Box and Fiddle
Year 25 No 07
March 2002
Price £1.75
44 Page Magazine
1 month subscription £1.75 + p&p £0.60
Editor – Karin Ingram, Hawick
B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
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
Yet again we have a full magazine for you. Thank you once more for all your articles, letters and photographs. Thank you too to Alison Riddell and Heather McLean, for proofreading, typing and generally keeping me sane.
We have a bit of a Northern bias this month, with Up Helly Aa dominating the proceedings – how are the hangover by the way? We also have an article on the young fiddlers ‘High Strings’ who will shortly be down touring on the Mainland – we wish them well. Traditional Music Co-ordinator in Inverness, Margo Maclennan, writes her first column for us, and we have a report from the first Inverness Button Box Gathering.
The button-box has been much to the fore farther south, with another highly successful Shand Morino Gathering. There was also a new venture in St Andrews with a Sir Jimmy shand Tribute Day. I’m hoping to do a report on it in the next issue, but I desperately need photos – can anyone help?
Also next month we’re looking for photos for another feature – ‘Love me, Love my Dog’ – but there has to be a musical connection (maybe a tune written for your dog, or a particularly aptly names mutt!
Hope to see you at Musselburgh.
Karin Ingram
Up Helly AA 2002
by the Survivors
The Pre-Up-Helly-Aa Club night was held in the usual venue on Monday, 28th January. Once again it drew the biggest crowd of the season with all the tickets sold. What a night of music it turned out to be with 13 bands and soloists performing our Compere for the evening was the one and only Jimmy Burgess. Jimmy agreed, against his better judgement, to be our Compere, as he had a full 24-hour playing stint ahead of him on Up-Helly-Aa day as one of the Jarl Squad musicians, and should have been home resting. I will not be able to name all the individual musicians……..
The M.A.F.I.A.
by Bobby Harvey (The Godfather)
Photo - The Mafia entering The Black Bull Hotel, Milngavie (l to r) Big Tam McWilliam, Ivor Britton, Jimmy Yeaman, Denis McLoughlin, Jim MacRae, Norman Williams, Dougie Byers, Bunny Traynor, Bobby Harvey (The Godfather), Davie Bowen, Alastair Ross
Last month’s tribute to Jim MacRae sparked off some interest in the Milngavie Accordion, Fiddle & Instrumentalists Association (the M.A.F.I.A.) The following piece was from a handout written by Bobby Harvey (The Godfather) and given to members on the final night c1993. They had been one of the first Club’s to open after Bobby appeared as a guest at Max’s original ‘Hole in the Wa’.
The Phoenix Mafia
All good things come to an end and friends, tonight is the end of an era.
It’s over thirty years since I started the MAFIA after guesting at Max Houliston’s ‘Hole I’ the Wa’ in Dumfries when Max had started the original Accordion & Fiddle Club in Scotland. Thirty years of great traditional music coming to an end tonight, but who of the original members can ever forget the daft but glorious nights in The Black Bull with members and guests that read like a Who’s Who of Scottish music of the day. Only the top……aye the very top of the profession came to Milngavie in those magic days and were delighted to be asked! Names that mean everything to all of us who love our music, names like Jimmy Shand, Bobby MacLeod, Pibroch MacKenzie with Calum McLean, Angus Fitchett, Ian Powrie, Mickie Ainsworth, Jimmy Blue, Fraser McGlynn, Jim Johnstone and many other excellent musicians, duets, trios and bands.
Some of the special nights will forever be remembered among our own members for their hilarious after effects and spontaneous fun. The night Jimmy Shand played for the first time at an Accordion Club as a personal favour and wouldn’t take a ha’penny because he enjoyed himself so much laughing a Charlie Cowie, pi**ed as a newt, played out of his skin and forgot he was there…… The night we had a ‘Special’ for our member George Hill, the loveable guitarist who had just lost his leg, and unknown to him, the doctors gave permission for him to arrive by ambulance to attend his own benefit night and we gave him his guitar and banjo and there he was – sitting up in a hospital bed playing with all the boys. On that night we had Andy Stewart, the Alexander Brothers, a full visit from the Perth Club and many more top visitors plus our own members. The doctors said it was the best therapy anyone could ask for…..for us as well as George who recovered and had many more happy years of playing. The night we had a visit from the Langholm Club and surprised them with another guest who had never performed at a Club, and only for the cost of my phone call, Will Starr….The MAFIA cruises, which were an essential part of summer, although the destinations were unusual (we were the only Club to run a cruise to Aberfoyle), and the cruise to Rowardennan became a mystery tour when we had to return by the Postbus to Balmaha because the main bus couldn’t get up the hill….it gave us more time for drinking at Rowardennan as we. like the true Gentlemen we are, adopted the policy of ‘women and children first’ on the return shuttle service….’From scenes like this Auld Scotia’s grandeur springs’…..there are so many more that one day I’ll chronicle them…..But now as the final Slow Air sounds over these happy memories we can look back on ‘The Baghdad Ceilidh’ of Archie Duncan, the great pipe tunes of Ivor Britton, John Carmichael, Lex Keith, George Stirrat, Jimmy MacRae, Jimmy Yeaman, Dochie McCallum, ‘Bunny’ Traynor, Tam McWilliam, Bobbie Lillie, Bobby Crowe, Jimmy Blair, Alan Kitchen, Stuart & Arthur McKeown, Morag McAskill, Hector McLeod, Neil Fyffe, Benny Green, Norman Currie, The Currie Brothers and many many more which I’ll remember when I read this over….and make my apologies to those whom I’ve forgotten, in the rush to get this finished this year.
All I can say is THANK YOU ALL…..and should another Club arise in the future we’ll do all we can for the cause of keeping Scottish music LIVE.
‘WE’RE NO’ AWA’ TAE BIDE AWA’
George Cockburn
by Charlie Todd
If you have visited our website you will have seen Charlie Todd’s article about George Cockburn, which was published in the B&F in January 1992. Cyberspace can be a wonderful thing – it initiated the following correspondence… Karin
Dear Charlie
I have been intrigued by your website, found by my son, Iain, in Boston, Massachusetts. You may be interested to know that I have my father's set of pipes still with me, adorned as they are with hallmarked Edinburgh silver, every time he won a trophy, from the 20s on.
He was a musician, and conjured the most wonderful sounds from what is, I have to say, a somewhat uncouth instrument. I last played his ancient and mellow-sounding set at the funeral of a friend in Kirkcudbright, six years ago. Alas, arthritis now prohibits me. Not that I have ever matched his artistry.
The great 6/8 tune John Burgess was originally called Colonel William Frizell. I think he was in charge of the Home Guard in Edinburgh. But when John played it one night in our house, my Dad said, "That is your tune."
I did, however, once win a prize (in competition with John Burgess, at The Highland Pipers Society in Edinburgh) of a set of pipes donated by John Shaw – who, famously, died of a heart attack, while piping the corpse of Compton Mackenzie from the beach at Barra to the kirkyard! I have them still. The competition tune was Mrs. McDonald of Dunach.
I have a stash of manuscripts of my Dad's. Most of them – at least the best – are either his, or versions of somebody else’s, and are now commonly played as part of the corpus of folk music. But I know not whether he, or somebody else, originally composed them. Bit like Robbie Burns, I suppose, he remanufactured whatever he could find, including themes from his limited collection of Beethoven and Mozart.
John Burgess – whose soccer boots I wore for some years – was, probably, the most gifted piper of his generation, matched possibly by my brother Iain, unfairly brought down by TB and cancer. He (Iain) was good and gifted, as Hector Mc Andrew said. Last saw him (McAndrew) at the Mayberry Roadhouse in Corstorphine, Edinburgh – now sadly a casino.
George Cockburn
Dear George,
Delighted to receive your E-mail re your late father.
By coincidence I was playing with the guest band at Karin, our Editor's, Club at Newmill-on-Teviot (near Hawick) on Wednesday night and one of the points I raised was the fact that although we know something of the prolific composers, in many cases we know nothing at all about the people with one or two very good compositions to their credit. One of the obvious ones in the dance music scene is the Bluebell Polka by F. Stanley (not Jimmy Shand as most people think). I doubt that there's anyone alive who now knows who F. Stanley was which I find really sad.
Unfortunately no one in the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs has really had the time to knuckle down and do things like research tune titles and composers. When the magazine started in 1977 a lot of these guys would still be around, (or at the very least people of the next generation who knew them or knew who they were) but in the intervening years they have all gone. Again on the dance music scene Lindsay Ross, Andrew Rankine, Bobby MacLeod, Angus Fitchet and now Sir Jimmy Shand have departed the scene, all in the last few years.
Anyway, I say this because it was that thought which prompted me a few years ago to try and find out something about you dad. When Karin set up the Web-site last year it was the first article I re-typed because it was fairly short and I could finish it in an evening and because he was reasonably local (I stay near Biggar). Historically this part of the world isn't known for outstanding musicianship in any field so it was nice to find at least one exception. What I haven't got round to doing was re-establishing where your sister stays to borrow and scan the only photo she had (certainly from your dad's earlier days) when he was in the Dandy 9th. She did mention at the time that you probably had inherited more interesting photos than she had? Photos bring articles on the web to life. Do you have any we could borrow, scan and return? If so could you please send them to Karin Ingram, Filters House, Dodburn by Hawick TD9 0PG Tele 01450-850 262.
It's interesting that you still have manuscripts. I know what you're saying about the origins of these being rather lost in the mists of time. Rory MacLeod at the Piping Centre in Glasgow edits their magazine “Notes” which comes out quarterly. They gather some interesting bits and pieces. Their E-mail address is [email protected] - it might be an interesting and informative exercise to photocopy what you have and let them see it. They have the expertise to recognise known tunes from unknown ones – who knows what may come to light. Their address is The National Piping Centre, 30-34 McPhater Street, Cowcaddens, Glasgow, G4 0HW.
Hope to hear from you
Cheers
Charlie Todd
Dear Charlie,
Thanks for the e-mail.
I will dig.
You mention The Bluebell Polka, by F. Stanley, of whom I know not, but I do remember dancing to it in my youth, including to Jimmy Shand, in the BBC studios (in Queen Street?) in Edinburgh in the early 50s, when they used to do a weekly live SCD programme, with an audience to applaud and live dancers to add atmosphere. Have found a manuscript of The Liberton Polka. To whom is this attributed? Or was it always there? A good tune anyways. When I have played it, admittedly to those who would not be expected to know, nobody knew anything about it.
I will look for The Bluebell…
Have dug up some images of my Dad from 1914 and even earlier, both in the Dandy Ninth and afterwards. And as a stottie wee laddie marching off to war. I will post them off to Karin, as you say…
I have also just dug up, from the archives, a letter from the front, in 1917, where my Dad asks of his Mother if his Dad likes his latest tune. This "latest" tune was, I suspect, Colonel Green, a lively 6/8, played by Hector McAndrew and others, especially around Moffat. I have a manuscript of it somewhere. Will search.
Cheers
George Cockburn
PS: A douce wee toon, Biggar
The photographs duly arrived, as you can see, and this is what George had to say about them…
Dear Karin,
Photos of George Cockburn
Here are some for you to select from, crop, do what you will with.
The small oval is on his enlistment in 1915, aged seventeen. He was demobbed in February 1919 having, according to his discharge certificate, led a blameless and undistinguished life as a piper in the Dandy Ninth. He would also, of course, have been a stretcher-bearer, because that is what bandsmen did – presumably after lunatically standing on the parapet. But he would never talk about the war.
The one of two soldiers (he in the kilt) is of him and his brother John (who was a regular) on his one leave in early 1918.
The solo of him in fancy dress is, I think, at The Inverness Highland Games in 1923 or 4.
The photo of four men is at The Oban Highland Games in 1922; the photo was said by my aunt to be of the three medal winners and the judge in the “Ceol Mhor”. The judge looks suspiciously like Willie Ross of Edinburgh Castle. The piper on the right is, I think, John Wilson of Edinburgh, who was a professional piper (Police and Army) whom my dad thought to be one of the best around – until he lost the tips of his fingers in some accident. He then emigrated to Canada. But I remember hearing him play beautifully in our house in ’47 or ’48, when he made his one visit back.
The one I like best – never could really understand this passion of Lowlanders to wear Celtic tribal dress – is him in his suit, wi’ his pipes in his hands.
Cheers,
George Cockburn
Collectors’ Pieces
by Charlie Gore
Charlie Gore edited and published ‘The Scottish Fiddle Music Index’ in 1994. This was the first attempt ever made to index the titles of the 12,000 or so traditional tunes, songs, airs and miscellaneous music published in the printed collections of the 18th and early 19th centuries. The chief value of the Index to researchers, musicians and students of the tradition is that it has made it possible to locate any tune listed and to identify an accessible source for the music (mostly based on collections held at the National Library of Scotland).
Malcolm MacDonald (1750s - 1790s) Musician & Composer 'at Dunkeld'
Of all the talented musicians of Highland Perthshire, both contemporaries of and successors to Niel Gow of Inver, Malcolm Macdonald seems to be the one most continuously connected with Dunkeld and by association with the old maestro himself. Yet nobody appears to have remembered or recorded much about his life and we can only draw on hearsay. What inferences can be drawn from his published work and what was known of life in the region in his time. There is no record that he was born there and the general view seems to be that he came from the district of Breadalbane, to the west, probably to find work. If he lived rent-free (as workers on the Atholl Estate often did) his name not appearing on the rent-roll, no trace would remain in any case. Charles Macintosh (1797-1867), a musician native to Inver, passed down the information that Macdonald lived on the west side of the village, now largely demolished.
Malcolm was a ‘cello player and there is a note on Page 9 of ‘The Beauties of Niel Gow’ (1819) that, “He played Bass to Niel after Donald’s death”. The strathspey to which the note attaches, Lady Haddo, is attributed to MacDonald, but it adds, ‘see Page 6’. Here, under the tune ‘Niel Gow’s Lamentation for the Death of his Brother Donald’ is another footnote: “Donald Gow was the Favourite Bass, and it was only by the Solicitations of respected Patrons that Niel could be prevailed upon to perform after his Brother’s Death”. So maybe Malcolm’s playing helped to win him round to the idea that life and the Maestro’s unique talent were ‘for the living’ and that thus a crisis was averted. He died a year or so before Niel (1807), but there is no record of his death because the Parish Records were destroyed around 1900, for reasons apparently connected with the age of volunteers for the local militia. They were inclined to offer themselves at too early an age, though whether the lack of records was for the benefit of the recruits or the recruiters is not stated!
The celebrated picture ‘The Highland Dance’ in which David Allan depicts a social occasion at Blair in 1780, shows Niel Gow playing precisely in the way he is portrayed in Raeburn’s painting at Blair Castle, with a figure beside him (who must be assumed to be his elder brother, Donald) ‘playing bass’, playing like the old violers with his bow lodged in the crook of his thumb and forefinger and gripping the ‘cello with his knees. There are no precise dates so the figure might equally be Donald’s successor, Malcolm MacDonald; who knows? ‘Auld Abercairny’ (James Moray of that Ilk), who was a devoted fan and patron of Gow, is also thought to feature in the painting, a kilted figure with flowing white locks, seated taking snuff and enjoying the scene. He died in 1777, but the artist may well have ‘revived’ him for the painting.
So, apart from the Gow footnotes, the four collections of music are really the most reliable memory we have of ‘Malcolm MacDonald at Dunkeld’ (this was how he chose to describe himself in Books 2 – 4). They were all printed in Edinburgh (1788, 89, 92 and 97) and are dedicated to (1) Mrs. Baird of Newbyth (Sir David Baird of Newbyth, East Lothian was a celebrated soldier) (2) The Earl of Breadalbane (3) Miss Drummond of Perth and (4) The Countess of Breadalbane. It’s a temptation to relate Malcolm’s background, via via the titles he gave his music and the voluminous lists of subscribers printed in the collections, to the Breadalbane district. However, since Niel Gow was famed throughout Scotland, and Malcolm ‘played bass’ to him, it seems just as likely that the ‘cellist was widely known for that reason. The books contain 153 tunes and there are one or two further pieces attributed to him (including Lady Haddo) scattered about the repertoire. Book 1 is regarded as containing more of his own compositions than the other three, which draw quite randomly from many sources. The 6/8 Mrs. Muir Mackenzie’s Delight in Book 3 was published by James Oswald in the 1740s as Scotch Collops. The 6/8 are of outstanding quality in all the books, but Miss Graham’s Delight in Book 2 is one that demands closer scrutiny. It is note-for-note the same tune as the old Irish air Kitty Tyrrel, which was published in several collections including Gow and Petrie. It is therefore far from unique to MacDonald but when compared with Niel Gow’s Lament for the Death of his second Wife, it would seem that the startling similarities in both halves of the tunes cannot be entirely coincidental. Furthermore, Irish listeners acquainted with the air Kitty Tyrrel have been known to say, on hearing Gow’s lament; “That’s and Irish tune, surely?” Both are quite exceptional melodies and we’ll never know for certain if there’s any connection. What is certain is that MacDonald’s contribution to the repertoire was considerable and that he richly deserves to be better known for it.
Gus Millar
This year the NAAFC is honouring 5 guests at the AGM in June. They are – Gus Millar, Jimmy Yeaman, David Cunningham Snr, Dave Barclay and John Crawford. Here is a little bit about that popular and talented drummer Gus Millar.
Gus lives in Fife and is widely regarded as one of the foremost drummers in the world of Scottish dance music, having played with many of the leading bands.
His parents weren’t musical, but Gus was great pals with John Drysdale – for many years on of the country’s foremost pipe band drummers – while they were both in the Boys Brigade in Alloa. Gus liked John’s style of drumming, and it encouraged him to have a go himself. Another much-admired figure in the world of Scottish dance band drumming was Arthur Easson who played with Ian Powrie. Gus worked hard to develop a style of his own, while incorporating what he learned from hearing others play.
As a young boy in the late fifties and early sixties he played with The Clachan Ceilidh, at that time led by Jack Delaney. His time with them included tours of Germany and Sweden. Over the years the Clachan were to include such names as Neil McMillan, Forbes McFarlane and Bert Fullerton.
In 1964 Gus joined Hamish Menzies’ 6-piece Broadcasting Band which, when Hamish retired, was taken over by Jack Delaney. The early seventies saw Gus playing in George Fleming’s Country Dance Band (from Crosshouse, Ayrshire) which included Archie Brown on fiddle, Dave Waters on bass, Archie McHarg on second box and Janie Barr on piano.
In 1977 Neil McMillan asked Gus to join The Wallochmor Ceilidh Band with whom he then played all over the world. When The Wallochs scaled down their playing but to button-box player Sandy Coghill’s move to Skye Gus joined The Occasionals, with whom he plays regularly today.
Over the years Gus has recorded and broadcast with many well-known dance players such as Lex Keith, The Ochil Players, Colin Dewar, Colin Finlayson, Ian Holmes, Andrew Rankine and Ronnie Easton to name but a few.
7th Shand Morino Gathering
by Jim Cook
The Button-Key Accordion & Fiddle Club hosted the 7th ‘Shand Morino Gathering’ on Sunday, 20th January 2002 in the Windygates Institute, organised once again to commemorate the creation of the Shand Morino Button-Key accordion as designed and played by the renowned Sir Jimmy Shand.
There will always be an element of sadness when this event takes place each year knowing that this Great Man is no longer with us, but he will always continue to be revered by all who appreciated his playing and great love of Scottish dance music, much of which he himself composed and arranged. He will always be sorely missed, but the magnificent instrument, which he created, and the music he played and wrote, will be heard and danced to throughout the world for many years to some.
The afternoon’s programme started at 1 p.m. but some folks were already arriving before midday and as in previous years the hall was virtually full by 12.30. By 1 o’clock it was standing room only. Once again the audience and players had come from near and afr. From the North and South of Ireland, South of England, the Borders, all corners of Scotland from Kelso to Inverness and Wick, both East and West coasts, and of course many from our local areas. The most, ever, to attend the Gathering.
Morino Button-Key accordions were once again well represented including three of the original four produced in 1951. The Morino boxes were brought and played by –
Ken Hopkins from County Down (original No 1)
George Rea from Co. Antrim
Ian Holmes from Dumfries
Sandy Ramage from Kelso
Davie Ross from Kilmarnock
Archie Patterson from Callander
Robert Dykes from Thornhill (Stirlingshire)
Sandy Tulloch from Dundee
Bill Black from Stanley
Jim & Graeme MacKay from Inverness (Graeme having recently become the proud owner of Original No 2 or, as he pointed out, as his Granny bought it for him, it’s really hers!!)
Bobby Coghill from Wick
Roy Magna from Markinch
Tom Blamey from Lochgelly
Robin Waitt from Cannonbie
Colin Chalmers from Invergowrie
Willie McHardy from Froickheim
Jim Quigley from Glenrothes
Charlie Kirkpatrick from Giffnock
And Willie Wylie.
We also had Original No 3 which belonged to the late Davie Simpson and was brought along by Mrs Simpson.
All in all a total of 22 of these wonderful instruments. The afternoon commenced with a welcome to all, given by Bruce Lindsay Snr, followed by a full stage stramash led by Sandy Tulloch playing The 6.20 Two-Step and a set of reels. After this lively introduction to the musical entertainment we listened to all the Morino players giving their selections throughout the afternoon, accompanied by the group of their choice, and we listened to some superb music, which invariably included many of Sir Jimmy’s popular tunes.
Bill Black with Mabel Gray on piano were there, as were Jim MacKay and his band, The Bon Accords (Robin & Deryn Waitt), Bruce Lindsay Jnr and his band (Bruce playing the late Davie Simpson’s Orig No 3 Morino), Ian Holmes and many more ‘weel kent’ faces.
The accompanying musicians included:-
On other button boxes Bill Buttler from Helensburgh and David Rea from Co. Antrim.
On piano accordions – George Stirrat, Bruce Lindsay Snr, Deryn Waitt and John Norvil.
On fiddle – Bob McIntosh, Stephen MacKay and Alasdair Heron
On piano Mabel Gray, Bill Ewan, Jim Scott and Jacqui MacDonald
And on drums – John Stewart, Dave Taylor, Jim Rodger, Tom MacKay and John Ireland.
Our most senior player of the afternoon (a lover of Sir Jimmy’s music) was Will Atkinson on mouthorgan. Will, who was given a very special welcome, has reached the ripe old age of 90+ but still puts the mouthorgan through its paces. Long may he be able to continue.
Including the Shand Morinos, that made a total of 41 players attending the Gathering. What a great turnout.
We also had the pleasure of listening to some lovely singing from Grace McLean.
Video cameras were well in evidence throughout the day and it is hoped that some excellent recordings of this event will be forthcoming in due course.
A vote of thanks was given on behalf of the Club Members and guests in the audience, to our Committee for all their hard work in organising the day and especially to our ladies in the kitchen for providing the soup, tea and refreshments, and to Bruce Lindsay Snr for arranging and organising the afternoon’s entertainment. This was followed by a thank you from Bruce to all the players who had come along from near and far, and to everyone else who came along to make a wonderful audience, all of which contributed to another great success of this memorable occasion.
The day ended, as it began, with the stage packed with players and a fantastic stramash of great lively tunes ending with We’re No’ Awa’ Tae Bide Awa’ and followed by Auld Lang Syne. What another great sound, what another great day.
The 1st Inverness Button-Box Gathering
The idea for the show came from Danceband Leader Jim Mackay and his wife Catherine. Jim is a regular player at the Shand Morino Day at Windygates and on the way home after the 2001 day, Jim and Catherine thought “How about organizing an event in Inverness?” A venue had to be found and contact with players made to start with. They decided to approach Eden Court Theatre, Inverness – with a capacity of 850. The feeling after meeting management was “Do we press on? Can we sell enough seats to satisfy Eden Court?” The decision was made to press on with the show and finally a date was agreed by Eden Court, Thursday, 20th September 2001.
Contact with players was initially through Bruce Lindsay Snr. Bruce had details of the players who made regular appearances at the Shand Morino Day. Some of them were bandleaders or had been band members and some were solo artistes. This provided an excellent mix for organizing the show. After Bruce had spread the word, Jim and Catherine became the main contact to organize and keep Eden Court informed on progress.
The players were delighted to come along and support an event with proceeds going to The Highland Hospice. The MC for the evening was Andy Ross, very familiar to the traditional music scene presenting ‘Scots on Record’ on Moray First Radio.
Once all players confirmed they would appear the actual running order was decided and programmes prepared for printing. At this point it’s something akin to preparing to launch a space rocket – the countdown has started and the organizers have to let it run. Would enough people be interested in a button-box gathering on a Thursday evening?
Eden Court reports that tickets are sellijg well; okay, everything is fine, should be a good evening. Then about 10 days from the date the seats are all sold. Lots of disappointed people were only able to add their names to a waiting list. Good news – the button-box can still draw a crowd, and with so many experts on stage a sell-out was always on the cards.
Sandy Tulloch as ‘eldest amateur’ kindly agreed to appear. He gave a short talk on the origin of the button-box and then led the first stramash of the evening. The full programme included :-
Bill Black – Stanley
Bobby Coghill – Wick
Jimmy & Sandy Lindsay – Amulree
Jim & Graeme MacKay – Inverness
David Ross – Kilmarnock
Ian Cruickshanks – Kirriemuir
Bruce Lindsay Jnr – Largoward
Dougie Milne - Kirriemuir
Fraser MacLean – Inverness
Kegan Stewart – Dingwall
And Hebbie Gray – solo fiddle – Keith.
Andy Ross did a fine job out front, linking well with the crowd and players. The audience was very responsive and this brings out the best in the artistes.
The show was a fantastic success, the audience loved it, the players enjoyed the venue and the opportunity to meet up with old friends and make new ones.
The closing stramash was led by Graeme MacKay and by this time the audience were shouting for more so Bill Black led a further set to close the evening. Most of the players came out front and met up with many of the audience which rounded off a fine evening of traditional music.
The youngest button-box player on stage, Kegan Stewart, and Catherine MacKay presented the Hospice with a cheque for £1,400
Due to demand Jim and Catherine have already booked Eden Court for a second Button-Box Gathering, the date being 19th September, 2002. They wish to extend thanks to all the people involved in the event and look forward to another great night’s entertainment. Remember to book early.
A Dance Band Almanac
by Dave Francis
Most weddings…………
The Piping Shrike
by Jean Lumsden
In Adelaid this month……..
Greeting from Inverness
by Margo MacLennan
First of all………..
Perth College
Perth College, the first institution in Scotland…….
A Celtic Fling
Northbeat, the Scottish based…….
High Strings
High Strings were formed in August 1995 by Margaret Scollay. This was as a result of a timetable reshuffle placing Margaret as a full time fiddle instructor in Anderson high School, Lerwick, Shetland.
Initially her idea was to create a structure whereby………………..
CD Reviews
Stepping Out – Alasdair MacCuish & the Black Rose Ceilidh Band
Da Farder Ben Da Welcomer – Fiddlers Bid
Auld Favourites – Bob Liddle
Book Review
Tae The Lasses – Maureen Bell
Take the Floor – Saturdays with Robbie Shepherd
2nd March 02 – Ian Holmes SDB + feature on the Hamish Menzies SDB
9th March 02 – Gary Donaldson SDB + feature on Musselburgh Festival (Part 1)
16th March 02 0 Allan McIntosh & the Heather SDB + feature on Musselburgh Festival (Part 2)
23rd March 02 – Lomond Ceilidh Band + OB from Rothes Hall with guests Andy Ramage & Neil Paterson
30th March 02 – Bella McNab’s Dance Band + feature on Hector McAndrew Memorial Book and CD
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) – 26th Mar 02 – High Strings
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 17th Mar 02 - tbc
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 3rd Mar 02 – AGM & Club Night
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 7th Mar 02 – Richard Smith Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 17th Mar 02 – John Crawford Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 27th Mar 02 – Davie Stewart Trio
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 18th Mar 02 – Alasdair MacLeod
Belford (Community Centre) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 10th Mar 02 – Ian Cruickshanks SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 12th Mar 02 – Iain Cathcart SDB
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) - 12th Mar 02 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Button Key (Windygates Institute) –
Campbeltown (The Royal Hotel) -
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 5th Mar 02 – Alistair McCulloch Duo
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) - 7th Mar 02 – West Telferton Trio
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 19th Mar 02 – Jim MacLeod SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 21st Mar 02 – West Telferton Cale SDB
Crathes (Crathes Hall, Banchory) - 10th Mar 02 – All players welcome
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 13th Mar 02 - tbc
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead) 19th Mar 02 – Iain MacPhail Trio
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 6th Mar 02 – Highland A&F Club
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 20th Mar 02 – Judith Linton Trio
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel) 8th Mar 02 – Jock Fraser SDB
East Kilbride (The Village Inn) – 28th Mar 02 – David Vernon
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 19th Mar 02 – John Bone & Robert Lovie
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 25th Mar 02 – High Strings
Forfar (Plough Inn) -
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 13th Mar 02 – Simon Howie SDB + Competition
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) – 11th Mar 02 - tbc
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) – 21st Mar 02 – James Coutts Trio
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 6th Mar 02 – Grant Crawford Trio
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 26th Mar 02 – Eden Ceilidh Band
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) - 3rd Mar 02 – Gary Forrest
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 18th Mar 02 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 13th Mar 02 – Renfrew A&F Club
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 7th Mar 02 – Scott Leslie SDB
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 5th Mar 02 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 27th Mar 02 – Carlyle Family Band
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) – 6th Mar 02 – Harold Smith Band
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 25th Mar 02 – Mhairi Coutts Trio
Langholm (Crown Hotel) – 13th Feb 02 – William Marshall
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 14th Mar 02 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 7th Mar 02 – Archie MacKillop Family Trio
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 19th Mar 02 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 26th Mar 02 – Jimmy Lindsay Trio (Amulree)
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 19th Mar 02 – Marian Anderson Trio
Montrose (Park Hotel) –
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) - 6th Mar 02 – Bill Black SDB
24th Mar 02 - AGM
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 25th Mar 02 – Give Way
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 5th Mar 02 – Forres A&F Club
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) – 28th Mar 02 – Neil Hardie SDB
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 19th Mar 02 – Jim Johnstone SDB
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) - 5th Mar 02 – Tom Alexander
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 12th Mar 02 – Gary Blair Duo
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 7th Mar 02 – Lyne Valley Band
Selkirk (Cricket Club) - 14th Mar 02 – Deirdre Adamson
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 7th Mar 02 – Local night
21st Mar 02 – Bill Black SDB
23rd Mar 02 – End of Season Dance
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Masonic Hall) - 13th Mar 02 – Jim Paterson Trio
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 4th Mar 02 – Ryan McGlynn Trio
Turriff (Royal British Legion) – 7th Mar 02 – AGM & Players Night
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 21st Mar 02 – Alan Helm
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 14th Mar 02 – Gary Donaldson
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 19th Mar 02 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Yarrow (Gordon Arms) - 20th Mar 02 - tbc
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Annan
3. Arbroath
4. Balloch
5. Banff
6. Beith & District
7. Biggar
8. Button Key
9. Campsie
10. Carlisle
11. Crieff
12. Dalriada
13. Dingwall
14. Dunfermline
15. Dunoon & Cowal
16. East Kilbride
17. Ellon
18. Fintry
19. Forfar
20. Forres
21. Galston
22. Glendale
23. Glenrothes & District
24. Gretna
25. Highland
26. Inveraray
27. Isle of Skye
28. Islesteps
29. Kelso
30. Kintore
31. Langholm
32. Lewis & Harris
33..Livingston
34. Lockerbie
35. Montrose
36. Newmill (on-Teviot)
37. Newtongrange
38. Orkney
39. Peebles
40. Perth
41. Premier
42. Renfrew
43. Rothbury
44. Shetland
45 Thornhill
46 Thurso
47. West Barnes
48. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2002
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) 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. Bromley A&F Club
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campbeltown A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
29. Ellon A&F Club (
30. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
31. Forfar A&F Club (
32. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
33. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
34. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
35. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
36. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
37. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
38. 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)
39. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
40. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
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 (June 1983 – present)
44. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
45. Kintore A&F Club (
46. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed
47. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – present)
48. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
49. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
52. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
53. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
54. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
55. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
56. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
57. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
58. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
59. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
60. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
61. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
62. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
63. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
64. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
65. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
66. Selkirk A&F Club (
67. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
68. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
69. Sutherland A&F Club (
70. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
71. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
72. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
73. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
74. Vancouver
75. West Barnes ( - present)
76. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
77. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – )
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
78. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
79. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
80. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
81. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
82. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
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. Derwentside A&F Club
93. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
94. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
95. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
96. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
97. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
98. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
99. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
100. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
101. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
102. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
103. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Mull A&F Club
107. Newcastleton Accordion Club
108. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
109. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
110. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
111. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
112. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
113. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
114. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
115. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
116. Tranent A&F Club
117. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
118. Wellbank A&F Club
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