2000
Jim Ritchie
(1925 - 2001)
Jim hailed originally from Cranley Farm at Meikleour. At the age of 8 he started fiddle lessons under James Ogilvie of Blairgowrie, walking 10 miles every Saturday with his fiddle, and later he travelled to Dundee by bus for lessons from Harry Ogilvie. Involvement in competition playing didn’t take long and at 11½ years of age he was Junior Fiddle Champion at Perth out of 16 competitors. On leaving the army in 1947, Jim became involved with The Hawthorn Scottish Dance Band – 2 fiddles, 3 accordions, piano and drums. In 1951 he was invited to join The Bobby MacLeod Band where he learned to interpret pipe music in a new way. By 1956 the pressure of travelling was beginning to tell and he left the band for a rest but was immediately snapped up by The Jimmy Shand Band. This lasted until 1962 when he left and moved to Manchester. From 1967 - 1973 he stayed at Bonar Bridge and was taught the pipes. Jim also has a number of very good compositions to his credit.
Jim Ritchie
(1925 - 2001)
Jim hailed originally from Cranley Farm at Meikleour. At the age of 8 he started fiddle lessons under James Ogilvie of Blairgowrie, walking 10 miles every Saturday with his fiddle, and later he travelled to Dundee by bus for lessons from Harry Ogilvie. Involvement in competition playing didn’t take long and at 11½ years of age he was Junior Fiddle Champion at Perth out of 16 competitors. On leaving the army in 1947, Jim became involved with The Hawthorn Scottish Dance Band – 2 fiddles, 3 accordions, piano and drums. In 1951 he was invited to join The Bobby MacLeod Band where he learned to interpret pipe music in a new way. By 1956 the pressure of travelling was beginning to tell and he left the band for a rest but was immediately snapped up by The Jimmy Shand Band. This lasted until 1962 when he left and moved to Manchester. From 1967 - 1973 he stayed at Bonar Bridge and was taught the pipes. Jim also has a number of very good compositions to his credit.