Box and Fiddle
Year 16 No 01
September 1992
Price 60p
12 pages
7 month subscription £7.00
Editor – Editor – Doug Adamson, 22 Westfield Drive, Forfar, Angus, DD8 1EQ
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Margaret Smith, Smeaton Farm Cottage, Dalkeith, Midlothian.
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
As the nights draw in and autumn approaches, a new season of Accordion and fiddle club activity is upon us – a season which hopefully will see a rise in popularity of the scene.
I have attended many Clubs, mainly in the north of the country during the summer and have been encouraged by the numbers of both players and listeners attending.
Sadly, the Ormiston Club will not be opening its doors this autumn, but fortunately the Perth and the North East Clubs have been saved and I wish their new Committees every success.
I would also like to welcome back the Banff Club into the Association after a year’s absence.
I am making my annual sojourn to sunny Sussex next month, so I have to advance the October issue copy date to September 11th. It will be back to normal (October 15th) for the November issue.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Club officials, players and spectators an enjoyable season.
Doug Adamson
Introducing Our New Vice-Chairman
Jim Johnstone
by Charlie Todd
Jim Johnstone, a figure universally known in our music circles, was unanimously elected as the NAAFC’s first Vice Chairman at the 1992 A.G.M. in the Station Hotel , Perth. Jim will be able to bring a wealth of experience as a player, bandleader, adjudicator and radio and TV broadcaster to bare on the affairs of the Association.
The Jim Johnstone story starts in the East Lothian town of Tranent. Jim’s earliest recollections are of being surrounded by accordion music. Dad, George, and uncles John, Alex and Bob all played 5 row Continental accordions with George and John broadcasting regularly together before the war. In 1939 John was called up while dad continued his daytime job as a mechanic but “did his bit” by giving up playing to become a part time fireman. After demob it was John, Alex and Bob who got together and formed a band. After an audition, regular broadcasts were to follow with a three accordion front line.
It was at the age of 9 that Jim started lessons with Tranent 5 row accordionist Bobby Anderson, a former pupil of Peter Leatham. The idea was to learn to read music, which dad didn’t do, but since the only 5 row boxes available were big, clumsy pre-war models Jim started instead on a piano keyed box, the idea being that he would change over at a later date.
After a year of steady progress Bobby suggested that Jim himself move to Peter for lessons. An approach was made but Peter had a better idea. Daughter, Chrissie, was giving up playing the accordion professionally and was about to start classes in Tranent so Jim enrolled as one of her first pupils. Thus began a lifelong association because long after formal lessons stopped Chrissie’s door was always open when Jim came up against a musical problem and she always knew the solution.
Initially tuition of the ‘accordion classics’ by Frosini etc while at home Jim supplemented this with traditional music as played by the family or by listening to 78s on the old gramophone. This changed when Jim, now 13, was persuaded by his dad to reply to a radio advert looking for young musicians to broadcast. Having passed the audition his broadcast got under way on ‘Children’s Hour’ in May 1950 with ‘Dundee City Police Pipe Band’, McDonald’s Awa’ Tae the War’ and ‘The Black Mask Waltz’ with variations by Tolafson. Chrissie knew nothing of this until it was over but from then on tuition broadened out to include Scottish and modern music.
Two years later and another ‘weel kent face’ entered the scene – friend and fellow Scout Bobby Colgan. Bobby bought a drum kit from a relative and together they started taking on wee dances and weddings. Soon another local accordionist and neighbour, Willie Donaldson, joined to play second box, a fairly recent innovation at the time, but a must for the young trio after hearing Hugh Malarkie’s contribution to the Bobby McLeod Band who had appeared at a local dance.
Dad offered great encouragement and passed on jobs he was unable to do himself, always enquiring later how the lads had got on. “We got on that weel you’re no’ getting’ back again” would be Jim’s tongue-in-cheek response. Gradually, as the band were offered bigger and better jobs, additional players were added. On piano was Archie Horn from Port Seton formerly of the Tim Wright band and an expert at arranging modern ballroom dancing. On fiddle, and a first timer on the band scene, was Peter Innes, also from Tranent, a great fiddler and music reader. “We were knee deep in music at a dance” Jim recalls.
Jim had served his time as a motor mechanic in the garage where dad was foreman so it was natural that Jim did his National Service in the R.E.M.E. Even there however word of his playing ability preceded him and much of his two year stint was spent playing for the local RSCDS groups with whom the officers were connected.
Back in civvy street Jim was initially invited to join the ‘family band’ led by uncle John, which for a short time therefore had a four accordion front line. John retired from the band shortly afterwards, however, and the revised line-up lasted until 1962 when Jim received a phone call one Monday evening from Andrew Rankine asking if he was available to do a “broadcast on Wednesday”. What followed were two of the most traumatic days of Jim’s life but the broadcast went well and he was asked to join the band shortly afterwards. The line-up at that time was Andrew, Ron Gonella and Jim with Billy Thom, Tom McTague and Bill Hendry (Falkirk) in the back line. “What a swing the band had” Jim recalls “but what else would you expect with a jazz rhythm section like that”.
In 1963 Andrew announced that he was emigrating to Australia so Jim left to form his own band with Alan Johnstone on fiddle, Robin Brock on bass, Davy Flockhart on piano and Bobby Colgan on drums. After a successful audition they did their first broadcast in August 1963.
Around 1965 this band split up and Jim joined Jimmy Shand full time after giving up his job at the garage and was shortly afterwards joined by Bobby Colgan on drums. In 1967 he started an 18 month spell with Jimmy Blue’s band after the departure of Mickie Ainsworth. “Jimmy was a tremendously accurate player – his concentration was absolute” Jim remembers.
In 1968 Iain McFadyen approached Jim and asked him to form a band to carry on the White Heather Club in theatres and on TV. Initially he could only offer 10 weeks work but by the time they started that had risen to a year. This was the band of the ‘Measure of Scotch’ era with Pam Brough, Billy Craib, Billy Thom and Tommy Lees, originally from Kirkcaldy, on second box. Work rolled in during this time with the band frequently playing six nights a week.
After the demise of the White Heather Club other TV work followed. First the now almost forgotten ‘Take the High Road’ then the long running and highly successful ‘Songs of Scotland’.
The remainder is more recent history leading up to the band’s most recent venture, the summer show at the King James Hotel in Edinburgh. Inevitably the band line up has changed over these last few years with the emphasis being perhaps more on bringing in young players. Neil Barron, Neil Caul, Ian Hutson and of course “the baby of the band” as the show’s host Bill Torrance calls her, Marie Fielding.
Jim is very much one of the link men in Scottish dance music bridging the closing years of the original bands and the formative years of the young and exciting bands such as Craig McCallum, Alan Gardiner and others. Throughout his playing career he has continually set standards which most others would be happy to attain never mind surpass but he is the first to admit that it’s young players who continually regenerate his enthusiasm for dance music.
Jim’s advice to young players is to practice hard and to learn by listening to others but thereafter to develop your own style and above all always to play for you audience.
In conclusion therefore, on behalf of the Association’s many members I would like to welcome Jim to his new post and trust that he will find it an exciting and challenging experience.
A.G.M. Report
Second Moothie in the ‘Garlogie Four’
by Norrie Williams
“I wandered lonely as a cloud” – so went a line in a poem we did at the school. It was mid afternoon on Saturday 27th June ’92, and the two lonely clouds were wandering around in Perth station Hotel, one armed with a fiddle, the other with a box. They had just spent 45 minutes in a deserted hotel ballroom, whence they had been directed to ‘generate’ a ceilidh. Despite playing for more than half an hour they would have been hard pushed to generate a smile – admittedly they had enjoyed the tune and hopefully so had the five stalwarts who had managed to find seats, but a loud hailer and binocular wouldn’t have gone amiss!
So our two clouds were looking for a bit of the action when suddenly there it was, folk queuing in a wee passage leading to a jam packed Committee room, from which wafted the strains of the real stuff carry the unmistakable East Wemyss / Auchtermuchty ‘dunt’. There was no chance of getting in but after a while one or two folk came up for air and the two clouds, Peterson (Iain) and Williams (N.Y.) managed to squeeze through and keek in the door. There, surrounded by a circle of players was the one and only, playing without opening the bellows, as is his wont. It was a remarkably well co-ordinated effort, a laid back, fairly tight sound and it was obvious that everyone in that room – the audience were fairly rocking to the music – was having a ball. It was a case of “more, more!” and it did in fact last for about 2½ hours. Someone knew how to generate a ceilidh. I’ll have to learn to play with the bellows straps on. That would probably make some folk very happy!
After the very popular afternoon session it was all change for the dinner and dance, the respective starting times of both having been adjusted to give those partaking of the meal a better chance of getting a seat at the dance.
The booked band had had to withdraw but the gap was successfully filled by two highly competent groups headed respectively by Jimmy Blue and Bobby Crowe. With the Chairman were Stella Wilkie (fiddle), Joan Blue (keyboard) and Jack Cooper on drums while the man from Balmullo fielded Florence Burns (fiddle), Neil Copland (2nd accordion) and Maureen Rutheford on keyboard. Ian Powrie, who had an engagement during the early evening, was able to join the Jimmy Blue Band in their second spot, adding his own unmistakable harmonies.
Sunday
Sunday morning 11am and it was time for the AGM, standing room only – at least until loads of extra chairs were brought in – most gratifying to see so many folk and for my money, although fairly lengthy, it was one of the most constructive and fruitful to date, with many differing views being expressed from the floor. The air was well and truly cleared and I feel that the Association will be that much stronger as a result.
It was great to see two or three of our leading young band players at the meeting and although they would no doubt be somewhat bemused and frustrated by the preoccupation of us ‘auld yins’ with procedure and the rule book, I hope our dinosaural approach won’t deter them from coming back again because their support and ideas are vital to the future of the movement and our music.
Sunday 3pm, all were replete, the last traces of raspberry heather cream had been ‘dichted’ from our lips, our noses had been powdered and we settled back to enjoy a further feast, this time of our favourite music in the form of a celebrity Box and Fiddle Club compered as always by Association chairman Jimmy Blue, who has really got this job off to a fine art – unobtrusive, concise, humorous and everything runs like clockwork.
It has become the practice every second or third year to make a presentation to someone who has made a major contribution to our traditional music scene. On this occasion the deserving recipient of this honour was none other than the ‘Dunecht Loon’ himself, Robbie Shepherd. Now Robbie, although an ebullient, effervescent crater in his professional capacity is also by nature very self effacing and retiring off stage, hence at his request no top table and no speechifying – everything low key. Although his wishes were respected, it didn’t stop the delivery of an excellent poem (dedicated to Robbie) by the writer himself, Andy Stewart, who was looking and obviously feeling better than for many a long day.
Still low key, G to be precise, a musical tribute to our guest, in the shape of a neat little barn dance newly penned for the occasion by Stornoway composer and 5 row player, Ian Crichton, was played by Bobby Crowe, Ian Powrie and supporting caste. The tune title which must surely be a serious rival to the like of ‘Pipe Major Willie Gray’s Farewell etc’ ….viz. ‘Robbie shepherd’s Welcome to the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs’ Annual General ‘92’ left Jimmy Blue virtually winded after introducing it. Happily he recovered sufficiently to present Robbie with an appropriately inscribed ‘Mastermind’ type Caithness Glass bowl.
Robbie’s reply was concise, starting with the obvious sincere observation that he felt totally undeserving and continuing with an appreciation of those who had helped him along the way and of his present team. Happily a number of these friends and colleagues were there to join Robbie and his wife at their table – Mr and Mrs Ken Mutch, Mr and Mrs Freeland Barbour, Fiona Aitken, Douglas Maskew (sound engineer) and Ronnie Massie, of whom more later.
With the exception of Andy Stewart’s poem, the low key approach had precluded any C.V. material or other tributes so a wee bit of amplification here won’t go amiss.
Biography of Robbie Shepherd
A cobbler’s son, Robbie was born in 1936 in the Aberdeenshire village of Dunecht situated west of Aberdeen on the road to Alford. He went to the local 3 class primary school, won a bursary and shifted to the somewhat posher Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen for his Secondary education. An idea of just how posh can be gleaned from the fact that out of 1,000 pupils only Robbie and one other lad, a prefect from Monymusk had the Doric and could ‘spick’ properly. Robbie reckons his obsession with the Scots tongue stems from a College teacher’s high handed comments concerning his pronunciation of the Christian names of Mr Rhodes of Rhodesia fame. Well if the Dunecht butcher was called ‘Ceecil’ then why not the empire builder! “Cecil my dear boy, eh as in egg.” No wonder our manny retains his earthy tongue.
Mind you on the same theme Robbie’s reaction to the statement in a vote of thanks, viz. “It’s nice that somebody has the courage to use their own tongue on radio” was that it wasn’t always courage, quote “It’s often panic because ye henna time tae transfer ye rain mind intae English, ye jist bleat oot the ferst thing that comes intae yer heid.”
Robbie’s interest in our music was kindled through his dad’s collection of Rennie, Cameron and Shand records, which was continually being augmented by monthly trips to Aberdeen, but even prior to his teens he had a great appetite for anything connected with Scottish entertainment e.g. the McFlannels, Harry Gordon and so on. By the time he was in his late teens he was doing a bit of entertaining himself, recitation, cornkisters, etc. He was also a bit of a dancing enthusiast going round all the wee village halls, and on occasion even running a dance himself. He had a particular soft spot for an Adam Johnston’s band because the pianist was a certain Esma Dickson who he had first met on the bus traveling to and from work, and who was later to become Mrs R. H. Shepherd. Don’t we miss a lot nowadays all traveling around in our own wee tin boxes.
Anyhow, at the local ‘Garlogie Bar’ (Garlogie is about a couple of miles south of Dunecht) one or two of the lads used, including Robbie, to get together for a ‘choony’ and a song encouraged by an elderly lady (in her 70’s) from Balmedie who would sit down at the piano and say “Come on then loons let’s get started.” And start they did to become the ‘Garlogie Four’ with the late Donald ‘Duckie’ Smith on fiddle, the aforementioned Ronnie Massie on lead mouth organ, Robbie on second ‘moothie’ and Esma on piano. Why second moothie – “because I could only manage every second note, Ronnie could play them all!”
The ‘G.F.’ went from strength to strength playing regularly at weddings and ceilidhs – many in the Banchory area – performing several times in the Calum Kennedy show at the Aberdeen Tivoli and eventually having their own show in that venue. Eventually character/comedian cum compere work escalated for Robbie to such an extent that it was impracticable to keep going with the quartet, so it disbanded, with the various members going their own roads.
Space precludes a detailed account of all Robbie’s activities, but compering led to commentating on outside events, starting with stock car racing of all things and graduating to such prestigious events as the Braemar Gathering.
But what about the radio – thereby hangs a tale which Robbie relates whenever anyone says how lucky he has been in making the grade so quickly.
When he was about 17 or 18 he was invited to audition at the B.B.C. for a producer called Arthur Argo. Much to his surprise he was successful and received a letter saying “We’ll give you a call when we have a programme where we can use your material.” Thrilled to bits our lad waited. Twenty years later – yes twenty years, he got the call, would he like to do a programme. His reaction – “did you lose my file?”
Anyhow, to cut a long story short, a programme called ‘Shepherd’s Pie’ featuring Alastair Hunter’s Band, local guests and Robbie as compere did a 12 week stint. This in turn led to a follow up of request and chat programmes (Shepherd’s Tartan), with interviews of North East characters and Scottish dance band leaders, the latter eventually being slotted into ‘Take the Floor’ and subsequently the current ‘Shepherd’s Fancy’ which has now been running for six years.
Incidentally when Robbie first mooted the idea of band leader interviews to prove that “they’re nae gaun aboot wi’ strae stickin’ oot o’ their moo” the incumbent producer was sceptical and said “Efter Jimmy Shand fa hiv ye got?” The programme ran successfully numbering several hundred with scarcely a repeat!
At the present time Robbie has no less than five programmes per week, viz. ‘Take the Floor’, ‘Reel Blend’, ‘Shepherd’s Fancy’ and two on Radio Aberdeen, ‘Meet you Monday’ (requests) and ‘Shepherd’s Tartan’ (interviews). It is little wonder that accountancy (his original profession) has had to go on the back burner.
Characteristically Robbie plays down his contribution to the accordion and fiddle movement and to our heritage of music, song and dance but the fact is, it is colossal. Homing in on ‘Shepherd’s Fancy’ alone, he has provided a platform for the accordion and fiddle scene which is unrivalled in its effectiveness in providing interest, news, information, discussion and of course the music we all want to hear. In its own way he has played no small part in the resurgence of interest in Scottish Country Dancing after a bit of a recession, and also in the marked boom in old-time and ceilidh dancing. He does his homework.
To quote from Wallace Lockhart’s book ‘Highland Balls and Village Halls’ written at the time when Club news and interviews were on ‘Take the Floor’…….”it is not a superficial presentation. It is a production that commands affection because it gets so 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.” Hear Hear say all of us.
Just to complete the picture Esma and Robbie’s teenage son, Gordon, likes music of the modern variety but as yet has no aspirations to becoming a compere, instrumentalist, or what have you.
Back to the Sunday afternoon ceilidh at the Station Hotel. Following the presentation and all that had gone before, how do you avoid an anticlimax? No problem, you enlist Jimmy Shand, get him to form a band and dance the afternoon out on a high.
Finally, in winding up, Jimmy Blue, on behalf of everyone present, thanked Jack Cooper, the man who organized the whole weekend down to the minutest detail, a mammoth task if ever there was one with continual changes and crisis cropping up at intervals throughout. An unenviable task superbly done.
And of course we don’t forget the Station Hotel for its first class catering and hospitality and the staff who have now become more like old friends.
Jimmy Shand M.B.E., Hon. M.A., Hon. F.B.C.A.
by Tom Clark
Just when we in the Scottish Dance Music world were thinking that there couldn’t be very much more by way of achievement for the maestro, the British College of Accordionists, has delighted everyone by their decision to confer on Jimmy Shand a coveted Honorary Fellowship to add to his M.B.E. and M.A. Jimmy joins a very elite group of only eight such people in the world.
The occasion of the conferment was Friday, 31st July in the beautiful setting of Rossie Priory at a celebration lunch given by the College, and hosted by Robert Spence. Mr Spence, the current tenant of the Priory is a second cousin to the Prince of Wales and is a member of the Governing Council of the B.C.A.
The College, of course, is known for its efforts in the field of classical accordion playing and theory of music, but here was a truly historic occasion in Scotland when the College was recognizing the great practical contribution made by Jimmy Shand in popularising the accordion both at home and in many countries throughout the world.
After the excellent lunch, the conferment of the Honorary Fellowship took place, and then we had a great thrash, with Jimmy leading his invited friends, accordionists, fiddlers, pianist and drummer.
In the midst of all this Scottish music, we were treated to some wonderful playing by Francis Wright (College Chairman of the Board of Administration) and by his daughter, Rosemary (College Principal).
Jimmy was accompanied by his wife Anne and sons Erskine and David. Amongst Jimmy’s guests were many of Scotland’s well known and famous musicians.
Apart from Francis and Rosemary Wright, the College was represented by Miss Pauline Noon (Secretary), Mr and Mrs C. F. Cook and Mr and Mrs P. Hay (Governing Council), Mr and Mrs T. Manson and Mr and Mrs I. Leonard (Personal relations).
After the celebrations were over and guests started preparing to leave, we were left wondering what could there be left for Jimmy now, to follow? Listening to Jimmy’s playing, which seemed as good as it ever was, he sounds as if he will be playing for many years to come.
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).
Record Review
Let’s Dance Again – Alistair Hunter and the Lorne Scottish Dance Band – DACS 9208
Grand Slam – Deirdre Adamson – DACS 9209
Take One – Ian Thomson and his Scottish Dance Band CSTHOM1
Book Review
The Mull Collection – A Third Collection of Original compositions for Accordion & Fiddle by Calum MacLean
Puirt a Eilean Leadhais – Tues from the Isle of Lewis, composed by Ian Crichton
Take the Floor
5th Sept 92 – Fiddlers 3 + 2
12th Sept 92 – Jim Lindsay SDB
19th Sept 92 – Alastair Hunter & the Lorne SDB
26th Sept 92 - Ryan McGlynn SDB
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Dee Motel) –
Alnwick (Golden Fleece) – members only
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) -
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 3rd Sept 92 – Karen Higgins
Ayr (Gartferry Hotel) –
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Knowes Hotel, Macduff) – 23rd Sept 92 – Andy McCormack & Friends
Beith & District (Hotel de Croft, Dalry) –
Belford (Community Club) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 13th Sept 92 – Morag Robertson
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 8th Sept 92 – Johnny Duncan
Bridge of Allan (Walmer Hotel) -
Brigmill (Guardbridge Sports & Social Club)
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) –
Button Key (Windygates Institute) –
Callander (Glengarry Hotel) –
Campbeltown (Royal Hotel) –
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Hotel) –
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 17th Sept 92 – Ray Carse
Crieff & District (Drummond Arms Hotel)
Dalriada (Royal Hotel, Lochgilphead) –
Derwentside (Working Men’s Club, Consett) – 24th Sept 92 – John Douglas
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 2nd Sept 92 – Mike ‘Curly’ MacKay 19th Dance to Graeme Mitchell SDB
Dunblane (Westlands Hotel) –
Dundee (Invercarse Hotel) –
Dunfermline (Northern Roadhouse) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (Sweepers, Cambuslang) –
Ellon (Ladbroke Hotel) –
Ettrick & Yarrow (The Gordon Arms) - 16th Sept 92 – Deirdre Adamson
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 28th Sept 92 – Joe & Scott Gordon
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 27th Sept 92 – James Coutts
Forres (Brig Motel) – 9th Sept 92 – Craig McCallum SDB
Fort William (Alexandra Hotel) –
Galashiels (Maxwell Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) –
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) -
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) –
Inveraray (Loch Fyne Hotel) -
Isle of Skye -
Islesteps (Mabie House Hotel) –
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) –
Kinlochshiel (The Islander, Kyle) -
Kintore (Crown Hotel) – 2nd Sept 92 – Bill Black SDB
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 10th Sept 92 – Douglas Caird SDB
Livingston (Golden Circle Hotel, Bathgate) 15th Sept 92 – Robert Whitehead Trio
Lockerbie (Bluebell Hotel) -
Mauchline (The Jean Armour Function Suite) 15th Sept 92 – Dick Black Band
M.A.F.I.A. (Masonic Hall, Milngavie) –
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 2nd Sept 92 - Dick Black Band
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 28th Sept 92 – Gordon shand SDB
North Cumbria (Golden Fleece, Ruleholme) (prev called Gretna Club) –
North East (Seafield Hotel, Keith) – 8th Sept 92 – Jimmy Lindsay
Oban (Highlands Restaurant) –
Orkney ( venue?) –
Ormiston (Miners’ Welfare Social Club) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) – 24th Sept 92 – Sandy Nixon SDB
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 15th Sept 92 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Premier NI (Camlin Function Rooms) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) -
Shetland (venue?) -
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) - 13th Sept 92 – Craigowl SDB
Thornhill (?)
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Royal Oak Hotel) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) –
Wooler ( ) -
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Arbroath
3. Banchory
4. Biggar
5. Blairgowrie
6. Castle Douglas
7. Coalburn
8. Dingwall
9. Dunblane
10. Dundee
11. Dunfermline
12. Dunoon & Cowal
13. East Kilbride
14. Etterick & Yarrow
15. Forfar
16. Forres
17. Glendale
18. Gretna
19. Highland
20. Kelso
21. Kintore
22. Lesmahagow
23. Newtongrange
24. Peebles
25. Renfrew
26. Rothbury
27. Shetland
28. Sutherland
29. Thurso
30. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1991 (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 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Sept 1976 – present)
3. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
4. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed
5. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) 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. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
16. Coalburn A&F Club (
17. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
18. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
19. Derwentside A&F Club
20. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
21. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
22. Dundee & District A&F Club (
23. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
24. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
25. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
26. Ellon A&F Club (
27. Etterick & Yarrow (Jan 1989 -
28. Fintry A&F Club (
29. Forfar A&F Club (
30. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
31. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
32. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
33. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
34. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
35. 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)
36. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
37. Inveraray A&F Club (Oct 1991)
38. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
39. Isle of Skye A&F Club (
40. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
41. Kintore A&F Club (
42. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
43. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
44. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
45. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
46. M.A.F.I.A. (early)
47. Mauchline A&F Club (first mention 1986? - present)
48. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
49. Mull A&F Club
50. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1979 - present)
51. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
52. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
53. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
54. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
55. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
56. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
57. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
58. Rothbury Accordion Club (1987??)
59. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
60. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
61. Sutherland A&F Club (
62. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
63. Thurso A&F Club (cSept 1981 - present)
64. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
65. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
66. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
67. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
68. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
69. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
70. Buchan A&F Club
71. Callander A&F Club (
72. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
73. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
74. Club Accord
75. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2?)
76. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
77. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
78. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
79. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
80. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
81. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
82. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
83. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
84. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
85. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
86. Kinlochsheil A&F Club (
87. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
88. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
89. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
90. Newcastleton Accordion Club
91. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
92. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
93. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
94. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
95. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
96. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
97. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
98. Wellbank A&F Club
Advertising rates
Full Page - £92
Half Page - £46
Quarter Page - £23
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Margaret Smith, Smeaton Farm Cottage, Dalkeith, Midlothian.
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
As the nights draw in and autumn approaches, a new season of Accordion and fiddle club activity is upon us – a season which hopefully will see a rise in popularity of the scene.
I have attended many Clubs, mainly in the north of the country during the summer and have been encouraged by the numbers of both players and listeners attending.
Sadly, the Ormiston Club will not be opening its doors this autumn, but fortunately the Perth and the North East Clubs have been saved and I wish their new Committees every success.
I would also like to welcome back the Banff Club into the Association after a year’s absence.
I am making my annual sojourn to sunny Sussex next month, so I have to advance the October issue copy date to September 11th. It will be back to normal (October 15th) for the November issue.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Club officials, players and spectators an enjoyable season.
Doug Adamson
Introducing Our New Vice-Chairman
Jim Johnstone
by Charlie Todd
Jim Johnstone, a figure universally known in our music circles, was unanimously elected as the NAAFC’s first Vice Chairman at the 1992 A.G.M. in the Station Hotel , Perth. Jim will be able to bring a wealth of experience as a player, bandleader, adjudicator and radio and TV broadcaster to bare on the affairs of the Association.
The Jim Johnstone story starts in the East Lothian town of Tranent. Jim’s earliest recollections are of being surrounded by accordion music. Dad, George, and uncles John, Alex and Bob all played 5 row Continental accordions with George and John broadcasting regularly together before the war. In 1939 John was called up while dad continued his daytime job as a mechanic but “did his bit” by giving up playing to become a part time fireman. After demob it was John, Alex and Bob who got together and formed a band. After an audition, regular broadcasts were to follow with a three accordion front line.
It was at the age of 9 that Jim started lessons with Tranent 5 row accordionist Bobby Anderson, a former pupil of Peter Leatham. The idea was to learn to read music, which dad didn’t do, but since the only 5 row boxes available were big, clumsy pre-war models Jim started instead on a piano keyed box, the idea being that he would change over at a later date.
After a year of steady progress Bobby suggested that Jim himself move to Peter for lessons. An approach was made but Peter had a better idea. Daughter, Chrissie, was giving up playing the accordion professionally and was about to start classes in Tranent so Jim enrolled as one of her first pupils. Thus began a lifelong association because long after formal lessons stopped Chrissie’s door was always open when Jim came up against a musical problem and she always knew the solution.
Initially tuition of the ‘accordion classics’ by Frosini etc while at home Jim supplemented this with traditional music as played by the family or by listening to 78s on the old gramophone. This changed when Jim, now 13, was persuaded by his dad to reply to a radio advert looking for young musicians to broadcast. Having passed the audition his broadcast got under way on ‘Children’s Hour’ in May 1950 with ‘Dundee City Police Pipe Band’, McDonald’s Awa’ Tae the War’ and ‘The Black Mask Waltz’ with variations by Tolafson. Chrissie knew nothing of this until it was over but from then on tuition broadened out to include Scottish and modern music.
Two years later and another ‘weel kent face’ entered the scene – friend and fellow Scout Bobby Colgan. Bobby bought a drum kit from a relative and together they started taking on wee dances and weddings. Soon another local accordionist and neighbour, Willie Donaldson, joined to play second box, a fairly recent innovation at the time, but a must for the young trio after hearing Hugh Malarkie’s contribution to the Bobby McLeod Band who had appeared at a local dance.
Dad offered great encouragement and passed on jobs he was unable to do himself, always enquiring later how the lads had got on. “We got on that weel you’re no’ getting’ back again” would be Jim’s tongue-in-cheek response. Gradually, as the band were offered bigger and better jobs, additional players were added. On piano was Archie Horn from Port Seton formerly of the Tim Wright band and an expert at arranging modern ballroom dancing. On fiddle, and a first timer on the band scene, was Peter Innes, also from Tranent, a great fiddler and music reader. “We were knee deep in music at a dance” Jim recalls.
Jim had served his time as a motor mechanic in the garage where dad was foreman so it was natural that Jim did his National Service in the R.E.M.E. Even there however word of his playing ability preceded him and much of his two year stint was spent playing for the local RSCDS groups with whom the officers were connected.
Back in civvy street Jim was initially invited to join the ‘family band’ led by uncle John, which for a short time therefore had a four accordion front line. John retired from the band shortly afterwards, however, and the revised line-up lasted until 1962 when Jim received a phone call one Monday evening from Andrew Rankine asking if he was available to do a “broadcast on Wednesday”. What followed were two of the most traumatic days of Jim’s life but the broadcast went well and he was asked to join the band shortly afterwards. The line-up at that time was Andrew, Ron Gonella and Jim with Billy Thom, Tom McTague and Bill Hendry (Falkirk) in the back line. “What a swing the band had” Jim recalls “but what else would you expect with a jazz rhythm section like that”.
In 1963 Andrew announced that he was emigrating to Australia so Jim left to form his own band with Alan Johnstone on fiddle, Robin Brock on bass, Davy Flockhart on piano and Bobby Colgan on drums. After a successful audition they did their first broadcast in August 1963.
Around 1965 this band split up and Jim joined Jimmy Shand full time after giving up his job at the garage and was shortly afterwards joined by Bobby Colgan on drums. In 1967 he started an 18 month spell with Jimmy Blue’s band after the departure of Mickie Ainsworth. “Jimmy was a tremendously accurate player – his concentration was absolute” Jim remembers.
In 1968 Iain McFadyen approached Jim and asked him to form a band to carry on the White Heather Club in theatres and on TV. Initially he could only offer 10 weeks work but by the time they started that had risen to a year. This was the band of the ‘Measure of Scotch’ era with Pam Brough, Billy Craib, Billy Thom and Tommy Lees, originally from Kirkcaldy, on second box. Work rolled in during this time with the band frequently playing six nights a week.
After the demise of the White Heather Club other TV work followed. First the now almost forgotten ‘Take the High Road’ then the long running and highly successful ‘Songs of Scotland’.
The remainder is more recent history leading up to the band’s most recent venture, the summer show at the King James Hotel in Edinburgh. Inevitably the band line up has changed over these last few years with the emphasis being perhaps more on bringing in young players. Neil Barron, Neil Caul, Ian Hutson and of course “the baby of the band” as the show’s host Bill Torrance calls her, Marie Fielding.
Jim is very much one of the link men in Scottish dance music bridging the closing years of the original bands and the formative years of the young and exciting bands such as Craig McCallum, Alan Gardiner and others. Throughout his playing career he has continually set standards which most others would be happy to attain never mind surpass but he is the first to admit that it’s young players who continually regenerate his enthusiasm for dance music.
Jim’s advice to young players is to practice hard and to learn by listening to others but thereafter to develop your own style and above all always to play for you audience.
In conclusion therefore, on behalf of the Association’s many members I would like to welcome Jim to his new post and trust that he will find it an exciting and challenging experience.
A.G.M. Report
Second Moothie in the ‘Garlogie Four’
by Norrie Williams
“I wandered lonely as a cloud” – so went a line in a poem we did at the school. It was mid afternoon on Saturday 27th June ’92, and the two lonely clouds were wandering around in Perth station Hotel, one armed with a fiddle, the other with a box. They had just spent 45 minutes in a deserted hotel ballroom, whence they had been directed to ‘generate’ a ceilidh. Despite playing for more than half an hour they would have been hard pushed to generate a smile – admittedly they had enjoyed the tune and hopefully so had the five stalwarts who had managed to find seats, but a loud hailer and binocular wouldn’t have gone amiss!
So our two clouds were looking for a bit of the action when suddenly there it was, folk queuing in a wee passage leading to a jam packed Committee room, from which wafted the strains of the real stuff carry the unmistakable East Wemyss / Auchtermuchty ‘dunt’. There was no chance of getting in but after a while one or two folk came up for air and the two clouds, Peterson (Iain) and Williams (N.Y.) managed to squeeze through and keek in the door. There, surrounded by a circle of players was the one and only, playing without opening the bellows, as is his wont. It was a remarkably well co-ordinated effort, a laid back, fairly tight sound and it was obvious that everyone in that room – the audience were fairly rocking to the music – was having a ball. It was a case of “more, more!” and it did in fact last for about 2½ hours. Someone knew how to generate a ceilidh. I’ll have to learn to play with the bellows straps on. That would probably make some folk very happy!
After the very popular afternoon session it was all change for the dinner and dance, the respective starting times of both having been adjusted to give those partaking of the meal a better chance of getting a seat at the dance.
The booked band had had to withdraw but the gap was successfully filled by two highly competent groups headed respectively by Jimmy Blue and Bobby Crowe. With the Chairman were Stella Wilkie (fiddle), Joan Blue (keyboard) and Jack Cooper on drums while the man from Balmullo fielded Florence Burns (fiddle), Neil Copland (2nd accordion) and Maureen Rutheford on keyboard. Ian Powrie, who had an engagement during the early evening, was able to join the Jimmy Blue Band in their second spot, adding his own unmistakable harmonies.
Sunday
Sunday morning 11am and it was time for the AGM, standing room only – at least until loads of extra chairs were brought in – most gratifying to see so many folk and for my money, although fairly lengthy, it was one of the most constructive and fruitful to date, with many differing views being expressed from the floor. The air was well and truly cleared and I feel that the Association will be that much stronger as a result.
It was great to see two or three of our leading young band players at the meeting and although they would no doubt be somewhat bemused and frustrated by the preoccupation of us ‘auld yins’ with procedure and the rule book, I hope our dinosaural approach won’t deter them from coming back again because their support and ideas are vital to the future of the movement and our music.
Sunday 3pm, all were replete, the last traces of raspberry heather cream had been ‘dichted’ from our lips, our noses had been powdered and we settled back to enjoy a further feast, this time of our favourite music in the form of a celebrity Box and Fiddle Club compered as always by Association chairman Jimmy Blue, who has really got this job off to a fine art – unobtrusive, concise, humorous and everything runs like clockwork.
It has become the practice every second or third year to make a presentation to someone who has made a major contribution to our traditional music scene. On this occasion the deserving recipient of this honour was none other than the ‘Dunecht Loon’ himself, Robbie Shepherd. Now Robbie, although an ebullient, effervescent crater in his professional capacity is also by nature very self effacing and retiring off stage, hence at his request no top table and no speechifying – everything low key. Although his wishes were respected, it didn’t stop the delivery of an excellent poem (dedicated to Robbie) by the writer himself, Andy Stewart, who was looking and obviously feeling better than for many a long day.
Still low key, G to be precise, a musical tribute to our guest, in the shape of a neat little barn dance newly penned for the occasion by Stornoway composer and 5 row player, Ian Crichton, was played by Bobby Crowe, Ian Powrie and supporting caste. The tune title which must surely be a serious rival to the like of ‘Pipe Major Willie Gray’s Farewell etc’ ….viz. ‘Robbie shepherd’s Welcome to the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs’ Annual General ‘92’ left Jimmy Blue virtually winded after introducing it. Happily he recovered sufficiently to present Robbie with an appropriately inscribed ‘Mastermind’ type Caithness Glass bowl.
Robbie’s reply was concise, starting with the obvious sincere observation that he felt totally undeserving and continuing with an appreciation of those who had helped him along the way and of his present team. Happily a number of these friends and colleagues were there to join Robbie and his wife at their table – Mr and Mrs Ken Mutch, Mr and Mrs Freeland Barbour, Fiona Aitken, Douglas Maskew (sound engineer) and Ronnie Massie, of whom more later.
With the exception of Andy Stewart’s poem, the low key approach had precluded any C.V. material or other tributes so a wee bit of amplification here won’t go amiss.
Biography of Robbie Shepherd
A cobbler’s son, Robbie was born in 1936 in the Aberdeenshire village of Dunecht situated west of Aberdeen on the road to Alford. He went to the local 3 class primary school, won a bursary and shifted to the somewhat posher Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen for his Secondary education. An idea of just how posh can be gleaned from the fact that out of 1,000 pupils only Robbie and one other lad, a prefect from Monymusk had the Doric and could ‘spick’ properly. Robbie reckons his obsession with the Scots tongue stems from a College teacher’s high handed comments concerning his pronunciation of the Christian names of Mr Rhodes of Rhodesia fame. Well if the Dunecht butcher was called ‘Ceecil’ then why not the empire builder! “Cecil my dear boy, eh as in egg.” No wonder our manny retains his earthy tongue.
Mind you on the same theme Robbie’s reaction to the statement in a vote of thanks, viz. “It’s nice that somebody has the courage to use their own tongue on radio” was that it wasn’t always courage, quote “It’s often panic because ye henna time tae transfer ye rain mind intae English, ye jist bleat oot the ferst thing that comes intae yer heid.”
Robbie’s interest in our music was kindled through his dad’s collection of Rennie, Cameron and Shand records, which was continually being augmented by monthly trips to Aberdeen, but even prior to his teens he had a great appetite for anything connected with Scottish entertainment e.g. the McFlannels, Harry Gordon and so on. By the time he was in his late teens he was doing a bit of entertaining himself, recitation, cornkisters, etc. He was also a bit of a dancing enthusiast going round all the wee village halls, and on occasion even running a dance himself. He had a particular soft spot for an Adam Johnston’s band because the pianist was a certain Esma Dickson who he had first met on the bus traveling to and from work, and who was later to become Mrs R. H. Shepherd. Don’t we miss a lot nowadays all traveling around in our own wee tin boxes.
Anyhow, at the local ‘Garlogie Bar’ (Garlogie is about a couple of miles south of Dunecht) one or two of the lads used, including Robbie, to get together for a ‘choony’ and a song encouraged by an elderly lady (in her 70’s) from Balmedie who would sit down at the piano and say “Come on then loons let’s get started.” And start they did to become the ‘Garlogie Four’ with the late Donald ‘Duckie’ Smith on fiddle, the aforementioned Ronnie Massie on lead mouth organ, Robbie on second ‘moothie’ and Esma on piano. Why second moothie – “because I could only manage every second note, Ronnie could play them all!”
The ‘G.F.’ went from strength to strength playing regularly at weddings and ceilidhs – many in the Banchory area – performing several times in the Calum Kennedy show at the Aberdeen Tivoli and eventually having their own show in that venue. Eventually character/comedian cum compere work escalated for Robbie to such an extent that it was impracticable to keep going with the quartet, so it disbanded, with the various members going their own roads.
Space precludes a detailed account of all Robbie’s activities, but compering led to commentating on outside events, starting with stock car racing of all things and graduating to such prestigious events as the Braemar Gathering.
But what about the radio – thereby hangs a tale which Robbie relates whenever anyone says how lucky he has been in making the grade so quickly.
When he was about 17 or 18 he was invited to audition at the B.B.C. for a producer called Arthur Argo. Much to his surprise he was successful and received a letter saying “We’ll give you a call when we have a programme where we can use your material.” Thrilled to bits our lad waited. Twenty years later – yes twenty years, he got the call, would he like to do a programme. His reaction – “did you lose my file?”
Anyhow, to cut a long story short, a programme called ‘Shepherd’s Pie’ featuring Alastair Hunter’s Band, local guests and Robbie as compere did a 12 week stint. This in turn led to a follow up of request and chat programmes (Shepherd’s Tartan), with interviews of North East characters and Scottish dance band leaders, the latter eventually being slotted into ‘Take the Floor’ and subsequently the current ‘Shepherd’s Fancy’ which has now been running for six years.
Incidentally when Robbie first mooted the idea of band leader interviews to prove that “they’re nae gaun aboot wi’ strae stickin’ oot o’ their moo” the incumbent producer was sceptical and said “Efter Jimmy Shand fa hiv ye got?” The programme ran successfully numbering several hundred with scarcely a repeat!
At the present time Robbie has no less than five programmes per week, viz. ‘Take the Floor’, ‘Reel Blend’, ‘Shepherd’s Fancy’ and two on Radio Aberdeen, ‘Meet you Monday’ (requests) and ‘Shepherd’s Tartan’ (interviews). It is little wonder that accountancy (his original profession) has had to go on the back burner.
Characteristically Robbie plays down his contribution to the accordion and fiddle movement and to our heritage of music, song and dance but the fact is, it is colossal. Homing in on ‘Shepherd’s Fancy’ alone, he has provided a platform for the accordion and fiddle scene which is unrivalled in its effectiveness in providing interest, news, information, discussion and of course the music we all want to hear. In its own way he has played no small part in the resurgence of interest in Scottish Country Dancing after a bit of a recession, and also in the marked boom in old-time and ceilidh dancing. He does his homework.
To quote from Wallace Lockhart’s book ‘Highland Balls and Village Halls’ written at the time when Club news and interviews were on ‘Take the Floor’…….”it is not a superficial presentation. It is a production that commands affection because it gets so 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.” Hear Hear say all of us.
Just to complete the picture Esma and Robbie’s teenage son, Gordon, likes music of the modern variety but as yet has no aspirations to becoming a compere, instrumentalist, or what have you.
Back to the Sunday afternoon ceilidh at the Station Hotel. Following the presentation and all that had gone before, how do you avoid an anticlimax? No problem, you enlist Jimmy Shand, get him to form a band and dance the afternoon out on a high.
Finally, in winding up, Jimmy Blue, on behalf of everyone present, thanked Jack Cooper, the man who organized the whole weekend down to the minutest detail, a mammoth task if ever there was one with continual changes and crisis cropping up at intervals throughout. An unenviable task superbly done.
And of course we don’t forget the Station Hotel for its first class catering and hospitality and the staff who have now become more like old friends.
Jimmy Shand M.B.E., Hon. M.A., Hon. F.B.C.A.
by Tom Clark
Just when we in the Scottish Dance Music world were thinking that there couldn’t be very much more by way of achievement for the maestro, the British College of Accordionists, has delighted everyone by their decision to confer on Jimmy Shand a coveted Honorary Fellowship to add to his M.B.E. and M.A. Jimmy joins a very elite group of only eight such people in the world.
The occasion of the conferment was Friday, 31st July in the beautiful setting of Rossie Priory at a celebration lunch given by the College, and hosted by Robert Spence. Mr Spence, the current tenant of the Priory is a second cousin to the Prince of Wales and is a member of the Governing Council of the B.C.A.
The College, of course, is known for its efforts in the field of classical accordion playing and theory of music, but here was a truly historic occasion in Scotland when the College was recognizing the great practical contribution made by Jimmy Shand in popularising the accordion both at home and in many countries throughout the world.
After the excellent lunch, the conferment of the Honorary Fellowship took place, and then we had a great thrash, with Jimmy leading his invited friends, accordionists, fiddlers, pianist and drummer.
In the midst of all this Scottish music, we were treated to some wonderful playing by Francis Wright (College Chairman of the Board of Administration) and by his daughter, Rosemary (College Principal).
Jimmy was accompanied by his wife Anne and sons Erskine and David. Amongst Jimmy’s guests were many of Scotland’s well known and famous musicians.
Apart from Francis and Rosemary Wright, the College was represented by Miss Pauline Noon (Secretary), Mr and Mrs C. F. Cook and Mr and Mrs P. Hay (Governing Council), Mr and Mrs T. Manson and Mr and Mrs I. Leonard (Personal relations).
After the celebrations were over and guests started preparing to leave, we were left wondering what could there be left for Jimmy now, to follow? Listening to Jimmy’s playing, which seemed as good as it ever was, he sounds as if he will be playing for many years to come.
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).
Record Review
Let’s Dance Again – Alistair Hunter and the Lorne Scottish Dance Band – DACS 9208
Grand Slam – Deirdre Adamson – DACS 9209
Take One – Ian Thomson and his Scottish Dance Band CSTHOM1
Book Review
The Mull Collection – A Third Collection of Original compositions for Accordion & Fiddle by Calum MacLean
Puirt a Eilean Leadhais – Tues from the Isle of Lewis, composed by Ian Crichton
Take the Floor
5th Sept 92 – Fiddlers 3 + 2
12th Sept 92 – Jim Lindsay SDB
19th Sept 92 – Alastair Hunter & the Lorne SDB
26th Sept 92 - Ryan McGlynn SDB
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Dee Motel) –
Alnwick (Golden Fleece) – members only
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) -
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 3rd Sept 92 – Karen Higgins
Ayr (Gartferry Hotel) –
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Knowes Hotel, Macduff) – 23rd Sept 92 – Andy McCormack & Friends
Beith & District (Hotel de Croft, Dalry) –
Belford (Community Club) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 13th Sept 92 – Morag Robertson
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 8th Sept 92 – Johnny Duncan
Bridge of Allan (Walmer Hotel) -
Brigmill (Guardbridge Sports & Social Club)
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) –
Button Key (Windygates Institute) –
Callander (Glengarry Hotel) –
Campbeltown (Royal Hotel) –
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Hotel) –
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 17th Sept 92 – Ray Carse
Crieff & District (Drummond Arms Hotel)
Dalriada (Royal Hotel, Lochgilphead) –
Derwentside (Working Men’s Club, Consett) – 24th Sept 92 – John Douglas
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 2nd Sept 92 – Mike ‘Curly’ MacKay 19th Dance to Graeme Mitchell SDB
Dunblane (Westlands Hotel) –
Dundee (Invercarse Hotel) –
Dunfermline (Northern Roadhouse) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (Sweepers, Cambuslang) –
Ellon (Ladbroke Hotel) –
Ettrick & Yarrow (The Gordon Arms) - 16th Sept 92 – Deirdre Adamson
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 28th Sept 92 – Joe & Scott Gordon
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 27th Sept 92 – James Coutts
Forres (Brig Motel) – 9th Sept 92 – Craig McCallum SDB
Fort William (Alexandra Hotel) –
Galashiels (Maxwell Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) –
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) -
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) –
Inveraray (Loch Fyne Hotel) -
Isle of Skye -
Islesteps (Mabie House Hotel) –
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) –
Kinlochshiel (The Islander, Kyle) -
Kintore (Crown Hotel) – 2nd Sept 92 – Bill Black SDB
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 10th Sept 92 – Douglas Caird SDB
Livingston (Golden Circle Hotel, Bathgate) 15th Sept 92 – Robert Whitehead Trio
Lockerbie (Bluebell Hotel) -
Mauchline (The Jean Armour Function Suite) 15th Sept 92 – Dick Black Band
M.A.F.I.A. (Masonic Hall, Milngavie) –
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 2nd Sept 92 - Dick Black Band
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 28th Sept 92 – Gordon shand SDB
North Cumbria (Golden Fleece, Ruleholme) (prev called Gretna Club) –
North East (Seafield Hotel, Keith) – 8th Sept 92 – Jimmy Lindsay
Oban (Highlands Restaurant) –
Orkney ( venue?) –
Ormiston (Miners’ Welfare Social Club) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) – 24th Sept 92 – Sandy Nixon SDB
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 15th Sept 92 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Premier NI (Camlin Function Rooms) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) -
Shetland (venue?) -
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) - 13th Sept 92 – Craigowl SDB
Thornhill (?)
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Royal Oak Hotel) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) –
Wooler ( ) -
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Arbroath
3. Banchory
4. Biggar
5. Blairgowrie
6. Castle Douglas
7. Coalburn
8. Dingwall
9. Dunblane
10. Dundee
11. Dunfermline
12. Dunoon & Cowal
13. East Kilbride
14. Etterick & Yarrow
15. Forfar
16. Forres
17. Glendale
18. Gretna
19. Highland
20. Kelso
21. Kintore
22. Lesmahagow
23. Newtongrange
24. Peebles
25. Renfrew
26. Rothbury
27. Shetland
28. Sutherland
29. Thurso
30. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1991 (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 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Sept 1976 – present)
3. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
4. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed
5. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) 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. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
16. Coalburn A&F Club (
17. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
18. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
19. Derwentside A&F Club
20. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
21. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
22. Dundee & District A&F Club (
23. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
24. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
25. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
26. Ellon A&F Club (
27. Etterick & Yarrow (Jan 1989 -
28. Fintry A&F Club (
29. Forfar A&F Club (
30. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
31. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
32. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
33. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
34. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
35. 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)
36. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
37. Inveraray A&F Club (Oct 1991)
38. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
39. Isle of Skye A&F Club (
40. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
41. Kintore A&F Club (
42. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
43. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
44. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
45. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
46. M.A.F.I.A. (early)
47. Mauchline A&F Club (first mention 1986? - present)
48. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
49. Mull A&F Club
50. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1979 - present)
51. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
52. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
53. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
54. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
55. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
56. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
57. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
58. Rothbury Accordion Club (1987??)
59. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
60. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
61. Sutherland A&F Club (
62. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
63. Thurso A&F Club (cSept 1981 - present)
64. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
65. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
66. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
67. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
68. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
69. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
70. Buchan A&F Club
71. Callander A&F Club (
72. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
73. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
74. Club Accord
75. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2?)
76. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
77. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
78. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
79. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
80. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
81. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
82. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
83. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
84. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
85. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
86. Kinlochsheil A&F Club (
87. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
88. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
89. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
90. Newcastleton Accordion Club
91. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
92. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
93. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
94. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
95. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
96. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
97. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
98. Wellbank A&F Club
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