Box and Fiddle
Year 04 No 06
February 1981
Price 15p
8 pages
8 month subscription £2.25
Editor – Ian Smith, 50 Mount Vernon Road, Stranraer Tele 4098
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Mary Plunkett, 2 Dounan Road, Dunragit, Wigtownshire
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
A wee bit about the Campbeltown Club. The Club meet in the Argyll hotel and the management have offered the Club free accommodation overnight, if necessary, to any guest artiste, and any visiting player can get an overnight stay at half price. Campbeltown, let it be said, is quite some distance to do and this is a good concession for the Club.
As you can see when you read on there are quite a few Festivals looming on the horizon. One other that has just come in is Rothbury on 17th to 19th July.
Subscription rates have had to be increased by the amount to cover the new postage rates. We can’t win, we can only try and keep afloat.
It seems that the Producer of ‘Take the Floor’ will be leaving shortly for pastures new and I’m sure that Chris Worrall will leave knowing that he put the Accordion and Fiddle Association on the map. Thanks Chris. We can only hope that the new Producer will be every bit as sympathetic to our music and cause as Chris was.
N.A.O. Festival
South of Scotland
The second N.A.O. (National Accordion Organisation of Great Britain) Festival was held in the Govan Town Hall on 31st January 1981. Last year it was snowing, this year it was sunshine all the way as Richard Ross took his second Senior Championship of the season. Will he make it a hat-trick, which could come at Musselburgh on 7th March?
The Festival was organized and run by Jimmy and Lola Blair. With the help of an army of willing volunteers everything went like a clockwork train.
This event has become one of the ‘in’ Festivals, and the proof is the entry, which topped the 400 mark. From all over they came and even if they didn’t win anything they were happy to be here and vowed they would return next year.
Once again the Ladies’ Committee held to their task of dispensing the refreshments with a smile and a joke. Downstairs was another fairyland as the Clinkscale Roadshow was on show with Paddy Neary. A steady stream of visitors and interested parties gathered round all day.
One note of regret was announced and that was the passing of one of Scotland’s best known accordion teachers, Joe Burke, who lived at Cardenden, Fife. He will long be remembered for his work in the field of accordion orchestras.
The Teachers’ Committee consisted of Jimmy Blair, Lola Blair, Wilson Wood, Sylvia Wilson, Jean Brown, Jim Hutcheon, Sylvia Lee, Ron Hodgson, Chick Kelly, Ian Duff and the people with the hard job, the adjudicators, Brian Ashew, Ron and Elaine Beecham, Tony Dalton, Ron Hodgson, Jim Hutcheon and Jean Brown.
So, on to the main event, the prize-list with Senior Champion Richard Ross and Junior Champion Shona Maitland.
Senior Scottish
1) Richard Ross (Glasgow)
2) Allan Black (Cormiston by Biggar)
3) Michael Philip (Cardenden)
Bell Trophy
1) Richard Ross
2) Andrew Stark
3) Samira Louise Fleming
Junior Solo
1) Shona Maitland
2) Roy Hendrie
3) Alan Preston
Open Solo
1) Sydney Simpson
2) Roy Hendrie
3) Julie Best
Entertainer Solo
1) Gary Blair
2) Una Bryson
3) Thelma Dickson
Under 10 Solo (Scottish)
1) Tracy Aitken
2) Damien McLaughlin
3) Lorraine Banford
Under 12 Solo (Scottish)
1) Margo Taylor
2) Tracy Aitken
3) Dianne Armstrong
Under 14 Solo (Scottish)
1) Ian Skinner
2) Tonya Halliday
3) John Lawson
Under 16 Solo (Scottish)
1) Ian Skinner
2) Yvonne Mathieson
3) Stewart Abercrombie
Intermediate Higher Solo
1) Stewart Abercrombie
2) Allan Black
3) Henry Kinniburgh
Advanced Championship
1) Sydney Simpson
2) Linda McDonald
3) Gary Blair
Advanced Duet
1) Andrew Stark & Robert Grant
2) Douglas Caird & Stuart Duff
3) Robert Craig & Graham Laurie
Elementary Duet
Iain Henderson & Pauline Henderson
Jennifer Forrest & Lyn Shanks
Lorna McWhinney & Craig McWhinney
The day ended with a grand social evening later on and Jimmy and Lola wish to thank all those who helped to make this such a super day.
NAAFC Preliminary Notice
Two years ago the Association held a Presentation Dinner to honour Jimmy Shand.
It has now been decided to honour Angus Fitchet.
This will take the form of a musical weekend, incorporating the AGM and Presentation Dinner to be held at the Dunblane Hydro the weekend of 27th June 1981.
Organiser is Jack Cooper, 272 Blackness Road, Dundee. Tele 0382 641481
Musselburgh at the Ready
The Association’s Festival is on 7th March at the Brunton Halls. The stage is set, the tea urn is filled, the adjudicators are in place, the committee and competitors are all lined up and under starters orders. All that’s needed now is yourselves and another fine day is guaranteed.
Come and see and hear the finest playing of the accordion and fiddle. Come and meet longstanding friends and make new ones. Just come and relax and enjoy yourselves.
The adjudicators for the day are – Irene Dear, Douglas Muir, John Ellis, Donald Gray, Jim Johnstone and the Lord of the Accordion Paddy Neary who will be judging the classical section.
Cancer Research Concert
By Ian Smith
On 9th April, 1981, there will be a concert in Langholm in memory of Albie Tedham. Two top names to appear so far are Jim Johnstone and Iain MacPhail. A whole host of others have also volunteered their service too. Raffle donations have also exceeded all expectations.
It is hoped also that Bill Wilkie of Perth can include a new section at the Perth Festival next year to be called the ‘Albie Tedham Trophy’. As befitting, Albie’s name will long be remembered. More details later.
Presentations to Livingston members
by Murdo MacLeod
Livingston A&F Club met for the last time under the Chairmanship of departing Dr Malcolm Guild on Thursday, 15th January. Malcolm has been Chairman and Presenter of the Club for the last three years. As he moves with his family to the South of England to take up a partnership with a busy practice, the Club and members wish them every success. Thanks for running the nights with decorum and efficiency and giving us some of your music. Malcolm was no mean player himself as the Club can testify and let’s hope that a new Club will soon be heard in Romney helping to spread our music!
At a meeting after the Club night, the Committee presented Malcolm with a suitable token of esteem in the shape of a beautiful Edinburgh cut crystal vase.
At the same meeting a presentation was also made to Mrs Lorna Ross, who has been the hard-working Secretary for the past seven years. During this time the Club has grown into one of the biggest as well as one of the most successful in the country. Lorna felt that the time was appropriate to hand the books over to a successor especially as family commitments are becoming more pressing. The members will join in thanking Lorna for her work and hope to see her at the Club as often as she can attend. She also was presented with a suitable Edinburgh crystal vase.
Meantime the Vice Chairman Michael Wynne is acting Secretary until the AGM.
ADVERT
Newtongrange Accordion & Fiddle Club
Competitions
In the Dean Tavern, Newtongrange
Sunday 12th April, 1981 at 1.30pm
Adjudicators Accordion – Alex MacArthur fiddle – Alan Johnston
etc
The Reel Radio
by Derek Hamilton
I mentioned last month that Andrew Rankine had done a broadcast for both BBC’s ‘TTF’ and Radio Forth’s ‘Folk’s Around Robin’. Now that I’ve had a chance to hear them both I feel this column would be doing less than justice by letting them slip past.
Both broadcasts were excellent. Andrew can be justly proud of both the band’s performance and the sound achieved on each broadcast. This was undoubtedly the best session for a long time. The old Rankine magic was back. Robbie Shepherd talks a lot about ‘lift and swing’. This was a perfect example of these two essential qualities in a good Scottish Dance Band.
Andrew had surrounded himself with a host of sidemen who all spent a good chunk of their lives with him in the heyday of the band several years ago. Jack Delaney on second box, Bill Hendry from Falkirk on piano, Stan Saunders on bass (both these musicians currently broadcast regularly with Ian Holmes) and Ron Gonella on fiddle. Only newcomer to the Rankine Band was Gus Millar from Alloa on drums. Gus is rapidly becoming one of the most used session drummers on the scene – and deservedly so.
I’m sure Andrew would have great praise for all of them for what turned out to be two super sessions. I understand that he’s coming back up from Leicester to do another one for the BBC sometime in March. That’s worth looking forward to.
Bobby Crowe’s recent BBC session was one of the best I’ve heard from that band for many a long year. Perhaps the new line-up had something to do with it.
Ian Holmes broadcast contained some good stuff as always but the usual tightness of the front line was sadly lacking. Kenny Wilson’d fiddle and Ian’s lead didn’t blend nearly as well as we’ve come to expect. Ian’s love of Norwegian music was well to the fore too, making the whole programme into a more Continental show than usual.
Stranraer Club created a good impression in this programme, with Robbie interviewing Jackie Duffy and our Editor Ian Smith.
Radio Forth
Radio Forth’s ‘Folk’s Around Robin’ show on Monday nights continues to go from strength to strength. It started as a six-week run and has gone on from there to be a regular Monday night spot obviously with a long future ahead of it. It’s attracting a lot of listeners, both for the music content and the informative informal chat that Robin Brock has with the bandleaders each week.
Forth scored somethi9ng of a coup recently when Bobby MacLeod did his first band session for about 25 years.
After the success of the new tune competition last year, Radio Forth have decided to make it an annual affair. The competition, in two sections, is now on an between now and November it’s hoped that entries will top the 500 that were attracted last year.
The Jimmy Shand Trophy will be awarded to the winner of the accordion tune section and the Jimmy McFarlane Memorial Trophy will go to the fiddle tune winner. Entries can be sent any time to Robin Brock at Radio Forth and as well as written copies Robin will be happy to accept tapes from those who can’t write music.
In addition to the two cups there’s also a plaque for each winner to keep and a £50 cash prize for each winner. The prizes will be presented at the Accordion 81 Show held in November and recorded for transmission during December.
BBC
Forthcoming attractions on the BBC include The Wallochmore and the dance master section will feature the great Angus Fitchet who has just announced his retiral from the scene.
On 1st March, Robert Whitehead and the Danelaw Band come back north of the Border and Robbie invites Keith A&F Club. The Lothian Band are back in action on 7th March and Bert Shorthouse chats to Robbie.
At the Aberdeen studio on February, 13th Saturday, 14th and Sunday 15th March Chris Worrall is recording a series of six shows with an audience. Featured bands will be John Ellis, George Bell, Alastair Hunter, John Huband, The Tain and The Lothian.
On 10th March the ‘TTF’ team will be at Dundee A&F Club to record Andrew Rankine and his Band at their first A&F Club guest spot. The rest of the programme will feature regular members of the Club. Transmission of the programme is scheduled for 21st March.
April sees the start of a series of 14 ‘out and about’ TTF sessions with venues all over Scotland.
Chris Worrall, who has produced the SDM programmes is leaving the BBC at the end of March. As yet it is not known who will replace him as the Producer of TTF. Chris joined the BBC from Radio Forth at the same time as the new frequencies were set in January, 1978. Since then he has campaigned hard for the SDM programme as well as Gerry MacKenzie’s Tartan Terror Show which moved from Forth with Chris. There have been many times that Chris has come in for criticism not only from this column but from our readers too. However, I feel it is only fair to point out that many times too he has been praised for his TTF shows.
Chris, I think, has been a victim of the new breed of Producers who are closer to the public than their predecessors. His programmes probably are amongst the most popular on Radio Scotland. Certainly TTF has a bigger audience that all the other Radio Scotland programmes.
Chris has brought the programme to the public, and for that we are truly grateful.
He’s going south to London where he has a number of projects to get involved in. I’m sure you will want to wish him all the best for the future. After all, there is no such thing as a bad SDM programme – some are just better than others. Chris produced both kinds but on balance we’ve enjoyed a lot more than we haven’t! Cheers Chris, and all the very best!
Oh! By the way – look out for Robbie Shepherd’s new ‘Reel Blend’ which is going out mid-week from mid-February. Great!
Record Review
by Derek Hamilton
I hear on the grapevine that David Silver’s Bluebell label has secured a tape recorded some years ago by Decca of John Carmichael’s Band. The original was never released so when David releases this album it should be something of a collector’s piece. I’ll keep you up to date on that one when it comes out.
BGS Studios in Strathaven (Country House Label) have been promoting their facility with a glossy brochure recently. The brochure has been pushed through many a door, obviously in an effort to weather the current economic recession in the record business.
The recession too has taken its toll of quite a few albums which have recently been deleted by the companies who recorded them.
For example, Lismor have deleted about 70 titles recently, including some Jim Johnstone albums. Emerald Gem, the Decca company, has deleted all the Andrew Rankine albums recoded on that label.
Still, on the bright side, I suppose it leaves room for the new material trickling on to the market slowly but surely.
Scottish Reflections – The Donaldson Brothers – EMI GLN 1016
Musette Parisienne – Pearl Fawcette – Caravelle CA 102
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel) –
Alnwick (Nag’s Head) – members only
Armadale (Rob Roy Inn) –
Balloch (Loch Lomond Hotel) – 15 Feb 81 George Stirrat Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff (Royal Oak Hotel) –
Beith (Anderson Hotel) – 16 Mar 81 Colin Dewar (accordion)
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) –
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) –
Campbeltown (Argyll Hotel) – 20 Feb 81 Bobby MAcLeod
Castle Douglas (Ernespie Hotel) – 25 Feb 81 (Shona Maitland)
Chrissie Leatham Club (Hearts’ Supporters Club, Tynecastle) – renamed the Edinburgh Club
Coupar Angus (Royal Hotel) -
Cumbria (Huntsman Inn – Penton) – 18 Mar 81 Currie Brothers April The Hamefarers
Cumnock (Tup Inn) – 22 Jan 81 Dave Scott
Derwentside (Working Men’s Club, Consett) –
Dumfries (Oughton’s)
Dunblane (Hydro) – 10 Mar 81 (Lothian SDB)
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel) –
Dunfermline (Unitas Hall) – 2 Feb 81 Paddy Neary
East Kilbride (Stuart Hotel) – 26 Feb 81 (Ron Gonella)
Edinburgh (Hearts’ Supporters Club, Tynecastle) – 5 Mar 81 Jim Johnstone SDB
Falkirk (Plough Hotel, Stenhousemuir) –
Forres (Brig Motel) – 11 Mar 81 George Bell SDB
Fort William (Highland Hotel) – 17 Feb 81 Tommy Ford 17 Mar 81 Jimmy Yeaman & George Stirrat
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club, Galston) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) – members only
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel) –
Kelso (Cross Key’s Hotel) – 25 Feb 81 Marian Wilson 25 Mar 81 Dick Black
Kintore (Crown Hotel) – 4 Mar 81 John Huband and the Tayside Sound
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Craignethan Hotel) – 5 Mar 81 Currie Brothers
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club) – 19 Mar 81 Donaldson Brothers
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) – 24 Feb 81 Alan Roy
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull, Milngavie) – 5 Mar 81 Duncan McCallum SDB
Monklands (Georgian Hotel, Coatbridge) –
New Cumnock (Crown Hotel) –
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 23 Feb 81 Rob Gordon Quintet
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel)
North East (Seafield Arms, Keith) – 16 May 81 Annual Festival
Oban (Park Hotel) –
Orkney ( ) – 5 Feb 81 Donaldson Brothers
Ormiston (Miners’ Welfare Social Club) – 30 Apr 81 Dinner Dance Jim Johnstone SDB
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 17 Feb 81 Rob Gordon SDB 17 Mar 81 Graham Geddes Quartet 14 Apr 81 The Hamefarers 19 May 81 Wallochmore Ceilidh Band
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel)
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Shetland (venue?)
Stranraer (Buck’s Head Hotel) – 2 Mar 81 Ian Holmes & Kenny Wilson
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel)
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Alnwick
2. Balloch
3. Banchory
4. Castle Douglas
5. Chrissie Leatham
6. Dingwall
7. Dunblane
8. East Kilbride
9. Falkirk
10. Forres
11. Highland
12. Kelso
13. Livingston
14. Lockerbie
15. M.A.F.I.A.
16. Newtongrange
17. North Cumbria
18. Oban
19. Perth & District
20. Shetland
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1980 (Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Sept 1976)
3. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1980) originally called Bathgate Club
4. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1971)
5. Banchory A&F Club (1978)
6. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973)
7. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1971)
8. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974)
9. Buchan A&F Club
10. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
11. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980)
12. Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
13. Coupar Angus A&F Club
14. Cumnock A&F Club
15. Derwentside A&F Club
16. Dingwall & District (Aug 1979)
17. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s) (April 1965)
18. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971)
19. Dundee & District A&F Club
20. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
21. Dunipace A&F Club (c Nov 1980)
22. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
23. Falkirk A&F Club
24. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
25. Fort William A&F Club (Oct 1980)
26. Galston A&F Club (1969)
27. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
28. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
29. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
30. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981)
31. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976)
32 Kintore A&F Club
33. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967)
34. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Oct 1980)
35. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973)
36. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973)
37. M.A.F.I.A.
38. Monklands A&F Club
39. Newcastleton Accordion Club
40. Newtongrange A&F Club (Oct 1977)
41. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
42. New Cumnock A&F Club
43. North Cumbria A&F Club
44. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971)
45. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975)
46. Orkney A&F Club
47. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
48. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970)
49. Premier A&F Club NI (cNov 1980)
50. Rothbury Accordion Club (Feb 1974)
51. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978)
52. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
53. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
54. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
55. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
56. Coquetdale
57. Club Accord
58. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
59. Fintry A&F Club
60. Gretna A&F Club (June 1966)
61. New Cumnock A&F Club
62. Renfrew A&F Club
63. Straiton Accordion Club (opened? 3rd club to open – closed March 1979)
64. Wellbank A&F Club
Advertising rates
Full Page - £70
Half Page - £35
Quarter Page - £17.50
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Mary Plunkett, 2 Dounan Road, Dunragit, Wigtownshire
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
A wee bit about the Campbeltown Club. The Club meet in the Argyll hotel and the management have offered the Club free accommodation overnight, if necessary, to any guest artiste, and any visiting player can get an overnight stay at half price. Campbeltown, let it be said, is quite some distance to do and this is a good concession for the Club.
As you can see when you read on there are quite a few Festivals looming on the horizon. One other that has just come in is Rothbury on 17th to 19th July.
Subscription rates have had to be increased by the amount to cover the new postage rates. We can’t win, we can only try and keep afloat.
It seems that the Producer of ‘Take the Floor’ will be leaving shortly for pastures new and I’m sure that Chris Worrall will leave knowing that he put the Accordion and Fiddle Association on the map. Thanks Chris. We can only hope that the new Producer will be every bit as sympathetic to our music and cause as Chris was.
N.A.O. Festival
South of Scotland
The second N.A.O. (National Accordion Organisation of Great Britain) Festival was held in the Govan Town Hall on 31st January 1981. Last year it was snowing, this year it was sunshine all the way as Richard Ross took his second Senior Championship of the season. Will he make it a hat-trick, which could come at Musselburgh on 7th March?
The Festival was organized and run by Jimmy and Lola Blair. With the help of an army of willing volunteers everything went like a clockwork train.
This event has become one of the ‘in’ Festivals, and the proof is the entry, which topped the 400 mark. From all over they came and even if they didn’t win anything they were happy to be here and vowed they would return next year.
Once again the Ladies’ Committee held to their task of dispensing the refreshments with a smile and a joke. Downstairs was another fairyland as the Clinkscale Roadshow was on show with Paddy Neary. A steady stream of visitors and interested parties gathered round all day.
One note of regret was announced and that was the passing of one of Scotland’s best known accordion teachers, Joe Burke, who lived at Cardenden, Fife. He will long be remembered for his work in the field of accordion orchestras.
The Teachers’ Committee consisted of Jimmy Blair, Lola Blair, Wilson Wood, Sylvia Wilson, Jean Brown, Jim Hutcheon, Sylvia Lee, Ron Hodgson, Chick Kelly, Ian Duff and the people with the hard job, the adjudicators, Brian Ashew, Ron and Elaine Beecham, Tony Dalton, Ron Hodgson, Jim Hutcheon and Jean Brown.
So, on to the main event, the prize-list with Senior Champion Richard Ross and Junior Champion Shona Maitland.
Senior Scottish
1) Richard Ross (Glasgow)
2) Allan Black (Cormiston by Biggar)
3) Michael Philip (Cardenden)
Bell Trophy
1) Richard Ross
2) Andrew Stark
3) Samira Louise Fleming
Junior Solo
1) Shona Maitland
2) Roy Hendrie
3) Alan Preston
Open Solo
1) Sydney Simpson
2) Roy Hendrie
3) Julie Best
Entertainer Solo
1) Gary Blair
2) Una Bryson
3) Thelma Dickson
Under 10 Solo (Scottish)
1) Tracy Aitken
2) Damien McLaughlin
3) Lorraine Banford
Under 12 Solo (Scottish)
1) Margo Taylor
2) Tracy Aitken
3) Dianne Armstrong
Under 14 Solo (Scottish)
1) Ian Skinner
2) Tonya Halliday
3) John Lawson
Under 16 Solo (Scottish)
1) Ian Skinner
2) Yvonne Mathieson
3) Stewart Abercrombie
Intermediate Higher Solo
1) Stewart Abercrombie
2) Allan Black
3) Henry Kinniburgh
Advanced Championship
1) Sydney Simpson
2) Linda McDonald
3) Gary Blair
Advanced Duet
1) Andrew Stark & Robert Grant
2) Douglas Caird & Stuart Duff
3) Robert Craig & Graham Laurie
Elementary Duet
Iain Henderson & Pauline Henderson
Jennifer Forrest & Lyn Shanks
Lorna McWhinney & Craig McWhinney
The day ended with a grand social evening later on and Jimmy and Lola wish to thank all those who helped to make this such a super day.
NAAFC Preliminary Notice
Two years ago the Association held a Presentation Dinner to honour Jimmy Shand.
It has now been decided to honour Angus Fitchet.
This will take the form of a musical weekend, incorporating the AGM and Presentation Dinner to be held at the Dunblane Hydro the weekend of 27th June 1981.
Organiser is Jack Cooper, 272 Blackness Road, Dundee. Tele 0382 641481
Musselburgh at the Ready
The Association’s Festival is on 7th March at the Brunton Halls. The stage is set, the tea urn is filled, the adjudicators are in place, the committee and competitors are all lined up and under starters orders. All that’s needed now is yourselves and another fine day is guaranteed.
Come and see and hear the finest playing of the accordion and fiddle. Come and meet longstanding friends and make new ones. Just come and relax and enjoy yourselves.
The adjudicators for the day are – Irene Dear, Douglas Muir, John Ellis, Donald Gray, Jim Johnstone and the Lord of the Accordion Paddy Neary who will be judging the classical section.
Cancer Research Concert
By Ian Smith
On 9th April, 1981, there will be a concert in Langholm in memory of Albie Tedham. Two top names to appear so far are Jim Johnstone and Iain MacPhail. A whole host of others have also volunteered their service too. Raffle donations have also exceeded all expectations.
It is hoped also that Bill Wilkie of Perth can include a new section at the Perth Festival next year to be called the ‘Albie Tedham Trophy’. As befitting, Albie’s name will long be remembered. More details later.
Presentations to Livingston members
by Murdo MacLeod
Livingston A&F Club met for the last time under the Chairmanship of departing Dr Malcolm Guild on Thursday, 15th January. Malcolm has been Chairman and Presenter of the Club for the last three years. As he moves with his family to the South of England to take up a partnership with a busy practice, the Club and members wish them every success. Thanks for running the nights with decorum and efficiency and giving us some of your music. Malcolm was no mean player himself as the Club can testify and let’s hope that a new Club will soon be heard in Romney helping to spread our music!
At a meeting after the Club night, the Committee presented Malcolm with a suitable token of esteem in the shape of a beautiful Edinburgh cut crystal vase.
At the same meeting a presentation was also made to Mrs Lorna Ross, who has been the hard-working Secretary for the past seven years. During this time the Club has grown into one of the biggest as well as one of the most successful in the country. Lorna felt that the time was appropriate to hand the books over to a successor especially as family commitments are becoming more pressing. The members will join in thanking Lorna for her work and hope to see her at the Club as often as she can attend. She also was presented with a suitable Edinburgh crystal vase.
Meantime the Vice Chairman Michael Wynne is acting Secretary until the AGM.
ADVERT
Newtongrange Accordion & Fiddle Club
Competitions
In the Dean Tavern, Newtongrange
Sunday 12th April, 1981 at 1.30pm
Adjudicators Accordion – Alex MacArthur fiddle – Alan Johnston
etc
The Reel Radio
by Derek Hamilton
I mentioned last month that Andrew Rankine had done a broadcast for both BBC’s ‘TTF’ and Radio Forth’s ‘Folk’s Around Robin’. Now that I’ve had a chance to hear them both I feel this column would be doing less than justice by letting them slip past.
Both broadcasts were excellent. Andrew can be justly proud of both the band’s performance and the sound achieved on each broadcast. This was undoubtedly the best session for a long time. The old Rankine magic was back. Robbie Shepherd talks a lot about ‘lift and swing’. This was a perfect example of these two essential qualities in a good Scottish Dance Band.
Andrew had surrounded himself with a host of sidemen who all spent a good chunk of their lives with him in the heyday of the band several years ago. Jack Delaney on second box, Bill Hendry from Falkirk on piano, Stan Saunders on bass (both these musicians currently broadcast regularly with Ian Holmes) and Ron Gonella on fiddle. Only newcomer to the Rankine Band was Gus Millar from Alloa on drums. Gus is rapidly becoming one of the most used session drummers on the scene – and deservedly so.
I’m sure Andrew would have great praise for all of them for what turned out to be two super sessions. I understand that he’s coming back up from Leicester to do another one for the BBC sometime in March. That’s worth looking forward to.
Bobby Crowe’s recent BBC session was one of the best I’ve heard from that band for many a long year. Perhaps the new line-up had something to do with it.
Ian Holmes broadcast contained some good stuff as always but the usual tightness of the front line was sadly lacking. Kenny Wilson’d fiddle and Ian’s lead didn’t blend nearly as well as we’ve come to expect. Ian’s love of Norwegian music was well to the fore too, making the whole programme into a more Continental show than usual.
Stranraer Club created a good impression in this programme, with Robbie interviewing Jackie Duffy and our Editor Ian Smith.
Radio Forth
Radio Forth’s ‘Folk’s Around Robin’ show on Monday nights continues to go from strength to strength. It started as a six-week run and has gone on from there to be a regular Monday night spot obviously with a long future ahead of it. It’s attracting a lot of listeners, both for the music content and the informative informal chat that Robin Brock has with the bandleaders each week.
Forth scored somethi9ng of a coup recently when Bobby MacLeod did his first band session for about 25 years.
After the success of the new tune competition last year, Radio Forth have decided to make it an annual affair. The competition, in two sections, is now on an between now and November it’s hoped that entries will top the 500 that were attracted last year.
The Jimmy Shand Trophy will be awarded to the winner of the accordion tune section and the Jimmy McFarlane Memorial Trophy will go to the fiddle tune winner. Entries can be sent any time to Robin Brock at Radio Forth and as well as written copies Robin will be happy to accept tapes from those who can’t write music.
In addition to the two cups there’s also a plaque for each winner to keep and a £50 cash prize for each winner. The prizes will be presented at the Accordion 81 Show held in November and recorded for transmission during December.
BBC
Forthcoming attractions on the BBC include The Wallochmore and the dance master section will feature the great Angus Fitchet who has just announced his retiral from the scene.
On 1st March, Robert Whitehead and the Danelaw Band come back north of the Border and Robbie invites Keith A&F Club. The Lothian Band are back in action on 7th March and Bert Shorthouse chats to Robbie.
At the Aberdeen studio on February, 13th Saturday, 14th and Sunday 15th March Chris Worrall is recording a series of six shows with an audience. Featured bands will be John Ellis, George Bell, Alastair Hunter, John Huband, The Tain and The Lothian.
On 10th March the ‘TTF’ team will be at Dundee A&F Club to record Andrew Rankine and his Band at their first A&F Club guest spot. The rest of the programme will feature regular members of the Club. Transmission of the programme is scheduled for 21st March.
April sees the start of a series of 14 ‘out and about’ TTF sessions with venues all over Scotland.
Chris Worrall, who has produced the SDM programmes is leaving the BBC at the end of March. As yet it is not known who will replace him as the Producer of TTF. Chris joined the BBC from Radio Forth at the same time as the new frequencies were set in January, 1978. Since then he has campaigned hard for the SDM programme as well as Gerry MacKenzie’s Tartan Terror Show which moved from Forth with Chris. There have been many times that Chris has come in for criticism not only from this column but from our readers too. However, I feel it is only fair to point out that many times too he has been praised for his TTF shows.
Chris, I think, has been a victim of the new breed of Producers who are closer to the public than their predecessors. His programmes probably are amongst the most popular on Radio Scotland. Certainly TTF has a bigger audience that all the other Radio Scotland programmes.
Chris has brought the programme to the public, and for that we are truly grateful.
He’s going south to London where he has a number of projects to get involved in. I’m sure you will want to wish him all the best for the future. After all, there is no such thing as a bad SDM programme – some are just better than others. Chris produced both kinds but on balance we’ve enjoyed a lot more than we haven’t! Cheers Chris, and all the very best!
Oh! By the way – look out for Robbie Shepherd’s new ‘Reel Blend’ which is going out mid-week from mid-February. Great!
Record Review
by Derek Hamilton
I hear on the grapevine that David Silver’s Bluebell label has secured a tape recorded some years ago by Decca of John Carmichael’s Band. The original was never released so when David releases this album it should be something of a collector’s piece. I’ll keep you up to date on that one when it comes out.
BGS Studios in Strathaven (Country House Label) have been promoting their facility with a glossy brochure recently. The brochure has been pushed through many a door, obviously in an effort to weather the current economic recession in the record business.
The recession too has taken its toll of quite a few albums which have recently been deleted by the companies who recorded them.
For example, Lismor have deleted about 70 titles recently, including some Jim Johnstone albums. Emerald Gem, the Decca company, has deleted all the Andrew Rankine albums recoded on that label.
Still, on the bright side, I suppose it leaves room for the new material trickling on to the market slowly but surely.
Scottish Reflections – The Donaldson Brothers – EMI GLN 1016
Musette Parisienne – Pearl Fawcette – Caravelle CA 102
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel) –
Alnwick (Nag’s Head) – members only
Armadale (Rob Roy Inn) –
Balloch (Loch Lomond Hotel) – 15 Feb 81 George Stirrat Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff (Royal Oak Hotel) –
Beith (Anderson Hotel) – 16 Mar 81 Colin Dewar (accordion)
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) –
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) –
Campbeltown (Argyll Hotel) – 20 Feb 81 Bobby MAcLeod
Castle Douglas (Ernespie Hotel) – 25 Feb 81 (Shona Maitland)
Chrissie Leatham Club (Hearts’ Supporters Club, Tynecastle) – renamed the Edinburgh Club
Coupar Angus (Royal Hotel) -
Cumbria (Huntsman Inn – Penton) – 18 Mar 81 Currie Brothers April The Hamefarers
Cumnock (Tup Inn) – 22 Jan 81 Dave Scott
Derwentside (Working Men’s Club, Consett) –
Dumfries (Oughton’s)
Dunblane (Hydro) – 10 Mar 81 (Lothian SDB)
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel) –
Dunfermline (Unitas Hall) – 2 Feb 81 Paddy Neary
East Kilbride (Stuart Hotel) – 26 Feb 81 (Ron Gonella)
Edinburgh (Hearts’ Supporters Club, Tynecastle) – 5 Mar 81 Jim Johnstone SDB
Falkirk (Plough Hotel, Stenhousemuir) –
Forres (Brig Motel) – 11 Mar 81 George Bell SDB
Fort William (Highland Hotel) – 17 Feb 81 Tommy Ford 17 Mar 81 Jimmy Yeaman & George Stirrat
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club, Galston) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) – members only
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel) –
Kelso (Cross Key’s Hotel) – 25 Feb 81 Marian Wilson 25 Mar 81 Dick Black
Kintore (Crown Hotel) – 4 Mar 81 John Huband and the Tayside Sound
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Craignethan Hotel) – 5 Mar 81 Currie Brothers
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club) – 19 Mar 81 Donaldson Brothers
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) – 24 Feb 81 Alan Roy
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull, Milngavie) – 5 Mar 81 Duncan McCallum SDB
Monklands (Georgian Hotel, Coatbridge) –
New Cumnock (Crown Hotel) –
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 23 Feb 81 Rob Gordon Quintet
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel)
North East (Seafield Arms, Keith) – 16 May 81 Annual Festival
Oban (Park Hotel) –
Orkney ( ) – 5 Feb 81 Donaldson Brothers
Ormiston (Miners’ Welfare Social Club) – 30 Apr 81 Dinner Dance Jim Johnstone SDB
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 17 Feb 81 Rob Gordon SDB 17 Mar 81 Graham Geddes Quartet 14 Apr 81 The Hamefarers 19 May 81 Wallochmore Ceilidh Band
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel)
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Shetland (venue?)
Stranraer (Buck’s Head Hotel) – 2 Mar 81 Ian Holmes & Kenny Wilson
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel)
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Alnwick
2. Balloch
3. Banchory
4. Castle Douglas
5. Chrissie Leatham
6. Dingwall
7. Dunblane
8. East Kilbride
9. Falkirk
10. Forres
11. Highland
12. Kelso
13. Livingston
14. Lockerbie
15. M.A.F.I.A.
16. Newtongrange
17. North Cumbria
18. Oban
19. Perth & District
20. Shetland
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1980 (Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Sept 1976)
3. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1980) originally called Bathgate Club
4. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1971)
5. Banchory A&F Club (1978)
6. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973)
7. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1971)
8. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974)
9. Buchan A&F Club
10. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
11. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980)
12. Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
13. Coupar Angus A&F Club
14. Cumnock A&F Club
15. Derwentside A&F Club
16. Dingwall & District (Aug 1979)
17. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s) (April 1965)
18. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971)
19. Dundee & District A&F Club
20. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
21. Dunipace A&F Club (c Nov 1980)
22. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
23. Falkirk A&F Club
24. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
25. Fort William A&F Club (Oct 1980)
26. Galston A&F Club (1969)
27. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
28. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
29. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
30. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981)
31. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976)
32 Kintore A&F Club
33. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967)
34. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Oct 1980)
35. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973)
36. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973)
37. M.A.F.I.A.
38. Monklands A&F Club
39. Newcastleton Accordion Club
40. Newtongrange A&F Club (Oct 1977)
41. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
42. New Cumnock A&F Club
43. North Cumbria A&F Club
44. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971)
45. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975)
46. Orkney A&F Club
47. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
48. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970)
49. Premier A&F Club NI (cNov 1980)
50. Rothbury Accordion Club (Feb 1974)
51. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978)
52. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
53. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
54. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
55. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
56. Coquetdale
57. Club Accord
58. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
59. Fintry A&F Club
60. Gretna A&F Club (June 1966)
61. New Cumnock A&F Club
62. Renfrew A&F Club
63. Straiton Accordion Club (opened? 3rd club to open – closed March 1979)
64. Wellbank A&F Club
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