Box and Fiddle
Year 43 No 11
July 2020
Price £3.00
40 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £33.60 + p&p £15.85 (UK)
Editor – Pia Walker, Cupar
B&F Treasurer –
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
At the time of writing we are still a long was from ‘normality’ in the music and club scene and, whilst I would love to offer some guidance and direction as to a return to routine, I, like everyone, am at a loss.
Clubs, dances, concerts and musical get-togethers have come to a stop with no time scale as to their return but, in times of crisis, innovation prevails. We can see how much of an interest the Box and Fiddle ‘Have A Tune Group’ and ‘Tunes in the Hoose’ have generated on Facebook. Especially in ‘Tunes in the Hoose’, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to collate the music and match each individual track to the lead player (for those who don’t know, tracks are not played as an ensemble but recorded separately and matched to produce a ’real time’ recording). Great credit is due to Martin McLeod for his magnificent efforts.
We will return to normality, following whatever Government guidelines ensue, hopefully by the start of the main Accordion & Fiddle Club season in September. Dancing may take longer. Perhaps the next large social event in our scene will be the Perth Accordion and Fiddle Festival in October.
Meanwhile Pia and her team continue to come up with ideas to keep the Box and Fiddle to the fore. With no clubs meeting, however, distributed numbers are down and so I ask everyone’s help in promoting, selling and distributing the Box and fiddle to anyone with an interest in our music. Any suggestions for interesting articles would also be gratefully received.
With no AGM, Celebrity Lunch or BAAFIs this year, I will circulate to all clubs the annual reports from our Sub Committees which would have been heard at the AGM. We will, hopefully, see some light at the end of the tunnel, and a concept of how we move forward.
Stay safe meantime, Aye,
Nicol McLaren
Jimmy Gaitens
Memories of a Music Teacher
by Louis Coia
A few years ago I had the idea of using the internet to see what if anything I could find out about my music teacher Jimmy Gaitens. I can remember calling at his house many years ago just to have a chat and do a bit of catching up. I was in my twenties by this time – yes, the story of me having been in Mozart’s class at school is completely unfounded. Anyway, his wife told me that he had died and I was so sorry to hear that this very talented and modest musician had passed away. His sight reading ability was awesome. After I had been taking lessons from him for two years or so he very kindly allowed me to bring music that I would like to play and if he thought the pieces suitable we would do them. Reading Rossini and Mozart overtures were to him like me just reading a book. What a talent!
Needless to say the cuttings I am sending you mention Jimmy somewhere in the text but they also give us a glimpse of the extent of his influence on other musicians and the accordion community, as it was then, in Scotland in particular and the UK in general. For example, Jimmy taught Sylvia Wilson who went on to become British Champion on two occasions. He was also a regular feature on BBC Radio Scotland on Saturday nights, long before bands started broadcasting. I remember him telling me that he used to make a lot of money playing on the Clyde steamers in the summer months. The boats were absolutely heaving with people in those days when a trip or a holiday ‘doon the watter’ was the only relief folk got from their demanding jobs. I also found the Scottish Service programme schedule for a Saturday night (way back then) quite interesting.
Fife Herald, 16th March 1939
ACCORDIONIST BROADCASTS – Many Cupar people listened on Friday night to a broadcast by Mr James Gaitens, an accomplished accordionist. Mr Gaitens is a brother of Mr Neil Gaitens, Fife District Asylum, who is well known to local audiences as an accordionist
CAIRD HALL
CORPORATION
FORTNIGHTLY
VARIETY SHOW
SUNDAY, FIRST AT 7
PRESENTING
JAMES GAITENS
FAMOUS BROADCASTING ACCORDION BAND
(Winners of South and West Scottish Championships) and
FULL ALL-START VARIETY COMPANY
IN SUPPORT
The City Organist at the Organ 6.30
USUAL PRICES 2/6, 2/-, 1/6
Kirkintilloch Herald, 10th September 1952
*Mr James Gaitens the well-known local accordion teacher scored many successes on Saturday in the Scottish Accordion Festival held in The Christian institute, Glasgow.
Star of the Under 8 Solo Class was Mr Gaitens 6-year-old daughter Ann, who gained first place. Miss Sylvia Wilson, 17-year-old pupil of Mr Gaitens, was winner with H. Dunlop in the Advanced Duet Section and Miss Wilson also gained the Area Solo Championship. Winners of the Advanced Band Section were the James Gaitens Senior Orchestra and in the Intermediate Band Section, the winners were the James Gaitens Intermediate Orchestra.
The Hawthorn Band
by Michael Mulford
Music producer and composer Michael Mulford looks back at the glorious night 75 years ago when The Hawthorne Band took their first tentative steps to a place in Scottish dance music history. Michael played guitar and bass with the band in the 1970s having rapidly converted himself from being ‘an unreconstructed rock ‘n’ roll lead guitarist.
VE night on Tuesday, May 8, 1945 was an historic event. It was the end of six bitter years of war in Europe. In the history of Scottish dance music it was also a significant date. It might not have been if anyone in the town of Blairgowrie had stopped celebrating even for a moment to wonder why a coal lorry was secretly slipping out of the town and heading for Cluny Hall, four miles to the west. Packed in the cab were four young laddies about to play their first ever engagement. They called themselves The Hawthorn Band and were destined to become pioneers in Scottish dance music.
The organisers at Cluny Hall had waited and watched for the moment when hostilities in Europe ceased. When, at 3pm, Prime Minister Winston Churchill made the official broadcast, he used the famous phrase, “We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing.” That was the signal for the Clunie Committee to contact band leader Jim Tosh in Blairgowrie to fulfil his promise to play the celebratory dance. The only demand was that it was to start in a couple of hours, four miles away! The quartet did not have transport, so it is probably best a veil is drawn quietly over the truth of how the coal lorry was ‘borrowed’.
With Jim Tosh on button-key accordion, his brother Andy on piano, Hamish Miller on piano accordion and Andy Heron on drums, the band played a memorable night at Clunie. 92-year-old Jim Tosh remembers, “You could not see a square inch of the floor. Whole families had turned out from miles around. There were probably as many people outside the hall as in it!” The dance continued for many hours. The band suddenly realized they had played ever tune they knew. “So we just played them all again,” says Jim, who still retains his great passion for the music.
Within three years, with a few personnel and instrument changes, the line-up had developed into a formidable sound, and they made the first of some 200 broadcasts, the last majority of them live. This was hard enough, but how they managed to get through one particular strathspey and reel is testament to their professional approach. The BBC announcer introduced the item in solemn tones thus, “And now The Hawthorn Band will play the strathspey and reel….The Devil in the Kitchen followed by The Reverend James Stewart!”
American record producer Phil Spector introduced his Wall of Sound in the early 1960s. You could say he was 15 years behind The Hawthorn Band. As our picture shows, their wall of sound came from three accordions, two fiddles, piano and drums. Tommy McDonald, now in his late eighties, remembers fondly Nigel Alexander on piano, “We played for years without a double bass. When we announced we had added a bass, people said they thought we had always had one. The truth was Nigel hit that left hand so hard on the piano that people thought it was a double bass!” Tommy retains his lifelong passion for drumming, teaching the skills to a marching band of young people in Blairgowrie.
Nigel, in time, was followed by Phillis Harvey from Dundee. It was Phillis who heard me play guitar and said she was convinced I could find a double bass, learn to play in six weeks and pass the BBC audition. Somehow, it all happened, although how is something of a mystery! It meant the band could get back on the radio. My predecessors were John Strachan and Tom Conway. Phillis was a wonderful musician. Her sight-reading and arranging were legendary.
Phil Spector worked with many great artists, including The Righteous Brothers. Any time I hear You’ve Lost That Loving Feelin’ my mind goes back to the Tosh brothers.
I have yet to compose The Banter in the Hawthorn Band Bus. I rather think I would enjoy the memories more than the tune! Two examples of many come to mind. Andy was forever winding up his brother Jim. It would start, as always, with Andy asking Jim how to pronounce the name ‘Perth’. Jim, having heard it all a thousand times before, knew what was coming and did his best to ignore the question as long as he could, in the somewhat forlorn hope it would somehow go away. Eventually, for the sake of piece, he would grudgingly concede the obvious answer. This was followed immediately by “What letter of the alphabet comes between ‘d’ and ‘f’?” Jim would delay even longer than before. Then, the undeniable answer having been extracted, a triumphant Andy would leap in with, “There you go, you said it yourself, it IS Peerth’ then!” By that stage we would easily be half way up the A9!
The regular Dundee contingent, Phillis Harvey, vocalist Bill Cormack and myself, would be slapped down if we dared to intervene. “Fowk fae Blair dinnae tak’ lessons fae Dundee, where you people are brought up to say “Eh, meh, seven pehs.” Really, Andy? One never was cognizant of the fact that one ever spoke THAT way in Dundee!
Musically, Jim and Andy were outstanding on the front line. Yet, on the band bus, they argued in a strange language about musical phrases I struggled to follow, like, “No, it’s no’. It is humpadiddle da da.” Of course it was! Now, here’s a wee challenge for our readers. When Jim summoned us to prepare to go on the stand did he impersonate Sergeant Wilson from Dad’s Army. “I say you chaps, would you mind awfully much tuning up, plugging in and be ready to start?” Are you kidding? The command was given in some foreign, agricultural language I had to learn: “Git yokit!”
It is now 75 years since The Hawthorn Band aka The Hawthorn Accordion Band started out, and some 30 years since they disbanded. They have gifted us a legacy of great music and pioneered a trail many follow today I trust history will remember them with all due credit.
Galston Accordion Club 1969 - 2006
by Derek Hamilton & David Ross
Back in 1965 Max Houliston started what was to become a very active movement, the Accordion Club scene.
By 1968 one or two clubs had been set up. In Ayrshire Jock Loch had started Straiton Club in the Black Bull Inn in Straiton village.
David Ross of Kilmarnock had a dance band and from time to time Billy Stewart from Galston played drums in the band. The regular pianist was a long time friend of David, Bill Rodie also from Kilmarnock. The three discussed the Accordion Club at Straiton and in fact were regular attendees at the club and thought they would like to start a club nearer home. Billy investigated a venue, the Black Bull Hotel in Galston which convinced the three that it would be ideal for an Accordion Club.
On the second Monday of October, 1969, the first meeting of the Galston Club was held in the Black Bull Hotel, Galston. The guest artist was Bert Shorthouse from Dunfermline and around 36 people attended plus 8 players.
The Chairman was David Ross. The MC was Billy Stewart (granpa of Liam) and the accompanist was Bill Rodie and they formed the committee.
After about two years, Bill Rodie, due to working abroad, had to stand down and his place was taken by Derek Hamilton. Derek took on the role of resident pianist.
It is a tribute to the dedication of that Committee that they were in place right to the end of the Club’s life. From October 1969 till March 2006 the Club had meetings each month October to April.
In those early days the club built up a supporting audience of over 120 every night. They were queuing from 6.30 to the start time of 7.30 and on occasions some folk were turned away because the capacity had been reached!
In 1976 the Club moved to Hurlford, a village 3 miles from Galston to a venue called the Parakeet. This was purely due to the fire authorities enforcing a fire escape system on the Black Bull function hall which limited capacity to 80 people.
Fortunately the Parakeet was a newly built venue that could take an audience of 200 and were keen to have a Monday night function for no fee but the bar takings. Galston Accordion Club were fortunate in that they never had to pay any of the premises for regular meetings.
This move to bigger premises gave us the opportunity in the mid-seventies to feature some of the big names like Dermot O’Brien and The Cullivoe band from Shetland.
Dermot drew a huge crowd that even the Parakeet couldn't accommodate and the Galston Club had to turn down well over 100 people. But the club were to make amends later.
Sadly the Parakeet, being a commercial venue, decided that a dance night was to be arranged on the Monday nights with a new Jazz Band playing.
From the vast size of the Parakeet the club moved back to Galston to a small venue, essentially a restaurant, Wales' Place. It didn't prove to produce the very good atmosphere the club enjoyed elsewhere. It was too small and confined. We did give it a good try but the club was losing popularity.
A better venue in the town was sought and after discussions with the local Masonic Club, the Barr Castle Social Club we moved there. It proved to be ideal for the normal club nights and when we wanted to expand on special nights we joined forces with Straiton Club and hired the Eglinton Suite at the Ayr Racecourse and had a return visit from Dermot O'Brien with the Trio and Fintan Stanley. We also had the Jimmy Blue Band with Jimmy Cassidy, Pam Brough, Arthur Easson, Dave Barclay and Ron Kerr. An audience of 360 saw each of these performances.
The BBC did a series of Accordion Club shows and again we joined forces with Straiton and that too was held at the Ayr Racecourse.
In the mid 1980s the four Ayrshire Clubs , Galston, Straiton, Beith and Mauchline formed an association to promote the playing of traditional accordion and fiddle music with an annual festival. ASMA (The Ayrshire Scottish Music Association) held its festival, know as the friendly festival, in the Magnum Centre in Irvine. For the 15 years under the auspices of the four clubs the festival saw over 1500 competitors in the various sections!
Galston Club celebrated in grand style their 30th anniversary in 1999 with guests of honour, Jim Johnstone (who had been the second guest at the club in 1969) and Robbie Shepherd and his wife Esma. We had a celebration dinner and a birthday cake cut by founder member, Bill Rodie's widow, Nancy.
Each year the club awarded a shield to the most improved player judged by the audience over the season. The last recipient was able to keep the shield which had been presented to not only young folk but older players as well, such was the influence og the club.
In the Nineties through the noughties Galston was a very successful club. Many players who started as youngsters being taught by great teachers like Ian Muir and Jim Hutcheon who were regulars at Galston went on to become Scottish Champions. Scott Gordon and Liam Stewart were regulars at the club.
Sadly, with age creeping up on the long serving committee, an appeal for a new committee to take over fell on stoney ground and the club closed in 2006 but the long serving committee were very thankful of the long standing support of the local population. On the closing of the club £3500, the club's funds, was donated to several local charities.
In Memory –
Joe Gordon (1934 – 2020)
Entertainer, Singer & Musician
by Scott Gordon
One writer said of Dad, “The impact of Joe Gordon on the entertainment world in Scotland has been tremendous.”
And Scottish comedian Billy Connolly also recently shared how Dad had a profound influence on him. Billy’s wife once wrote, “There was a television show in the 50s called The White Heather Club. Occasionally the programme would feature Joe Gordon’s Folk Four. Joe played evocative ballads on a jumbo Gibson guitar. At the time Billy didn’t know it was folk music, but he knew it spoke to him.”
Joseph Peter Gordon was born in the Springburn district of Glasgow and was six months old when his parents moved to London. Seven years later the red-headed boy, who spoke with a London accent, returned with his parents to their former neighbourhood. He said that going to the local school soon knocked the Cockney accent out of him.
His early interests were drawing, keeping fit and running. He joined the Springburn Harriers (an Athletics Club) and drew posters and cartoons for the Club. Some of these came to the notice of Jim Bissol, a marathon runner who worked in advertising, and when a vacancy came up at Jim’s firm, he offered Dad the job. As he developed in his art work, Dad also learnt much that proved useful when he went on to produce all the publicity material for himself and my mum Sally.
During those earlier days, he always had an interest in music and eventually bought a mouthorgan, just before he was called up for his National Service. He was stationed at RAF Swinderby in Lincolnshire and as a medic in charge of a staff of twelve in the hospital there, he was soon promoted to Corporal. While service in the RAF he also started an harmonica trio with two other conscripts. One night, after hearing a country singer/guitarist do a spot on their show. Dad was inspired to follow his heart in music, So, when he began working again as a graphic artist on returning home, he bought his first Hofner guitar on an HP agreement from McCormack’s Music in Glasgow.
By this time he had joined the Black Diamonds Skiffle Group, but eventually decided to go solo in order to be booked to sing ballads during interval spots at venues which included the Kilbirnie Cinema and a number of jazz clubs. Once, when he had finished at a jazz concert in St Andrews Halls, BBC Producer Iain MacFadyen came backstage to offer him a slot on a forthcoming television show. After being asked if he could sing any Scottish numbers, Dad sang Johnny Lad and was then offered a three-year contract singing Scottish songs with a group which included George Hill, Callum Sinclair and Dick Campbell. Today, we know them as the Joe Gordon Folk Four. The television show was, of course, The White Heather Club!
It was a busy time for Dad during these years as he appeared on many shows, did radio broadcasts and made personal appearances. As the Folk Four’s popularity grew, he eventually resigned from the art studio. After six or seven years as the Folk Four, they became a duo – Dad, with George Hill on guitar. A great highlight in his career was in 1966, when they went to Perth to appear on Alec Finlay’s show and Sally Logan was on the bill. Dad and Sally hit it off, and the idea of forming a double act began to form. After rehearsing their way through material together, the duo Joe Gordon and Sally Logan began, and lasted 48 years. They shared a wonderful partnership together over the years, experiencing several tours of the US and Canada and shows in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Turkey and Greece, and appearing in concerts in Russia celebrating our Scottish bard, Robert Burns. A special highlight was a ‘show-stopping’ appearance with the late Andy Stewart at New York’s Carnegie Hall. For some of you, your introduction to Joe Gordon and Sally Logan may have been during the 70s, watching TV shows Thingummyjig and Shindig.
In 1976, at the height of their popularity, I was born. This was the time when they would slow things down a bit. When I was 4, we moved from Galston, Ayrshire to the village of Auchenblae, Aberdeenshire, where Mum and Dad bought the Thistle Hotel and renamed it The White Heather Inn. They ran this for the next four years and continuing to sing together, performing in cabaret and theatre shows. However, they wanted to return to Ayrshire and we settled in Galston. They continued their evening shows throughout many a village and church hall, along with regular appearances at the Gaiety in Ayr and the Palace in Kilmarnock where they had an annual sell-out show. Dad presented a weekly show on Westsound Radio called Joe Gordon’s musical mixture. This gave him an opportunity to let the public hear his eclectic taste in music and his great sense of humour.
Dad was thrilled that I shared his love of music and was delighted when I began playing drums, accordion and piano. He would drive me all over Scotland to take part in competitions and was always full of encouragement. Mum and Dad were extremely proud that I regularly could share the stage with them in the years that followed. In later years they were also delighted to welcome Susan Mackintosh – my wife – to the family. Dad was especially thankful that she was a wonderful fiddle player too.
Dad also loved getting back to his jazz roots, playing banjo at the Edinburgh and Glasgow Jazz Festivals, and was again thrilled that I could appear with him on drums. He enjoyed playing with local jazz musicians on a regular basis.
His love of art never left him and he began drawing comical cartoons for his own amusement. These were then published in various magazines over the years including the B&F magazine. Dad drew the logo that appeared at the top of every magazine, and he also drew humorous cartoons featuring the characters boxy and Fiddler!
A Few Personal Thoughts
Dad was my hero, the strongest man both physically and mentally I have ever known! He was an exceptionally clever man. An artist, athlete, medic, photography enthusiast, hypnotherapist, ventriloquist, radio DJ, computer enthusiast, musician and singer. He was caring, compassionate and generous to a fault. He loved people, and people loved him. He was a great husband, father-in-law, dear friend to many and the best dad I could have wished for!
In Memory –
Robin & Eileen Davidson
by Brian Forrest
There is sad news from the Borders, with news of the deaths of Robin & Eileen Davidson within weeks of each other.
Robin was a weel-kent and respected character. Born and bred in the Etterick Valley, he was chairman & compere of the Selkirk Accordion & Fiddle Club for many years. He had a couthy, dry wit, most often aimed at himself for his nerves when playing his beloved Black Dot Double Ray melodeon, which he did regularly at all the Accordion Clubs in the Borders and further afield. He was firmly and ably supported by wife Eileen, who always made sure the interval refreshments were ready on time in the ‘Glory Hole’ and other venues where the Selkirk Club met.
Sadly, ill health found them both at the same time. Robin passed on in early May, with Eileen following in June. Current constrains meant that their many friends were unable to pay their last respects, but I’m sure folks who knew them, on reading this, would wish to join me in a quiet moment to remember them, and to send thoughts to their family.
R.I.P. Robin & Eileen, and thank you both.
In Memory –
Hamish Menzies (1934 – 2020)
by Various
Jack Delaney
Hamish was born in Callander in 1934 and lived there all his life. He was a postie there, and in 1972 he became postmaster. Everyone liked Hamish and loved to chat with him or just pass the time of day. I understand a street will be named in his honour as a tribute to the high esteem in which he was held by the local community.
Hamish started to play the violin in his early teens having been taught by a local lady violin teacher. He first played in public at a Callander WRI meeting. Neither his mum nor his dad played but both loved music.
I first met Hamish in 1957 when I was asked by Callander bandleader, Arthur Easson, to give my opinion on a fiddle player who was coming to discuss joining The Glengarry Band. This very popular band consisted on Stuart MacPherson on accordion, the one and only Bill Black on fiddle, Martin Reid on piano and Arthur on drums. Arthur was about to lose Bill who was moving to Perthshire to work on another farm. Hamish, the local postie, got the job and we became firm friends. Some years later Arthur was invited to join The Ian Powrie Band and Hamish took over the running of the band.
Hamish formed his own band in 1960 comprising Jimmy Scott on piano, Stan Saunders on bass, drummer Bert Leishman, Dochie McCallum on 3-row and myself, Jack Delaney, on lead box. He married my niece Marion in 1962. Band practices were held at his mum and dad’s house in Esher Crescent in Callander where we were always made welcome. The personnel changed from time to time but the front line was unchanged throughout which kept the sound fairly consistent.
Over the years we had :
Stan Saunders, John Buchanan, Robert ‘Andy’ Anderson, Brian Mitchell and Tommy McTague on bass.
Blythe Lindsay and occasionally Hamish Reid on second box.
Bert Leishman and Gus Millar on drums.
And on piano Jim Scott, Walter Sinton, Andrew Dobson and Graeme Burns. Graeme also joined the band on fiddle when Hamish was doing the Christmas mail and, on one occasion, when Hamish injured his finger in a letter box.
Jim Scott and Stan Saunders left to join the Jimmy Shand Band. John Buchanan moved to south Africa and Walter Sinton went to Australia. Gus Millar joined the band in 1963 and remained till the band finished in 1972.
We travelled all over Scotland and parts of England playing at old time and country dances. Hamish and I would share the driving with Dochie sitting between us. These trips were all part of the fun and Hamish was a good driver and great company on the long journeys.
It was on one such tour that the one and only Billy Thom came with us to play drums. He and Dochie became good friends and often teamed up. On one occasion, while Hamish and I went to look at boats, they came along and went to Kyle of Lochalsh to buy presents to take home. On the way into a shop Dochie accidentally caught a large stand which displayed a huge variety of shoe and boot laces. The whole thing landed on the floor and there were laces scattered all over the shop. The assistants were helpless with laughter and they all crawled about the floor picking them up. Billy told Hamish that he had never been so embarrassed in his life.
During the later days of the band Gus provided the transport with his long-wheeled Bedford Dormobile, which actually had a heater which worked and also had a bit more leg-room in the back. This was indeed luxurious travelling. We played at a Christmas Eve dance at Crianlarich one year and left to go home around midnight. Shortly after leaving I noticed that the van was swinging a bit at the back and pointed this out to Gus. We had a flat nearside rear tyre and when changed it was found that the spare was flat too. Gus assured us that there wasn’t a problem as he had a second spare. Unfortunately, that one had the wrong wheel centres. Unfazed, Hamish managed to get a lift to Lix Toll Garage where he persuaded the owner to take him to Callander to collect a spare from his own Bedford. I think we got home to Alloa about 6am that Christmas Day.
We did the first of our 26 broadcasts in February 1962. These were all live and never without the odd slip. Once we arrived at Studio 1 in Edinburgh to find neither a producer nor an engineer. The only person there was a trainee engineer who was a bit unsure of the procedure. Thanks to Hamish’s unflappable nature we all coped and the listeners were none the wiser.
It’s perhaps as well Hamish was as calm as he was. Once in Dalmally village Hall we arrived to find a damaged piano with the action hanging out making it unplayable. With Hamish at one end of the piano, I took off my braces and stretched them across the hammers to keep them in place, then attached the other end to make it playable. Younger band members have since often dismissed it as a tall tale but it can be corroborated by Jake MacKay from Inveraray!
Instrumental mishaps weren’t a common feature of band jobs with Hamish but there was one more incident which he would retell on occasion. We went to Dundee to do a broadcast from the studio above the library. I had devised a system where the bass was slung inside the van under the roof and this seemed to work well until that day. As we were releasing the front strap the bass fell onto the seat and broke its neck. Needless to say, this was the last time we rigged up the van in such a fashion! Fortunately, local bandleader Ron Kerr of the Cameron Kerr Band was there and he went home to borrow his brother’s double bass for us.
We had many wonderful experiences playing in the band. We were delighted to be invited to play with a second band at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh for the RSCDS Ball celebrating the Queen’s silver Jubilee in 1977. Her Majesty was in attendance and danced in both halls during the course of the evening, seeming to particularly enjoy the Eightsome Reel.
We would also play three or four times a year at the regular country dances in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh. There were always crowds of dancers and it was a tremendous atmosphere with folk standing watching from the street railings too. While the dances always went well, packing up was a different matter and the council employees would often hassle the band so that they could get away home. Bands would have to unload their gear and take their cars away to park and vice versa at the end of the night. One night, by the time Hamish and the rest of the band had the gear safely stowed to head home, poor Andy the bass player (and Hamish’s brother-in-law) found his car locked up in the car park and it was not liberated until hours later by a vendor re-stocking his stand for the next morning.
With traditional Scottish music facing increasing competition from rock and roll, Hamish and the band decided to run their own dances in Lochearnhead Village Hall on a Saturday night. These were very well attended and became a highlight for dancers. The crowd, at times merry in more ways than one, could be a wee bit rough and tumble and Callander telephone operator Gavin Brown and Gus Millar would occasionally have to play bouncer. Hamish and I would laughingly recall when, after one such occasion, the band came back on stage and Hamish asked me, “Jack, where’s Dochie?” There was no sign of him or the accordions. The pair of us went through to the back room only to find it empty. I don’t know what made us check the cupboard but there he was, keeping the accordions safely out of harm’s way.
These were different times and I don’t think it’s likely that some of the characters who used to drive home after the dances would get away with it these days! Once Hamish and I watched one such pair after midnight – one was struggling with the keys to unlock his car while the other clambered onto his motorbike shouting, “Race ye doon the road! But mind, nae lights the night!”
And that’s not the only such tale : perhaps only marginally safer was the farmer at the side of Loch Lubnaig. Each week after the dance, Hamish would drop him at the end of his track where he was always met by his horse which would take him home. Fortunately, the horse always knew the way.
It’s indicative of Hamish’s caring character that there are so many stories about him helping people or keeping a kind eye on them. He would often give the Saturday staff a lift to Lochearnhead and Graeme burns remembers one night counting eleven waitresses in Hamish’s Bedford!
It’s not only for his kindness or as an outstanding fiddle player that Hamish will be remembered ; he often turned his hand to composition too. Perhaps one of his best-loved tunes is now known as Hamish’s tune, but the first part started life as Remmerts or The Remmerts of Hereford to give it’s full title. It was originally inspired by the German Polka Die Fischerin vom Bodensee which Hamish heard while on National Service with the Army’s mail train in Germany where he was part of the unit that ensured the servicemen received their letters from home.
Hamish’s tune was played as his funeral cortege proceeded through the main street of Callander. It was accompanied by his family and five Royal Mail postal vans, giving his local community a chance to say goodbye in spite of lockdown restrictions.
Hamish was the consummate bandsman, community figure, friend and family man and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. For myself, his band was among the happiest I’ve ever played in and Hamish himself was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known.
Gus Millar
Hamish Menzies as a person and bandleader was the most cheery and laid back man I have even known. I have to say that all the years from when I joined the band in 1963 with Hamish, Jack Delaney, Walter Sinton, Dochie McCallum, John Buchanan and latterly Tom McTague were just the greatest for me, the ‘novice’, and I gained so much from this happy bunch.
Dochie McCallum (Drymen)
I first met Hamish in 1958 when I joined The Glengarry Band. It was through Jack Delaney, another good friend who was playing with Andrew Rankine’s Band at the time, that he took an interest in my playing, for which I counted myself very lucky and honoured. Hamish took over the band from Arthur Easson who played drums and who went to play with Ian Powrie’s Band. Later the band changed to the Hamish Menzies SDB. The band was a great joy to play in.
I travelled up and down Scotland and England playing at country dance, at the Winter Gardens in Worcester, at Burnley in Lancashire and in Scotland at dances on the West coast and in the Borders. Once, on a week’s tour, I played a trick on Jack and Hamish by hiding their razors below their beds! When they returned Jack said to Hamish, “You’ll need to try my new razor” – the make was a sunbeam. When he went to get it out of his case it wasn’t there! Hamish said, “Don’t worry, you can use mine just now” He couldn’t find his either! They both focused on me and said, “It’s that wee devil there! He’s hid them!” I went for a wash, when I came back I couldn’t find my trousers, socks, one shoe or my bow tie! All great fun!
Hamish was a lovely person, kind and good natured, and will be sadly missed. He was one of nature’s gentlemen.
I could have written an encyclopaedia of the man’s life talking about all the people in the band. Aye, really!
Graeme Burns
Until I joined the band to play piano in 1969, I duputised for Hamish when work commitments kept him too busy at the Post Office. Hamish, whom I admired, made sure I knew the band sets by letting me sit at the back of the band when they were playing in Lochearnhead Village Hall. I thought Hamish was a fantastic bandleader and fiddle player, a real musician and dancer’s person. Oh it was fun!
Walter Sinton
“Wattie son,” he used to call me, “be ready about 7 o’clock and I’ll pick you up for the practice tonight.” That was the phone call I’d get from Hamish on a fairly regular basis for our weekly band rehearsals at Jack Delaney’s house in Alloa. He’d arrive at my parents’ place in Dunblane and peep the horn, and out I’d go to be greeted always with the biggest smile you could imagine. Hamish would be sitting there in his blue Bedford Dormobile, NES 290, or ‘Nessie’, as she was affectionately known, with all guns blazing – well, and with so much smoke in the car as though he’d fired the 1 o’clock cannon! I’d never met anyone who could smoke as much and drink as many cups of tea in a day. He used to drive leaning forward, with his left arm across the steering wheel. The fag was in the other hand and he’d probably manage another one or two before we got to Alloa. (fortunately, later in life he gave up the smokes, as I did).
As he was driving he used to whistle Scottish tunes without actually making a whistling sound, just blowing air in and out through his lips, so you could just make out the melody. This was 1961 when I was lucky enough to be asked to join his band. I was pretty raw as a piano player then but was encouraged and motivated to improve my ability by the threat of having to do a BBC audition so that the band could play live on the radio. We passed and did our first live broadcast in 1962. This was quite terrifying for me and probably for the others too : when the green light comes on you’re LIVE ON AIR! No retakes in these days. Afterwards we’d all go back to Jack’s and listen to the recording on his reel-to-reel Grundig recorder and analyse the performance.
1963 was the year of coincidences. We had a Wednesday night dance at Bridge of Orchy on 18th June. That was the night that Heavyweight boxer Henry Cooper fought Cassius Clay in London. We were all listening to the fight on the van radio. On 22nd November we played at a country dance at The Winter Gardens in Great Malvern, Worcestershire and Hamish told me on the steps leading up to the hall that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. There are certain times in your life when you remember exactly where you were when significant events happen.
I’m sure that 1964 was the year that Hamish started running the very popular Saturday night dances at Lochearnhead Hall. We had some great nights up there! The band would arrive about 8.30pm with not a soul around until the pubs closed – but by 10.30 the hall would be packed. We had many regular patrons attend these dances including a group of nurses from Crieff.
Fast forward to 1977 and a small aside. I had moved to Perth, Western Australia where I met up with Mr Ian Powrie. Ian rang me and said that Jimmy Shand was coming out to do a 6-week farewell tour of Australia and New Zealand. Ian was doing the tour as well with the Alexander Brothers, and Shand was bringing John Carmichael. Would I like to play piano with them? I said, “Yeah! I think I can just manage that!” “Where do I sign?” was my next thought! We played every major concert venue including the Sydney Opera House. At the end of the show I went out via the stage door to be greeted by a couple of nurses., the same nurses who used to go to the Lochearnhead dances! You never know who you’ll meet round the corner!
The West of Scotland was our domain and we were busy doing jobs between Callander and Oban and everywhere west of that. Some of the villages were pretty small but the population multiplied 10-fold when the Hamish Menzies SDB arrived in their blue jackets and black bow ties!
The band personnel didn’t change much. I reckon it lifted a notch when Gus Millar joined and sat behind the drums! His stick work is something else and it bonded the rhythm section together pretty tightly. “When there’s harmony in the team you stick together.” We were a pretty happy bunch of sometimes practical jokers and we’re all still in touch and good mates to this day.
Hamish was also known as ‘Ping’ to some as he would often ping the strings on his fiddle to check the tuning. He was one of the best people I ever met. I never saw him angry and he had no airs and graces. He was just a postie who played the violin and he had the respect of all band members and the many people who knew him. Marion, his lovely wife, is a gem.
He may have been the longest serving postmaster in the UK, but for me it was as the leader of his Scottish dance band that he left his stamp!
He is very fondly remembered.
Neil MacMillan
The Hamish Menzies Band had a massive influence on me, firstly owing to Duncan (Dochie) McCallum who played with the band. I heard then live for the first time at Rowardennan Hotel in 1965. I just sat at the bottom of the hall in awe. Hearing Hamish’s band live was, for me, amazing as I had only heard the band on BBC Radio Scotland before this.
On some Saturday nights the band would be playing at Lochearnhead Village Hall and I would be picked up by Dochie who would take me to Callander where we would meet the rest of the band before all piling into Hamish’s Bedford van. Hamish drove the van and I can remember him sitting with his elbow on the steering wheel and a ‘fag’ in his other hand and always laughing. He was a very cheery person.
On one of these occasions I was lucky enough to have my first experience playing with the band on Dochie’s 3-row button-key box with the backing of Sandy McGilchrist on piano, Andy Anderson on double bass, Gus Millar on drums and Jack Delaney on second box. This has stayed with me all my life and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity that Dochie and Hamish’s band gave me as a very young boy, pointing me in the right direction music-wise.
It has been a great honour for me to play a very small part in such a great man’s life and a double honour to have been asked to contribute to these memories of Hamish Menzies.
In Memory –
Bobby Colgan (April 1937 – May 2020)
by Tommy Johnstone
On Tuesday, 26th May people from Macmerry and beyond turned out to say a fond farewell to Bobby Colgan, a very popular and much-loved character. The tribute continued through his birth town of Tranent where both sides of the street were lined.
As the funeral cortege sat parked outside Macmerry Miners Club, the Clappy Doo Ceilidh Band played his favourite tunes as some of the regulars poured whisky on the road in front of the hearse shouting, “That’s yer ‘one for the road’ Bobby – good luck and goodbye!” while the rest of us stood in tears, applauding, sad to see the passing of such a well loved character, who had only just buried his partner, Margaret, a few weeks before.
It all started for Bobby on 2nd April 1937. He was born at 11 Northfield, Tranent, a few doors from the legendary the legendary bandleader Jim Johnstone who remained a lifelong friend until Jim died in 2008, aged 71. During their long careers they played with Jimmy Shand, Andrew Rankine, Bobby MacLeod, Jimmy Blue and the Hamefarers from Shetland as well as in local halls and theatres, King James Hotel, The Mishnish in Mull, various beer kellers and even Magaluf.
Bobby compered the Accordion & Fiddle Club in The Railway Hotel in Haddington before moving to Macmerry Club in 2016. I’m sure many of you have a favourite Bobby Colgan story to tell.
May your God go with you, Bobby.
In Memory –
Graham Ross
by Murdo MacLeod
Alexander Ross phoned me to reminisce about his friend Graham Ross who passed away in April 2020. As he did not have e-mail facilities and his handwriting was bad, he asked me to take some notes on how he would like to remember his friend.
Alexander remembers Graham from when they were young in Tain and used to cycle round the Highland Games circuit. Later they also used to have a tune together. Graham’s dad, as well as being a well-known cyclist, was leader of The Tain SDB. When Would War 2 began, he joined up but was taken prisoner and sent to the salt mines. Upon returning he began the band again. Later they moved to Edinburgh where he got work in the Blind institute owing to failing eyesight. Alexander told me that Graham’s mum and dad bought a tandem bike, so that he could still enjoy cycling. Cycling was also something that Graham excelled at.
Graham later started his own band, The Strathalmond SDB, and this is what was written about him in the B&F in March 1983 :-
Letters to the Editor
Dear Pia
The accordion scene has lost another iconic name with the passing of Dave Pullar of Usan by Montrose. Over the years Dave travelled far and wide to buy accordions to add to his collection – one of the largest around. He was also a keen player and many musicians visited his house to have a tune and admire his accordions.
He was an Honorary Member of Windygates A&F Club: and at the Shand Morino Days, Dave always donated the steak bridies that were very much enjoyed by all. He will be missed by all who came to know him. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
Ian McCallum
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
4th July 2020 – Tom Orr SDB – Virtual Session
11th July 2020 – Archive Session – Gordon Pattullo, from the Reid Hall, Forfar
18th July 2020 – Archive Session – Jim Johnstone Special
25th July 2020 – Archive Session – Burns Brothers Ceilidh Band
CLUB DIARY – NB no Club meetings due to the Covid19 pandemic
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) -
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) -
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) –
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) –
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) –
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) -
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) –
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) -
Canderside (Stonehouse Bowling Club) -
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Crossmichael Hall) –
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) -
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) -
Crieff & District (British Legion)
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) –
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) –
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) –
Duns (Masonic Lodge)
Ellon (Station Hotel) –
Forfar (Forfar RBL) -
Forres (Victoria Hotel) –
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) -
Galashiels (Gala YM RFC) -
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) -
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) -
Gretna (The Richard Greenhow Centre) -
Highland (Waterside Hotel) –
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) –
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) –
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) –
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) -
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn)
Lockerbie (Mid Annandale Comrades Club)
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) –
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Oban (The Royal Hotel) –
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) –
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) -
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Canderside
2. North East
3. Orkney
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2019
(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. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
10. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
11. Button Key A&F Club (
12. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
13. Canderside A&F Club (Stonehouse) (Feb 2019 – present)
14. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
15. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
16. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
17. Coalburn A&F Club (
18. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
19. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
20. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
21. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
22. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
23. Ellon A&F Club (
24. Forfar A&F Club (
25. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
26. Fort William A&F Club ( )
27. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
28. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
29. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
30. 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)
31. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
32. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
33. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
34. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
35. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
36. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
37. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
38. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
39. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
40 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
41 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
42 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
43. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
44. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
45. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
46. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
47. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
48. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
49. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
50. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
51 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
52 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
53 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
54 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
55 Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
56. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
57. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
58. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
59. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
60. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
61. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
62. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
63. Britannia B&F Club (joined 07-08 but much older
64. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
65. Buchan A&F Club
66. Callander A&F Club (
67. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
68. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
69. Club Accord
70. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
71 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
72. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
73. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
74. Cults A & F Club (
75. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
76. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
77. Derwentside A&F Club
78. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
79. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
80. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
81. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
82. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
83. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – April 2020 – Covid19)
84. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
85. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
86. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
87. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
88. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
89. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
90. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 – March 2018)
91. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
92. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
93. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
94. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
95. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
96. Kintore A&F Club (
97. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
98. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
99. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
100. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
101. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
102. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – March 2020 - Covid)
103. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
104. Maine Valley A&F Club (
105. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
106. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
107. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
108. Mull A&F Club
109. Newcastleton Accordion Club
110. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
111. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
112. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
113. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
114. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
115. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
116. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
117. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
118. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
119. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
120. Selkirk A&F Club (
121. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
122. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
123. Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
124. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
125 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
126 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
127. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
128. Tranent A&F Club
129. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
130. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
131. Wellbank A&F Club
132. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
133. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
Advertising rates
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B&F Treasurer –
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
At the time of writing we are still a long was from ‘normality’ in the music and club scene and, whilst I would love to offer some guidance and direction as to a return to routine, I, like everyone, am at a loss.
Clubs, dances, concerts and musical get-togethers have come to a stop with no time scale as to their return but, in times of crisis, innovation prevails. We can see how much of an interest the Box and Fiddle ‘Have A Tune Group’ and ‘Tunes in the Hoose’ have generated on Facebook. Especially in ‘Tunes in the Hoose’, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to collate the music and match each individual track to the lead player (for those who don’t know, tracks are not played as an ensemble but recorded separately and matched to produce a ’real time’ recording). Great credit is due to Martin McLeod for his magnificent efforts.
We will return to normality, following whatever Government guidelines ensue, hopefully by the start of the main Accordion & Fiddle Club season in September. Dancing may take longer. Perhaps the next large social event in our scene will be the Perth Accordion and Fiddle Festival in October.
Meanwhile Pia and her team continue to come up with ideas to keep the Box and Fiddle to the fore. With no clubs meeting, however, distributed numbers are down and so I ask everyone’s help in promoting, selling and distributing the Box and fiddle to anyone with an interest in our music. Any suggestions for interesting articles would also be gratefully received.
With no AGM, Celebrity Lunch or BAAFIs this year, I will circulate to all clubs the annual reports from our Sub Committees which would have been heard at the AGM. We will, hopefully, see some light at the end of the tunnel, and a concept of how we move forward.
Stay safe meantime, Aye,
Nicol McLaren
Jimmy Gaitens
Memories of a Music Teacher
by Louis Coia
A few years ago I had the idea of using the internet to see what if anything I could find out about my music teacher Jimmy Gaitens. I can remember calling at his house many years ago just to have a chat and do a bit of catching up. I was in my twenties by this time – yes, the story of me having been in Mozart’s class at school is completely unfounded. Anyway, his wife told me that he had died and I was so sorry to hear that this very talented and modest musician had passed away. His sight reading ability was awesome. After I had been taking lessons from him for two years or so he very kindly allowed me to bring music that I would like to play and if he thought the pieces suitable we would do them. Reading Rossini and Mozart overtures were to him like me just reading a book. What a talent!
Needless to say the cuttings I am sending you mention Jimmy somewhere in the text but they also give us a glimpse of the extent of his influence on other musicians and the accordion community, as it was then, in Scotland in particular and the UK in general. For example, Jimmy taught Sylvia Wilson who went on to become British Champion on two occasions. He was also a regular feature on BBC Radio Scotland on Saturday nights, long before bands started broadcasting. I remember him telling me that he used to make a lot of money playing on the Clyde steamers in the summer months. The boats were absolutely heaving with people in those days when a trip or a holiday ‘doon the watter’ was the only relief folk got from their demanding jobs. I also found the Scottish Service programme schedule for a Saturday night (way back then) quite interesting.
Fife Herald, 16th March 1939
ACCORDIONIST BROADCASTS – Many Cupar people listened on Friday night to a broadcast by Mr James Gaitens, an accomplished accordionist. Mr Gaitens is a brother of Mr Neil Gaitens, Fife District Asylum, who is well known to local audiences as an accordionist
CAIRD HALL
CORPORATION
FORTNIGHTLY
VARIETY SHOW
SUNDAY, FIRST AT 7
PRESENTING
JAMES GAITENS
FAMOUS BROADCASTING ACCORDION BAND
(Winners of South and West Scottish Championships) and
FULL ALL-START VARIETY COMPANY
IN SUPPORT
The City Organist at the Organ 6.30
USUAL PRICES 2/6, 2/-, 1/6
Kirkintilloch Herald, 10th September 1952
*Mr James Gaitens the well-known local accordion teacher scored many successes on Saturday in the Scottish Accordion Festival held in The Christian institute, Glasgow.
Star of the Under 8 Solo Class was Mr Gaitens 6-year-old daughter Ann, who gained first place. Miss Sylvia Wilson, 17-year-old pupil of Mr Gaitens, was winner with H. Dunlop in the Advanced Duet Section and Miss Wilson also gained the Area Solo Championship. Winners of the Advanced Band Section were the James Gaitens Senior Orchestra and in the Intermediate Band Section, the winners were the James Gaitens Intermediate Orchestra.
The Hawthorn Band
by Michael Mulford
Music producer and composer Michael Mulford looks back at the glorious night 75 years ago when The Hawthorne Band took their first tentative steps to a place in Scottish dance music history. Michael played guitar and bass with the band in the 1970s having rapidly converted himself from being ‘an unreconstructed rock ‘n’ roll lead guitarist.
VE night on Tuesday, May 8, 1945 was an historic event. It was the end of six bitter years of war in Europe. In the history of Scottish dance music it was also a significant date. It might not have been if anyone in the town of Blairgowrie had stopped celebrating even for a moment to wonder why a coal lorry was secretly slipping out of the town and heading for Cluny Hall, four miles to the west. Packed in the cab were four young laddies about to play their first ever engagement. They called themselves The Hawthorn Band and were destined to become pioneers in Scottish dance music.
The organisers at Cluny Hall had waited and watched for the moment when hostilities in Europe ceased. When, at 3pm, Prime Minister Winston Churchill made the official broadcast, he used the famous phrase, “We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing.” That was the signal for the Clunie Committee to contact band leader Jim Tosh in Blairgowrie to fulfil his promise to play the celebratory dance. The only demand was that it was to start in a couple of hours, four miles away! The quartet did not have transport, so it is probably best a veil is drawn quietly over the truth of how the coal lorry was ‘borrowed’.
With Jim Tosh on button-key accordion, his brother Andy on piano, Hamish Miller on piano accordion and Andy Heron on drums, the band played a memorable night at Clunie. 92-year-old Jim Tosh remembers, “You could not see a square inch of the floor. Whole families had turned out from miles around. There were probably as many people outside the hall as in it!” The dance continued for many hours. The band suddenly realized they had played ever tune they knew. “So we just played them all again,” says Jim, who still retains his great passion for the music.
Within three years, with a few personnel and instrument changes, the line-up had developed into a formidable sound, and they made the first of some 200 broadcasts, the last majority of them live. This was hard enough, but how they managed to get through one particular strathspey and reel is testament to their professional approach. The BBC announcer introduced the item in solemn tones thus, “And now The Hawthorn Band will play the strathspey and reel….The Devil in the Kitchen followed by The Reverend James Stewart!”
American record producer Phil Spector introduced his Wall of Sound in the early 1960s. You could say he was 15 years behind The Hawthorn Band. As our picture shows, their wall of sound came from three accordions, two fiddles, piano and drums. Tommy McDonald, now in his late eighties, remembers fondly Nigel Alexander on piano, “We played for years without a double bass. When we announced we had added a bass, people said they thought we had always had one. The truth was Nigel hit that left hand so hard on the piano that people thought it was a double bass!” Tommy retains his lifelong passion for drumming, teaching the skills to a marching band of young people in Blairgowrie.
Nigel, in time, was followed by Phillis Harvey from Dundee. It was Phillis who heard me play guitar and said she was convinced I could find a double bass, learn to play in six weeks and pass the BBC audition. Somehow, it all happened, although how is something of a mystery! It meant the band could get back on the radio. My predecessors were John Strachan and Tom Conway. Phillis was a wonderful musician. Her sight-reading and arranging were legendary.
Phil Spector worked with many great artists, including The Righteous Brothers. Any time I hear You’ve Lost That Loving Feelin’ my mind goes back to the Tosh brothers.
I have yet to compose The Banter in the Hawthorn Band Bus. I rather think I would enjoy the memories more than the tune! Two examples of many come to mind. Andy was forever winding up his brother Jim. It would start, as always, with Andy asking Jim how to pronounce the name ‘Perth’. Jim, having heard it all a thousand times before, knew what was coming and did his best to ignore the question as long as he could, in the somewhat forlorn hope it would somehow go away. Eventually, for the sake of piece, he would grudgingly concede the obvious answer. This was followed immediately by “What letter of the alphabet comes between ‘d’ and ‘f’?” Jim would delay even longer than before. Then, the undeniable answer having been extracted, a triumphant Andy would leap in with, “There you go, you said it yourself, it IS Peerth’ then!” By that stage we would easily be half way up the A9!
The regular Dundee contingent, Phillis Harvey, vocalist Bill Cormack and myself, would be slapped down if we dared to intervene. “Fowk fae Blair dinnae tak’ lessons fae Dundee, where you people are brought up to say “Eh, meh, seven pehs.” Really, Andy? One never was cognizant of the fact that one ever spoke THAT way in Dundee!
Musically, Jim and Andy were outstanding on the front line. Yet, on the band bus, they argued in a strange language about musical phrases I struggled to follow, like, “No, it’s no’. It is humpadiddle da da.” Of course it was! Now, here’s a wee challenge for our readers. When Jim summoned us to prepare to go on the stand did he impersonate Sergeant Wilson from Dad’s Army. “I say you chaps, would you mind awfully much tuning up, plugging in and be ready to start?” Are you kidding? The command was given in some foreign, agricultural language I had to learn: “Git yokit!”
It is now 75 years since The Hawthorn Band aka The Hawthorn Accordion Band started out, and some 30 years since they disbanded. They have gifted us a legacy of great music and pioneered a trail many follow today I trust history will remember them with all due credit.
Galston Accordion Club 1969 - 2006
by Derek Hamilton & David Ross
Back in 1965 Max Houliston started what was to become a very active movement, the Accordion Club scene.
By 1968 one or two clubs had been set up. In Ayrshire Jock Loch had started Straiton Club in the Black Bull Inn in Straiton village.
David Ross of Kilmarnock had a dance band and from time to time Billy Stewart from Galston played drums in the band. The regular pianist was a long time friend of David, Bill Rodie also from Kilmarnock. The three discussed the Accordion Club at Straiton and in fact were regular attendees at the club and thought they would like to start a club nearer home. Billy investigated a venue, the Black Bull Hotel in Galston which convinced the three that it would be ideal for an Accordion Club.
On the second Monday of October, 1969, the first meeting of the Galston Club was held in the Black Bull Hotel, Galston. The guest artist was Bert Shorthouse from Dunfermline and around 36 people attended plus 8 players.
The Chairman was David Ross. The MC was Billy Stewart (granpa of Liam) and the accompanist was Bill Rodie and they formed the committee.
After about two years, Bill Rodie, due to working abroad, had to stand down and his place was taken by Derek Hamilton. Derek took on the role of resident pianist.
It is a tribute to the dedication of that Committee that they were in place right to the end of the Club’s life. From October 1969 till March 2006 the Club had meetings each month October to April.
In those early days the club built up a supporting audience of over 120 every night. They were queuing from 6.30 to the start time of 7.30 and on occasions some folk were turned away because the capacity had been reached!
In 1976 the Club moved to Hurlford, a village 3 miles from Galston to a venue called the Parakeet. This was purely due to the fire authorities enforcing a fire escape system on the Black Bull function hall which limited capacity to 80 people.
Fortunately the Parakeet was a newly built venue that could take an audience of 200 and were keen to have a Monday night function for no fee but the bar takings. Galston Accordion Club were fortunate in that they never had to pay any of the premises for regular meetings.
This move to bigger premises gave us the opportunity in the mid-seventies to feature some of the big names like Dermot O’Brien and The Cullivoe band from Shetland.
Dermot drew a huge crowd that even the Parakeet couldn't accommodate and the Galston Club had to turn down well over 100 people. But the club were to make amends later.
Sadly the Parakeet, being a commercial venue, decided that a dance night was to be arranged on the Monday nights with a new Jazz Band playing.
From the vast size of the Parakeet the club moved back to Galston to a small venue, essentially a restaurant, Wales' Place. It didn't prove to produce the very good atmosphere the club enjoyed elsewhere. It was too small and confined. We did give it a good try but the club was losing popularity.
A better venue in the town was sought and after discussions with the local Masonic Club, the Barr Castle Social Club we moved there. It proved to be ideal for the normal club nights and when we wanted to expand on special nights we joined forces with Straiton Club and hired the Eglinton Suite at the Ayr Racecourse and had a return visit from Dermot O'Brien with the Trio and Fintan Stanley. We also had the Jimmy Blue Band with Jimmy Cassidy, Pam Brough, Arthur Easson, Dave Barclay and Ron Kerr. An audience of 360 saw each of these performances.
The BBC did a series of Accordion Club shows and again we joined forces with Straiton and that too was held at the Ayr Racecourse.
In the mid 1980s the four Ayrshire Clubs , Galston, Straiton, Beith and Mauchline formed an association to promote the playing of traditional accordion and fiddle music with an annual festival. ASMA (The Ayrshire Scottish Music Association) held its festival, know as the friendly festival, in the Magnum Centre in Irvine. For the 15 years under the auspices of the four clubs the festival saw over 1500 competitors in the various sections!
Galston Club celebrated in grand style their 30th anniversary in 1999 with guests of honour, Jim Johnstone (who had been the second guest at the club in 1969) and Robbie Shepherd and his wife Esma. We had a celebration dinner and a birthday cake cut by founder member, Bill Rodie's widow, Nancy.
Each year the club awarded a shield to the most improved player judged by the audience over the season. The last recipient was able to keep the shield which had been presented to not only young folk but older players as well, such was the influence og the club.
In the Nineties through the noughties Galston was a very successful club. Many players who started as youngsters being taught by great teachers like Ian Muir and Jim Hutcheon who were regulars at Galston went on to become Scottish Champions. Scott Gordon and Liam Stewart were regulars at the club.
Sadly, with age creeping up on the long serving committee, an appeal for a new committee to take over fell on stoney ground and the club closed in 2006 but the long serving committee were very thankful of the long standing support of the local population. On the closing of the club £3500, the club's funds, was donated to several local charities.
In Memory –
Joe Gordon (1934 – 2020)
Entertainer, Singer & Musician
by Scott Gordon
One writer said of Dad, “The impact of Joe Gordon on the entertainment world in Scotland has been tremendous.”
And Scottish comedian Billy Connolly also recently shared how Dad had a profound influence on him. Billy’s wife once wrote, “There was a television show in the 50s called The White Heather Club. Occasionally the programme would feature Joe Gordon’s Folk Four. Joe played evocative ballads on a jumbo Gibson guitar. At the time Billy didn’t know it was folk music, but he knew it spoke to him.”
Joseph Peter Gordon was born in the Springburn district of Glasgow and was six months old when his parents moved to London. Seven years later the red-headed boy, who spoke with a London accent, returned with his parents to their former neighbourhood. He said that going to the local school soon knocked the Cockney accent out of him.
His early interests were drawing, keeping fit and running. He joined the Springburn Harriers (an Athletics Club) and drew posters and cartoons for the Club. Some of these came to the notice of Jim Bissol, a marathon runner who worked in advertising, and when a vacancy came up at Jim’s firm, he offered Dad the job. As he developed in his art work, Dad also learnt much that proved useful when he went on to produce all the publicity material for himself and my mum Sally.
During those earlier days, he always had an interest in music and eventually bought a mouthorgan, just before he was called up for his National Service. He was stationed at RAF Swinderby in Lincolnshire and as a medic in charge of a staff of twelve in the hospital there, he was soon promoted to Corporal. While service in the RAF he also started an harmonica trio with two other conscripts. One night, after hearing a country singer/guitarist do a spot on their show. Dad was inspired to follow his heart in music, So, when he began working again as a graphic artist on returning home, he bought his first Hofner guitar on an HP agreement from McCormack’s Music in Glasgow.
By this time he had joined the Black Diamonds Skiffle Group, but eventually decided to go solo in order to be booked to sing ballads during interval spots at venues which included the Kilbirnie Cinema and a number of jazz clubs. Once, when he had finished at a jazz concert in St Andrews Halls, BBC Producer Iain MacFadyen came backstage to offer him a slot on a forthcoming television show. After being asked if he could sing any Scottish numbers, Dad sang Johnny Lad and was then offered a three-year contract singing Scottish songs with a group which included George Hill, Callum Sinclair and Dick Campbell. Today, we know them as the Joe Gordon Folk Four. The television show was, of course, The White Heather Club!
It was a busy time for Dad during these years as he appeared on many shows, did radio broadcasts and made personal appearances. As the Folk Four’s popularity grew, he eventually resigned from the art studio. After six or seven years as the Folk Four, they became a duo – Dad, with George Hill on guitar. A great highlight in his career was in 1966, when they went to Perth to appear on Alec Finlay’s show and Sally Logan was on the bill. Dad and Sally hit it off, and the idea of forming a double act began to form. After rehearsing their way through material together, the duo Joe Gordon and Sally Logan began, and lasted 48 years. They shared a wonderful partnership together over the years, experiencing several tours of the US and Canada and shows in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Turkey and Greece, and appearing in concerts in Russia celebrating our Scottish bard, Robert Burns. A special highlight was a ‘show-stopping’ appearance with the late Andy Stewart at New York’s Carnegie Hall. For some of you, your introduction to Joe Gordon and Sally Logan may have been during the 70s, watching TV shows Thingummyjig and Shindig.
In 1976, at the height of their popularity, I was born. This was the time when they would slow things down a bit. When I was 4, we moved from Galston, Ayrshire to the village of Auchenblae, Aberdeenshire, where Mum and Dad bought the Thistle Hotel and renamed it The White Heather Inn. They ran this for the next four years and continuing to sing together, performing in cabaret and theatre shows. However, they wanted to return to Ayrshire and we settled in Galston. They continued their evening shows throughout many a village and church hall, along with regular appearances at the Gaiety in Ayr and the Palace in Kilmarnock where they had an annual sell-out show. Dad presented a weekly show on Westsound Radio called Joe Gordon’s musical mixture. This gave him an opportunity to let the public hear his eclectic taste in music and his great sense of humour.
Dad was thrilled that I shared his love of music and was delighted when I began playing drums, accordion and piano. He would drive me all over Scotland to take part in competitions and was always full of encouragement. Mum and Dad were extremely proud that I regularly could share the stage with them in the years that followed. In later years they were also delighted to welcome Susan Mackintosh – my wife – to the family. Dad was especially thankful that she was a wonderful fiddle player too.
Dad also loved getting back to his jazz roots, playing banjo at the Edinburgh and Glasgow Jazz Festivals, and was again thrilled that I could appear with him on drums. He enjoyed playing with local jazz musicians on a regular basis.
His love of art never left him and he began drawing comical cartoons for his own amusement. These were then published in various magazines over the years including the B&F magazine. Dad drew the logo that appeared at the top of every magazine, and he also drew humorous cartoons featuring the characters boxy and Fiddler!
A Few Personal Thoughts
Dad was my hero, the strongest man both physically and mentally I have ever known! He was an exceptionally clever man. An artist, athlete, medic, photography enthusiast, hypnotherapist, ventriloquist, radio DJ, computer enthusiast, musician and singer. He was caring, compassionate and generous to a fault. He loved people, and people loved him. He was a great husband, father-in-law, dear friend to many and the best dad I could have wished for!
In Memory –
Robin & Eileen Davidson
by Brian Forrest
There is sad news from the Borders, with news of the deaths of Robin & Eileen Davidson within weeks of each other.
Robin was a weel-kent and respected character. Born and bred in the Etterick Valley, he was chairman & compere of the Selkirk Accordion & Fiddle Club for many years. He had a couthy, dry wit, most often aimed at himself for his nerves when playing his beloved Black Dot Double Ray melodeon, which he did regularly at all the Accordion Clubs in the Borders and further afield. He was firmly and ably supported by wife Eileen, who always made sure the interval refreshments were ready on time in the ‘Glory Hole’ and other venues where the Selkirk Club met.
Sadly, ill health found them both at the same time. Robin passed on in early May, with Eileen following in June. Current constrains meant that their many friends were unable to pay their last respects, but I’m sure folks who knew them, on reading this, would wish to join me in a quiet moment to remember them, and to send thoughts to their family.
R.I.P. Robin & Eileen, and thank you both.
In Memory –
Hamish Menzies (1934 – 2020)
by Various
Jack Delaney
Hamish was born in Callander in 1934 and lived there all his life. He was a postie there, and in 1972 he became postmaster. Everyone liked Hamish and loved to chat with him or just pass the time of day. I understand a street will be named in his honour as a tribute to the high esteem in which he was held by the local community.
Hamish started to play the violin in his early teens having been taught by a local lady violin teacher. He first played in public at a Callander WRI meeting. Neither his mum nor his dad played but both loved music.
I first met Hamish in 1957 when I was asked by Callander bandleader, Arthur Easson, to give my opinion on a fiddle player who was coming to discuss joining The Glengarry Band. This very popular band consisted on Stuart MacPherson on accordion, the one and only Bill Black on fiddle, Martin Reid on piano and Arthur on drums. Arthur was about to lose Bill who was moving to Perthshire to work on another farm. Hamish, the local postie, got the job and we became firm friends. Some years later Arthur was invited to join The Ian Powrie Band and Hamish took over the running of the band.
Hamish formed his own band in 1960 comprising Jimmy Scott on piano, Stan Saunders on bass, drummer Bert Leishman, Dochie McCallum on 3-row and myself, Jack Delaney, on lead box. He married my niece Marion in 1962. Band practices were held at his mum and dad’s house in Esher Crescent in Callander where we were always made welcome. The personnel changed from time to time but the front line was unchanged throughout which kept the sound fairly consistent.
Over the years we had :
Stan Saunders, John Buchanan, Robert ‘Andy’ Anderson, Brian Mitchell and Tommy McTague on bass.
Blythe Lindsay and occasionally Hamish Reid on second box.
Bert Leishman and Gus Millar on drums.
And on piano Jim Scott, Walter Sinton, Andrew Dobson and Graeme Burns. Graeme also joined the band on fiddle when Hamish was doing the Christmas mail and, on one occasion, when Hamish injured his finger in a letter box.
Jim Scott and Stan Saunders left to join the Jimmy Shand Band. John Buchanan moved to south Africa and Walter Sinton went to Australia. Gus Millar joined the band in 1963 and remained till the band finished in 1972.
We travelled all over Scotland and parts of England playing at old time and country dances. Hamish and I would share the driving with Dochie sitting between us. These trips were all part of the fun and Hamish was a good driver and great company on the long journeys.
It was on one such tour that the one and only Billy Thom came with us to play drums. He and Dochie became good friends and often teamed up. On one occasion, while Hamish and I went to look at boats, they came along and went to Kyle of Lochalsh to buy presents to take home. On the way into a shop Dochie accidentally caught a large stand which displayed a huge variety of shoe and boot laces. The whole thing landed on the floor and there were laces scattered all over the shop. The assistants were helpless with laughter and they all crawled about the floor picking them up. Billy told Hamish that he had never been so embarrassed in his life.
During the later days of the band Gus provided the transport with his long-wheeled Bedford Dormobile, which actually had a heater which worked and also had a bit more leg-room in the back. This was indeed luxurious travelling. We played at a Christmas Eve dance at Crianlarich one year and left to go home around midnight. Shortly after leaving I noticed that the van was swinging a bit at the back and pointed this out to Gus. We had a flat nearside rear tyre and when changed it was found that the spare was flat too. Gus assured us that there wasn’t a problem as he had a second spare. Unfortunately, that one had the wrong wheel centres. Unfazed, Hamish managed to get a lift to Lix Toll Garage where he persuaded the owner to take him to Callander to collect a spare from his own Bedford. I think we got home to Alloa about 6am that Christmas Day.
We did the first of our 26 broadcasts in February 1962. These were all live and never without the odd slip. Once we arrived at Studio 1 in Edinburgh to find neither a producer nor an engineer. The only person there was a trainee engineer who was a bit unsure of the procedure. Thanks to Hamish’s unflappable nature we all coped and the listeners were none the wiser.
It’s perhaps as well Hamish was as calm as he was. Once in Dalmally village Hall we arrived to find a damaged piano with the action hanging out making it unplayable. With Hamish at one end of the piano, I took off my braces and stretched them across the hammers to keep them in place, then attached the other end to make it playable. Younger band members have since often dismissed it as a tall tale but it can be corroborated by Jake MacKay from Inveraray!
Instrumental mishaps weren’t a common feature of band jobs with Hamish but there was one more incident which he would retell on occasion. We went to Dundee to do a broadcast from the studio above the library. I had devised a system where the bass was slung inside the van under the roof and this seemed to work well until that day. As we were releasing the front strap the bass fell onto the seat and broke its neck. Needless to say, this was the last time we rigged up the van in such a fashion! Fortunately, local bandleader Ron Kerr of the Cameron Kerr Band was there and he went home to borrow his brother’s double bass for us.
We had many wonderful experiences playing in the band. We were delighted to be invited to play with a second band at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh for the RSCDS Ball celebrating the Queen’s silver Jubilee in 1977. Her Majesty was in attendance and danced in both halls during the course of the evening, seeming to particularly enjoy the Eightsome Reel.
We would also play three or four times a year at the regular country dances in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh. There were always crowds of dancers and it was a tremendous atmosphere with folk standing watching from the street railings too. While the dances always went well, packing up was a different matter and the council employees would often hassle the band so that they could get away home. Bands would have to unload their gear and take their cars away to park and vice versa at the end of the night. One night, by the time Hamish and the rest of the band had the gear safely stowed to head home, poor Andy the bass player (and Hamish’s brother-in-law) found his car locked up in the car park and it was not liberated until hours later by a vendor re-stocking his stand for the next morning.
With traditional Scottish music facing increasing competition from rock and roll, Hamish and the band decided to run their own dances in Lochearnhead Village Hall on a Saturday night. These were very well attended and became a highlight for dancers. The crowd, at times merry in more ways than one, could be a wee bit rough and tumble and Callander telephone operator Gavin Brown and Gus Millar would occasionally have to play bouncer. Hamish and I would laughingly recall when, after one such occasion, the band came back on stage and Hamish asked me, “Jack, where’s Dochie?” There was no sign of him or the accordions. The pair of us went through to the back room only to find it empty. I don’t know what made us check the cupboard but there he was, keeping the accordions safely out of harm’s way.
These were different times and I don’t think it’s likely that some of the characters who used to drive home after the dances would get away with it these days! Once Hamish and I watched one such pair after midnight – one was struggling with the keys to unlock his car while the other clambered onto his motorbike shouting, “Race ye doon the road! But mind, nae lights the night!”
And that’s not the only such tale : perhaps only marginally safer was the farmer at the side of Loch Lubnaig. Each week after the dance, Hamish would drop him at the end of his track where he was always met by his horse which would take him home. Fortunately, the horse always knew the way.
It’s indicative of Hamish’s caring character that there are so many stories about him helping people or keeping a kind eye on them. He would often give the Saturday staff a lift to Lochearnhead and Graeme burns remembers one night counting eleven waitresses in Hamish’s Bedford!
It’s not only for his kindness or as an outstanding fiddle player that Hamish will be remembered ; he often turned his hand to composition too. Perhaps one of his best-loved tunes is now known as Hamish’s tune, but the first part started life as Remmerts or The Remmerts of Hereford to give it’s full title. It was originally inspired by the German Polka Die Fischerin vom Bodensee which Hamish heard while on National Service with the Army’s mail train in Germany where he was part of the unit that ensured the servicemen received their letters from home.
Hamish’s tune was played as his funeral cortege proceeded through the main street of Callander. It was accompanied by his family and five Royal Mail postal vans, giving his local community a chance to say goodbye in spite of lockdown restrictions.
Hamish was the consummate bandsman, community figure, friend and family man and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. For myself, his band was among the happiest I’ve ever played in and Hamish himself was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known.
Gus Millar
Hamish Menzies as a person and bandleader was the most cheery and laid back man I have even known. I have to say that all the years from when I joined the band in 1963 with Hamish, Jack Delaney, Walter Sinton, Dochie McCallum, John Buchanan and latterly Tom McTague were just the greatest for me, the ‘novice’, and I gained so much from this happy bunch.
Dochie McCallum (Drymen)
I first met Hamish in 1958 when I joined The Glengarry Band. It was through Jack Delaney, another good friend who was playing with Andrew Rankine’s Band at the time, that he took an interest in my playing, for which I counted myself very lucky and honoured. Hamish took over the band from Arthur Easson who played drums and who went to play with Ian Powrie’s Band. Later the band changed to the Hamish Menzies SDB. The band was a great joy to play in.
I travelled up and down Scotland and England playing at country dance, at the Winter Gardens in Worcester, at Burnley in Lancashire and in Scotland at dances on the West coast and in the Borders. Once, on a week’s tour, I played a trick on Jack and Hamish by hiding their razors below their beds! When they returned Jack said to Hamish, “You’ll need to try my new razor” – the make was a sunbeam. When he went to get it out of his case it wasn’t there! Hamish said, “Don’t worry, you can use mine just now” He couldn’t find his either! They both focused on me and said, “It’s that wee devil there! He’s hid them!” I went for a wash, when I came back I couldn’t find my trousers, socks, one shoe or my bow tie! All great fun!
Hamish was a lovely person, kind and good natured, and will be sadly missed. He was one of nature’s gentlemen.
I could have written an encyclopaedia of the man’s life talking about all the people in the band. Aye, really!
Graeme Burns
Until I joined the band to play piano in 1969, I duputised for Hamish when work commitments kept him too busy at the Post Office. Hamish, whom I admired, made sure I knew the band sets by letting me sit at the back of the band when they were playing in Lochearnhead Village Hall. I thought Hamish was a fantastic bandleader and fiddle player, a real musician and dancer’s person. Oh it was fun!
Walter Sinton
“Wattie son,” he used to call me, “be ready about 7 o’clock and I’ll pick you up for the practice tonight.” That was the phone call I’d get from Hamish on a fairly regular basis for our weekly band rehearsals at Jack Delaney’s house in Alloa. He’d arrive at my parents’ place in Dunblane and peep the horn, and out I’d go to be greeted always with the biggest smile you could imagine. Hamish would be sitting there in his blue Bedford Dormobile, NES 290, or ‘Nessie’, as she was affectionately known, with all guns blazing – well, and with so much smoke in the car as though he’d fired the 1 o’clock cannon! I’d never met anyone who could smoke as much and drink as many cups of tea in a day. He used to drive leaning forward, with his left arm across the steering wheel. The fag was in the other hand and he’d probably manage another one or two before we got to Alloa. (fortunately, later in life he gave up the smokes, as I did).
As he was driving he used to whistle Scottish tunes without actually making a whistling sound, just blowing air in and out through his lips, so you could just make out the melody. This was 1961 when I was lucky enough to be asked to join his band. I was pretty raw as a piano player then but was encouraged and motivated to improve my ability by the threat of having to do a BBC audition so that the band could play live on the radio. We passed and did our first live broadcast in 1962. This was quite terrifying for me and probably for the others too : when the green light comes on you’re LIVE ON AIR! No retakes in these days. Afterwards we’d all go back to Jack’s and listen to the recording on his reel-to-reel Grundig recorder and analyse the performance.
1963 was the year of coincidences. We had a Wednesday night dance at Bridge of Orchy on 18th June. That was the night that Heavyweight boxer Henry Cooper fought Cassius Clay in London. We were all listening to the fight on the van radio. On 22nd November we played at a country dance at The Winter Gardens in Great Malvern, Worcestershire and Hamish told me on the steps leading up to the hall that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. There are certain times in your life when you remember exactly where you were when significant events happen.
I’m sure that 1964 was the year that Hamish started running the very popular Saturday night dances at Lochearnhead Hall. We had some great nights up there! The band would arrive about 8.30pm with not a soul around until the pubs closed – but by 10.30 the hall would be packed. We had many regular patrons attend these dances including a group of nurses from Crieff.
Fast forward to 1977 and a small aside. I had moved to Perth, Western Australia where I met up with Mr Ian Powrie. Ian rang me and said that Jimmy Shand was coming out to do a 6-week farewell tour of Australia and New Zealand. Ian was doing the tour as well with the Alexander Brothers, and Shand was bringing John Carmichael. Would I like to play piano with them? I said, “Yeah! I think I can just manage that!” “Where do I sign?” was my next thought! We played every major concert venue including the Sydney Opera House. At the end of the show I went out via the stage door to be greeted by a couple of nurses., the same nurses who used to go to the Lochearnhead dances! You never know who you’ll meet round the corner!
The West of Scotland was our domain and we were busy doing jobs between Callander and Oban and everywhere west of that. Some of the villages were pretty small but the population multiplied 10-fold when the Hamish Menzies SDB arrived in their blue jackets and black bow ties!
The band personnel didn’t change much. I reckon it lifted a notch when Gus Millar joined and sat behind the drums! His stick work is something else and it bonded the rhythm section together pretty tightly. “When there’s harmony in the team you stick together.” We were a pretty happy bunch of sometimes practical jokers and we’re all still in touch and good mates to this day.
Hamish was also known as ‘Ping’ to some as he would often ping the strings on his fiddle to check the tuning. He was one of the best people I ever met. I never saw him angry and he had no airs and graces. He was just a postie who played the violin and he had the respect of all band members and the many people who knew him. Marion, his lovely wife, is a gem.
He may have been the longest serving postmaster in the UK, but for me it was as the leader of his Scottish dance band that he left his stamp!
He is very fondly remembered.
Neil MacMillan
The Hamish Menzies Band had a massive influence on me, firstly owing to Duncan (Dochie) McCallum who played with the band. I heard then live for the first time at Rowardennan Hotel in 1965. I just sat at the bottom of the hall in awe. Hearing Hamish’s band live was, for me, amazing as I had only heard the band on BBC Radio Scotland before this.
On some Saturday nights the band would be playing at Lochearnhead Village Hall and I would be picked up by Dochie who would take me to Callander where we would meet the rest of the band before all piling into Hamish’s Bedford van. Hamish drove the van and I can remember him sitting with his elbow on the steering wheel and a ‘fag’ in his other hand and always laughing. He was a very cheery person.
On one of these occasions I was lucky enough to have my first experience playing with the band on Dochie’s 3-row button-key box with the backing of Sandy McGilchrist on piano, Andy Anderson on double bass, Gus Millar on drums and Jack Delaney on second box. This has stayed with me all my life and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity that Dochie and Hamish’s band gave me as a very young boy, pointing me in the right direction music-wise.
It has been a great honour for me to play a very small part in such a great man’s life and a double honour to have been asked to contribute to these memories of Hamish Menzies.
In Memory –
Bobby Colgan (April 1937 – May 2020)
by Tommy Johnstone
On Tuesday, 26th May people from Macmerry and beyond turned out to say a fond farewell to Bobby Colgan, a very popular and much-loved character. The tribute continued through his birth town of Tranent where both sides of the street were lined.
As the funeral cortege sat parked outside Macmerry Miners Club, the Clappy Doo Ceilidh Band played his favourite tunes as some of the regulars poured whisky on the road in front of the hearse shouting, “That’s yer ‘one for the road’ Bobby – good luck and goodbye!” while the rest of us stood in tears, applauding, sad to see the passing of such a well loved character, who had only just buried his partner, Margaret, a few weeks before.
It all started for Bobby on 2nd April 1937. He was born at 11 Northfield, Tranent, a few doors from the legendary the legendary bandleader Jim Johnstone who remained a lifelong friend until Jim died in 2008, aged 71. During their long careers they played with Jimmy Shand, Andrew Rankine, Bobby MacLeod, Jimmy Blue and the Hamefarers from Shetland as well as in local halls and theatres, King James Hotel, The Mishnish in Mull, various beer kellers and even Magaluf.
Bobby compered the Accordion & Fiddle Club in The Railway Hotel in Haddington before moving to Macmerry Club in 2016. I’m sure many of you have a favourite Bobby Colgan story to tell.
May your God go with you, Bobby.
In Memory –
Graham Ross
by Murdo MacLeod
Alexander Ross phoned me to reminisce about his friend Graham Ross who passed away in April 2020. As he did not have e-mail facilities and his handwriting was bad, he asked me to take some notes on how he would like to remember his friend.
Alexander remembers Graham from when they were young in Tain and used to cycle round the Highland Games circuit. Later they also used to have a tune together. Graham’s dad, as well as being a well-known cyclist, was leader of The Tain SDB. When Would War 2 began, he joined up but was taken prisoner and sent to the salt mines. Upon returning he began the band again. Later they moved to Edinburgh where he got work in the Blind institute owing to failing eyesight. Alexander told me that Graham’s mum and dad bought a tandem bike, so that he could still enjoy cycling. Cycling was also something that Graham excelled at.
Graham later started his own band, The Strathalmond SDB, and this is what was written about him in the B&F in March 1983 :-
Letters to the Editor
Dear Pia
The accordion scene has lost another iconic name with the passing of Dave Pullar of Usan by Montrose. Over the years Dave travelled far and wide to buy accordions to add to his collection – one of the largest around. He was also a keen player and many musicians visited his house to have a tune and admire his accordions.
He was an Honorary Member of Windygates A&F Club: and at the Shand Morino Days, Dave always donated the steak bridies that were very much enjoyed by all. He will be missed by all who came to know him. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
Ian McCallum
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
4th July 2020 – Tom Orr SDB – Virtual Session
11th July 2020 – Archive Session – Gordon Pattullo, from the Reid Hall, Forfar
18th July 2020 – Archive Session – Jim Johnstone Special
25th July 2020 – Archive Session – Burns Brothers Ceilidh Band
CLUB DIARY – NB no Club meetings due to the Covid19 pandemic
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) -
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) -
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) –
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) –
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) –
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) -
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) –
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) -
Canderside (Stonehouse Bowling Club) -
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Crossmichael Hall) –
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) -
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) -
Crieff & District (British Legion)
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) –
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) –
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) –
Duns (Masonic Lodge)
Ellon (Station Hotel) –
Forfar (Forfar RBL) -
Forres (Victoria Hotel) –
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) -
Galashiels (Gala YM RFC) -
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) -
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) -
Gretna (The Richard Greenhow Centre) -
Highland (Waterside Hotel) –
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) –
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) –
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) –
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) -
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn)
Lockerbie (Mid Annandale Comrades Club)
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) –
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Oban (The Royal Hotel) –
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) –
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) -
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Canderside
2. North East
3. Orkney
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2019
(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. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
10. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
11. Button Key A&F Club (
12. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
13. Canderside A&F Club (Stonehouse) (Feb 2019 – present)
14. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
15. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
16. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
17. Coalburn A&F Club (
18. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
19. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
20. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
21. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
22. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
23. Ellon A&F Club (
24. Forfar A&F Club (
25. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
26. Fort William A&F Club ( )
27. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
28. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
29. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
30. 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)
31. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
32. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
33. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
34. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
35. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
36. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
37. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
38. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
39. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
40 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
41 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
42 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
43. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
44. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
45. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
46. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
47. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
48. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
49. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
50. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
51 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
52 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
53 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
54 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
55 Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
56. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
57. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
58. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
59. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
60. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
61. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
62. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
63. Britannia B&F Club (joined 07-08 but much older
64. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
65. Buchan A&F Club
66. Callander A&F Club (
67. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
68. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
69. Club Accord
70. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
71 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
72. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
73. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
74. Cults A & F Club (
75. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
76. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
77. Derwentside A&F Club
78. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
79. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
80. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
81. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
82. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
83. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – April 2020 – Covid19)
84. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
85. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
86. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
87. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
88. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
89. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
90. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 – March 2018)
91. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
92. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
93. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
94. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
95. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
96. Kintore A&F Club (
97. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
98. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
99. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
100. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
101. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
102. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – March 2020 - Covid)
103. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
104. Maine Valley A&F Club (
105. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
106. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
107. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
108. Mull A&F Club
109. Newcastleton Accordion Club
110. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
111. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
112. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
113. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
114. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
115. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
116. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
117. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
118. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
119. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
120. Selkirk A&F Club (
121. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
122. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
123. Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
124. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
125 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
126 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
127. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
128. Tranent A&F Club
129. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
130. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
131. Wellbank A&F Club
132. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
133. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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