the pair of you make a great team. Following a most successful concert, the Festival Dance was in the very capable hands of Jim Johnstone and his SDB – what an end to our day! The music was superb – just as we have come to expect from this talented group of musicians. During the dance it was my pleasure to conduct a Festival Raffle, which had around 40 prizes – and that after having a small draw at the end of the competitions! My thanks go to all NAAFC Clubs, individuals and Festival friends for their contributions to this superb raffle.
I conclusion, I must thank everyone who helped make this year’s Festival as successful and enjoyable as any before it – competitors, teachers, parents, parents, Committee members, advertisers, sponsors, helpers, raffle donors, adjudicators and very importantly, the listening public. Special thanks also, to Festival Secretary, Margaret Macari for her efficient service to me, the Committee and all competitors throughout the year.
If there was any aspect of this year’s Festival that readers feel could be improved, then the Committee would welcome feedback – all comments received will be discussed at the next Committee meeting in May.
All that remains is for me to say once again a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who helped make this year’s Festival another successful occasion – from a musical and social point of view. See you next year!!!
Junior Accordion
Under 12 Traditional Accordion Solo – Pentland Cup
1) Jim Gold (Douglas)
2) Adam Brady (Dundee)
3) Heather Campbell (Tranent)
12 and Under 16 Traditional Solo – Jim Johnstone Cup
1) David MAcKenzie (Dingwall)
2) Tom Orr (Lanark)
3) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
Junior Accordion Solo Pipe Music – Bill Black Cup
1) Tom Orr (Lanark)
2) David MacKenzie (Dingwall)
3) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
Junior Traditional Duet – Angus Howie Cups
1) John Thow & Luke Brady (Dundee)
2) Emma & Kerry Alexander (Buckie)
3) Paul MacFadyen & Gillian Kirkland (Dundee)
Overall Junior Accordion Champion – Alex Little Memorial Trophy
David MacKenzie (Dingwall)
Senior Accordion
Senior Traditional Accordion Solo – Clinkscale Cup
1) Graeme MacKay (Inverness)
2) Liam Stewart (Galston)
3) Stuart Cameron (Glasgow)
Senior Accordion Pipe Music Solo – Bill Powrie Memorial Cup
1) Janette Morrison (Edinburgh)
2) Nicky McMichan (Lochmaben)
3) Matthew MacLennan (Kiltarlity)
Open Accordion Championship – Todhills Trophy
1) Susan MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
2=) Graeme MacKay (Inverness)
2=) Liam Stewart (Galston)
Senior Overall Accordion Champion - The Bobby MacLeod Trophy
Graeme MacKay (Inverness)
Open Buttonkey Accordion Solo – Windygates Trophy
1) Graeme MacKay (Inverness)
2) John Weaks (Glasgow)
3)
Trios – Jimmy Blue Trophy
1) Tom Orr (Lanark)
2) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
3) St John’s Harefield Trio (Dundee)
Bands – Overall Winner - Iain MacPhail Cup
1) Scott Gordon (Aberdeen)
2) William Marshall (Edinburgh)
Band – Rhythm Section - Arthur Easson Memorial Trophy
Scott Gordon (Aberdeen)
Own Composition – Willie Wilson Cup
1) Michael Philip (Cardenden)
2) Maureen Rutherford (Perth)
3) Perdy Syres-Gibson (Edinburgh)
Under 12 Classical Solo – Kelso Cup
1) John Morrison (Glasgow)
2) Claire Noble (Broughton)
3) Julie Blaylock (Carlisle)
Under 14 Classical Solo – Aberdeen Cup
1) Robert Menzies (Thornhill)
2) Jane Turner (Edinburgh)
3)
Under 16 Classical Solo – Dundee shield
1) Jennifer Maxwell (Cumbria)
2) Duncan McNichol (Musselburgh)
3) Morgan Leslie (Biggar)
Open Classical Solo – Clinkscale Shield
1) Fiona Titterington (Carlisle)
2) Ross Fleming (Blairgowrie)
3)
Under 13 Classical Duet – Beith & District A&F Club Cups (Willie Wilson Memorial Trophies)
1) Jim Gold (Douglas) & Robert Menzies (Thornhill)
2) Jane Turner (Edinburgh) & Claire Noble (Broughton)
Under 16 Classical Duet - Alex MacArthur Cups
1) No entries
2)
3)
Open Classical Duet – Dunfermline Cup
1) Fiona Titterington (Carlisle) & Jennifer Maxwell (Cumbria)
2)
3)
Classical Polka
Under 10 Classical Polka Solo – The Todhills Trophy
1)
2)
Under 14 Classical Polka Solo – Newtongrange Shield
1) John Morrison (Glasgow)
2)
3)
Open Classical Polka Solo – Tign-Na-Gorm Cup
1) Tom Orr (Lanark)
2) Derek Muir (Airdrie)
3) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
Under 14 Classical Musette Accordion Solo – John Laidlaw Memorial Trophy
1) Scott Nichol (Pathhead)
2) Jim Gold (Douglas)
3)
Open Classical Musette Accordion Solo – Christine Hunter Memorial Trophy
1) Tom Orr (Lanark)
2) David MAcKenzie (Dingwall)
3) Luke Brady (Dundee)
Fiddle Sections
Under 12 Fiddle Solo – NAAFC Musselburgh Festival Trophy
1) Kerry Alexander (Buckie)
2) Katherine Brooke (Aberdeen)
3) Maggie Adamson (Shetland)
Junior Fiddle Solo – MSR – Strathspey and Reel Association Cup
1) George Smith (Aberlemno)
2) Kirsty Lowe (Muirhead)
3) Erin Smith (Aberdeen)
Junior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Dougie Welsh Cup
1) Erin Smith (Aberdeen)
2) George Smith (Aberlemno)
3) Donna Davidson (Banchory)
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Strathspey, MSR – St. Boswell Cup
1) Ingrid Hammond (Dundee)
2) Perdy Syres-Gibson (Edinburgh)
3) Graeme Davidson (Banchory)
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Ron Gonella Cup
1) Perdy Syres-Gibson (Edinburgh)
2) Graeme Davidson (Banchory)
3) Ingrid Hammond (Dundee)
Open Fiddle Championship – Banchory S&R Society Trophy
1) Graeme Davidson (Banchory)
2=) Perdy Syres-Gibson (Edinburgh)
2=) Ingrid Hammond (Dundee)
2=) Erin Smith (Aberdeen)
Overall Fiddle Champion - The Angus Fitchet Trophy
Perdy Syres-Gibson (Edinburgh)
Overall Junior Fiddle Champion – Judith Linton Trophy
George Smith (Aberlemno)
Open Fiddle Groups – Lesmahagow Quaich
1) Tayside Young Fiddlers (Dundee)
2) St John’s Stringers (Dundee)
Youngest Girl Competitor – John McQueen Medal
Kerry Alexander (Buckie)
Youngest Boy Competitor – John McQueen Medal
Jim Gold (Douglas)
Those Were the Days
by Donnie MacKenzie
Reading your excellent B&F brings back many, many memories of my young days playing the accordion, with my own band and with other bandleaders of the 1950s.
Leaving Letterfindlay, on Loch Lochy side, to Camusnaheiridhe on Loch Leven side where my father had become the Head Gamekeeper on Mamore Estates at Kinlochleven brought me into accordion playing.
Prior to this it was the wireless and the old wind-up gramophone. Our Saturday chore was to take the ‘wet’ battery from the wireless into Marshall & Pearson’s in Fort William to get it recharged and to take home the recharged battery, left the previous week, to see us through the incoming week. We had to be home again for evening for the News followed by the dance music. Whilst in Fort William we also had to visit Marion Weir’s Music Shop to purchase any new 78s of Scottish dance music. So Saturdays were always enjoyable for us schoolboys and girls.
My young life was fantastic, whether listening to dance music on the wireless or winding up the old gramophone to listen to all our records. In addition there were always callers at the house – daytime and evening – sometimes with an accordion, or a fiddle, a mouthie or just to sing Gaelic songs – something you don’t see nowadays except in a few Highland areas.
Remember the records? Jimmy Shand, Bobby MacLeod, Adam Rennie, Jack Forsyth, Jim Cameron, Willie Hannah, Curly MacKay and Willie Kemp. Then came John Johnstone, Jim MacLeod, Ian Powrie with Jimmy Blue and Mickie Ainsworth, The Wick Dance Band, Jim Johnstone and, of course, Oban’s Colin Campbell whom I had the great pleasure of playing with when living in Oban. And my old school mate, Fergie MacDonald, whom I had the pleasure of playing with when I moved to Dumbarton. Even though only a schoolboy I had the excitement of listening to many of these bands play in Kinlochleven for the annual B.A. Dance. These were held in the village hall which, sadly, has now been knocked down. In my young days many a Friday night saw three such dances in Kinlochleven – in the village hall, The Tartan Hotel and in the Scout Hall. None now! Just standing at the door of these halls listening to the bands was worth more than a million pounds to me!
Kinlochleven had its own famous accordionist and bandleader, Benny McGeachy. I’ll never ever be able to repay Benny for his help, encouragement and support when I was given my first accordion. For my 12th birthday Father went into Fort William and returned home with a magnificent 5-row Ranco, 120 bass, button accordion. It had come from J. T. Forbes, Dundee. No one in the house or roundabout had a clue how to play this thing except, of course, Benny McGeachy. There were not many 5-row boxes around in the 1950s – there are many more on the go now. Benny taught me the scales and the bass, then it was back to the good old radio and gramophone to pick up tunes by ear. A year passed by and Benny called at the house and asked if I had a blue suit, white shirt and black bow tie? Benny thought it would be good experience for me to join his band – “and it will look good to have two accordionists!” So next dat Father was off to Fort William to buy my kit – I felt I was in the big time now!
I played with Benny’s band for about two years – some experience! Great times! Benny began to leave me to play on my own for some of the dances and also during this time I sometimes played on my own at concerts and ceilidhs.
When I was fifteen, Benny double-booked himself and said I could do one of the dances on my own. This was to be in Onich, so I was joined by the late Peter Ferguson on drums and the late Allan Shaw on fiddle (both from Kinlochleven).
At this time there was a great demand for dance bands so, with Benny’s encouragement, I began my own band with Peter and Allan. These were some of my happiest days playing in old halls, wooden huts, ramshackles of places and a few new halls. Do you recall when men used to stand on one side of the hall with the women on the other? The minute a dance was announced the men would tear across and grab a partner – no problem of girls being left out. If a man fancied a girl he sometimes held on to her for the following dance. Fantastic what you can see from the stage! In summertime all the local hotels were packed and a lot of girls from the Islands were working in the hotels so most dances were packed. At one dance in Argyll no-one appeared until the pubs were shut at 10pm so at 10.30pm the rush began. Some shepherds and gamekeepers arrived – all well oiled. They had been at a clay pigeon shoot so arrived in plus fours and tackitty boots – one even accompanied by his two collie dogs – but no-one was at all bothered. When the man got up to dance the dogs followed, snapping at the heels of whoever was dancing with him. None of the women bothered – they were far too busy watching where his boots were landing! We were in stitches on the platform. If the tackitty boots landed on any woman’s foot it was curtains! He would certainly stop dancing every now and again on meeting someone he knew and out of his inside pocket would come the half bottle and the two had a swig in the middle of the floor. Then they carried on dancing where they had left off with not a care in the world.
On another occasion when we had an MC who had been in the hotel prior to the dance, and he announced ‘partners for a Strip the Willow’, next ‘partners for a Canadian Band Dance’, next ‘partners for a Strip the Willow’, next ‘partners for a Canadian Band Dance’ – as far as he was concerned there were no other dances! But at half-time he disappeared – thank goodness. There were the times a fight would start in the doorway so we soon learned to announce an ‘Eightsome Reel’ or some other fast dance, which usually stopped the fighting. Anyway, most started over a woman. Minutes later the fighters would be great pals sharing a dram.
For another dance we had to cross on a ferry. Our fiddle player, Allan Shaw, was none too happy about this but Peter and I were quite used to boats. At this time I had left school and was working on the Ballachulish ferry – and what an experience that was! Back to the dance and ferry crossing. Well, there were a lot on the ferry for this dance and the fella in charge of the boat, well I said “we were used to boats” but on this occasion not a word was spoken until arrival on the other side. I’ll not say any more about this ferryman except that he wanted to take our fares twice on the journey over.
It had been arranged for someone to meet us on the other side, as the hall was some distance from the ferry, a gamekeeper in an old jeep – no side protection, just some old canvas over the driver and passenger. We all piled into this thing plus some of the other people who had crossed over in the boat. To crown it all, the gamekeeper had two terriers and a spaniel in the jeep. We arrived at the hall frozen and covered in dog hairs. I was dead scared to say a word to Allan but Peter was in his glory. Good old Allan – he was the one to keep us sane or at least he tried.
We played from 9pm to 2.30am non-stop, and then came the journey back home. Our driver in the old jeep drove along that road, winding and twisting, with practically no lights on his clapped-out vehicle. If one had problems praying before – well this journey solved that problem. Arriving at the ferry we had to wait for our ferryman who had also been at the dance. Silence once again prevailed as with the help of just a torch on a pitch-black night, three large bodies piled into this small boat with an accordion, drums and a fiddle. Another man climbed in to keep the ferryman company on the return journey. Remember this was a small boat with just an outboard motor. Not one word was spoken by the three of us, but the other two fells sang Gaelic songs all the way over, while we were being splashed by waves hitting the front of the boat. But we had to admit afterwards, he must have known these waters. Allan was normally a very quiet man but as we lifted out our instruments he let rip and went mad! Peter and I were in stitches after being so scared.
I well remember a wedding reception we played at. The wedding was in the afternoon, followed by speeches, food and the usual drams. We were asked to be there for 7.30pm and play to 11.30pm. Being a Saturday we were told to finish by that time. That was a joke! As you can imagine everyone was in a great mood. One guest kept asking me to play this 2/4 and that 6/8. To be honest I was getting a wee bit fed up but it was a wedding and you do get these problems. Thinking back on it, when I started to have a fair dram at functions I was probably a bigger pest than this fellow. In fact I am certain I was. He kept telling me he played a 2-row box and wanted a shot at mine. He said he would play for a Canadian Barn Dance. I tried to tell him he would have a 2-row chromatic and my box was a 5-row Continental. He would have none of it and was getting support from his friends at the reception. He was a local and a good box player. One of his women friends shouted “are you afraid he will show you up schoolboy?” Allan said, “Give him the bloody accordion Donnie”. I passed it to him with loud cheers from the guests and he immediately announced “Let’s have a good Canadian Barn Dance”. He got cheers for this. Need I go any further? He tried and tried in vain to play the 5-row and then discovered I was telling the truth – my accordion was different from his. By this time there was a crowd of people on the floor and we were enjoying a cup of tea. He very sheepishly called me back and handed over the accordion. There was not a cheep from any of his friends for the remained of the night. When he left the stage he gave his poor wife hell and she had nothing to do with it. In fact she never said a word when he was wanting a shot at my box. The end of the story is that we became very good friends and he always reminded me of that wedding – we had many a good laugh about it. That is the way musicians treat things, forget about it immediately. It is a pity people in other walks of life don’t act likewise.
As I said previously, when at Camusnaheiridhe we had many people call to visit. One regular was Bobby MacLeod himself. His fiddler, Pibroch MAcKenzie, was some far-out relative of my father and we had fantastic times with them. On one such occasion we had been playing for some time and Bobby had me marching around the house to get the right timing for pipe marches. Great days! After moving to Dumbarton I got to know Bobby very well as we met regularly with a personal friend of his and mine, Tommy Anderson, at Gartocharn. Before moving on, I must add one thing about Bobby MacLeod, whenever I asked about a certain tune and I could not get hold of the music, within a few days the music would arrive from Bobby. As well as being professional musicians these were great people, kind, understanding and above all so helpful. They were all the same. When I first left home I stayed in Oban where I played with Colin Campbell for a considerable time and I then moved to Dumbarton where I became involved with the Dumbartonshire Police Concert Party. I also played at ceilidhs and concerts around the Glasgow area. It was here I bumped into my old school pal, Fergie MacDonald, and played with him for a number of years around Glasgow.
I also had the pleasure of attending Bobby Harvey’s M.A.F.I.A. at the Black Bull hotel in Milngavie. That was also a coincidence because I discovered Mr MacDonald , the then owner of the Black Bull, knew my father – small world. Shows what music can do bringing people together.
It was at the MAFIA I met the great Sir Jimmy Shand and Jimmy Yeaman, Archie Duncan, Will Starr and many others. Bobby Harvey did a fantastic job with that Club.
I’m now retired and have been living in London for many years, but I continue to play, and my wife plays the keyboard. We entertain at a number of homes for the elderly and meet some great characters. Are there any Scots left up there because there are a hell of a lot down here!
My family are spread around Scotland – Glasgow, Ford (Argyll), Oban and Kinlochleven, so we are up several times a year. When we attend concerts or ceilidhs in Scotland now I think it is fantastic to see the number of young people playing Scottish dance music. As long as there are people like Robbie Shepherd, Bill Wilkie, and many others, I can only see our music going from strength to strength. I wonder if they still have the laughs we did in our day?!
Frank Farquharson (1929 – 2002) – Obituary
Chairman – Fintry A&F Association
by Sandy Shearlaw
Frank Farquharson’s friends were shocked and saddened by his sudden passing at the meeting of his club on Monday, 25th February 2002. The great esteem in which he was held by all in the world of Scottish traditional music was shown by the huge attendance at his funeral service in Falkirk Crematorium.
The Rev. Anne Brennan, who conducted the service, summed Frank up perfectly – he was everybody’s buddy.
Frank was born in Alyth in East Perthshire and was brought up on farms in Strathmore worked by his father. There he developed the countryman’s ability to turn his hand to anything – a gift displayed throughout his life.
He was educated at Forfar Academy and on leaving school trained as an electrician before being called up for National Service in the Royal air Force. After demobilisation he worked in Blairgowrie where he was to meet Gladys, his wife of 47 years. He said he used to watch he cycling back and forward to work and determined that she was the girl for him.
It was in those days that Frank’s love of Scottish dance music, and particularly the accordion, took root, as dances were a regular feature of entertainment for the young. Although he never learned to play the instrument he was to love all his life, he became expert in knowing when it was played well and the tremendous range of compositions that can be played on it.
After being married, Frank and Gladys moved to Crieff where Frank was employed by the Hydro Electric Board. It was there that they were blessed with the arrival of son, Grant. The family moved later to Buckie and finally to Balfron where Frank took up a managerial position with the H.E.B. Branching out as a self-employed electrical contractor, Frank gave devoted service to Balfron and surrounding farms and villages until his retirement in 1997. No job was to menial for him and he got as much satisfaction from trying to fix a pensioner’s antique vacuum cleaner as he did from completing a more financially rewarding contract. Many people will miss the service he gave and the local information he passed on over a cup of tea.
Frank’s love of the traditional music scene was ever present and when the old Fintry Accordion and Fiddle Association, started by Alex Fitzsimmons, Jim Burgess and Robert Aitken, folded in the mid-1970s, Frank, with encouragement from Jimmy Yeaman, Morag MacAskill and some local friends, resurrected the Club. As Chairman, he kept it going for 26 years. He particularly liked to encourage young players and followed them to various festivals where he delighted in their successes. He even learned to tolerate renderings on the pipes from his Secretary!
In recent years, Frank made many pilgrimages to Mull and especially Shetland to enjoy their music festivals. The instrumental skills of young Shetlanders in particular impressed him immensely. So when the opportunity arose to arrange a visit of The High Strings from The Anderson High School in Lerwick, Frank set to work with gusto along with supporters in Fintry to fundraise so that overnight accommodation could be provided free of charge for them.
That concert is going ahead as a tribute to Frank’s memory and will be held on Monday, 25th March in the Theatre at Balfron High School rather than the Fintry Sports Club, so that a larger audience can enjoy listening to the talented youngsters.
Apart from music, Frank’s other passion was restoring old Ferguson tractors and some took part and won prizes at vintage tractor rallies at Scone and at agricultural shows elsewhere in Central Scotland. He was active in The Scottish Vintage Tractor and Engine Club.
Frank will be remembered as someone who never turned away anyone who needed help and who was loyal to friends and acquaintances. We will all miss him and the world is a poorer place with his passing.
He is survived by his wife and son to whom the sympathy of all is extended.
Collectors’ Pieces
by Charlie Gore
Charlie Gore edited and published ‘The Scottish Fiddle Music Index’ in 1994. This was the first attempt ever made to index the titles of the 12,000 or so traditional tunes, songs, airs and miscellaneous music published in the printed collections of the 18th and early 19th centuries. The chief value of the Index to researchers, musicians and students of the tradition is that it has made it possible to locate any tune listed and to identify an accessible source for the music (mostly based on collections held at the National Library of Scotland).
Robert Mackintosh (born Tullimet c1745 died London 1807)
Known as Red Rob – Fiddler, Music Teacher, Composer and Band Leader.
If there are less-known contemporaries of Niel Gow who deserve equal praise – and there are plenty – ‘Red Rob’ Mackintosh must head the list. His compositions are elegant and masterly (even the accompaniments in his collections have style); he taught many of the great fiddlers of his day; his band was in unceasing demand at all the popular functions. His son, Abraham, followed him as a composer and teacher and there were descendents of the Tullimet Mackintosh family living and playing in the Atholl district up until the 1930s. He married Margaret Mill and they had 13 children, born between 1767 and 1797, of whom 3 were christened Robert and the two younger of these were alive at the same time. This must have been confusing!
His 4 collections and all but a handful of his fine compositions are nowadays almost forgotten. John Glen published a careful and probably accurate portrait of Red Rob in The Glen Collection of Dance Music (1891) and quoted an Edinburgh directory of the 1770s in which a concert is advertised referring the reader to “Robert Mackintosh, Musician, Skinner’s Close”. From there, he made several changes of address and from one of these (in the 1780s) he advertised violin tuition: “….admittance to the public classes at one guinea per quarter only. Any gentleman may have a private hour….at one guinea per month”. After an absence of three years, during which period he led the band in ‘the Gentlemen’s Concert at Aberdeen’, he was back in Edinburgh advertising violin lessons; ‘Apply at Bremner and Stewart’s Music Shops’.
He dabbled in what some experts call ‘art music’ but his dance tunes are undoubtedly his truest memorial. The first three books were published in Edinburgh, the last in London and three of them have a dedication; Vol 2 to Mrs Campbell of Lochnell 1793; Vol 3 to Mrs Oswald of Auchencruive (born Lucy Johnston of Hilton), 1796; Vol 4 to the Duchess of Manchester (born Susan Gordon, daughter of the Duke of Gordon), 1803. Red Rob left Edinburgh for London in 1803 and died there in 1807, the year Niel Gow died in Dunkeld. After a space od 200 years, it’s hard to guess at the motive for such a move, unless it was for the benefit of his career. Glen recorded that he conducted the orchestra of The Theatre Royal in a performance of ‘Jamie and Bess’ and lived at Little Vine Street, Piccadilly. At the time he may have been in his fifties and presumably in full vigour, an excellent violinist, looking forward to continuing his highly successful career as a professional musician and bandleader. There was continual demand for music at public balls and concerts in London, as the multitude of published dance manuals and advertised functions proclaim. In all probability he fell victim to something like typhoid or pneumonia, although the worry of supporting a wife and 13 children might be argued to have been hazard enough.
His son, Abraham was born 15 June 1769 and followed his father’s profession. He published three collections, the third of which is a re-issue of the second with very considerable additions. Many have associations with places and people around Newcastle area, where he practiced as a dancing teacher for a period. Take the jig Col. Ridley’s Quickstep or Miss Catherine Maxwell’s Scots Measure – proof enough, surely, that he should be rated as his father’s son! Red Rob’s brother James, a blacksmith at Tinereoch, near Tullimet, had five sons who played the fiddle. From these an unbroken line of musical Mackintoshes, some resident in Inver village, others farther afield, descends to the 1930s.
Mackintosh adopted the practice, shared randomly by others of his contemporaries, of titling his 6/8 dance tunes ‘Reels’. This puts a different slant on the meaning of the word ‘Reel’. Was it in fact a more general word meaning ‘dance’? Can a ‘Rant’ be differentiated from it? There is no precise answer. A ‘Strathspey Reel’ is a clearly defined dance tune with a dotted rhythm that distinguishes it from a reel. In the whole of the four collections there are 339 tunes in all the usual dance tempos (there are also quite a significant number of tunes outwith his published volumes attributed to him); in the four volumes, over 100 have ‘Reel’ in the title, but 18 of these are in 6/8 time and only 5 tunes have ‘Jig’ (or ‘Jigg’) in the title. Many commentators have set out lists of Red Rob’s masterpieces. The medley Lady Charlotte Campbell (Reel and Strathspey) and the beautiful slow strathspey Miss Campbell of Saddell are well featured in modern selections and still performed. Miss Margaret Graham’s (of Gartmore’s) Favorite (wrongly attributed to William Marshall by Jim Hunter and correctly attributed but wrongly named as the original tune for the dance ‘Lady Harriet Hope’s Reel’ in RSCDS Book 16) and Miss Douglas’s Strathspey (see ‘Lord Hume’s Reel, RSCDS Book 16) are reproduced here).
Copies etc from The National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh with the shelfmarks for Book 1-4 as follows :- GLEN 357(1); GLEN 357(2) or MH.72; INGLIS 291 (3) and GLEN 358 (for Vol 4). Other copies exist in NLS and in other major Scottish Libraries. NOTE; Red Rob spells his name ‘Macintosh’ only in Book 1. Any queries to Charlie Gore.
Alnwick’s 25
The North Side Lassie
by J. P. Athey
‘Twas wi a little trepidation here in the north o’ wor nation
in Netherton’s ancient bit toon
a little Lady o’ fame, Joanie her name
we her trusty aad squeezebox sat doon
Her charge, a new tune, for aad Alnwick toon
for the accordion and fiddlers club
She accepted this duty an’ wrote a waltz o’ great beauty
in wor circle she is the hub
Named (The Silver Twenty-Five) while wor music’s alive
it will be played we pride and we pleasure
from the committee and members so A’body remembers
The Lassie fray the North’s side…..a treasure
The poem title, The North Side Lassie, stems from the village of Netherton, near Rothbury, being owned at one time by two different estates – hence North Side & South Side. Joan obviously lives in Northside.
Happy 21st Dalriada
by John Holt
In front of a packed audience in The Argyll Hotel, the Dalriada Club night on February 19th was a Birthday Party – celebrating 21 years since the inaugural night in 1981.Many present had been there on that first night, and it was fitting that the birthday cake, made by Jenny Campbell, was officially cut by Iona Gillies, whose husband Iain was the Club’s first Chairman. It was a night of nostalgia, and messages of goodwill were read out from BBC Scotland’s Robbie Shepherd and from former Club Chairman, Fraser McGlynn. In addition, a list of over 190 Dalriada Club nights was circulated, detailing more than 140 visiting bands, groups and solo players.
Since his appearance on the very first Club night on February 24th, 1981, a frequent visitor to Mid Argyll has been Bill Black from Stanley, and it was fitting that it was Bill and his SDB who celebrated the 21st Anniversary of the Club as guest artistes. Joining Bill on the rostrum were Mabel Gray (keyboard), Gordon Simpson (fiddle), Robert MacFadyen (drums) and Iain Anderson (second accordion) and they were all on the top of their form. Both generous halves of the programme were highly enjoyable, with many Band highlights, and solos from Mabel, Gordon and Iain. We must also make mention of a lively set of reels on fiddle from Bill himself – temporarily setting his trusty Shand Morino to one side.
Then just before the interval, after the cake had been piped in, Bill Black’s latest composition was given its first public performance – a 2/4 march entitled ‘Dalriada Accordion and Fiddle Club’s 21st Anniversary’ – many thanks for this fine tune Bill, which is sure to be heard many times in the future.
The band themselves had earlier been entranced by four fine sets contributed by a large contingent from the Mid Argyll Pipe Band, who joined in the celebration and received a great welcome from the crowded hall.
There were many other contributors to the night’s musical content – former Club chairmen, Johnny Fisher (3-row) and Donald MacDonald (drums) were joined by Secretary John Holt (piano) for some lively reels and hornpipes. David Hunt and Grant MacDougall were on top form, with Grant also providing rhythm for Sandy MAcDonaldon lively 2-row button-box. Again on button-box (3-row) a most welcome appearance by Alec Mackinnon from Carradale, with Alec MacAllister on piano, and Gerry Boxall on drums. The same pairing were the backing for fiddle maestro Archie MacAllister, who thrilled the audience with his exciting session playing. Sincere thanks to all the above mentioned.
Thanks also to the loyal Club supporters, who turned out in force for this rather special evening. Compere, Bruce Robertson, held the programme together in masterly fashion, and the Club Committee organised a splendid raffle and the cutting of the cake for all to enjoy. Celebrations will continue next month when Iain MacPhail is coming to the Argyll for our Dalriada Club Night.
The sum of £70 was collected on the night and sent to The Jimmy Shand Memorial Statue Fund.
Jim MacRae Tribute Dance
by Hector McLeod
The Tribute Ceilidh Dance on 1st February, 2002, in The Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, in honour of the late Jim MacRae, was a great success and a fitting tribute to a man who had given so much to the ceilidh music scene in the last 30 years. Such was Jim’s popularity that the dance was a complete sell-out ten days before the event and a spare ticket was like gold dust.
Among 400 or so of Jim’s friends who attended, were those who had traveled from as far as Ireland, Skye, Lewis and Barra, determined to be present at such a special evening.
The music was provided by some 40 accordionists, fiddlers, pianists, drummers, guitarists and solo singers, many of them coming after their own gigs had finished; all of them anxious to play some part, no matter how small, on such an occasion.
With such a large number of performers and preponderance of box players, the logistics of arranging the groupings of players and the order of playing would have seemed to be a problem, but this was very easily solved. John Carmichael and Charlie Kirkpatrick were happy to take charge of the programming and be MCs for the evening. They ran the show like an Accordion & Fiddle Club, making up ‘bands’ from the galaxy of players present and such was their professionalism, expertise and knowledge of the players, that the changes of bands were almost seamless. Solo singers were interspersed among the bands all evening and the result was six hours of wonderful music and dancing that will never be forgotten by those lucky enough to be present.
The highlight of the evening was the first performance of Jim MacRae’s March – a 2/4, so loved by Jim – written by Fergie MacDonald and played firstly by Fergie and then by Fergie and one of the ‘bands’. A framed, signed copy of the tune was then presented to Mairi, Jim’s widow, by Fergie.
Mairi wished all proceeds from the evening to be donated to the Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology at Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow where Jim had been given such expert and attentive treatment over the last nine years.
Accordingly, on 7th February, 2002, at an impromptu ceilidh in The Islay Inn, Glasgow, Jim’s daughter, Linda, presented Professor Colin Kirkness with a cheque for the magnificent sum of £4,250.
The Dance Committee wish to thank all who attended the dance, all who played at the dance, all who supplied prizes for the raffle, all who bought so many raffle tickets and all who gave donations so generously.
Tingle Creek
by Deryn Waitt
If the first weekend ceilidh held at Tingle Creek hotel is anything to go by, then it certainly won’t be the last! We had a superb weekend of music, dancing, songs and sheer entertainment by 24 enthusiastic performers. Tingle Creek Hotel is in the lovely village of Erbusaig, near Kyle of Lochalsh. We players were looked after extremely well by host Ian Robin, with lovely and much appreciated meals and comfortable accommodation.
The music began on Friday afternoon after setting up equipment in The Ceilidh Room. Robin Waitt and myself (Bon Accords from Canonbie, Dumfriesshire), Jimmy McDonald from Tighnabruaich on piano and Richard Hughes from Tobermory on drums had an enjoyable session – just to get in the mood or, more likely, just for the sheer joy of playing!
7.45pm saw the official start of the weekend with the inimitable Ian Cameron from Ballinluig, along with those stalwarts of the weekend, Jimmy McDonald and Richard Hughes. Music was non-stop from then on with players ready and willing to keep the music flowing till 1.30am. The large audience certainly enjoyed the varied styles of the players, and took advantage of the new dance floor. Other musicians on the Friday night were John ‘The Box’ McKerlich from Dornie with his terrific West Coast style with Robin on button key playing second box; Bon Accords with not only Scottish sets but also Irish, including songs from Co. Mayo especially for Irish Annie – who incidentally gave us an Irish jig – a contender for River Dance??
Dave Millward from Oban entertained us all with some lovely songs and tunes, Mac Kinnear from Dundee who was for many years in The Heather Dance Band was a pleasure to listen to, and John Stuart from Leven played some real rousing tunes. All-in-all a great start to the weekend. It was a pleasure to see Edmund McKenzie and his wife in the audience and enjoying the dancing. The first night finished with a stramash – but!!! at 2.35am on Saturday morning, Robin and Ian were still playing!
Saturday morning at 9.00am, our host came downstairs to the sound of music. The one and only Ian Cameron had ‘felt a tune coming on’, and as everywhere was still locked up, the only place he could find was the Gents toilet!! You can’t keep a good man down – and of course seats were available! Music began at 11.30am, and as well as the aforementioned players, we had enjoyable tunes from 5-row player Willie Lothian from Pathhead, and The Kyle Band i.e. Wullie Kennedy and John Patterson on accordions and Francis Coghill on drums with Jimmy McDonald on piano. They gave us a great set and are obviously popular guys. Who should appear then but Willie Bradley from Glasgow – a very welcome addition to the guest list, always ready to give a tune and always receiving great appreciation. It was great to see him again as due to work commitments he has not been about as often as we would wish. A welcome addition to the festivities on Saturday were students from the Gaelic College on Skye who arrived at 2pm on Saturday and were picked up again at 1am Sunday! After a break for dinner, the Saturday night session started at 7.45pm with Bon Accords and Richard. What a night. Tingle Creek’s bar and ceilidh room were packed to capacity and more! Dougie McKinnon from Dornie was in cracking form with Willie Bradley on second box. Incidentally Willie set off home but arrived back an hour later – couldn’t tear himself away! We had Ian Ruaridh Finlayson on pipes with Robin on second box. Excellent!! We were also pleased to welcome two local singers – Ronnie McRae and Ed Ingle who were both in good form. Along with all the resident musicians, the night was a tremendous success with a lovely atmosphere. Once more we were pleased to see Edmund and his wife back and rarely off the floor. The night ended as on Friday with a 10-box stramash.
Sunday was a relaxing day – we didn’t start till 1pm. We all had a tune in the bar, then Jimmy and Richard brought piano and drums through and another good session commenced with Ian Cameron. Super tunes and great playing from Ian. Dave Millward then had his final fling with Robin, Jimmy and Richard before leaving for home. Again an enjoyable set – he’s good to have around. Mealtimes with Dave, Jimmy and Robin were hilarious. This time Dave definitely had the No 1 joke! Next on the agenda, we had Ian Joseph from Roy Bridge and Alasdair MacPhail on piano with Richard on drums. Great music from these lads and different again in style. Ian Ruaridh was next on the Highland pipes and what fantastic music – a talented guy and nice with it! We had more music from John McKerlich from Dornie with Ian Joseph on piano and Richard on drums. Mac Kinnear with Alasdair McPhail on piano and wait for it – Richard was able to have a break, we had Kenny Cummings (Ballochmyle Band) on drums. Then the ever popular Dougie from Dornie with Ian Joseph on second box, Jimmy and Richard. To conclude Sunday afternoon’s session we had Ian Cameron, Alastair Robb on guitar, Robin on second box and Jimmy and Richard. Superb!
The final session started on Sunday night at 8.15pm with ourselves (Bon Accords) and Rikki Hughes. At this point I’d like to say how much we all appreciated the talents and efforts given unreservedly by Jimmy and Richard. They were a great support to everyone. We had more lively music from Dougie with Robin on second accordion, Jimmy and Richard, then a great set from Alasdair McPhail on accordion, Ian Josephon second box, Davy Gracie on piano and Kenny on drums. Next we had his last tunes of the weekend from Mac Kinnear with Robin, Jimmy and Richard – a fine steady player and a pleasure to listen to. The final session of the weekend was in the capable hands of Kennt Cummings and Davy Gracie (The Ballochmyle Band). Another large audience was treated to yet another style of music, and the floor was once again full of dancers. A brilliant end to what had been a most successful and thoroughly enjoyable weekend.
This weekend of music represented the camaraderie of like minded professionals in an amateur environment – all off-duty but playing for the sheer love of music and friendship – meeting old friends and making new ones. The willingness of all the musicians and singers to join together and form groups – some who hadn’t met before – to support and enhance each other, surely can only further the tradition in the most natural way. Competitiveness was not part of the weekend – only the pure lovely of the music and enjoyment!
We thank all the artistes unreservedly, both local and far traveled, and I would like to personally thank them because they made my job so easy. Each one was ready and willing to play when asked, so there was never a lull in proceedings. Special thanks, of course, to Jimmy McDonald and Richard Hughes – the backbone of the weekend, to Robin as MC, Dave for his help, everyone who came along and made it such a happy weekend, and last but certainly not least, our thanks for the warm welcome and splendid hospitality go to Ian and Olive Robin, not forgetting Laura, Ryan and Bridie and all the hard working staff. Here’s to the next one!!
A Dance Band Almanac
by Dave Francis
Another first for the band this month…………
The Piping Shrike
by Jean Lumsden
In Adelaid this month……..
Greeting from Inverness
by Margo MacLennan
I had a great time in Musselburgh catching up………..
Take the Floor – Saturdays with Robbie Shepherd
6th April 02 – John Carmichael SDB + feature on St Roch’s Ceilidh Band
13th April 02 – Glenelvan SDB + feature on Jim MacLeod MBE
20th April 02 – Bill Black SDB + feature on High Strings from Shetland
27th April 02 – Robert Whitehead & the Danelaw SDB – OB from Alnwick Castle with guests Iain Fraser, Ian Lowthian & Emily Smith
4th May 02 – Angus MacPhail
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) – 30th Apr 02 – Gary Donaldson & Ian Hutson
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle) 10th Apr 02 – Robin Hamilton Trio
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 21st Apr 02 – Dick Black Band
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 7th Apr 02 – Paul Anderson
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 4th Apr 02 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 21st Apr 02 – Sandy Legget Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 29th Apr 02 – Aberdeen & Banchory S&R Societies
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 24th Apr 02 – Tain Duo
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 15th Apr 02 – David Cunningham Jnr SDB
Belford (Community Centre) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 14th Apr 02 – Ian Anderson (fiddle) Trio
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 9th Apr 02 – Steven Carcary
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) –
Campbeltown (The Royal Hotel) -
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 2nd Apr 02 – Scott Gordon Trio
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) - 4th Apr 02 – William Paterson
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 16th Apr 02 – Andy Greig SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 18th Apr 02 – Wayne Robertson
Crathes (Crathes Hall, Banchory) - 14th Apr 02 – All players welcome
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 4th Apr 02 – Black Rose Ceilidh Band
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 10th Apr 02 - tbc
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead) 16th Apr 02 – Donnie & Diane
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 3rd Apr 02 – Addie Harper Band
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 17th Apr 02 – Jennifer Cruickshamks SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (The Village Inn) –
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 23rd Apr 02 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 22nd Apr 02 – Kinlochard Ceilidh Band
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 28th Apr 02 – Wayne Robertson Duo
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 10th Apr 02 – Hebbie Gray
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) – 8th Apr 02 – Club night
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) – 18th Apr 02 - AGM
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 3rd Apr 02 – Dick Black’s Band
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 30th Apr 02 – Davie Stewart Band
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) -
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 19th Apr 02 – Lewis & Harris A&F Club
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 10th Apr 02 – The MacAllister Trio
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 4th Apr 02 - tbc
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 4th Apr 02 – David Cunningham Jnr Quartet
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 24th Apr 02 – Max Houliston Trio
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) – 3rd Apr 02 – Jimmy Cassidy
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) -
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 11th Apr 02 – Ian Thonson SDB
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 4th Apr 02 – Steven Carcary Sound
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 16th Apr 02 – Paul Anderson
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 30th Apr 02 – Dick Black Band
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) –
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 6th Apr 02 – Supper dance to Webster Craig
14th Apr 02 – Competitions
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 2nd Apr 02 – David Morrice Duo
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) – 25th Apr 02 – Allan McIntosh SDB
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 16th Apr 02 – Marie Fielding & Alison Smith
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) - 2nd Apr 02 - tbc
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 9th Apr 02 – Colin Garvin Trio
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 4th Apr 02 – Bill Black SDB
Selkirk (Cricket Club) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Masonic Hall) - 10th Apr 02 – Jean McConnachie Sound
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 1st Apr 02 – Deirdre Adamson
Turriff (Royal British Legion) – 4th Apr 02 – Dick Black Band
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 18th Apr 02 – Ron Hodgson & Julie Best
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 11th Apr 02 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 16th Apr 02 – Seamus O’Sullivan
Yarrow (Gordon Arms) - 17th Apr 02 – Shirley Campbell SDB
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Arbroath
5. Armadale
6. Balloch
7. Banchory
8. Banff
9. Beith & District
10. Biggar
11. Blairgowrie
12. Button Key
13. Campsie
14. Carlisle
15. Castle Douglas
16. Coalburn
17. Cults
18. Dingwall
19. Dunblane
20. Ellon
21. Forfar
22. Forres
23. Galston
24. Glendale
25. Glenrothes & District
26. Gretna
27. Highland
28. Isle of Skye
29. Islesteps
30. Kintore
31. Lanark
32. Langholm
33. Lesmahagow
34. Lewis & Harris
35. Livingston
36. Lockerbie
37. Montrose
38. Newmill (on-Teviot)
39. Newtongrange
40. North East
41. Oban
42. Peebles
43. Perth
44. Premier
45. Rothbury
46. Shetland
47 Thornhill
48 Thurso
49. Turriff
50. West Barnes
51. Wick
52. Yarrow
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2002
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Bromley A&F Club
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campbeltown A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
29. Ellon A&F Club (
30. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
31. Forfar A&F Club (
32. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
33. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
34. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
35. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
36. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
37. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
38. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
39. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
40. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
41. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
42. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
43. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
44. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
45. Kintore A&F Club (
46. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed
47. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – present)
48. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
49. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
52. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
53. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
54. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
55. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
56. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
57. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
58. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
59. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
60. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
61. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
62. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
63. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
64. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
65. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
66. Selkirk A&F Club (
67. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
68. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
69. Sutherland A&F Club (
70. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
71. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
72. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
73. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
74. Vancouver
75. West Barnes ( - present)
76. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
77. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – )
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
78. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
79. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
80. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
81. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
82. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
83. Buchan A&F Club
84. Callander A&F Club (
85. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
86. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
87. Club Accord
88. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
89. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
90. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
91. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
92. Derwentside A&F Club
93. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
94. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
95. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
96. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
97. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
98. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
99. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
100. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
101. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
102. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
103. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Mull A&F Club
107. Newcastleton Accordion Club
108. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
109. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
110. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
111. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
112. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
113. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
114. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
115. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
116. Tranent A&F Club
117. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
118. Wellbank A&F Club
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B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
Summer time is coming, the clocks have gone forward and the evenings are getting lighter. (The clocks actually went forward a week early inn the Todd household, and Charlie was at the NAAFC Executive Committee meeting at one o’clock – at least that was better than last year when he forgot to change them and was late!) For the first time you’ll be able to read your B&F magazine while you’re lazing in the sun. The response has been such that the Executive Committee decided that it should become an all-year-round publication. Many Clubs don’t meet in the summer, so we’re giving readers the opportunity to be ‘Summer Subscribers’ – the 4 summer issues will be sent by post, and they can then resume buying from their Club in September. Summer Subscriptions in the UK will be at a cost od £9.40 (incl P&P). The Annual Subscriptions will start in September.
Thank you to everyone who has written or phoned to say how much they enjoy the magazine. It could not be produced in its present format without the help of many people – Culross the Printers, who go out of their way each month to help us with any problems we may have, whether with computers or timescales; and the Executive Committee who keep me right with their musical knowledge; the Clubs who send in their reports each month; Heather McLean, the unofficial B&F secretary; Alison Riddell who proof reads every month; everyone who contributes articles, columns or letters; and, of course, you the readers. Thank you all.
Karin Ingram
Musselburgh 2002
by Neil Copland
Saturday, 2nd March 2002 saw the 28th Annual Accordion & Fiddle Championships (Musselburgh Festival) organised by the N.A.A.F.C. Thankfully the severe weather and foot and mouth disease that were around last year were nowhere to be seen this time. Indeed, it was a lovely, crisp Spring morning that greeted the competitors and their supporters as they arrived in Musselburgh for this annual jamboree of all that is good about the Accordion & Fiddle scene and our music at the moment.
We all arrived at the Brunton Hall eagerly anticipating the delights that the current crop of competitors were going to present to the distinguished panel of adjudicators. Entries this year were around 180, which is down a wee bit from the last few years. Especially affected by the reduction were the Classical Accordion sections, and to a lesser extent the Traditional Accordion, and two Open Championship Sections. The Junior Fiddle classes however, bucked this trend and what a competition we had for the two Junior Fiddle sections. This continuing increase in the Junior Fiddle numbers is all down to three or four school music teachers, who are now actively involved in promoting the playing of Scottish fiddle music in schools. They are to be commended for pushing hard on this matter and getting the results as was evidenced at the Brunton Halls last month.
The drop in entries is a trend that I have noticed in all Festivals during the current ‘season’ and there seems to be no particular reason for this happening. We can only hope that numbers pick up again over the next few years to get all Festivals back on the level of entries experienced in the past. This year we had competitors from Carlisle, Dingwall, Inverness, the Borders and our first ever competitor all the way from Shetland – young Maggie Adamson. All our competitors were winners just by being there and competing even if they didn’t manage to take home a trophy this time around. The support of all teachers (both accordion and fiddle) and the parents of their pupils is greatly appreciated by the Festival Committee.
As you will know, the chosen composer for this year’s Open Fiddle Championship class was Bob Edward and it was my great pleasure to welcome Bob’s son, Bobby and his family home from Canada to be present at the Festival. Bobby and his family were thrilled to hear of the choice of Bob’s music and it was therefore apt that Bobby should present the Banchory Strathspey and Reel Society Trophy to Graeme Davidson, himself from Banchory, after the evening play-off. Bob Edwards was a great stalwart of fiddle festivals with his young charges in years gone by and is very sadly missed by those who knew him through his promotion of the playing of Scottish music by youngsters, particularly in the Tayside area.
It was also a privilege to welcome to the concert Margo Gibson, daughter of the late Alex Little, whom we all knew so fondly as a former Chairman of the Festival as well as a very keen promoter of youngsters playing the traditional music of our heritage. Margo and her family had very generously donated a new challenge trophy in Alex’s memory, and it was therefore fitting that she be present to present it to the first ever recipient, David MacKenzie of Dingwall. The trophy will now be competed for annually as the Overall Junior Accordion Championship.
The competition for the two Open Championships reached their climax during the evening concert with four of the most talented young fiddlers on the scene at the moment vying to become the new champion. As mentioned earlier, the honours this year went to Graeme Davidson of Banchoey, but the three runners up Perdy Syres-Gibson, Erin Smith and Ingrid Hammond made sure that it was a very difficult evening for the two adjudicators. The accordion Championship final was equally exciting with Susan MacFadyen beating off the challenges of Liam Stewart and Graeme MacKay to take the title after a nail-biting play-off. I can also confirm that the chosen composers for these sections for the 2003 Festival are James Scott Skinner (fiddle) and Iain MacPhail (accordion). These choices will give competitors some great opportunities to showcase their talents.
The adjudication panel this year comprised no fewer than five new faces to our Festival (Jim Berry, Iain Cathcart, Andrew Knight, Gus Millar and Michael Paton) as well as three ‘veterans’ – Gordon Pattullo, Alan Preston and Gordon Simpson. Every one of the adjudicators commented most highly on the quality of playing they heard throughout the day. In responding to the quality of adjudications, I have been approached by a number of parents who wished it recorded that the manner and style of the adjudicators’ comments and criticisms were very well put over and received by the young competitors. As a former competitor myself, it was always nice to think that your adjudicator was giving you a very personal and genuine commentary on your performance and this certainly has been the feedback this year from parents and teachers. Thanks then are due to the competitors for their extremely good performances, and also to the adjudicators for their equally good performances.
The Brunton Hall complex continues to be an ideal venue for the Festival and with the availability of the Theatre this year, coupled with the small drop in the number of entries, we did not have to use any external venues. I have however, already had information that the Main Hall that the Brunton Hall complex will not be available for 2003 due to refurbishment. Be assured however, that the Festival Committee is already actively pursuing how we can make next year’s event as much of a success as any before it. Watch the B&F, or the website for more news on this matter as it emerges over the coming months.
Once again, by careful scheduling and good time management by stage crews in the various halls, we achieved the desired aim of ensuring that the only competition taking place by 4pm was the Band Section in the Main Hall. The hall was packed and the atmosphere was something else. What a super climax to another great day of music, fun and socializing. The Band competition was recorded by Ken Mutch and the BBC Take the Floor team for transmission as one of two special features on the Festival that were broadcast during March. The other feature gave those who couldn’t be at the Festival the chance to hear some of the new Champions as they played in the Prize-Winners’ Concert in the early part of the evening. My thanks go again to Ken Mutch and the BBC team for their continued support of the Musselburgh Festival. The concert this year was compered by John Caskie as a solo venture due to the unfortunate absence of his ‘partner in crime’ over the last few years, Jennifer Forrest. Haste Ye Back Jennifer, as the pair of you make a great team. Following a most successful concert, the Festival Dance was in the very capable hands of Jim Johnstone and his SDB – what an end to our day! The music was superb – just as we have come to expect from this talented group of musicians. During the dance it was my pleasure to conduct a Festival Raffle, which had around 40 prizes – and that after having a small draw at the end of the competitions! My thanks go to all NAAFC Clubs, individuals and Festival friends for their contributions to this superb raffle.
I conclusion, I must thank everyone who helped make this year’s Festival as successful and enjoyable as any before it – competitors, teachers, parents, parents, Committee members, advertisers, sponsors, helpers, raffle donors, adjudicators and very importantly, the listening public. Special thanks also, to Festival Secretary, Margaret Macari for her efficient service to me, the Committee and all competitors throughout the year.
If there was any aspect of this year’s Festival that readers feel could be improved, then the Committee would welcome feedback – all comments received will be discussed at the next Committee meeting in May.
All that remains is for me to say once again a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who helped make this year’s Festival another successful occasion – from a musical and social point of view. See you next year!!!
Junior Accordion
Under 12 Traditional Accordion Solo – Pentland Cup
1) Jim Gold (Douglas)
2) Adam Brady (Dundee)
3) Heather Campbell (Tranent)
12 and Under 16 Traditional Solo – Jim Johnstone Cup
1) David MAcKenzie (Dingwall)
2) Tom Orr (Lanark)
3) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
Junior Accordion Solo Pipe Music – Bill Black Cup
1) Tom Orr (Lanark)
2) David MacKenzie (Dingwall)
3) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
Junior Traditional Duet – Angus Howie Cups
1) John Thow & Luke Brady (Dundee)
2) Emma & Kerry Alexander (Buckie)
3) Paul MacFadyen & Gillian Kirkland (Dundee)
Overall Junior Accordion Champion – Alex Little Memorial Trophy
David MacKenzie (Dingwall)
Senior Accordion
Senior Traditional Accordion Solo – Clinkscale Cup
1) Graeme MacKay (Inverness)
2) Liam Stewart (Galston)
3) Stuart Cameron (Glasgow)
Senior Accordion Pipe Music Solo – Bill Powrie Memorial Cup
1) Janette Morrison (Edinburgh)
2) Nicky McMichan (Lochmaben)
3) Matthew MacLennan (Kiltarlity)
Open Accordion Championship – Todhills Trophy
1) Susan MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
2=) Graeme MacKay (Inverness)
2=) Liam Stewart (Galston)
Senior Overall Accordion Champion - The Bobby MacLeod Trophy
Graeme MacKay (Inverness)
Open Buttonkey Accordion Solo – Windygates Trophy
1) Graeme MacKay (Inverness)
2) John Weaks (Glasgow)
3)
Trios – Jimmy Blue Trophy
1) Tom Orr (Lanark)
2) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
3) St John’s Harefield Trio (Dundee)
Bands – Overall Winner - Iain MacPhail Cup
1) Scott Gordon (Aberdeen)
2) William Marshall (Edinburgh)
Band – Rhythm Section - Arthur Easson Memorial Trophy
Scott Gordon (Aberdeen)
Own Composition – Willie Wilson Cup
1) Michael Philip (Cardenden)
2) Maureen Rutherford (Perth)
3) Perdy Syres-Gibson (Edinburgh)
Under 12 Classical Solo – Kelso Cup
1) John Morrison (Glasgow)
2) Claire Noble (Broughton)
3) Julie Blaylock (Carlisle)
Under 14 Classical Solo – Aberdeen Cup
1) Robert Menzies (Thornhill)
2) Jane Turner (Edinburgh)
3)
Under 16 Classical Solo – Dundee shield
1) Jennifer Maxwell (Cumbria)
2) Duncan McNichol (Musselburgh)
3) Morgan Leslie (Biggar)
Open Classical Solo – Clinkscale Shield
1) Fiona Titterington (Carlisle)
2) Ross Fleming (Blairgowrie)
3)
Under 13 Classical Duet – Beith & District A&F Club Cups (Willie Wilson Memorial Trophies)
1) Jim Gold (Douglas) & Robert Menzies (Thornhill)
2) Jane Turner (Edinburgh) & Claire Noble (Broughton)
Under 16 Classical Duet - Alex MacArthur Cups
1) No entries
2)
3)
Open Classical Duet – Dunfermline Cup
1) Fiona Titterington (Carlisle) & Jennifer Maxwell (Cumbria)
2)
3)
Classical Polka
Under 10 Classical Polka Solo – The Todhills Trophy
1)
2)
Under 14 Classical Polka Solo – Newtongrange Shield
1) John Morrison (Glasgow)
2)
3)
Open Classical Polka Solo – Tign-Na-Gorm Cup
1) Tom Orr (Lanark)
2) Derek Muir (Airdrie)
3) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
Under 14 Classical Musette Accordion Solo – John Laidlaw Memorial Trophy
1) Scott Nichol (Pathhead)
2) Jim Gold (Douglas)
3)
Open Classical Musette Accordion Solo – Christine Hunter Memorial Trophy
1) Tom Orr (Lanark)
2) David MAcKenzie (Dingwall)
3) Luke Brady (Dundee)
Fiddle Sections
Under 12 Fiddle Solo – NAAFC Musselburgh Festival Trophy
1) Kerry Alexander (Buckie)
2) Katherine Brooke (Aberdeen)
3) Maggie Adamson (Shetland)
Junior Fiddle Solo – MSR – Strathspey and Reel Association Cup
1) George Smith (Aberlemno)
2) Kirsty Lowe (Muirhead)
3) Erin Smith (Aberdeen)
Junior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Dougie Welsh Cup
1) Erin Smith (Aberdeen)
2) George Smith (Aberlemno)
3) Donna Davidson (Banchory)
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Strathspey, MSR – St. Boswell Cup
1) Ingrid Hammond (Dundee)
2) Perdy Syres-Gibson (Edinburgh)
3) Graeme Davidson (Banchory)
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Ron Gonella Cup
1) Perdy Syres-Gibson (Edinburgh)
2) Graeme Davidson (Banchory)
3) Ingrid Hammond (Dundee)
Open Fiddle Championship – Banchory S&R Society Trophy
1) Graeme Davidson (Banchory)
2=) Perdy Syres-Gibson (Edinburgh)
2=) Ingrid Hammond (Dundee)
2=) Erin Smith (Aberdeen)
Overall Fiddle Champion - The Angus Fitchet Trophy
Perdy Syres-Gibson (Edinburgh)
Overall Junior Fiddle Champion – Judith Linton Trophy
George Smith (Aberlemno)
Open Fiddle Groups – Lesmahagow Quaich
1) Tayside Young Fiddlers (Dundee)
2) St John’s Stringers (Dundee)
Youngest Girl Competitor – John McQueen Medal
Kerry Alexander (Buckie)
Youngest Boy Competitor – John McQueen Medal
Jim Gold (Douglas)
Those Were the Days
by Donnie MacKenzie
Reading your excellent B&F brings back many, many memories of my young days playing the accordion, with my own band and with other bandleaders of the 1950s.
Leaving Letterfindlay, on Loch Lochy side, to Camusnaheiridhe on Loch Leven side where my father had become the Head Gamekeeper on Mamore Estates at Kinlochleven brought me into accordion playing.
Prior to this it was the wireless and the old wind-up gramophone. Our Saturday chore was to take the ‘wet’ battery from the wireless into Marshall & Pearson’s in Fort William to get it recharged and to take home the recharged battery, left the previous week, to see us through the incoming week. We had to be home again for evening for the News followed by the dance music. Whilst in Fort William we also had to visit Marion Weir’s Music Shop to purchase any new 78s of Scottish dance music. So Saturdays were always enjoyable for us schoolboys and girls.
My young life was fantastic, whether listening to dance music on the wireless or winding up the old gramophone to listen to all our records. In addition there were always callers at the house – daytime and evening – sometimes with an accordion, or a fiddle, a mouthie or just to sing Gaelic songs – something you don’t see nowadays except in a few Highland areas.
Remember the records? Jimmy Shand, Bobby MacLeod, Adam Rennie, Jack Forsyth, Jim Cameron, Willie Hannah, Curly MacKay and Willie Kemp. Then came John Johnstone, Jim MacLeod, Ian Powrie with Jimmy Blue and Mickie Ainsworth, The Wick Dance Band, Jim Johnstone and, of course, Oban’s Colin Campbell whom I had the great pleasure of playing with when living in Oban. And my old school mate, Fergie MacDonald, whom I had the pleasure of playing with when I moved to Dumbarton. Even though only a schoolboy I had the excitement of listening to many of these bands play in Kinlochleven for the annual B.A. Dance. These were held in the village hall which, sadly, has now been knocked down. In my young days many a Friday night saw three such dances in Kinlochleven – in the village hall, The Tartan Hotel and in the Scout Hall. None now! Just standing at the door of these halls listening to the bands was worth more than a million pounds to me!
Kinlochleven had its own famous accordionist and bandleader, Benny McGeachy. I’ll never ever be able to repay Benny for his help, encouragement and support when I was given my first accordion. For my 12th birthday Father went into Fort William and returned home with a magnificent 5-row Ranco, 120 bass, button accordion. It had come from J. T. Forbes, Dundee. No one in the house or roundabout had a clue how to play this thing except, of course, Benny McGeachy. There were not many 5-row boxes around in the 1950s – there are many more on the go now. Benny taught me the scales and the bass, then it was back to the good old radio and gramophone to pick up tunes by ear. A year passed by and Benny called at the house and asked if I had a blue suit, white shirt and black bow tie? Benny thought it would be good experience for me to join his band – “and it will look good to have two accordionists!” So next dat Father was off to Fort William to buy my kit – I felt I was in the big time now!
I played with Benny’s band for about two years – some experience! Great times! Benny began to leave me to play on my own for some of the dances and also during this time I sometimes played on my own at concerts and ceilidhs.
When I was fifteen, Benny double-booked himself and said I could do one of the dances on my own. This was to be in Onich, so I was joined by the late Peter Ferguson on drums and the late Allan Shaw on fiddle (both from Kinlochleven).
At this time there was a great demand for dance bands so, with Benny’s encouragement, I began my own band with Peter and Allan. These were some of my happiest days playing in old halls, wooden huts, ramshackles of places and a few new halls. Do you recall when men used to stand on one side of the hall with the women on the other? The minute a dance was announced the men would tear across and grab a partner – no problem of girls being left out. If a man fancied a girl he sometimes held on to her for the following dance. Fantastic what you can see from the stage! In summertime all the local hotels were packed and a lot of girls from the Islands were working in the hotels so most dances were packed. At one dance in Argyll no-one appeared until the pubs were shut at 10pm so at 10.30pm the rush began. Some shepherds and gamekeepers arrived – all well oiled. They had been at a clay pigeon shoot so arrived in plus fours and tackitty boots – one even accompanied by his two collie dogs – but no-one was at all bothered. When the man got up to dance the dogs followed, snapping at the heels of whoever was dancing with him. None of the women bothered – they were far too busy watching where his boots were landing! We were in stitches on the platform. If the tackitty boots landed on any woman’s foot it was curtains! He would certainly stop dancing every now and again on meeting someone he knew and out of his inside pocket would come the half bottle and the two had a swig in the middle of the floor. Then they carried on dancing where they had left off with not a care in the world.
On another occasion when we had an MC who had been in the hotel prior to the dance, and he announced ‘partners for a Strip the Willow’, next ‘partners for a Canadian Band Dance’, next ‘partners for a Strip the Willow’, next ‘partners for a Canadian Band Dance’ – as far as he was concerned there were no other dances! But at half-time he disappeared – thank goodness. There were the times a fight would start in the doorway so we soon learned to announce an ‘Eightsome Reel’ or some other fast dance, which usually stopped the fighting. Anyway, most started over a woman. Minutes later the fighters would be great pals sharing a dram.
For another dance we had to cross on a ferry. Our fiddle player, Allan Shaw, was none too happy about this but Peter and I were quite used to boats. At this time I had left school and was working on the Ballachulish ferry – and what an experience that was! Back to the dance and ferry crossing. Well, there were a lot on the ferry for this dance and the fella in charge of the boat, well I said “we were used to boats” but on this occasion not a word was spoken until arrival on the other side. I’ll not say any more about this ferryman except that he wanted to take our fares twice on the journey over.
It had been arranged for someone to meet us on the other side, as the hall was some distance from the ferry, a gamekeeper in an old jeep – no side protection, just some old canvas over the driver and passenger. We all piled into this thing plus some of the other people who had crossed over in the boat. To crown it all, the gamekeeper had two terriers and a spaniel in the jeep. We arrived at the hall frozen and covered in dog hairs. I was dead scared to say a word to Allan but Peter was in his glory. Good old Allan – he was the one to keep us sane or at least he tried.
We played from 9pm to 2.30am non-stop, and then came the journey back home. Our driver in the old jeep drove along that road, winding and twisting, with practically no lights on his clapped-out vehicle. If one had problems praying before – well this journey solved that problem. Arriving at the ferry we had to wait for our ferryman who had also been at the dance. Silence once again prevailed as with the help of just a torch on a pitch-black night, three large bodies piled into this small boat with an accordion, drums and a fiddle. Another man climbed in to keep the ferryman company on the return journey. Remember this was a small boat with just an outboard motor. Not one word was spoken by the three of us, but the other two fells sang Gaelic songs all the way over, while we were being splashed by waves hitting the front of the boat. But we had to admit afterwards, he must have known these waters. Allan was normally a very quiet man but as we lifted out our instruments he let rip and went mad! Peter and I were in stitches after being so scared.
I well remember a wedding reception we played at. The wedding was in the afternoon, followed by speeches, food and the usual drams. We were asked to be there for 7.30pm and play to 11.30pm. Being a Saturday we were told to finish by that time. That was a joke! As you can imagine everyone was in a great mood. One guest kept asking me to play this 2/4 and that 6/8. To be honest I was getting a wee bit fed up but it was a wedding and you do get these problems. Thinking back on it, when I started to have a fair dram at functions I was probably a bigger pest than this fellow. In fact I am certain I was. He kept telling me he played a 2-row box and wanted a shot at mine. He said he would play for a Canadian Barn Dance. I tried to tell him he would have a 2-row chromatic and my box was a 5-row Continental. He would have none of it and was getting support from his friends at the reception. He was a local and a good box player. One of his women friends shouted “are you afraid he will show you up schoolboy?” Allan said, “Give him the bloody accordion Donnie”. I passed it to him with loud cheers from the guests and he immediately announced “Let’s have a good Canadian Barn Dance”. He got cheers for this. Need I go any further? He tried and tried in vain to play the 5-row and then discovered I was telling the truth – my accordion was different from his. By this time there was a crowd of people on the floor and we were enjoying a cup of tea. He very sheepishly called me back and handed over the accordion. There was not a cheep from any of his friends for the remained of the night. When he left the stage he gave his poor wife hell and she had nothing to do with it. In fact she never said a word when he was wanting a shot at my box. The end of the story is that we became very good friends and he always reminded me of that wedding – we had many a good laugh about it. That is the way musicians treat things, forget about it immediately. It is a pity people in other walks of life don’t act likewise.
As I said previously, when at Camusnaheiridhe we had many people call to visit. One regular was Bobby MacLeod himself. His fiddler, Pibroch MAcKenzie, was some far-out relative of my father and we had fantastic times with them. On one such occasion we had been playing for some time and Bobby had me marching around the house to get the right timing for pipe marches. Great days! After moving to Dumbarton I got to know Bobby very well as we met regularly with a personal friend of his and mine, Tommy Anderson, at Gartocharn. Before moving on, I must add one thing about Bobby MacLeod, whenever I asked about a certain tune and I could not get hold of the music, within a few days the music would arrive from Bobby. As well as being professional musicians these were great people, kind, understanding and above all so helpful. They were all the same. When I first left home I stayed in Oban where I played with Colin Campbell for a considerable time and I then moved to Dumbarton where I became involved with the Dumbartonshire Police Concert Party. I also played at ceilidhs and concerts around the Glasgow area. It was here I bumped into my old school pal, Fergie MacDonald, and played with him for a number of years around Glasgow.
I also had the pleasure of attending Bobby Harvey’s M.A.F.I.A. at the Black Bull hotel in Milngavie. That was also a coincidence because I discovered Mr MacDonald , the then owner of the Black Bull, knew my father – small world. Shows what music can do bringing people together.
It was at the MAFIA I met the great Sir Jimmy Shand and Jimmy Yeaman, Archie Duncan, Will Starr and many others. Bobby Harvey did a fantastic job with that Club.
I’m now retired and have been living in London for many years, but I continue to play, and my wife plays the keyboard. We entertain at a number of homes for the elderly and meet some great characters. Are there any Scots left up there because there are a hell of a lot down here!
My family are spread around Scotland – Glasgow, Ford (Argyll), Oban and Kinlochleven, so we are up several times a year. When we attend concerts or ceilidhs in Scotland now I think it is fantastic to see the number of young people playing Scottish dance music. As long as there are people like Robbie Shepherd, Bill Wilkie, and many others, I can only see our music going from strength to strength. I wonder if they still have the laughs we did in our day?!
Frank Farquharson (1929 – 2002) – Obituary
Chairman – Fintry A&F Association
by Sandy Shearlaw
Frank Farquharson’s friends were shocked and saddened by his sudden passing at the meeting of his club on Monday, 25th February 2002. The great esteem in which he was held by all in the world of Scottish traditional music was shown by the huge attendance at his funeral service in Falkirk Crematorium.
The Rev. Anne Brennan, who conducted the service, summed Frank up perfectly – he was everybody’s buddy.
Frank was born in Alyth in East Perthshire and was brought up on farms in Strathmore worked by his father. There he developed the countryman’s ability to turn his hand to anything – a gift displayed throughout his life.
He was educated at Forfar Academy and on leaving school trained as an electrician before being called up for National Service in the Royal air Force. After demobilisation he worked in Blairgowrie where he was to meet Gladys, his wife of 47 years. He said he used to watch he cycling back and forward to work and determined that she was the girl for him.
It was in those days that Frank’s love of Scottish dance music, and particularly the accordion, took root, as dances were a regular feature of entertainment for the young. Although he never learned to play the instrument he was to love all his life, he became expert in knowing when it was played well and the tremendous range of compositions that can be played on it.
After being married, Frank and Gladys moved to Crieff where Frank was employed by the Hydro Electric Board. It was there that they were blessed with the arrival of son, Grant. The family moved later to Buckie and finally to Balfron where Frank took up a managerial position with the H.E.B. Branching out as a self-employed electrical contractor, Frank gave devoted service to Balfron and surrounding farms and villages until his retirement in 1997. No job was to menial for him and he got as much satisfaction from trying to fix a pensioner’s antique vacuum cleaner as he did from completing a more financially rewarding contract. Many people will miss the service he gave and the local information he passed on over a cup of tea.
Frank’s love of the traditional music scene was ever present and when the old Fintry Accordion and Fiddle Association, started by Alex Fitzsimmons, Jim Burgess and Robert Aitken, folded in the mid-1970s, Frank, with encouragement from Jimmy Yeaman, Morag MacAskill and some local friends, resurrected the Club. As Chairman, he kept it going for 26 years. He particularly liked to encourage young players and followed them to various festivals where he delighted in their successes. He even learned to tolerate renderings on the pipes from his Secretary!
In recent years, Frank made many pilgrimages to Mull and especially Shetland to enjoy their music festivals. The instrumental skills of young Shetlanders in particular impressed him immensely. So when the opportunity arose to arrange a visit of The High Strings from The Anderson High School in Lerwick, Frank set to work with gusto along with supporters in Fintry to fundraise so that overnight accommodation could be provided free of charge for them.
That concert is going ahead as a tribute to Frank’s memory and will be held on Monday, 25th March in the Theatre at Balfron High School rather than the Fintry Sports Club, so that a larger audience can enjoy listening to the talented youngsters.
Apart from music, Frank’s other passion was restoring old Ferguson tractors and some took part and won prizes at vintage tractor rallies at Scone and at agricultural shows elsewhere in Central Scotland. He was active in The Scottish Vintage Tractor and Engine Club.
Frank will be remembered as someone who never turned away anyone who needed help and who was loyal to friends and acquaintances. We will all miss him and the world is a poorer place with his passing.
He is survived by his wife and son to whom the sympathy of all is extended.
Collectors’ Pieces
by Charlie Gore
Charlie Gore edited and published ‘The Scottish Fiddle Music Index’ in 1994. This was the first attempt ever made to index the titles of the 12,000 or so traditional tunes, songs, airs and miscellaneous music published in the printed collections of the 18th and early 19th centuries. The chief value of the Index to researchers, musicians and students of the tradition is that it has made it possible to locate any tune listed and to identify an accessible source for the music (mostly based on collections held at the National Library of Scotland).
Robert Mackintosh (born Tullimet c1745 died London 1807)
Known as Red Rob – Fiddler, Music Teacher, Composer and Band Leader.
If there are less-known contemporaries of Niel Gow who deserve equal praise – and there are plenty – ‘Red Rob’ Mackintosh must head the list. His compositions are elegant and masterly (even the accompaniments in his collections have style); he taught many of the great fiddlers of his day; his band was in unceasing demand at all the popular functions. His son, Abraham, followed him as a composer and teacher and there were descendents of the Tullimet Mackintosh family living and playing in the Atholl district up until the 1930s. He married Margaret Mill and they had 13 children, born between 1767 and 1797, of whom 3 were christened Robert and the two younger of these were alive at the same time. This must have been confusing!
His 4 collections and all but a handful of his fine compositions are nowadays almost forgotten. John Glen published a careful and probably accurate portrait of Red Rob in The Glen Collection of Dance Music (1891) and quoted an Edinburgh directory of the 1770s in which a concert is advertised referring the reader to “Robert Mackintosh, Musician, Skinner’s Close”. From there, he made several changes of address and from one of these (in the 1780s) he advertised violin tuition: “….admittance to the public classes at one guinea per quarter only. Any gentleman may have a private hour….at one guinea per month”. After an absence of three years, during which period he led the band in ‘the Gentlemen’s Concert at Aberdeen’, he was back in Edinburgh advertising violin lessons; ‘Apply at Bremner and Stewart’s Music Shops’.
He dabbled in what some experts call ‘art music’ but his dance tunes are undoubtedly his truest memorial. The first three books were published in Edinburgh, the last in London and three of them have a dedication; Vol 2 to Mrs Campbell of Lochnell 1793; Vol 3 to Mrs Oswald of Auchencruive (born Lucy Johnston of Hilton), 1796; Vol 4 to the Duchess of Manchester (born Susan Gordon, daughter of the Duke of Gordon), 1803. Red Rob left Edinburgh for London in 1803 and died there in 1807, the year Niel Gow died in Dunkeld. After a space od 200 years, it’s hard to guess at the motive for such a move, unless it was for the benefit of his career. Glen recorded that he conducted the orchestra of The Theatre Royal in a performance of ‘Jamie and Bess’ and lived at Little Vine Street, Piccadilly. At the time he may have been in his fifties and presumably in full vigour, an excellent violinist, looking forward to continuing his highly successful career as a professional musician and bandleader. There was continual demand for music at public balls and concerts in London, as the multitude of published dance manuals and advertised functions proclaim. In all probability he fell victim to something like typhoid or pneumonia, although the worry of supporting a wife and 13 children might be argued to have been hazard enough.
His son, Abraham was born 15 June 1769 and followed his father’s profession. He published three collections, the third of which is a re-issue of the second with very considerable additions. Many have associations with places and people around Newcastle area, where he practiced as a dancing teacher for a period. Take the jig Col. Ridley’s Quickstep or Miss Catherine Maxwell’s Scots Measure – proof enough, surely, that he should be rated as his father’s son! Red Rob’s brother James, a blacksmith at Tinereoch, near Tullimet, had five sons who played the fiddle. From these an unbroken line of musical Mackintoshes, some resident in Inver village, others farther afield, descends to the 1930s.
Mackintosh adopted the practice, shared randomly by others of his contemporaries, of titling his 6/8 dance tunes ‘Reels’. This puts a different slant on the meaning of the word ‘Reel’. Was it in fact a more general word meaning ‘dance’? Can a ‘Rant’ be differentiated from it? There is no precise answer. A ‘Strathspey Reel’ is a clearly defined dance tune with a dotted rhythm that distinguishes it from a reel. In the whole of the four collections there are 339 tunes in all the usual dance tempos (there are also quite a significant number of tunes outwith his published volumes attributed to him); in the four volumes, over 100 have ‘Reel’ in the title, but 18 of these are in 6/8 time and only 5 tunes have ‘Jig’ (or ‘Jigg’) in the title. Many commentators have set out lists of Red Rob’s masterpieces. The medley Lady Charlotte Campbell (Reel and Strathspey) and the beautiful slow strathspey Miss Campbell of Saddell are well featured in modern selections and still performed. Miss Margaret Graham’s (of Gartmore’s) Favorite (wrongly attributed to William Marshall by Jim Hunter and correctly attributed but wrongly named as the original tune for the dance ‘Lady Harriet Hope’s Reel’ in RSCDS Book 16) and Miss Douglas’s Strathspey (see ‘Lord Hume’s Reel, RSCDS Book 16) are reproduced here).
Copies etc from The National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh with the shelfmarks for Book 1-4 as follows :- GLEN 357(1); GLEN 357(2) or MH.72; INGLIS 291 (3) and GLEN 358 (for Vol 4). Other copies exist in NLS and in other major Scottish Libraries. NOTE; Red Rob spells his name ‘Macintosh’ only in Book 1. Any queries to Charlie Gore.
Alnwick’s 25
The North Side Lassie
by J. P. Athey
‘Twas wi a little trepidation here in the north o’ wor nation
in Netherton’s ancient bit toon
a little Lady o’ fame, Joanie her name
we her trusty aad squeezebox sat doon
Her charge, a new tune, for aad Alnwick toon
for the accordion and fiddlers club
She accepted this duty an’ wrote a waltz o’ great beauty
in wor circle she is the hub
Named (The Silver Twenty-Five) while wor music’s alive
it will be played we pride and we pleasure
from the committee and members so A’body remembers
The Lassie fray the North’s side…..a treasure
The poem title, The North Side Lassie, stems from the village of Netherton, near Rothbury, being owned at one time by two different estates – hence North Side & South Side. Joan obviously lives in Northside.
Happy 21st Dalriada
by John Holt
In front of a packed audience in The Argyll Hotel, the Dalriada Club night on February 19th was a Birthday Party – celebrating 21 years since the inaugural night in 1981.Many present had been there on that first night, and it was fitting that the birthday cake, made by Jenny Campbell, was officially cut by Iona Gillies, whose husband Iain was the Club’s first Chairman. It was a night of nostalgia, and messages of goodwill were read out from BBC Scotland’s Robbie Shepherd and from former Club Chairman, Fraser McGlynn. In addition, a list of over 190 Dalriada Club nights was circulated, detailing more than 140 visiting bands, groups and solo players.
Since his appearance on the very first Club night on February 24th, 1981, a frequent visitor to Mid Argyll has been Bill Black from Stanley, and it was fitting that it was Bill and his SDB who celebrated the 21st Anniversary of the Club as guest artistes. Joining Bill on the rostrum were Mabel Gray (keyboard), Gordon Simpson (fiddle), Robert MacFadyen (drums) and Iain Anderson (second accordion) and they were all on the top of their form. Both generous halves of the programme were highly enjoyable, with many Band highlights, and solos from Mabel, Gordon and Iain. We must also make mention of a lively set of reels on fiddle from Bill himself – temporarily setting his trusty Shand Morino to one side.
Then just before the interval, after the cake had been piped in, Bill Black’s latest composition was given its first public performance – a 2/4 march entitled ‘Dalriada Accordion and Fiddle Club’s 21st Anniversary’ – many thanks for this fine tune Bill, which is sure to be heard many times in the future.
The band themselves had earlier been entranced by four fine sets contributed by a large contingent from the Mid Argyll Pipe Band, who joined in the celebration and received a great welcome from the crowded hall.
There were many other contributors to the night’s musical content – former Club chairmen, Johnny Fisher (3-row) and Donald MacDonald (drums) were joined by Secretary John Holt (piano) for some lively reels and hornpipes. David Hunt and Grant MacDougall were on top form, with Grant also providing rhythm for Sandy MAcDonaldon lively 2-row button-box. Again on button-box (3-row) a most welcome appearance by Alec Mackinnon from Carradale, with Alec MacAllister on piano, and Gerry Boxall on drums. The same pairing were the backing for fiddle maestro Archie MacAllister, who thrilled the audience with his exciting session playing. Sincere thanks to all the above mentioned.
Thanks also to the loyal Club supporters, who turned out in force for this rather special evening. Compere, Bruce Robertson, held the programme together in masterly fashion, and the Club Committee organised a splendid raffle and the cutting of the cake for all to enjoy. Celebrations will continue next month when Iain MacPhail is coming to the Argyll for our Dalriada Club Night.
The sum of £70 was collected on the night and sent to The Jimmy Shand Memorial Statue Fund.
Jim MacRae Tribute Dance
by Hector McLeod
The Tribute Ceilidh Dance on 1st February, 2002, in The Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, in honour of the late Jim MacRae, was a great success and a fitting tribute to a man who had given so much to the ceilidh music scene in the last 30 years. Such was Jim’s popularity that the dance was a complete sell-out ten days before the event and a spare ticket was like gold dust.
Among 400 or so of Jim’s friends who attended, were those who had traveled from as far as Ireland, Skye, Lewis and Barra, determined to be present at such a special evening.
The music was provided by some 40 accordionists, fiddlers, pianists, drummers, guitarists and solo singers, many of them coming after their own gigs had finished; all of them anxious to play some part, no matter how small, on such an occasion.
With such a large number of performers and preponderance of box players, the logistics of arranging the groupings of players and the order of playing would have seemed to be a problem, but this was very easily solved. John Carmichael and Charlie Kirkpatrick were happy to take charge of the programming and be MCs for the evening. They ran the show like an Accordion & Fiddle Club, making up ‘bands’ from the galaxy of players present and such was their professionalism, expertise and knowledge of the players, that the changes of bands were almost seamless. Solo singers were interspersed among the bands all evening and the result was six hours of wonderful music and dancing that will never be forgotten by those lucky enough to be present.
The highlight of the evening was the first performance of Jim MacRae’s March – a 2/4, so loved by Jim – written by Fergie MacDonald and played firstly by Fergie and then by Fergie and one of the ‘bands’. A framed, signed copy of the tune was then presented to Mairi, Jim’s widow, by Fergie.
Mairi wished all proceeds from the evening to be donated to the Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology at Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow where Jim had been given such expert and attentive treatment over the last nine years.
Accordingly, on 7th February, 2002, at an impromptu ceilidh in The Islay Inn, Glasgow, Jim’s daughter, Linda, presented Professor Colin Kirkness with a cheque for the magnificent sum of £4,250.
The Dance Committee wish to thank all who attended the dance, all who played at the dance, all who supplied prizes for the raffle, all who bought so many raffle tickets and all who gave donations so generously.
Tingle Creek
by Deryn Waitt
If the first weekend ceilidh held at Tingle Creek hotel is anything to go by, then it certainly won’t be the last! We had a superb weekend of music, dancing, songs and sheer entertainment by 24 enthusiastic performers. Tingle Creek Hotel is in the lovely village of Erbusaig, near Kyle of Lochalsh. We players were looked after extremely well by host Ian Robin, with lovely and much appreciated meals and comfortable accommodation.
The music began on Friday afternoon after setting up equipment in The Ceilidh Room. Robin Waitt and myself (Bon Accords from Canonbie, Dumfriesshire), Jimmy McDonald from Tighnabruaich on piano and Richard Hughes from Tobermory on drums had an enjoyable session – just to get in the mood or, more likely, just for the sheer joy of playing!
7.45pm saw the official start of the weekend with the inimitable Ian Cameron from Ballinluig, along with those stalwarts of the weekend, Jimmy McDonald and Richard Hughes. Music was non-stop from then on with players ready and willing to keep the music flowing till 1.30am. The large audience certainly enjoyed the varied styles of the players, and took advantage of the new dance floor. Other musicians on the Friday night were John ‘The Box’ McKerlich from Dornie with his terrific West Coast style with Robin on button key playing second box; Bon Accords with not only Scottish sets but also Irish, including songs from Co. Mayo especially for Irish Annie – who incidentally gave us an Irish jig – a contender for River Dance??
Dave Millward from Oban entertained us all with some lovely songs and tunes, Mac Kinnear from Dundee who was for many years in The Heather Dance Band was a pleasure to listen to, and John Stuart from Leven played some real rousing tunes. All-in-all a great start to the weekend. It was a pleasure to see Edmund McKenzie and his wife in the audience and enjoying the dancing. The first night finished with a stramash – but!!! at 2.35am on Saturday morning, Robin and Ian were still playing!
Saturday morning at 9.00am, our host came downstairs to the sound of music. The one and only Ian Cameron had ‘felt a tune coming on’, and as everywhere was still locked up, the only place he could find was the Gents toilet!! You can’t keep a good man down – and of course seats were available! Music began at 11.30am, and as well as the aforementioned players, we had enjoyable tunes from 5-row player Willie Lothian from Pathhead, and The Kyle Band i.e. Wullie Kennedy and John Patterson on accordions and Francis Coghill on drums with Jimmy McDonald on piano. They gave us a great set and are obviously popular guys. Who should appear then but Willie Bradley from Glasgow – a very welcome addition to the guest list, always ready to give a tune and always receiving great appreciation. It was great to see him again as due to work commitments he has not been about as often as we would wish. A welcome addition to the festivities on Saturday were students from the Gaelic College on Skye who arrived at 2pm on Saturday and were picked up again at 1am Sunday! After a break for dinner, the Saturday night session started at 7.45pm with Bon Accords and Richard. What a night. Tingle Creek’s bar and ceilidh room were packed to capacity and more! Dougie McKinnon from Dornie was in cracking form with Willie Bradley on second box. Incidentally Willie set off home but arrived back an hour later – couldn’t tear himself away! We had Ian Ruaridh Finlayson on pipes with Robin on second box. Excellent!! We were also pleased to welcome two local singers – Ronnie McRae and Ed Ingle who were both in good form. Along with all the resident musicians, the night was a tremendous success with a lovely atmosphere. Once more we were pleased to see Edmund and his wife back and rarely off the floor. The night ended as on Friday with a 10-box stramash.
Sunday was a relaxing day – we didn’t start till 1pm. We all had a tune in the bar, then Jimmy and Richard brought piano and drums through and another good session commenced with Ian Cameron. Super tunes and great playing from Ian. Dave Millward then had his final fling with Robin, Jimmy and Richard before leaving for home. Again an enjoyable set – he’s good to have around. Mealtimes with Dave, Jimmy and Robin were hilarious. This time Dave definitely had the No 1 joke! Next on the agenda, we had Ian Joseph from Roy Bridge and Alasdair MacPhail on piano with Richard on drums. Great music from these lads and different again in style. Ian Ruaridh was next on the Highland pipes and what fantastic music – a talented guy and nice with it! We had more music from John McKerlich from Dornie with Ian Joseph on piano and Richard on drums. Mac Kinnear with Alasdair McPhail on piano and wait for it – Richard was able to have a break, we had Kenny Cummings (Ballochmyle Band) on drums. Then the ever popular Dougie from Dornie with Ian Joseph on second box, Jimmy and Richard. To conclude Sunday afternoon’s session we had Ian Cameron, Alastair Robb on guitar, Robin on second box and Jimmy and Richard. Superb!
The final session started on Sunday night at 8.15pm with ourselves (Bon Accords) and Rikki Hughes. At this point I’d like to say how much we all appreciated the talents and efforts given unreservedly by Jimmy and Richard. They were a great support to everyone. We had more lively music from Dougie with Robin on second accordion, Jimmy and Richard, then a great set from Alasdair McPhail on accordion, Ian Josephon second box, Davy Gracie on piano and Kenny on drums. Next we had his last tunes of the weekend from Mac Kinnear with Robin, Jimmy and Richard – a fine steady player and a pleasure to listen to. The final session of the weekend was in the capable hands of Kennt Cummings and Davy Gracie (The Ballochmyle Band). Another large audience was treated to yet another style of music, and the floor was once again full of dancers. A brilliant end to what had been a most successful and thoroughly enjoyable weekend.
This weekend of music represented the camaraderie of like minded professionals in an amateur environment – all off-duty but playing for the sheer love of music and friendship – meeting old friends and making new ones. The willingness of all the musicians and singers to join together and form groups – some who hadn’t met before – to support and enhance each other, surely can only further the tradition in the most natural way. Competitiveness was not part of the weekend – only the pure lovely of the music and enjoyment!
We thank all the artistes unreservedly, both local and far traveled, and I would like to personally thank them because they made my job so easy. Each one was ready and willing to play when asked, so there was never a lull in proceedings. Special thanks, of course, to Jimmy McDonald and Richard Hughes – the backbone of the weekend, to Robin as MC, Dave for his help, everyone who came along and made it such a happy weekend, and last but certainly not least, our thanks for the warm welcome and splendid hospitality go to Ian and Olive Robin, not forgetting Laura, Ryan and Bridie and all the hard working staff. Here’s to the next one!!
A Dance Band Almanac
by Dave Francis
Another first for the band this month…………
The Piping Shrike
by Jean Lumsden
In Adelaid this month……..
Greeting from Inverness
by Margo MacLennan
I had a great time in Musselburgh catching up………..
Take the Floor – Saturdays with Robbie Shepherd
6th April 02 – John Carmichael SDB + feature on St Roch’s Ceilidh Band
13th April 02 – Glenelvan SDB + feature on Jim MacLeod MBE
20th April 02 – Bill Black SDB + feature on High Strings from Shetland
27th April 02 – Robert Whitehead & the Danelaw SDB – OB from Alnwick Castle with guests Iain Fraser, Ian Lowthian & Emily Smith
4th May 02 – Angus MacPhail
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) – 30th Apr 02 – Gary Donaldson & Ian Hutson
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle) 10th Apr 02 – Robin Hamilton Trio
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 21st Apr 02 – Dick Black Band
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 7th Apr 02 – Paul Anderson
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 4th Apr 02 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 21st Apr 02 – Sandy Legget Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 29th Apr 02 – Aberdeen & Banchory S&R Societies
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 24th Apr 02 – Tain Duo
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 15th Apr 02 – David Cunningham Jnr SDB
Belford (Community Centre) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 14th Apr 02 – Ian Anderson (fiddle) Trio
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 9th Apr 02 – Steven Carcary
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) –
Campbeltown (The Royal Hotel) -
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 2nd Apr 02 – Scott Gordon Trio
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) - 4th Apr 02 – William Paterson
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 16th Apr 02 – Andy Greig SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 18th Apr 02 – Wayne Robertson
Crathes (Crathes Hall, Banchory) - 14th Apr 02 – All players welcome
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 4th Apr 02 – Black Rose Ceilidh Band
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 10th Apr 02 - tbc
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead) 16th Apr 02 – Donnie & Diane
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 3rd Apr 02 – Addie Harper Band
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 17th Apr 02 – Jennifer Cruickshamks SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (The Village Inn) –
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 23rd Apr 02 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 22nd Apr 02 – Kinlochard Ceilidh Band
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 28th Apr 02 – Wayne Robertson Duo
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 10th Apr 02 – Hebbie Gray
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) – 8th Apr 02 – Club night
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) – 18th Apr 02 - AGM
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 3rd Apr 02 – Dick Black’s Band
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 30th Apr 02 – Davie Stewart Band
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) -
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 19th Apr 02 – Lewis & Harris A&F Club
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 10th Apr 02 – The MacAllister Trio
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 4th Apr 02 - tbc
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 4th Apr 02 – David Cunningham Jnr Quartet
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 24th Apr 02 – Max Houliston Trio
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) – 3rd Apr 02 – Jimmy Cassidy
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) -
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 11th Apr 02 – Ian Thonson SDB
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 4th Apr 02 – Steven Carcary Sound
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 16th Apr 02 – Paul Anderson
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 30th Apr 02 – Dick Black Band
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) –
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 6th Apr 02 – Supper dance to Webster Craig
14th Apr 02 – Competitions
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 2nd Apr 02 – David Morrice Duo
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) – 25th Apr 02 – Allan McIntosh SDB
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 16th Apr 02 – Marie Fielding & Alison Smith
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) - 2nd Apr 02 - tbc
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 9th Apr 02 – Colin Garvin Trio
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 4th Apr 02 – Bill Black SDB
Selkirk (Cricket Club) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Masonic Hall) - 10th Apr 02 – Jean McConnachie Sound
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 1st Apr 02 – Deirdre Adamson
Turriff (Royal British Legion) – 4th Apr 02 – Dick Black Band
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 18th Apr 02 – Ron Hodgson & Julie Best
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 11th Apr 02 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 16th Apr 02 – Seamus O’Sullivan
Yarrow (Gordon Arms) - 17th Apr 02 – Shirley Campbell SDB
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Arbroath
5. Armadale
6. Balloch
7. Banchory
8. Banff
9. Beith & District
10. Biggar
11. Blairgowrie
12. Button Key
13. Campsie
14. Carlisle
15. Castle Douglas
16. Coalburn
17. Cults
18. Dingwall
19. Dunblane
20. Ellon
21. Forfar
22. Forres
23. Galston
24. Glendale
25. Glenrothes & District
26. Gretna
27. Highland
28. Isle of Skye
29. Islesteps
30. Kintore
31. Lanark
32. Langholm
33. Lesmahagow
34. Lewis & Harris
35. Livingston
36. Lockerbie
37. Montrose
38. Newmill (on-Teviot)
39. Newtongrange
40. North East
41. Oban
42. Peebles
43. Perth
44. Premier
45. Rothbury
46. Shetland
47 Thornhill
48 Thurso
49. Turriff
50. West Barnes
51. Wick
52. Yarrow
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2002
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Bromley A&F Club
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campbeltown A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
29. Ellon A&F Club (
30. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
31. Forfar A&F Club (
32. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
33. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
34. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
35. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
36. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
37. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
38. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
39. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
40. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
41. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
42. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
43. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
44. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
45. Kintore A&F Club (
46. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed
47. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – present)
48. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
49. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
52. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
53. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
54. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
55. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
56. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
57. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
58. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
59. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
60. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
61. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
62. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
63. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
64. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
65. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
66. Selkirk A&F Club (
67. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
68. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
69. Sutherland A&F Club (
70. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
71. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
72. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
73. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
74. Vancouver
75. West Barnes ( - present)
76. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
77. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – )
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
78. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
79. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
80. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
81. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
82. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
83. Buchan A&F Club
84. Callander A&F Club (
85. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
86. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
87. Club Accord
88. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
89. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
90. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
91. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
92. Derwentside A&F Club
93. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
94. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
95. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
96. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
97. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
98. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
99. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
100. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
101. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
102. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
103. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Mull A&F Club
107. Newcastleton Accordion Club
108. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
109. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
110. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
111. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
112. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
113. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
114. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
115. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
116. Tranent A&F Club
117. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
118. Wellbank A&F Club
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