Frank Farquharson (1929 – 2002) – Obituary
Chairman – Fintry A&F Association
by Sandy Shearlaw
Frank Farquharson’s friends were shocked and saddened by his sudden passing at the meeting of his club on Monday, 25th February 2002. The great esteem in which he was held by all in the world of Scottish traditional music was shown by the huge attendance at his funeral service in Falkirk Crematorium.
The Rev. Anne Brennan, who conducted the service, summed Frank up perfectly – he was everybody’s buddy.
Frank was born in Alyth in East Perthshire and was brought up on farms in Strathmore worked by his father. There he developed the countryman’s ability to turn his hand to anything – a gift displayed throughout his life.
He was educated at Forfar Academy and on leaving school trained as an electrician before being called up for National Service in the Royal air Force. After demobilisation he worked in Blairgowrie where he was to meet Gladys, his wife of 47 years. He said he used to watch he cycling back and forward to work and determined that she was the girl for him.
It was in those days that Frank’s love of Scottish dance music, and particularly the accordion, took root, as dances were a regular feature of entertainment for the young. Although he never learned to play the instrument he was to love all his life, he became expert in knowing when it was played well and the tremendous range of compositions that can be played on it.
After being married, Frank and Gladys moved to Crieff where Frank was employed by the Hydro Electric Board. It was there that they were blessed with the arrival of son, Grant. The family moved later to Buckie and finally to Balfron where Frank took up a managerial position with the H.E.B. Branching out as a self-employed electrical contractor, Frank gave devoted service to Balfron and surrounding farms and villages until his retirement in 1997. No job was to menial for him and he got as much satisfaction from trying to fix a pensioner’s antique vacuum cleaner as he did from completing a more financially rewarding contract. Many people will miss the service he gave and the local information he passed on over a cup of tea.
Frank’s love of the traditional music scene was ever present and when the old Fintry Accordion and Fiddle Association, started by Alex Fitzsimmons, Jim Burgess and Robert Aitken, folded in the mid-1970s, Frank, with encouragement from Jimmy Yeaman, Morag MacAskill and some local friends, resurrected the Club. As Chairman, he kept it going for 26 years. He particularly liked to encourage young players and followed them to various festivals where he delighted in their successes. He even learned to tolerate renderings on the pipes from his Secretary!
In recent years, Frank made many pilgrimages to Mull and especially Shetland to enjoy their music festivals. The instrumental skills of young Shetlanders in particular impressed him immensely. So when the opportunity arose to arrange a visit of The High Strings from The Anderson High School in Lerwick, Frank set to work with gusto along with supporters in Fintry to fundraise so that overnight accommodation could be provided free of charge for them.
That concert is going ahead as a tribute to Frank’s memory and will be held on Monday, 25th March in the Theatre at Balfron High School rather than the Fintry Sports Club, so that a larger audience can enjoy listening to the talented youngsters.
Apart from music, Frank’s other passion was restoring old Ferguson tractors and some took part and won prizes at vintage tractor rallies at Scone and at agricultural shows elsewhere in Central Scotland. He was active in The Scottish Vintage Tractor and Engine Club.
Frank will be remembered as someone who never turned away anyone who needed help and who was loyal to friends and acquaintances. We will all miss him and the world is a poorer place with his passing.
He is survived by his wife and son to whom the sympathy of all is extended.
Box and Fiddle
April 2002
The Rev. Anne Brennan, who conducted the service, summed Frank up perfectly – he was everybody’s buddy.
Frank was born in Alyth in East Perthshire and was brought up on farms in Strathmore worked by his father. There he developed the countryman’s ability to turn his hand to anything – a gift displayed throughout his life.
He was educated at Forfar Academy and on leaving school trained as an electrician before being called up for National Service in the Royal air Force. After demobilisation he worked in Blairgowrie where he was to meet Gladys, his wife of 47 years. He said he used to watch he cycling back and forward to work and determined that she was the girl for him.
It was in those days that Frank’s love of Scottish dance music, and particularly the accordion, took root, as dances were a regular feature of entertainment for the young. Although he never learned to play the instrument he was to love all his life, he became expert in knowing when it was played well and the tremendous range of compositions that can be played on it.
After being married, Frank and Gladys moved to Crieff where Frank was employed by the Hydro Electric Board. It was there that they were blessed with the arrival of son, Grant. The family moved later to Buckie and finally to Balfron where Frank took up a managerial position with the H.E.B. Branching out as a self-employed electrical contractor, Frank gave devoted service to Balfron and surrounding farms and villages until his retirement in 1997. No job was to menial for him and he got as much satisfaction from trying to fix a pensioner’s antique vacuum cleaner as he did from completing a more financially rewarding contract. Many people will miss the service he gave and the local information he passed on over a cup of tea.
Frank’s love of the traditional music scene was ever present and when the old Fintry Accordion and Fiddle Association, started by Alex Fitzsimmons, Jim Burgess and Robert Aitken, folded in the mid-1970s, Frank, with encouragement from Jimmy Yeaman, Morag MacAskill and some local friends, resurrected the Club. As Chairman, he kept it going for 26 years. He particularly liked to encourage young players and followed them to various festivals where he delighted in their successes. He even learned to tolerate renderings on the pipes from his Secretary!
In recent years, Frank made many pilgrimages to Mull and especially Shetland to enjoy their music festivals. The instrumental skills of young Shetlanders in particular impressed him immensely. So when the opportunity arose to arrange a visit of The High Strings from The Anderson High School in Lerwick, Frank set to work with gusto along with supporters in Fintry to fundraise so that overnight accommodation could be provided free of charge for them.
That concert is going ahead as a tribute to Frank’s memory and will be held on Monday, 25th March in the Theatre at Balfron High School rather than the Fintry Sports Club, so that a larger audience can enjoy listening to the talented youngsters.
Apart from music, Frank’s other passion was restoring old Ferguson tractors and some took part and won prizes at vintage tractor rallies at Scone and at agricultural shows elsewhere in Central Scotland. He was active in The Scottish Vintage Tractor and Engine Club.
Frank will be remembered as someone who never turned away anyone who needed help and who was loyal to friends and acquaintances. We will all miss him and the world is a poorer place with his passing.
He is survived by his wife and son to whom the sympathy of all is extended.
Box and Fiddle
April 2002