Happy 25th Dingwall
by
B&F October 2004
The Past
The Dingwall and District Accordion and Fiddle Club is this year celebrating its 25th Anniversary.
It was the idea of Neil MacDonald of Achterneed, who is still actively involved in the running of the Club, and the late Bill Macdonald of Dingwall, to run an advert in the Ross-shire Journal, which resulted in a Committee being formed.
Mike Shaw was the first Chairman/Secretary, and was followed as Chairman by George Hogg and John Stephen, with current incumbent David MacKenzie being only the fourth person to hold the position.
The first official musical evening took place on 12th September 1979 in The Ross county Social club, when the Guest Artiste was Bobby MacLeod. Subsequent guests in that first season included Graeme Mitchell, John Ellis and Jim Johnstone with their bands.
Difficulties caused by The Ross County Social Club being a private club resulted in a move to The National Hotel in 1983, and this has remained the home of the Club ever since.
With a variety of bands, trios, duos and solo artistes from all over Scotland and beyond giving first class performances to capacity audiences, the Club has also built up an excellent core of local players.
Over the years, a very healthy number of players have been coming along on a regular basis, in part due to the decision of the Club in 1990 to encourage both young and old by subsidizing tuition. Many of the players who have progressed through and with the Club have gone on to win competitions, become Dance Band leaders, and to be professional musicians.
The Present
The 2004-05 season commences on Wednesday 1st September and finds the Dingwall & District A&F Club under the Chairmanship of David Mackenzie in ‘good shape’. At the recent May AGM, Club Treasurer Christine Matheson indicated that the club was in a sound financial position and it is hoped that with the continued support of a loyal and enthusiastic audience who turn out in good numbers throughout the winter months, the situation will be maintained. The Club Committee was delighted to learn that visiting guest artistes had recently voted the Dingwall Club one of the country’s best run clubs which is a great accolade especially for Chairman David and compere Jack Sutherland who ensure that the evening proceedings run to time and all performing players are treated with the respect they deserve. As a performer of considerable note in his own right, Jack is well aware hoe disconcerting it can be if there is considerable background noise amongst the audience and so endeavours to keep this to a minimum with timely reminders.
The Club is most fortunate in having The National Hotel as its regular venue. It is ideal for the occasion as the large function hall and associated facilities can cater for a large number of people in a warm and comfortable environment. Thanks must go to hotel owner Sean Kennedy and all members of hotel staff for all the help and assistance that is offered to the Club.
Assistant Secretary, Elspeth Weir, who has the difficult task of booking guest artistes, has arranged an excellent programme for the coming year. Amongst those who will be appearing will be Lindsay Weir, Colin Dewar, Fraser MacLean, Jennifer Forrest, Wayne Robertson, The Lomond Ceilidh Band, Neil Dawson and James Coutts.
Further details regarding these events will be provided by Club Secretary, Sandra Mackanzie, who formulates the very comprehensive reports each month in the Ross-shire Journal and the B&F magazine.
The Future
Looking towards the next 25 years, the present Committee is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead. One factor causing some concern is the relatively high age profile of the present membership and audience in general. It is hoped that younger members of the community can be encouraged to come along and be entertained by what must be one of the best value shows in the area at £2.50 for members and £3.50 for non-members with concession rates for senior citizens and children.
As always, every encouragement will be offered to local artistes to display their talents in front of a very appreciative audience.
On the performing side the future of the Club is very much in the hands of the youth members and in this respect the Club is most fortunate in having a number of extremely talented young players who perform on a regular basis at the Club. These include Roya MacLean, Matthew MacLennan, David and Alexander Mackenzie, who are all accomplished piano accordion players, and Matheu Watson who is an up-and-coming fiddle player. All of the aforementioned have won national championships at the prestigious Perth, Musselburgh and Oban Festivals. The talent of these young players is outstanding at this stage in their careers and there is no doubt that if their progress is maintained at this level, then they will develop into players who will be the equal of any in the country.
In a younger age group are Rebecca Fraser, Jamie Peden, Aaran Devine and Scott Holmes who continue to impress everyone with their improvement each month. It will not be long before these young players hopefully develop to the standard of their older fellow musicians.
While the Club has to operate within strict financial budgets, the Committee hopes to maintain the high standards set in previous years by bringing many of the best-known Scottish Dance bands and individual artistes to Dingwall.
On Wednesday 1st September, the 25th Anniversary of the Club will be celebrated at the first meeting of the 2004-5 season at which, in addition to the normal format of local players and guest artiste, the opportunity will be taken to honour a number of past and present Clun Committee members who have given stalwart service over a substantial number of years and whose efforts have taken the Club to its present position.
The guest artiste for the evening will be Lindsay Weir with her SDB.
It is most appropriate for Lindsay to appear at this special evening as many ‘old time’ members will remember her as a very small girl back in the late seventies, who had to have her accordion carried in for her and nervously performed her tuition pieces each month. Since then Lindsay has matured and developed into one of Scotland’s top recording and broadcasting talents and who, with her band, has performed several times on Robbie Shepherd’s weekly dance programme ‘Take the Floor’.
With such special guests and local players, an excellent night’s entertainment is ensured and all members and public are encouraged to come along and enjoy the occasion.
The Dingwall and District Accordion and Fiddle Club is this year celebrating its 25th Anniversary.
It was the idea of Neil MacDonald of Achterneed, who is still actively involved in the running of the Club, and the late Bill Macdonald of Dingwall, to run an advert in the Ross-shire Journal, which resulted in a Committee being formed.
Mike Shaw was the first Chairman/Secretary, and was followed as Chairman by George Hogg and John Stephen, with current incumbent David MacKenzie being only the fourth person to hold the position.
The first official musical evening took place on 12th September 1979 in The Ross county Social club, when the Guest Artiste was Bobby MacLeod. Subsequent guests in that first season included Graeme Mitchell, John Ellis and Jim Johnstone with their bands.
Difficulties caused by The Ross County Social Club being a private club resulted in a move to The National Hotel in 1983, and this has remained the home of the Club ever since.
With a variety of bands, trios, duos and solo artistes from all over Scotland and beyond giving first class performances to capacity audiences, the Club has also built up an excellent core of local players.
Over the years, a very healthy number of players have been coming along on a regular basis, in part due to the decision of the Club in 1990 to encourage both young and old by subsidizing tuition. Many of the players who have progressed through and with the Club have gone on to win competitions, become Dance Band leaders, and to be professional musicians.
The Present
The 2004-05 season commences on Wednesday 1st September and finds the Dingwall & District A&F Club under the Chairmanship of David Mackenzie in ‘good shape’. At the recent May AGM, Club Treasurer Christine Matheson indicated that the club was in a sound financial position and it is hoped that with the continued support of a loyal and enthusiastic audience who turn out in good numbers throughout the winter months, the situation will be maintained. The Club Committee was delighted to learn that visiting guest artistes had recently voted the Dingwall Club one of the country’s best run clubs which is a great accolade especially for Chairman David and compere Jack Sutherland who ensure that the evening proceedings run to time and all performing players are treated with the respect they deserve. As a performer of considerable note in his own right, Jack is well aware hoe disconcerting it can be if there is considerable background noise amongst the audience and so endeavours to keep this to a minimum with timely reminders.
The Club is most fortunate in having The National Hotel as its regular venue. It is ideal for the occasion as the large function hall and associated facilities can cater for a large number of people in a warm and comfortable environment. Thanks must go to hotel owner Sean Kennedy and all members of hotel staff for all the help and assistance that is offered to the Club.
Assistant Secretary, Elspeth Weir, who has the difficult task of booking guest artistes, has arranged an excellent programme for the coming year. Amongst those who will be appearing will be Lindsay Weir, Colin Dewar, Fraser MacLean, Jennifer Forrest, Wayne Robertson, The Lomond Ceilidh Band, Neil Dawson and James Coutts.
Further details regarding these events will be provided by Club Secretary, Sandra Mackanzie, who formulates the very comprehensive reports each month in the Ross-shire Journal and the B&F magazine.
The Future
Looking towards the next 25 years, the present Committee is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead. One factor causing some concern is the relatively high age profile of the present membership and audience in general. It is hoped that younger members of the community can be encouraged to come along and be entertained by what must be one of the best value shows in the area at £2.50 for members and £3.50 for non-members with concession rates for senior citizens and children.
As always, every encouragement will be offered to local artistes to display their talents in front of a very appreciative audience.
On the performing side the future of the Club is very much in the hands of the youth members and in this respect the Club is most fortunate in having a number of extremely talented young players who perform on a regular basis at the Club. These include Roya MacLean, Matthew MacLennan, David and Alexander Mackenzie, who are all accomplished piano accordion players, and Matheu Watson who is an up-and-coming fiddle player. All of the aforementioned have won national championships at the prestigious Perth, Musselburgh and Oban Festivals. The talent of these young players is outstanding at this stage in their careers and there is no doubt that if their progress is maintained at this level, then they will develop into players who will be the equal of any in the country.
In a younger age group are Rebecca Fraser, Jamie Peden, Aaran Devine and Scott Holmes who continue to impress everyone with their improvement each month. It will not be long before these young players hopefully develop to the standard of their older fellow musicians.
While the Club has to operate within strict financial budgets, the Committee hopes to maintain the high standards set in previous years by bringing many of the best-known Scottish Dance bands and individual artistes to Dingwall.
On Wednesday 1st September, the 25th Anniversary of the Club will be celebrated at the first meeting of the 2004-5 season at which, in addition to the normal format of local players and guest artiste, the opportunity will be taken to honour a number of past and present Clun Committee members who have given stalwart service over a substantial number of years and whose efforts have taken the Club to its present position.
The guest artiste for the evening will be Lindsay Weir with her SDB.
It is most appropriate for Lindsay to appear at this special evening as many ‘old time’ members will remember her as a very small girl back in the late seventies, who had to have her accordion carried in for her and nervously performed her tuition pieces each month. Since then Lindsay has matured and developed into one of Scotland’s top recording and broadcasting talents and who, with her band, has performed several times on Robbie Shepherd’s weekly dance programme ‘Take the Floor’.
With such special guests and local players, an excellent night’s entertainment is ensured and all members and public are encouraged to come along and enjoy the occasion.