Box and Fiddle
Year 17 No 06
March 1994
Price 60p
16 pages
7 month subscription £7.00
Editor – Editor – Doug Adamson, 22 Westfield Drive, Forfar, Angus, DD8 1EQ
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Margaret Smith, Smeaton Farm Cottage, Dalkeith, Midlothian.
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
Due to heavy advertising this month I have increased the paper to 16 pages to help accommodate your Club reports.
‘Introducing the Clubs’ is, unfortunately, missing for this issue because of a misunderstanding with the Club concerned, but it will be back in April when East Kilbride will be featured.
AS I mentioned last month, you will have a new Editor next season, namely Ron Ramsay who is a member of the Arbroath Club and who in fact writes their reports. However, continue sending your reports to me for the April issue and I shall publish Ron’s address and telephone number in it so that you can forward material directly to him for the September issue.
Recently, I have received a few reports from Clubs referring to video and audio recording taking place at these Clubs. Before publishing I have ‘subbed out’ these references as these practices are illegal and could lead to prosecution.
The law of copyright is very complex and many are under the false illusion that only the permission of the guest artiste is necessary to make these recordings. This, however, would only apply if the guest artiste was playing music out of copyright (traditional) or his/her own compositions not assigned to a publisher.
This subject was covered in a past issue and anyone wishing a copy should send me a stamped, addressed envelope.
Doug Adamson
Bobby Coghill
by Andy Ross
Bobby Coghill became involved with music at the age of ten when he started playing the pipes and joined the Wick Boys Brigade Pipe Band. Two years later he moved on to the Town Band – an obvious progression as his father, three uncles, a brother and a sister were all pipers – four of them Pipe Majors. Bobby has been Pipe Major of the Wick Royal British Legion (Scotland) Pipe Band for the past eight years and last June was honoured by the Legion when he was invited to be leading Pipe Major at Edinburgh Castle for their Massed Pipe Bands “Beating The Retreat”.
In 1949 Bobby was introduced to the dance band scene, playing a Ludwig piano keyed melodeon with British Chromatic action. He teamed up with accordionist Billy Munro, and on most Saturday evenings played in The Crown Bar. At this time he was under the legal age for drinking and an “arrangement” was made with the proprietor, so that when visitors to the bar bought a round for the musicians they would be charged for a whisky and orange, but Bobby would be served only the orange! At the end of the evening the proceeds from this “arrangement” would be shared between the two players. On quite a number of occasions a half bottle “carry out” would then be purchased and the two would proceed the three miles to a dance in Ackergill!
Eventually, both were invited to join another band, which had two accordion players but no drummer. The name, “The Wick Hawthorn Accordion Band” appealed to them, so the invitation was accepted and Bobby volunteered to play drums. At this time he lived over a mile from Wick and could often be seen walking into town to catch the bus to dances in the country laden down with bass and side drums, cymbals, skulls etc. This process was repeated in the wee sma’ hours of the next morning on the return journey. Addie Harper lived only four doors away and on many nights the two met up after returning from dances to exchange stories as to how their respective evenings had gone. Both had always had “first class nights” – whether they had or not!
Upon leaving school, Bobby began his apprenticeship as a stonemason and during one of these aforementioned nocturnal meetings Addie enquired if he would undertake a “homer” and build a fireplace for him. Needless to say, no money was going to change hands, but a deal was struck whereby Addie would play the fiddle to accompany Bobby as the building work progressed. The job took place one morning after both had returned from playing and was completed in around four hours. Upon completion, none was happier than Addie, not only to see his new fireplace in position, but to get rid of, “that damn fiddle”! This night’s work, however, marked another milestone in Bobby’s musical career as he decided to teach himself the fiddle.
National Service intervened in 1953, so Bobby parted company with The Wick Hawthorn (the name was more splendid than the music) to enlist in the Royal Air Force as a Radar Operator. He signed on for a three-year engagement and was delighted when given the opportunity to play in an RAF Pipe Band. Moving around the country enabled him to hear such diverse favourites as Johnny Dankworth, John Johnstone and his Band (resident every Saturday in The Pool Ballroom, Dunbar) and two interesting groups from the Borders – Wattie Frater and his Hawaiian Serenaders and The Margaret Mercer Scottish Dance Band. For a considerable period of his service Bobby was stationed at RAF Drone Hall between Cockburnspath and Eyemouth.
After demob he joined the highly acclaimed Wick Scottish Dance Band to play fiddle in place of Addie, who was experiencing a spell of bad health. Bobby is the first to admit that he gained a tremendous amount of experience in the eighteen months he spent with this great band, which comprised Eann Nicolson (accordion), Charlie Ewan (piano), Alistair Budge (bass) and John Gunn (drums).
While chatting one day to Addie in 1957, they agreed to form a trio and recruited Chris Duncan to play drums while Addie played guitar and Bobby the second-hand La Vera 3-row, which he had just purchased from J.T. Forbes, Dundee for £49 on a sale or return basis. This box must have been acceptable as he still has it in his possession – albeit for sentimental reasons, as his Shand Morino gets most of the work to do now.
As all three of the band members lived in Weir Crescent, Milton – Bobby at number 2, Chris at number 4 and Addie at number 6, the obvious choice of name was The Milton Trio. Personnel came and went for various reasons; the trio increased to a band, and in total ran for nineteen years. During this period Bobby had great assistance from three members of The Donaldson Family, Noel on accordion, Barbara on piano and Lois on double bass.
Many stories can be recalled of incidents in which the band got involved in this period, including one 3a.m. encounter in Berriedale with a group of Scottish Country Dancers from Bonar Bridge who insisted that the band play for them to dance “Wild Geese”. As the band members had just enjoyed a refreshment from the dancers’ Thermos flasks and sandwich boxes, how could they refuse?
Wintry conditions often caused the band problems on the notorious A9, and once Bobby had to reverse the front-wheel Jenson minibus up The Berriedale Braes as the vehicle could not make the ascent the conventional way!
On another occasion en route to an engagement in Golspie, the vehicle got stuck in a snowdrift on The Ord. In true “the show must go on” spirit, all set off on foot carrying their instruments – unfortunately for pianist Donnie Morrison, he lost his shoes in the deep snow and arrived at the dance in his stocking soles!
In 1961 Bobby entered and won the North of Scotland Accordion Championship at the Empire theatre, Inverness. In the wake of this win, Bobby was in great demand as a guest musician and travelled all over the country including several visits to London, where he appeared at Society Balls and Dinners.
Bobby teamed up again with Addie Harper in 1976 to play lead accordion in The Wick Band. This band was extremely busy at this time making records on the EMI label and broadcasting on BBC Radio. After about eighteen months, Bobby handed over the lead accordion spot to Addie Jnr and formed his own band, which is still going strong to this day, although there have been many enforced changes in the intervening period. One particularly sad loss was the untimely death in 1986 of personal friend and piano player David Smith, very shortly after the band had played at the re-opening of the new-look Music Hall in Aberdeen.
The current lineup of The Bobby Coghill Scottish Dance Band has Bobby on lead accordion, Noel Donaldson (second box), Jacqui MacDonald (piano), Willie Lyall (drums) and vocalist Lesley McKay. Others who played in the band since its inception include pianists Ruby Malcolm, Barbara Donaldson, Heather Mill and Dennis Manson; drummers Johnny Swanson (now deceased), Donnie MacKay and Chris Duncan; bass players Lois Donaldson and Fergus Mill; fiddler Ian Deerness and second box player Charley Dey. Charley also encouraged Bobby to return to playing when he thought he had given up for good, and sang with the band – as did Jim Kemp, Margie and Ian Sinclair (now part of Mirk), George Lamont, Ina Miller (Bobby’s sister) and Elfrida Scott. Other players, too numerous to mention, have also guested with the band.
Over the years they have travelled extensively, including two trips each to Canada and The Faroe Islands. Incidentally, they were the first Scottish Dance Band to perform in The Faroes where, at that time, there were eighteen Scottish Country Dance teams. At present, the band is busy most weekends, with the occasional mid-week Accordion & Fiddle Club guest spot to keep them on their toes.
Mentioning Accordion & Fiddle Clubs, Bobby has been actively involved in the Wick Club since it started in 1976. He served as the first Chairman for eleven years and currently occupies the post of Vice-Chairman. The present Chairman is Addie Harper and Bobby’s sister, Ina, is the Club Secretary. Somehow Bobby also finds time to be an active player with The Wick Fiddlers.
In the mis-80s he made another change of instrument. He purchased a 5-row Hohner Vox and teamed up with soprano Elfrida Scott from Kintore to form a popular duo called “The Norlanders”. They recorded a couple of cassettes on the Ross label and for four years enjoyed great popularity appearing in a variety of venues all over Scotland. In addition to appearances at ceilidhs, pubs and clubs, they guested at many big festivals, also at the Gordon Highlanders Freedom Ceremony at Inverurie in June 1988.
Although he still plays fiddle, 3- and 5-row accordions, Bobby’s first love remains the bagpipes and through his playing of this instrument he was fortunate to visit other countries with the renowned band, “Colorado”. His son, Bryan, is a member of Colorado, playing accordion, banjo and steel guitar, having started his musical career with his dad. The tours with Colorado have included three visits each to Germany and Switzerland and also a television appearance from the Wembley Festival.
Another two well-known players who started with Bobby are accordion champion Elizabeth McKenzie (née Steven) and accordionist Kevin Gunn, who is now a piping instructor in Caithness Schools.
Composing tunes comes quite easily to Bobby – one bears the unusual title of I Got the Devil for Burning the Tatties – there must be a story there somewhere! Amongst others from his pen include The Queen Mother’s Welcome to Caithness General Hospital and two for musician friends David Smith of Cawdor and The Chris Duncan Two-Step. Although living in the far north of Scotland, distance is never a worry to Bobby and, if a “good tune” is guaranteed his motto is: “Have instruments – will travel!”
P.S. Since writing this article eleven years ago I have been casting my mind back to my involvements with Bobby in the intervening period. Although these have been many and varied, the ones I remember most vividly were the ceilidhs and Hogmanay Shows run to raise money for the Moray Firth Radio Charity Trust.
In the late 90s Bobby suggested we should have a weekend of entertainment in Mackay’s Hotel, Wick when he would arrange a ceilidh/dance on the Saturday evening followed on the Sunday afternoon with a live two-hour Scottish variety show on Moray Firth Radio. This popular event ran for four years in the month of February between 1999 and 2002, raising lots of money for local charities. On these shows Bobby gave many local entertainers the opportunity to perform live on the radio. Also his beloved Wick Royal British Legion Scotland Pipe Band was heard by a wide variety of listeners.
Bobby also arranged the programmes for a couple of pre-recorded Hogmanay Shows on MFR – one in The Drumossie Hotel and the other in a large marquee at Eden Court, both in Inverness. These shows were very much appreciated by large audiences, so pleased to hear good Scottish music and song and to say goodbye to one year and welcome another.
Just a few days before Bobby entered hospital I phoned him with my good wishes. He said, “While you are on the line keep the weekend 10th-12th June free as I have a job for you.” This job was to act as commentator at the Massed Pipe Band Festival in Wick on the Saturday afternoon and evening. I was honoured to carry out Bobby’s wishes and despite cold and, on the Saturday evening, extremely wet weather the Festival was a great success with nine bands performing, including one from Lucerne in Switzerland and another from Waldsee in Germany. Both of these bands had benefited greatly from Bobby’s tuition at piping workshops in their own countries.
Incidentally, they had first met Bobby several years ago when he was appearing with the country band Colorado on their European tours. At Bobby’s funeral in January both of these Pipe Bands sent pipers to pay their respects and play at the Church and graveside. The funeral was one of the biggest seen in Wick for many years as hundreds of people, myself included, gathered to say farewell to a perfect gentleman who will be sadly missed not only in Caithness but much farther afield.
Willie Hunter - Obituary
by ?
It was standing room only at Lerwick’s St. Columba’s Church in the largest attended funeral ever held in Shetland as friends gathered to pay their last respects to one of the islands’ most popular sons – Willie Hunter. Leading figures from the Scottish music scene braved bitter winter weather in traveling from the mainland to join islanders in tribute to a man whose personality and unique musical talent had spanned Continents.
Willie was born and raised in Lerwick and apprenticed to his father, Willie Hunter Snr., both as a blacksmith and a fiddler – father was ‘The Modest Fiddler’ which inspired A.S. Robertson’s composition. Willie’s playing was also to be influenced early on by lessons from local fiddler / composer Gideon Stove and overlaid with technique picked up from classical violinist, Geoffrey De Mercado, who lived and taught in the islands for some years.
Post war Shetland, with a shattered economy and chronic unemployment, was nothing like the prosperous community of today and, after completing National Service in the R.A.F., Willie had to join the migrant trail South to earn a living. He chose the London area where he worked in the motor trade for some years, playing for Scottish Country Dancing, evenings and weekends.
By the early 1960s, he was able to return ‘home’ in improving economic circumstances, readily finding work and eventually partnering his sister, Lorna, and husband in a laundry and dry cleaning business.
Family commitments and work demands meant music-making was restricted, largely to informal house sessions, usually in Billy Kay’s home.
Billy Kay, a Lerwick businessman, extraordinary piano and organ player, as well as all-round genius, devoted a great deal of his spare time – and latterly almost all of his retirement – to supporting, teaching and generally encouraging local musicians. A life-long friend of Willie’s, they met weekly with the likes of Peerie Willie, Drew Robertson and Frank Sinclair to play jazz in Billy’s music room cum recording studio. Of course, living next door to that other legend, Ronnie Cooper, meant that Willie also maintained his Shetland/Scottish repertoire.
When the Powrie and Johnstone bands ‘discovered’ Shetland in the mid-1960s, based in Frank Chadwick’s Hayfield Hotel, Willie, Ronnie and Jim Halcrow were regular guests at the post-concert sessions and many of the friendships made during this time were to endure and prosper. Willie’s playing continued to be mainly home-based throughout this period and he made only rare guest appearances with local bands.
However, the informal Hayfield sessions had planted the germ of an idea from whence grew ‘The Hamefarers’ Band which made such an impact during their first short tour of Scotland in 1975. Their exciting blend of own composition Shetland music interlaced with Irish, Scottish and Scandinavian so splendidly arranged and played was thankfully captured on the record ‘Breath o’ Shetland’, which became a bestseller – the very first commercial recording Willie made with a band. The Hamefarers were to make only one more tour before Ronnie died suddenly and, whilst the boys remained close friends, they never reformed the band.
Willie’s band career continued however. An impromptu tune with the Jeemie Burgess Band in Lerwick’s Masonic Club one Saturday night was mistaken for a recruitment audition and he became a regular player until the band broke up through players’ other commitments.
More recently, Willie played with the Cullivoe Band, one of the most popular and busiest around – Willie always happy to oblige with a solo spot on demand.
Almost all Willie’s public solo playing was reserved for his friends at the Shetland A&F Club which he, and a handful of friends, had helped form in 1978. A committee member during the first five years of the Club, his impeccable playing on his Shetland made fiddle, backed by Ronnie and Violet, became a beacon for other fiddlers. And so they came to listen and watch, some traveling half way round the world – Sean McGuire from Ireland, Graham Townsend and Rudi Meeks, as well as The Cape Breton Symphony from Canada, Rodney Millar and The New Hampshire Fiddlers ; Knut Bauen, the Hardanger fiddler ; Danish ace, Jes Kroman ; and American maestro Mark O’Connor, to name but a few of the better known. Henry Henderson, whose front room accommodated them all at one time or another recalls, not only the wonderful music they made together, but the fellowship and exchange of music, views and technique – it took Willie an afternoon to teach Mark O’Connor the ‘dancing bow’ technique.
As a composer, Willie was not so prolific as his pal, Ronnie, but his melodies have a quality all of their own and will most certainly endure ‘Leaving Lerwick Harbour’, written for an emigrant aunt, is as bonnie a slow air as any, and the reel which won the Club’s forst tune competition ‘Peerie Willie’, is a favourite with musicians.
I am happy to report that all the compositions will be published later this year, thanks to Judith Nicolson who undertook much of the transcribing.
In the late 1980s, Willie’s restless soul seemed to find a new contentment and his musical interests broadened as he moved into teaching as well as touring and some broadcasting.
He sold out his business interests when his parents retired only to find the Education Authority hurriedly beating a path to his door to sign him on the teaching strength. He taught fiddle to around eighty pupils in eight schools in the islands. These pupils will, I believe, be his lasting musical monument, some of them already established performers displaying that indefinable ‘Hunter’ quality. Willie had that rare ability to communicate with young people and inspire them ; all of them seemed to be as much pals as pupils ; they pretty well dominated the annual Young Fiddler Competition although Willie confided that some whom he considered superior players never made the prize list – hopefully talent to come. He took a quiet pride in their achievements and enjoyed introducing them to the Club.
He always stayed well clear of the occasionally murky world of Shetland fiddling politics, commanding universal respect. Despite a steady stream of invitations, he shunned public office and appointments, with one significant exception – the Presidency of the Shetland fiddlers’ Society, an office he held until his death.
Willie was a first class footballer and all-round sportsman in his youth, a keen golfer in later life. He was a handsome man who retained the natural athlete’s grace of movement – together they gave him great presence and style.
Possessed of a lively intelligence and an infectious sense of humour, he also had a fund of hilarious anecdotes, often involving himself, which made him great company and fun to be around.
He recorded an EP with Ronnie back in the 1970s and an LP with Violet in 1982 – a meager legacy from such a talent. However, a precise, even meticulous, person, Willie, in the knowledge that his time was strictly limited, put all of his life’s affairs in order (even to arranging with the minister the key signature for the final hymn at the funeral).
With the encouragement of his wife, Pat, and with the unswerving support of Violet and Billy Kay, he recorded sufficient material for a CD which will be released later this year on the Greentrax label and Billy has sufficient archive footage of ‘sessions’ which will also be compiled and released on a CD and entitled ‘Hunter’s Sessions’.
Everyone who knew Willie will have their own fond and favourite memory of him, but I suppose that it is as a solo fiddler that most musicians will want to remember him – he surely must rank amongst the very finest anywhere in the world. The dapper figure taking the stage, bowing a few exploratory bars to check the tuning, then, with a final tuck of the chinrest and a flash of the lower teeth, he would be off, coaxing the very soul bolts from a slow air giving full value to each and every note ; then, with a flick of the head, the change of mood as the dashing brilliance of his bowing teased the sweetness out of a reel and left the listener refreshed.
There will undoubtedly be great fiddlers to come, many inspired by Willie, but perhaps it was the thought that we would probably never hear quite his like again, that moistened the eyes as we made our sad passage to the kirkyard as much as the biting January wind.
Tune Titles and Associations
My Murdo MacLeod
Are you someone who likes to know the name of a tune, especially when played in the context of a presented programme at Club meetings? Of course, most of us punters do and a major irritant to my mind is when musicians, and especially guest artistes sometime, fail to name the tunes and any interesting associated detail. I have actually witnessed a guest artiste going through a whole programme without mentioning a tune, or at least very many! It was a lamentable occasion.
Furthermore, I feel that names should be announced as an introduction to the playing of the set rather than afterwards, as then one can experience that sense of excitement in anticipation of particular tunes, especially if they are what the punters regard as tricky ‘show stoppers’. Robbie Shepherd, it has to be said, does a valuable service in this respect and never fails to make suitable comments or fill in interesting background details re the title and author.
I thought it might be of interest to initiate such an occasional article because I feel it would serve to commemorate the inspiration etc behind the tune and help to keep alive something of the romance attached to the piece of music. It is also a token of respect to composers, some of whom often are all but forgotten by later generations. When you think of it, there is immense scope in recalling some evocative titles reminding us of past glories and heroic events – the of ‘The Seige of Delhi’ or ‘The Heroes of Kohima’………………
Tom Clark
Saturday, 26th March is a day of celebration for Tom Clark of Dundee, formerly Editor of the Box and Fiddle. Since giving up his position in the spring of 1991, Tom has been devoting all his spare time in a completely different field, to the loss of those amongst us who previously enjoyed listening to him playing at Clubs in and around Tayside.
For the past three years, Tom has been following a very concentrated study course with the aim of being ordained as a Permanent Deacon in the Roman Catholic Church. Having now completed all his studies to the satisfaction of the Church, he is to be ordained as a Reverend-Deacon in St. Francis R.C. church, Dundee, by the Rt. Reverend Vincent Logan, Bishop of Dunkeld.
We offer Tom our congratulations and wish him all happiness and success in his new venture. We would also hope that, study completed, he will again find time to rejoin his many friends in the Club scene and have a tune at the Clubs as before.
Bobby Brown – A further Appreciation
by Sandy Tulloch
Like many box players in Tayside, I was greatly saddened to learn of Bobby Brown’s death, from his old friend Ron Stephen. My association with bobby goes back a long way.
In the late forties, early fifties, I was pleased to add Adam Rennie’s tunes to my collection, and on coming back to Dundee from Glasgow got to know Adam fairly well and had many a happy evening playing with him and other friends. Adam was kind enough to let me sit in with the band on occasion and it was there that I met and got to know Bobby.
It was tremendous experience for me to play with such a driving quartet, and it is sad indeed that all have now gone. I doubt if we will hear such a distinctive sound again.
I have vivid memories of Adam with one finger raised to let us know we were to start in ‘G’. Ed Robb with his fingers strapped with adhesive tape. Ian McLeish ready at the piano and Bobby with his distinctive maroon early Shand Morino.
After the fifties, Bobby and I did not see so much of each other although we kept in touch from time to time. Later, after retiral, we met at the Clubs, particularly at Windygates where he was an immensely popular and regular attender. Whenever Bruce announced that it was ‘Bobby Broon’ there was always a cheer.
Bobby was a modest and gentle man with a deep feeling for Scottish music. A fine player with a touch and expression all his own. But, above all, I remember him as a band player. Not so long ago someone behind me at Windygates said over my shoulder – “Aye Sandy, they don’t make many like him these days”. Happy memories Bobby.
Record Review
A Hundred Thousand Welcomes – Perth S&R Society – Smith & Mearns SMR035
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Dee Motel) –
Alnwick (Golden Fleece) – members only 9th Mar 94 – Dave Stewart
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 6th Mar 94 – AGM & Club Night
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 3rd Mar 94 – Morag Robertson & Frank Henery
Ayr (Gartferry Hotel) – 6th Mar 94 – Gordon Shand SDB 20th Mar – Dance to Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 23rd Mar 94 – Macduff S&R Society
Beith & District (Hotel de Croft, Dalry) – 21st Mar 94 – John Renton SDB
Belford (Community Club) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 13th Mar 94 – Andrew Knight & the West Telferton Cale SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 8th Mar 94 – Jim Cleland SDB
Brigmill (Guardbridge Sports & Social Club)
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) –
Button Key (Windygates Institute) –
Callander (Glengarry Hotel) –
Campbeltown (Royal Hotel) –
Carlisle (Border Regiment Club, Carlisle Castle) - 3rd Mar 94 – Roger Dobson SDB
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Hotel) – 15th Mar 94 – Coalburn Ceilidh Band
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 17th Mar 94 – Dick Black Band
Crieff & District (Arduthie Hotel) 3rd Mar 94 – The McAllisters
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead) 15th Mar 94 – Jock Fraser SDB
Derwentside (Working Men’s Club, Consett) –
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 2nd Mar 94 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Dunblane (Westlands Hotel) – 15th Mar 94 – Lawrie Accordion Orchestra
Dundee (Park Hotel) –
Dunfermline (Roadhouse) – 8th Mar 94 – Brian Griffin
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (Sweepers, Cambuslang) – 31st Mar 94 – Donnie McGregor & Friends
Ellon (Ladbroke Hotel) –
Ettrick & Yarrow (The Gordon Arms) - 16th Mar 94 – John Fairbairn & Alan Stewart
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 28th Mar 94 – Fintry Style
Forfar (Plough Inn) -
Forres (Brig Motel) – 9th Mar 94 – Ian Powrie
Fort William (Alexandra Hotel) –
Galashiels (Maxwell Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) –
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 29th Mar 94 – Bill Stewart Band
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) -
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) –
Inveraray (Loch Fyne Hotel) - 1st Mar 94 – Peter Bruce
Islay (White Hart Hotel) - 19th Mar 94 – Allan MacIntosh
Isle of Skye -
Islesteps (Waterhole, Lochfoot) – 1st Mar 94 – Bill Black SDB
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 30th Mar 94 – Wattie Beattie Band
Kinlochshiel (Islander Function Room) - 12th Mar 94 – Donnie Smith and Diane Mearns
Kintore (Crown Hotel) – 2nd Mar 94 – Dick Black Band
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 10th Mar 94 – Jason Dove Band
Livingston (Livingston Station Community Centre) 15th Mar 94 – John Leslie Orchestra
Lockerbie (Bluebell Hotel) - 29th Mar 94 – Archie Duncan
Mauchline (The Jean Armour Function Suite) 15th Mar 94 – Fiona Cuthbertson
M.A.F.I.A. (Masonic Hall, Milngavie) –
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 2nd Mar 94 – Tommy Newcomen
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 28th Mar 94 – Kelvin Ceilidh Band
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Oban (Harbour Lights Restaurant) – 3rd Mar 94 – Colin Dewar Trio
Orkney ( venue?) –
Ormiston (Miners’ Welfare Social Club) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) – 31st Mar 94 – Raymond Carse
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 15th Mar 94 – David Cunningham Jnr SDB
Premier NI (Camlin Function Rooms) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 8th Mar 94 – Gordon Pattullo
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 3rd Mar 94 – Robert Whitehead SDB
Shetland (venue?) -
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) - 13th Mar 94 – Alan MacIntosh SDB
Thornhill (?)
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Tranent (East Lothian Labour Club)
Turriff (Royal Oak Hotel) – 3rd Mar 94 – Florence Burns & Friends 24th Mar A.G.M. followed by music
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 8th Mar 94 – Paddy Neary
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Arbroath
4. Banchory
5. Banff
6. Belford
7. Biggar
8. Blairgowrie
9. Carlisle
10. Castle Douglas
11. Coalburn
12. Crieff
13. Dalriada
14. Dingwall
15. Dunblane
16. Dunfermline
17. Etterick & Yarrow
18. Forres
19. Glendale
20. Glenrothes
21. Gretna
22. Highland
23. Inveraray
24. Islesteps
25. Kelso
26. Kinlochshiel
27. Kintore
28. Lesmahagow
29. Livingston
30. Lockerbie
31. Montrose
32. Newtongrange
33. North East
34. Oban
35. Peebles
36. Perth
37. Renfrew
38. Shetland
39. Stirling
40. Thurso
41. Turriff
42. Tynedale
43. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1991 (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 (Sept 1976 – present)
3. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
4. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed
5. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campbeltown A&F Club (
16. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
17. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
18. Coalburn A&F Club (
19. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
20. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
21. Derwentside A&F Club
22. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
23. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
24. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? -
25. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
26. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
27. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
28. Ellon A&F Club (
29. Etterick & Yarrow (Jan 1989 -
30. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
31. Forfar A&F Club (
32. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
33. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
34. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
35. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
36. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
37. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
38. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Grena when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
39. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
40. Inveraray A&F Club (Oct 1991)
41. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
42. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
43. Isle of Skye A&F Club (
44. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
45. Kintore A&F Club (
46. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
47. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
48. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
49. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
50. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 - )
51. Mauchline A&F Club (first mention 1986? - present)
52. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
53. Mull A&F Club
54. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
55. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
56. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
57. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
58. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
59. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
60. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
61. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
62. Renfrew A&F Club (
63. Rothbury Accordion Club (1987??)
64. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
65. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
66. Sutherland A&F Club (
67. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
68. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
69. Tranent A&F Club
70. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
71. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
72. 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?)
73. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
74. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
75. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
76. Buchan A&F Club
77. Callander A&F Club (
78. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
79. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
80. Club Accord
81. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2?)
82. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
83. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
84. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
85. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
86. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
87. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
88. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
89. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
90. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
91. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
92. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
93. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
94. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
95. Newcastleton Accordion Club
96. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
97. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
98. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
99. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
100. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
101. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
102. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
103. Wellbank A&F Club
Advertising rates
Full Page - £94
Half Page - £47
Quarter Page - £24
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Margaret Smith, Smeaton Farm Cottage, Dalkeith, Midlothian.
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
Due to heavy advertising this month I have increased the paper to 16 pages to help accommodate your Club reports.
‘Introducing the Clubs’ is, unfortunately, missing for this issue because of a misunderstanding with the Club concerned, but it will be back in April when East Kilbride will be featured.
AS I mentioned last month, you will have a new Editor next season, namely Ron Ramsay who is a member of the Arbroath Club and who in fact writes their reports. However, continue sending your reports to me for the April issue and I shall publish Ron’s address and telephone number in it so that you can forward material directly to him for the September issue.
Recently, I have received a few reports from Clubs referring to video and audio recording taking place at these Clubs. Before publishing I have ‘subbed out’ these references as these practices are illegal and could lead to prosecution.
The law of copyright is very complex and many are under the false illusion that only the permission of the guest artiste is necessary to make these recordings. This, however, would only apply if the guest artiste was playing music out of copyright (traditional) or his/her own compositions not assigned to a publisher.
This subject was covered in a past issue and anyone wishing a copy should send me a stamped, addressed envelope.
Doug Adamson
Bobby Coghill
by Andy Ross
Bobby Coghill became involved with music at the age of ten when he started playing the pipes and joined the Wick Boys Brigade Pipe Band. Two years later he moved on to the Town Band – an obvious progression as his father, three uncles, a brother and a sister were all pipers – four of them Pipe Majors. Bobby has been Pipe Major of the Wick Royal British Legion (Scotland) Pipe Band for the past eight years and last June was honoured by the Legion when he was invited to be leading Pipe Major at Edinburgh Castle for their Massed Pipe Bands “Beating The Retreat”.
In 1949 Bobby was introduced to the dance band scene, playing a Ludwig piano keyed melodeon with British Chromatic action. He teamed up with accordionist Billy Munro, and on most Saturday evenings played in The Crown Bar. At this time he was under the legal age for drinking and an “arrangement” was made with the proprietor, so that when visitors to the bar bought a round for the musicians they would be charged for a whisky and orange, but Bobby would be served only the orange! At the end of the evening the proceeds from this “arrangement” would be shared between the two players. On quite a number of occasions a half bottle “carry out” would then be purchased and the two would proceed the three miles to a dance in Ackergill!
Eventually, both were invited to join another band, which had two accordion players but no drummer. The name, “The Wick Hawthorn Accordion Band” appealed to them, so the invitation was accepted and Bobby volunteered to play drums. At this time he lived over a mile from Wick and could often be seen walking into town to catch the bus to dances in the country laden down with bass and side drums, cymbals, skulls etc. This process was repeated in the wee sma’ hours of the next morning on the return journey. Addie Harper lived only four doors away and on many nights the two met up after returning from dances to exchange stories as to how their respective evenings had gone. Both had always had “first class nights” – whether they had or not!
Upon leaving school, Bobby began his apprenticeship as a stonemason and during one of these aforementioned nocturnal meetings Addie enquired if he would undertake a “homer” and build a fireplace for him. Needless to say, no money was going to change hands, but a deal was struck whereby Addie would play the fiddle to accompany Bobby as the building work progressed. The job took place one morning after both had returned from playing and was completed in around four hours. Upon completion, none was happier than Addie, not only to see his new fireplace in position, but to get rid of, “that damn fiddle”! This night’s work, however, marked another milestone in Bobby’s musical career as he decided to teach himself the fiddle.
National Service intervened in 1953, so Bobby parted company with The Wick Hawthorn (the name was more splendid than the music) to enlist in the Royal Air Force as a Radar Operator. He signed on for a three-year engagement and was delighted when given the opportunity to play in an RAF Pipe Band. Moving around the country enabled him to hear such diverse favourites as Johnny Dankworth, John Johnstone and his Band (resident every Saturday in The Pool Ballroom, Dunbar) and two interesting groups from the Borders – Wattie Frater and his Hawaiian Serenaders and The Margaret Mercer Scottish Dance Band. For a considerable period of his service Bobby was stationed at RAF Drone Hall between Cockburnspath and Eyemouth.
After demob he joined the highly acclaimed Wick Scottish Dance Band to play fiddle in place of Addie, who was experiencing a spell of bad health. Bobby is the first to admit that he gained a tremendous amount of experience in the eighteen months he spent with this great band, which comprised Eann Nicolson (accordion), Charlie Ewan (piano), Alistair Budge (bass) and John Gunn (drums).
While chatting one day to Addie in 1957, they agreed to form a trio and recruited Chris Duncan to play drums while Addie played guitar and Bobby the second-hand La Vera 3-row, which he had just purchased from J.T. Forbes, Dundee for £49 on a sale or return basis. This box must have been acceptable as he still has it in his possession – albeit for sentimental reasons, as his Shand Morino gets most of the work to do now.
As all three of the band members lived in Weir Crescent, Milton – Bobby at number 2, Chris at number 4 and Addie at number 6, the obvious choice of name was The Milton Trio. Personnel came and went for various reasons; the trio increased to a band, and in total ran for nineteen years. During this period Bobby had great assistance from three members of The Donaldson Family, Noel on accordion, Barbara on piano and Lois on double bass.
Many stories can be recalled of incidents in which the band got involved in this period, including one 3a.m. encounter in Berriedale with a group of Scottish Country Dancers from Bonar Bridge who insisted that the band play for them to dance “Wild Geese”. As the band members had just enjoyed a refreshment from the dancers’ Thermos flasks and sandwich boxes, how could they refuse?
Wintry conditions often caused the band problems on the notorious A9, and once Bobby had to reverse the front-wheel Jenson minibus up The Berriedale Braes as the vehicle could not make the ascent the conventional way!
On another occasion en route to an engagement in Golspie, the vehicle got stuck in a snowdrift on The Ord. In true “the show must go on” spirit, all set off on foot carrying their instruments – unfortunately for pianist Donnie Morrison, he lost his shoes in the deep snow and arrived at the dance in his stocking soles!
In 1961 Bobby entered and won the North of Scotland Accordion Championship at the Empire theatre, Inverness. In the wake of this win, Bobby was in great demand as a guest musician and travelled all over the country including several visits to London, where he appeared at Society Balls and Dinners.
Bobby teamed up again with Addie Harper in 1976 to play lead accordion in The Wick Band. This band was extremely busy at this time making records on the EMI label and broadcasting on BBC Radio. After about eighteen months, Bobby handed over the lead accordion spot to Addie Jnr and formed his own band, which is still going strong to this day, although there have been many enforced changes in the intervening period. One particularly sad loss was the untimely death in 1986 of personal friend and piano player David Smith, very shortly after the band had played at the re-opening of the new-look Music Hall in Aberdeen.
The current lineup of The Bobby Coghill Scottish Dance Band has Bobby on lead accordion, Noel Donaldson (second box), Jacqui MacDonald (piano), Willie Lyall (drums) and vocalist Lesley McKay. Others who played in the band since its inception include pianists Ruby Malcolm, Barbara Donaldson, Heather Mill and Dennis Manson; drummers Johnny Swanson (now deceased), Donnie MacKay and Chris Duncan; bass players Lois Donaldson and Fergus Mill; fiddler Ian Deerness and second box player Charley Dey. Charley also encouraged Bobby to return to playing when he thought he had given up for good, and sang with the band – as did Jim Kemp, Margie and Ian Sinclair (now part of Mirk), George Lamont, Ina Miller (Bobby’s sister) and Elfrida Scott. Other players, too numerous to mention, have also guested with the band.
Over the years they have travelled extensively, including two trips each to Canada and The Faroe Islands. Incidentally, they were the first Scottish Dance Band to perform in The Faroes where, at that time, there were eighteen Scottish Country Dance teams. At present, the band is busy most weekends, with the occasional mid-week Accordion & Fiddle Club guest spot to keep them on their toes.
Mentioning Accordion & Fiddle Clubs, Bobby has been actively involved in the Wick Club since it started in 1976. He served as the first Chairman for eleven years and currently occupies the post of Vice-Chairman. The present Chairman is Addie Harper and Bobby’s sister, Ina, is the Club Secretary. Somehow Bobby also finds time to be an active player with The Wick Fiddlers.
In the mis-80s he made another change of instrument. He purchased a 5-row Hohner Vox and teamed up with soprano Elfrida Scott from Kintore to form a popular duo called “The Norlanders”. They recorded a couple of cassettes on the Ross label and for four years enjoyed great popularity appearing in a variety of venues all over Scotland. In addition to appearances at ceilidhs, pubs and clubs, they guested at many big festivals, also at the Gordon Highlanders Freedom Ceremony at Inverurie in June 1988.
Although he still plays fiddle, 3- and 5-row accordions, Bobby’s first love remains the bagpipes and through his playing of this instrument he was fortunate to visit other countries with the renowned band, “Colorado”. His son, Bryan, is a member of Colorado, playing accordion, banjo and steel guitar, having started his musical career with his dad. The tours with Colorado have included three visits each to Germany and Switzerland and also a television appearance from the Wembley Festival.
Another two well-known players who started with Bobby are accordion champion Elizabeth McKenzie (née Steven) and accordionist Kevin Gunn, who is now a piping instructor in Caithness Schools.
Composing tunes comes quite easily to Bobby – one bears the unusual title of I Got the Devil for Burning the Tatties – there must be a story there somewhere! Amongst others from his pen include The Queen Mother’s Welcome to Caithness General Hospital and two for musician friends David Smith of Cawdor and The Chris Duncan Two-Step. Although living in the far north of Scotland, distance is never a worry to Bobby and, if a “good tune” is guaranteed his motto is: “Have instruments – will travel!”
P.S. Since writing this article eleven years ago I have been casting my mind back to my involvements with Bobby in the intervening period. Although these have been many and varied, the ones I remember most vividly were the ceilidhs and Hogmanay Shows run to raise money for the Moray Firth Radio Charity Trust.
In the late 90s Bobby suggested we should have a weekend of entertainment in Mackay’s Hotel, Wick when he would arrange a ceilidh/dance on the Saturday evening followed on the Sunday afternoon with a live two-hour Scottish variety show on Moray Firth Radio. This popular event ran for four years in the month of February between 1999 and 2002, raising lots of money for local charities. On these shows Bobby gave many local entertainers the opportunity to perform live on the radio. Also his beloved Wick Royal British Legion Scotland Pipe Band was heard by a wide variety of listeners.
Bobby also arranged the programmes for a couple of pre-recorded Hogmanay Shows on MFR – one in The Drumossie Hotel and the other in a large marquee at Eden Court, both in Inverness. These shows were very much appreciated by large audiences, so pleased to hear good Scottish music and song and to say goodbye to one year and welcome another.
Just a few days before Bobby entered hospital I phoned him with my good wishes. He said, “While you are on the line keep the weekend 10th-12th June free as I have a job for you.” This job was to act as commentator at the Massed Pipe Band Festival in Wick on the Saturday afternoon and evening. I was honoured to carry out Bobby’s wishes and despite cold and, on the Saturday evening, extremely wet weather the Festival was a great success with nine bands performing, including one from Lucerne in Switzerland and another from Waldsee in Germany. Both of these bands had benefited greatly from Bobby’s tuition at piping workshops in their own countries.
Incidentally, they had first met Bobby several years ago when he was appearing with the country band Colorado on their European tours. At Bobby’s funeral in January both of these Pipe Bands sent pipers to pay their respects and play at the Church and graveside. The funeral was one of the biggest seen in Wick for many years as hundreds of people, myself included, gathered to say farewell to a perfect gentleman who will be sadly missed not only in Caithness but much farther afield.
Willie Hunter - Obituary
by ?
It was standing room only at Lerwick’s St. Columba’s Church in the largest attended funeral ever held in Shetland as friends gathered to pay their last respects to one of the islands’ most popular sons – Willie Hunter. Leading figures from the Scottish music scene braved bitter winter weather in traveling from the mainland to join islanders in tribute to a man whose personality and unique musical talent had spanned Continents.
Willie was born and raised in Lerwick and apprenticed to his father, Willie Hunter Snr., both as a blacksmith and a fiddler – father was ‘The Modest Fiddler’ which inspired A.S. Robertson’s composition. Willie’s playing was also to be influenced early on by lessons from local fiddler / composer Gideon Stove and overlaid with technique picked up from classical violinist, Geoffrey De Mercado, who lived and taught in the islands for some years.
Post war Shetland, with a shattered economy and chronic unemployment, was nothing like the prosperous community of today and, after completing National Service in the R.A.F., Willie had to join the migrant trail South to earn a living. He chose the London area where he worked in the motor trade for some years, playing for Scottish Country Dancing, evenings and weekends.
By the early 1960s, he was able to return ‘home’ in improving economic circumstances, readily finding work and eventually partnering his sister, Lorna, and husband in a laundry and dry cleaning business.
Family commitments and work demands meant music-making was restricted, largely to informal house sessions, usually in Billy Kay’s home.
Billy Kay, a Lerwick businessman, extraordinary piano and organ player, as well as all-round genius, devoted a great deal of his spare time – and latterly almost all of his retirement – to supporting, teaching and generally encouraging local musicians. A life-long friend of Willie’s, they met weekly with the likes of Peerie Willie, Drew Robertson and Frank Sinclair to play jazz in Billy’s music room cum recording studio. Of course, living next door to that other legend, Ronnie Cooper, meant that Willie also maintained his Shetland/Scottish repertoire.
When the Powrie and Johnstone bands ‘discovered’ Shetland in the mid-1960s, based in Frank Chadwick’s Hayfield Hotel, Willie, Ronnie and Jim Halcrow were regular guests at the post-concert sessions and many of the friendships made during this time were to endure and prosper. Willie’s playing continued to be mainly home-based throughout this period and he made only rare guest appearances with local bands.
However, the informal Hayfield sessions had planted the germ of an idea from whence grew ‘The Hamefarers’ Band which made such an impact during their first short tour of Scotland in 1975. Their exciting blend of own composition Shetland music interlaced with Irish, Scottish and Scandinavian so splendidly arranged and played was thankfully captured on the record ‘Breath o’ Shetland’, which became a bestseller – the very first commercial recording Willie made with a band. The Hamefarers were to make only one more tour before Ronnie died suddenly and, whilst the boys remained close friends, they never reformed the band.
Willie’s band career continued however. An impromptu tune with the Jeemie Burgess Band in Lerwick’s Masonic Club one Saturday night was mistaken for a recruitment audition and he became a regular player until the band broke up through players’ other commitments.
More recently, Willie played with the Cullivoe Band, one of the most popular and busiest around – Willie always happy to oblige with a solo spot on demand.
Almost all Willie’s public solo playing was reserved for his friends at the Shetland A&F Club which he, and a handful of friends, had helped form in 1978. A committee member during the first five years of the Club, his impeccable playing on his Shetland made fiddle, backed by Ronnie and Violet, became a beacon for other fiddlers. And so they came to listen and watch, some traveling half way round the world – Sean McGuire from Ireland, Graham Townsend and Rudi Meeks, as well as The Cape Breton Symphony from Canada, Rodney Millar and The New Hampshire Fiddlers ; Knut Bauen, the Hardanger fiddler ; Danish ace, Jes Kroman ; and American maestro Mark O’Connor, to name but a few of the better known. Henry Henderson, whose front room accommodated them all at one time or another recalls, not only the wonderful music they made together, but the fellowship and exchange of music, views and technique – it took Willie an afternoon to teach Mark O’Connor the ‘dancing bow’ technique.
As a composer, Willie was not so prolific as his pal, Ronnie, but his melodies have a quality all of their own and will most certainly endure ‘Leaving Lerwick Harbour’, written for an emigrant aunt, is as bonnie a slow air as any, and the reel which won the Club’s forst tune competition ‘Peerie Willie’, is a favourite with musicians.
I am happy to report that all the compositions will be published later this year, thanks to Judith Nicolson who undertook much of the transcribing.
In the late 1980s, Willie’s restless soul seemed to find a new contentment and his musical interests broadened as he moved into teaching as well as touring and some broadcasting.
He sold out his business interests when his parents retired only to find the Education Authority hurriedly beating a path to his door to sign him on the teaching strength. He taught fiddle to around eighty pupils in eight schools in the islands. These pupils will, I believe, be his lasting musical monument, some of them already established performers displaying that indefinable ‘Hunter’ quality. Willie had that rare ability to communicate with young people and inspire them ; all of them seemed to be as much pals as pupils ; they pretty well dominated the annual Young Fiddler Competition although Willie confided that some whom he considered superior players never made the prize list – hopefully talent to come. He took a quiet pride in their achievements and enjoyed introducing them to the Club.
He always stayed well clear of the occasionally murky world of Shetland fiddling politics, commanding universal respect. Despite a steady stream of invitations, he shunned public office and appointments, with one significant exception – the Presidency of the Shetland fiddlers’ Society, an office he held until his death.
Willie was a first class footballer and all-round sportsman in his youth, a keen golfer in later life. He was a handsome man who retained the natural athlete’s grace of movement – together they gave him great presence and style.
Possessed of a lively intelligence and an infectious sense of humour, he also had a fund of hilarious anecdotes, often involving himself, which made him great company and fun to be around.
He recorded an EP with Ronnie back in the 1970s and an LP with Violet in 1982 – a meager legacy from such a talent. However, a precise, even meticulous, person, Willie, in the knowledge that his time was strictly limited, put all of his life’s affairs in order (even to arranging with the minister the key signature for the final hymn at the funeral).
With the encouragement of his wife, Pat, and with the unswerving support of Violet and Billy Kay, he recorded sufficient material for a CD which will be released later this year on the Greentrax label and Billy has sufficient archive footage of ‘sessions’ which will also be compiled and released on a CD and entitled ‘Hunter’s Sessions’.
Everyone who knew Willie will have their own fond and favourite memory of him, but I suppose that it is as a solo fiddler that most musicians will want to remember him – he surely must rank amongst the very finest anywhere in the world. The dapper figure taking the stage, bowing a few exploratory bars to check the tuning, then, with a final tuck of the chinrest and a flash of the lower teeth, he would be off, coaxing the very soul bolts from a slow air giving full value to each and every note ; then, with a flick of the head, the change of mood as the dashing brilliance of his bowing teased the sweetness out of a reel and left the listener refreshed.
There will undoubtedly be great fiddlers to come, many inspired by Willie, but perhaps it was the thought that we would probably never hear quite his like again, that moistened the eyes as we made our sad passage to the kirkyard as much as the biting January wind.
Tune Titles and Associations
My Murdo MacLeod
Are you someone who likes to know the name of a tune, especially when played in the context of a presented programme at Club meetings? Of course, most of us punters do and a major irritant to my mind is when musicians, and especially guest artistes sometime, fail to name the tunes and any interesting associated detail. I have actually witnessed a guest artiste going through a whole programme without mentioning a tune, or at least very many! It was a lamentable occasion.
Furthermore, I feel that names should be announced as an introduction to the playing of the set rather than afterwards, as then one can experience that sense of excitement in anticipation of particular tunes, especially if they are what the punters regard as tricky ‘show stoppers’. Robbie Shepherd, it has to be said, does a valuable service in this respect and never fails to make suitable comments or fill in interesting background details re the title and author.
I thought it might be of interest to initiate such an occasional article because I feel it would serve to commemorate the inspiration etc behind the tune and help to keep alive something of the romance attached to the piece of music. It is also a token of respect to composers, some of whom often are all but forgotten by later generations. When you think of it, there is immense scope in recalling some evocative titles reminding us of past glories and heroic events – the of ‘The Seige of Delhi’ or ‘The Heroes of Kohima’………………
Tom Clark
Saturday, 26th March is a day of celebration for Tom Clark of Dundee, formerly Editor of the Box and Fiddle. Since giving up his position in the spring of 1991, Tom has been devoting all his spare time in a completely different field, to the loss of those amongst us who previously enjoyed listening to him playing at Clubs in and around Tayside.
For the past three years, Tom has been following a very concentrated study course with the aim of being ordained as a Permanent Deacon in the Roman Catholic Church. Having now completed all his studies to the satisfaction of the Church, he is to be ordained as a Reverend-Deacon in St. Francis R.C. church, Dundee, by the Rt. Reverend Vincent Logan, Bishop of Dunkeld.
We offer Tom our congratulations and wish him all happiness and success in his new venture. We would also hope that, study completed, he will again find time to rejoin his many friends in the Club scene and have a tune at the Clubs as before.
Bobby Brown – A further Appreciation
by Sandy Tulloch
Like many box players in Tayside, I was greatly saddened to learn of Bobby Brown’s death, from his old friend Ron Stephen. My association with bobby goes back a long way.
In the late forties, early fifties, I was pleased to add Adam Rennie’s tunes to my collection, and on coming back to Dundee from Glasgow got to know Adam fairly well and had many a happy evening playing with him and other friends. Adam was kind enough to let me sit in with the band on occasion and it was there that I met and got to know Bobby.
It was tremendous experience for me to play with such a driving quartet, and it is sad indeed that all have now gone. I doubt if we will hear such a distinctive sound again.
I have vivid memories of Adam with one finger raised to let us know we were to start in ‘G’. Ed Robb with his fingers strapped with adhesive tape. Ian McLeish ready at the piano and Bobby with his distinctive maroon early Shand Morino.
After the fifties, Bobby and I did not see so much of each other although we kept in touch from time to time. Later, after retiral, we met at the Clubs, particularly at Windygates where he was an immensely popular and regular attender. Whenever Bruce announced that it was ‘Bobby Broon’ there was always a cheer.
Bobby was a modest and gentle man with a deep feeling for Scottish music. A fine player with a touch and expression all his own. But, above all, I remember him as a band player. Not so long ago someone behind me at Windygates said over my shoulder – “Aye Sandy, they don’t make many like him these days”. Happy memories Bobby.
Record Review
A Hundred Thousand Welcomes – Perth S&R Society – Smith & Mearns SMR035
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Dee Motel) –
Alnwick (Golden Fleece) – members only 9th Mar 94 – Dave Stewart
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 6th Mar 94 – AGM & Club Night
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 3rd Mar 94 – Morag Robertson & Frank Henery
Ayr (Gartferry Hotel) – 6th Mar 94 – Gordon Shand SDB 20th Mar – Dance to Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 23rd Mar 94 – Macduff S&R Society
Beith & District (Hotel de Croft, Dalry) – 21st Mar 94 – John Renton SDB
Belford (Community Club) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 13th Mar 94 – Andrew Knight & the West Telferton Cale SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 8th Mar 94 – Jim Cleland SDB
Brigmill (Guardbridge Sports & Social Club)
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) –
Button Key (Windygates Institute) –
Callander (Glengarry Hotel) –
Campbeltown (Royal Hotel) –
Carlisle (Border Regiment Club, Carlisle Castle) - 3rd Mar 94 – Roger Dobson SDB
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Hotel) – 15th Mar 94 – Coalburn Ceilidh Band
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 17th Mar 94 – Dick Black Band
Crieff & District (Arduthie Hotel) 3rd Mar 94 – The McAllisters
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead) 15th Mar 94 – Jock Fraser SDB
Derwentside (Working Men’s Club, Consett) –
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 2nd Mar 94 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Dunblane (Westlands Hotel) – 15th Mar 94 – Lawrie Accordion Orchestra
Dundee (Park Hotel) –
Dunfermline (Roadhouse) – 8th Mar 94 – Brian Griffin
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (Sweepers, Cambuslang) – 31st Mar 94 – Donnie McGregor & Friends
Ellon (Ladbroke Hotel) –
Ettrick & Yarrow (The Gordon Arms) - 16th Mar 94 – John Fairbairn & Alan Stewart
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 28th Mar 94 – Fintry Style
Forfar (Plough Inn) -
Forres (Brig Motel) – 9th Mar 94 – Ian Powrie
Fort William (Alexandra Hotel) –
Galashiels (Maxwell Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) –
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 29th Mar 94 – Bill Stewart Band
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) -
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) –
Inveraray (Loch Fyne Hotel) - 1st Mar 94 – Peter Bruce
Islay (White Hart Hotel) - 19th Mar 94 – Allan MacIntosh
Isle of Skye -
Islesteps (Waterhole, Lochfoot) – 1st Mar 94 – Bill Black SDB
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 30th Mar 94 – Wattie Beattie Band
Kinlochshiel (Islander Function Room) - 12th Mar 94 – Donnie Smith and Diane Mearns
Kintore (Crown Hotel) – 2nd Mar 94 – Dick Black Band
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 10th Mar 94 – Jason Dove Band
Livingston (Livingston Station Community Centre) 15th Mar 94 – John Leslie Orchestra
Lockerbie (Bluebell Hotel) - 29th Mar 94 – Archie Duncan
Mauchline (The Jean Armour Function Suite) 15th Mar 94 – Fiona Cuthbertson
M.A.F.I.A. (Masonic Hall, Milngavie) –
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 2nd Mar 94 – Tommy Newcomen
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 28th Mar 94 – Kelvin Ceilidh Band
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Oban (Harbour Lights Restaurant) – 3rd Mar 94 – Colin Dewar Trio
Orkney ( venue?) –
Ormiston (Miners’ Welfare Social Club) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) – 31st Mar 94 – Raymond Carse
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 15th Mar 94 – David Cunningham Jnr SDB
Premier NI (Camlin Function Rooms) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 8th Mar 94 – Gordon Pattullo
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 3rd Mar 94 – Robert Whitehead SDB
Shetland (venue?) -
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) - 13th Mar 94 – Alan MacIntosh SDB
Thornhill (?)
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Tranent (East Lothian Labour Club)
Turriff (Royal Oak Hotel) – 3rd Mar 94 – Florence Burns & Friends 24th Mar A.G.M. followed by music
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 8th Mar 94 – Paddy Neary
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Arbroath
4. Banchory
5. Banff
6. Belford
7. Biggar
8. Blairgowrie
9. Carlisle
10. Castle Douglas
11. Coalburn
12. Crieff
13. Dalriada
14. Dingwall
15. Dunblane
16. Dunfermline
17. Etterick & Yarrow
18. Forres
19. Glendale
20. Glenrothes
21. Gretna
22. Highland
23. Inveraray
24. Islesteps
25. Kelso
26. Kinlochshiel
27. Kintore
28. Lesmahagow
29. Livingston
30. Lockerbie
31. Montrose
32. Newtongrange
33. North East
34. Oban
35. Peebles
36. Perth
37. Renfrew
38. Shetland
39. Stirling
40. Thurso
41. Turriff
42. Tynedale
43. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1991 (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 (Sept 1976 – present)
3. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
4. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed
5. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campbeltown A&F Club (
16. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
17. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
18. Coalburn A&F Club (
19. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
20. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
21. Derwentside A&F Club
22. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
23. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
24. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? -
25. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
26. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
27. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
28. Ellon A&F Club (
29. Etterick & Yarrow (Jan 1989 -
30. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
31. Forfar A&F Club (
32. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
33. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
34. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
35. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
36. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
37. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
38. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Grena when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
39. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
40. Inveraray A&F Club (Oct 1991)
41. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
42. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
43. Isle of Skye A&F Club (
44. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
45. Kintore A&F Club (
46. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
47. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
48. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
49. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
50. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 - )
51. Mauchline A&F Club (first mention 1986? - present)
52. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
53. Mull A&F Club
54. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
55. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
56. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
57. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
58. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
59. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
60. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
61. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
62. Renfrew A&F Club (
63. Rothbury Accordion Club (1987??)
64. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
65. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
66. Sutherland A&F Club (
67. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
68. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
69. Tranent A&F Club
70. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
71. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
72. 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?)
73. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
74. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
75. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
76. Buchan A&F Club
77. Callander A&F Club (
78. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
79. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
80. Club Accord
81. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2?)
82. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
83. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
84. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
85. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
86. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
87. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
88. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
89. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
90. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
91. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
92. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
93. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
94. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
95. Newcastleton Accordion Club
96. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
97. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
98. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
99. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
100. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
101. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
102. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
103. Wellbank A&F Club
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