Chapter 11 (1961 – 1964) – (Pgs 104 – 112) - Will Ye No’ Come Back Again
The first Australian / New Zealand tour was arranged when Jimmy met promoter George Mennie, home on holiday in Aberdeen.
His music was already well-known down under, in fact to a very novel extent. Quoting from the souvenir programme – “Popular Jimmy Shand’s breezy accordion music has won him the title of ‘Pied Piper of Philip Island,’ one of Victoria’s tourist resorts, famous for its penguins.
“Round about eight o’clock of an evening, when the tourists are mustered by the shore, the music of Jimmy Shand is played over the waters and the penguins come marching in, firstly single file, then in columns of twos and threes.”
So he was assured of at least one audience.
In fact it was a repetition of the Canadian Tour, only more so. Packed theatres and halls ; welcomed everywhere by great crowds, pipe bands, dignitaries, including mayors.
They went via Italy to land at Darwin, from where they took off again for Brisbane and their first engagements of three weeks in Australia before going on to New Zealand.
Jimmy was supported on his button accordion by Bert Shorthouse’s piano-accordion, George McKelvey being the pianist on the tour. Bass players were engaged locally as they went along.
From one of the many welcoming letters Jimmy received when he arrived –
……..We are thrilled to have you all with us ; we have been waiting for a long time for such a visit from world-class Scottish artistes……..my name is Pat Lee, a past member of the Australian Antarctic South Pole Expedition of 1957 ; we sent you a message from Mawson Base choosing you the musician of the year. My cobber, Sandy Sandilands met you while he was in Scotland…..we would like to meet you after the show if that is possible……if any of your party would like a run down to the South coast, Bulli Pass, Woolongong, Shell Harbour.
The tie-pin is from the South Pole and is one of Captain Scott’s pony nails used during 1909-1912 fatal journey. While I was with Sir Edmund Hillary I got the nail from Scott’s old hut.
One of the chief attractions of visiting New Zealand for Jimmy had been the chance of a reunion with long-lost relatives – one uncle and family had emigrated when Jimmy was four years old.
Auld acquaintances were renewed, among them Jock Thompson in Palmerston North whom Jimmy had last seen 37 years ago in Fife. Had not only seen but especially heard, for the young pit-boy was wont to sit near the band in which Jock played the box, to listen and learn.
It was certainly time for ‘should auld acquaintance’ for George McKelvey. About a year before, younger brother James and family had emigrated to Melbourne, and George spent a night woth them there instead of at an hotel. On subsequent tours he did not visit them – for the simple reason that within another year they were back and settles in Dundee. (George introduced James to leading Melbourne Country Dance Band Leader Dickie Murray, and James subsequently played with them on many occasions.)
All the artistes got lavish praise in the press. In Auckland, where a pipe-band paraded through the hall to introduce the programme (usual throughout the tour) – ‘Alex Finlay, a comedian whose mere appearance on the stage was enough to make the audience laugh and whose humour kept them convulsed….This show is undoubtedly one of its type seen in Auckland. It has everything a good show needs and much of its success is due to the accompanist, Denis Woolford.”
Melbourne ; ‘Kenneth McKellar, surely one of the finest tenors Melbourne has had the good fortune to hear, held the audience spellbound……’
‘One of the best musicals to visit Palmerston North…..right down to the list of artistes it was a show packed with entertainment.’
Bobby Watson came in for special praise ‘his amazing lightfootedness and novelty interpretations of familiar dances,’ a highlight of his act being playing the pipes while dancing.
In Sydney they performed on a great revolving stage which Kenneth compared to playing in a gents’ outfitter’s window.
At Cape Canaveral weather was holding up America’s first man-in-space shot ; but in bright sunshine, Ken, Jimmy and party stepped off their plane at Taieri airport to the piping of Scotland the Brave and a larger piece in the local paper. Dunedin, which regards itself as New Zealand’s most Scottish city “gave an excited welcome unequalled for a group of entertainers since Sir Harry Lauder was here more than thirty years ago.”
After two concerts in the Town Hall they went on to appear at Invercargill, from there to fly home via San Francisco.
I asked cousin George McKelvey how things were when they got back to Scotland –
“We just carried on the same as before ; full diaries here, there an’ everywhere.”
March, 1962, and Jimmy surveying himself gloomily in the mirror at home.
“Noo, be honest, Anne – dae ye no’ think it’s a wee bit –“
“A wee bit nothing! It suits ye just grand. What else would ye wear? A’ the men’ll be dressed the same ; ye wouldna like tae stand oot different, shairly?”
No, it wasn’t the kilt. It was in fact the essence of snobbish English attire ; morning dress. Worst of all was the grey lum hat. Surely he had been conned into wearing one of the tallest made!
“Tell ye one thing, Anne ; it’s a guid joab there’s nae sna’ aboot – I wouldna dare appear in the streets ; just be a proper invitation tae lauddies wi’ sna’ ba’s a’ place!”
“C’mon, noo, Jimmy, ye look grand. Ye widna think I would gae oot wi’ ye if ye were a’sicht, dae ye?”
Surely he had an extremely good reason for the extremely unfamiliar attire?
Well, how else to dress when invited to drop in on the Queen at Buckingham Palace?
He took his leave of Her Majesty and the Duke with a broad smile, and the MBE.
One thing, Ann was able to see for herself what the Queen wore on this occasion. As with the wives of other members of the band she had previously been frustrated when asking about the royal apparel after they had been to Balmoral or Windsor or Glamis.
George’s wife, Flo, told me how when he came back from such an engagement she would quiz him, to be answered with an annoyingly vague –
“Think it was some kind o’ blue dress she had on ; couldna be sure though…..
In summer, off for another longer tour of Australia and New Zealand.
The 1962 line-up was ; the band – George on piano accordion, Sid Chalmers fiddle ; Jim Scott, piano. Again it was the Kenneth McKellar show with Denis Woodford as accompanist, but this time the troupe included Duncan Macrae, Moira Anderson and Jimmy Warren as comic and compere.
Seven weeks of two, three, four, aye and five night stands.
Duncan Macrae was already a celebrity through his films, ‘Tunes of Glory,’ ‘Whisky Galore,’ etc
On this tour he was comic monologuist, and as this his fame had also gone ahead of him through ‘The Wee Cock Sparra.’ His rendering in the flesh brought the house down everywhere. And referring to ‘The Games’ ‘in the flesh’ certainly brought extra marks from one critic (St. James’ Theatre, Auckland) who wrote that it had been worth waiting a long time to see him exhibit his physique – stripped to a kilt of alarming brevity and very little else, ‘resembling an over-grown string bean.’ Elsewhere his undertaker skit was praised for his being able to make ‘a ghoulish topic funny but not offensive. His performance at Hawke’s Bay was hailed as hysterically funny.
Kenneth and Moira got many rave notices, gaining extra plaudits when scorning microphones. Of Moira, at the Embassy Theatre, Hamilton – “Few could restrain their tears when stage lights were dimmed and the haunting voice implored ‘Come Back to Bonnie Scotland’.”
The ‘little breath of Scotland’ that McKellar promised was hailed as a show which hit with gale force, at Wellington.
“Hoots, Mon! What a Grand Nicht” exclaimed the Palmerston Times.
The Border Watch remarked upon a joyousness running through the entire programme due to the way the artistes put their hearts into their performances, a labour of love, obviously which quickly established rapport with the capacity audience……”well worth seeing – and taking part in.”
Said the Evening Star of the three thousand who packed the Main Town Hall in Dunedin “There can be few touring shows capable of drawing such a crowd.”
At his hotel in New Plymouth Jimmy was serenaded by the Taranaki Ladies Highland Pipe Band.
Denis Woodford’s solos earned praise, and Jimmy Warren’s material was welcomed as being free from smut.
While Jimmy had audiences lilting, and tapping – not to mention stamping – their feet all over Australia and New Zealand, his fans at home were not being completely deprived of his wizardry, for through the wizardry of electronic memory banks the BBC had continued putting out the ‘Heather Mixture’ radio series.
Anne of course listened to this. She wrote to him from Braidleys in Auchtermuchty remarking on the fact that he had beensinging in the programme (‘cam-a-ree cam-a-ro’). But communication was proving difficult in other ways ; ‘I was disappointed last night on the phone ; I couldn’t hear you and you couldn’t hear me. I was shouting as loud as I could. When I told the exchange it was a bad line they said they couldn’t help it ; they were sorry about it, and wouldn’t charge the full amount for the call. Did you hear what Andy was trying to tell you?”
This was Andy Gow, the driver, who had been bellowing into the mouthpiece that he had got a new manifold for the car.
She went on to tell him that the swimming pool in front of the house had now been filled in, and that the lean-to had been completed beside the garage. David was happy at the Occupational Centre at Cupar.
Erskine had been trying one of dad’s accordions, and was somewhat critical of it.
And Aunt Rachel – who had looked after the Shand family after the mother died, and who had helped set Anne and Jimmy up in their first home – wasn’t keeping too well ; but Erskine had taken her out on a run to visit old friends. (The old lady now lived with them at Braidleys).
BBC producer Ben Lyon was anxious to know if it was true the tour was to be extended.
And “do you not think it a waste of time phoning when we cannot hear one another?”
Not forgetting that she was glad to learn that the horse had won……
The horse ; from the New Zealand sporting press –
‘Jimmy’ May Give Inspired Performance.
One house who may be capable of an inspired performance at Wanganni this week is the Hawera four-year-old, Jimmy Shand, a candidate for the Waihou Maiden Race. The star item in Wanganui this week has been the visit of a team of Scottish troupers, including Jimmy Shand and his Band.
So far the Blue Coral gelding has achieved nothing like the fame of his musical namesake, but he does have the recommendation of a promising fourth after a slow start in his last appearance.
It won the mile race by 2½ lengths in a field of thirteen at odds of £5.7/6 to £1. Naturally, Jimmy backed it, and won £37.
He returned from the second Australian Tour to admire Erskine’s decorating work on the house, pass judgment on his new records (as Jimmy Shand Jnr), commend Andy Gow for looking after the bus, cars, motor boat, motor bikes – and to quite a full diary for the rest of 1962 and most of 1963.
So Erskine had followed in dad’s nimble fingers?
Certainly true ; yet although he played the same music it was not slavish copying. For one thing, quite early on he had opted for a different type of box, preferring the 5-row Continental Chromatic to Jimmy’s 3-row British Chromatic.
He served an apprenticeship with Lamb’s Garage in Dundee as a motor mechanic, finishing his time travelling there and back daily when the family moved to Auchtermuchty.
While still in his early ‘teens he had sat in with dad’s band, filled in as second accordion or pianist in emergencies.
Formed a little part-time group of his own and built up a thriving all-over-the-place playing career.
Mechanicing apprenticeship over he devoted himself to playing, helping around the house – and at Braidleys that included months digging out a swimming pool, and relieved Jimmy of the accordion repairs brought and sent in by players from as far away as Ireland.
He teamed up with Robert Wilson on radio and TV shows, toured the country with him ; visited Germany and Ireland.
With the Robert Wilson White Heather Group he toured Australia and New Zealand in 1960 – that’s right ; a year before the McKellar – Shand troupe’s first visit.
Dad’s third tour there, in 1964, again with Kenneth, lasted eleven weeks. The programme announced him as – “Shy Jimmy, the World at his Feet;” (should it not have been “The World at his Fingertips”?) and went on “Never has the entertainment world seen anyone like Jimmy Shand, a balding 56 with a tiny, tiny, light toothbrush moustache, and an equally tiny public smile. He is uncompromisingly honest….a phenomenon of simplicity in a world of masks and false attitudes. When an audience sees Jimmy Shand on the stage, they are looking not only at Scotland’s ace accordionist, but at the man himself.”
This time the comedian was Jack Radcliffe on his first visit.
Also on their first visit were Robin Hall and Jimmie McGregor (who already had more than 500 appearances on British TV to their credit).
Moira Anderson and Denis Woolford went along again.
This third tour was a longer, equally triumphant series of appearances, auld acquaintances were renewed. Anne’s airmails kept him informed of Erskine’s and David’s doings ; who came to tea, what was going on in Auchtermuchty and round about.
In 1964 there were more than 120 registered pipe bands in New Zealand. At Invercargill the troupe was welcomed at the airport by the City of Invercargill Caledonian Pipe Band playing a composition of Jimmy’s, Angus McLeod of Achgrave.
When he learned from the President, Peter Anderson, that the band had no signature tune, he promised to write them one. Which he did in a matter of minutes on a Sunday outing a few days later. Delighted with the City of Invercargill Caledonian Pipe Band March the band had the original copy framed and given a place of honour on one of the bandroom walls.
In March 1964, just before he set off, I had an article in Scots Magazine, “A Tune on the Box,” in which I recalled an occasion more than ten years earlier when I had visited him at his home in Sutherland Street……
I stood outside the living-room door in his semi, while inside he had a tune on the box in the way that only he can. When he opened the door I remarked of the strapped-on box that he didn’t half suit an accordion ; and got the melancholy answer – “Aye, lauddie, aye – if we could only play the thing.”
Ludicrous when it happened, even more so when it was written as acclaim, for his genius continued to grow and grow.
Yet, back in Scotland near the end of July he was refuting rumours that he planned to retire soon.
“Nae actual plans for retirement, but ye micht say I’m at something o’ a crossroads, and as far as dance dates are concerned I aim tae keep the diary a lot lichter fae noo on.
“Mind, it’s difficult, since I’m sae often refusing customers that have become auld freen’s. But, let’s say ye lose yer keenness the aulder ye get…..”
Fifty-six, with a dance band the demand for which had increased right throughout its twenty-two years – and which had a drummer and second accordionist who were older than the maestro.
Maybe it was time that three of them at least really did begin to take it a bit easier.
Well, at last they did. Much of the nocturnal speeding around the landscape from village hall to castle, from theater to club was cut down, or rather not permitted to recur through only accepting more spaced-out bookings.
So Jimmy now had more free time – which he made good use of, playing at hospitals, for old folks, various charities.
More time to do things at home as well. He acquired his own cement-mixer ; which certainly did not mean doing away with all the garden, lawns, since he had arranged to have carted in 15,000 tons of soil to build up one particular corner of his grounds for a putting green.
There were plans for heating the water in the swimming pool.
Between times he hoped to have leisure to try out his speedboat on the Tay. Not forgetting spins in his old love, one of the motorbikes from one of his garages – he needed two of these last now!
It was suggested in some quarters that the craze for beat had swamped the interest in Scottish dance music, forcing him to retire. Refusing so much work, Jimmy was able to laugh at this, although possibly lesser country dance bands were not as busy as they had been.
He had met the Beatles twice, last time when they arrived in Wellington, New Zealand, on the plane that the McKellar – Shand party were to go out on.
“I think they are fine lauddies ; guid luck to them. Some o’ these young groups can certainly put a number across……I’d like beat music a bit better if it wisna quite sae noisy.”
That was in 1964. In the spring of the following year he again felt the need to make a similar public statement – “Jimmy denies dance band ‘blues’” one paper headed its piece.
He was described as being shocked at the idea that beat groups were putting Scottish dance bands out of business – “just rubbish!”
Erskine, Jimmy Shand Jnr., was disbanding his little group, and his father was now denying the rumour that it was because of lack of engagements due to competition from beat –
“They are disbandin’, true enough ; but no’ through lack o’ work. It’s just that he’s choosin’ tae concentrate on runnin’ an accordion repair business full time. Full-time travellin’ aboot tae play is tough enough – but it’s a lot harder when ye are only part-time an’ tryin, tae keep abreast o’ other work by day. And, intae the bargain, he’s plannin’ tae get married in the near future.
“Tae say that a’ the public wants now is beat is tae talk pure nonsense. I still get mair offers o’ work than I can possibly accept – even if I was keen enough tae want tae fit it a’ in.”
(In September 1964 old friend and fellow-trouper, tenor Robert Wilson died at his home in Ayr. Involved in a motoring accident earlier in the year, he had never got over it.
A year older than Jimmy, Robert had retired in 1962, still celebrated as the ‘Voice of Scotland’ after thirty-two professional years which started with the Rothesay Entertainers. Then he sang with D’Oyly Carte before launching out on his own as a concert singer.
Obituaries spoke of his great success Down in the Glen, and how he had bridged the gap between Harry Lauder and Kenneth McKellar and Andy Stewart).
His music was already well-known down under, in fact to a very novel extent. Quoting from the souvenir programme – “Popular Jimmy Shand’s breezy accordion music has won him the title of ‘Pied Piper of Philip Island,’ one of Victoria’s tourist resorts, famous for its penguins.
“Round about eight o’clock of an evening, when the tourists are mustered by the shore, the music of Jimmy Shand is played over the waters and the penguins come marching in, firstly single file, then in columns of twos and threes.”
So he was assured of at least one audience.
In fact it was a repetition of the Canadian Tour, only more so. Packed theatres and halls ; welcomed everywhere by great crowds, pipe bands, dignitaries, including mayors.
They went via Italy to land at Darwin, from where they took off again for Brisbane and their first engagements of three weeks in Australia before going on to New Zealand.
Jimmy was supported on his button accordion by Bert Shorthouse’s piano-accordion, George McKelvey being the pianist on the tour. Bass players were engaged locally as they went along.
From one of the many welcoming letters Jimmy received when he arrived –
……..We are thrilled to have you all with us ; we have been waiting for a long time for such a visit from world-class Scottish artistes……..my name is Pat Lee, a past member of the Australian Antarctic South Pole Expedition of 1957 ; we sent you a message from Mawson Base choosing you the musician of the year. My cobber, Sandy Sandilands met you while he was in Scotland…..we would like to meet you after the show if that is possible……if any of your party would like a run down to the South coast, Bulli Pass, Woolongong, Shell Harbour.
The tie-pin is from the South Pole and is one of Captain Scott’s pony nails used during 1909-1912 fatal journey. While I was with Sir Edmund Hillary I got the nail from Scott’s old hut.
One of the chief attractions of visiting New Zealand for Jimmy had been the chance of a reunion with long-lost relatives – one uncle and family had emigrated when Jimmy was four years old.
Auld acquaintances were renewed, among them Jock Thompson in Palmerston North whom Jimmy had last seen 37 years ago in Fife. Had not only seen but especially heard, for the young pit-boy was wont to sit near the band in which Jock played the box, to listen and learn.
It was certainly time for ‘should auld acquaintance’ for George McKelvey. About a year before, younger brother James and family had emigrated to Melbourne, and George spent a night woth them there instead of at an hotel. On subsequent tours he did not visit them – for the simple reason that within another year they were back and settles in Dundee. (George introduced James to leading Melbourne Country Dance Band Leader Dickie Murray, and James subsequently played with them on many occasions.)
All the artistes got lavish praise in the press. In Auckland, where a pipe-band paraded through the hall to introduce the programme (usual throughout the tour) – ‘Alex Finlay, a comedian whose mere appearance on the stage was enough to make the audience laugh and whose humour kept them convulsed….This show is undoubtedly one of its type seen in Auckland. It has everything a good show needs and much of its success is due to the accompanist, Denis Woolford.”
Melbourne ; ‘Kenneth McKellar, surely one of the finest tenors Melbourne has had the good fortune to hear, held the audience spellbound……’
‘One of the best musicals to visit Palmerston North…..right down to the list of artistes it was a show packed with entertainment.’
Bobby Watson came in for special praise ‘his amazing lightfootedness and novelty interpretations of familiar dances,’ a highlight of his act being playing the pipes while dancing.
In Sydney they performed on a great revolving stage which Kenneth compared to playing in a gents’ outfitter’s window.
At Cape Canaveral weather was holding up America’s first man-in-space shot ; but in bright sunshine, Ken, Jimmy and party stepped off their plane at Taieri airport to the piping of Scotland the Brave and a larger piece in the local paper. Dunedin, which regards itself as New Zealand’s most Scottish city “gave an excited welcome unequalled for a group of entertainers since Sir Harry Lauder was here more than thirty years ago.”
After two concerts in the Town Hall they went on to appear at Invercargill, from there to fly home via San Francisco.
I asked cousin George McKelvey how things were when they got back to Scotland –
“We just carried on the same as before ; full diaries here, there an’ everywhere.”
March, 1962, and Jimmy surveying himself gloomily in the mirror at home.
“Noo, be honest, Anne – dae ye no’ think it’s a wee bit –“
“A wee bit nothing! It suits ye just grand. What else would ye wear? A’ the men’ll be dressed the same ; ye wouldna like tae stand oot different, shairly?”
No, it wasn’t the kilt. It was in fact the essence of snobbish English attire ; morning dress. Worst of all was the grey lum hat. Surely he had been conned into wearing one of the tallest made!
“Tell ye one thing, Anne ; it’s a guid joab there’s nae sna’ aboot – I wouldna dare appear in the streets ; just be a proper invitation tae lauddies wi’ sna’ ba’s a’ place!”
“C’mon, noo, Jimmy, ye look grand. Ye widna think I would gae oot wi’ ye if ye were a’sicht, dae ye?”
Surely he had an extremely good reason for the extremely unfamiliar attire?
Well, how else to dress when invited to drop in on the Queen at Buckingham Palace?
He took his leave of Her Majesty and the Duke with a broad smile, and the MBE.
One thing, Ann was able to see for herself what the Queen wore on this occasion. As with the wives of other members of the band she had previously been frustrated when asking about the royal apparel after they had been to Balmoral or Windsor or Glamis.
George’s wife, Flo, told me how when he came back from such an engagement she would quiz him, to be answered with an annoyingly vague –
“Think it was some kind o’ blue dress she had on ; couldna be sure though…..
In summer, off for another longer tour of Australia and New Zealand.
The 1962 line-up was ; the band – George on piano accordion, Sid Chalmers fiddle ; Jim Scott, piano. Again it was the Kenneth McKellar show with Denis Woodford as accompanist, but this time the troupe included Duncan Macrae, Moira Anderson and Jimmy Warren as comic and compere.
Seven weeks of two, three, four, aye and five night stands.
Duncan Macrae was already a celebrity through his films, ‘Tunes of Glory,’ ‘Whisky Galore,’ etc
On this tour he was comic monologuist, and as this his fame had also gone ahead of him through ‘The Wee Cock Sparra.’ His rendering in the flesh brought the house down everywhere. And referring to ‘The Games’ ‘in the flesh’ certainly brought extra marks from one critic (St. James’ Theatre, Auckland) who wrote that it had been worth waiting a long time to see him exhibit his physique – stripped to a kilt of alarming brevity and very little else, ‘resembling an over-grown string bean.’ Elsewhere his undertaker skit was praised for his being able to make ‘a ghoulish topic funny but not offensive. His performance at Hawke’s Bay was hailed as hysterically funny.
Kenneth and Moira got many rave notices, gaining extra plaudits when scorning microphones. Of Moira, at the Embassy Theatre, Hamilton – “Few could restrain their tears when stage lights were dimmed and the haunting voice implored ‘Come Back to Bonnie Scotland’.”
The ‘little breath of Scotland’ that McKellar promised was hailed as a show which hit with gale force, at Wellington.
“Hoots, Mon! What a Grand Nicht” exclaimed the Palmerston Times.
The Border Watch remarked upon a joyousness running through the entire programme due to the way the artistes put their hearts into their performances, a labour of love, obviously which quickly established rapport with the capacity audience……”well worth seeing – and taking part in.”
Said the Evening Star of the three thousand who packed the Main Town Hall in Dunedin “There can be few touring shows capable of drawing such a crowd.”
At his hotel in New Plymouth Jimmy was serenaded by the Taranaki Ladies Highland Pipe Band.
Denis Woodford’s solos earned praise, and Jimmy Warren’s material was welcomed as being free from smut.
While Jimmy had audiences lilting, and tapping – not to mention stamping – their feet all over Australia and New Zealand, his fans at home were not being completely deprived of his wizardry, for through the wizardry of electronic memory banks the BBC had continued putting out the ‘Heather Mixture’ radio series.
Anne of course listened to this. She wrote to him from Braidleys in Auchtermuchty remarking on the fact that he had beensinging in the programme (‘cam-a-ree cam-a-ro’). But communication was proving difficult in other ways ; ‘I was disappointed last night on the phone ; I couldn’t hear you and you couldn’t hear me. I was shouting as loud as I could. When I told the exchange it was a bad line they said they couldn’t help it ; they were sorry about it, and wouldn’t charge the full amount for the call. Did you hear what Andy was trying to tell you?”
This was Andy Gow, the driver, who had been bellowing into the mouthpiece that he had got a new manifold for the car.
She went on to tell him that the swimming pool in front of the house had now been filled in, and that the lean-to had been completed beside the garage. David was happy at the Occupational Centre at Cupar.
Erskine had been trying one of dad’s accordions, and was somewhat critical of it.
And Aunt Rachel – who had looked after the Shand family after the mother died, and who had helped set Anne and Jimmy up in their first home – wasn’t keeping too well ; but Erskine had taken her out on a run to visit old friends. (The old lady now lived with them at Braidleys).
BBC producer Ben Lyon was anxious to know if it was true the tour was to be extended.
And “do you not think it a waste of time phoning when we cannot hear one another?”
Not forgetting that she was glad to learn that the horse had won……
The horse ; from the New Zealand sporting press –
‘Jimmy’ May Give Inspired Performance.
One house who may be capable of an inspired performance at Wanganni this week is the Hawera four-year-old, Jimmy Shand, a candidate for the Waihou Maiden Race. The star item in Wanganui this week has been the visit of a team of Scottish troupers, including Jimmy Shand and his Band.
So far the Blue Coral gelding has achieved nothing like the fame of his musical namesake, but he does have the recommendation of a promising fourth after a slow start in his last appearance.
It won the mile race by 2½ lengths in a field of thirteen at odds of £5.7/6 to £1. Naturally, Jimmy backed it, and won £37.
He returned from the second Australian Tour to admire Erskine’s decorating work on the house, pass judgment on his new records (as Jimmy Shand Jnr), commend Andy Gow for looking after the bus, cars, motor boat, motor bikes – and to quite a full diary for the rest of 1962 and most of 1963.
So Erskine had followed in dad’s nimble fingers?
Certainly true ; yet although he played the same music it was not slavish copying. For one thing, quite early on he had opted for a different type of box, preferring the 5-row Continental Chromatic to Jimmy’s 3-row British Chromatic.
He served an apprenticeship with Lamb’s Garage in Dundee as a motor mechanic, finishing his time travelling there and back daily when the family moved to Auchtermuchty.
While still in his early ‘teens he had sat in with dad’s band, filled in as second accordion or pianist in emergencies.
Formed a little part-time group of his own and built up a thriving all-over-the-place playing career.
Mechanicing apprenticeship over he devoted himself to playing, helping around the house – and at Braidleys that included months digging out a swimming pool, and relieved Jimmy of the accordion repairs brought and sent in by players from as far away as Ireland.
He teamed up with Robert Wilson on radio and TV shows, toured the country with him ; visited Germany and Ireland.
With the Robert Wilson White Heather Group he toured Australia and New Zealand in 1960 – that’s right ; a year before the McKellar – Shand troupe’s first visit.
Dad’s third tour there, in 1964, again with Kenneth, lasted eleven weeks. The programme announced him as – “Shy Jimmy, the World at his Feet;” (should it not have been “The World at his Fingertips”?) and went on “Never has the entertainment world seen anyone like Jimmy Shand, a balding 56 with a tiny, tiny, light toothbrush moustache, and an equally tiny public smile. He is uncompromisingly honest….a phenomenon of simplicity in a world of masks and false attitudes. When an audience sees Jimmy Shand on the stage, they are looking not only at Scotland’s ace accordionist, but at the man himself.”
This time the comedian was Jack Radcliffe on his first visit.
Also on their first visit were Robin Hall and Jimmie McGregor (who already had more than 500 appearances on British TV to their credit).
Moira Anderson and Denis Woolford went along again.
This third tour was a longer, equally triumphant series of appearances, auld acquaintances were renewed. Anne’s airmails kept him informed of Erskine’s and David’s doings ; who came to tea, what was going on in Auchtermuchty and round about.
In 1964 there were more than 120 registered pipe bands in New Zealand. At Invercargill the troupe was welcomed at the airport by the City of Invercargill Caledonian Pipe Band playing a composition of Jimmy’s, Angus McLeod of Achgrave.
When he learned from the President, Peter Anderson, that the band had no signature tune, he promised to write them one. Which he did in a matter of minutes on a Sunday outing a few days later. Delighted with the City of Invercargill Caledonian Pipe Band March the band had the original copy framed and given a place of honour on one of the bandroom walls.
In March 1964, just before he set off, I had an article in Scots Magazine, “A Tune on the Box,” in which I recalled an occasion more than ten years earlier when I had visited him at his home in Sutherland Street……
I stood outside the living-room door in his semi, while inside he had a tune on the box in the way that only he can. When he opened the door I remarked of the strapped-on box that he didn’t half suit an accordion ; and got the melancholy answer – “Aye, lauddie, aye – if we could only play the thing.”
Ludicrous when it happened, even more so when it was written as acclaim, for his genius continued to grow and grow.
Yet, back in Scotland near the end of July he was refuting rumours that he planned to retire soon.
“Nae actual plans for retirement, but ye micht say I’m at something o’ a crossroads, and as far as dance dates are concerned I aim tae keep the diary a lot lichter fae noo on.
“Mind, it’s difficult, since I’m sae often refusing customers that have become auld freen’s. But, let’s say ye lose yer keenness the aulder ye get…..”
Fifty-six, with a dance band the demand for which had increased right throughout its twenty-two years – and which had a drummer and second accordionist who were older than the maestro.
Maybe it was time that three of them at least really did begin to take it a bit easier.
Well, at last they did. Much of the nocturnal speeding around the landscape from village hall to castle, from theater to club was cut down, or rather not permitted to recur through only accepting more spaced-out bookings.
So Jimmy now had more free time – which he made good use of, playing at hospitals, for old folks, various charities.
More time to do things at home as well. He acquired his own cement-mixer ; which certainly did not mean doing away with all the garden, lawns, since he had arranged to have carted in 15,000 tons of soil to build up one particular corner of his grounds for a putting green.
There were plans for heating the water in the swimming pool.
Between times he hoped to have leisure to try out his speedboat on the Tay. Not forgetting spins in his old love, one of the motorbikes from one of his garages – he needed two of these last now!
It was suggested in some quarters that the craze for beat had swamped the interest in Scottish dance music, forcing him to retire. Refusing so much work, Jimmy was able to laugh at this, although possibly lesser country dance bands were not as busy as they had been.
He had met the Beatles twice, last time when they arrived in Wellington, New Zealand, on the plane that the McKellar – Shand party were to go out on.
“I think they are fine lauddies ; guid luck to them. Some o’ these young groups can certainly put a number across……I’d like beat music a bit better if it wisna quite sae noisy.”
That was in 1964. In the spring of the following year he again felt the need to make a similar public statement – “Jimmy denies dance band ‘blues’” one paper headed its piece.
He was described as being shocked at the idea that beat groups were putting Scottish dance bands out of business – “just rubbish!”
Erskine, Jimmy Shand Jnr., was disbanding his little group, and his father was now denying the rumour that it was because of lack of engagements due to competition from beat –
“They are disbandin’, true enough ; but no’ through lack o’ work. It’s just that he’s choosin’ tae concentrate on runnin’ an accordion repair business full time. Full-time travellin’ aboot tae play is tough enough – but it’s a lot harder when ye are only part-time an’ tryin, tae keep abreast o’ other work by day. And, intae the bargain, he’s plannin’ tae get married in the near future.
“Tae say that a’ the public wants now is beat is tae talk pure nonsense. I still get mair offers o’ work than I can possibly accept – even if I was keen enough tae want tae fit it a’ in.”
(In September 1964 old friend and fellow-trouper, tenor Robert Wilson died at his home in Ayr. Involved in a motoring accident earlier in the year, he had never got over it.
A year older than Jimmy, Robert had retired in 1962, still celebrated as the ‘Voice of Scotland’ after thirty-two professional years which started with the Rothesay Entertainers. Then he sang with D’Oyly Carte before launching out on his own as a concert singer.
Obituaries spoke of his great success Down in the Glen, and how he had bridged the gap between Harry Lauder and Kenneth McKellar and Andy Stewart).