Box and Fiddle
Year 16 No 01
September 1992
Introducing the Clubs
No 9 North East
by Ian H. Cruickshank
“The North East will shortly have and Accordion and Fiddle Club, formed on the lines of a similar organisation which has flourished in Perth for a number of years. The latter is believed to be the furthest north Club of that description.”
That was how the newspaper article in August 1971 described the imminent formation of the North East Accordion and Fiddle Club. The idea for the Club was first muted by two of Keith’s prominent musicians, George Anderson and Ian Duncan. Indeed, George and Ian were to become the Club’s first chairman and Secretary respectively, with Alistair Gray of Huntly as Treasurer. These pioneers were not to be disappointed. The Club’s first meeting at the Seafield Hotel, Keith attracted about 80 enthusiasts – approximately 25 of these being musicians. It was decided that the membership fee should be the princely sum of £1 – or alternatively 15p per night!
Encouraged by the promising start it was decided that for the October meeting a guest player of repute should be invited. It was decided that the honour should go to Jimmy Lindsay of Glenalmond. Jimmy was an appropriate choice because it was largely due to his influence that North East musicians such as George and Ian came to be introduced to the Perth club. There was no doubt the Club would flourish. In October 1971 the audience doubled to 150 with nearly 50 musicians. It was now ‘full steam’ ahead for the Keith based Club.
November 1971 saw the audience increase to 200 – with 27 accordionists and many fiddlers. As a newspaper report of that month commented :-
“The informality of the proceedings and the spontaneity with which the programme flowed on made the evening a regular old-time “fiddlers yokin’”, and excellent value for 15 pence.
And so, month by month, the popularity of the Club grew. Audiences in excess of 200 were frequent – anything less than 150 would have been regarded as a poor night. But then, being the only Club north of Perth at that time it was hardly surprising that such figures were being constantly achieved. Not only was the North East Club one of the few platforms where local musicians could have a tune, it was one of the few platforms where recording and broadcasting musicians could be heard live.
Perhaps, most importantly, the Club saw itself as having a duty to provide a stage for young musicians. It wasn’t long before trophies were donated to provide encouragement. In 1971 George and Donald Fowlie, then owners of the Seafield Hotel, donated a cup to be presented to the accordionist under 16 who had shown the most improvement throughout the season. A similar cup for fiddle was donated by Keith Dynamo Football club. Sandy Gartly, a local shopkeeper, provided a cup for the best new composition by a Club member. Before long, many more cups were donated and for many years the Club Competitions attracted ,any entries. Indeed, such was the level of participation in the early years that it was decided in 1980 to hold a special one-day Accordion and Fiddle Festival. It was felt at that time that many youngsters were having to travel south to compete in Festivals. The first Festival attracted entries from Berwick, Dundee, Brechin and Aberdeen as well as many local entries – which proved, conversely, that aficionados were prepared to travel north!
Whilst on the subject of Festivals it is fair to say that the North East Club’s careful and persistent nurturing of young talent has paid great dividends. Great champions such as Eric Bell, Graeme Mitchell, Jennifer Brown, Mark Winchester, Lynn Gould, Neil Dawson and Lynne Christie have all won major competitions. Great entertainers have also emerged – Keith was one of the first stages to witness a very young Stuart Anderson. Tremendous accompanists such as Maureen and Anne Rutherford gained much experience and encouragement at the Club. The Broadcasting Bands of Graeme Mitchell, Lynn Gould and Ian H. Cruickshank all have their roots firmly associated with the North East Club. These and many, many more owe a great debt to the Club. Such was the impact of the Club that early on it attracted the attention of the B.B.C. – in 1976 two ½ hour programmes recorded at the Club were produced by Ben Lyons as part of a 13 programme series. Several years later, in the 1980’s, the Club was invited to take part in a Grampian Television series called the ‘Box and Fiddle.’ Throughout the years it is also fair to say that the Club has offered its services and raised money for Charity.
In recent years, however, it has to be said that numbers have dwindled – more so on the audience side than on that of the musicians. Finally, the Club had, it must be admitted, a small crisis in June, 1992 when no-one would assume the role of Secretary, a post left vacant by Ian Cruickshank who had been Secretary for 3 years. Happily, on the very stroke of the eleventh hour, Alistair Gray stepped forward and assumed the role, thus ensuring that the Club would see its 21st Anniversary.
The Club Today
And so, the Club continues. Presently the Chairman is Mr Bob Petter of Cairnie, with wife Joan as Treasurer. As mentioned, the Secretary is now Alistair Gray – the Club’s very first Treasurer. The Committee are Margaret and Charlie Christie, Jake and Sandy Forbes, Lynne Christie, Ian Cruickshank and Alec Morrison. Due to a fire at the Seafield Hotel, the Club is now to meet at the Royal British Legion Hall, Balloch Road, Keith. As usual, it will meet on the first Tuesday of the month. The exception to this will be on 8th September, the second Tuesday, when a special celebration will take place to mark the 21st Anniversary. It is hoped that as many individuals who have had an association with the Club of whatever kind will attend.
The guest? Well, it was only right that Jimmy Lindsay be asked to make a return visit.
A great deal of discussion has taken place recently about the health of the Accordion and Fiddle Club movement. There is no doubt that, generally, Clubs have seen a marked decrease in audiences and even in those playing an instrument. However, the movement struggles on and, it would be fair to predict, that it will continue. The North East Club has endured for many years, has had its ups and downs and, no doubt will continue to do so. It is a stalwart of the National Association and if the writer of this article extols its virtues he makes no apologies for doing so. The Scottish music scene would have been a poorer place had the North East Club not been formed.
Many happy returns on your ‘coming of age.’ Let’s hope that the North East Club will survive to get a telegram from the Queen!
(Grateful thanks to Ian Duncan for comments on this article. Thanks also to Randal Webster for provision of photographs).
No 9 North East
by Ian H. Cruickshank
“The North East will shortly have and Accordion and Fiddle Club, formed on the lines of a similar organisation which has flourished in Perth for a number of years. The latter is believed to be the furthest north Club of that description.”
That was how the newspaper article in August 1971 described the imminent formation of the North East Accordion and Fiddle Club. The idea for the Club was first muted by two of Keith’s prominent musicians, George Anderson and Ian Duncan. Indeed, George and Ian were to become the Club’s first chairman and Secretary respectively, with Alistair Gray of Huntly as Treasurer. These pioneers were not to be disappointed. The Club’s first meeting at the Seafield Hotel, Keith attracted about 80 enthusiasts – approximately 25 of these being musicians. It was decided that the membership fee should be the princely sum of £1 – or alternatively 15p per night!
Encouraged by the promising start it was decided that for the October meeting a guest player of repute should be invited. It was decided that the honour should go to Jimmy Lindsay of Glenalmond. Jimmy was an appropriate choice because it was largely due to his influence that North East musicians such as George and Ian came to be introduced to the Perth club. There was no doubt the Club would flourish. In October 1971 the audience doubled to 150 with nearly 50 musicians. It was now ‘full steam’ ahead for the Keith based Club.
November 1971 saw the audience increase to 200 – with 27 accordionists and many fiddlers. As a newspaper report of that month commented :-
“The informality of the proceedings and the spontaneity with which the programme flowed on made the evening a regular old-time “fiddlers yokin’”, and excellent value for 15 pence.
And so, month by month, the popularity of the Club grew. Audiences in excess of 200 were frequent – anything less than 150 would have been regarded as a poor night. But then, being the only Club north of Perth at that time it was hardly surprising that such figures were being constantly achieved. Not only was the North East Club one of the few platforms where local musicians could have a tune, it was one of the few platforms where recording and broadcasting musicians could be heard live.
Perhaps, most importantly, the Club saw itself as having a duty to provide a stage for young musicians. It wasn’t long before trophies were donated to provide encouragement. In 1971 George and Donald Fowlie, then owners of the Seafield Hotel, donated a cup to be presented to the accordionist under 16 who had shown the most improvement throughout the season. A similar cup for fiddle was donated by Keith Dynamo Football club. Sandy Gartly, a local shopkeeper, provided a cup for the best new composition by a Club member. Before long, many more cups were donated and for many years the Club Competitions attracted ,any entries. Indeed, such was the level of participation in the early years that it was decided in 1980 to hold a special one-day Accordion and Fiddle Festival. It was felt at that time that many youngsters were having to travel south to compete in Festivals. The first Festival attracted entries from Berwick, Dundee, Brechin and Aberdeen as well as many local entries – which proved, conversely, that aficionados were prepared to travel north!
Whilst on the subject of Festivals it is fair to say that the North East Club’s careful and persistent nurturing of young talent has paid great dividends. Great champions such as Eric Bell, Graeme Mitchell, Jennifer Brown, Mark Winchester, Lynn Gould, Neil Dawson and Lynne Christie have all won major competitions. Great entertainers have also emerged – Keith was one of the first stages to witness a very young Stuart Anderson. Tremendous accompanists such as Maureen and Anne Rutherford gained much experience and encouragement at the Club. The Broadcasting Bands of Graeme Mitchell, Lynn Gould and Ian H. Cruickshank all have their roots firmly associated with the North East Club. These and many, many more owe a great debt to the Club. Such was the impact of the Club that early on it attracted the attention of the B.B.C. – in 1976 two ½ hour programmes recorded at the Club were produced by Ben Lyons as part of a 13 programme series. Several years later, in the 1980’s, the Club was invited to take part in a Grampian Television series called the ‘Box and Fiddle.’ Throughout the years it is also fair to say that the Club has offered its services and raised money for Charity.
In recent years, however, it has to be said that numbers have dwindled – more so on the audience side than on that of the musicians. Finally, the Club had, it must be admitted, a small crisis in June, 1992 when no-one would assume the role of Secretary, a post left vacant by Ian Cruickshank who had been Secretary for 3 years. Happily, on the very stroke of the eleventh hour, Alistair Gray stepped forward and assumed the role, thus ensuring that the Club would see its 21st Anniversary.
The Club Today
And so, the Club continues. Presently the Chairman is Mr Bob Petter of Cairnie, with wife Joan as Treasurer. As mentioned, the Secretary is now Alistair Gray – the Club’s very first Treasurer. The Committee are Margaret and Charlie Christie, Jake and Sandy Forbes, Lynne Christie, Ian Cruickshank and Alec Morrison. Due to a fire at the Seafield Hotel, the Club is now to meet at the Royal British Legion Hall, Balloch Road, Keith. As usual, it will meet on the first Tuesday of the month. The exception to this will be on 8th September, the second Tuesday, when a special celebration will take place to mark the 21st Anniversary. It is hoped that as many individuals who have had an association with the Club of whatever kind will attend.
The guest? Well, it was only right that Jimmy Lindsay be asked to make a return visit.
A great deal of discussion has taken place recently about the health of the Accordion and Fiddle Club movement. There is no doubt that, generally, Clubs have seen a marked decrease in audiences and even in those playing an instrument. However, the movement struggles on and, it would be fair to predict, that it will continue. The North East Club has endured for many years, has had its ups and downs and, no doubt will continue to do so. It is a stalwart of the National Association and if the writer of this article extols its virtues he makes no apologies for doing so. The Scottish music scene would have been a poorer place had the North East Club not been formed.
Many happy returns on your ‘coming of age.’ Let’s hope that the North East Club will survive to get a telegram from the Queen!
(Grateful thanks to Ian Duncan for comments on this article. Thanks also to Randal Webster for provision of photographs).