Newburgh Club – End of an Era – Thursday 29th March 2012
by Nicol McLaren & Jim Berry
B&F May 2012
“A tremendous evening of music, entertainment and nostalgia,” that would be my summing up of the 40th Anniversary celebration of Newburgh Accordion & Fiddle Club in The Tayside Institute, Newburgh on 29th March 2012. A superb venue, loads of players and listeners, which facilitated a great atmosphere all evening
The guest artiste was Graeme Mitchell with his full six piece band providing great, swinging music to entertain the sizeable crowd and provide a fitting ‘send-off’ for Club chairman of all 40 years, Jim Berry, and Treasurer, his wife, Netta Berry, who have now retired from the Club’s hierarchy. It is also testimony to Jim that the Club was delighted to welcome back Bill black, the Club’s very first guest artiste who, with his wife Anne, agreed to cut the Birthday Cake! (And, thankfully, was persuaded to give us a tune!) It is sad to see a Club under the threat of closure, as Newburgh is, because of loss of venue and declining numbers, but neither could have been further from everyone’s thoughts on Thursday. Jim, as usual, compered the evening in his usual, couthy manner, and interspersed his introductions with memories of, and tributes to, many people who have been involved over the years, none more so than son Graham who has been resident pianist for more than 30 years.
A super evening – but not the end of Newburgh Club! Catriona Reid has agreed to take on the baton of responsibility and ‘New Newburgh’ will commence on 26th April at Adbie Hall (a’ body’s welcome!!) Please give her your support and go along. Only with support will the Club be able to carry on. Meanwhile a big vote of thanks to Jim Berry for such passion and commitment maintained over an amazing 40 years, Jim, Clubs NEED enthusiasm such as yours!
Nicol McLaren
Owing to the regular venue of The Ship Hotel being closed, our 40th Birthday Party was held in The Tayside Institute Comminity Centre. We were hoping for a large turnout and we weren’t disappointed. We started off the evening with Chic Boath on button accordion. He was followed by Jim McLaren and Chris Smith, on piano accordions. The remaining players in the first half were Mark Crawford (button accordion), David Ford (fiddle), Bill Black (button accordion), John White (piano accordion), Lesley Thomson (fiddle), Kyle Innes and Steven Stark (piano accordions).
It was then time for the guest artistes, who were Graeme Mitchell and his Band. Graeme himself was on piano accordion, Gordon Duguid on second box, Susan Gordon on fiddle, Tom Orr on keyboard, Brian Cruickshank on bass and Duncan Christie on drums. The Band gave their usual excellent performance, much appreciated by all.
A cake had been made especially for the evening and was cut by invited guest Bill Black and his wife Anne. Bill was our very first guest artiste in 1972 and we thought it appropriate that he should have the honour of cutting the cake. Many thanks to Mary Stark of Newburgh for baking and donating the cake.
After an excellent supper we than made a start to the second half. The players on in the second half were Jim McLAren (piano accordion), Jim Aitken (fiddle), Catriona Reid (penny whistle), Kay Scougall, Michael Philip and David Cunningham all on piano accordions.
Accompanists for the even were Graham Berry and Mabel Gray on keyboard, and Ian Adamson, Jim Lawrie and Rab Stark on drums. The evening was then completed by the second appearance of Graeme Mitchell and his Band. It was with some nostalgia that I said my final ‘thank-yous’ and brought the evening to a close. Having been a founder member of the Club I have decided to retire (gracefully, I hope) and let someone else take over the reins. I have had 40 great years and made many friends. I would like to thank all the Committee members who have helped over the years. I would also like to give special thanks to my son Graham who has played the piano at the Club for over 25 years. However, I will still be supporting the Club under the new Committee.
Jim Berry
The guest artiste was Graeme Mitchell with his full six piece band providing great, swinging music to entertain the sizeable crowd and provide a fitting ‘send-off’ for Club chairman of all 40 years, Jim Berry, and Treasurer, his wife, Netta Berry, who have now retired from the Club’s hierarchy. It is also testimony to Jim that the Club was delighted to welcome back Bill black, the Club’s very first guest artiste who, with his wife Anne, agreed to cut the Birthday Cake! (And, thankfully, was persuaded to give us a tune!) It is sad to see a Club under the threat of closure, as Newburgh is, because of loss of venue and declining numbers, but neither could have been further from everyone’s thoughts on Thursday. Jim, as usual, compered the evening in his usual, couthy manner, and interspersed his introductions with memories of, and tributes to, many people who have been involved over the years, none more so than son Graham who has been resident pianist for more than 30 years.
A super evening – but not the end of Newburgh Club! Catriona Reid has agreed to take on the baton of responsibility and ‘New Newburgh’ will commence on 26th April at Adbie Hall (a’ body’s welcome!!) Please give her your support and go along. Only with support will the Club be able to carry on. Meanwhile a big vote of thanks to Jim Berry for such passion and commitment maintained over an amazing 40 years, Jim, Clubs NEED enthusiasm such as yours!
Nicol McLaren
Owing to the regular venue of The Ship Hotel being closed, our 40th Birthday Party was held in The Tayside Institute Comminity Centre. We were hoping for a large turnout and we weren’t disappointed. We started off the evening with Chic Boath on button accordion. He was followed by Jim McLaren and Chris Smith, on piano accordions. The remaining players in the first half were Mark Crawford (button accordion), David Ford (fiddle), Bill Black (button accordion), John White (piano accordion), Lesley Thomson (fiddle), Kyle Innes and Steven Stark (piano accordions).
It was then time for the guest artistes, who were Graeme Mitchell and his Band. Graeme himself was on piano accordion, Gordon Duguid on second box, Susan Gordon on fiddle, Tom Orr on keyboard, Brian Cruickshank on bass and Duncan Christie on drums. The Band gave their usual excellent performance, much appreciated by all.
A cake had been made especially for the evening and was cut by invited guest Bill Black and his wife Anne. Bill was our very first guest artiste in 1972 and we thought it appropriate that he should have the honour of cutting the cake. Many thanks to Mary Stark of Newburgh for baking and donating the cake.
After an excellent supper we than made a start to the second half. The players on in the second half were Jim McLAren (piano accordion), Jim Aitken (fiddle), Catriona Reid (penny whistle), Kay Scougall, Michael Philip and David Cunningham all on piano accordions.
Accompanists for the even were Graham Berry and Mabel Gray on keyboard, and Ian Adamson, Jim Lawrie and Rab Stark on drums. The evening was then completed by the second appearance of Graeme Mitchell and his Band. It was with some nostalgia that I said my final ‘thank-yous’ and brought the evening to a close. Having been a founder member of the Club I have decided to retire (gracefully, I hope) and let someone else take over the reins. I have had 40 great years and made many friends. I would like to thank all the Committee members who have helped over the years. I would also like to give special thanks to my son Graham who has played the piano at the Club for over 25 years. However, I will still be supporting the Club under the new Committee.
Jim Berry