Box and Fiddle
Year 45 No 04
April 2022
Price £3.00
44 Page Magazine
12 month UK subscription £49.45
Editor – Pia Walker, Cupar
B&F Treasurer – Scott Band
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
I hope this issue will bring a little ray of sunshine to you all. Let’s face it, we could all do with it! hope that by the time you read this, the world is a better place to live in again. At least many of the Clubs have opened their doors so we can go and forget the outside world for a short time by listening to music.
In this issue we have our first Guests of Honour article.…….
Pia
Guests of Honour 2022
Cecil Hughson – in Interview with Alan Gifford
What has 9 legs and swings? The answer is Da Fustra Dance Band, but the explanation will follow later!
Cecil Hughson was born on the Island of Yell in Shetland on 20th April 1951, sharing a birthday with other notable individuals such as Adolf Hitler and Napoleon III. However, Cecil says neither of those was ever able to play the bass as well as he can.
As he grew up at home, there was an organ, a fiddle and an accordion, and Cecil started tinkering with the one that didn’t need constant pedalling or scraping. He found that he could actually play tunes on the accordion and played it at school, although he never received any formal tuition. However, he was tempted by the guitar and bought both a guitar and a Mel Bay tutor, and by following the book he was soon able to play chords – and sing – although by his own admission, the singing was never going to work! He then bought a bass guitar and found fairly soon that his talent on the bass had surpassed that on the accordion.
When he moved to the Anderson Educational Institute in Lerwick for his final two years before heading to university he was able to join in the music making there, playing at concerts and dances. He was also in one of the school’s Up Helly Aa squads, and although he was only ever in two squads, he has played at 42 consecutive Up Helly Aa Festivals!
Moving to Edinburgh to study, he joined the Edinburgh & District Shetland Association, in which his aunt and uncle, Gracie and Bobby Tulloch, were heavily involved. Uncle Bobby was a professional photographer and Cecil’s love of photography soon blossomed. He also served on the Committee of the Shetland Association in their hall in Pilrig Street for four years before returning to Shetland.
While he was in Edinburgh, his love of music threw together his cousin Rea McLeod, brothers Maurice and Rob Smith and Douglas Johnstone, all fellow Shetlanders, and they started a band to play initially at The Shetland Association. The first line-up of what was to become Da Fustra was Cecil and Rob on accordions, Maurice on guitar, Rea on piano and Douglas on drums. They began to play regularly, but soon discovered that things were often never straightforward: for instance, ¾ pipe marches are not ideal for a Gay Gordons!
Cecil also remembers (although he has tried SO hard to forget) an early booking they had in Edinburgh. As far as they were concerned it was for a wedding, but when they arrived at the hotel they were surprised to see a cake with 21 on it. The reality hit them when they saw that it was actually a 21st Birthday Party with mostly teenagers, all looking for the pop music of the day – not waltzes, Gay Gordons and Eightsome Reels. A long night indeed! They did survive, however, and soon afterwards Cecil moved to the bass guitar which is where he still is, more than 50 years later.
After graduating as a technical teacher, he moved back to Shetland and taught for one year at the Institute before moving to Sandwick’s Junior High School. This is where he settled when he married Sheila in 1975, and where they had two daughters and three sons. However, after 6 years of teaching, Cecil left the profession and took the plunge to set up The Camera Shop in Lerwick, where he worked until retiring in 2017.
As well as photography, Cecil also started framing and over the years has made thousands of photo frames to order. Sheila was also really involved on the photographic side and between them they have photographed over 500 weddings. These haven’t always just been local ones, as they have taken wedding photos in Trinidad, in Miami, and at the Ice Hotel in Sweden. Since the Ice Hotel is above the Artic Circle, and Trinidad isn’t too far from the Equator, the wedding photos should be worth comparing!
Da Fustra continued playing in Shetland when three of the original members moved back in the early 1970s. The personnel in the band has naturally changed over the years, and Cecil is the only founder member still playing in the band. The band has travelled extensively, with a number of tours of Scotland, incorporating both Accordion & Fiddle Clubs and dances. They have also played in the north-east of England and the Faeroes, and, although the band hasn’t actually played in Norway, they were booked to play on the ferry as it sailed between Bergen and Lerwick! Orkney has always been a very welcoming place to play and Cecil says there are many happy memories of trips there.
One of the regular guest musicians playing with Da Fustra is Iain MacPhail. Cecil first met Iain when visiting Jamie’s Scottish Evening when he a Sheila were on their honeymoon. They have been family friends ever since, and Iain has written tunes for Cecil and Sheila, as well as for other members of the band. In fact, on the band’s last trip to Edinburgh, pre-pandemic, Iain joined them when they renewed their connection with the Edinburgh Shetland Association to play at the Association’s 90th Anniversary in the Balmoral Hotel – a memorable night.
Da Fustra is the only local band which has taken part in the Shetland Accordion & fiddle Festival every year, and Cecil claims the honour of being the only musician who has played at the Grand Dance at every one of these Festivals. He also says he intends to play at many more before he hangs up his bass! Cecil was pleased to see many of the Grand Dances featured by Ewan Galloway and Derek Hamilton in their special programmes when the Festival was postponed because of the pandemic.
Cecil joined the Shetland A&F Club Committee over 40 years ago and served as Treasurer for much of his time on the Committee. He was involved when the bold step was made to launch the very popular Shetland A&F Festival. The Camera Shop became a very useful Main Street stopping point for getting Club memberships and purchasing tickets, as well as an excellent source of all things photographic! It was with a fellow member of the Committee, Gussie Angus, that Cecil took over presenting the long running BBC Radio Shetland programme Catgut & Ivory more than 25 years ago. After Gussie sadly passed away in 2019, he co-opted Alan Gifford to join him and they feature all that is happening on the local accordion & fiddle scene.
An explanation is of course required for the original question: What has 9 legs and swings? Twenty years ago, Cecil had a triple bypass which worked very well, but in the last few years he started having complications with his diabetes and circulation. After various treatments the only course of action was a lower right leg amputation. While this naturally slowed him down to begin with, he has now a prothesis and is able to get around pretty much as normal, if not as fast! His sense of humour certainly has not been affected and he has a stock of ‘leg’ jokes to make light of his disability. He admits that he does occasionally have a twinge of guilt as he is unable to carry his bass or amp into gigs, but he doesn’t let it bother him!
Much of his time is now focused on his four lovely grandchildren. They have regular childminding duties with the three children in Shetland, but the restrictions of the last two years have prevented Cecil from seeing his grandson in Inverkeithing as much as he would like, relying on Skype to watch him grow – hopefully this will change in the months ahead.
Although his family and work have naturally been so important to him, he openly admits that music is what gives him that extra personal enjoyment. He says that he has never been happier than with the band’s current line-up of James Leask on accordion, Alan Gifford (fiddle), Derek Hendry (piano) and Kevin Gifford (drums). His commitment to music over the past 50 or so years (and the years to come!) at Club, Festival, and of course on a personal level makes Cecil a deserving recipient of a Guest of Honour award.
By Maurice Smith
Cecil and I go back a long way (to the start of the 70’s) – I was even Best Man at his wedding. He’s always been a kind-hearted body, and has helped many a person, on condition that no-one was ever told about it.
He has always been resourceful, and I think the phrase ‘thinking out of the box’ was coined for him. Whilst at Teacher Training college he noticed that the date of a Christmas term exam would mean that he couldn’t catch the ferry home from Aberdeen until the next week (the ferry only ran twice a week). No problem – he went to the College Office to ask if the date could be changed and they agreed!
The ’pre-Fustra’ band consisting of Cecil and my brother Rob Smith on accordions and myself on guitar decided to cut a disc – you could send away a tape, and have a vinyl disc mase. It was an instant sell-out! All three copies selling immediately! Would it be a collectors’ now?
The recording was done on a big Grundig tape recorder belonging to Cecil’s uncle Bobby. We thought the sound was a bit too treble, so the recording was done with Cecil’s sock over the microphone.
The NAAFC Virtual diminished Festival 2022
by Richard Ross, Festival Chairman
On behalf of the Virtual diminished Festival Committee, we would like to thank all competitors, parents, teachers and supporters for participating in our second virtual festival, which is still available to view via our Festival webpage (naafcfestival.co.uk)
It was great to see that the number of entries came to 85 which was fantastic, bearing in mind that we decided to operate a smaller scale than in 2021 with only a total of 5 classes. So its been a fantastic effort from everyone which is greatly appreciated.
Hopefully you managed to catch the results which were announced on Take the Floor on Saturday 5th March with a selection of the performances also being aired. It was a great way to end the Festival day and we hope that this enhanced your Virtual Festival day too. Congratulations to everyone for taking part.
A big thank-you to our adjudicators, Jackie Raeburn (accordion) and Stella Wilkie (fiddle), for their hard work and professionalism. Why not have a listen to the short video they have produced with feedback on their adjudication, also available via our webpage.
We are very proud that our competitors’ ages ranged from under 10 to over 80 years. We believe that we now have a competition that is now suitable for many more of our players that attend Accordion & Fiddle clubs and beyond. Why not give it a try next year? Look our for our competition schedule which will be issued in the summer via the NAAFC webpages.
I would like to thank our Virtual Festival Committee Iain Cathcart, Scott Band and Margaret Knight for an unbelievable effort in putting this all together – thank you, what a team!
Next year’s Festival will be as usual on the first Saturday in March so please make a note in your diaries for 4th March 2023. Further details will be posted to our webpage and our Facebook sites. I hope you enjoyed our second Virtual Festival.
Under 10 Marches
1. Emily Gold
Under 10 Waltzes
1. Emily Gold
Under 12 Marches
1. Alistair Adamson
2. Emily Gold
3. Ryan Johnston
Under 12 Waltzes
1. Ryan Johnston
2. Alistair Adamson
3. Emily Gold
Under 16 Marches
1. Fin Hope
2. Tyler Martin
3. Alistair Adamson
Under 16 Waltzes
1. Fin Hope
2. Tyler Martin
3. Ryan Drakeford
Open 6/8 Marches
1. Tom Orr
2. Claire Gullen
3. Liam Stewart
Open Gaelic Waltzes
1. John Carmichael
2. Nicol McLaren
3. Jennifer Cruickshank
Own Composition
1. Jennifer Wrigley
2. Alasdair MacCuish
3=.John Burns & Liam Stewart
2021 Young Fiddler Night Shetland
by Alan Gifford
There was a good turnout for our Young Fiddler night when we welcomed the first three from each section ……………..……….
Musical Memories – Part 20
by Denis Shepherd
I have told you about some of the musicians ………..
Centre Stage
Fiona Paul (Carnwath)
IN MEMORY
Jim Anderson – Orkney – 25/03/1935 – 18/01/2022
by Robert Baikie
We would like to share with you all the sad news of the death in early January of our friend Jim Anderson.
Jim will be known to many folks all over with links to our Club as he has for many years been our regular concert compere. Only in the last couple of years have we had to look elsewhere as Jim’s health problems became worse. Only very recently I had a performer ask why Jim was not in his usual place in front of house. He was well known to lots of players from the south, many whom he had known from his younger days.
The youngest of the Anderson brothers from Orphir, like his older brothers Jim in his prime was a brilliant accordion player and all-round musician.
More recently he became the local expert at fixing accordion problems and many local players appreciated that. If you had occasion to visit him you would often find an accordion in pieces in his kitchen. He also brought home boxes for others through his south contacts.
He was renowned too for his expertise with electronics, and in his home there were always bits and pieces of something lying around in the process of being fixed.
His wife Gwen passed away some years ago and their daughter Lynda also more recently, leaving son Phil to carry on the music tradition on that side of the family.
There was a good turnout of locals along the route as the cortege passed, to say a last farewell to a friend of so many. Jim will be missed by many in the Scottish music scene as well as here in Orkney. We offer our condolences to the family and friends at this sad time.
Letters to the Editor
Dear Pia
I
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Shades of Shetland – Leonard Brown & Maggie Adamson – by Alan Gifford
Grannie’s Attic – The Brickfields – Grimdon Records – GRICDOO5
Road to Tyranny – Bruce MacGregor – MacGregor’s Productions
The High Island – Freeland Barbour (with Alison smith, Ian Hardie & Iain Fraser) – SkyeCD61
Book Review
T
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes
02/04/2022 – An Archive Session
09/04/2022 – Another new band to TTF. Graeme MacKay Dance Band
16/04/2022 – Bobby MacLeod SDB, The Corran Halls, Oban 1981 + a feature on the late Norman MacLean
23/04/2022 – A new session with Colin Dewar SDB
30/04/2022 – Nicol McLaren SDB from September 2021
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Jubilee Hall, Newton-on-the Moor) 13th April 2022 – Sandy Nixon SDB
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 3rd April 2022 – Gavin Piper
Banchory (Royal British Legion) –
Banff & District (The Fife Lodge Hotel) – 27th April 2022 – Gavin Piper
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) – 10th April 2022 – Allan Smith, Roddy Matthews & Friends
Blairgowrie (Rattray Bowling Club) - 12th April 2022 – Liam Stewart Duo
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) – 12th April 2022 – Club Night
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 5th April 2022 – John Morgan
Canderside (Stonehouse Bowling Club) - 14th April 2022 – John Burns Trio
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 14th April 2022 – Julie Huntington & Jean Corrighan
Castle Douglas (Threave Rovers Football Club) – 12th April 2022 – Iain Anderson (accordion)
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) - April 2022 – no meeting
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 21st April 2022 – Sandy Nixon SDB
Crieff & District (British Legion) 7th April 2022 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 6th April 2022 – Club Night
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 20th April 2022 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Dunfermline (Masonic Hall, Rosyth) – 12th April 2022 – Alan Small & Gemma Donald
Dumfries (Crichton Royal Golf Club) - 5th April 2022 – Neil Hardie SDB
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 24th April 2022 – Martainn Skene Trio
Forres (Forres Golf Club) – 11th April 2022 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Galashiels (Clovenfors Hotel) - 7th April 2022 - tbc
Glendale (The Glendale Hall, Wooler) - 21st April 2022 – Ray Carse + AGM
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 6th April 2022 – Club Night
Glenrothes (Queen Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 26th April 2022 – Marian Anderson Trio
Gretna (The Richard Greenhow Centre) - 3rd April 2022 – Ray Carse
Hidden Toun (Haddington Bowling Club) - 10th April 2022 – David Vernon & Alex Hodgson
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 18th April 2022 – Craig McFadyen Band
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) - April 2022 – no meeting
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 7th April 2022 – Strathmore CB
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 27th April 2022 – Judith Linton Trio
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) – 24th April 2022 – Leonard Brown
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) - April 2022 -
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) - April 2022 -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite, Mauchline & District Kilmarnock FC Supporters Club) - 19th April 2022 – Club Night
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 6th April 2022 – Claire (fiddle) & Wayne (accordion) Robertson
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 25th April 2022 - tbc
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 5th April 2022 – Scott Band SDB
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – April 2022 -
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 28th April 2022 – no meeting
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) – 19th April 2022 – Iain Anderson Trio
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 7th April 2022 – The Homelanders (John Morgan & Paul Philps)
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 5th April 2022 – Ewan Galloway SDB 12th , 19th , 26th – Club Night
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - April 2022 -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
TMSA (Aberdeen) – Sportmans Club - 19th April 2022 – On-line Session
Turriff (Royal British Legion, Fyvie) – 7th April 2022 – Dave & Diane Morrice
Tynedale (Tynedale Farmers Function Suite) – 21st April 2022 - tbc
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – April 2022 -
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Arbroath
2. Biggar
3. Blairgowrie
4. Campsie
5. Canderside
6. Castle Douglas
7. Dumfries
8. Dunblane
9. Forfar
10. Glenrothes & District
11. Kelso
12. Lewis & Harris
13. Macmerry
14. Mauchline
15. Seghill
16. Shetland
17. Turriff & District
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT DEC 2022
(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. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
4. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
5. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
6. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
7. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
8. Button Key A&F Club (
9. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
10. Canderside A&F Club (Stonehouse) (Feb 2019 – present)
11. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
12. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
13. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
14. Coalburn A&F Club (
15. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
16. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
17. Dumfries A&F Club (1965 renamed Islesteps Jan 1981 – 2021 then back to Dumfries)
18. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
19. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
20. Forfar A&F Club (1984 – present)
21. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
22. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
23. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
24. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
25. 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)
26. Hidden Toun A&F (Haddington) (Jan 2022 – present)
27. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
28. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
29. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
30. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
31. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
32. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
33. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
34. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
35. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
36. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
37. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
38. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
39. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
40. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
41. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
42. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
43 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
44 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
45 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
46 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
47 Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership, closed due to Covid or omitted in error?)
48. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – Covid 19 – March 2020)
49. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
50. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
51. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
52. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – restarted ? till Covid 19 in March 2020)
53. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
54. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
55. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
56. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
57. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
58. Britannia B&F Club (joined 07-08 but much older
59. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
60. Buchan A&F Club
61. Callander A&F Club (
62. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980 – 1997?)
63. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
64. Club Accord
65. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
66 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
67. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
68. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
69. Cults A & F Club (
70. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
71. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981 - ?)
72. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
73. Derwentside A&F Club
74. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
75. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
76. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
77. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
78. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
79. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – April 2020 – Covid19)
80. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
81. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
82. Ellon A&F Club (1984 – April 2020 Covid19)
83. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
84. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
85. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F - later The Railway Club, Inverlochy )
86. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
87. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 – March 2018)
88. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
89. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
90. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
91. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
92. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
93. Kintore A&F Club (
94. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
95. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
96. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
97. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
98. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
99. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – March 2020 - Covid)
100. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 – Covid 19 – March 2020)
101. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
102. Maine Valley A&F Club (
103. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
104. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
105. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
106. Mull A&F Club
107. Newcastleton Accordion Club
108. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
109. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
110. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
111. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
112. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
113. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
114. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
115. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
116. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
117. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
118. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984 – closed at Covid 19 in March 2020)
119. Selkirk A&F Club (
120. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
121. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
122. Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
123. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
124 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 - ?
125 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
126. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
127. Tranent A&F Club
128. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
129. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
130. Wellbank A&F Club
131. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
132. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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B&F Treasurer – Scott Band
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
I hope this issue will bring a little ray of sunshine to you all. Let’s face it, we could all do with it! hope that by the time you read this, the world is a better place to live in again. At least many of the Clubs have opened their doors so we can go and forget the outside world for a short time by listening to music.
In this issue we have our first Guests of Honour article.…….
Pia
Guests of Honour 2022
Cecil Hughson – in Interview with Alan Gifford
What has 9 legs and swings? The answer is Da Fustra Dance Band, but the explanation will follow later!
Cecil Hughson was born on the Island of Yell in Shetland on 20th April 1951, sharing a birthday with other notable individuals such as Adolf Hitler and Napoleon III. However, Cecil says neither of those was ever able to play the bass as well as he can.
As he grew up at home, there was an organ, a fiddle and an accordion, and Cecil started tinkering with the one that didn’t need constant pedalling or scraping. He found that he could actually play tunes on the accordion and played it at school, although he never received any formal tuition. However, he was tempted by the guitar and bought both a guitar and a Mel Bay tutor, and by following the book he was soon able to play chords – and sing – although by his own admission, the singing was never going to work! He then bought a bass guitar and found fairly soon that his talent on the bass had surpassed that on the accordion.
When he moved to the Anderson Educational Institute in Lerwick for his final two years before heading to university he was able to join in the music making there, playing at concerts and dances. He was also in one of the school’s Up Helly Aa squads, and although he was only ever in two squads, he has played at 42 consecutive Up Helly Aa Festivals!
Moving to Edinburgh to study, he joined the Edinburgh & District Shetland Association, in which his aunt and uncle, Gracie and Bobby Tulloch, were heavily involved. Uncle Bobby was a professional photographer and Cecil’s love of photography soon blossomed. He also served on the Committee of the Shetland Association in their hall in Pilrig Street for four years before returning to Shetland.
While he was in Edinburgh, his love of music threw together his cousin Rea McLeod, brothers Maurice and Rob Smith and Douglas Johnstone, all fellow Shetlanders, and they started a band to play initially at The Shetland Association. The first line-up of what was to become Da Fustra was Cecil and Rob on accordions, Maurice on guitar, Rea on piano and Douglas on drums. They began to play regularly, but soon discovered that things were often never straightforward: for instance, ¾ pipe marches are not ideal for a Gay Gordons!
Cecil also remembers (although he has tried SO hard to forget) an early booking they had in Edinburgh. As far as they were concerned it was for a wedding, but when they arrived at the hotel they were surprised to see a cake with 21 on it. The reality hit them when they saw that it was actually a 21st Birthday Party with mostly teenagers, all looking for the pop music of the day – not waltzes, Gay Gordons and Eightsome Reels. A long night indeed! They did survive, however, and soon afterwards Cecil moved to the bass guitar which is where he still is, more than 50 years later.
After graduating as a technical teacher, he moved back to Shetland and taught for one year at the Institute before moving to Sandwick’s Junior High School. This is where he settled when he married Sheila in 1975, and where they had two daughters and three sons. However, after 6 years of teaching, Cecil left the profession and took the plunge to set up The Camera Shop in Lerwick, where he worked until retiring in 2017.
As well as photography, Cecil also started framing and over the years has made thousands of photo frames to order. Sheila was also really involved on the photographic side and between them they have photographed over 500 weddings. These haven’t always just been local ones, as they have taken wedding photos in Trinidad, in Miami, and at the Ice Hotel in Sweden. Since the Ice Hotel is above the Artic Circle, and Trinidad isn’t too far from the Equator, the wedding photos should be worth comparing!
Da Fustra continued playing in Shetland when three of the original members moved back in the early 1970s. The personnel in the band has naturally changed over the years, and Cecil is the only founder member still playing in the band. The band has travelled extensively, with a number of tours of Scotland, incorporating both Accordion & Fiddle Clubs and dances. They have also played in the north-east of England and the Faeroes, and, although the band hasn’t actually played in Norway, they were booked to play on the ferry as it sailed between Bergen and Lerwick! Orkney has always been a very welcoming place to play and Cecil says there are many happy memories of trips there.
One of the regular guest musicians playing with Da Fustra is Iain MacPhail. Cecil first met Iain when visiting Jamie’s Scottish Evening when he a Sheila were on their honeymoon. They have been family friends ever since, and Iain has written tunes for Cecil and Sheila, as well as for other members of the band. In fact, on the band’s last trip to Edinburgh, pre-pandemic, Iain joined them when they renewed their connection with the Edinburgh Shetland Association to play at the Association’s 90th Anniversary in the Balmoral Hotel – a memorable night.
Da Fustra is the only local band which has taken part in the Shetland Accordion & fiddle Festival every year, and Cecil claims the honour of being the only musician who has played at the Grand Dance at every one of these Festivals. He also says he intends to play at many more before he hangs up his bass! Cecil was pleased to see many of the Grand Dances featured by Ewan Galloway and Derek Hamilton in their special programmes when the Festival was postponed because of the pandemic.
Cecil joined the Shetland A&F Club Committee over 40 years ago and served as Treasurer for much of his time on the Committee. He was involved when the bold step was made to launch the very popular Shetland A&F Festival. The Camera Shop became a very useful Main Street stopping point for getting Club memberships and purchasing tickets, as well as an excellent source of all things photographic! It was with a fellow member of the Committee, Gussie Angus, that Cecil took over presenting the long running BBC Radio Shetland programme Catgut & Ivory more than 25 years ago. After Gussie sadly passed away in 2019, he co-opted Alan Gifford to join him and they feature all that is happening on the local accordion & fiddle scene.
An explanation is of course required for the original question: What has 9 legs and swings? Twenty years ago, Cecil had a triple bypass which worked very well, but in the last few years he started having complications with his diabetes and circulation. After various treatments the only course of action was a lower right leg amputation. While this naturally slowed him down to begin with, he has now a prothesis and is able to get around pretty much as normal, if not as fast! His sense of humour certainly has not been affected and he has a stock of ‘leg’ jokes to make light of his disability. He admits that he does occasionally have a twinge of guilt as he is unable to carry his bass or amp into gigs, but he doesn’t let it bother him!
Much of his time is now focused on his four lovely grandchildren. They have regular childminding duties with the three children in Shetland, but the restrictions of the last two years have prevented Cecil from seeing his grandson in Inverkeithing as much as he would like, relying on Skype to watch him grow – hopefully this will change in the months ahead.
Although his family and work have naturally been so important to him, he openly admits that music is what gives him that extra personal enjoyment. He says that he has never been happier than with the band’s current line-up of James Leask on accordion, Alan Gifford (fiddle), Derek Hendry (piano) and Kevin Gifford (drums). His commitment to music over the past 50 or so years (and the years to come!) at Club, Festival, and of course on a personal level makes Cecil a deserving recipient of a Guest of Honour award.
By Maurice Smith
Cecil and I go back a long way (to the start of the 70’s) – I was even Best Man at his wedding. He’s always been a kind-hearted body, and has helped many a person, on condition that no-one was ever told about it.
He has always been resourceful, and I think the phrase ‘thinking out of the box’ was coined for him. Whilst at Teacher Training college he noticed that the date of a Christmas term exam would mean that he couldn’t catch the ferry home from Aberdeen until the next week (the ferry only ran twice a week). No problem – he went to the College Office to ask if the date could be changed and they agreed!
The ’pre-Fustra’ band consisting of Cecil and my brother Rob Smith on accordions and myself on guitar decided to cut a disc – you could send away a tape, and have a vinyl disc mase. It was an instant sell-out! All three copies selling immediately! Would it be a collectors’ now?
The recording was done on a big Grundig tape recorder belonging to Cecil’s uncle Bobby. We thought the sound was a bit too treble, so the recording was done with Cecil’s sock over the microphone.
The NAAFC Virtual diminished Festival 2022
by Richard Ross, Festival Chairman
On behalf of the Virtual diminished Festival Committee, we would like to thank all competitors, parents, teachers and supporters for participating in our second virtual festival, which is still available to view via our Festival webpage (naafcfestival.co.uk)
It was great to see that the number of entries came to 85 which was fantastic, bearing in mind that we decided to operate a smaller scale than in 2021 with only a total of 5 classes. So its been a fantastic effort from everyone which is greatly appreciated.
Hopefully you managed to catch the results which were announced on Take the Floor on Saturday 5th March with a selection of the performances also being aired. It was a great way to end the Festival day and we hope that this enhanced your Virtual Festival day too. Congratulations to everyone for taking part.
A big thank-you to our adjudicators, Jackie Raeburn (accordion) and Stella Wilkie (fiddle), for their hard work and professionalism. Why not have a listen to the short video they have produced with feedback on their adjudication, also available via our webpage.
We are very proud that our competitors’ ages ranged from under 10 to over 80 years. We believe that we now have a competition that is now suitable for many more of our players that attend Accordion & Fiddle clubs and beyond. Why not give it a try next year? Look our for our competition schedule which will be issued in the summer via the NAAFC webpages.
I would like to thank our Virtual Festival Committee Iain Cathcart, Scott Band and Margaret Knight for an unbelievable effort in putting this all together – thank you, what a team!
Next year’s Festival will be as usual on the first Saturday in March so please make a note in your diaries for 4th March 2023. Further details will be posted to our webpage and our Facebook sites. I hope you enjoyed our second Virtual Festival.
Under 10 Marches
1. Emily Gold
Under 10 Waltzes
1. Emily Gold
Under 12 Marches
1. Alistair Adamson
2. Emily Gold
3. Ryan Johnston
Under 12 Waltzes
1. Ryan Johnston
2. Alistair Adamson
3. Emily Gold
Under 16 Marches
1. Fin Hope
2. Tyler Martin
3. Alistair Adamson
Under 16 Waltzes
1. Fin Hope
2. Tyler Martin
3. Ryan Drakeford
Open 6/8 Marches
1. Tom Orr
2. Claire Gullen
3. Liam Stewart
Open Gaelic Waltzes
1. John Carmichael
2. Nicol McLaren
3. Jennifer Cruickshank
Own Composition
1. Jennifer Wrigley
2. Alasdair MacCuish
3=.John Burns & Liam Stewart
2021 Young Fiddler Night Shetland
by Alan Gifford
There was a good turnout for our Young Fiddler night when we welcomed the first three from each section ……………..……….
Musical Memories – Part 20
by Denis Shepherd
I have told you about some of the musicians ………..
Centre Stage
Fiona Paul (Carnwath)
IN MEMORY
Jim Anderson – Orkney – 25/03/1935 – 18/01/2022
by Robert Baikie
We would like to share with you all the sad news of the death in early January of our friend Jim Anderson.
Jim will be known to many folks all over with links to our Club as he has for many years been our regular concert compere. Only in the last couple of years have we had to look elsewhere as Jim’s health problems became worse. Only very recently I had a performer ask why Jim was not in his usual place in front of house. He was well known to lots of players from the south, many whom he had known from his younger days.
The youngest of the Anderson brothers from Orphir, like his older brothers Jim in his prime was a brilliant accordion player and all-round musician.
More recently he became the local expert at fixing accordion problems and many local players appreciated that. If you had occasion to visit him you would often find an accordion in pieces in his kitchen. He also brought home boxes for others through his south contacts.
He was renowned too for his expertise with electronics, and in his home there were always bits and pieces of something lying around in the process of being fixed.
His wife Gwen passed away some years ago and their daughter Lynda also more recently, leaving son Phil to carry on the music tradition on that side of the family.
There was a good turnout of locals along the route as the cortege passed, to say a last farewell to a friend of so many. Jim will be missed by many in the Scottish music scene as well as here in Orkney. We offer our condolences to the family and friends at this sad time.
Letters to the Editor
Dear Pia
I
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Shades of Shetland – Leonard Brown & Maggie Adamson – by Alan Gifford
Grannie’s Attic – The Brickfields – Grimdon Records – GRICDOO5
Road to Tyranny – Bruce MacGregor – MacGregor’s Productions
The High Island – Freeland Barbour (with Alison smith, Ian Hardie & Iain Fraser) – SkyeCD61
Book Review
T
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes
02/04/2022 – An Archive Session
09/04/2022 – Another new band to TTF. Graeme MacKay Dance Band
16/04/2022 – Bobby MacLeod SDB, The Corran Halls, Oban 1981 + a feature on the late Norman MacLean
23/04/2022 – A new session with Colin Dewar SDB
30/04/2022 – Nicol McLaren SDB from September 2021
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Jubilee Hall, Newton-on-the Moor) 13th April 2022 – Sandy Nixon SDB
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 3rd April 2022 – Gavin Piper
Banchory (Royal British Legion) –
Banff & District (The Fife Lodge Hotel) – 27th April 2022 – Gavin Piper
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) – 10th April 2022 – Allan Smith, Roddy Matthews & Friends
Blairgowrie (Rattray Bowling Club) - 12th April 2022 – Liam Stewart Duo
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) – 12th April 2022 – Club Night
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 5th April 2022 – John Morgan
Canderside (Stonehouse Bowling Club) - 14th April 2022 – John Burns Trio
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 14th April 2022 – Julie Huntington & Jean Corrighan
Castle Douglas (Threave Rovers Football Club) – 12th April 2022 – Iain Anderson (accordion)
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) - April 2022 – no meeting
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 21st April 2022 – Sandy Nixon SDB
Crieff & District (British Legion) 7th April 2022 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 6th April 2022 – Club Night
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 20th April 2022 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Dunfermline (Masonic Hall, Rosyth) – 12th April 2022 – Alan Small & Gemma Donald
Dumfries (Crichton Royal Golf Club) - 5th April 2022 – Neil Hardie SDB
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 24th April 2022 – Martainn Skene Trio
Forres (Forres Golf Club) – 11th April 2022 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Galashiels (Clovenfors Hotel) - 7th April 2022 - tbc
Glendale (The Glendale Hall, Wooler) - 21st April 2022 – Ray Carse + AGM
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 6th April 2022 – Club Night
Glenrothes (Queen Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 26th April 2022 – Marian Anderson Trio
Gretna (The Richard Greenhow Centre) - 3rd April 2022 – Ray Carse
Hidden Toun (Haddington Bowling Club) - 10th April 2022 – David Vernon & Alex Hodgson
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 18th April 2022 – Craig McFadyen Band
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) - April 2022 – no meeting
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 7th April 2022 – Strathmore CB
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 27th April 2022 – Judith Linton Trio
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) – 24th April 2022 – Leonard Brown
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) - April 2022 -
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) - April 2022 -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite, Mauchline & District Kilmarnock FC Supporters Club) - 19th April 2022 – Club Night
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 6th April 2022 – Claire (fiddle) & Wayne (accordion) Robertson
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 25th April 2022 - tbc
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 5th April 2022 – Scott Band SDB
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – April 2022 -
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 28th April 2022 – no meeting
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) – 19th April 2022 – Iain Anderson Trio
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 7th April 2022 – The Homelanders (John Morgan & Paul Philps)
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 5th April 2022 – Ewan Galloway SDB 12th , 19th , 26th – Club Night
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - April 2022 -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
TMSA (Aberdeen) – Sportmans Club - 19th April 2022 – On-line Session
Turriff (Royal British Legion, Fyvie) – 7th April 2022 – Dave & Diane Morrice
Tynedale (Tynedale Farmers Function Suite) – 21st April 2022 - tbc
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – April 2022 -
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Arbroath
2. Biggar
3. Blairgowrie
4. Campsie
5. Canderside
6. Castle Douglas
7. Dumfries
8. Dunblane
9. Forfar
10. Glenrothes & District
11. Kelso
12. Lewis & Harris
13. Macmerry
14. Mauchline
15. Seghill
16. Shetland
17. Turriff & District
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT DEC 2022
(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. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
4. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
5. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
6. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
7. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
8. Button Key A&F Club (
9. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
10. Canderside A&F Club (Stonehouse) (Feb 2019 – present)
11. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
12. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
13. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
14. Coalburn A&F Club (
15. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
16. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
17. Dumfries A&F Club (1965 renamed Islesteps Jan 1981 – 2021 then back to Dumfries)
18. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
19. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
20. Forfar A&F Club (1984 – present)
21. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
22. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
23. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
24. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
25. 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)
26. Hidden Toun A&F (Haddington) (Jan 2022 – present)
27. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
28. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
29. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
30. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
31. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
32. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
33. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
34. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
35. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
36. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
37. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
38. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
39. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
40. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
41. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
42. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
43 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
44 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
45 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
46 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
47 Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership, closed due to Covid or omitted in error?)
48. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – Covid 19 – March 2020)
49. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
50. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
51. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
52. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – restarted ? till Covid 19 in March 2020)
53. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
54. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
55. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
56. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
57. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
58. Britannia B&F Club (joined 07-08 but much older
59. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
60. Buchan A&F Club
61. Callander A&F Club (
62. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980 – 1997?)
63. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
64. Club Accord
65. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
66 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
67. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
68. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
69. Cults A & F Club (
70. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
71. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981 - ?)
72. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
73. Derwentside A&F Club
74. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
75. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
76. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
77. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
78. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
79. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – April 2020 – Covid19)
80. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
81. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
82. Ellon A&F Club (1984 – April 2020 Covid19)
83. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
84. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
85. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F - later The Railway Club, Inverlochy )
86. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
87. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 – March 2018)
88. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
89. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
90. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
91. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
92. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
93. Kintore A&F Club (
94. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
95. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
96. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
97. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
98. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
99. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – March 2020 - Covid)
100. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 – Covid 19 – March 2020)
101. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
102. Maine Valley A&F Club (
103. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
104. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
105. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
106. Mull A&F Club
107. Newcastleton Accordion Club
108. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
109. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
110. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
111. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
112. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
113. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
114. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
115. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
116. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
117. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
118. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984 – closed at Covid 19 in March 2020)
119. Selkirk A&F Club (
120. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
121. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
122. Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
123. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
124 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 - ?
125 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
126. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
127. Tranent A&F Club
128. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
129. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
130. Wellbank A&F Club
131. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
132. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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