Box and Fiddle Archive
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    • A - B Articles >
      • Mickie Ainsworth
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        • 1998 - 40 Years in Showbiz
        • Oct 2008 - 50th Anniversary
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        • 2009 Guest of honour
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        • Nov 2013 Jack's Obituary
      • Paul Anderson of Tarland
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      • Bill Black >
        • 2006
        • March 1983
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      • Jimmy Blue >
        • Oct / Nov 1990
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      • Joan Blue (1987) >
        • Joan Blue (2016)
      • David Bowen
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        • Oct 1982
        • Feb 1982
        • Mar 2014
      • Bill Brown (CD Reviewer)
      • Bobby Brown (Adam Rennie Quartet)
      • Bobby Brown (Canada) >
        • March 1982
        • April 1997
        • January 2007
        • May 2011
      • Felix Burns
    • A - B Obituaries >
      • Bobby Abbott (2016)
      • Mickie Ainsworth (2012)
      • Tom Alexander MBE (2020)
      • Ian Anderson (Forres) 2004
      • John Anderson (2005)
      • Will Atkinson (2003)
      • Dave Barclay (2010)
      • JIm Barrie (2016)
      • Bill Black (2016)
      • Jim Berry (2012)
      • Jimmy Blue (1999)
      • Bill Brian (2011)
      • Jim Brown (1998)
    • C - D Articles >
      • Stuart Cameron
      • John Carmichael
      • Rab Carruthers
      • Iain Cathcart
      • Bobby Coghill
      • Bobby Colgan
      • Jack Cooper
      • Charlie Cowie
      • Jim Crawford
      • John Crawford
      • Bobby Crowe
      • David Cunningham Snr
      • George Darling
      • Jack Delaney
      • Keith Dickson
      • Roger Dobson
      • Blair Douglas >
        • Run Rig Dance Band
      • John Douglas
    • C - D Obituaries >
      • Angus Cameron (1998)
      • Colin Campbell (2015)
      • Duncan Campbell (2011)
      • Tom Clark (2020)
      • Ronnie Coburn (2010)
      • Bobby Colgan (2020)
      • Terry Connor (2000)
      • Ronnie Cooper (1982)
      • Alan ' Barney' Coulson (2020)
      • Charlie Cowie (1995)
      • Ernie Cowie (2009)
      • Billy Craib (2019)
      • Jim Crawford (2007)
      • John Crawford (2020)
      • Ian Crichton (1934 - 99)
      • Bobby Cronie (1998)
      • Roger Crook (1942 - 2013)
      • Bobby Crowe (2014)
      • Tony Dalton (2014)
      • Adrian Dante (2005)
      • Margaret Davidson (2020)
      • Robin Davidson (2020)
      • Jim Devlin (1989)
      • Fred Donald (Forres) 2017
      • Ian Duncan (2011)
      • Maurice Duncan (2017)
    • E - G Articles >
      • Jimmy Edwards
      • John Ellis
      • Robin Ellis >
        • Robin Ellis
      • Jack Emblow
      • Bill Ewan
      • Colin Finlayson
      • Angus Fitchet
      • David Flockhart
      • Ewan Galloway
      • Graham Geddes
      • Ron Gonella >
        • Mar 1994
        • Oct 1982
      • Rob Gordon
      • Niel Gow
      • Billy Grant (drummer)
    • E - G Obituaries >
      • Tommy Edmondson (2001)
      • Bob Edward (1998)
      • Peem Edwards (1999)
      • John Ellis (2015)
      • John Fairbairn (2003)
      • Frank Farquharson (2002)
      • Colin Finlayson (1952-93)
      • Angus Fitchet (1998)
      • Tommy Ford (2017)
      • John Gibson (1961 - 1990)
      • Eric Goodfellow (2008)
      • Joe Gordon (2020)
      • Rob Gordon (24/04/94)
      • Hebbie Gray (2018)
      • Jack Gray (1929-2013)
      • Wilbert (Bill) Grund (2010)
    • H - J Articles >
      • Jim Halcrow >
        • Jim Halcrow
      • Derek Hamilton
      • Stan Hamilton
      • William Hannah
      • Matthew Hardie
      • Addie Harper
      • Isobel Harper
      • Bobby Harvey
      • Bill Hendry
      • Ian Holmes
      • Max Houliston >
        • Jan 1983
        • March 1992
      • Tom Hughes (1986)
      • Alastair Hunter
      • Graham Jamieson >
        • Dec 1983
      • Jim Johnstone >
        • March 1982
        • Sept 1992
    • H - J Obituaries >
      • Jim Halcrow (2015)
      • Tom Hall (2011)
      • Ian Hardie (2012)
      • William J. Hardie (1916 - 95)
      • Addie Harper (2002)
      • Alistair Henderson (2005)
      • Bill Hendry (1995) (of Falkirk)
      • Alasdair Heron (2010)
      • Bob Hobkirk (2002)
      • Ron Hodgson (2014)
      • Ian Holmes (2017) >
        • Ian Holmes (2017)
      • John Huband (1942 - 2000)
      • Christine Hunter (1998)
      • Willie Hunter (1994)
      • Joe Hutton (1995)
      • Dave Ireland (1992)
      • Gordon Jamieson (2005)
      • Bryce Johnstone (2017)
    • K - L Articles >
      • Ron Kerr
      • Charlie Kirkpatrick
      • Andrew Knight
      • Sandy Legget
      • Judith Linton
    • K - L Obituaries >
      • Allan Kindness (2014)
      • John Laidlaw (1996)
      • Florence Lawie (2020)
      • Tommy Lees (2014)
      • Bruce Lindsay Snr (2020)
      • Jimmy Lindsay (2020)
      • Alex Little (2001)
      • Ben Lyons (2015)
    • Mac - Mc Articles >
      • Alex MacArthur
      • Alasdair MacCuish
      • Alistair McCulloch
      • Fergie MacDonald
      • Jim Mackay (Caithness)
      • Bobby MacLeod >
        • Memories of (2009)
      • Jim MacLeod
      • Rory MacLeod
      • Neil McMillan
      • Iain MacPhail >
        • May 2003
        • Sept 1982
      • Fraser McGlynn
      • Nicol McLaren
    • Mac - Mc Obituaries >
      • Duncan 'Dochie' MacCallum (2020)
      • Mark MacDougall (2015)
      • Iain MacFadyen (1983) (Producer)
      • Ally MacIntyre (2015)
      • John Mackie (1996)
      • Calum MacLean (2015)
      • Jim MacLeod (2004)
      • Jim MacRae (2001)
      • Rory MacLeod (2019)
      • Gervasio Marcosignori (2013)
      • John McDonald (2016)
      • Fraser McGlynn (2018)
      • Ewan McGowan (2015)
      • Blanche McInnes (1988)
      • Allan McIntosh (2012)
      • Iain McLachlan (1995)
      • Bob McMath (2016)
    • M Articles >
      • Dougie Maxwell
      • Gus Millar
      • Graeme Mitchell
      • Dennis Morrison
      • Ian Muir
      • Bert Murray
      • Ken Mutch
    • M Obituaries >
      • Hamish Menzies (2020)
      • Jim Muir (2001)
      • George Muir (1995)
      • Bert Murray MBE (2003)
    • N - P Articles >
      • Paddy Neary
      • Craig Paton
      • Gordon Pattullo >
        • Gordon Pattullo (40th Anniv)
      • Iain Peterson
      • Ian Powrie >
        • The People's Journal
        • Sept 1983
    • N - P Obituaries >
      • Andrew Nairn (2010)
      • Paddy Neary (2020)
      • Eann Nicolson (1990)
      • Dermot O'Brien (2007)
      • Stan Peacock (1994)
      • Davie Pollock (of Roslin) (2018)
      • Bill Powrie (1980)
      • Ian Powrie (2011)
      • Dave Pullar (2020)
    • R Articles >
      • Andrew Rankine
      • Frank Reid
      • Tony Reid
      • Adam Rennie
      • John Renton
      • Donal Ring
      • Jim Ritchie
      • Arthur Scott Robertson
      • Graham Ross
      • Lindsay Ross
    • R Obituaries >
      • Bert Rae (2015)
      • Ian Redford (1988)
      • Jimmy Ritchie (2001)
      • John Rooney (2015)
      • Graham Ross (2020)
      • Walter Rutherford (2018)
    • S Articles >
      • Stan Saunders
      • Sir Jimmy Shand >
        • April 1982
        • Feb 1998 (90 Years old)
        • Feb 1999 (Knighthood)
        • Jan 2001
        • Feb 2001 (Tributes)
        • Oct 2003 (Sculpture)
        • Sept 2016 (Auction of Memorabilia)
      • Neil Sinclair
      • James Scott Skinner >
        • April 1993
      • Robbie Shepherd >
        • October 1985
        • M.B.E. March 2001
        • 2006 Hamish Henderson Award
      • George 'Faunty' Smith
      • Gordon Smith
      • Hamish Smith
      • Will Starr
      • Andy Stewart MBE
      • Liam Stewart
      • George Stirrat
    • S Obituaries >
      • Stan Saunders (2011)
      • Davie Simpson of Invergowrie (1999)
      • Gordon Simpson (2016)
      • Bill Smith (1998) (Banchory)
      • Ian Smith (2005) First Editor)
      • Margaret Smith (2015)
      • Rosalind Snaith (2020)
      • Arthur Spink (2017)
      • Jack Stalker (2019)
      • Alex 'Toby' Stewart (2010)
      • Andy Stewart (1933-93)
      • Billy Stewart (2016)
      • Roy Stewart (2005)
      • Peter Straughan (1999)
    • T Articles >
      • Bill Thom
      • Kenny Thomson
      • Sandy Tulloch
      • Violet Tulloch
    • T Obituaries >
      • Kenny Thomson (2013)
      • Toralf Tollefsen (27/11/94)
      • Bobby Torrance (2011)
      • Dr Sandy Tulloch (2006)
    • U - Z Articles >
      • David Vernon
      • Robin & Deryn Waitt
      • Robert Whitehead
      • Bill Wilkie MBE
      • Pam Wilkie
      • Norrie Williams
      • Callum Wilson
      • Ena Wilson
      • Iain Wilson
      • Kenny Wilson
      • Peter and Daniel Wyper
      • Jimmy Yeaman
    • U - Z Obituaries >
      • Jimmy Urquhart (1993)
      • Roddy Urquhart (2000)
      • Charlie Walkins (2014)
      • Bill Wilkie (2017)
      • Ian Wilkie (1995)
      • Pam Wilkie (2016)
      • Norrie Williams (2015)
      • Willie Wilson (1991) (Beith)
    • Accordion Teachers Obits >
      • Ian Anderson (2018)
      • Jean Brown (2009) >
        • Jean Brown (Cambusnethan, Wishaw)
      • Louis Cabrelli
      • Renaldo Capaldi (2008)
      • Charles Duncan
      • Peter Farnan
      • Ron Hodgson (1982)
      • Ron Hodgson (2014)
      • Charles 'Chick' Kelly (21/01/95)
      • Chrissie Leatham
      • Jimmy Martin (2008)
      • Owen Murray
      • Bill Spence (2007)
      • Tom Veldon (15/01/95)
      • Sylvia Wilson
      • Wilson Wood (2005)
      • Rosemary Wright
    • Jimmy Clinkscale Articles from 1981
    • Poems by Andy Stewart >
      • Jimmy Shand
      • Angus Fitchet
      • Bobby MacLeod
      • Ian Powrie
    • Poem by Jock Turpie
  • Roll of Honour
  • NAAFC Awards Archive
    • NAAFC Honours >
      • 1979
      • 1980s >
        • 1981 Angus Fitchet
        • 1982 Bobby MacLeod
        • 1983 Ian Powrie
        • 1984 Andy Stewart MBE
      • 1990s >
        • 1990 Jimmy Blue
        • 1992 Robbie Shepherd MBE
        • 1994 Alex MacArthur
        • 1994 Andrew Rankine
        • 1995 Max Houliston
        • 1996 Jim MacLeod MBE
        • 1997 Musicians of Shetland
        • 1998 Ian Holmes
        • 1999 Bill Black
      • 2000s >
        • 2000 Bobby Crowe
        • 2000 Alex Little
        • 2000 Jim Ritchie
        • 2000 Stan Saunders
        • 2000 Bill Thom
        • 2000 Pam Wilkie
        • 2001 Mickie Ainsworth
        • 2001 Addie Harper
        • 2001 Jim Johnstone
        • 2001 Bill Wilkie MBE
        • 2002 Dave Barclay
        • 2002 John Crawford
        • 2002 David Cunningham
        • 2002 Gus Millar
        • 2002 Jimmy Yeaman
        • 2003 Iain MacPhail
        • 2004 John Carmichael
        • 2004 Iain Peterson
        • 2005 Bobby Coghill
        • 2005 Ken Mutch
        • 2005 Robert Whitehead
        • 2006 Jack Cooper
        • 2006 Jack Delaney
        • 2006 David Flockhart
        • 2007 Jimmy Burgess
        • 2007 Bobby Colgan
        • 2008 Bobby Harvey
        • 2008 Neil MacMillan
        • 2008 Gordon Pattullo
        • 2009 Tom Alexander MBE
        • 2009 Andrew Knight
      • 2010s >
        • 2010 John Ellis
        • 2010 Fraser McGlynn
        • 2011 Bobby Brown (Canada)
        • 2011 Ian Muir
        • 2012 John Douglas
        • 2012 Jim Halcrow
        • 2012 Charlie Kirkpatrick
        • 2013 Derek Hamilton
        • 2014 Robin Brock
        • 2014 Calum MacLean
        • 2014 Hamish Smith
        • 2015 David Ross
        • 2015 Iain Wilson
        • 2015 Kenny Wilson
        • 2015 Gordon Young
        • 2016 Joan Blue
        • 2016 Bill Ewan
        • 2016 Isobel Harper
        • 2016 Neil Sinclair
        • 2017 George Darling
        • 2017 Alasdair MacLeod
        • 2017 Violet Tulloch
        • 2018 - Freeland Barbour
        • 2018 Bill Hendry
        • 2018 Graeme Mitchell
        • 2019 - Billy Craib
        • 2019 - Dochie McCallum
        • 2019 - Margaret Smith
        • 2019 - Davie Stewart
      • 2020s >
        • 2020 Covid 19 No Awards
        • 2021 Anda Campbell
        • 2021 Peter Bruce
        • 2021 Malcolm Ross
    • BAFFI Awards
    • Scholarship
    • SDB of the Year
  • Club Reports
    • Club Reports Summary >
      • 1970s
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    • Club Directory
    • Guest Artistes >
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      • Lesmahagow A&F Club >
        • 1980s
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      • Newtongrange >
        • 1970s
        • 1980s
        • 1990s
        • 2000s
        • 2010s
      • Perth A&F Club >
        • 1970s
        • 1980s
        • 1990s
        • 2000s
        • 2010s
    • A >
      • Aberdeen A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Acharacle A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Alnwick A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Birthday (2002)
      • Annan A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
      • Arbroath A&F Club >
        • 1989 - 90
      • Armadale A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 21st Birthday (1999)
      • Ayr A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
    • B >
      • Balloch A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Banchory
      • Banff and District
      • Beith & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 40th Anniversary (Beith)
      • Biggar A&F Club >
        • 1970s >
          • 1977 - 78
          • 1978 - 79
          • 1979 - 80
        • 1980s >
          • 1980 - 81
          • 1981 - 88
          • 1988 - 89
          • 1989 - 90
        • 1990s >
          • 1990 - 91
          • 1990 - 91
          • 1991 - 92
          • 1992 - 93
          • 1993 - 94
          • 1994 - 95
          • 1995 - 96
          • 1996 - 97
          • 1997 - 98
          • 1998 - 99
          • 25th Anniversary (1999)
          • 1999-2000
        • 2000s >
          • 2000 - 01
          • 2001 - 02
          • 2002 - 03
          • 2003 - 04
          • 2004 - 05
          • 2005 - 06
          • 2006 - 07
          • 2007 - 08
          • 2008 - 09
          • 2009 - 10
        • 2010s >
          • 2010 - 11
          • 2011 - 12
          • 2012 - 13
          • 2013 - 14
          • 2014 - 15
          • 2015 - 16
          • 2016 - 17
          • 2017 - 18
          • 2018 - 19
          • 2019 - 20
        • 2020s >
          • 2020 - 21
          • 2021 - 22
      • Blairgowrie A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
      • Brig Mill A&F Club >
        • 1989 - 90
      • Britannia (Kirkcudbright) A&F Club >
        • 2007 - 08
      • Bromley A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
        • Bromley (2014)
      • Buchan A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Button Key (Windygates) A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
        • 20th Anniv (2007)
    • C >
      • Callander A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
      • Campbeltown A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
      • Campsie A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
        • The Campsie Players
        • 20th Anniversary (2015)
      • Carlisle A&F Club >
        • 1993 - 94
      • Castle Douglas A&F Club
      • Coalburn A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Coldingham A&F Club >
        • 2008 - 09
      • Coupar Angus A&F Club >
        • 1978 - 79
      • Crathes A&F Club
      • Cults A&F Club >
        • 1999 - 2000
      • Cumnock & District A&F Club >
        • History
        • 1977 - 78
    • D >
      • Dalriada A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 21st Birthday (2002)
      • Denny & Dunipace A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
      • Dingwall A&F Club >
        • 1979 - 80
        • 21st Anniversary (2000)
        • 25th Anniversary (2004)
      • Dumfries Accordion Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 1978 - 79
        • 1979 - 80
      • Dunblane A&F Club
      • Dundee & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Dunfermline & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
      • Duns A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
    • E to F >
      • East Kilbride A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
        • 1984 - 85
        • Norrie Williams (2015)
      • Edinburgh / Chrissie Leatham A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
      • Ellon A&F Club >
        • 1994 - 95
      • Ettrick & Yarrow >
        • 1990 - 91
      • Falkirk A&F Club >
        • 1978 - 79
      • Fintry A&F Club
      • Forfar A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Forres A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • Forres 21st Anniv (1999)
      • Fort William A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
    • G >
      • Galston A&F Club >
        • Club History
        • 1977 - 78
        • 30th Anniversary (1999)
        • Final Report (2006)
      • Glendale A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 40th Anniversary (Glendale)
      • Glenfarg A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
        • 30th Anniv (Sept 2018)
      • Glenrothes A&F Club >
        • 1993 - 94
      • Gorebridge A&F Club >
        • 1981 - 82
      • Gretna (see North Cumbria) A&F Club >
        • 50th Anniversary (2016)
    • H to K >
      • Haddington A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
      • Highland A&F Club >
        • Club History
        • 1977 - 78
        • Highland 25th Birthday (1999)
        • 40th Anniversary (Highland)
      • Inveraray A&F Club >
        • 1991 - 92
        • 25th Anniversary (2016)
      • Islay A&F Club >
        • 1993 - 94
      • Isle of Skye A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Islesteps A&F Club >
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
      • Kelso A&F Club >
        • Introducing the Clubs No 8
        • 1977 - 78
        • 30th Anniv (2006)
        • 40th Anniversary (2016)
      • Kinlochsheil A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
      • Kintore A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 2010 - 11
    • L >
      • Ladybank A&F Club >
        • 1997 - 98
      • Lanark A&F Club >
        • 1996 - 97
      • Langholm A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Lauder A&F Club >
        • 2009 - 10
      • Lesmahagow A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
        • 1984 - 85
        • Closure announced
        • 2005 Final Report
      • Lewis & Harris A&F Club >
        • 1996 - 97
        • 20th Anniversary
      • Livingston A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • Murdo MacLeod
      • Lockerbie A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 40th Anniversary (Lockerbie)
    • M >
      • The M.A.F.I.A. >
        • History
        • 1977 - 78
        • Closing Speech
      • Mauchline >
        • 30th Anniv (Mauchline)
      • Monklands A&F Club >
        • 1978 - 79
      • Montrose A&F Club >
        • 1984 - 85
      • Morecambe A&F Club
      • Muirhead A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
    • N >
      • Newburgh A&F Club >
        • 2002 - 03
        • 40th Anniversary
        • Jim Berry
      • New Cumnock A&F Club >
        • 1979 - 80
      • Newmill-on-Teviot A&F Club >
        • 1999 - 2000
      • Newtongrange A&F Club >
        • 1979 - 80
      • Newton St Boswells >
        • 1977 - 78
      • North Cumbria (Gretna) A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • North East (Keith) A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • Ian Duncan
        • 40th Anniversary North East
      • Northern (Templepatrick, N.I.) A&F Club >
        • 2011 - 12
    • O to P >
      • Oban A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Anniversary (1999)
        • 40th Anniversary (2015)
      • Orkney A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
        • Orkney 40th Anniv 2017
      • Peebles A&F Club >
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
        • 1984 - 85
      • Perth & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 1992 Letter
        • 40th Anniv (2010)
      • Phoenix (Ardrishaig) A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
      • Premier A&F Club
    • R to S >
      • Reading Scottish Fiddlers >
        • 1997 - 98
      • Renfrew A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Renfrew (Moorpark) A&F Club >
        • 1984 - 85
      • Rothbury (Coquetdale) A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Anniversary (1999)
      • Scottish Accordion Music (Crathes) >
        • 1998 - 99
      • Seghill Comrades A&F Club >
        • 2010 - 11
      • Selkirk A&F Club >
        • 1998 - 99
      • Shetland A&F Club >
        • Shetland 40th Anniv (2017)
      • Stirling A&F Club >
        • 1991 - 92
      • Stonehouse A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
      • Straiton A&F Club >
        • History
        • 1977 - 78
      • Stranraer A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Sutherland A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
        • 20th Anniv (2007)
    • T to Z >
      • Thornhill A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
      • Torthorwald A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Turriff 30th Anniversary
      • Tynedale A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • Tynedale 30th Anniv (2010)
      • Uist & Benbecula A&F Club >
        • 2007 - 08
        • 21st Anniversary (2016)
      • Wellbank A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • West Barnes A&F Club >
        • 2001 - 02
      • Wick A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Birthday (2001)
        • 40th Anniversary (2015)
  • Pipe Music Articles
    • Composers A - L >
      • Willie Bryson
      • John D Burgess
      • Duncan Campbell
      • George Cockburn
      • William D Dumbreck
      • William Fergusson
      • Ron Fleming
      • Duncan Johnstone
      • Willie Lawrie
    • Composers Mac >
      • John MacColl
      • John MacDonald
      • Angus MacKay
      • Hugh MacKay
      • John M MacKenzie BEM
      • Donald MacLean of Lewis
      • Capt John A MacLellan MBE
      • Donald MacLeod
      • Peter R MacLeod Snr & Jnr
      • Archibald MacNeill
    • Composers M + Mc >
      • David Charles Mather
      • James Mauchline
      • Captain D R McLellan
      • John McLellan
      • George S McLennan
      • Donald McPhedran
    • Composers N - Z >
      • Donald Shaw Ramsay
      • James Ross Riddell
      • James "Robbie" Robertson
      • Willie Ross
      • John Wilson
  • B&F Issues (1977-2020)
    • Oct 1977 - Apr 1980 >
      • Oct 1977 - Apr 78
      • Oct 1978 - Apr 79 >
        • Oct 1978
        • Nov 1978
        • Dec 1978
        • Jan 1979
        • Feb 1979
        • Mar 1979
        • Apr 1979
      • Sept 1979 - Apr 80 >
        • Sept 1979
        • Oct 1979
        • Nov 1979
        • Dec 1979
        • Jan 1980
        • Feb 1980
        • Mar 1980
        • Apr 1980
    • Sept 1980 - Apr 1985 >
      • Sept 1980 - Apr 81 >
        • Sept 1980
        • Oct 1980
        • Nov 1980
        • Dec 1980
        • Jan 1981
        • Feb 1981
        • Mar 1981
        • Apr 1981
      • Sept 1981 - Apr 82 >
        • Sept 1981
        • Oct 1981
        • Nov 1981
        • Dec 1981
        • Jan 1982
        • Feb 1982
        • Mar 1982
        • Apr 1982
      • Sept 1982 - Apr 83 >
        • Sept 1982
        • Oct 1982
        • Nov 1982
        • Dec 1982
        • Jan 1983
        • Feb 1983
        • Mar 1983
        • Apr 1983
      • Sept 1983 - Apr 84 >
        • Sept 1983
        • Oct 1983
        • Nov 1983
        • Dec 1983
        • Jan 1984
        • Feb 1984
        • Mar 1984
        • Apr 1984
      • Sept 1984 - Apr 85 >
        • Sept 1984
        • Oct 1984
        • Nov 1984
        • Dec 1984
        • Jan 1985
        • Feb 1985
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George Darling
by Pia Walker

George was born in 1931 in Newcastle. His father, Ralph, was a tenant farmer and neither he nor his mum, Millie, was musical. George tells me that his father took no interest in music, as his life was his farm. Likewise his only sibling, James, also a farmer, had no interest. His mum liked dancing and perhaps this is where George inherited his rhythmic talent. George too likes to dance, he tells me, especially the modern stuff – quicksteps etc. George is obviously still the unique one in the family. His late wife, Moira, whom he met in the 60s at a dance, was not interested in music and neither is his son Kevin nor his grown-up grandsons, Michael, Adam and Liam.  But perhaps his baby great granddaughter will change that!
 
George learnt to play the drums from Scottish soldiers stationed on the estate opposite his father’s farm near Alnwick during the war when he was used as a messenger boy between locals of a certain gender who were not allowed into the camp and the gentlemen who resided there.  George told me that the drummers used to practise with dinner plates held under their arms, to learn to keep their arms as close to their bodies as possible, and if they dropped the plates and broke them, they had to pay for them out of their pay. If you notice, George always keeps his arms close to his sides while drumming - now you know who he got it from! 
 
After the war, George started an apprenticeship in Alnwick, but didn’t like it much and transferred to a NCB colliery to finish as a time-served mining engineer.  He had also started a band in a boys’ club with Bryce Anderson and John Thompson – The Alnmouth Boys’ Club Band.  Later, after leaving the boys’ club, they named themselves The Minstrel Boys and started playing at local dances. The BBC later called them The Cheviot Ranters, a Northumbrian band that lasted well into the 70s. DJ John Peel was very fond of this band, although by then George had left to do something different.
 
Playing for the BBC was a challenge, as the BBC didn’t like the bands to repeat tunes, or play too much Scottish. It had to be a Northumbrian local programme.  “It was not easy to get hold of music in those days.”  I asked if it was a problem finding the sheet music, to which George replied wryly: “In those days only the bass session player could read music … we listened to the tunes and mostly busked”. I also think he mentioned something like “… and we repeated a few tunes too by renaming them”.
 
As his reputation grew, he was gigging more and more. It was pretty hard coming home from a gig at 4 in the morning to go down the mine at 7am, work a shift and then go back out and play. While he was single and living with his mum, he sometimes tried to avoid his call-out duties when there were problems at a mine.  His mum used to tell him it was his duty and duly ensured he got up and went. Later on, after getting more and more gigs in Scotland and with his marriage failing, George moved across the border and decided to become a full time musician in Scotland:  “I thought about it hard and decided that if I didn’t do it, I would regret it for the rest of my life.” 
 
Now followed an interesting and busy life of playing music with some very well-known bands. When ‘resting’ he worked in various jobs as an engineer. George says Andrew Rankin was extremely particular with presentation. One lad was told to get a haircut, as he did not fit in with how Andrew saw the band.  He also would have no instrument cases on stage. George says that Andrew would never criticize a band member in front of others; he would suggest changes and follow up if they were not implemented.  If George was testing out some new creative drum moves, Andrew, who liked music to be tasteful and full of light and shade, would lean over and say, “I quite like this, but wouldn’t like to hear it all night!” 
 
Today George mostly plays with the Iain MacPhail Band, whom he has played with since the 70s. He agrees with both these bandleaders that preparation and presentation is everything. When asked whom he admired musically, he of course mentions a whole raft of contemporary Scottish musicians, but he especially liked Jim Johnston for his band discipline. Outwith the Scottish music it is Mantovani for his arrangements and André Rieu for his showmanship. “Showmanship is definitely a band’s selling point.”
 
George has travelled extensively abroad, and I was told some wonderful stories about various places, especially Brazil. Did you know that Brian Griffin and George joined a Samba-school during the Carnival in
Rio? And that they got dressed up in samba gear and took part in a parade? He is partial to Caipirinhas, the cocktail made from cachaça. Apparently, they were offered this in hydration bottles during the parade!  He still travels to Brazil, also for personal reasons, as his long-standing lady-friend Sandra, a professional photographer, lives there. He has also visited Singapore for 29 St Andrews Night balls! On one memorable occasion they boarded the plane back home piped in by the BA-pipe band. This year he is gigging in Kenya! Talk about being well travelled!
 
George declares himself a busy man, so what does he do in his spare time?  Well, he still puts in practice on his drums, although he says: “Practising is a frame of mind, and if you are not in that frame of mind it is worthless”.  George learned to read a bit of music in Newcastle, although the teacher was more interested in modern music and had no understanding of the Scottish. He can, he says, “follow the bars and the breaks in the piano music.” He has two drums, one a Premier, the other a 50-year old Ludwig, a rep. sample that Andrew Rankin secured for him. Many a drummer has asked to buy it, to which his answer is: “It’s getting buried with me; you can dig it up afterwards!” I guess that means it is not for sale!  He loves kit-playing, but doesn’t get to do that much these days, as it is not needed so much for Scottish dancing.
 
He also loves motorbikes. He still owns and used to drive and show a 1948 BSA and a 1958 Triumph.  He doesn’t have the time any more, he says, as playing takes precedence over everything.  He also admits that as he is always being busy, he is a master ‘Birds-Eye’ chef!
 
“Music has been kind to me, and I have seen good times and bad times through my music.” He has a well-honed sense of humour: “You have got to see the funny side of life.” George is very popular with the younger generation.  They phone him up and invite him to all-night sessions, boys’ trips abroad etc. He doesn’t feel up to ‘all-nighters’ any more, although he is obviously proud of still being ‘one of the lads’.  Early on in his career, he was given a piece of advice by Sir Jimmy Shand, which he has always tried to follow.  Jimmy put his arm round his shoulder and said: “Come here, son. When you are on the road with a band, keep a steady heid on yer shoo’ders!”  
 
He interacts with many of the younger musicians, and tells me: “The young musicians today are brilliant – extremely good players. If they are lacking, it is perhaps in not mixing and playing much with older musicians to gain more experience. This is how we were taught, by playing with already recognised bands”.  (Visiting bands invited local musicians to play with them during breaks so the music never stopped.)  He also feels that they are locked too much into the ‘fast stuff’.” As Brian Griffin says: “You need to learn and think of other types of music.”  George likes different types of music and not only Scottish. He loves Latin American music, as well modern rhythms such as quicksteps and foxtrots.
 
When playing, he likes to sit back from the front line so as not to be too loud and over-powering and likes to be near and able to flow with the piano. He is adamant that it is the front-line setting the tempo and not the drummer.
 
He goes to many accordion and fiddle clubs, and not just as a guest artist. He is very happy to play with others and would never pick and choose depending on experience. “The clubs are there to give everyone a tune. If the more inexperienced and non-professional players didn’t turn up, there would be no clubs.” He admits it is very daunting to play in front of a club audience; they are a more discerning audience than dancers are. Many have certain expectations on what should be played, although now there is a much bigger variety than early on when button-boxes were to the fore. The week I spoke to him, he was going to Newtongrange, Kelso and Peebles. 
 
What does the future hold – is he going to retire?  Well, he is not planning to. “When I decide to go, I will be going immediately, not plan it for months/years ahead. I will, however, not wish to stay on for so long that other musicians will say I am past it”.
 
George, I hope and am sure you will continue for a long time to come. George Darling is a charming and grounded gentleman, a musician to be admired and a very fitting recipient of the NAAFC Guest of Honour Award.
 
An article about George appeared in the Sept. and Oct. 2014 Box & Fiddle magazine.          
 
Comments to be added to the article
 
I have had the privilege of knowing George Darling for over 40 years as a friend and musician.
He is the ultimate professional in his loyalty to his craft and the band.  His sense of humour and no mean abilities, enabling him to accommodate all genres of music, have served me well whether he be playing in village hall or in the splendour of The Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro!
George’s considerable contribution to Scotland’s musical traditions fully merits recognition in this award from his peers.
 
Iain MacPhail
 
A quote by Mark Twain that describes George perfectly is 
" Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter"
Issy Hodgson

Box and Fiddle
​June 2017 
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