Box and Fiddle
Year 24 No 05
February 2001
Price £1.20
44 Page Magazine
7 month subscription £12
Editor – Karin Ingram, Hawick
B&F Treasurer – Sandra Fleming, Blairgowrie
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 Happy New Year to one and all from everyone at the NAAFC – a New Year, and a new structure for the Box and Fiddle.
Following the great work of Grant Crawford in his efforts to move the Box and Fiddle forward, an increase in circulation and demand from the Clubs has led, in the past few months, to difficulties in distributing the magazine on schedule. To everyone who took the time to call or write, I thank you very much and, as I explained, we are looking at ways to improve our distribution whilst maintaining the quality and cost of the magazine.
To this end, we have set in place a new structure in managing the B&F. Grant will continue to produce the articles that are the ‘interest grabbers’ while Karin Ingram will edit the rest of the magazine as well as chairing a new B&F sub-committee. All items for inclusion in the magazine (with the exception of Dance Diary information) should be sent directly to her. Karin’s past experience in publishing will be augmented by the sub-committee. Magazine subscriptions and any advertising payments should be sent to the new B&F Treasurer, Sandra Fleming. We have moved the printing to William Culross and Son
Nicol McLaren (Chairman)
A Knight to Remember…
Sir Jimmy Shand 1908 - 2000
by Charlie Todd
It was with a sense of deep sadness that the world awoke on Saturday, 23rd December to find that Sir Jimmy was amongst us no longer. There can be no doubt that Jimmy, approaching his 93rd birthday, had enjoyed by any standards a ‘good innings’. Indeed after a playing career dogged latterly by ill health he had enjoyed a long and relatively problem free retirement.
It is to Anne, Jimmy Junior and David that our thoughts turn at this time as they were ever in Jimmy’s thoughts. The public face of Jimmy was concerned with the accordion and the Band but in his private life it was always his family who came first. To them we extend our deepest sympathy.
There seems little point in once again re-iterating Jimmy’s well documented life story. Within very recent memory this was covered on the occasion of his 90th birthday and on his well deserved, if long overdue, knighthood.
Instead let’s hear from that group who are sadly some of the last remaining musicians to have served, at various times, as regular members of the great Shand Band – from accordionist Jim Johnstone, pianist Jimmy Scott, bass player Stand Saunders and drummer Bobby Colgan together with his lifetime friend Dr Sandy Tulloch and the BBC Scotland ‘Take the Floor’ presenter and friend Robbie Shepherd.
Jim Johnstone
I am grateful to be given this opportunity to express my own thoughts and opinions of the late Jimmy Shand.
He was a totally natural musician, completely self taught, and reached the top of his profession as a result of his popularity and the respect he gained from the general public, fellow musicians and programme makers.
Having played in Jimmy’s Band I was fortunate to experience, first hand, his style, his flair and the way he played with dancers in mind. I’m almost sure that because of the ‘Dancy’ way he played, the music was infectious and made it great to listen to and ultimately send the feet tapping.
Jimmy always insisted the music be kept simple. That didn’t mean he only played simple tunes, it meant the arrangement was simple so that it did not detract from the melody or the rhythm and consequently what was heard was uncluttered.
I always felt that once Jimmy put his stamp on a tune it was hard to imagine the tune being played in any other way. He had a fantastic ability in putting a selection of tunes together and picking the right tunes for a particular dance. He was extremely knowledgeable about dancing and tempos. Over the Border in parts of England he used to play at dances that had a mixture of Old Time and Scottish Country Dancing, in fact a programme that would have baffled almost any other band.
Jimmy was also a prolific composer, new melodies came easily to him. I can remember on many occasions while traveling in the band bus, he would ask for a piece of paper (the blank pages in the A.A. book being full up) and, having acquired one, he would draw five lines on the paper and write down a new tune that had just come into his head.
I toured Australia and New Zealand with the band, which was a revelation to me. I knew from childhood that Jimmy Shand was a household name but was totally unprepared for the reception we got in these countries. We played in stadiums in Melbourne and Sydney to literally thousands of people. He would open the show with ‘Bonnie Dundee’ to a cheer something akin to the famous ‘Hampden Roar’ and I can honestly say that on more than one occasion I was overcome with emotion.
It has often been said that Jimmy was a shy man. I would refute this totally as he enjoyed meeting people and would converse freely with anyone he met. He was quiet spoken and felt a wee bit uncomfortable in the ‘Show Biz’ scene (the ‘Hello Darling’ Brigade.’) He often said to me, “They’ve only got me here to put bums on seats son”.
Even though he was a very busy man he was generous with his time. He would go out of his way to see someone in hospital or play for the old folk. He had compassion and humility which no doubt came from his background, his own personal experiences.
Having received the M.B.E. some years ago it was no surprise that this honour was upgraded just over a year ago to a full Knighthood. Sir Jimmy will be remembered for the legacy he has left us of his recordings, his compositions, and most of all the memory of a fine gentleman.
I am proud to say he was my friend.
Jimmy Scott
Having stood in occasionally in earlier years I joined Jimmy’s Band in 1959, having previously played with the bands of Jack Delaney, Andrew Rankine and Hamish Menzies. I stayed with him until 1963 and during most of those four years I was full time with the band.
Looking back, one of the things that strikes me was that Jimmy never told you far in advance where the band would be playing. It was almost on a week-to-week basis along the lines of “We’ll be gaun doon tae London next Wednesday”, and on the way down he would tell us where we were playing that night. That in itself could come as a bombshell when you were new to the band as well. “Windsor the night!” springs to mind as an example.
Not every week was busy. Occasionally we might have only one job on, but that was the exception rather than the rule, and sometimes we had a run of theatre jobs for a week in say Margate or Aberdeen, or the Festival of Scotland in the Albert Hall in London where we played every night for a week to a full house. We also did Irish Clubs in Birmingham, Leicester and Coventry where Jimmy was very popular.
I was with Jimmy and the band on their tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1961 with Kenneth McKellar, Moira Anderson, Duncan McRae and comedian Jimmy Warren. We picked up a bass player in New Zealand, if I remember correctly, who had never played Scottish dance music before but like everybody who joined the band he just seemed to fall into Jimmy’s style and he fitted in fine. The venues were always mobbed and, believe it or not, as an example we played on three consecutive nights to crowds of eight thousand in Sydney.
Obviously whether at home or abroad we did a lot of traveling and Jimmy was always good company and, contrary to the ‘dour’ image, had a great sense of humour. I’ll never forget either, about a year or more after I left the band I got a phone call from Jimmy asking me to drop in and see him. Wondering what this was about I duly called in and Jimmy explained that he had received a letter saying that the Heather Mixture series of broadcasts, probably about 75 in all, had been sold to an overseas roadio corporation and that as part of the deal he had received a cheque for the band’s part in the programmes. With that he handed me a sizeable amount of money, my share of the cheque. I never forgot that because he could easily have kept quiet about it and I would never have been any the wiser – it was a mark of the man.
I have many happy memories of those bygone days and feel privileged to have shared the stage, and the road, with Jimmy Shand.
Stan Saunders
It was either ’57 or ’58 when my wife and I were traveling back to Dollar from Cupar that the bus stopped at Strathmiglo and I noticed Jimmy coming out of Hogg’s shoe shop. He happened to see me and hopped on to the bus and asked if I could play at a Country Dance at Perth City Hall two nights hence as his bass player was ill.
I had got to know Jimmy in previous years by going to many dances when he played in the area. He was often at the Cochrane Hall in alva and Andrew Rankine’s Band, of which I was a member, would play while Jimmy’s band were having their break. Jimmy was a great one for inviting players up to sit in for a couple of dances. John White was his bass player at that time and he passé don some good advice to me. When Andrew Rankine went full-time in 1959 most of the band decided to stay in their regular jobs and in 1960 Jimmy asked me to join him and I was with him until 1969.
Jimmy’s fame by then, of course, meant that the Band played the length and breadth of the country and the jobs were incredibly diverse – one night a village hall, the next a Highland Ball in London – but Jimmy was totally ‘unflappable’ and took everything in his stride.
Particular highlights which spring to mind were playing with him at the Carl Allen Award ceremony televised live from the Lyceum Theatre in London, and on another occasion Jimmy Scott and I having to make a life or death taxi journey to Kings Cross to catch a midnight sleeper to Edinburgh as we were due back at work the next day. Add to all that the contrast of landing on a cockle shell beach on Barra to do a live ‘On Tour’ recording on a Saturday night and as there were no planes on the Sunday we spent the afternoon watching ‘Whisky Galore’ at the schoolmaster’s house, then playing at a dance in a Nissen hut in the evening.
The Band played to a packed Albert Hall in London at a Scots Concert, did numerous engagements at Balmoral, late Festival Shows at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh and many ‘On Tour’ broadcasts. These involved visiting different towns in Scotland and Jimmy would write a tune for each venue. This he usually did in the Band bus on our way using a small board with manuscript paper on which he would write eight bars then ‘diddle’ it to Syd Chalmers to ensure that it wasn’t similar to anything else.
On the first occasion I played a quickstep with Jimmy at one point I started playing four beats in the bar. He turned round and said “Jist keep it simple son”.
I think this sums up Jimmy Shand – his music was simple and uncluttered, his tempos were perfect, allowing that famous Shand ‘dunt to come through.
I feel privileged to have known and worked with Jimmy Shand.
Bobby Colgan
My recollection of Jimmy Shand as a bandleader brings happy memories to mind. He was an easy man to work for and the music was easy to play along with. Providing you turned up on time, sober, tidy and conducted yourself with a wee bit of decorum the job was a pleasant one.
Things that stand out in my mind relate to his kindness and concern for other people. I remember when my wife Alison was due to give birth to our second child and the Band assembled at ‘Muchty to embark on a tour up north. We couldn’t understand why Jimmy was taking his car as well as the Band bus. As the tour progressed Jimmy kept asking if there was any word about the birth. On the second last night we were in the Empire, Inverness and just before the second house I phoned and discovered Alison had given birth to a baby boy. I was happy to report the news to Jimmy who immediately handed me the car keys and said, “You better get away doon the road son”.
On other occasions I remember him coming to Gorebridge at my request to play for the ‘housebound’ when he brought Dave Ireland with him to play the fiddle. We also stopped once at an ‘old peoples home’ and the whole band went in and gave them a tune, after which we had a quick cup of tea, then away to the gig.
I have lasting memories of Ireland where the name Jimmy Shand was so popular. The reception Jimmy and the Band received there was tremendous. The dance halls we played in were massive and always filled to capacity. The schedule was hectic but it did not stop him from paying a visit to a home for old folk which was run by nuns and giving them a tune.
I also remember on the way home from that tour Jimmy declared two Shure microphones he had bought to the Customs Officer at the airport and in keeping with the times there was Duty payable. The official was in some doubt as to how much Duty he should charge and sought advice from a senior officer who had one look at Jimmy and enquired, “Are you Jimmy Shand?” The response being affirmative he then said, “I’m told by my sister in Australia that you are going there shortly on tour. I wonder if you would play her a request from me when you’re there?” “Surely,” said Jimmy, “Just give me a note of her name and yours and where she’s going to be and that will be nae bother son. Now how much am I due you for Duty on these microphones?” – Customs Officer, “What microphones?”
To conclude I would like to say I am proud to have been associated with Jimmy both as a fellow musician and a friend.
Sandy Tulloch
(This tribute was delivered by Sandy at Jimmy’s funeral service on 29th December 2000)
I’m deeply aware of the honour the Shand family have given in asking me to pay a tribute to Jimmy.
I met this remarkable man over sixty years ago and during this time we became not only friends, but real ‘pals’ – there is a difference, difficult to describe but very meaningful. We had, of course, a common love of Scottish music, but as the years passed, much, much more.
We all know his history. Every national newspaper and television channel has detailed his remarkable career. Not only one, but two biographies were published during his lifetime and few people can claim such fame.
Many degrees, honours and distinctions came to him over the years culminating in a well-deserved Knighthood last year.
He was known and revered the world over as the master of Scottish Dance Music but the extraordinary thing is that Jimmy never changed. He remained the same valued friend to all. I never heard an ill word spoken about him and I never heard him say a critical word about anybody. His door was open to the world and with Anne’s help you were always sure of a welcome.
He had a phenomenal memory and would probably recall where and when he met you – even down to addresses in far flung places. All of us in ‘Muchty and Letham knew the helping hand was always there and you had only to ask to get his help to entertain the elderly, the sick and above all the disabled. He was a prolific composer of excellent Scottish music. The titles of the three hundred and more tunes read like a list of close friends and memorable occasions.
Contrary to appearances he had a fine sense of humour – he only looked serious when he was playing – and he was an excellent after dinner speaker.
He had many other talents. In his younger days he was a great lover of speed. Fast motor cars (I remember a green Jaguar in particular), a T.T. Racing Norton motorbike and a speedboat. His old friend and driver Andy Gow could tell some hair raising tales!
Jimmy was keen on his garden and his workshop. He had a particular love (and skill) in carving models of traditional fishing boats and sailing yachts. Two or three of us helped him with one such model only last summer.
But above all he was a family man and was blessed with a family who sincerely loved him in return. Our hearts go out to them especially Anne and David. Jimmy’s life will continue to be a shining example to us all. Although justly proud of his achievements and his knighthood he remained modest and steadfast at all times.
I’m going to close with a line from the Canterbury Tales where Chaucer describes one of his characters. He wrote “He was a Very Perfect Gentle Knight”.
Robbie Shepherd
(This tribute was delivered by Robbie at Jimmy’s funeral service on 29th December 2000
We meet, family an’ freens, frae aa the airts. Freens all, and admirers of a man with a unique talent coupled with a hameower touch.
It was Jock Turpie more than 60 years ago (Jock a local compere) who wrote :-
“He’s playing tae the auld folk, yet a million fans he’s got,
Whaurever there’s a wireless set, whaurever there’s a Scot,
The pensioner, his crookit stick becomes a magic wand,
As he chaps the flair and whistles, Keeping time tae Jimmy Shand.”
As one who’s within sight o’ the pensioner status now, I can vouch in the intervening years it wisna jist auld mannies that chappit the floor keeping time.
I recall my childhood days wi’ a whole Saturday evening on the wireless – the football, the Dance Music, the MacFlannels and the odd Music Hall.
This would be my first recollection of the name of Jimmy shand and the follow-up would see my dad home fae his monthly visits to the big toon wi’ the latest 78 o’ Shand, Cameron, Rennie or Wilson.
My first meeting was when I was an aspiring compere, somewhat wet behind the lugs, and I had to introduce Jimmy onto the stage. Knocking shyly at his dressing room door, I was invited in wi’ a, “Come awa in son,” and I said I thought I should introduce the first tune as well as the household name.
“Ah weel, ye might hae some job there son,” as he slowly read out the pipe march title. Some job! I memorised it ower and ower again and still have it imprintit on my mind some 45 years later. It was ‘Dr Ross’s 50th Welcome to the Argyllshire Gathering!’
My main contact began when I started broadcasting and I’ll be forever grateful for his encouragement and his ready help when I had yet another query I wanted an answer to. Advice too, given wi’ aa the sincerity and genuine interest that was the makkin’ o’ the man.
Countless folks, aye Esma and I included, have been touched with his quiet visits when a helpie-up, a lift, was needed. Story after story comes out. Many here today will vouch for the tremendous charitable work he undertook without any fuss – nae fanfare o’ trumpets.
But to his contribution to our heritage.
I place Jimmy alongside Niel Gow as the two main influences in the history of Scottish Dance Music, and both musicians are now side by side in portrait form in the National Gallery.
Both came from a rural background and Gow came to prominence in the mid-1700’s after a spell when dancing had been banned by the kirk as being promiscuous. Gow’s playing and compositions for Society Balls became the stepping stone to the dance music we know today – only without an accordion.
Enter Jimmy Shand this past century, who took the humble bothy instrument into play, upgraded to his own specification Shand Morino and today we find most bands led by an accordion.
It’s simple music, oor music, and Jimmy was the one to keep it on the right rails with impeccable timing and a sound that never changed, irrespective of who was in the band. “I jist play to the feet o’ the best dancers in the hall.” He would say modestly.
Simple music? Try tellin’ that to some o’ the folk who bought accordions off him whilst he was with Forbes of Dundee. ‘Play by sight the first night’.
Like the young farm lad who had made a down payment on a Black Dot Double Ray from a stand of Forbes at an Angus Show.
On the monthly payments drying up, Jimmy was dispatched to the fairm loon’s bothy to take back the box. Jimmy duly obliged, when he was asked to play a tune on it before he took it away.
The moment o’ truth arrived for oor fairm billie for, as he handed over the box, he suddenly spat oot – “Ach ye’re jist a lot o’ bloody swicks ontwye. Plat at Sicht the Same Nicht? Weel, I’ve hid the damn thing twa’ eers an I canna play it yet!”
He was not the only frustrated musician when the sound of Shand was around.
As an ambassador for Scotland with his down-to-earth couthy approach, there can have been few finer in the twentieth century than Jimmy Shand.
Yes, a man unique in his field. A man, his music and, most importantly, his family.
The music of Jimmy Shand will live on and on and specially at this time, we think on the Hogmanay parties worldwide when memories of home come from the recordings ‘Don’t sit on my Jimmy Shands’ and the strains of ‘Welcome Christmas Morning’.
We salute you Jimmy. You have placed our music on a pedestal which is equal to any. For that we’ll be forever in your debt.
Dear Sir
It was with deep sadness that we all learned of the death of Jimmy Shand M.B.E, MA, on the morning of Saturday, 23rd December 2000. Sir Jimmy was a legend in his lifetime and became a world-known name throughout the years, having toured so many countries and met so many people, who enjoyed his immaculate style and timing. There are stories of crowds of fans blocking the streets in Aberdeen, New York, Dublin and Sydney, to name but a few places he visited.
There will be millions of tributes, but as a fairly close friend for over 40 years, I have been privileged to attend many of the functions, public and private, organized by the Shand family, and these are the intimate memories of Sir Jimmy Shand, which, fortunately I, along with others, will be able to treasure for life.
Sir Jimmy also composed many tunes, which are played regularly by other musicians at Accordion and Fiddle Clubs, and perhaps one of his earlier compositions, ‘Welcome Christmas Morning’ would seem quite appropriate at this time.
The saddest day was the funeral service at Auchtermuchty on Friday, 29th December, when Sir Jimmy was laid to rest. It was nice to see so many people paying their last respects to Sir Jimmy, in the church, at the graveside and at Letham Cillage Hall. The Rev. Ann Fraser conducted an excellent service and this was supported by great tributes from Dr Sandy Tulloch ( a lifelong friend and fellow musician) and Robbie Shepherd.
I am confident that the real friends and fans will give every support to the family at this sad time.
I also enclose a copy of a poem composer many years ago by a friend of Sir Jimmy, Jock Turpie, and I’m sure all will agree it is quite appropriate.
John McDonald (Kirkcaldy)
The Laddie Frae East Wemyss
The Wemyss has aye been famous for its castles and its lairds,
Its ruins and past histories o’ kail and ither yairds,
But still mair famous it’s become, admired throughout the land,
For in the Wemyss was born and bred a chao ca’d Jimmy Shand.
I met him at the puir hoose, aye twenty years ago,
A striplin’ he was awfy blate and sweer tae mak’ his bow,
But on the stage he trampit, man, the fingerin’ wis grand,
I could see the hallmark stampit on that laddie, Jimmy Shand.
He’s playing tae the auld folk, yet a million fans he’s got,
Whaurever there’s a wireless set, whaurever there’s a Scot,
The pensioner, his crookit stick becomes a magic wand,
As he chaps the flair and whistles, keeping time tae Jimmy Shand.
He has scored o’ imitators, but they dinna hae the lilt,
They remind you o’ a piper on the mairch without his kilt,
But tae him it’s a’ sae simple, and it tickles up the gland,
When ye hear auld ‘Kate Dalrymple’ introducin’ Jimmy Shand.
So let’s forget oor troubles, nae matter hoo we feel,
Pit on a record lassie, and we’ll hae the Eightsome Reel,
Life’s no’ the problem it wid seem, if we could jist understand,
So tak’ your partners and bless The Wemyss fur gie’in us Jimmy Shand.
Tribute to my hero Sir Jimmy Shand M.B.E.
With regret at the death of our idol.
Condolences to Anne, Jimmy Jnr, David, Margaret and Dianne.
Irish musicians and friends mourn the passing of Jimmy.
His music was an inspiration to me all my life. I first heard Jimmy and his band in Cork in 1954 at the Arcadia Ballroom. We met during the dance and became firm friends thereafter. I last saw him in april 2000 and spoke to him regularly on the telephone. He wrote his own music with a passion and I was delighted when he composed some tunes for me and my family including, ‘Donal Ring Jig’, ‘Brydie Ring Polka’ and ‘Breda Ring’s Fancy 1995’.
Thank you, Jimmy for your wonderful music and friendship. You will never be forgotten by Donal Ring and Family (Cork) – May he Rest in Peace.
Ritchie Ahearne, Tommy Lees and myself regret that we were unable to attend Jimmy’s funeral due to very bad weather conditions.
Donal Ring
The Stanley Ceilidh 2000
by Bill Black
It seems like only a few months since I was compiling my report for the 1999 Stanley Ceilidh….
The National accordion Fun Festival
By Colin Chalmers
The inaugural Brian Laurie Academy of Music National Accordion Fun Festival took place in Paisley Town Hall over the weekend 24th to 26th November, 2000, and what a terrific three days………
Roddy Buchanan – Obituary
The events of Wednesday 13th December will have a devastating effect on our Club and the local traditional music scene which we seek to promote. I refer, of course, to the sudden and untimely passing of Roddy Buchanan of Seaview Terrace, Stornoway.
Roddy was a well-known musician, an exponent of the piano-keyed accordion around the Isle of Lewis over many years, and a member of many dance bands that were so popular in days gone by. More recently his performances were as a solo accordionist entertaining the senior citizens of the area, or supporting the various charitable organizations that would call on his musical skills from time to time, which he gave so freely and willingly.
Roddy was a long-standing member of the Lewis and Harris club, and any musical evening or stramash was always the more enjoyable and the richer for Roddy’s musical contribution.
A quiet, unassuming man, well liked by his fellow musicians and friends alike, his many talents included composing new tunes. It is not known how many he has penned, but it was the Club’s recent tune composing competition for the Bill Black Family Trophy, which inspired Robby to enter his composition of the slow air ‘Langass’. This was named after the estate in North Uist where his son is employed as Hotel Manager, and an area he loved to visit. That fine, haunting tune was soon snapped up and recorded by Bill black himself, but who knows what other fine tunes he has composed but are as yet unrevealed to the wider world.
The local music scene, and certainly our Club scene, are the sadder and the poorer with the passing of Roddy. Everyone associated with the A&F Club would like to express their deepest sympathy to his wife, Janet, from whom he was inseparable, and the family at this sad time.
The exceptionally large crowd that assembled in Stornoway on a cold and wet December morning for his funeral is an indication of the high esteem in which the Buchanan family are held in the community.
William ‘Willy’ Cowans Taylor – Obituary
Sadly, one of the founder members of the Glendale A&F Club, Willy Taylor, passed away on 2nd November last, aged 84 years. There is a cassette featuring Willy, entitled Farewell to the Dene – this being one of Willy’s own compositions – and so on 8th November at Wooler United Reformed Church it was time to say farewell to Willy. Equally well-known and respected in Scotland, Willy was not only a grand fiddle player, but also had many splendid compositions to his name. He was also a great friend to many at Glendale, and although he will be sorely missed, his music lives on : long may it do so.
Our deepest sympathy goes to his wife, Nancy, and son, Neil.
Letters to the Editor
The time has come for me to raise an issue that has been bothering me now for about a year and a half. It seems that there is some dispute regarding the prices that some Ceilidh/Dance bands charge when they are out playing a gig. For argument’s sake let’s take a 4-piece band from Edinburgh, playing in Edinburgh, from 7.30 till 12 for a wedding. I did some research, which I think you might find interesting. You might expect to pay anywhere between £200 and £962 + VAT according to one Edinburgh agency, whilst the others seemed to think that anywhere between £300 and £600 was considered reasonable.
When my own band receives a telephone enquiry, we try to realise that, unless you’re Bill Gates, you probably don’t want to spend in excess of £900 for a band, but at the same time, our price reflects the hours of hard practice we put in, the PA system, the petrol expenses and all the other little extras that people tend to forget about which make their evening such a success.
Oh, I almost forgot. Don’t you just hate it when some bands say, “Yeah man, we’re a folk band” just as an excuse for being really bad? It’s this type of thing that real, talented folk bands simply don’t need!!!
Iain Anderson (Gartocharn)
Take the Floor – Saturdays at 6.30pm with Robbie Shepherd
3rd Feb 01 – Roy Hendrie + feature on Fiddle 2000
10th Feb 01 – Alisdair MacCuish and the Black Rose Ceilidh Band + Keep it in the Family (The Clarks)
17th Feb 01 – Ron Kerr’s SDB + Fergie MacDonald
24th Feb 01 – Strathmore Sound + guests
3rd March 01 – Alan Gardiner SDB + Pat McNulty
10th March 01 – Allan McIntosh and the Heather SDB
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) – 27th Feb 01 – Lynne Christie SDB
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle) 14th Feb 01 – James Paterson
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 18th Feb 01 – Judith Linton Trio
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 4th Feb 01 – Bruce Lindsay Trio
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 1st Feb 01 – Morag Robertson Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 18th Feb 01 – Jock Fraser SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 26th Feb 01 – James Coutts SDB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 28th Feb 01 – Ian Johnstone SDB
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 19th Feb 01 – Iain Anderson
Belford (Community Centre) – 13th Feb 01 – Robert Whitehead SDB
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 11th Feb 01 – Club Night
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 13th Feb 01 – Simon Howie
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) - 13th Feb 01 - tbc
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – tbc
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 6th Feb 01 – Duncan Black
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) - 8th Feb 01 – Graeme Johnston
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 20th Feb 01 – Charlie Todd Trio
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 15th Feb 01 – Robert Whitehead
Crathes (Crathes Hall, Banchory) - 11th Feb 01 – All welcome
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 1st Feb 01 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 14th Feb 01 - tbc
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead) 20th Feb 01 - tbc
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 7th Feb 01 – Bill Brian
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 21st Feb 01 – Lothian SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 13th Fen 01 – James Coutts SDB
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel) tbc
East Kilbride (Torrance Hotel) – 22nd Feb 01 – Ian Thomson SDB
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 20th Feb 01 – Frank Thompson SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 26th Feb 01 – Jim Cleland SDB
Forfar (Plough Inn) - tbc
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 14th Feb 01 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) – 1st Feb 01 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) – 12th Feb 01 – Deirdre Adamson
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) – 15th Feb 01 – Lothian SDB
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 7th Feb 01 – Willie McFarlane
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 27th Feb 01 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) - 4th Feb 01 – Ian Lowthian
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 19th Feb 01 – Andrew Gordon SDB
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - tbc
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 1st Feb 01 – Dingwall A&F Club
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 6th Feb 01 – Marian Anderson SDB
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 28th Fen 01 – Maurice Duncan & Murray McKillop
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) – tbc
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 26th Feb 01 – Tom Orr SDB
Langholm (Crown Hotel) – 14th Feb 01 – Jim Johnstone SDB
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 8th Feb 01 – Gordon Pattullo
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - tbc
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 19th Feb 01 – Lyne Valley Band
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 27th Feb 01 – David Scott SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 20th Feb 01 – Andy Greig SDB 24th Feb 01 Dance
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 7th Feb 01 – AGM & Club Night
Muirhead (Belmont Arms, Meigle) -
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) - 7th Feb 01 – Stuart Adamson
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 26th Feb 01 – Davie Stewart Trio
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 6th Feb 01 – Ythan Fiddlers
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) – 1st Feb 01 – Calum McLean
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) – 22nd Feb 01 – Newtongrange A&F Club
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 20th Feb 01 – Iain Anderson SDB
Premier NI (Camlin Function Rooms) - 6th Feb 01 – Jimmy Cassidy
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 13th Feb 01 – Bill Black SDB
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 1st Feb 01 – Judith Linton Trio
Selkirk (Cricket Club) - 8th Feb 01 – Andy Kain
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - tbc
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) - tbc
Thornhill (Masonic Hall) - tbc
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 5th Feb 01 – Local night
Turriff (Royal British Legion) – 1st Feb 01 – The Redcoats
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 20th Feb 01 – Jimmy Lindsay
Yarrow (Gordon Arms) - 21st Feb 01 – Neil Hardie SDB
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick & District
3. Arbroath
4. Balloch
5. Banff & District
6. Beith & District
7. Biggar
8. Blairgowrie
9. Button Key
10. Campsie
11. Castle Douglas
12. Coalburn
13. Crieff & District
14. Dalriada
15. Dingwall & District
16. Dunblane
17. Dunfermline & District
18. Dunoon & Cowal
19. East Kilbride
20. Ellon
21. Forfar
22. Forres
23. Galashiels
24. Galston
25. Glendale
26. Glenrothes & District
27. Gretna
28. Highland
29. Inveraray & District
30. Islesteps
31. Kintore
32. Langholm
33. Lesmahagow
34. Lewis & Harris
35. Livingston
36. Lockerbie
37. Montrose
38. Newmill-on-Teviot
39. Newtongrange
40. North East
41. Peebles
42. Premier
43. Renfrew
44. Rothbury
45. Thornhill
46. Wick
47. Yarrow
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 1999
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Bromley A&F Club
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campbeltown A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
29. Ellon A&F Club (
30. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
31. Forfar A&F Club (
32. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
33. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
34. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
35. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
36. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
37. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
38. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
39. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
40. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
41. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
42. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
43. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
44. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
45. Kintore A&F Club (
46. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed
47. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – present)
48. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
49. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
52. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
53. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
54. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
55. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
56. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
57. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
58. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
59. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
60. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
61. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
62. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
63. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
64. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
65. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
66. Selkirk A&F Club (
67. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
68. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
69. Sutherland A&F Club (
70. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
71. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
72. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
73. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
74. Vancouver
75. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
76. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 -
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
77. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
78. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
79. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
80. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
81. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
82. Buchan A&F Club
83. Callander A&F Club (
84. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
85. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
86. Club Accord
87. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
88. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
89. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
90. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
91. Derwentside A&F Club
92. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
93. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
94. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
95. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
96. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
97. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
98. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
99. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
100. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
101. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
104. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
105. Mull A&F Club
106. Newcastleton Accordion Club
107. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
108. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
109. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
110. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
111. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
112. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
113. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
114. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
115. Tranent A&F Club
116. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
117. Wellbank A&F Club
Advertising rates
Full Page - £120
Half Page - £60
Quarter Page - £30
B&F Treasurer – Sandra Fleming, Blairgowrie
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 Happy New Year to one and all from everyone at the NAAFC – a New Year, and a new structure for the Box and Fiddle.
Following the great work of Grant Crawford in his efforts to move the Box and Fiddle forward, an increase in circulation and demand from the Clubs has led, in the past few months, to difficulties in distributing the magazine on schedule. To everyone who took the time to call or write, I thank you very much and, as I explained, we are looking at ways to improve our distribution whilst maintaining the quality and cost of the magazine.
To this end, we have set in place a new structure in managing the B&F. Grant will continue to produce the articles that are the ‘interest grabbers’ while Karin Ingram will edit the rest of the magazine as well as chairing a new B&F sub-committee. All items for inclusion in the magazine (with the exception of Dance Diary information) should be sent directly to her. Karin’s past experience in publishing will be augmented by the sub-committee. Magazine subscriptions and any advertising payments should be sent to the new B&F Treasurer, Sandra Fleming. We have moved the printing to William Culross and Son
Nicol McLaren (Chairman)
A Knight to Remember…
Sir Jimmy Shand 1908 - 2000
by Charlie Todd
It was with a sense of deep sadness that the world awoke on Saturday, 23rd December to find that Sir Jimmy was amongst us no longer. There can be no doubt that Jimmy, approaching his 93rd birthday, had enjoyed by any standards a ‘good innings’. Indeed after a playing career dogged latterly by ill health he had enjoyed a long and relatively problem free retirement.
It is to Anne, Jimmy Junior and David that our thoughts turn at this time as they were ever in Jimmy’s thoughts. The public face of Jimmy was concerned with the accordion and the Band but in his private life it was always his family who came first. To them we extend our deepest sympathy.
There seems little point in once again re-iterating Jimmy’s well documented life story. Within very recent memory this was covered on the occasion of his 90th birthday and on his well deserved, if long overdue, knighthood.
Instead let’s hear from that group who are sadly some of the last remaining musicians to have served, at various times, as regular members of the great Shand Band – from accordionist Jim Johnstone, pianist Jimmy Scott, bass player Stand Saunders and drummer Bobby Colgan together with his lifetime friend Dr Sandy Tulloch and the BBC Scotland ‘Take the Floor’ presenter and friend Robbie Shepherd.
Jim Johnstone
I am grateful to be given this opportunity to express my own thoughts and opinions of the late Jimmy Shand.
He was a totally natural musician, completely self taught, and reached the top of his profession as a result of his popularity and the respect he gained from the general public, fellow musicians and programme makers.
Having played in Jimmy’s Band I was fortunate to experience, first hand, his style, his flair and the way he played with dancers in mind. I’m almost sure that because of the ‘Dancy’ way he played, the music was infectious and made it great to listen to and ultimately send the feet tapping.
Jimmy always insisted the music be kept simple. That didn’t mean he only played simple tunes, it meant the arrangement was simple so that it did not detract from the melody or the rhythm and consequently what was heard was uncluttered.
I always felt that once Jimmy put his stamp on a tune it was hard to imagine the tune being played in any other way. He had a fantastic ability in putting a selection of tunes together and picking the right tunes for a particular dance. He was extremely knowledgeable about dancing and tempos. Over the Border in parts of England he used to play at dances that had a mixture of Old Time and Scottish Country Dancing, in fact a programme that would have baffled almost any other band.
Jimmy was also a prolific composer, new melodies came easily to him. I can remember on many occasions while traveling in the band bus, he would ask for a piece of paper (the blank pages in the A.A. book being full up) and, having acquired one, he would draw five lines on the paper and write down a new tune that had just come into his head.
I toured Australia and New Zealand with the band, which was a revelation to me. I knew from childhood that Jimmy Shand was a household name but was totally unprepared for the reception we got in these countries. We played in stadiums in Melbourne and Sydney to literally thousands of people. He would open the show with ‘Bonnie Dundee’ to a cheer something akin to the famous ‘Hampden Roar’ and I can honestly say that on more than one occasion I was overcome with emotion.
It has often been said that Jimmy was a shy man. I would refute this totally as he enjoyed meeting people and would converse freely with anyone he met. He was quiet spoken and felt a wee bit uncomfortable in the ‘Show Biz’ scene (the ‘Hello Darling’ Brigade.’) He often said to me, “They’ve only got me here to put bums on seats son”.
Even though he was a very busy man he was generous with his time. He would go out of his way to see someone in hospital or play for the old folk. He had compassion and humility which no doubt came from his background, his own personal experiences.
Having received the M.B.E. some years ago it was no surprise that this honour was upgraded just over a year ago to a full Knighthood. Sir Jimmy will be remembered for the legacy he has left us of his recordings, his compositions, and most of all the memory of a fine gentleman.
I am proud to say he was my friend.
Jimmy Scott
Having stood in occasionally in earlier years I joined Jimmy’s Band in 1959, having previously played with the bands of Jack Delaney, Andrew Rankine and Hamish Menzies. I stayed with him until 1963 and during most of those four years I was full time with the band.
Looking back, one of the things that strikes me was that Jimmy never told you far in advance where the band would be playing. It was almost on a week-to-week basis along the lines of “We’ll be gaun doon tae London next Wednesday”, and on the way down he would tell us where we were playing that night. That in itself could come as a bombshell when you were new to the band as well. “Windsor the night!” springs to mind as an example.
Not every week was busy. Occasionally we might have only one job on, but that was the exception rather than the rule, and sometimes we had a run of theatre jobs for a week in say Margate or Aberdeen, or the Festival of Scotland in the Albert Hall in London where we played every night for a week to a full house. We also did Irish Clubs in Birmingham, Leicester and Coventry where Jimmy was very popular.
I was with Jimmy and the band on their tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1961 with Kenneth McKellar, Moira Anderson, Duncan McRae and comedian Jimmy Warren. We picked up a bass player in New Zealand, if I remember correctly, who had never played Scottish dance music before but like everybody who joined the band he just seemed to fall into Jimmy’s style and he fitted in fine. The venues were always mobbed and, believe it or not, as an example we played on three consecutive nights to crowds of eight thousand in Sydney.
Obviously whether at home or abroad we did a lot of traveling and Jimmy was always good company and, contrary to the ‘dour’ image, had a great sense of humour. I’ll never forget either, about a year or more after I left the band I got a phone call from Jimmy asking me to drop in and see him. Wondering what this was about I duly called in and Jimmy explained that he had received a letter saying that the Heather Mixture series of broadcasts, probably about 75 in all, had been sold to an overseas roadio corporation and that as part of the deal he had received a cheque for the band’s part in the programmes. With that he handed me a sizeable amount of money, my share of the cheque. I never forgot that because he could easily have kept quiet about it and I would never have been any the wiser – it was a mark of the man.
I have many happy memories of those bygone days and feel privileged to have shared the stage, and the road, with Jimmy Shand.
Stan Saunders
It was either ’57 or ’58 when my wife and I were traveling back to Dollar from Cupar that the bus stopped at Strathmiglo and I noticed Jimmy coming out of Hogg’s shoe shop. He happened to see me and hopped on to the bus and asked if I could play at a Country Dance at Perth City Hall two nights hence as his bass player was ill.
I had got to know Jimmy in previous years by going to many dances when he played in the area. He was often at the Cochrane Hall in alva and Andrew Rankine’s Band, of which I was a member, would play while Jimmy’s band were having their break. Jimmy was a great one for inviting players up to sit in for a couple of dances. John White was his bass player at that time and he passé don some good advice to me. When Andrew Rankine went full-time in 1959 most of the band decided to stay in their regular jobs and in 1960 Jimmy asked me to join him and I was with him until 1969.
Jimmy’s fame by then, of course, meant that the Band played the length and breadth of the country and the jobs were incredibly diverse – one night a village hall, the next a Highland Ball in London – but Jimmy was totally ‘unflappable’ and took everything in his stride.
Particular highlights which spring to mind were playing with him at the Carl Allen Award ceremony televised live from the Lyceum Theatre in London, and on another occasion Jimmy Scott and I having to make a life or death taxi journey to Kings Cross to catch a midnight sleeper to Edinburgh as we were due back at work the next day. Add to all that the contrast of landing on a cockle shell beach on Barra to do a live ‘On Tour’ recording on a Saturday night and as there were no planes on the Sunday we spent the afternoon watching ‘Whisky Galore’ at the schoolmaster’s house, then playing at a dance in a Nissen hut in the evening.
The Band played to a packed Albert Hall in London at a Scots Concert, did numerous engagements at Balmoral, late Festival Shows at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh and many ‘On Tour’ broadcasts. These involved visiting different towns in Scotland and Jimmy would write a tune for each venue. This he usually did in the Band bus on our way using a small board with manuscript paper on which he would write eight bars then ‘diddle’ it to Syd Chalmers to ensure that it wasn’t similar to anything else.
On the first occasion I played a quickstep with Jimmy at one point I started playing four beats in the bar. He turned round and said “Jist keep it simple son”.
I think this sums up Jimmy Shand – his music was simple and uncluttered, his tempos were perfect, allowing that famous Shand ‘dunt to come through.
I feel privileged to have known and worked with Jimmy Shand.
Bobby Colgan
My recollection of Jimmy Shand as a bandleader brings happy memories to mind. He was an easy man to work for and the music was easy to play along with. Providing you turned up on time, sober, tidy and conducted yourself with a wee bit of decorum the job was a pleasant one.
Things that stand out in my mind relate to his kindness and concern for other people. I remember when my wife Alison was due to give birth to our second child and the Band assembled at ‘Muchty to embark on a tour up north. We couldn’t understand why Jimmy was taking his car as well as the Band bus. As the tour progressed Jimmy kept asking if there was any word about the birth. On the second last night we were in the Empire, Inverness and just before the second house I phoned and discovered Alison had given birth to a baby boy. I was happy to report the news to Jimmy who immediately handed me the car keys and said, “You better get away doon the road son”.
On other occasions I remember him coming to Gorebridge at my request to play for the ‘housebound’ when he brought Dave Ireland with him to play the fiddle. We also stopped once at an ‘old peoples home’ and the whole band went in and gave them a tune, after which we had a quick cup of tea, then away to the gig.
I have lasting memories of Ireland where the name Jimmy Shand was so popular. The reception Jimmy and the Band received there was tremendous. The dance halls we played in were massive and always filled to capacity. The schedule was hectic but it did not stop him from paying a visit to a home for old folk which was run by nuns and giving them a tune.
I also remember on the way home from that tour Jimmy declared two Shure microphones he had bought to the Customs Officer at the airport and in keeping with the times there was Duty payable. The official was in some doubt as to how much Duty he should charge and sought advice from a senior officer who had one look at Jimmy and enquired, “Are you Jimmy Shand?” The response being affirmative he then said, “I’m told by my sister in Australia that you are going there shortly on tour. I wonder if you would play her a request from me when you’re there?” “Surely,” said Jimmy, “Just give me a note of her name and yours and where she’s going to be and that will be nae bother son. Now how much am I due you for Duty on these microphones?” – Customs Officer, “What microphones?”
To conclude I would like to say I am proud to have been associated with Jimmy both as a fellow musician and a friend.
Sandy Tulloch
(This tribute was delivered by Sandy at Jimmy’s funeral service on 29th December 2000)
I’m deeply aware of the honour the Shand family have given in asking me to pay a tribute to Jimmy.
I met this remarkable man over sixty years ago and during this time we became not only friends, but real ‘pals’ – there is a difference, difficult to describe but very meaningful. We had, of course, a common love of Scottish music, but as the years passed, much, much more.
We all know his history. Every national newspaper and television channel has detailed his remarkable career. Not only one, but two biographies were published during his lifetime and few people can claim such fame.
Many degrees, honours and distinctions came to him over the years culminating in a well-deserved Knighthood last year.
He was known and revered the world over as the master of Scottish Dance Music but the extraordinary thing is that Jimmy never changed. He remained the same valued friend to all. I never heard an ill word spoken about him and I never heard him say a critical word about anybody. His door was open to the world and with Anne’s help you were always sure of a welcome.
He had a phenomenal memory and would probably recall where and when he met you – even down to addresses in far flung places. All of us in ‘Muchty and Letham knew the helping hand was always there and you had only to ask to get his help to entertain the elderly, the sick and above all the disabled. He was a prolific composer of excellent Scottish music. The titles of the three hundred and more tunes read like a list of close friends and memorable occasions.
Contrary to appearances he had a fine sense of humour – he only looked serious when he was playing – and he was an excellent after dinner speaker.
He had many other talents. In his younger days he was a great lover of speed. Fast motor cars (I remember a green Jaguar in particular), a T.T. Racing Norton motorbike and a speedboat. His old friend and driver Andy Gow could tell some hair raising tales!
Jimmy was keen on his garden and his workshop. He had a particular love (and skill) in carving models of traditional fishing boats and sailing yachts. Two or three of us helped him with one such model only last summer.
But above all he was a family man and was blessed with a family who sincerely loved him in return. Our hearts go out to them especially Anne and David. Jimmy’s life will continue to be a shining example to us all. Although justly proud of his achievements and his knighthood he remained modest and steadfast at all times.
I’m going to close with a line from the Canterbury Tales where Chaucer describes one of his characters. He wrote “He was a Very Perfect Gentle Knight”.
Robbie Shepherd
(This tribute was delivered by Robbie at Jimmy’s funeral service on 29th December 2000
We meet, family an’ freens, frae aa the airts. Freens all, and admirers of a man with a unique talent coupled with a hameower touch.
It was Jock Turpie more than 60 years ago (Jock a local compere) who wrote :-
“He’s playing tae the auld folk, yet a million fans he’s got,
Whaurever there’s a wireless set, whaurever there’s a Scot,
The pensioner, his crookit stick becomes a magic wand,
As he chaps the flair and whistles, Keeping time tae Jimmy Shand.”
As one who’s within sight o’ the pensioner status now, I can vouch in the intervening years it wisna jist auld mannies that chappit the floor keeping time.
I recall my childhood days wi’ a whole Saturday evening on the wireless – the football, the Dance Music, the MacFlannels and the odd Music Hall.
This would be my first recollection of the name of Jimmy shand and the follow-up would see my dad home fae his monthly visits to the big toon wi’ the latest 78 o’ Shand, Cameron, Rennie or Wilson.
My first meeting was when I was an aspiring compere, somewhat wet behind the lugs, and I had to introduce Jimmy onto the stage. Knocking shyly at his dressing room door, I was invited in wi’ a, “Come awa in son,” and I said I thought I should introduce the first tune as well as the household name.
“Ah weel, ye might hae some job there son,” as he slowly read out the pipe march title. Some job! I memorised it ower and ower again and still have it imprintit on my mind some 45 years later. It was ‘Dr Ross’s 50th Welcome to the Argyllshire Gathering!’
My main contact began when I started broadcasting and I’ll be forever grateful for his encouragement and his ready help when I had yet another query I wanted an answer to. Advice too, given wi’ aa the sincerity and genuine interest that was the makkin’ o’ the man.
Countless folks, aye Esma and I included, have been touched with his quiet visits when a helpie-up, a lift, was needed. Story after story comes out. Many here today will vouch for the tremendous charitable work he undertook without any fuss – nae fanfare o’ trumpets.
But to his contribution to our heritage.
I place Jimmy alongside Niel Gow as the two main influences in the history of Scottish Dance Music, and both musicians are now side by side in portrait form in the National Gallery.
Both came from a rural background and Gow came to prominence in the mid-1700’s after a spell when dancing had been banned by the kirk as being promiscuous. Gow’s playing and compositions for Society Balls became the stepping stone to the dance music we know today – only without an accordion.
Enter Jimmy Shand this past century, who took the humble bothy instrument into play, upgraded to his own specification Shand Morino and today we find most bands led by an accordion.
It’s simple music, oor music, and Jimmy was the one to keep it on the right rails with impeccable timing and a sound that never changed, irrespective of who was in the band. “I jist play to the feet o’ the best dancers in the hall.” He would say modestly.
Simple music? Try tellin’ that to some o’ the folk who bought accordions off him whilst he was with Forbes of Dundee. ‘Play by sight the first night’.
Like the young farm lad who had made a down payment on a Black Dot Double Ray from a stand of Forbes at an Angus Show.
On the monthly payments drying up, Jimmy was dispatched to the fairm loon’s bothy to take back the box. Jimmy duly obliged, when he was asked to play a tune on it before he took it away.
The moment o’ truth arrived for oor fairm billie for, as he handed over the box, he suddenly spat oot – “Ach ye’re jist a lot o’ bloody swicks ontwye. Plat at Sicht the Same Nicht? Weel, I’ve hid the damn thing twa’ eers an I canna play it yet!”
He was not the only frustrated musician when the sound of Shand was around.
As an ambassador for Scotland with his down-to-earth couthy approach, there can have been few finer in the twentieth century than Jimmy Shand.
Yes, a man unique in his field. A man, his music and, most importantly, his family.
The music of Jimmy Shand will live on and on and specially at this time, we think on the Hogmanay parties worldwide when memories of home come from the recordings ‘Don’t sit on my Jimmy Shands’ and the strains of ‘Welcome Christmas Morning’.
We salute you Jimmy. You have placed our music on a pedestal which is equal to any. For that we’ll be forever in your debt.
Dear Sir
It was with deep sadness that we all learned of the death of Jimmy Shand M.B.E, MA, on the morning of Saturday, 23rd December 2000. Sir Jimmy was a legend in his lifetime and became a world-known name throughout the years, having toured so many countries and met so many people, who enjoyed his immaculate style and timing. There are stories of crowds of fans blocking the streets in Aberdeen, New York, Dublin and Sydney, to name but a few places he visited.
There will be millions of tributes, but as a fairly close friend for over 40 years, I have been privileged to attend many of the functions, public and private, organized by the Shand family, and these are the intimate memories of Sir Jimmy Shand, which, fortunately I, along with others, will be able to treasure for life.
Sir Jimmy also composed many tunes, which are played regularly by other musicians at Accordion and Fiddle Clubs, and perhaps one of his earlier compositions, ‘Welcome Christmas Morning’ would seem quite appropriate at this time.
The saddest day was the funeral service at Auchtermuchty on Friday, 29th December, when Sir Jimmy was laid to rest. It was nice to see so many people paying their last respects to Sir Jimmy, in the church, at the graveside and at Letham Cillage Hall. The Rev. Ann Fraser conducted an excellent service and this was supported by great tributes from Dr Sandy Tulloch ( a lifelong friend and fellow musician) and Robbie Shepherd.
I am confident that the real friends and fans will give every support to the family at this sad time.
I also enclose a copy of a poem composer many years ago by a friend of Sir Jimmy, Jock Turpie, and I’m sure all will agree it is quite appropriate.
John McDonald (Kirkcaldy)
The Laddie Frae East Wemyss
The Wemyss has aye been famous for its castles and its lairds,
Its ruins and past histories o’ kail and ither yairds,
But still mair famous it’s become, admired throughout the land,
For in the Wemyss was born and bred a chao ca’d Jimmy Shand.
I met him at the puir hoose, aye twenty years ago,
A striplin’ he was awfy blate and sweer tae mak’ his bow,
But on the stage he trampit, man, the fingerin’ wis grand,
I could see the hallmark stampit on that laddie, Jimmy Shand.
He’s playing tae the auld folk, yet a million fans he’s got,
Whaurever there’s a wireless set, whaurever there’s a Scot,
The pensioner, his crookit stick becomes a magic wand,
As he chaps the flair and whistles, keeping time tae Jimmy Shand.
He has scored o’ imitators, but they dinna hae the lilt,
They remind you o’ a piper on the mairch without his kilt,
But tae him it’s a’ sae simple, and it tickles up the gland,
When ye hear auld ‘Kate Dalrymple’ introducin’ Jimmy Shand.
So let’s forget oor troubles, nae matter hoo we feel,
Pit on a record lassie, and we’ll hae the Eightsome Reel,
Life’s no’ the problem it wid seem, if we could jist understand,
So tak’ your partners and bless The Wemyss fur gie’in us Jimmy Shand.
Tribute to my hero Sir Jimmy Shand M.B.E.
With regret at the death of our idol.
Condolences to Anne, Jimmy Jnr, David, Margaret and Dianne.
Irish musicians and friends mourn the passing of Jimmy.
His music was an inspiration to me all my life. I first heard Jimmy and his band in Cork in 1954 at the Arcadia Ballroom. We met during the dance and became firm friends thereafter. I last saw him in april 2000 and spoke to him regularly on the telephone. He wrote his own music with a passion and I was delighted when he composed some tunes for me and my family including, ‘Donal Ring Jig’, ‘Brydie Ring Polka’ and ‘Breda Ring’s Fancy 1995’.
Thank you, Jimmy for your wonderful music and friendship. You will never be forgotten by Donal Ring and Family (Cork) – May he Rest in Peace.
Ritchie Ahearne, Tommy Lees and myself regret that we were unable to attend Jimmy’s funeral due to very bad weather conditions.
Donal Ring
The Stanley Ceilidh 2000
by Bill Black
It seems like only a few months since I was compiling my report for the 1999 Stanley Ceilidh….
The National accordion Fun Festival
By Colin Chalmers
The inaugural Brian Laurie Academy of Music National Accordion Fun Festival took place in Paisley Town Hall over the weekend 24th to 26th November, 2000, and what a terrific three days………
Roddy Buchanan – Obituary
The events of Wednesday 13th December will have a devastating effect on our Club and the local traditional music scene which we seek to promote. I refer, of course, to the sudden and untimely passing of Roddy Buchanan of Seaview Terrace, Stornoway.
Roddy was a well-known musician, an exponent of the piano-keyed accordion around the Isle of Lewis over many years, and a member of many dance bands that were so popular in days gone by. More recently his performances were as a solo accordionist entertaining the senior citizens of the area, or supporting the various charitable organizations that would call on his musical skills from time to time, which he gave so freely and willingly.
Roddy was a long-standing member of the Lewis and Harris club, and any musical evening or stramash was always the more enjoyable and the richer for Roddy’s musical contribution.
A quiet, unassuming man, well liked by his fellow musicians and friends alike, his many talents included composing new tunes. It is not known how many he has penned, but it was the Club’s recent tune composing competition for the Bill Black Family Trophy, which inspired Robby to enter his composition of the slow air ‘Langass’. This was named after the estate in North Uist where his son is employed as Hotel Manager, and an area he loved to visit. That fine, haunting tune was soon snapped up and recorded by Bill black himself, but who knows what other fine tunes he has composed but are as yet unrevealed to the wider world.
The local music scene, and certainly our Club scene, are the sadder and the poorer with the passing of Roddy. Everyone associated with the A&F Club would like to express their deepest sympathy to his wife, Janet, from whom he was inseparable, and the family at this sad time.
The exceptionally large crowd that assembled in Stornoway on a cold and wet December morning for his funeral is an indication of the high esteem in which the Buchanan family are held in the community.
William ‘Willy’ Cowans Taylor – Obituary
Sadly, one of the founder members of the Glendale A&F Club, Willy Taylor, passed away on 2nd November last, aged 84 years. There is a cassette featuring Willy, entitled Farewell to the Dene – this being one of Willy’s own compositions – and so on 8th November at Wooler United Reformed Church it was time to say farewell to Willy. Equally well-known and respected in Scotland, Willy was not only a grand fiddle player, but also had many splendid compositions to his name. He was also a great friend to many at Glendale, and although he will be sorely missed, his music lives on : long may it do so.
Our deepest sympathy goes to his wife, Nancy, and son, Neil.
Letters to the Editor
The time has come for me to raise an issue that has been bothering me now for about a year and a half. It seems that there is some dispute regarding the prices that some Ceilidh/Dance bands charge when they are out playing a gig. For argument’s sake let’s take a 4-piece band from Edinburgh, playing in Edinburgh, from 7.30 till 12 for a wedding. I did some research, which I think you might find interesting. You might expect to pay anywhere between £200 and £962 + VAT according to one Edinburgh agency, whilst the others seemed to think that anywhere between £300 and £600 was considered reasonable.
When my own band receives a telephone enquiry, we try to realise that, unless you’re Bill Gates, you probably don’t want to spend in excess of £900 for a band, but at the same time, our price reflects the hours of hard practice we put in, the PA system, the petrol expenses and all the other little extras that people tend to forget about which make their evening such a success.
Oh, I almost forgot. Don’t you just hate it when some bands say, “Yeah man, we’re a folk band” just as an excuse for being really bad? It’s this type of thing that real, talented folk bands simply don’t need!!!
Iain Anderson (Gartocharn)
Take the Floor – Saturdays at 6.30pm with Robbie Shepherd
3rd Feb 01 – Roy Hendrie + feature on Fiddle 2000
10th Feb 01 – Alisdair MacCuish and the Black Rose Ceilidh Band + Keep it in the Family (The Clarks)
17th Feb 01 – Ron Kerr’s SDB + Fergie MacDonald
24th Feb 01 – Strathmore Sound + guests
3rd March 01 – Alan Gardiner SDB + Pat McNulty
10th March 01 – Allan McIntosh and the Heather SDB
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) – 27th Feb 01 – Lynne Christie SDB
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle) 14th Feb 01 – James Paterson
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 18th Feb 01 – Judith Linton Trio
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 4th Feb 01 – Bruce Lindsay Trio
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 1st Feb 01 – Morag Robertson Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 18th Feb 01 – Jock Fraser SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 26th Feb 01 – James Coutts SDB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 28th Feb 01 – Ian Johnstone SDB
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 19th Feb 01 – Iain Anderson
Belford (Community Centre) – 13th Feb 01 – Robert Whitehead SDB
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 11th Feb 01 – Club Night
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 13th Feb 01 – Simon Howie
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) - 13th Feb 01 - tbc
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – tbc
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 6th Feb 01 – Duncan Black
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) - 8th Feb 01 – Graeme Johnston
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 20th Feb 01 – Charlie Todd Trio
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 15th Feb 01 – Robert Whitehead
Crathes (Crathes Hall, Banchory) - 11th Feb 01 – All welcome
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 1st Feb 01 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 14th Feb 01 - tbc
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead) 20th Feb 01 - tbc
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 7th Feb 01 – Bill Brian
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 21st Feb 01 – Lothian SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 13th Fen 01 – James Coutts SDB
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel) tbc
East Kilbride (Torrance Hotel) – 22nd Feb 01 – Ian Thomson SDB
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 20th Feb 01 – Frank Thompson SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 26th Feb 01 – Jim Cleland SDB
Forfar (Plough Inn) - tbc
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 14th Feb 01 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) – 1st Feb 01 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) – 12th Feb 01 – Deirdre Adamson
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) – 15th Feb 01 – Lothian SDB
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 7th Feb 01 – Willie McFarlane
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 27th Feb 01 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) - 4th Feb 01 – Ian Lowthian
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 19th Feb 01 – Andrew Gordon SDB
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - tbc
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 1st Feb 01 – Dingwall A&F Club
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 6th Feb 01 – Marian Anderson SDB
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 28th Fen 01 – Maurice Duncan & Murray McKillop
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) – tbc
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 26th Feb 01 – Tom Orr SDB
Langholm (Crown Hotel) – 14th Feb 01 – Jim Johnstone SDB
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 8th Feb 01 – Gordon Pattullo
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - tbc
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 19th Feb 01 – Lyne Valley Band
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 27th Feb 01 – David Scott SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 20th Feb 01 – Andy Greig SDB 24th Feb 01 Dance
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 7th Feb 01 – AGM & Club Night
Muirhead (Belmont Arms, Meigle) -
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) - 7th Feb 01 – Stuart Adamson
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 26th Feb 01 – Davie Stewart Trio
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 6th Feb 01 – Ythan Fiddlers
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) – 1st Feb 01 – Calum McLean
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) – 22nd Feb 01 – Newtongrange A&F Club
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 20th Feb 01 – Iain Anderson SDB
Premier NI (Camlin Function Rooms) - 6th Feb 01 – Jimmy Cassidy
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 13th Feb 01 – Bill Black SDB
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 1st Feb 01 – Judith Linton Trio
Selkirk (Cricket Club) - 8th Feb 01 – Andy Kain
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - tbc
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) - tbc
Thornhill (Masonic Hall) - tbc
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 5th Feb 01 – Local night
Turriff (Royal British Legion) – 1st Feb 01 – The Redcoats
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 20th Feb 01 – Jimmy Lindsay
Yarrow (Gordon Arms) - 21st Feb 01 – Neil Hardie SDB
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick & District
3. Arbroath
4. Balloch
5. Banff & District
6. Beith & District
7. Biggar
8. Blairgowrie
9. Button Key
10. Campsie
11. Castle Douglas
12. Coalburn
13. Crieff & District
14. Dalriada
15. Dingwall & District
16. Dunblane
17. Dunfermline & District
18. Dunoon & Cowal
19. East Kilbride
20. Ellon
21. Forfar
22. Forres
23. Galashiels
24. Galston
25. Glendale
26. Glenrothes & District
27. Gretna
28. Highland
29. Inveraray & District
30. Islesteps
31. Kintore
32. Langholm
33. Lesmahagow
34. Lewis & Harris
35. Livingston
36. Lockerbie
37. Montrose
38. Newmill-on-Teviot
39. Newtongrange
40. North East
41. Peebles
42. Premier
43. Renfrew
44. Rothbury
45. Thornhill
46. Wick
47. Yarrow
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 1999
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Bromley A&F Club
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campbeltown A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
29. Ellon A&F Club (
30. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
31. Forfar A&F Club (
32. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
33. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
34. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
35. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
36. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
37. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
38. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
39. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
40. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
41. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
42. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
43. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
44. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
45. Kintore A&F Club (
46. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed
47. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – present)
48. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
49. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
52. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
53. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
54. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
55. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
56. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
57. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
58. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
59. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
60. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
61. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
62. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
63. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
64. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
65. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
66. Selkirk A&F Club (
67. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
68. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
69. Sutherland A&F Club (
70. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
71. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
72. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
73. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
74. Vancouver
75. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
76. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 -
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
77. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
78. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
79. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
80. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
81. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
82. Buchan A&F Club
83. Callander A&F Club (
84. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
85. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
86. Club Accord
87. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
88. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
89. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
90. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
91. Derwentside A&F Club
92. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
93. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
94. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
95. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
96. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
97. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
98. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
99. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
100. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
101. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
104. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
105. Mull A&F Club
106. Newcastleton Accordion Club
107. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
108. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
109. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
110. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
111. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
112. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
113. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
114. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
115. Tranent A&F Club
116. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
117. Wellbank A&F Club
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