Box and Fiddle
Year 04 No 01
September 1980
Price 15p
8 pages
8 month subscription £2.25
Editor – Ian Smith, 50 Mount Vernon Road, Stranraer Tele 4098
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Mary Plunkett, 2 Dounan Road, Dunragit, Wigtownshire
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
Here we go again into battle. The battle is to promote traditional music and encourage the youngsters and through our clubs to reach an ever increasing public. It will be a had lesson for the Treasurers, but I’m sure they will come good once again.
We welcome two new clubs and wish them well. They are East Kilbride and Lesmahagow and there are more in the pipeline.
Will Secretaries please note that the B&F now has its own Treasurer.
The Sandy Nixon Trio can now be contacted at 3 Denoon Terrace, Dundee, DD” 2EL
Bill Black’s Stanley Ceilidh will now be held on 10th October at the Tayside Hotel and if last year’s was anything to go by it should be great. Also, down at the Tait Hall, Kelso, Jimmy Clinkscale presents his second ‘Accordion Bonanza’. This show is recorded live and is a must, so make a mark in your diary for the 7th December.
There are now eight editions to the season and the subscriptions have been altered accordingly. Best wishes for the new season and may you have many happy hours.
New Club
A new Club has just come in. Will you please welcome Castle Douglas Club. They meet on the fourth Thursday at the Ernespie Hotel, Castle Douglas and their first guest artist is Sandy MacArthur.
Chairman’s Congratulations
by Jimmy Blue
Dear Members
I’d like to offer my congratulations to the ‘Box and fiddle’ and its Editor, Ian Smith, on entering the fourth year of publication, and I am sure it will continue to be as interesting and successful as in the past three years.
The Association AGM was a very enjoyable day, marred only by the long list of obituaries. Since then we have been saddened to hear also of the deaths of Lindsay Ross and Bob Lillie, both of whom were such characters and who contributed so much to the Scottish music scene. I know you will join me in sending our sincere sympathy to their relatives, but also to their many friends.
Looking forward to having a tune, and to meeting many of you over the winter months.
Star from Canada for Motherwell
by Peter Paterson
Well, it won’t be long to the big show again and at present I am finalizing the link-up. I would like to give you a few details, mainly of my top-of-the-bill act.
He is Andy Paterson and he is coming over from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Andy left Scotland in 1957, leaving behind an up-and-coming career on the Scottish stage. At that time Andy was 19 years of age. (Obviously he’s a lot older now).
He started on the accordion when he was 10 and was taught by the late Jimmy Speedy from Newarthill in Lanarkshire. Jimmy was so impressed by Andy’s abilities in his first months of tuition that he sold him his own accordion – a three row Continental box.
Around 12 years of age Andy made his stage debut playing at local concerts. He was auditioned by Howard Lockhart of the BBC and played on TV in a closed circuit system in Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall and at a radio and TV exhibition in the early 1950’s. He then did a week at Glasgow Empire as a Carl Levis discovery.
At around 16 he did a 14 week stint at the now extinct Hamilton Granada with the Eddie Williams Show. Andy Stewart, an up-and-coming act at that time, did a Friday and Saturday guest spot on the show. Then he played the Glasgow Corporation Open-Air Concerts in the summer shows and played the old Metropole in Stockwell Street in a show called ‘Back Court Parade’. He played the Empress Theatre before going out to Canada.
In Canada in 1957 we formed a concert party called ‘The Swing o’ the Kilt’. He did a solo act in the show, also a double act with me and a trio called the Andy McNeil Trio with Andy on the box, a chap called Neil Boyd on the sax and myself on the drums. So he was a versatile artist. He still played Jimmy Speedy’s box and old Franchetti. I still have it in the house yet.
In 1966 I returned home from Canada. Andy stayed and got married. Since then he has had a varied career. He has played on Commercial TV in Canada and also on various radio shows. He had his own quintet, playing for dances in the Winnipeg area. He also had a Scottish Dance Trio and now, at present, does solo cabaret spots. He is not full-time as he is a Maintenance Manager at Winnipeg Airport. He plays a three row Ranco Musette custom made accordion at the moment.
To finish, in 1959 he won the King of the Saddle Talent Show which was featured on a commercial radio station in Winnipeg – it was a Country and Western show. He won it playing a selection of Scottish reels and a selection of Irish jigs. Not bad for a Scottish cowboy wearing a kilt.
The show is in the Civic Centre, Motherwell, on Saturday 1st November 1980 at 7pm. It’s the second annual ‘Accordions Galore’ show in memory of the late Will Starr. The show will feature the final for the Will Starr Memorial Shield contest. Any last minute contestants who would like to enter for the contest please write to me and send a s.a.e. for an answer. The heats will be in late September.
Musical Weekend
Mr Jackie Cooper is organizing this weekend which will take place in the early spring. This is a get together of musicians who will be locked away in a suitable venue where there will be plenty of good food, wine of the country and the finest of company. He would like to have about 200 who will bring their instruments, let their hair down and have a ‘richt guid time’.
To enable him to get it together would Club Secretaries let him know as early as possible how many would like to go. From this information he will then be able to tell where, when and how much it would cost. Write to Mr Jack Cooper, 272 Blackness Road, Dundee Tel 0382-641-481
Good Turn-out for AGM
Mr Jimmy Blue, Chairman of the Association, welcomed another good attendance at the AGM held in Perth. He mentioned some new Clubs, namely, Dingwall, East Kilbride and Lesmahagow, with the possibility of Fort William and Premier A&F Club of Northern Ireland who meet in Ballymahinch.
He then went on to mention the sad passing of some of our more noted members – David Findlay of ‘Take the Floor’ radio programme, Jack Forsyth (accordion), Hector McAndrew (fiddle) and Bill Powrie (accordion).
Owing to the lack of space the remainder are the main points.
Inflation has finally caught up with the ‘Box and Fiddle’ so the advertising rates must be increased to help off-set this.
A weekend is proposed where musicians can get together and let their hair down. Jack Cooper of Dundee is to organize this.
The Musselburgh Festival has been brought forward to 7th March. This is to try and get better weather for this important event. Mr Alex Little announced that this would be the last time that he would organize and compere the Festival. He will be greatly missed.
It was emphasised that as many people as possible write to the media to get more of our traditional music presented.
The Treasurership has been split. Mr David Ross is the Association Treasurer and Mrs Mary Plunkett is the new Treasurer for the Box and Fiddle. There is to be an Association tie. Final details are to be worked out and the new coloured enamel badges are now available from Association Secretary Andrew Nairn, priced 40p.
The Reel Radio
by Derek Hamilton
Saddest note of the year was the tragic death of David Findlay back in April. It goes without saying that the distinctive voice of David will be sadly missed by all lovers of Scottish Dance music. He was respected as a pianist, playing with the Olympians Dance Band for many years, and respected too for his wide knowledge of the whole dance scene. He was, of course, a dancer too.
But he was most respected for his charming, unmistakable cheery voice. That voice caught the ear of every listener, whether to Scottish Dance music or to the fill-ins between programmes, or the BBC Ballroom on Radio 2.
I’m not ashamed to say I cried when I heard the sad news. I had only met the man once, but his warm personality had penetrated the airwaves and I thought of him, like many other people did, as a close friend.
I would like to reprint a tribute made in a church magazine shortly after David’s death. The Rev Robert Kemp of Crosshouse wrote these words –
“It is always easy to make instant judgments. But do you, when you hear a radio voice, form a picture and an opinion of the person behind the voice?
“One of the most friendly and relaxed voices on Scottish radio will be heard no more. It belonged to David Findlay, who was an announcer for BBC Scotland for many years, and who died recently.
“I remember once listening to the late night closedown of BBC Scotland. David was the announcer. After the fishing report and a friendly “Good fishing, gentlemen!” just before the National Anthem, he wished the listeners “Good night” and added “…..and to Jean who wrote to me from Ayr, a very special good night”. It was said in such a friendly and sincere fashion, that I suddenly got a picture of many people, lonely and troubled, for whom these words, spoken after most listeners had either switched off or changed stations, were a source of warm friendship and affectionate reassurance.
“I for one will miss his relaxed, unaffected manner on the Scottish airwaves, BUT David Findlay remains for me an illustration of how just a little in the right place can mean such a lot.”
A very fitting tribute indeed.
In fact it has been a very sad year for the music scene in Scotland.
The deaths of seven other very popular figures in the past few months have left a tremendous gap in Scottish music.
The most recent, Lindsay Ross, came as a complete shock to everyone. The name of Lindsay Ross is synonymous with the ‘velvet’ sound of Scottish Dance music. He broadcast regularly until just a few years ago and had recently restarted. After his two recent broadcast on ‘Take the Floor’ he was once again building up a following.
Earlier in the year we heard of the death in Mull of Bill Powrie, brother of Ian, and probably one of the finest exponents of the three row chromatic ever to grace the scene. Bill had been playing on the island at the Western Isles Hotel when he took ill.
Jack Forsyth was a well known name to the listeners of Scottish Dance music in the 50’s and early 60’s. Sadly Jack, the fine piano accordionist with a happy disposition, passed away after a long illness.
Many a drummer has tried to emulate the style of Arthur Easson. Arthur died in June. He will be best remembered as drummer with the Ian Powrie band and then with Jimmy Blue. He also made appearances with many of the top bands in the land including records with Jimmy Shand Jrn.
“A legend in his own time” is perhaps the best way to describe Hector McAndrew who died earlier this year after a lengthy illness.
Hector was undoubtedly the master of present day Scottish fiddling with a highly distinguishable style so noted in the North-East. His name will always go hand-in-hand with Skinner, Gow, Marshall and the like.
On behalf of all readers of the Box and Fiddle may I offer condolences to relatives of all these fine musicians who have sadly passed on to higher places. Their music will last forever.
Take the Floor
During the off-season the ‘Take the Floor’ series on BBC Radio Scotland has continued to make its mark as the only show catering for Scottish Dance Music lovers.
It had its upheavals due to David Findlay’s untimely death and Harry Gray stepped in to fill the gap until the Beeb signed up Jim MacLeod to host the show.
They are both undoubtedly good at the job but I can’t help feeling that the little bit of sparkle has gone with David’s passing. Time will no doubt heal the wound but it’s not helped by the BBC recording Jim MacLeod’s links without his hearing the music. The script he was given for George Bell’s latest session was obviously wrong. More than once he announced the dances wrongly. Not Jim’s fault at all, but it does his image no good.
I’m glad the Beeb decided to broadcast the last few ‘live’ sessions which were in the can just before David’s death, although we would have done well to have missed Iain MacPhail’s session from Selkirk. That must rate as one of the worst-ever recordings. How the dancers danced to some of the reels and jigs I’ll never know. The recording itself did no justice to the band either. Poor Neil McMillan would have been as well at home and George Darling’s drums were sometimes there and sometimes not. The front line was massacred by too much of Alan Johnston’s fiddle which wasn’t always in tune. Davie (Dormouse) Flockhart had either fallen asleep of the Beeb, with all their cutbacks, didn’t have a mike to put on the piano. Robbie’s links were jerky and strained, which is perhaps understandable in the circumstances, but he is a long-standing performer and I, for one, would have expected better from him.
Now that I’ve slated him for that one, I’d better set the record straight and say that I have enjoyed every one of his ‘Reel Blend’ programmes which follows ‘Take the Floor’ at 7 o’clock.
He has really struck a good mixture of old and new and his wee fill-in pieces are very interesting indeed. The Reel Blend is an informative programme very worthwhile listening and long may it continue to grace the airwaves.
I’m delighted to note that Robin Brock has managed to get his own show on a Monday night between 7 and 8 o’clock. I haven’t heard it as yet as Radio Forth doesn’t really get as far as here but I’m sure it will be a jam-packed hour of good music and news.
I note too that Radio Clyde, widely acclaimed as Britain’s most successful commercial radio station, continues to promote Scottish Dance music as if it were going out of fashion. And I don’t think!!
The planners at Clyde obviously think it IS out of fashion. Their sole contribution – one track from a Scottish Dance music LP each day, Monday to Friday at two minutes past 11 in the morning, just after the news. And that’s your lot, mate!!
Oh! Sure and Jim MacLeod’s ‘Nice and Easy Listening’ Show has his ‘Scots Record’ spot (otherwise known as Tommy Ford’s fan club), but that’s not exactly setting the heather on fire is it?
Maybe it’s just as well they lost their battle for the new station being set up in Ayrshire – I don’t think my nerves would have stood up to it!
Grampian TV have just run a series of four shows, featuring the Clubs of the North-East called ‘Fiddle and Box’.
I wonder if their counterparts in Central and South Scotland (STV – Britain’s biggest importer of American trash or, come to think of it, anybody’s trash) will play the tapes and screen them. I gather they were good shows, Jimmy Blue guested on one of them.
Maybe if we all wrote to STV they’d see some sense and record a series of their own.
As I write this column, the Beeb are doing a series of six repeats of ‘Take the Floor’. This was brought about by the Musicians strike recently resulting in no bands going into the studios for sessions.
Also as I write this column word has just come in to say that Bob Lillie, accordionist with the Kelvin Band and great pal of Jimmy Yeaman, has died. Bob suffered a heart attack about two years ago and had been taking things easy since then.
This is another tragic loss to the music scene in Scotland.
Record Review
by Derek Hamilton
Far Frae Hame – Bobby Coghill – Ross Records WGR 005
Take Three – Currie Brothers – Lismor LILP 5102
Callum Wilson and his SDB – Lismor LILP 5109
The Island Fling – Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent – BRG 001
Bob Lillie – an appreciation
by Jimmy Yeaman
By the time this article reaches print many readers will have learned of the death of accordionist Bob Lillie on Wednesday, 20th August, 1980.
With the writer, Bob was one of the founders, and former Chairman, of the Milngavie Accordion and Fiddle Club (the MAFIA) and also a member and regular attender of the Balloch Club. With pianist Ray Hislop he was part of my Trio, which was formed more than ten years ago, mainly for the purpose of guest artist performances at Accordion and Fiddle Clubs. Our first appearance was at Langholm and for a number of years after that we always seemed to be heading southwards to Clubs on both sides of the Borders. The last Club we played at together was Fintry, when the Club reformed in January this year.
Bob was the real talent in the Trio, while yours truly larked about as a cover for inadequacy. Ray, at the back, held us together if, at times, somewhat bewitched, bothered and bewildered at the ‘going’s on’ up front. Our act was lighthearted and Bob’s exceptional good nature allowed me to ‘take the mickey’ when he was performing.
He did however get his own back one memorable night a number of years ago at Bonchester Bridge. During my solo of the plaintive slow air, ‘The Music of the Spey’ Bob, from behind, squirted a soda siphon up the kilt! The audience fell off their seats and I fell off my fiddle with great loss of dignity, discomfort and shock. To this day, thanks to Bob Lillie, I haven’t had the confidence to perform in Highland dress without using a nappy as a foundation garment.
It was, however, as the leader of the Kelvin Ceilidh Band that Bob’s ability was truly recognised. He had that rare gift of perfect tempo for Highland, Old Tyme and Modern dance music – a talent, dare I say it, envied perhaps by superior musicians ; also a ‘punchy’ swinging style and an inexhaustible repertoire of tunes built up through years of experience. In my 14 years close association with Bob and the band, concentrating on engagements in the West of Scotland but encompassing gigs as far apart as Aberdeen, Barra and Wigan, the name of Bob Lillie has become legendary and his playing will be missed in many a dance hall and function room, and no less by the musicians who had the privilege and pleasure to play with him.
Bob was a character and his cheery nature was personified in his accordion playing. We spent a lot of time together in private and in public and there are a wheen of stories, some that can be told and some that cannot.
With happy memories and a great sense of loss – to you, Bob,
Thanks for the Fun
Thanks for being a Pal
But most of ALL –
Thank you for the Music
Fantastic Festival in Beautiful Island
by John McIntee
After months of planning April 25th, 1980 was upon us and the Third Annual Mull Music Festival of Traditional Music and Song ……….
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel) – 30th Sept 80
Alnwick (Nag’s Head) – members only
Balloch (Griffin Hotel) – 21st Sept 80 Willie Simpson Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 29th Sept 80 Ron Gonella
Banff (Royal Oak Hotel) –
Beith (Anderson Hotel) –
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) – 13th Oct 80 Graeme Mitchell
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) –
Coupar Angus (Royal Hotel) -
Cumbria (Huntsman Inn – Penton) –
Cumnock (Tup Inn) –
Derwentside (Royal British Legion, Consett)
Dumfries (Oughton’s)
Dunblane (Hydro) –
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel) – 2nd Oct 80 Open Night
Dunfermline (Kinema Ballroom) –
East Kilbride (Stuart Hotel) – 25th Sept 80 Wallochmore Ceilidh Band
Falkirk (Park Hotel) –
Forres (Brig Motel) – 24th Sept 80 John Huband and the Tayside Sound, 8th Oct 80 Bobby Harvey & Ivor Britton
Galston (Parakeet, Hurlford) -
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) – members only
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel)
Kelso (Cross Key’s Hotel) –
Kintore (Crown Hotel) –
Langholm (Crown Hotel)
Lesmahagow (Craignethan Hotel) -
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) – 30th Sept 80 Kenny Thomson & Ian Muir
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull, Milngavie) –
Monklands (Georgian Hotel, Coatbridge) –
New Cumnock (Crown Hotel) –
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel)
North East (Seafield Arms, Keith) –
Oban (Park Hotel) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) –
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel)
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Shetland (venue?)
Stranraer (Buck’s Head Hotel) –
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel)
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Balloch
4. Biggar
5. Dundee & District
6. Falkirk
7. Forres
8. Glendale
9. Kintore
10. M.A.F.I.A.
11. Monklands
12. Newtongrange
13. North East
14. Perth & District
15. Stranraer
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1980 (Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Sept 1976)
3. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1971)
4. Banchory A&F Club (1978)
5. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973)
6. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1971)
7. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974)
8. Buchan A&F Club
9. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980)
10. Coupar Angus A&F Club
11. Cumnock A&F Club
12. Derwentside A&F Club
13. Dingwall & District (Aug 1979)
14. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s) (April 1965)
15. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971)
16. Dundee & District A&F Club
17. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
18. East Kilbride A&F Club (c Sept 1980)
19. Falkirk A&F Club
20. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
21. Galston A&F Club
22. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
23. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
24. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
25. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976)
26. Kintore A&F Club
27. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967)
28. Lesmahagow A&F Club (c Sept 1980)
29. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973)
30. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973)
31. M.A.F.I.A.
32. Monklands A&F Club
33. Newcastleton Accordion Club
34. Newtongrange A&F Club (Oct 1977)
35. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
36. New Cumnock A&F Club
37. North Cumbria A&F Club
38. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971)
39. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975)
40. Orkney A&F Club
41. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
42. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970)
43. Rothbury Accordion Club (Feb 1974)
44. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978)
45. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
46. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
47. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
48. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
49. Coquetdale
50. Club Accord
51. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
52. Fintry A&F Club
53. Gretna A&F Club (June 1966)
54 Renfrew A&F Club
55 Straiton Accordion Club (opened? 3rd club to open – closed March 1979)
56 Wellbank A&F Club
Advertising rates
Full Page - £70
Half Page - £35
Quarter Page - £17.50
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Mary Plunkett, 2 Dounan Road, Dunragit, Wigtownshire
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
Here we go again into battle. The battle is to promote traditional music and encourage the youngsters and through our clubs to reach an ever increasing public. It will be a had lesson for the Treasurers, but I’m sure they will come good once again.
We welcome two new clubs and wish them well. They are East Kilbride and Lesmahagow and there are more in the pipeline.
Will Secretaries please note that the B&F now has its own Treasurer.
The Sandy Nixon Trio can now be contacted at 3 Denoon Terrace, Dundee, DD” 2EL
Bill Black’s Stanley Ceilidh will now be held on 10th October at the Tayside Hotel and if last year’s was anything to go by it should be great. Also, down at the Tait Hall, Kelso, Jimmy Clinkscale presents his second ‘Accordion Bonanza’. This show is recorded live and is a must, so make a mark in your diary for the 7th December.
There are now eight editions to the season and the subscriptions have been altered accordingly. Best wishes for the new season and may you have many happy hours.
New Club
A new Club has just come in. Will you please welcome Castle Douglas Club. They meet on the fourth Thursday at the Ernespie Hotel, Castle Douglas and their first guest artist is Sandy MacArthur.
Chairman’s Congratulations
by Jimmy Blue
Dear Members
I’d like to offer my congratulations to the ‘Box and fiddle’ and its Editor, Ian Smith, on entering the fourth year of publication, and I am sure it will continue to be as interesting and successful as in the past three years.
The Association AGM was a very enjoyable day, marred only by the long list of obituaries. Since then we have been saddened to hear also of the deaths of Lindsay Ross and Bob Lillie, both of whom were such characters and who contributed so much to the Scottish music scene. I know you will join me in sending our sincere sympathy to their relatives, but also to their many friends.
Looking forward to having a tune, and to meeting many of you over the winter months.
Star from Canada for Motherwell
by Peter Paterson
Well, it won’t be long to the big show again and at present I am finalizing the link-up. I would like to give you a few details, mainly of my top-of-the-bill act.
He is Andy Paterson and he is coming over from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Andy left Scotland in 1957, leaving behind an up-and-coming career on the Scottish stage. At that time Andy was 19 years of age. (Obviously he’s a lot older now).
He started on the accordion when he was 10 and was taught by the late Jimmy Speedy from Newarthill in Lanarkshire. Jimmy was so impressed by Andy’s abilities in his first months of tuition that he sold him his own accordion – a three row Continental box.
Around 12 years of age Andy made his stage debut playing at local concerts. He was auditioned by Howard Lockhart of the BBC and played on TV in a closed circuit system in Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall and at a radio and TV exhibition in the early 1950’s. He then did a week at Glasgow Empire as a Carl Levis discovery.
At around 16 he did a 14 week stint at the now extinct Hamilton Granada with the Eddie Williams Show. Andy Stewart, an up-and-coming act at that time, did a Friday and Saturday guest spot on the show. Then he played the Glasgow Corporation Open-Air Concerts in the summer shows and played the old Metropole in Stockwell Street in a show called ‘Back Court Parade’. He played the Empress Theatre before going out to Canada.
In Canada in 1957 we formed a concert party called ‘The Swing o’ the Kilt’. He did a solo act in the show, also a double act with me and a trio called the Andy McNeil Trio with Andy on the box, a chap called Neil Boyd on the sax and myself on the drums. So he was a versatile artist. He still played Jimmy Speedy’s box and old Franchetti. I still have it in the house yet.
In 1966 I returned home from Canada. Andy stayed and got married. Since then he has had a varied career. He has played on Commercial TV in Canada and also on various radio shows. He had his own quintet, playing for dances in the Winnipeg area. He also had a Scottish Dance Trio and now, at present, does solo cabaret spots. He is not full-time as he is a Maintenance Manager at Winnipeg Airport. He plays a three row Ranco Musette custom made accordion at the moment.
To finish, in 1959 he won the King of the Saddle Talent Show which was featured on a commercial radio station in Winnipeg – it was a Country and Western show. He won it playing a selection of Scottish reels and a selection of Irish jigs. Not bad for a Scottish cowboy wearing a kilt.
The show is in the Civic Centre, Motherwell, on Saturday 1st November 1980 at 7pm. It’s the second annual ‘Accordions Galore’ show in memory of the late Will Starr. The show will feature the final for the Will Starr Memorial Shield contest. Any last minute contestants who would like to enter for the contest please write to me and send a s.a.e. for an answer. The heats will be in late September.
Musical Weekend
Mr Jackie Cooper is organizing this weekend which will take place in the early spring. This is a get together of musicians who will be locked away in a suitable venue where there will be plenty of good food, wine of the country and the finest of company. He would like to have about 200 who will bring their instruments, let their hair down and have a ‘richt guid time’.
To enable him to get it together would Club Secretaries let him know as early as possible how many would like to go. From this information he will then be able to tell where, when and how much it would cost. Write to Mr Jack Cooper, 272 Blackness Road, Dundee Tel 0382-641-481
Good Turn-out for AGM
Mr Jimmy Blue, Chairman of the Association, welcomed another good attendance at the AGM held in Perth. He mentioned some new Clubs, namely, Dingwall, East Kilbride and Lesmahagow, with the possibility of Fort William and Premier A&F Club of Northern Ireland who meet in Ballymahinch.
He then went on to mention the sad passing of some of our more noted members – David Findlay of ‘Take the Floor’ radio programme, Jack Forsyth (accordion), Hector McAndrew (fiddle) and Bill Powrie (accordion).
Owing to the lack of space the remainder are the main points.
Inflation has finally caught up with the ‘Box and Fiddle’ so the advertising rates must be increased to help off-set this.
A weekend is proposed where musicians can get together and let their hair down. Jack Cooper of Dundee is to organize this.
The Musselburgh Festival has been brought forward to 7th March. This is to try and get better weather for this important event. Mr Alex Little announced that this would be the last time that he would organize and compere the Festival. He will be greatly missed.
It was emphasised that as many people as possible write to the media to get more of our traditional music presented.
The Treasurership has been split. Mr David Ross is the Association Treasurer and Mrs Mary Plunkett is the new Treasurer for the Box and Fiddle. There is to be an Association tie. Final details are to be worked out and the new coloured enamel badges are now available from Association Secretary Andrew Nairn, priced 40p.
The Reel Radio
by Derek Hamilton
Saddest note of the year was the tragic death of David Findlay back in April. It goes without saying that the distinctive voice of David will be sadly missed by all lovers of Scottish Dance music. He was respected as a pianist, playing with the Olympians Dance Band for many years, and respected too for his wide knowledge of the whole dance scene. He was, of course, a dancer too.
But he was most respected for his charming, unmistakable cheery voice. That voice caught the ear of every listener, whether to Scottish Dance music or to the fill-ins between programmes, or the BBC Ballroom on Radio 2.
I’m not ashamed to say I cried when I heard the sad news. I had only met the man once, but his warm personality had penetrated the airwaves and I thought of him, like many other people did, as a close friend.
I would like to reprint a tribute made in a church magazine shortly after David’s death. The Rev Robert Kemp of Crosshouse wrote these words –
“It is always easy to make instant judgments. But do you, when you hear a radio voice, form a picture and an opinion of the person behind the voice?
“One of the most friendly and relaxed voices on Scottish radio will be heard no more. It belonged to David Findlay, who was an announcer for BBC Scotland for many years, and who died recently.
“I remember once listening to the late night closedown of BBC Scotland. David was the announcer. After the fishing report and a friendly “Good fishing, gentlemen!” just before the National Anthem, he wished the listeners “Good night” and added “…..and to Jean who wrote to me from Ayr, a very special good night”. It was said in such a friendly and sincere fashion, that I suddenly got a picture of many people, lonely and troubled, for whom these words, spoken after most listeners had either switched off or changed stations, were a source of warm friendship and affectionate reassurance.
“I for one will miss his relaxed, unaffected manner on the Scottish airwaves, BUT David Findlay remains for me an illustration of how just a little in the right place can mean such a lot.”
A very fitting tribute indeed.
In fact it has been a very sad year for the music scene in Scotland.
The deaths of seven other very popular figures in the past few months have left a tremendous gap in Scottish music.
The most recent, Lindsay Ross, came as a complete shock to everyone. The name of Lindsay Ross is synonymous with the ‘velvet’ sound of Scottish Dance music. He broadcast regularly until just a few years ago and had recently restarted. After his two recent broadcast on ‘Take the Floor’ he was once again building up a following.
Earlier in the year we heard of the death in Mull of Bill Powrie, brother of Ian, and probably one of the finest exponents of the three row chromatic ever to grace the scene. Bill had been playing on the island at the Western Isles Hotel when he took ill.
Jack Forsyth was a well known name to the listeners of Scottish Dance music in the 50’s and early 60’s. Sadly Jack, the fine piano accordionist with a happy disposition, passed away after a long illness.
Many a drummer has tried to emulate the style of Arthur Easson. Arthur died in June. He will be best remembered as drummer with the Ian Powrie band and then with Jimmy Blue. He also made appearances with many of the top bands in the land including records with Jimmy Shand Jrn.
“A legend in his own time” is perhaps the best way to describe Hector McAndrew who died earlier this year after a lengthy illness.
Hector was undoubtedly the master of present day Scottish fiddling with a highly distinguishable style so noted in the North-East. His name will always go hand-in-hand with Skinner, Gow, Marshall and the like.
On behalf of all readers of the Box and Fiddle may I offer condolences to relatives of all these fine musicians who have sadly passed on to higher places. Their music will last forever.
Take the Floor
During the off-season the ‘Take the Floor’ series on BBC Radio Scotland has continued to make its mark as the only show catering for Scottish Dance Music lovers.
It had its upheavals due to David Findlay’s untimely death and Harry Gray stepped in to fill the gap until the Beeb signed up Jim MacLeod to host the show.
They are both undoubtedly good at the job but I can’t help feeling that the little bit of sparkle has gone with David’s passing. Time will no doubt heal the wound but it’s not helped by the BBC recording Jim MacLeod’s links without his hearing the music. The script he was given for George Bell’s latest session was obviously wrong. More than once he announced the dances wrongly. Not Jim’s fault at all, but it does his image no good.
I’m glad the Beeb decided to broadcast the last few ‘live’ sessions which were in the can just before David’s death, although we would have done well to have missed Iain MacPhail’s session from Selkirk. That must rate as one of the worst-ever recordings. How the dancers danced to some of the reels and jigs I’ll never know. The recording itself did no justice to the band either. Poor Neil McMillan would have been as well at home and George Darling’s drums were sometimes there and sometimes not. The front line was massacred by too much of Alan Johnston’s fiddle which wasn’t always in tune. Davie (Dormouse) Flockhart had either fallen asleep of the Beeb, with all their cutbacks, didn’t have a mike to put on the piano. Robbie’s links were jerky and strained, which is perhaps understandable in the circumstances, but he is a long-standing performer and I, for one, would have expected better from him.
Now that I’ve slated him for that one, I’d better set the record straight and say that I have enjoyed every one of his ‘Reel Blend’ programmes which follows ‘Take the Floor’ at 7 o’clock.
He has really struck a good mixture of old and new and his wee fill-in pieces are very interesting indeed. The Reel Blend is an informative programme very worthwhile listening and long may it continue to grace the airwaves.
I’m delighted to note that Robin Brock has managed to get his own show on a Monday night between 7 and 8 o’clock. I haven’t heard it as yet as Radio Forth doesn’t really get as far as here but I’m sure it will be a jam-packed hour of good music and news.
I note too that Radio Clyde, widely acclaimed as Britain’s most successful commercial radio station, continues to promote Scottish Dance music as if it were going out of fashion. And I don’t think!!
The planners at Clyde obviously think it IS out of fashion. Their sole contribution – one track from a Scottish Dance music LP each day, Monday to Friday at two minutes past 11 in the morning, just after the news. And that’s your lot, mate!!
Oh! Sure and Jim MacLeod’s ‘Nice and Easy Listening’ Show has his ‘Scots Record’ spot (otherwise known as Tommy Ford’s fan club), but that’s not exactly setting the heather on fire is it?
Maybe it’s just as well they lost their battle for the new station being set up in Ayrshire – I don’t think my nerves would have stood up to it!
Grampian TV have just run a series of four shows, featuring the Clubs of the North-East called ‘Fiddle and Box’.
I wonder if their counterparts in Central and South Scotland (STV – Britain’s biggest importer of American trash or, come to think of it, anybody’s trash) will play the tapes and screen them. I gather they were good shows, Jimmy Blue guested on one of them.
Maybe if we all wrote to STV they’d see some sense and record a series of their own.
As I write this column, the Beeb are doing a series of six repeats of ‘Take the Floor’. This was brought about by the Musicians strike recently resulting in no bands going into the studios for sessions.
Also as I write this column word has just come in to say that Bob Lillie, accordionist with the Kelvin Band and great pal of Jimmy Yeaman, has died. Bob suffered a heart attack about two years ago and had been taking things easy since then.
This is another tragic loss to the music scene in Scotland.
Record Review
by Derek Hamilton
Far Frae Hame – Bobby Coghill – Ross Records WGR 005
Take Three – Currie Brothers – Lismor LILP 5102
Callum Wilson and his SDB – Lismor LILP 5109
The Island Fling – Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent – BRG 001
Bob Lillie – an appreciation
by Jimmy Yeaman
By the time this article reaches print many readers will have learned of the death of accordionist Bob Lillie on Wednesday, 20th August, 1980.
With the writer, Bob was one of the founders, and former Chairman, of the Milngavie Accordion and Fiddle Club (the MAFIA) and also a member and regular attender of the Balloch Club. With pianist Ray Hislop he was part of my Trio, which was formed more than ten years ago, mainly for the purpose of guest artist performances at Accordion and Fiddle Clubs. Our first appearance was at Langholm and for a number of years after that we always seemed to be heading southwards to Clubs on both sides of the Borders. The last Club we played at together was Fintry, when the Club reformed in January this year.
Bob was the real talent in the Trio, while yours truly larked about as a cover for inadequacy. Ray, at the back, held us together if, at times, somewhat bewitched, bothered and bewildered at the ‘going’s on’ up front. Our act was lighthearted and Bob’s exceptional good nature allowed me to ‘take the mickey’ when he was performing.
He did however get his own back one memorable night a number of years ago at Bonchester Bridge. During my solo of the plaintive slow air, ‘The Music of the Spey’ Bob, from behind, squirted a soda siphon up the kilt! The audience fell off their seats and I fell off my fiddle with great loss of dignity, discomfort and shock. To this day, thanks to Bob Lillie, I haven’t had the confidence to perform in Highland dress without using a nappy as a foundation garment.
It was, however, as the leader of the Kelvin Ceilidh Band that Bob’s ability was truly recognised. He had that rare gift of perfect tempo for Highland, Old Tyme and Modern dance music – a talent, dare I say it, envied perhaps by superior musicians ; also a ‘punchy’ swinging style and an inexhaustible repertoire of tunes built up through years of experience. In my 14 years close association with Bob and the band, concentrating on engagements in the West of Scotland but encompassing gigs as far apart as Aberdeen, Barra and Wigan, the name of Bob Lillie has become legendary and his playing will be missed in many a dance hall and function room, and no less by the musicians who had the privilege and pleasure to play with him.
Bob was a character and his cheery nature was personified in his accordion playing. We spent a lot of time together in private and in public and there are a wheen of stories, some that can be told and some that cannot.
With happy memories and a great sense of loss – to you, Bob,
Thanks for the Fun
Thanks for being a Pal
But most of ALL –
Thank you for the Music
Fantastic Festival in Beautiful Island
by John McIntee
After months of planning April 25th, 1980 was upon us and the Third Annual Mull Music Festival of Traditional Music and Song ……….
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel) – 30th Sept 80
Alnwick (Nag’s Head) – members only
Balloch (Griffin Hotel) – 21st Sept 80 Willie Simpson Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 29th Sept 80 Ron Gonella
Banff (Royal Oak Hotel) –
Beith (Anderson Hotel) –
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) – 13th Oct 80 Graeme Mitchell
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) –
Coupar Angus (Royal Hotel) -
Cumbria (Huntsman Inn – Penton) –
Cumnock (Tup Inn) –
Derwentside (Royal British Legion, Consett)
Dumfries (Oughton’s)
Dunblane (Hydro) –
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel) – 2nd Oct 80 Open Night
Dunfermline (Kinema Ballroom) –
East Kilbride (Stuart Hotel) – 25th Sept 80 Wallochmore Ceilidh Band
Falkirk (Park Hotel) –
Forres (Brig Motel) – 24th Sept 80 John Huband and the Tayside Sound, 8th Oct 80 Bobby Harvey & Ivor Britton
Galston (Parakeet, Hurlford) -
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) – members only
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel)
Kelso (Cross Key’s Hotel) –
Kintore (Crown Hotel) –
Langholm (Crown Hotel)
Lesmahagow (Craignethan Hotel) -
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) – 30th Sept 80 Kenny Thomson & Ian Muir
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull, Milngavie) –
Monklands (Georgian Hotel, Coatbridge) –
New Cumnock (Crown Hotel) –
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel)
North East (Seafield Arms, Keith) –
Oban (Park Hotel) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) –
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel)
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Shetland (venue?)
Stranraer (Buck’s Head Hotel) –
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel)
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Balloch
4. Biggar
5. Dundee & District
6. Falkirk
7. Forres
8. Glendale
9. Kintore
10. M.A.F.I.A.
11. Monklands
12. Newtongrange
13. North East
14. Perth & District
15. Stranraer
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1980 (Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Sept 1976)
3. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1971)
4. Banchory A&F Club (1978)
5. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973)
6. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1971)
7. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974)
8. Buchan A&F Club
9. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980)
10. Coupar Angus A&F Club
11. Cumnock A&F Club
12. Derwentside A&F Club
13. Dingwall & District (Aug 1979)
14. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s) (April 1965)
15. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971)
16. Dundee & District A&F Club
17. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
18. East Kilbride A&F Club (c Sept 1980)
19. Falkirk A&F Club
20. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
21. Galston A&F Club
22. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
23. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
24. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
25. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976)
26. Kintore A&F Club
27. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967)
28. Lesmahagow A&F Club (c Sept 1980)
29. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973)
30. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973)
31. M.A.F.I.A.
32. Monklands A&F Club
33. Newcastleton Accordion Club
34. Newtongrange A&F Club (Oct 1977)
35. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
36. New Cumnock A&F Club
37. North Cumbria A&F Club
38. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971)
39. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975)
40. Orkney A&F Club
41. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
42. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970)
43. Rothbury Accordion Club (Feb 1974)
44. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978)
45. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
46. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
47. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
48. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
49. Coquetdale
50. Club Accord
51. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
52. Fintry A&F Club
53. Gretna A&F Club (June 1966)
54 Renfrew A&F Club
55 Straiton Accordion Club (opened? 3rd club to open – closed March 1979)
56 Wellbank A&F Club
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