Armadale A&F Club’s 21st Birthday
by Margaret Davidson
The Club’s first meeting was held in 1978 at the Menzies Social club in Bathgate. Stewart Lochie, the founder member, decided to start the Club to fill the gap when the Linlithgow Club wound up. Our very first guest artiste was Alan Roy. In 1979 we moved to the Masonic Arms Hotel in Armadale, finally ending up at the Masonic Hall where we have been ever since.
During the 80’s the Club was supported by around two dozen young players on a regular basis. A Committee was formed and regular dances helped to finance the Club.
Most of our young players were pupils of Wilson Wood at Whitburn. Many of these players went on to form bands in their own right – Jennifer Forrest, Karen Higgins, Graham Edwardson, David Wilson and others.
We celebrated our 21st Birthday on Thursday, 4th February, 1999 in front of a very packed hall (apologies from the Committee to the listeners who had to stand). Our first players for the evening were Karen Higgins, Norma Brodie and Ian Sneddon on accordion and Colin Sneddon on drums. They entertained us for 30 minutes. We than had tea and raffles.
Our President, Stewart Lochie, then cut the cake. A big thank you to Colin Sneddon who made the cake, Betty Livingston who did a baking for the evening and John Sneddon, Alice Sneddon, Jack McLeish and all who did so much for the evening.
Our guest artistes for the evening were Jim MacLeod and his Band. To a delighted audience Jim and the band played for an hour and a half – playing in his own very special way. At the request of the company Jack McLeish sang ‘My Wee Laddie’.
The evening was a huge success. For the last hour of the evening we had John Livingston, Bob Wight, Richard Smith, Kevin Gardiner, Jim Brodie, Charlie Thomson, Mogar Robertson and Jimmy Divers. On fiddle was Ian Robertson and on drums Jack McLeish.
Here’s to the next 21 years.
Box and Fiddle
April 1999
During the 80’s the Club was supported by around two dozen young players on a regular basis. A Committee was formed and regular dances helped to finance the Club.
Most of our young players were pupils of Wilson Wood at Whitburn. Many of these players went on to form bands in their own right – Jennifer Forrest, Karen Higgins, Graham Edwardson, David Wilson and others.
We celebrated our 21st Birthday on Thursday, 4th February, 1999 in front of a very packed hall (apologies from the Committee to the listeners who had to stand). Our first players for the evening were Karen Higgins, Norma Brodie and Ian Sneddon on accordion and Colin Sneddon on drums. They entertained us for 30 minutes. We than had tea and raffles.
Our President, Stewart Lochie, then cut the cake. A big thank you to Colin Sneddon who made the cake, Betty Livingston who did a baking for the evening and John Sneddon, Alice Sneddon, Jack McLeish and all who did so much for the evening.
Our guest artistes for the evening were Jim MacLeod and his Band. To a delighted audience Jim and the band played for an hour and a half – playing in his own very special way. At the request of the company Jack McLeish sang ‘My Wee Laddie’.
The evening was a huge success. For the last hour of the evening we had John Livingston, Bob Wight, Richard Smith, Kevin Gardiner, Jim Brodie, Charlie Thomson, Mogar Robertson and Jimmy Divers. On fiddle was Ian Robertson and on drums Jack McLeish.
Here’s to the next 21 years.
Box and Fiddle
April 1999