Robbie Shepherd MBE
Robbie Shepherd is as much a part of Scottish broadcasting as the Hogmanay Bells. As the presenter of BBC Radio Scotland's Take the Floor and The Reel Blend, Robbie's strong Doric tones have made him welcome in homes throughout Scotland, and with the advent of Internet broadcasting, his audience now stretches across the world.
Robbie was born in Dunecht, twelve miles outside Aberdeen, and when Robbie was growing up his father used to go into the city once a month to buy records. The young Robbie could hardly wait to hear the latest Jimmy Shand, Robert Wilson and Kenneth McKellar offerings, and his enthusiasm for Scottish music has never diminished.
His own instrument is the moothie. In his younger days he played with a band and once supported Calum Kennedy, but it was language that was to bring him to the public attention. He has commentated on the Highland Games circuit, including the famous Braemar Gathering, since the 1960s and as a popular concert compere he travelled the length and breadth of Scotland and down to The Royal Albert Hall with The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra.
His weekly columns for the Aberdeen Press & Journal, in which he reflects with wry humour on current affairs, books and films, has long enjoyed an enthusiastic following. Written in Doric – hence the published collection, “Doric Columns” – they find their way all over the world to appreciative readers, and Robbie's acknowledged expertise in his mother tongue resulted him being awarded the M.Univ (Master of the University) by Aberdeen University in 2001.
When the original host of Take the Floor, David Findlay, died in 1981, Robbie was given the opportunity to take over. Despite initial opposition from some who found his broad Doric accent unsuitable, Robbie soon made the programme his own. His warm welcome and genuine love of the music he presents immediately puts an audience at ease.
This is particularly true when Take the Floor takes to the road and broadcasts live from Lerwick or Achiltibuie or the many other places where Robbie and crew have rolled up. Such adventures don't always go entirely to plan. Robbie well remembers the time he and his production team had to saw through a chain across the door of a Glasgow hall before they got in and got the show going. Then, on Mull, they had to keep pumping coins into a hungry electricity meter so that the power would stay on through the show.
The power of Robbie's personality has ensured that many honours have come his way. In 1992 Robbie's services to Scottish Music were recognised by The National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs, and in 1998 he was presented with an award for his outstanding loyalty to the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. In the 2001 New Years Honours List Robbie was appointed MBE for his services to Scottish Music and Culture. Other recognition has come in the form of a ceilidh band calling themselves Robbie Shepherd's Nightmare and a poem written in his honour by Simon Brown – a suitable tribute to a man of letters and a poet of the airwaves.
Influential Figure on Scottish Music Scene
by Jimmy Clinkscale
Aberdeen broadcaster and entertainer Robbie Shepherd is one of the most influential figures on the Scottish traditional music scene. In this profile, Jimmy Clinkscale of the Clinkscale Music Centre, Aberdeen, takes a look at the man and examines what makes him tick.
Although I live only a few miles away from Robbie shepherd’s home in the Aberdeen suburb of Bridge of Don, I am sure it would have been much easier for me to catch up with the Prime Minister for an interview that the self-titled ‘Dunecht Loon’.
For Robbie, now 49, a shoe-makers son from the small Aberdeenshire village of Dunecht, and a management accountant by profession, maintains such a hectic work / life style, travelling around the country, that I suspect that he sometimes has to consult a street map to find his way home.
I defy anyone to write a job description for Robbie, although I suppose the taxman would label him as afreelance radio broadcaster as his principal income comes from his own four regular radio shows.
They are ‘Take the Floor’ and ‘Reel Blend’ on BBC Radio Scotland and ‘Meet You Monday’ and ‘Shepherd’s Tartan’ on BBC Radio Aberdeen.
He’s a character / comedian, who has modeled himself on his great hero Harry Gordon, although his stage appearances in this capacity are now less frequent because of pressure of other work.
He is Scotland’s busiest and most versatile compere – liable to pop up and virtually any venue where there is an audience – from occasions as diverse as Burns Suppers to soccer and steam engine rallies; although Scottish traditional music shows, galas, folk festivals, agricultural shows and the Highland Games circuit (including the prestigious Braemar Highland Gathering) make most demands on his time in that particular role. And he is ever willing to make charity appearances.
Now, Robbie is increasingly turning his talents to television. Although over the years he has made sporadic appearances on BBC TV and ITV, mainly in Scottish variety shows, plus occasional stints for programmes like ‘Beechgrove Garden’, the viewers on Grampian TV will see him featuring in two series – a six-part relaxed look at some of Scotland’s small towns and villages, and a six-part feature on sheepdog trials. And this is an area where he is very keen to develop his expertise.
These areas, which I have just pin-pointed, are where he earns his living because the demands of the entertainment business led him recently to give up his accountancy business, although he keeps his hand in with some occasional freelance contracts.
But, of course, Robbie’s greatest love is Scottish traditional music in all its many facets, and he throws himself wholeheartedly into all sorts of voluntary roles to foster this field, and also Scotland’s rich cultural inheritance of song, verse and drama, with an especially soft spot for the Doric language.
This voluntary work is exemplified by his role as Chairman of the Aberdeen Branch of Forum, which, with a number of other Scottish branches, was formed to represent various interested organizations – from dance to dialect, from piobaireochd to fiddling and song to story.
He is a founder member of Aberdeen A&F Club, a patron of the flourishing Buchan Heritage society and an honorary vice-president of both the Aberdeen and Angus Strathspey and Reel Societies.
Robbie has also played a prominent part in the rapid development of the Aberdeen Alternative Festival, as a member of the Advisory Committee, which has been the driving force in the exciting growth of the event’s in-built traditional arts festival which is now a major showcase for Scotland’s traditional arts heritage.
It is little wonder that he doesn’t find much time to spend on his own hobbies – gardening (a sweetpea enthusiast), golf, cricket (on the telly, that is) and following the fortunes of Aberdeen F.C.
Robbie, who got involved in the entertainment business with the ‘Garlogie Four’, specializing in bothy ballads, had the opportunity to meet the prominent bandleaders of the 1950s, when Scottish Country Dance music was enjoying its peak of popularity, and when the chance came to be anchor man of ‘Take the Floor’ (following the sad and untimely death of the massively popular musician and broadcaster David Findlay) carrying on a proud BBC tradition stretching back to 1946, he seized the chance.
And G. W. Lockhart, in his book ‘Highland Balls and Village Halls’ is in no doubt of Robbie’s contribution to the programme’s success.
‘TTF’ is not a superficial presentation. It is a production that commands affection because it gets close to the true feel and spirit of Scottish Country Dance music.
“It is an outstanding example of broadcasting professionalism being wedded to the simple things which ordinary people consider important.
“Such a marriage demands a catalytic character. The country dance scene and the programme have found one in Robbie Shepherd”.
Lockhart’s mention of “true feel”’ “spirit” and “professionalism” marvelously encapsulates three of Robbie’s outstanding qualities. Allied to ‘enthusiasm’ they present an apt summation of the man.
And no-one is more delighted than the ‘Dunecht Loon’ to see the remarkable upsurge in Scottish traditional music – bringing the crowds flocking into theatres and concert halls all over the country.
And he has clear views on what lies behind this astonishing success story.
“In the past few years we have seen a tremendous growth of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs and Junior Sections of Strathspey and Reel Societies – and the nucleus of them is dedicated and talented youngsters.
“The 50 or so A&F Clubs have a total membership of more than 8,000 and there are more than 15 S&R Societies. Previously it was just the devotees of this type music who attended the shows. Now the general public are creating a huge demand for live shows”.
And he reckons the influence of television has been very important.
“The old country or variety concert format went into decline as television took over. These shows were becoming stilted – run on far too traditional lines, lacking flair and imagination. Now the shows are much pacier, better presented and more professional. “
The pattern of success is being reflected from the Shetlands to the Borders, and Robbie recalls that on a visit to London he was astounded by the interest in the south. “There are 13 Scottish dance bands playing in London and the Home Counties every weekend – and at least half of them are led by Englishman. “ He also highlights the impact of the recording industry.
“There are at least three new albums coming out each week featuring varying aspects of Scottish music. And the marketing of albums and cassettes has totally changed – the live shows are now the main point of sale.
“All this has meant a marked increase in work for the country’s professional musicians, and this, in turn, encourages the professionals to pass on their skills to the following generations. It is an incredibly healthy state of affairs, and one of the most pleasing aspects for me is that it is getting music where it should be – live on stage.”
Although Robbie is reticent to claim any personal credit for this musical renaissance, there is no doubt he is a vibrant force in achieving this success story.
“We have really seen a revolution. There were those a few years ago who saw live musical entertainment in Scotland as a spent force. But this change of emphasis, this rich, grassroots enthusiasm and increasing sophistication in production, has led to a completely new ball game. And long may it continue” he declares.
Behind every successful man they say there is always a good woman, and this is never more applicable than in Robbie’s case. His wife, Esma, a lass from a musical family brought up in Cluny, Aberdeenshire, is an accomplished pianist in her own right, and a prominent member of the ‘Sweet Adelines’ singing group.
She is an indispensable part of the Shepherd success story – a valuable music adviser; a vital secretarial helper; and an indefatigable telephone answerer; and she provides the domestic stability and continuity which is so essential to an entertainer with so many commitments, involving long spells away from home, which are part and parcel of Robbie’s way of life.
Whatever the hassle, you can rely on Esma being unfailingly helpful, courteous, and full of bonhomie. It is no wonder that the Shepherd household is such a popular stopping-off place for many of Scotland’s most prominent musicians.
Earning a living as a freelance broadcaster and, indeed, as an entertainer, is in many ways a precarious way of making a living, and Robbie is content to take every day as it comes.
Should he pack it all up tomorrow, he will already have made an indelible mark on the history of traditional Scottish music.
However, I am sure that we all hope that Robbie’s wit and his wisdom, energy and enthusiasm, his honest sauncey face and unaffected Aberdeenshire tongue, will be with us for many years to come. More power to you elbow!
Box and Fiddle
October 1985 (Year 9 no 2)
Robbie was born in Dunecht, twelve miles outside Aberdeen, and when Robbie was growing up his father used to go into the city once a month to buy records. The young Robbie could hardly wait to hear the latest Jimmy Shand, Robert Wilson and Kenneth McKellar offerings, and his enthusiasm for Scottish music has never diminished.
His own instrument is the moothie. In his younger days he played with a band and once supported Calum Kennedy, but it was language that was to bring him to the public attention. He has commentated on the Highland Games circuit, including the famous Braemar Gathering, since the 1960s and as a popular concert compere he travelled the length and breadth of Scotland and down to The Royal Albert Hall with The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra.
His weekly columns for the Aberdeen Press & Journal, in which he reflects with wry humour on current affairs, books and films, has long enjoyed an enthusiastic following. Written in Doric – hence the published collection, “Doric Columns” – they find their way all over the world to appreciative readers, and Robbie's acknowledged expertise in his mother tongue resulted him being awarded the M.Univ (Master of the University) by Aberdeen University in 2001.
When the original host of Take the Floor, David Findlay, died in 1981, Robbie was given the opportunity to take over. Despite initial opposition from some who found his broad Doric accent unsuitable, Robbie soon made the programme his own. His warm welcome and genuine love of the music he presents immediately puts an audience at ease.
This is particularly true when Take the Floor takes to the road and broadcasts live from Lerwick or Achiltibuie or the many other places where Robbie and crew have rolled up. Such adventures don't always go entirely to plan. Robbie well remembers the time he and his production team had to saw through a chain across the door of a Glasgow hall before they got in and got the show going. Then, on Mull, they had to keep pumping coins into a hungry electricity meter so that the power would stay on through the show.
The power of Robbie's personality has ensured that many honours have come his way. In 1992 Robbie's services to Scottish Music were recognised by The National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs, and in 1998 he was presented with an award for his outstanding loyalty to the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. In the 2001 New Years Honours List Robbie was appointed MBE for his services to Scottish Music and Culture. Other recognition has come in the form of a ceilidh band calling themselves Robbie Shepherd's Nightmare and a poem written in his honour by Simon Brown – a suitable tribute to a man of letters and a poet of the airwaves.
Influential Figure on Scottish Music Scene
by Jimmy Clinkscale
Aberdeen broadcaster and entertainer Robbie Shepherd is one of the most influential figures on the Scottish traditional music scene. In this profile, Jimmy Clinkscale of the Clinkscale Music Centre, Aberdeen, takes a look at the man and examines what makes him tick.
Although I live only a few miles away from Robbie shepherd’s home in the Aberdeen suburb of Bridge of Don, I am sure it would have been much easier for me to catch up with the Prime Minister for an interview that the self-titled ‘Dunecht Loon’.
For Robbie, now 49, a shoe-makers son from the small Aberdeenshire village of Dunecht, and a management accountant by profession, maintains such a hectic work / life style, travelling around the country, that I suspect that he sometimes has to consult a street map to find his way home.
I defy anyone to write a job description for Robbie, although I suppose the taxman would label him as afreelance radio broadcaster as his principal income comes from his own four regular radio shows.
They are ‘Take the Floor’ and ‘Reel Blend’ on BBC Radio Scotland and ‘Meet You Monday’ and ‘Shepherd’s Tartan’ on BBC Radio Aberdeen.
He’s a character / comedian, who has modeled himself on his great hero Harry Gordon, although his stage appearances in this capacity are now less frequent because of pressure of other work.
He is Scotland’s busiest and most versatile compere – liable to pop up and virtually any venue where there is an audience – from occasions as diverse as Burns Suppers to soccer and steam engine rallies; although Scottish traditional music shows, galas, folk festivals, agricultural shows and the Highland Games circuit (including the prestigious Braemar Highland Gathering) make most demands on his time in that particular role. And he is ever willing to make charity appearances.
Now, Robbie is increasingly turning his talents to television. Although over the years he has made sporadic appearances on BBC TV and ITV, mainly in Scottish variety shows, plus occasional stints for programmes like ‘Beechgrove Garden’, the viewers on Grampian TV will see him featuring in two series – a six-part relaxed look at some of Scotland’s small towns and villages, and a six-part feature on sheepdog trials. And this is an area where he is very keen to develop his expertise.
These areas, which I have just pin-pointed, are where he earns his living because the demands of the entertainment business led him recently to give up his accountancy business, although he keeps his hand in with some occasional freelance contracts.
But, of course, Robbie’s greatest love is Scottish traditional music in all its many facets, and he throws himself wholeheartedly into all sorts of voluntary roles to foster this field, and also Scotland’s rich cultural inheritance of song, verse and drama, with an especially soft spot for the Doric language.
This voluntary work is exemplified by his role as Chairman of the Aberdeen Branch of Forum, which, with a number of other Scottish branches, was formed to represent various interested organizations – from dance to dialect, from piobaireochd to fiddling and song to story.
He is a founder member of Aberdeen A&F Club, a patron of the flourishing Buchan Heritage society and an honorary vice-president of both the Aberdeen and Angus Strathspey and Reel Societies.
Robbie has also played a prominent part in the rapid development of the Aberdeen Alternative Festival, as a member of the Advisory Committee, which has been the driving force in the exciting growth of the event’s in-built traditional arts festival which is now a major showcase for Scotland’s traditional arts heritage.
It is little wonder that he doesn’t find much time to spend on his own hobbies – gardening (a sweetpea enthusiast), golf, cricket (on the telly, that is) and following the fortunes of Aberdeen F.C.
Robbie, who got involved in the entertainment business with the ‘Garlogie Four’, specializing in bothy ballads, had the opportunity to meet the prominent bandleaders of the 1950s, when Scottish Country Dance music was enjoying its peak of popularity, and when the chance came to be anchor man of ‘Take the Floor’ (following the sad and untimely death of the massively popular musician and broadcaster David Findlay) carrying on a proud BBC tradition stretching back to 1946, he seized the chance.
And G. W. Lockhart, in his book ‘Highland Balls and Village Halls’ is in no doubt of Robbie’s contribution to the programme’s success.
‘TTF’ is not a superficial presentation. It is a production that commands affection because it gets close to the true feel and spirit of Scottish Country Dance music.
“It is an outstanding example of broadcasting professionalism being wedded to the simple things which ordinary people consider important.
“Such a marriage demands a catalytic character. The country dance scene and the programme have found one in Robbie Shepherd”.
Lockhart’s mention of “true feel”’ “spirit” and “professionalism” marvelously encapsulates three of Robbie’s outstanding qualities. Allied to ‘enthusiasm’ they present an apt summation of the man.
And no-one is more delighted than the ‘Dunecht Loon’ to see the remarkable upsurge in Scottish traditional music – bringing the crowds flocking into theatres and concert halls all over the country.
And he has clear views on what lies behind this astonishing success story.
“In the past few years we have seen a tremendous growth of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs and Junior Sections of Strathspey and Reel Societies – and the nucleus of them is dedicated and talented youngsters.
“The 50 or so A&F Clubs have a total membership of more than 8,000 and there are more than 15 S&R Societies. Previously it was just the devotees of this type music who attended the shows. Now the general public are creating a huge demand for live shows”.
And he reckons the influence of television has been very important.
“The old country or variety concert format went into decline as television took over. These shows were becoming stilted – run on far too traditional lines, lacking flair and imagination. Now the shows are much pacier, better presented and more professional. “
The pattern of success is being reflected from the Shetlands to the Borders, and Robbie recalls that on a visit to London he was astounded by the interest in the south. “There are 13 Scottish dance bands playing in London and the Home Counties every weekend – and at least half of them are led by Englishman. “ He also highlights the impact of the recording industry.
“There are at least three new albums coming out each week featuring varying aspects of Scottish music. And the marketing of albums and cassettes has totally changed – the live shows are now the main point of sale.
“All this has meant a marked increase in work for the country’s professional musicians, and this, in turn, encourages the professionals to pass on their skills to the following generations. It is an incredibly healthy state of affairs, and one of the most pleasing aspects for me is that it is getting music where it should be – live on stage.”
Although Robbie is reticent to claim any personal credit for this musical renaissance, there is no doubt he is a vibrant force in achieving this success story.
“We have really seen a revolution. There were those a few years ago who saw live musical entertainment in Scotland as a spent force. But this change of emphasis, this rich, grassroots enthusiasm and increasing sophistication in production, has led to a completely new ball game. And long may it continue” he declares.
Behind every successful man they say there is always a good woman, and this is never more applicable than in Robbie’s case. His wife, Esma, a lass from a musical family brought up in Cluny, Aberdeenshire, is an accomplished pianist in her own right, and a prominent member of the ‘Sweet Adelines’ singing group.
She is an indispensable part of the Shepherd success story – a valuable music adviser; a vital secretarial helper; and an indefatigable telephone answerer; and she provides the domestic stability and continuity which is so essential to an entertainer with so many commitments, involving long spells away from home, which are part and parcel of Robbie’s way of life.
Whatever the hassle, you can rely on Esma being unfailingly helpful, courteous, and full of bonhomie. It is no wonder that the Shepherd household is such a popular stopping-off place for many of Scotland’s most prominent musicians.
Earning a living as a freelance broadcaster and, indeed, as an entertainer, is in many ways a precarious way of making a living, and Robbie is content to take every day as it comes.
Should he pack it all up tomorrow, he will already have made an indelible mark on the history of traditional Scottish music.
However, I am sure that we all hope that Robbie’s wit and his wisdom, energy and enthusiasm, his honest sauncey face and unaffected Aberdeenshire tongue, will be with us for many years to come. More power to you elbow!
Box and Fiddle
October 1985 (Year 9 no 2)