Box and Fiddle
Year 20 No 06
March 1997
Price 70p
12 pages
7 month subscription £8.00
Editor – Ron Ramsay, 48 Hospitalfield Road, Arbroath, Angus, DD11 2LS
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Margaret Smith, Smeaton Farm Cottage, Dalkeith, Midlothian, EH22 2NL
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
Can I take this opportunity to remind all subscribers that next month’s issue (April) will be the last for the season, and would be grateful if all dates for the Diary, Dance Dates and events during the summer months be forwarded for inclusion in the next issue. This has proved helpful to readers whilst on holiday to visit other Clubs, dances, events, etc.
I still welcome suggestions to improve the paper, so any ideas and suggestions to be forwarded for consideration. One suggestion was for a competition for ‘Best Advertising Poster’ for a Club, the entries to be displayed and judged at the Perth Annual Gathering, or how about the best photo submitted to the ‘B&F’, again judged at Perth? I’m sure you’ll come up with some good suggestions.
Ron Ramsay
Shand Morino Gathering
by Mrs L. Cormack
The 2nd Shand Morino Gathering was held on Sunday, 19th January, 1997, at Windygates Institute.
A great day of talented players from all parts of the country. Morino boxes were laid out along the stage to a background of tartan and old records loaned by John McDonald. The centre-piece was taken up by the late Will Starr’s box, his sister having very kindly loaned the box for the day. She especially asked young Bruce Lindsay to play the instrument.
We had five hours of excellent entertainment but the only regret of the day was that the legendary Jimmy Shand was unable to attend owing to illness in the family.
His son, David came along and was presented with a scroll making Jimmy Shand, Honorary Life President of the Club, also David Black, one of the founder members of the Club was to be made a Life Member, but owing to illness he was unable to attend. David will receive his scroll at a later date.
The very first Shand Morino was brought over from Ireland by Ken Hopkins who purchased it from Jimmy Edwards.
Players taking part were as follows – Jim MacKay (Inverness), Sandy Tulloch (Dundee), Dave Simpson (Invergowrie), Graeme MacKay (Inverness), Tom Blaney (Lochgelly), Bill Black (Stanley), Jimmy & Alexander Lindsay (Amulree), Alf Delorey (Windygates), Bob Berry (Larkhall), Jim Douglas (Cupar), Bruce Lindsay Jnr (Largoward), David Ross (Kilmarnock), Roger Dobson (Eskdalemuir), Charlie Kirkpatrick (Glasgow), Fraser McLean (Muir of Ord), Ken Hopkins (Comber), Dougie Milne (Kirriemuie), Ian Cruickshank (Kirriemuir), Tom Mathieson (Kinross), Andy Greig (Pittenweem), George Wishart (Letham) and Arthur Patterson(Callander).
Piano box players were George Stirrat (Glasgow), Bruce Lindsay Snr (Windygates), Matt Kinnear (Dundee), Lex Keith (Glasgow) and John Crawford (Freuchie).
Fiddle – Bob McIntosh (Cupar), Steven MacKay (Inverness) and Bob Christie (Stirling).
Drummers – Jim Rodge (Windygates), Allan Dewar (Kennoway), John Stewart (Alyth), John Ireland.
Piano – Derek Dunn (North Berwick), Ray Elrick (Elie), Bruce Lindsay Snr and Mabel Gray.
Soup was on the menu for the players who came from a distance and it was much appreciated as it was such a cold day. Tea was served by the committee with sausage rolls, shortbread and cake.
It was a very enjoyable day for everyone and the Committee wish to thank everyone who gave up their time and talent. The Committee have agreed this will be a yearly event and will be held in January.
One of our faithful members died very suddenly on Friday, 17th January at home. There was a minutes silence held in memory of Bert Shorthouse. He will be sorely missed by all.
Woodley……..Where?......
by Stuart Forbes
On Wednesday, 5th February, Reading Scottish Fiddlers were the hosts at their Box and Fiddle evening at Willowbank School, Woodley. The 20-strong group played a few sets of marches, jigs, waltzes, reels, etc., and features the air ‘Hame o’ Mine’ which was arranged by their regular pianist, Maggie Fletcher.
The first soloist, Murdo MacRae, originally from the West Coast but now living in Didcot started with ‘Sunset Over Sunart’ and continued with a fine medley of ‘aff the tap o’ the heid’ tunes like ‘Ben Gullion’, ‘Tug Argen Gap’ and ‘Mary Printy’. Bob Parsons supported him on drums.
A former classmate of Lindsay Ross, button-box player, Wilson Nicol made his solo debut with a set of jigs……………….
Dave Arnott (1912-1996) – Obituary
A Devoted Musician and Family Man
by Lisberth & Erik Stien
David Arnott (Dave) was born in 1912 in East Wemyss, fife, the son of a coal miner and the youngest of nine children. Dave’s first music venture was playing the ‘moothie’ at a talent show in the local picture house, but he soon graduated to the button-key accordion. Dave’s first and only job was with Dysert Co-op where he started work as an apprentice grocer in 1927 and where he remained – apart from the war years – until he retired as Manager of their Gallatown Grocery Branch fifty years later.
As a boy and young man there was plenty of encouragement to play and to learn the accordion. Jimmy Shand, a lifelong friend, also came from East Wemyss. Dave quickly became proficient in the button key accordion and played at many local concerts and dances, and it was at one of these that he met his wife, Em, also from East Wemyss, whom he married just after the outbreak of war. During war service with the Argyll’s, Dave was posted to Barrogill Castle, Caithness (now the Castle of Mey), near John o’ Groats, where he was a welcome and well-kent figure at many a local soiree. He had a special place in his heart for Caithness and kept up friendships which he first made there for the rest of his life. 1932 found him on the high seas to North Africa, where he joined the Eighth Army and was twice wounded in its course north through Sicily and Italy, ending the war in Austria.
His return to post-war Kirkcaldy was followed by the birth of Lisbeth, and Dave continued to entertain, sometimes on his own, and sometimes in a group, at weddings, old time and Country Dance evenings, parties and concerts, until well after his retirement from the Co-op in 1977. When Em died in 1980 after 40 years of marriage, Dave found himself spending more time with Lisberth and her family in Peterculter, near Aberdeen, where he made new friends in the same easy and unassuming way as he had done in Kirkcaldy and Caithness, in fact wherever he went. He saw Peterculter as his second home, and was devoted and much-loved dad, father-in-law and grandpa to Lisbeth, Erik, David, Andrew and Laura.
He was a regular attender at Accordion Clubs and a member at Windygates and Letham. He would supplement these attendances with occasional appearances at North-East Clubs and informal ‘at home’ sessions with his many friends, north of the Dee and south of the Tay. It was while playing during a visit by Windygates Club to Glendale Club at Wooler on 19th September, 1996, that he collapsed and died doing what he loved.
Dave was largely self-taught and versatile in his repertoire, which he continued to enhance up to the end, yet self-effacing about his skills and encouraging of others. He took delight in listening to and playing Scottish Country Dance music, and his interest rewarded him with many hours both before and after his retirement. With his death the members of the Fife Clubs have lost a proficient practitioner of the traditional style and a staunch supporter of the music. He will be remembered by all those who knew him as a talented musician, a gentleman, and a loyal and supportive friend. To his family he was the best of family men. We will miss him always.
Malcolm Gee – Obituary
It is with sadness that we learn of the death of Malcolm Gee. He was motoring in Scotland when he took ill and died.
Malcolm was a former Editor of the ‘Accordion Monthly’ and the organising force behind the Caister Festival.
He will be sadly missed and our sympathies are extended to his family.
Metal Fiddle Tradition of Donegal – It’s Uses and Advantages
by Dr Kevin McCann
The clearest advantage of tin fiddles within the community in which they circulated was their low cost. The basic construction materials were extremely cheap and readily obtainable. Where a neck from a timber fiddle was already available to be added, the construction time was minimal, thus potential buyers could be offered a virtual on-site immediate supply. The notes compiled to accompany recordings of Mickey Doherty describe how Mickey was able to make a fiddle for raffle at the end of an evening card playing.
As the tin fiddles were generally made in the same shape and dimensions as a standard full- sized timber fiddle, they could be used for the exact same purpose as the latter. Though they were played for normal performances such as house dances, their muted volume did restrict their regular use for this purpose, typically demanding playing by duets or larger combinations of fiddlers. Tin fiddles were also used by players to practice and play in their houses. In this setting, they did show some noteworthy advantages over their more popular wooden counterparts.
The cottages in which traditional fiddle music was played were typically very small, often o more than three rooms. Families were large by current standards. Prior to the aspect and wide circulation of modern mutes Donegal fiddlers made several attempts to reduce the volume of their wooden instruments to permit practicing without disturbing the sleep of children in such tight quarters. Jimmy Lyons of Tealing, commonly practiced with clothes pegs wedged into his bridge.
The low volume of tin fiddles was seen as an actual decibel advantage over timber fiddles for evening practising in cottages. There were no complications as regards cutting down the sound output of the instrument and fiddlers were generally of the opinion that tin fiddles were sweet in tone.
Another point relates to children in musical houses. As fiddling was a common social pursuit in the past, children often aspired to playing. When a parent had what was considered a decent instrument its safety in the hands of children could not be assured. A small bit of rough handling often resulted in broken necks and cracks. As luthiers (skilled instrument repairers) were not know in Donegal, damage such as this typically resulted in the instrument being repaired (badly as a rule) by the local handyman or alternatively scrapped altogether with usable parts salvaged. Tin fiddles, on the other hand, were seen as ideal instruments for children. If damage was inflicted the fiddle could be tapped back into shape by even the most unskilled of persons. There are about two dozen tin fiddles in various states of repair still intact in various parts of Donegal, and a few are still playable. The last fiddle to have been made within the fiddling whitesmith fraternity of Donegal was made by Simon in 1984. It is still playable.
I wonder whether tin fiddles were ever made and played in Scotland? I’d guess that there were some made and played by the Scottish ‘travelling people’ in the past. Any information about this would be appreciated.
Your Letters
Sound Levels
May I be permitted to further add to the debate on sound levels in Clubs. Recently, I have discovered the solution to the excessive noise problem and that is ‘stay at home’ but first do a trawl through the boxes of long playing records in charity shops.
Over the past 2 or 3 months I have acquired 12 or 15 gems of the past at prices from 10p to 50p each. Most in sterio and some brand new, presumably donated by record shops giving up sale of L.P.s Records of the 60’s and 70’s but what is important all without the modern ‘thump’, records made by players using real instruments before the introduction of electronic gismows.
So, no longer do I travel 50 miles on winter nights to find myself sitting head on one side with a finger stuffed in one ear to reduce the volume of amplified mush churned through the loudspeakers. No longer do I have to tolerate the selfishness of a few who talk and smoke or find it necessary to re-fill their glasses and shuffle along the rows of seats with a word to their cronies as they take their glasses past!
Really, it’s so much nicer to sit in front of a good log fire with a generous dram, the lights down and nice Scottish music at a level one enjoys. Of course it lacks the ambience of a live performance and one misses seeing friends but this is nothing to the discomfort sometimes experienced at Clubs.
It’s really up to Chairmen to exercise control over the miscreants but Chairmen don’t always set an example. I mind one Club where the chap in charge sat under a large ‘No Smoking’ sign puffing on his pipe! Hooray for country characters! Life would be dull without them.
David Smith, Stintyknowe Farm, Hawick
Record Review
This is Johnny Duncan with Graham Sherrit on Drums – Smith Mearns Recording SMR060
The Great Cape Breton Fiddle Company – Bobby Brown and the Cape Breton Symphony Fiddlers – Lismor – LCOM5251
Take the Floor – Saturdays at 6.30pm with Robbie Shepherd
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Dee Motel) – 25th Mar 97 – Neil Dawson & Friends
Alnwick (Golden Fleece) – members only 12th Mar 97 – Bruce Lindsay Trio
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 16th Mar 97 – Roger Dobson SDB
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 2nd Mar 97 – A.G.M. & Club Night
Armadale (Masonic Hall) –
Ayr (Gartferry Hotel) –
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Hall) – 16th Mar 97 – Jennifer Forrest SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 31st Mar 97 – James Coutts SDB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 26th Mar 97 – Lindsay Weir SDB
Beith & District (Hotel de Croft, Dalry) – 17th Mar 97 – Black Rose Ceilidh Band
Belford (Community Club) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 9th Mar 97 – Bruce Lindsay Trio
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 11th May 97 – Colin Dewar Trio
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) - 11th Mar 97 – tba
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 13th Mar 97 – 10th Anniversary Ian Holmes
Campsie (Glazert House Hotel) - 4th Mar 97 – Willie Simpson Trio
Carlisle (Border Regiment Club, Carlisle Castle) - 6th Mar 97 – Graeme Johnstone
Castle Douglas (Ernespie House Hotel) – 18th Mar 97 – David Ross Trio
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 20th Mar 97 – Lothian Dance Band
Crieff & District (Arduthie Hotel) 6th Mar 97 – Dick Black Band
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead) 18th Mar 97 – Donnie and Diane with David Stewart
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 5th Mar 97 – Brian Morrison & Friends
Dunblane (Westlands Hotel) – 18th Mar 97 – Karen Higgins SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 11th Mar 97 – Dick Black Band
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (Sweepers, Cambuslang) – 6th Mar 97 – Fraser McGlynn Duo
Ellon (Ladbroke Hotel) – 18th Mar 97 – Bill Black SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 24th Mar 97 – Wayne Robertson & Nigel Jelks
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 30th Mar 97 – The Carlyle Family
Forres (Brig Motel) – 12th Mar 97 – James Coutts SDB + Trio Comp
Fort William (Alexandra Hotel) –
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) – 6th Mar 97 – Robin Brock SDB
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) – 10th Mar 97 – Angie Smith Trio
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) – 20th Mar 97 – Calum Wilson SDB
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) -
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 25th Mar 97 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) - 19th Mar 97 – Black Rose Ceilidh Band
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 17th Mar 97 – John Huband SDB + Band Comp
Inveraray (Loch Fyne Hotel) - 4th Mar 97 – Currie Brothers
Islay (White Hart Hotel) -
Isle of Skye -
Islesteps (Waterhole, Lochfoot) – 4th Mar 97 – tba
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 26th Mar 97 – Burns Brothers
Kinlochshiel (Islander Function Room) -
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) – 5th Mar 97 – Neil Dawson & Friends
Lanark (Masonic Hall) - 13th Mar 97 – David Ross Trio
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 13th Mar 97 – Iain Cathcart SDB
Livingston (Deans Community Centre) 18th Mar 97 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 25th Mar 97 – Fergie McDonald Trio
Mauchline (Sorn Village Hall) 18th Mar 97 – William Bradley SDB
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th Mar 97 – Strathmore Sound
Muirhead (Belmont Arms, Meigle) - 19th Mar 97 – Club Night
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 24th Mar 97 – Andrew Gordon SDB
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 4th Mar 97 – Lothian Dance Band
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) – 6th Mar 97 – Bill Black SDB
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) – 27th Mar 97 – Max Houliston Trio
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 18th Mar 97 – Alister McCulloch Trio
Premier NI (Camlin Function Rooms) -
Reading Fiddlers (Piggot School) - 13th Mar 96 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 11th Mar 97 – Donnie & Diane
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 6th Mar 97 – Lynn Bradshaw Duo
Shetland (venue?) -
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) - 9th Mar 97 – Black Rose Ceilidh Band
Thornhill (Dumfries-shire) - 12th Mar 97 – David Ross Duo
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 3rd Mar 97 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Turriff (Royal Oak Hotel) – 6th Mar 97 – Strathbogie Fiddlers 20th Mar Gordon & Audrey Steele
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) – 18th Mar 97 – Sandy Leggat SDB
Yarrow (Gordon Arms) - 19th Mar 97 – Fiona Cuthbertson
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Arbroath
5. Balloch
6. Banchory
7. Banff
8. Beith
9. Biggar
10. Blairgowrie
11. Button Key
12. Campsie
13. Carlisle
14. Castle Douglas
15. Crieff
16. Dalriada
17. Dingwall
18. Dunblane
19. Dunfermline
20. East Kilbride
21. Fintry
22. Galashiels
23. Glendale
24. Gretna
25. Highland
26. Inveraray
27. Islesteps
28. Kelso
29. Kintore
30. Lesmahagow
31. Livingston
32. Lockerbie
33. Montrose
34. Newtongrange
35. North East
36. Oban
37. Orkney
38. Peebles
39. Perth
40. Rothbury
41. Stirling
42. Thornhill
43. Thurso
44. Turriff
45. Wick
46. Yarrow
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1995
(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. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started?
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed
6. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
7. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
8. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
9. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
10. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
11. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
12. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
13. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
14. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
15. Bromley A&F Club
16. Button Key A&F Club (
17. Campbeltown A&F Club (
18. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
19. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
20. Coalburn A&F Club (
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
23. Derwentside A&F Club
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? -
27. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
28. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Etterick & Yarrow (Jan 1989 -
32. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
33. Forfar A&F Club (
34. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
35. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
36. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
37. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
38. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
39. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
40. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
41. 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)
42. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
43. Inveraray A&F Club (Oct 1991 - present)
44. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
45. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
46. Isle of Skye A&F Club (
47. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
48. Kintore A&F Club (
49. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – present)
50. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
51. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
52. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
53. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
54. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
55. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
56. Mauchline A&F Club (first mention 1986? - present)
57. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
58. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
59. Mull A&F Club
60. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
61. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
62. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
63. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
64. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
65. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
66. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
67. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
68. Renfrew A&F Club (
69. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
70. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
71. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
72. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
73. Sutherland A&F Club (
74. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
75. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
76. Tranent A&F Club
77. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
78. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
79. 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?)
80. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
81. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
82. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
83. Buchan A&F Club
84. Callander A&F Club (
85. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
86. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
87. Club Accord
88. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
89. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
90. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
91. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
92. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
93. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
94. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
95. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
96. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
97. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
98. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
99. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
100. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
101. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
102. Newcastleton Accordion Club
103. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
104. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
105. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
106. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
107. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
108. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
109. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
110. Wellbank A&F Club
Advertising rates increased
Full Page - £113 from Sept 96
Half Page - £57
Quarter Page - £29
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Margaret Smith, Smeaton Farm Cottage, Dalkeith, Midlothian, EH22 2NL
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
Can I take this opportunity to remind all subscribers that next month’s issue (April) will be the last for the season, and would be grateful if all dates for the Diary, Dance Dates and events during the summer months be forwarded for inclusion in the next issue. This has proved helpful to readers whilst on holiday to visit other Clubs, dances, events, etc.
I still welcome suggestions to improve the paper, so any ideas and suggestions to be forwarded for consideration. One suggestion was for a competition for ‘Best Advertising Poster’ for a Club, the entries to be displayed and judged at the Perth Annual Gathering, or how about the best photo submitted to the ‘B&F’, again judged at Perth? I’m sure you’ll come up with some good suggestions.
Ron Ramsay
Shand Morino Gathering
by Mrs L. Cormack
The 2nd Shand Morino Gathering was held on Sunday, 19th January, 1997, at Windygates Institute.
A great day of talented players from all parts of the country. Morino boxes were laid out along the stage to a background of tartan and old records loaned by John McDonald. The centre-piece was taken up by the late Will Starr’s box, his sister having very kindly loaned the box for the day. She especially asked young Bruce Lindsay to play the instrument.
We had five hours of excellent entertainment but the only regret of the day was that the legendary Jimmy Shand was unable to attend owing to illness in the family.
His son, David came along and was presented with a scroll making Jimmy Shand, Honorary Life President of the Club, also David Black, one of the founder members of the Club was to be made a Life Member, but owing to illness he was unable to attend. David will receive his scroll at a later date.
The very first Shand Morino was brought over from Ireland by Ken Hopkins who purchased it from Jimmy Edwards.
Players taking part were as follows – Jim MacKay (Inverness), Sandy Tulloch (Dundee), Dave Simpson (Invergowrie), Graeme MacKay (Inverness), Tom Blaney (Lochgelly), Bill Black (Stanley), Jimmy & Alexander Lindsay (Amulree), Alf Delorey (Windygates), Bob Berry (Larkhall), Jim Douglas (Cupar), Bruce Lindsay Jnr (Largoward), David Ross (Kilmarnock), Roger Dobson (Eskdalemuir), Charlie Kirkpatrick (Glasgow), Fraser McLean (Muir of Ord), Ken Hopkins (Comber), Dougie Milne (Kirriemuie), Ian Cruickshank (Kirriemuir), Tom Mathieson (Kinross), Andy Greig (Pittenweem), George Wishart (Letham) and Arthur Patterson(Callander).
Piano box players were George Stirrat (Glasgow), Bruce Lindsay Snr (Windygates), Matt Kinnear (Dundee), Lex Keith (Glasgow) and John Crawford (Freuchie).
Fiddle – Bob McIntosh (Cupar), Steven MacKay (Inverness) and Bob Christie (Stirling).
Drummers – Jim Rodge (Windygates), Allan Dewar (Kennoway), John Stewart (Alyth), John Ireland.
Piano – Derek Dunn (North Berwick), Ray Elrick (Elie), Bruce Lindsay Snr and Mabel Gray.
Soup was on the menu for the players who came from a distance and it was much appreciated as it was such a cold day. Tea was served by the committee with sausage rolls, shortbread and cake.
It was a very enjoyable day for everyone and the Committee wish to thank everyone who gave up their time and talent. The Committee have agreed this will be a yearly event and will be held in January.
One of our faithful members died very suddenly on Friday, 17th January at home. There was a minutes silence held in memory of Bert Shorthouse. He will be sorely missed by all.
Woodley……..Where?......
by Stuart Forbes
On Wednesday, 5th February, Reading Scottish Fiddlers were the hosts at their Box and Fiddle evening at Willowbank School, Woodley. The 20-strong group played a few sets of marches, jigs, waltzes, reels, etc., and features the air ‘Hame o’ Mine’ which was arranged by their regular pianist, Maggie Fletcher.
The first soloist, Murdo MacRae, originally from the West Coast but now living in Didcot started with ‘Sunset Over Sunart’ and continued with a fine medley of ‘aff the tap o’ the heid’ tunes like ‘Ben Gullion’, ‘Tug Argen Gap’ and ‘Mary Printy’. Bob Parsons supported him on drums.
A former classmate of Lindsay Ross, button-box player, Wilson Nicol made his solo debut with a set of jigs……………….
Dave Arnott (1912-1996) – Obituary
A Devoted Musician and Family Man
by Lisberth & Erik Stien
David Arnott (Dave) was born in 1912 in East Wemyss, fife, the son of a coal miner and the youngest of nine children. Dave’s first music venture was playing the ‘moothie’ at a talent show in the local picture house, but he soon graduated to the button-key accordion. Dave’s first and only job was with Dysert Co-op where he started work as an apprentice grocer in 1927 and where he remained – apart from the war years – until he retired as Manager of their Gallatown Grocery Branch fifty years later.
As a boy and young man there was plenty of encouragement to play and to learn the accordion. Jimmy Shand, a lifelong friend, also came from East Wemyss. Dave quickly became proficient in the button key accordion and played at many local concerts and dances, and it was at one of these that he met his wife, Em, also from East Wemyss, whom he married just after the outbreak of war. During war service with the Argyll’s, Dave was posted to Barrogill Castle, Caithness (now the Castle of Mey), near John o’ Groats, where he was a welcome and well-kent figure at many a local soiree. He had a special place in his heart for Caithness and kept up friendships which he first made there for the rest of his life. 1932 found him on the high seas to North Africa, where he joined the Eighth Army and was twice wounded in its course north through Sicily and Italy, ending the war in Austria.
His return to post-war Kirkcaldy was followed by the birth of Lisbeth, and Dave continued to entertain, sometimes on his own, and sometimes in a group, at weddings, old time and Country Dance evenings, parties and concerts, until well after his retirement from the Co-op in 1977. When Em died in 1980 after 40 years of marriage, Dave found himself spending more time with Lisberth and her family in Peterculter, near Aberdeen, where he made new friends in the same easy and unassuming way as he had done in Kirkcaldy and Caithness, in fact wherever he went. He saw Peterculter as his second home, and was devoted and much-loved dad, father-in-law and grandpa to Lisbeth, Erik, David, Andrew and Laura.
He was a regular attender at Accordion Clubs and a member at Windygates and Letham. He would supplement these attendances with occasional appearances at North-East Clubs and informal ‘at home’ sessions with his many friends, north of the Dee and south of the Tay. It was while playing during a visit by Windygates Club to Glendale Club at Wooler on 19th September, 1996, that he collapsed and died doing what he loved.
Dave was largely self-taught and versatile in his repertoire, which he continued to enhance up to the end, yet self-effacing about his skills and encouraging of others. He took delight in listening to and playing Scottish Country Dance music, and his interest rewarded him with many hours both before and after his retirement. With his death the members of the Fife Clubs have lost a proficient practitioner of the traditional style and a staunch supporter of the music. He will be remembered by all those who knew him as a talented musician, a gentleman, and a loyal and supportive friend. To his family he was the best of family men. We will miss him always.
Malcolm Gee – Obituary
It is with sadness that we learn of the death of Malcolm Gee. He was motoring in Scotland when he took ill and died.
Malcolm was a former Editor of the ‘Accordion Monthly’ and the organising force behind the Caister Festival.
He will be sadly missed and our sympathies are extended to his family.
Metal Fiddle Tradition of Donegal – It’s Uses and Advantages
by Dr Kevin McCann
The clearest advantage of tin fiddles within the community in which they circulated was their low cost. The basic construction materials were extremely cheap and readily obtainable. Where a neck from a timber fiddle was already available to be added, the construction time was minimal, thus potential buyers could be offered a virtual on-site immediate supply. The notes compiled to accompany recordings of Mickey Doherty describe how Mickey was able to make a fiddle for raffle at the end of an evening card playing.
As the tin fiddles were generally made in the same shape and dimensions as a standard full- sized timber fiddle, they could be used for the exact same purpose as the latter. Though they were played for normal performances such as house dances, their muted volume did restrict their regular use for this purpose, typically demanding playing by duets or larger combinations of fiddlers. Tin fiddles were also used by players to practice and play in their houses. In this setting, they did show some noteworthy advantages over their more popular wooden counterparts.
The cottages in which traditional fiddle music was played were typically very small, often o more than three rooms. Families were large by current standards. Prior to the aspect and wide circulation of modern mutes Donegal fiddlers made several attempts to reduce the volume of their wooden instruments to permit practicing without disturbing the sleep of children in such tight quarters. Jimmy Lyons of Tealing, commonly practiced with clothes pegs wedged into his bridge.
The low volume of tin fiddles was seen as an actual decibel advantage over timber fiddles for evening practising in cottages. There were no complications as regards cutting down the sound output of the instrument and fiddlers were generally of the opinion that tin fiddles were sweet in tone.
Another point relates to children in musical houses. As fiddling was a common social pursuit in the past, children often aspired to playing. When a parent had what was considered a decent instrument its safety in the hands of children could not be assured. A small bit of rough handling often resulted in broken necks and cracks. As luthiers (skilled instrument repairers) were not know in Donegal, damage such as this typically resulted in the instrument being repaired (badly as a rule) by the local handyman or alternatively scrapped altogether with usable parts salvaged. Tin fiddles, on the other hand, were seen as ideal instruments for children. If damage was inflicted the fiddle could be tapped back into shape by even the most unskilled of persons. There are about two dozen tin fiddles in various states of repair still intact in various parts of Donegal, and a few are still playable. The last fiddle to have been made within the fiddling whitesmith fraternity of Donegal was made by Simon in 1984. It is still playable.
I wonder whether tin fiddles were ever made and played in Scotland? I’d guess that there were some made and played by the Scottish ‘travelling people’ in the past. Any information about this would be appreciated.
Your Letters
Sound Levels
May I be permitted to further add to the debate on sound levels in Clubs. Recently, I have discovered the solution to the excessive noise problem and that is ‘stay at home’ but first do a trawl through the boxes of long playing records in charity shops.
Over the past 2 or 3 months I have acquired 12 or 15 gems of the past at prices from 10p to 50p each. Most in sterio and some brand new, presumably donated by record shops giving up sale of L.P.s Records of the 60’s and 70’s but what is important all without the modern ‘thump’, records made by players using real instruments before the introduction of electronic gismows.
So, no longer do I travel 50 miles on winter nights to find myself sitting head on one side with a finger stuffed in one ear to reduce the volume of amplified mush churned through the loudspeakers. No longer do I have to tolerate the selfishness of a few who talk and smoke or find it necessary to re-fill their glasses and shuffle along the rows of seats with a word to their cronies as they take their glasses past!
Really, it’s so much nicer to sit in front of a good log fire with a generous dram, the lights down and nice Scottish music at a level one enjoys. Of course it lacks the ambience of a live performance and one misses seeing friends but this is nothing to the discomfort sometimes experienced at Clubs.
It’s really up to Chairmen to exercise control over the miscreants but Chairmen don’t always set an example. I mind one Club where the chap in charge sat under a large ‘No Smoking’ sign puffing on his pipe! Hooray for country characters! Life would be dull without them.
David Smith, Stintyknowe Farm, Hawick
Record Review
This is Johnny Duncan with Graham Sherrit on Drums – Smith Mearns Recording SMR060
The Great Cape Breton Fiddle Company – Bobby Brown and the Cape Breton Symphony Fiddlers – Lismor – LCOM5251
Take the Floor – Saturdays at 6.30pm with Robbie Shepherd
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Dee Motel) – 25th Mar 97 – Neil Dawson & Friends
Alnwick (Golden Fleece) – members only 12th Mar 97 – Bruce Lindsay Trio
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 16th Mar 97 – Roger Dobson SDB
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 2nd Mar 97 – A.G.M. & Club Night
Armadale (Masonic Hall) –
Ayr (Gartferry Hotel) –
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Hall) – 16th Mar 97 – Jennifer Forrest SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 31st Mar 97 – James Coutts SDB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 26th Mar 97 – Lindsay Weir SDB
Beith & District (Hotel de Croft, Dalry) – 17th Mar 97 – Black Rose Ceilidh Band
Belford (Community Club) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 9th Mar 97 – Bruce Lindsay Trio
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 11th May 97 – Colin Dewar Trio
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) - 11th Mar 97 – tba
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 13th Mar 97 – 10th Anniversary Ian Holmes
Campsie (Glazert House Hotel) - 4th Mar 97 – Willie Simpson Trio
Carlisle (Border Regiment Club, Carlisle Castle) - 6th Mar 97 – Graeme Johnstone
Castle Douglas (Ernespie House Hotel) – 18th Mar 97 – David Ross Trio
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 20th Mar 97 – Lothian Dance Band
Crieff & District (Arduthie Hotel) 6th Mar 97 – Dick Black Band
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead) 18th Mar 97 – Donnie and Diane with David Stewart
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 5th Mar 97 – Brian Morrison & Friends
Dunblane (Westlands Hotel) – 18th Mar 97 – Karen Higgins SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 11th Mar 97 – Dick Black Band
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (Sweepers, Cambuslang) – 6th Mar 97 – Fraser McGlynn Duo
Ellon (Ladbroke Hotel) – 18th Mar 97 – Bill Black SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 24th Mar 97 – Wayne Robertson & Nigel Jelks
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 30th Mar 97 – The Carlyle Family
Forres (Brig Motel) – 12th Mar 97 – James Coutts SDB + Trio Comp
Fort William (Alexandra Hotel) –
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) – 6th Mar 97 – Robin Brock SDB
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) – 10th Mar 97 – Angie Smith Trio
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) – 20th Mar 97 – Calum Wilson SDB
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) -
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 25th Mar 97 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) - 19th Mar 97 – Black Rose Ceilidh Band
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 17th Mar 97 – John Huband SDB + Band Comp
Inveraray (Loch Fyne Hotel) - 4th Mar 97 – Currie Brothers
Islay (White Hart Hotel) -
Isle of Skye -
Islesteps (Waterhole, Lochfoot) – 4th Mar 97 – tba
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 26th Mar 97 – Burns Brothers
Kinlochshiel (Islander Function Room) -
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) – 5th Mar 97 – Neil Dawson & Friends
Lanark (Masonic Hall) - 13th Mar 97 – David Ross Trio
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 13th Mar 97 – Iain Cathcart SDB
Livingston (Deans Community Centre) 18th Mar 97 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 25th Mar 97 – Fergie McDonald Trio
Mauchline (Sorn Village Hall) 18th Mar 97 – William Bradley SDB
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th Mar 97 – Strathmore Sound
Muirhead (Belmont Arms, Meigle) - 19th Mar 97 – Club Night
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 24th Mar 97 – Andrew Gordon SDB
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 4th Mar 97 – Lothian Dance Band
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) – 6th Mar 97 – Bill Black SDB
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) – 27th Mar 97 – Max Houliston Trio
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 18th Mar 97 – Alister McCulloch Trio
Premier NI (Camlin Function Rooms) -
Reading Fiddlers (Piggot School) - 13th Mar 96 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 11th Mar 97 – Donnie & Diane
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 6th Mar 97 – Lynn Bradshaw Duo
Shetland (venue?) -
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) - 9th Mar 97 – Black Rose Ceilidh Band
Thornhill (Dumfries-shire) - 12th Mar 97 – David Ross Duo
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 3rd Mar 97 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Turriff (Royal Oak Hotel) – 6th Mar 97 – Strathbogie Fiddlers 20th Mar Gordon & Audrey Steele
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) – 18th Mar 97 – Sandy Leggat SDB
Yarrow (Gordon Arms) - 19th Mar 97 – Fiona Cuthbertson
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Arbroath
5. Balloch
6. Banchory
7. Banff
8. Beith
9. Biggar
10. Blairgowrie
11. Button Key
12. Campsie
13. Carlisle
14. Castle Douglas
15. Crieff
16. Dalriada
17. Dingwall
18. Dunblane
19. Dunfermline
20. East Kilbride
21. Fintry
22. Galashiels
23. Glendale
24. Gretna
25. Highland
26. Inveraray
27. Islesteps
28. Kelso
29. Kintore
30. Lesmahagow
31. Livingston
32. Lockerbie
33. Montrose
34. Newtongrange
35. North East
36. Oban
37. Orkney
38. Peebles
39. Perth
40. Rothbury
41. Stirling
42. Thornhill
43. Thurso
44. Turriff
45. Wick
46. Yarrow
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1995
(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. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started?
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed
6. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
7. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
8. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
9. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
10. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
11. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
12. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
13. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
14. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
15. Bromley A&F Club
16. Button Key A&F Club (
17. Campbeltown A&F Club (
18. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
19. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
20. Coalburn A&F Club (
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
23. Derwentside A&F Club
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? -
27. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
28. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Etterick & Yarrow (Jan 1989 -
32. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
33. Forfar A&F Club (
34. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
35. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
36. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
37. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
38. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
39. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
40. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
41. 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)
42. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
43. Inveraray A&F Club (Oct 1991 - present)
44. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
45. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
46. Isle of Skye A&F Club (
47. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
48. Kintore A&F Club (
49. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – present)
50. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
51. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
52. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
53. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
54. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
55. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
56. Mauchline A&F Club (first mention 1986? - present)
57. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
58. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
59. Mull A&F Club
60. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
61. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
62. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
63. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
64. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
65. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
66. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
67. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
68. Renfrew A&F Club (
69. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
70. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
71. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
72. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
73. Sutherland A&F Club (
74. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
75. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
76. Tranent A&F Club
77. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
78. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
79. 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?)
80. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
81. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
82. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
83. Buchan A&F Club
84. Callander A&F Club (
85. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
86. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
87. Club Accord
88. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
89. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
90. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
91. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
92. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
93. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
94. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
95. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
96. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
97. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
98. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
99. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
100. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
101. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
102. Newcastleton Accordion Club
103. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
104. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
105. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
106. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
107. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
108. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
109. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
110. Wellbank A&F Club
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