Box and Fiddle Year 01 No 03
December 1977
Price 10p
8 pages
Editor - Ian Smith, 50 Mount Vernon Road, Stranraer
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
Now that the Scottish Education Certificate Board have admitted the accordion to the Ordinary exam level, it is up to the youngsters to take up the challenge,. Later there should be the Highers level exam and, who knows, maybe eventually an Honours Degree? The door to the world for those who try is now wide open. Through hard work and study this can be achieved. Your paper will keep you informed as and when developments take place. This raised the question, what about our friends over the Border in Northern England? If they tell us what they want done the paper is at their disposal.
Welcome to two more Clubs – Biggar Accordion and Fiddle Club, Chairman Mr. Alex MacArthur, Clydesdale Hotel, Biggar ; and Cumnock Accordion and Fiddle Club, Chairman Mr. Kenny Thomson, 20 Walker Court, Cumnock.
Association Secretary Mr Ray Milbourne announces that the new badges are now ready. Would Clubs place their orders.
In a conversation with Bobby Crowe he went through the Clubs he has played at. He mentioned no fewer than ten clubs not in the Association. It would be fine if they joined in with the rest of us and became one of the family with all its advantages.
May we take this opportunity to wish all our readers a Happy and Joyful Christmas and a Prosperous and Musical New Year.
Sad Loss to the Accordion World
It is with regret that we have to announce the sudden death of 22-year-old Willie Mann of 14 St. Ninians Road, Padanaram. He died as a result of a car accident. A member of Kirriemuir and Dundee Accordion Clubs, he was a brilliant player and a well-liked personality. He was also a member of Ian Reid’s SCD Band and belonged to Angus Cameron’s SCD Band – recently finished a tour of North Western France.
Our condolences ans sympathy are extended to his relatives. He will be sorely missed.
Lead Article
Christmas Bonus for Young Accordionists
At last the accordion has come of age in Scotland. It has now been accepted by the Scottish Educatiuon Certificate Board for inclusion in the Ordinary Examinations. Etc
Langholm Festival of Music and the Arts
Langholm held its first Musical Festival on Saturday, 1st October, 1977, and much to the surprise of the Committee it proved to be a very successful day with many compliments on the way it had been run. It got off to a very bad start with one crisis after another, but then again these problems always help to steer the way for future years.
The Festival included school choirs, solo singing, both Scottish traditional and own choice, Gilbert and Sullivan and light operatic, recorder groups, duets and solos, piano solos, brass quartets, bands, duets and solos, mini pipe bands, fiddle and accordion.
Entries were good in some sections but non-existent in others, this probably due to the late advertising of the event. A very successful concert was held in the Buccleuch Hall that evening. Due to the number of events held on the one day different sections were held in different places, so that music resounded around the town all day. Hotels were used, Crown Hotel for the fiddle sections, Buck Hotel for accordions and Buccleuch Hall for singing sections, piano and brass, the Scott Hay Gallery for recorders and the Academy Hall for mini bands.
Results of the accordion and fiddle sections were as follows :
Accordion (adjudicator – Mr Jim Johnstone)
Class 1
1. Donald Ridley
2. William Currie
3. Roger Dobson
Class 2
1. Margaret Holmes
2. Elizabeth Anne Jardine
3. Anne Plunkett
Class 3
1. Elizabeth Jardine
2. Fiona Stewart
3. Joyce McKenzie
Fiddle (adjudicator Mr James Hunter)
Class 1
1. Hugh Borland
2. Jim Ferguson
3. Albie Tedham
Class 2
1. Wat Robson
2. Thomas Hughes
3. Neil Borland
Class 3
1. Dan Jenkins
2. Gregor Borland
3. Dorothy Anderson
Class 4
1. Wat Robson
2= W. Taylor & Albie Tedham
3. Graham Robinson
Class 5
1. Jedburgh Fiddle Band quartet
2. Albie Tedham Group
3. Border Strathspey and Reel Group 1
Thanks to all who supported the Festival, both in attending and competing, and also to sponsors and donators of trophies, cups, etc and we hope to see you all in Langholm for the Festival in 1978.
The Jock Loch Story
By Ian Smith
This page is not just for the famous or prominent people, it is also for characters. Into this category fall one, John Loch, Straiton, Ayrshire.
He is so unique in this drab world of uniformity that we can thank the Great Lord Harry that we have in our Association one such as Jock. His pawky humour has had countless audiences in stitches. He was in at the beginning and has traveled the length and breadth of the land encouraging, cajoling and helping Clubs to get on their feet. Not for Jock the fancy speeches or flowery language. He has a direct way with him, but coupled with that is his couthy manner that doesn’t offend anyone. The result is that he gets things done.
At the early age of eight he started off with a melodeon. He couldn’t and still cannot read music. This is quite a feat in itself as I have heard him play right through a set of Quadrilles. By the time he was twelve he was playing with the Jays Band from Barrhill and after leaving school he acquired his first piano accordion. He was exiled to the byre where he practiced. In the end stall was an evil, bad tempered bull, but by the time Jock got some sense out of the box the bull had mellowed to such an extent that all the calves the next year were heifers, or so Jock reckons.
In 1949 he started his own band, but this did not last as at that time there was a dearth of players and there was a transport problem. He then joined the Hugh Gourlay Band from Patna. To meet the band he had to cycle to Dalmellington, meet the rest, then go to the dance, be it at Dalbeattie or wherever. The reverse journey in the early hours was even more laborious. With his accordion strapped on his back and his fee of 25/- in his pocket, he smiles, “They were the days!” He also played in church of a Sunday evening at the Youth Fellowship “This” according to Jock “is where the accordion sounds the best or in the bathroom”.
Love for Instrument
He has always had the notion for the accordion and through his love for the instrument he has met and made friends with an unbelievable number of people from all walks of life and counts the his best pals and friends.
His working life has been spent in and around the lovely village of Straiton. For 29 years he has been a shepherd. This is not only his work, it is his hobby. Mention blackface sheep andhe’s off for hours. Every year he is in great demand to ‘sort’ sheep for the shows and sales. To ‘sort’ is to dress and get the sheep ready for showing. He does this for the Newton Stewart and Lanark sales where for the past nine years his ‘sorting’ have been in the prize-list. This year his best was two lots of five pen blackface sheep which got the top price of £7,000. Crooks and walking sticks are another thing which he does well – many going abroad. One went to Russia, where no doubt, the sheep there will shout ‘Run Ivan, there’s that herd with the Jock Loch stick’.
He got married in 1958 to Edith and they have a son Gavin. Jock reckons that he sill soon be able to back him. His wife, father and mother are also keen on the accordion music and are often seen at the Clubs. In his spare time he plays to the pensioners, and throughout the winter months he entertains the blind folk every Thursday afternoon. This gives Jock great pleasure to do this and he hopes the folks concerned are able to forget their worries for a wee while. When required he also plays in the churches of Straiton and Kirkmichael for the morning services.
The first time I heard Jock playing my mind went back in time and I could visualize Jock in a bothy of an evening playing the box and being joined by the maid and ploughboy, maybe with his moothie. Then along would come a few others from neighbouring farms. I could hear the music, thw auld songs, and as the night would wear on I could hear the music getting faster, the jokes and the stories getting wilder and the laughing getting louder, such was the effect he had. Jock ended his story with “Weel, that’s a’ the noo, come back in twa or three years an I’ll gie ye mair, have a half”. What better way to end.
Coda
By Helen McWhirter
After giving a great deal of thought to an idea of a ‘weel-kent’ figure in Accordion Club circles, the name of Jock Loch came to mind. He started up Straiton Accordion Club exactly nine years ago (1968). Little did he think at that time he would put the lovely little village of Straiton on the musical map, but that is exactly what happened. Mention the names of Jock Loch or Straiton at any Accordion club in Scotland or over the Border, and the chances are you will meet folks who will know Jock and have been to his Club held in the Black Bull hotel.
At Jock’s first Club meeting seven people arrived. Three to play and four to listen. He will tell you himself he paid £5 to the guest artist and was £4/10- out of pocket over the deal at the end of the night, but he kept on going.
Today things are very different and from the original seven, the membership has risen to around the 150 mark. As the Club progressed, along came the annual West of Scotland Accordion championships. A great deal of work is put into this by Jock to ensure that everyone who comes has a day to remember – whether they are on the prize-list or not. At the end of the day everyone can say – ‘It’s been great’.
Jock has his own dance band and will also provide a concert party, raising money for many an organization. Not only an artist in the musical world, having been a shepherd, Jock is also an artist in the blackface sheep profession, having the patience and skill of being able to have the sheep looking their very best on sale days and many a story about the markets etc he tells at the Clubs.
The Max Houliston Story
By Ian Smith
Max Houliston has a first after his name, that is something no-one can take away. It was Max (short for Maxwell) who started the very first Accordion Club. But long before that took place, half a life-time was spent on the road that led to that point.
He was born in 1933 in Dumfries of parents who were both musically inclined. Father played the melodeon and mother loved to sing. One of four brothers, the other best-known brother being Billy, one of Scotland’s finest centre forwards. When playing for Scotland he was never on the losing side.
At the age of ten, Max pestered his folks for a musical instrument. In the end he was given the choice of a violin or viola as a Christmas present. Fortunately, for us, a friend offered him an accordion for free. Now being a good ‘Doonhamer’ what better bargain than something for nothing. He was put to a well-known teacher, Mr Alex Carter of Dumfries, and it was there that a long-standing friendship was started. Ian Holmes was also being taught, Ian at 6.30pm and Max at 7pm.
During this time they both went to Moniaive to see Bobby MacLeod, and from then on the aim was to be as good as Bobby. Methinks he has succeeded. The age of 18 saw him doping National Service in the Signal Corps at Catterick. Before long he was in the Signals Dance Band. Two years later he was back in civvy street and the first thing he did was to start his own band, being resident in the Country Hotel, Dumfries. Round about this time he came under the influence of two great arrangers of band music, Ian Austin, piano, and Gordon Young, bass. This grounding in the techniques of arranging has given Max a flair for developing his own style, which he certainly has.
He was at one time runner-up in the Classical Open Championships, but after travelling back and forward to Carlisle and being tutored by Ron Hodgson, he won the North of England Classical Open Championship.
Like all good musicians he got married. The good lady being Dorothy Robertson, also of Dumfries, who in turn loves the Scottish dancing, not that she has much time nowadays what with the rearing of a family, a daughter Elizabeth, aged 9, and a son Alan, 6. Alan is showing signs of being musical and Max hopes to put him to the box next year.
It was in 1962 that he took over the lease of the Hole in the Wa’ pub in High Street, Dumfries, and from playing requests to his patrons there developed the idea of an Accordion Club night. The first night was to be in April 1965. Few attended that first night but those who enjoyed it and it recommenced after the summer. A guest artist was added to the blend, then Max’s friend Alex Little a renowned joke teller and Master of Ceremonies was brought in to organize the evening and make it flow. As the audience grew and as the early guest artists realised what this was all about, they took the idea away with them and started other Clubs, Jimmy Norman at Gretna, Bobby Harvey at Milngavie, Davy Ross and Billy Stewart at Galston, Archie Park at Langholm, Jock Loch at Straiton and Jimmy Yeaman at Balloch being amongst the early ones.
In 1964 Kenny Wilson, fiddler, joined the band and they auditioned for the BBC Home Service. Since then they have done over 100 broadcasts. They appear quite regularly on Border TV. To date he has done 6 LPs on the EMI label and 3 on the Pye label. His latest on Pye is the ‘Scottish Dance Party’.
Max does not do too much playing now. He has got himself another place, Oughton’s also in Dumfries High Street. He likes to give personal supervision to his establishments and this takes up moist of his time, even so, he still manages to do what he can for the Clubs.
He has two hobbies, one most unusual. Three times a year he goes to London to hear and chat with people like Jack Emblow and Henry Klein. This keeps him in touch with what is happening and keeps him up to date in the international field.
As for the other hobby, most people can fly their kite but Max flies a hovercraft. It is a complete break away from music and business. Whenever he can he gets over to the Solway First and flies over water to see his other two brothers. Both are publicans, one at Carsethorn and the other at Glencaple. He has had two and three-seaters. At the moment he is getting a four-seater built to his own specifications by a firm at Southhampton. The hovercraft followed on after several unsuccessful ‘amphicars’ – the problem wasn’t with the cars themselves but with the shifting sandbars in the Solway. And once stuck in one of them it took the emergency services to get him afloat again. The hovercraft skimming over the water solved that problem.
If anyone wants to hear accordion music at its best it is simple to just call at the Hole in the Wa’ where there is accordion music every night. The Club now meets at Oughton’s.
Record Review
By Derek Hamilton
Jack Sinclair’s Highland Welcome – Beltona Sword SBE191
Highland Whisky – Bill black and his Scottish Dance Band – Grampian
Strings to the Bow – Angus Cameron – EMI nite NTS127
The Beauty of the North – The Wick Scottish Dance Band – EMI OU2194
The Young Traditionals – Addie Harper Jnr and Gordon Pattullo – EMI
Sandy Bell’s Ceilidh – Various Artists – Dara LPA021
Call of the Clans – Bert Shorthouse – DJM22048
The Donald Brothers
By Ian Smith
At the Straiton Club on the 29th November there were three young accordionists who impressed the audience very much. These boys will surely go far in the accordion world. Their father, Mr Donald, said there was no problem in getting them to practice, indeed, the problem was to stop then doing too much, especially the elder brother.
This family comes from Cunning Park, Doonfoot, Ayr, and both mother and father are obviously proud that their sacrifices and expenses are beginning to show results. Their tutor is Mr Jim Hutcheon of Ayr.
The boys are Hugh, aged 13, who came second at the West of Scotland Junior Championship for 1977 ; John, aged 11, he plays the piano at school, and Ewan, aged 9, who is also learning the fiddle. Between them they have won lots of medals at local competitions.
Each played solos and then paired up for duets. A delightful twenty minutes.
Letters to the Editor
Sir – I thought I would write to get the assistance of all the generous Clubs in our circulation area.
You see! That mannie Angus Park saw the Financial Statement of Affairs of the Aberdeen Club in the first ‘B&F’ and was on the phone like a flash asking for a Challenge Trophy for the Annual Festival at the Brunton Halls.
Well, being the generous folk that we are, the Committee have agreed, but have discovered that engraving is only free for the first 33 letters, so a cup is on its way inscribed ‘ABERDEEN ACCORDION AND FIDDLE CLUB CHA.’
Will ony ither Club please donate money for the extra letters or think up a new title to save expense! This is Aberdeen calling!
Robbie Shepherd
Bridge of Don
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel) 28th Dec 77 Hebbie Gray
Alnwick (Nag’s Head) 11th Jan 78 Archie Duncan 8th Feb 78 Jimmy Lindsay
Beith (Anderson Hotel)
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) 12th Dec 77 Walter Perrie
Cumnock (Royal Hotel) 30th Dec 77 Currie Brothers
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel) 5th Jan 78
Dunfermline (Kinema Ballroom) 6th Dec 77 Jimmy Blue, 3rd Jan 78 Bill Black & his Band
Galston (Parakeet, Hurlford) 12th Dec 77 Stuart Anderson, 9th Jan 78 Tom Alexander, 13th Feb 78 Paddy Neary
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) 15th Dec 77 Rob Gordon & his Band, 19th Jan 78 Angus Cameron Viking Ballroom, Seahouses, 26th Jan 78 Annual Dinner Dance – Music Eric Goodfellow and the Broadcasting Band
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel) 19th Dec 77 Ian Fraser
Keith (Seafield Arms Hotel) 6th Dec 77 Ron Gonella, 10th Jan 78 Graeme Mitchell
Kelso (Queen’s Head Hotel) 28th Dec 77 Angus Cameron & Bill Cormack
Langholm (Crown Hotel) 14th Dec 77 Alan Doig and his SDB
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club) 15th Dec 77 Charlie Cowie, 19th Jan 78 Jim Clelland Trio
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) 31st Jan 78 Dave Scott Trio
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull) 1st Dec 77 Douglas Laurence, 5th Jan 78 Gordon Pattullo
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel) 13th Dec 77 Peter Bruce & Jim Brown
North Cumbria (Huntsman Inn - Penton) 21st Dec 77 Jock Loch & the Blackthorne Band, 18th Jan 78 Billy Bell & Walter Beattie
Oban (Park Hotel)
Perth (Salutation Hotel) 20th Dec 77 Archie Duncan 17th Jan 78 Members Night & Peter Bruce
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel) 12th Dec 77 Kelvin Ceilidh Band
Rothbury (venue?) 14th Dec 77 Arthur Spink
Straiton (Black Bull Hotel) 26th Dec 77 Walter Perrie 25th Jan 78 Dinner Dance at the Belleisle Hotel, Ayr to the Andrew Rankine SDB (tickets £2)
Stranraer (North West Castle Hotel) 6th Dec 77 Bobby Crowe, 3rd Jan 78 Alex MacArthur Trio
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel) 7th Feb 78
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) 20th Dec 77 The Wick Fiddlers, 17th Jan 78 Gordon Pattullo
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Beith & District
3 Biggar
4. Cumnock
5 Dundee & District
6 Dunfermline & District
7 Galston
8 Glendale
9 Highland / Inverness
10. Keith
11. Kelso
12. Langholm
13. Livingston
14. Lockerbie
15. M.A.F.I.A.
16. Newton St Boswells
17. North Cumbria
18. Oban
19. Rothbury
20. Straiton
21. Stranraer
22. Wick
BASED ON THE ABOVE THE FULL CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT DECEMBER 1977 BECOMES :-
1. Aberdeen A&F Club
2. Alnwick A&F Club
3. Balloch A&F Club
4. Banff & District A&F Club
5. Beith & District A&F Club
6. Biggar A&F Club
7. Bonchester Accordion Club
8. Buchan A&F Club
9. Cumbria Accordion Club
10. Cumnock A&F Club
11. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s)
12. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club
13. Dunblane & District A&F Club
14. Dundee & District A&F Club
15. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
16. Fintry A&F Club
17. Galston A&F Club
18. Glendale Accordion Club
19. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
20. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
21. Kelso A&F Club
22. Langholm A&F Club
23. Livingston A&F Club
24. Lockerbie A&F Club
25. M.A.F.I.A.
26. Newcastleton Accordion Club
27. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
28. North East A&F Club (aka Keith Club)
29. Oban A&F Club
30. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
31. Perth & District A&F Club
32. Renfrew A&F Club
33. Rothbury Accordion club
34. Straiton Accordion Club
35. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
36. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
37. Wick A&F Club
Editorial
Now that the Scottish Education Certificate Board have admitted the accordion to the Ordinary exam level, it is up to the youngsters to take up the challenge,. Later there should be the Highers level exam and, who knows, maybe eventually an Honours Degree? The door to the world for those who try is now wide open. Through hard work and study this can be achieved. Your paper will keep you informed as and when developments take place. This raised the question, what about our friends over the Border in Northern England? If they tell us what they want done the paper is at their disposal.
Welcome to two more Clubs – Biggar Accordion and Fiddle Club, Chairman Mr. Alex MacArthur, Clydesdale Hotel, Biggar ; and Cumnock Accordion and Fiddle Club, Chairman Mr. Kenny Thomson, 20 Walker Court, Cumnock.
Association Secretary Mr Ray Milbourne announces that the new badges are now ready. Would Clubs place their orders.
In a conversation with Bobby Crowe he went through the Clubs he has played at. He mentioned no fewer than ten clubs not in the Association. It would be fine if they joined in with the rest of us and became one of the family with all its advantages.
May we take this opportunity to wish all our readers a Happy and Joyful Christmas and a Prosperous and Musical New Year.
Sad Loss to the Accordion World
It is with regret that we have to announce the sudden death of 22-year-old Willie Mann of 14 St. Ninians Road, Padanaram. He died as a result of a car accident. A member of Kirriemuir and Dundee Accordion Clubs, he was a brilliant player and a well-liked personality. He was also a member of Ian Reid’s SCD Band and belonged to Angus Cameron’s SCD Band – recently finished a tour of North Western France.
Our condolences ans sympathy are extended to his relatives. He will be sorely missed.
Lead Article
Christmas Bonus for Young Accordionists
At last the accordion has come of age in Scotland. It has now been accepted by the Scottish Educatiuon Certificate Board for inclusion in the Ordinary Examinations. Etc
Langholm Festival of Music and the Arts
Langholm held its first Musical Festival on Saturday, 1st October, 1977, and much to the surprise of the Committee it proved to be a very successful day with many compliments on the way it had been run. It got off to a very bad start with one crisis after another, but then again these problems always help to steer the way for future years.
The Festival included school choirs, solo singing, both Scottish traditional and own choice, Gilbert and Sullivan and light operatic, recorder groups, duets and solos, piano solos, brass quartets, bands, duets and solos, mini pipe bands, fiddle and accordion.
Entries were good in some sections but non-existent in others, this probably due to the late advertising of the event. A very successful concert was held in the Buccleuch Hall that evening. Due to the number of events held on the one day different sections were held in different places, so that music resounded around the town all day. Hotels were used, Crown Hotel for the fiddle sections, Buck Hotel for accordions and Buccleuch Hall for singing sections, piano and brass, the Scott Hay Gallery for recorders and the Academy Hall for mini bands.
Results of the accordion and fiddle sections were as follows :
Accordion (adjudicator – Mr Jim Johnstone)
Class 1
1. Donald Ridley
2. William Currie
3. Roger Dobson
Class 2
1. Margaret Holmes
2. Elizabeth Anne Jardine
3. Anne Plunkett
Class 3
1. Elizabeth Jardine
2. Fiona Stewart
3. Joyce McKenzie
Fiddle (adjudicator Mr James Hunter)
Class 1
1. Hugh Borland
2. Jim Ferguson
3. Albie Tedham
Class 2
1. Wat Robson
2. Thomas Hughes
3. Neil Borland
Class 3
1. Dan Jenkins
2. Gregor Borland
3. Dorothy Anderson
Class 4
1. Wat Robson
2= W. Taylor & Albie Tedham
3. Graham Robinson
Class 5
1. Jedburgh Fiddle Band quartet
2. Albie Tedham Group
3. Border Strathspey and Reel Group 1
Thanks to all who supported the Festival, both in attending and competing, and also to sponsors and donators of trophies, cups, etc and we hope to see you all in Langholm for the Festival in 1978.
The Jock Loch Story
By Ian Smith
This page is not just for the famous or prominent people, it is also for characters. Into this category fall one, John Loch, Straiton, Ayrshire.
He is so unique in this drab world of uniformity that we can thank the Great Lord Harry that we have in our Association one such as Jock. His pawky humour has had countless audiences in stitches. He was in at the beginning and has traveled the length and breadth of the land encouraging, cajoling and helping Clubs to get on their feet. Not for Jock the fancy speeches or flowery language. He has a direct way with him, but coupled with that is his couthy manner that doesn’t offend anyone. The result is that he gets things done.
At the early age of eight he started off with a melodeon. He couldn’t and still cannot read music. This is quite a feat in itself as I have heard him play right through a set of Quadrilles. By the time he was twelve he was playing with the Jays Band from Barrhill and after leaving school he acquired his first piano accordion. He was exiled to the byre where he practiced. In the end stall was an evil, bad tempered bull, but by the time Jock got some sense out of the box the bull had mellowed to such an extent that all the calves the next year were heifers, or so Jock reckons.
In 1949 he started his own band, but this did not last as at that time there was a dearth of players and there was a transport problem. He then joined the Hugh Gourlay Band from Patna. To meet the band he had to cycle to Dalmellington, meet the rest, then go to the dance, be it at Dalbeattie or wherever. The reverse journey in the early hours was even more laborious. With his accordion strapped on his back and his fee of 25/- in his pocket, he smiles, “They were the days!” He also played in church of a Sunday evening at the Youth Fellowship “This” according to Jock “is where the accordion sounds the best or in the bathroom”.
Love for Instrument
He has always had the notion for the accordion and through his love for the instrument he has met and made friends with an unbelievable number of people from all walks of life and counts the his best pals and friends.
His working life has been spent in and around the lovely village of Straiton. For 29 years he has been a shepherd. This is not only his work, it is his hobby. Mention blackface sheep andhe’s off for hours. Every year he is in great demand to ‘sort’ sheep for the shows and sales. To ‘sort’ is to dress and get the sheep ready for showing. He does this for the Newton Stewart and Lanark sales where for the past nine years his ‘sorting’ have been in the prize-list. This year his best was two lots of five pen blackface sheep which got the top price of £7,000. Crooks and walking sticks are another thing which he does well – many going abroad. One went to Russia, where no doubt, the sheep there will shout ‘Run Ivan, there’s that herd with the Jock Loch stick’.
He got married in 1958 to Edith and they have a son Gavin. Jock reckons that he sill soon be able to back him. His wife, father and mother are also keen on the accordion music and are often seen at the Clubs. In his spare time he plays to the pensioners, and throughout the winter months he entertains the blind folk every Thursday afternoon. This gives Jock great pleasure to do this and he hopes the folks concerned are able to forget their worries for a wee while. When required he also plays in the churches of Straiton and Kirkmichael for the morning services.
The first time I heard Jock playing my mind went back in time and I could visualize Jock in a bothy of an evening playing the box and being joined by the maid and ploughboy, maybe with his moothie. Then along would come a few others from neighbouring farms. I could hear the music, thw auld songs, and as the night would wear on I could hear the music getting faster, the jokes and the stories getting wilder and the laughing getting louder, such was the effect he had. Jock ended his story with “Weel, that’s a’ the noo, come back in twa or three years an I’ll gie ye mair, have a half”. What better way to end.
Coda
By Helen McWhirter
After giving a great deal of thought to an idea of a ‘weel-kent’ figure in Accordion Club circles, the name of Jock Loch came to mind. He started up Straiton Accordion Club exactly nine years ago (1968). Little did he think at that time he would put the lovely little village of Straiton on the musical map, but that is exactly what happened. Mention the names of Jock Loch or Straiton at any Accordion club in Scotland or over the Border, and the chances are you will meet folks who will know Jock and have been to his Club held in the Black Bull hotel.
At Jock’s first Club meeting seven people arrived. Three to play and four to listen. He will tell you himself he paid £5 to the guest artist and was £4/10- out of pocket over the deal at the end of the night, but he kept on going.
Today things are very different and from the original seven, the membership has risen to around the 150 mark. As the Club progressed, along came the annual West of Scotland Accordion championships. A great deal of work is put into this by Jock to ensure that everyone who comes has a day to remember – whether they are on the prize-list or not. At the end of the day everyone can say – ‘It’s been great’.
Jock has his own dance band and will also provide a concert party, raising money for many an organization. Not only an artist in the musical world, having been a shepherd, Jock is also an artist in the blackface sheep profession, having the patience and skill of being able to have the sheep looking their very best on sale days and many a story about the markets etc he tells at the Clubs.
The Max Houliston Story
By Ian Smith
Max Houliston has a first after his name, that is something no-one can take away. It was Max (short for Maxwell) who started the very first Accordion Club. But long before that took place, half a life-time was spent on the road that led to that point.
He was born in 1933 in Dumfries of parents who were both musically inclined. Father played the melodeon and mother loved to sing. One of four brothers, the other best-known brother being Billy, one of Scotland’s finest centre forwards. When playing for Scotland he was never on the losing side.
At the age of ten, Max pestered his folks for a musical instrument. In the end he was given the choice of a violin or viola as a Christmas present. Fortunately, for us, a friend offered him an accordion for free. Now being a good ‘Doonhamer’ what better bargain than something for nothing. He was put to a well-known teacher, Mr Alex Carter of Dumfries, and it was there that a long-standing friendship was started. Ian Holmes was also being taught, Ian at 6.30pm and Max at 7pm.
During this time they both went to Moniaive to see Bobby MacLeod, and from then on the aim was to be as good as Bobby. Methinks he has succeeded. The age of 18 saw him doping National Service in the Signal Corps at Catterick. Before long he was in the Signals Dance Band. Two years later he was back in civvy street and the first thing he did was to start his own band, being resident in the Country Hotel, Dumfries. Round about this time he came under the influence of two great arrangers of band music, Ian Austin, piano, and Gordon Young, bass. This grounding in the techniques of arranging has given Max a flair for developing his own style, which he certainly has.
He was at one time runner-up in the Classical Open Championships, but after travelling back and forward to Carlisle and being tutored by Ron Hodgson, he won the North of England Classical Open Championship.
Like all good musicians he got married. The good lady being Dorothy Robertson, also of Dumfries, who in turn loves the Scottish dancing, not that she has much time nowadays what with the rearing of a family, a daughter Elizabeth, aged 9, and a son Alan, 6. Alan is showing signs of being musical and Max hopes to put him to the box next year.
It was in 1962 that he took over the lease of the Hole in the Wa’ pub in High Street, Dumfries, and from playing requests to his patrons there developed the idea of an Accordion Club night. The first night was to be in April 1965. Few attended that first night but those who enjoyed it and it recommenced after the summer. A guest artist was added to the blend, then Max’s friend Alex Little a renowned joke teller and Master of Ceremonies was brought in to organize the evening and make it flow. As the audience grew and as the early guest artists realised what this was all about, they took the idea away with them and started other Clubs, Jimmy Norman at Gretna, Bobby Harvey at Milngavie, Davy Ross and Billy Stewart at Galston, Archie Park at Langholm, Jock Loch at Straiton and Jimmy Yeaman at Balloch being amongst the early ones.
In 1964 Kenny Wilson, fiddler, joined the band and they auditioned for the BBC Home Service. Since then they have done over 100 broadcasts. They appear quite regularly on Border TV. To date he has done 6 LPs on the EMI label and 3 on the Pye label. His latest on Pye is the ‘Scottish Dance Party’.
Max does not do too much playing now. He has got himself another place, Oughton’s also in Dumfries High Street. He likes to give personal supervision to his establishments and this takes up moist of his time, even so, he still manages to do what he can for the Clubs.
He has two hobbies, one most unusual. Three times a year he goes to London to hear and chat with people like Jack Emblow and Henry Klein. This keeps him in touch with what is happening and keeps him up to date in the international field.
As for the other hobby, most people can fly their kite but Max flies a hovercraft. It is a complete break away from music and business. Whenever he can he gets over to the Solway First and flies over water to see his other two brothers. Both are publicans, one at Carsethorn and the other at Glencaple. He has had two and three-seaters. At the moment he is getting a four-seater built to his own specifications by a firm at Southhampton. The hovercraft followed on after several unsuccessful ‘amphicars’ – the problem wasn’t with the cars themselves but with the shifting sandbars in the Solway. And once stuck in one of them it took the emergency services to get him afloat again. The hovercraft skimming over the water solved that problem.
If anyone wants to hear accordion music at its best it is simple to just call at the Hole in the Wa’ where there is accordion music every night. The Club now meets at Oughton’s.
Record Review
By Derek Hamilton
Jack Sinclair’s Highland Welcome – Beltona Sword SBE191
Highland Whisky – Bill black and his Scottish Dance Band – Grampian
Strings to the Bow – Angus Cameron – EMI nite NTS127
The Beauty of the North – The Wick Scottish Dance Band – EMI OU2194
The Young Traditionals – Addie Harper Jnr and Gordon Pattullo – EMI
Sandy Bell’s Ceilidh – Various Artists – Dara LPA021
Call of the Clans – Bert Shorthouse – DJM22048
The Donald Brothers
By Ian Smith
At the Straiton Club on the 29th November there were three young accordionists who impressed the audience very much. These boys will surely go far in the accordion world. Their father, Mr Donald, said there was no problem in getting them to practice, indeed, the problem was to stop then doing too much, especially the elder brother.
This family comes from Cunning Park, Doonfoot, Ayr, and both mother and father are obviously proud that their sacrifices and expenses are beginning to show results. Their tutor is Mr Jim Hutcheon of Ayr.
The boys are Hugh, aged 13, who came second at the West of Scotland Junior Championship for 1977 ; John, aged 11, he plays the piano at school, and Ewan, aged 9, who is also learning the fiddle. Between them they have won lots of medals at local competitions.
Each played solos and then paired up for duets. A delightful twenty minutes.
Letters to the Editor
Sir – I thought I would write to get the assistance of all the generous Clubs in our circulation area.
You see! That mannie Angus Park saw the Financial Statement of Affairs of the Aberdeen Club in the first ‘B&F’ and was on the phone like a flash asking for a Challenge Trophy for the Annual Festival at the Brunton Halls.
Well, being the generous folk that we are, the Committee have agreed, but have discovered that engraving is only free for the first 33 letters, so a cup is on its way inscribed ‘ABERDEEN ACCORDION AND FIDDLE CLUB CHA.’
Will ony ither Club please donate money for the extra letters or think up a new title to save expense! This is Aberdeen calling!
Robbie Shepherd
Bridge of Don
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel) 28th Dec 77 Hebbie Gray
Alnwick (Nag’s Head) 11th Jan 78 Archie Duncan 8th Feb 78 Jimmy Lindsay
Beith (Anderson Hotel)
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) 12th Dec 77 Walter Perrie
Cumnock (Royal Hotel) 30th Dec 77 Currie Brothers
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel) 5th Jan 78
Dunfermline (Kinema Ballroom) 6th Dec 77 Jimmy Blue, 3rd Jan 78 Bill Black & his Band
Galston (Parakeet, Hurlford) 12th Dec 77 Stuart Anderson, 9th Jan 78 Tom Alexander, 13th Feb 78 Paddy Neary
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) 15th Dec 77 Rob Gordon & his Band, 19th Jan 78 Angus Cameron Viking Ballroom, Seahouses, 26th Jan 78 Annual Dinner Dance – Music Eric Goodfellow and the Broadcasting Band
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel) 19th Dec 77 Ian Fraser
Keith (Seafield Arms Hotel) 6th Dec 77 Ron Gonella, 10th Jan 78 Graeme Mitchell
Kelso (Queen’s Head Hotel) 28th Dec 77 Angus Cameron & Bill Cormack
Langholm (Crown Hotel) 14th Dec 77 Alan Doig and his SDB
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club) 15th Dec 77 Charlie Cowie, 19th Jan 78 Jim Clelland Trio
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) 31st Jan 78 Dave Scott Trio
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull) 1st Dec 77 Douglas Laurence, 5th Jan 78 Gordon Pattullo
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel) 13th Dec 77 Peter Bruce & Jim Brown
North Cumbria (Huntsman Inn - Penton) 21st Dec 77 Jock Loch & the Blackthorne Band, 18th Jan 78 Billy Bell & Walter Beattie
Oban (Park Hotel)
Perth (Salutation Hotel) 20th Dec 77 Archie Duncan 17th Jan 78 Members Night & Peter Bruce
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel) 12th Dec 77 Kelvin Ceilidh Band
Rothbury (venue?) 14th Dec 77 Arthur Spink
Straiton (Black Bull Hotel) 26th Dec 77 Walter Perrie 25th Jan 78 Dinner Dance at the Belleisle Hotel, Ayr to the Andrew Rankine SDB (tickets £2)
Stranraer (North West Castle Hotel) 6th Dec 77 Bobby Crowe, 3rd Jan 78 Alex MacArthur Trio
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel) 7th Feb 78
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) 20th Dec 77 The Wick Fiddlers, 17th Jan 78 Gordon Pattullo
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Beith & District
3 Biggar
4. Cumnock
5 Dundee & District
6 Dunfermline & District
7 Galston
8 Glendale
9 Highland / Inverness
10. Keith
11. Kelso
12. Langholm
13. Livingston
14. Lockerbie
15. M.A.F.I.A.
16. Newton St Boswells
17. North Cumbria
18. Oban
19. Rothbury
20. Straiton
21. Stranraer
22. Wick
BASED ON THE ABOVE THE FULL CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT DECEMBER 1977 BECOMES :-
1. Aberdeen A&F Club
2. Alnwick A&F Club
3. Balloch A&F Club
4. Banff & District A&F Club
5. Beith & District A&F Club
6. Biggar A&F Club
7. Bonchester Accordion Club
8. Buchan A&F Club
9. Cumbria Accordion Club
10. Cumnock A&F Club
11. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s)
12. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club
13. Dunblane & District A&F Club
14. Dundee & District A&F Club
15. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
16. Fintry A&F Club
17. Galston A&F Club
18. Glendale Accordion Club
19. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
20. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
21. Kelso A&F Club
22. Langholm A&F Club
23. Livingston A&F Club
24. Lockerbie A&F Club
25. M.A.F.I.A.
26. Newcastleton Accordion Club
27. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
28. North East A&F Club (aka Keith Club)
29. Oban A&F Club
30. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
31. Perth & District A&F Club
32. Renfrew A&F Club
33. Rothbury Accordion club
34. Straiton Accordion Club
35. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
36. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
37. Wick A&F Club