Scottish Country Dance Bands 14
Heather’s Leader was Twice Accordion Champ
“There wasn’t a prouder man in Scotland that night”.
The words were those of Dugald Jenkins, leader of the Heather Scottish Dance Band.
He was referring to September 26, 1953, when he won the Senior section of the Scottish Accordion Championship.
“I was the first accordionist to be presented by Jimmy Shand with the Jimmy Shand shield and the Perth Festival Cup. I missed the last bus from Perth that night and I was brought home to my doorstep by Jimmy Shand himself.”
He won the same Championship in 1955, while on leave from the Arly for 72 hours.
Born in Canada
Dugald was born in Canada and the family came back to Scotland soon after. He was brought up on farms in Angus, “We came to stay at Longhaugh, Dundee, at the outbreak of the war.
“I went to school with Malcolm Kinnear, wo is my second accordionist. We started accordion lessons, were in the Boys’ Brigade and started working together as ‘orra loons’ on Whitfield Farm”
After Dugald’s demob in March 1957 the group which now broadcasts as the Heather SDB was formed. In addition to Dugald and Malcolm, who are both motor mechanics, there are three others in the band.
John Murray (piano), is a draughtsman.
Ewan (Peem) Edwards (violin) a tool setter and
James Thornton (drums) a stevedore in Dundee Docks.
The band have made 21 broadcasts since their first in March 1958.
One Friday night of wind and rain the Heater Band were on their way to play at a dance in Glencarse. “As we were passing the R.A.C. box on the straight part of the Perth Road I remarked to the lads, “The old car is certainly moving tonight.
“Soon afterwards the drummer said, ‘I think the big drum is off.’ We stopped and, right enough, it was off. That was the reason for the car speeding up as it did. We walked back and a man in a van stopped and asked if we were looking for a bass drum. The drum was none the worse. In the paper the next day I read that the Olympians Dance Band had also lost their drum.”
In addition to playing locally, the Heather Band have had engagements as far from Dundee, as Oban, Tobermory, Drumnadrochit and Hawick.
Their next broadcast is on March 29.
Heather’s Leader was Twice Accordion Champ
“There wasn’t a prouder man in Scotland that night”.
The words were those of Dugald Jenkins, leader of the Heather Scottish Dance Band.
He was referring to September 26, 1953, when he won the Senior section of the Scottish Accordion Championship.
“I was the first accordionist to be presented by Jimmy Shand with the Jimmy Shand shield and the Perth Festival Cup. I missed the last bus from Perth that night and I was brought home to my doorstep by Jimmy Shand himself.”
He won the same Championship in 1955, while on leave from the Arly for 72 hours.
Born in Canada
Dugald was born in Canada and the family came back to Scotland soon after. He was brought up on farms in Angus, “We came to stay at Longhaugh, Dundee, at the outbreak of the war.
“I went to school with Malcolm Kinnear, wo is my second accordionist. We started accordion lessons, were in the Boys’ Brigade and started working together as ‘orra loons’ on Whitfield Farm”
After Dugald’s demob in March 1957 the group which now broadcasts as the Heather SDB was formed. In addition to Dugald and Malcolm, who are both motor mechanics, there are three others in the band.
John Murray (piano), is a draughtsman.
Ewan (Peem) Edwards (violin) a tool setter and
James Thornton (drums) a stevedore in Dundee Docks.
The band have made 21 broadcasts since their first in March 1958.
One Friday night of wind and rain the Heater Band were on their way to play at a dance in Glencarse. “As we were passing the R.A.C. box on the straight part of the Perth Road I remarked to the lads, “The old car is certainly moving tonight.
“Soon afterwards the drummer said, ‘I think the big drum is off.’ We stopped and, right enough, it was off. That was the reason for the car speeding up as it did. We walked back and a man in a van stopped and asked if we were looking for a bass drum. The drum was none the worse. In the paper the next day I read that the Olympians Dance Band had also lost their drum.”
In addition to playing locally, the Heather Band have had engagements as far from Dundee, as Oban, Tobermory, Drumnadrochit and Hawick.
Their next broadcast is on March 29.