Iain Wilson
The Elvanfoot Pianist
Iain Wilson, like elder brother Kenny, was born and raised at the ‘Hass’ Farm in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire. It was Iain who was initially gifted a fiddle and sent for lessons to Alex Brown in Abington, but he was not particularly inspired by the instrument and after a couple of years decided to change to the piano. Again his parents thought he should do it properly and he started lessons with Margaret M. Carmichael at Trigony, Closeburn in 1949 and finished nine years later in 1958 at Grade VI. Before he was age to drive this involved cycling down from Leadhills to Elvanfoot Post Office, where he left his bicycle, and catching the Edinburgh to Dumfries bus as far as Closeburn, sometimes accompanied by Ena Wilson (later pianist with the Lothian SDB) whose parents ran the Post Office. As was often the case, this tuition was entirely down the classical route, indeed when Iain did start to pay in a Scottish Dance band in 1952 Margaret was very vocal in her opposition.
The opportunity had arisen that year to play with brother Kenny in Andrew Coke’s Dance Band when Andrew’s dad retired from the pianist’s role. Iain describes Andrew as an excellent player (he deputised as accordionist on occasion in the Angus Fitchet Band) and the band were very busy throughout the year. Travel, particularly in winter, could be a problem since as some readers will be aware Leadhills sits near to Wanlockhead, Scotland’s highest village and winters at that time could be severe. The solution was to get themselves down to Crawford in time to set off in Andrew’s car for the venue, then on their return Andrew dropped them off at the Lanarkshire County Council’s Roads Depot in Crawford from where, after a heat in the bothy, Hugh Moorcroft, the driver of the ‘big ploo’ took them both back up to Leadhills, clearing snow and gritting the narrow road on the way.
Iain played with Andrew’s band from 1952 till 1962 with a year’s break in 1955/6 while Andrew did his National Service. For that year he and Kenny moved to the Jim Anderson Band from Broughton in Peeblesshire. Again transport arrangements brought back some fond memories as he remembered travelling to dances in Arthur Brown’s (long associated with Livingston A&F Club) Austin Seven with its leaking roof which necessitated the wearing of a waterproof coat and a sou wester, something Iain always played on a bit by sitting with his collar turned up.
The opportunity had arisen that year to play with brother Kenny in Andrew Coke’s Dance Band when Andrew’s dad retired from the pianist’s role. Iain describes Andrew as an excellent player (he deputised as accordionist on occasion in the Angus Fitchet Band) and the band were very busy throughout the year. Travel, particularly in winter, could be a problem since as some readers will be aware Leadhills sits near to Wanlockhead, Scotland’s highest village and winters at that time could be severe. The solution was to get themselves down to Crawford in time to set off in Andrew’s car for the venue, then on their return Andrew dropped them off at the Lanarkshire County Council’s Roads Depot in Crawford from where, after a heat in the bothy, Hugh Moorcroft, the driver of the ‘big ploo’ took them both back up to Leadhills, clearing snow and gritting the narrow road on the way.
Iain played with Andrew’s band from 1952 till 1962 with a year’s break in 1955/6 while Andrew did his National Service. For that year he and Kenny moved to the Jim Anderson Band from Broughton in Peeblesshire. Again transport arrangements brought back some fond memories as he remembered travelling to dances in Arthur Brown’s (long associated with Livingston A&F Club) Austin Seven with its leaking roof which necessitated the wearing of a waterproof coat and a sou wester, something Iain always played on a bit by sitting with his collar turned up.
When Andrew decided to sell up at Crawford and move to Onich, Kenny and Iain went their separate ways. Since then Iain has played with a string of bands, some on a regular basis, and some on a more casual basis. Certainly it would be fair to say that as one door closed another opened. His regular bands (although line-ups varied over the years) were :-
Andrew Coke 1952-62 (Andrew, Kenny Wilson, Jack Watson/Johnny Nichol, Andrew Hogg and Iain)
Graham Barbour and Jack Stitt 1963-68 (Graham/Jack, John Douglas, Sandy McClelland and Iain)
Eric Goodfellow 1968-78 (Eric, Jock Borthwick, Billy Bell, Alasdair MacLeod, Drew Dalgleish, Tony Farrell (guitar-vocals) and Iain)
Alex MacArthur 1978-89 (Alex, Ian Mearns, Jack Delaney, Bobby Colgan and Iain)
Andrew Coke 1952-62 (Andrew, Kenny Wilson, Jack Watson/Johnny Nichol, Andrew Hogg and Iain)
Graham Barbour and Jack Stitt 1963-68 (Graham/Jack, John Douglas, Sandy McClelland and Iain)
Eric Goodfellow 1968-78 (Eric, Jock Borthwick, Billy Bell, Alasdair MacLeod, Drew Dalgleish, Tony Farrell (guitar-vocals) and Iain)
Alex MacArthur 1978-89 (Alex, Ian Mearns, Jack Delaney, Bobby Colgan and Iain)
Roger Dobson 1982-84 (Roger, Jock Borthwick, Bob Hobkirk, Drew Dalgleish, Gilbert Lynn and Iain) then 1990-98 (Roger, Alex Graham, Carol Dobson, Drew Dalgleish/Billy Goodfellow and Iain)
Jock Borthwick 1989-2010 (Jock, Will Gillie and Iain)
Bill Richardson 1991 – date (Bill, Derek McLeod/ Kenny Wilson, Fraser Richardson and Iain)
Jean McConnachie 1993-2007 (Jean, Jim McConnachie (small pipes), Max Houliston/John Douglas, David Blair (fiddle), Billy Goodfellow and Iain)
And along the way he also played for short stretches or occasionally with :-
Jim Anderson 1955/6
Andrew & Willie Stoddart 1960’s
Peter Innes 1960’s
John McGregor 1970’s
The Solway Sands early 70’s – 1988
Tommy Pringle 1982-88
Wattie Beattie 1982-84
Alan Gardiner 1986-89
Jack Stalker 2006-09
Ian Kirkpatrick 2007-date
Dick Black 2007-08
Willie McRobert 2010 – date
Gordon Clark 2010 – date
Over the years Iain broadcast with Eric Goodfellow (1970’s), Alex MacArthur (70’s and 80’s), Max Houliston (1980-82), Roger Dobson (1982-84), the Border Strathspey & Reel Society (1980-82) and recently with Neil Barron in his 2009 tribute on the 20th anniversary of the death of Alex MacArthur. He made tapes/CDs/videos with many of the above and additionally with Jim Ritchie, Willie Atkinson, Jean McConnachie and John Douglas.
Bill Richardson 1991 – date (Bill, Derek McLeod/ Kenny Wilson, Fraser Richardson and Iain)
Jean McConnachie 1993-2007 (Jean, Jim McConnachie (small pipes), Max Houliston/John Douglas, David Blair (fiddle), Billy Goodfellow and Iain)
And along the way he also played for short stretches or occasionally with :-
Jim Anderson 1955/6
Andrew & Willie Stoddart 1960’s
Peter Innes 1960’s
John McGregor 1970’s
The Solway Sands early 70’s – 1988
Tommy Pringle 1982-88
Wattie Beattie 1982-84
Alan Gardiner 1986-89
Jack Stalker 2006-09
Ian Kirkpatrick 2007-date
Dick Black 2007-08
Willie McRobert 2010 – date
Gordon Clark 2010 – date
Over the years Iain broadcast with Eric Goodfellow (1970’s), Alex MacArthur (70’s and 80’s), Max Houliston (1980-82), Roger Dobson (1982-84), the Border Strathspey & Reel Society (1980-82) and recently with Neil Barron in his 2009 tribute on the 20th anniversary of the death of Alex MacArthur. He made tapes/CDs/videos with many of the above and additionally with Jim Ritchie, Willie Atkinson, Jean McConnachie and John Douglas.
Iain’s friendship with John Douglas stretches all the way back to 1963 when John played second box in both the Graham Barbour Band (Graham, John, Sandy McClelland on drums and Iain) and also the Jack Stitt Band (same line up with Jack taking over lead on Continental Chromatic to replace Graham). In fact the only time their paths stopped crossing in the last 48 years was when John moved temporarily up the West Coast to the ‘Great Glen Cattle Ranch’ at Lochaber (a short-lived experiment by the eccentric American millionaire Joseph Hobbs which ran for 3 years) and then to the fir plantations being planted around Spean Bridge for a couple of years before moving back to Dumfries-shire. As well as recognising John as a fine band accordionist Iain says “every musician needs a good music shop and John’s is second to none. Nothing is any trouble to him. One phone call to John and he will fix any problem. I am very proud to call him my friend” – sentiments which I am sure are shared by many musicians in the south of Scotland and beyond.
The ‘Solway Sands’ band mentioned above lasted for almost twenty years and was as busy as other commitments allowed and Iain thoroughly enjoyed the range of music they played. It consisted initially of Alan Orr (vocals and bass guitar), Chris Graham (leading on 5 row), Bobby McBryde (fiddle), David Henderson (drums) and Iain. This later evolved into a four piece with Cathy Johnston (vocals), Chris Graham (lead), Ian Glendinning (drums) and Iain. As well as Scottish music they were good at ‘modern ballroom’.
Accordion & Fiddle Clubs
The Clubs have played a part in Iain’s life for many years. When Alex MacArthur moved to the Clydesdale Hotel and started the Biggar Club in 1974 Iain gradually became a regular, particularly after he became Alex’s band pianist in 1978. Scottish dancing had passed its popularity peak and guesting at Clubs enabled Alex to meet friends from the old days as well as make new acquaintances. As a three piece, Alex, Iain and fiddler Ian Mearns travelled throughout Scotland and the north of England (with one memorable week also spent doing clubs in Northern Ireland during ‘the Troubles’) and where possible Alex always supplemented this line-up with a second box player and a drummer from those attending the club. Alex felt that encouraged the locals and no-one would disagree with that. As a sales rep Alex had spent much of his working life behind a steering wheel and he was an excellent (if fast) driver who always owned a large, powerful car.
Iain recalls one narrow escape though, when Alex had a big Volvo Estate. They had been up at Thurso Club with Stevie Beattie on drums and Jennifer Forrest on second box. Having dropped off Jennifer in Airdrie they zipped along the M8 and cut off at Whitburn heading for Forth, Carnwath and Biggar. Throughout the entire journey Iain had commented on an unidentified alien noise coming from somewhere on the car but Alex told him not to worry - for one thing he said he had just bought four new tires. On a long downward hill just short of ‘the Forth’ it was Stevie, from the back seat, who announced ‘we’ve just lost a wheel’ which he had spotted as it crossed the roadside verge. Alex’s instinct was to brake but in a moment of inspiration Iain told him just to take his foot off the accelerator and let the car come to a gradual halt. Heavily laden at the back it did so without any loss of control and it was only when it finally stopped that it settled forward on the hub of its missing front passenger wheel. Alex went to a nearby farm for help while Iain and Stevie went to retrieve the missing wheel. Neither the wheel nor the hub were damaged and by the simple (temporary) expedient of borrowing a wheel nut from the other three wheels they returned safely to Biggar. Iain wouldn’t like to repeat that experience though.
It was during his days with Alex that Iain became friendly with Bill Black and family when they called in to pick up Duncan who played second box for a time. Bill in turn got Iain to play with his band when they were at Broughton (Peeblesshire) and other venues down his way. Bill wrote two very fine tunes call 'Bertha Wilson’s Polka' and a march entitled 'Iain Wilson of South Shortcleugh' which appear in Deeay Music’s ‘Leaside Collection’. And while on the subject of music Iain also became friendly with Donald Ridley who very kindly wrote ‘Iain Wilson’s Reel’ for him.
Iain continues his close association with the Clubs as resident pianist at the Annan, Langholm, Livingston and Lockerbie Clubs as well as doing guest spots with the bands of Ian Kirkpatrick (Dumfries), Willie McRobert (Lockerbie) and Gordon Clark (Gorebridge).
The Daily Record Golden Fiddle Awards
The ‘Solway Sands’ band mentioned above lasted for almost twenty years and was as busy as other commitments allowed and Iain thoroughly enjoyed the range of music they played. It consisted initially of Alan Orr (vocals and bass guitar), Chris Graham (leading on 5 row), Bobby McBryde (fiddle), David Henderson (drums) and Iain. This later evolved into a four piece with Cathy Johnston (vocals), Chris Graham (lead), Ian Glendinning (drums) and Iain. As well as Scottish music they were good at ‘modern ballroom’.
Accordion & Fiddle Clubs
The Clubs have played a part in Iain’s life for many years. When Alex MacArthur moved to the Clydesdale Hotel and started the Biggar Club in 1974 Iain gradually became a regular, particularly after he became Alex’s band pianist in 1978. Scottish dancing had passed its popularity peak and guesting at Clubs enabled Alex to meet friends from the old days as well as make new acquaintances. As a three piece, Alex, Iain and fiddler Ian Mearns travelled throughout Scotland and the north of England (with one memorable week also spent doing clubs in Northern Ireland during ‘the Troubles’) and where possible Alex always supplemented this line-up with a second box player and a drummer from those attending the club. Alex felt that encouraged the locals and no-one would disagree with that. As a sales rep Alex had spent much of his working life behind a steering wheel and he was an excellent (if fast) driver who always owned a large, powerful car.
Iain recalls one narrow escape though, when Alex had a big Volvo Estate. They had been up at Thurso Club with Stevie Beattie on drums and Jennifer Forrest on second box. Having dropped off Jennifer in Airdrie they zipped along the M8 and cut off at Whitburn heading for Forth, Carnwath and Biggar. Throughout the entire journey Iain had commented on an unidentified alien noise coming from somewhere on the car but Alex told him not to worry - for one thing he said he had just bought four new tires. On a long downward hill just short of ‘the Forth’ it was Stevie, from the back seat, who announced ‘we’ve just lost a wheel’ which he had spotted as it crossed the roadside verge. Alex’s instinct was to brake but in a moment of inspiration Iain told him just to take his foot off the accelerator and let the car come to a gradual halt. Heavily laden at the back it did so without any loss of control and it was only when it finally stopped that it settled forward on the hub of its missing front passenger wheel. Alex went to a nearby farm for help while Iain and Stevie went to retrieve the missing wheel. Neither the wheel nor the hub were damaged and by the simple (temporary) expedient of borrowing a wheel nut from the other three wheels they returned safely to Biggar. Iain wouldn’t like to repeat that experience though.
It was during his days with Alex that Iain became friendly with Bill Black and family when they called in to pick up Duncan who played second box for a time. Bill in turn got Iain to play with his band when they were at Broughton (Peeblesshire) and other venues down his way. Bill wrote two very fine tunes call 'Bertha Wilson’s Polka' and a march entitled 'Iain Wilson of South Shortcleugh' which appear in Deeay Music’s ‘Leaside Collection’. And while on the subject of music Iain also became friendly with Donald Ridley who very kindly wrote ‘Iain Wilson’s Reel’ for him.
Iain continues his close association with the Clubs as resident pianist at the Annan, Langholm, Livingston and Lockerbie Clubs as well as doing guest spots with the bands of Ian Kirkpatrick (Dumfries), Willie McRobert (Lockerbie) and Gordon Clark (Gorebridge).
The Daily Record Golden Fiddle Awards
In 1978 Iain acted as accompanist to one of the Border’s finest fiddlers, Albie Tedham of Langholm. Albie progressed effortlessly through the regional heats to win a place at the finals which were to be held in the Assembly Rooms, George Street, Edinburgh. Albie was a real ‘character’ with many idiosyncrasies and was from a ‘travelling people’ background. He wore a hearing aid which he preferred to have turned down low when playing, so at the finals in Edinburgh he failed to hear the adjudicator say ‘in your own time Mr Tedham’ and turned to Iain in front of the large audience with a loud ‘whatsy saying ?’ Iain relayed the instruction to start in his own time. A man of small stature Albie wore a tartan jacket which was a few sizes too big. To the audience it almost appeared as if the bow was being held by the jacket and they started to laugh but as Iain puts it “as soon as they heard how beautifully he played the laughing stopped”. Albie didn’t win but he gave an excellent account of himself. Sadly Albie, a heavy smoker, was to die from cancer aged only 54 on 16th November 1980. The Border Strathspey & Reel Society
Iain was accompanist with the Border S&R Society from 1973-85 during the period that brother Kenny was Conductor of the Society. During the years 1980-82 they broadcast with Radio Borders and BBC Carlisle.
Tuition
Iain’s home area in the rural part of South Lanarkshire consists of quite a number of small villages (Wiston, Roberton, Abington, Crawford, Elvanfoot, Leadhills and Wanlockhead) which are quite remote from any major facilities and he had often been asked to teach children the piano. He finally took up the challenge in 1970’s and for a period of over 10 years tutored quite a number of pupils down the classical route. His best known pupil, on our scene, is Jim Nichol, now of Loanhead, who plays with the bands of Neil Hardie, David Scott (Peebles) and Ian Hutson although it was Graeme Mitchell up in Huntly who took Jim into the Scottish idiom when he moved up to Aberdeenshire in his student farming days.
Hopetoun Estate
Iain was accompanist with the Border S&R Society from 1973-85 during the period that brother Kenny was Conductor of the Society. During the years 1980-82 they broadcast with Radio Borders and BBC Carlisle.
Tuition
Iain’s home area in the rural part of South Lanarkshire consists of quite a number of small villages (Wiston, Roberton, Abington, Crawford, Elvanfoot, Leadhills and Wanlockhead) which are quite remote from any major facilities and he had often been asked to teach children the piano. He finally took up the challenge in 1970’s and for a period of over 10 years tutored quite a number of pupils down the classical route. His best known pupil, on our scene, is Jim Nichol, now of Loanhead, who plays with the bands of Neil Hardie, David Scott (Peebles) and Ian Hutson although it was Graeme Mitchell up in Huntly who took Jim into the Scottish idiom when he moved up to Aberdeenshire in his student farming days.
Hopetoun Estate
Like brother Kenny, Iain spent his entire working life with the Hopetoun Estate although in Iain’s case he followed in his father’s footsteps as a shepherd. On leaving school he had worked with his dad at ‘the Hass’, Leadhills, which was a rented farm belonging to the Estate which had decided that as the rents came up for renewal they would take the farms back under their own management. This happened to the Hass in 1961 but Iain was offered a shepherding job at South Shortcleugh, near Elvanfoot, where he remained for his entire working life until he retired in 2001.
Home Life
Iain married Bertha Wight in 1960 and they have two sons, Chris and Colin. With Iain away playing regularly he relied very much on Bertha and the boys to help, with Bertha out on the farm doing necessary jobs and the boys copying out arrangements for second box and bass after dad had prepared the master copy for Alex’s broadcasts and Accordion & Fiddle Club appearances. In the pre photocopier days (which at South Shortcleugh were to last into the new Millennium) Rhynas Mitchell of Elgin sent down new sets/arrangements to Alex at the Clydesdale Hotel in Biggar. Alex in turn phoned Iain and son Chris collected them from Alex when he went to Biggar High School the following day. Once completed the full set of scores were returned to Alex by the same method. Iain expresses his sincere thanks to the family for all their efforts over the years.
Now retired for some 10 years to nearby Crawford, Iain and Bertha continue to enjoy a very full musical life which shows no sign of slowing up. Bertha regularly accompanies Iain when he appears at Clubs and most recently I met up with them when Iain was guesting with Willie McFarlane’s Band at the Stonehouse Club. Long may they continue to enjoy, and contribute, to our kind of music.
CT
Iain married Bertha Wight in 1960 and they have two sons, Chris and Colin. With Iain away playing regularly he relied very much on Bertha and the boys to help, with Bertha out on the farm doing necessary jobs and the boys copying out arrangements for second box and bass after dad had prepared the master copy for Alex’s broadcasts and Accordion & Fiddle Club appearances. In the pre photocopier days (which at South Shortcleugh were to last into the new Millennium) Rhynas Mitchell of Elgin sent down new sets/arrangements to Alex at the Clydesdale Hotel in Biggar. Alex in turn phoned Iain and son Chris collected them from Alex when he went to Biggar High School the following day. Once completed the full set of scores were returned to Alex by the same method. Iain expresses his sincere thanks to the family for all their efforts over the years.
Now retired for some 10 years to nearby Crawford, Iain and Bertha continue to enjoy a very full musical life which shows no sign of slowing up. Bertha regularly accompanies Iain when he appears at Clubs and most recently I met up with them when Iain was guesting with Willie McFarlane’s Band at the Stonehouse Club. Long may they continue to enjoy, and contribute, to our kind of music.
CT