In Memory
Alexander Currie MacIntyre (20/09/1960 – 12/10/2015)
by Iain Anderson Snr
B&F December 2015
Ally was born in Glasgow moving to Bunessan with his family when just a few months old. He was educated at the local primary school, and then Oban High School.
It was here he developed his love of Scottish dance music showing a particular interest in thew drums. With the help of Anda Campbell’s dad initially, and a lot of hard work, he went on to become a first class drummer. It was no surprise that following an accident to Gus Millar in 1983, Ally was asked to join The Wallochmor Ceilidh Band. Over the next 10 months he made a number of trips to the mainland to play with the band, until Gus was well enough to rejoin.
Ally moved to the mainland in 1984, firstly to Glasgow, then settling down in Alexandria. He had spells with many top bands including John Renton, Colin Dewar and Allan McIntosh. He would turn up at Accordion Clubs all over the country and have a tune with whoever asked him. He always had words of encouragement for young players starting out on their musical careers with his steady style of drumming suited to many of them.
His other great love was rallying and he traveled the length and breadth of the UK attending events. He was never happier than when in his adopted home of Donegal. Such was the affection he had for the place and the people, he asked that his ashes be scattered there.
In January 2014 Ally was diagnosed with cancer. He fought bravely, however, on the 12th October 2015 passed away peacefully in St Margaret’s Hospice in Clydebank.
The turnout for Ally’s funeral showed the high regard in which he was held with people in attendance not just from Scotland, but England and Ireland also. It was a fitting send off for a genuinely nice man, and a not bad drummer.
It was here he developed his love of Scottish dance music showing a particular interest in thew drums. With the help of Anda Campbell’s dad initially, and a lot of hard work, he went on to become a first class drummer. It was no surprise that following an accident to Gus Millar in 1983, Ally was asked to join The Wallochmor Ceilidh Band. Over the next 10 months he made a number of trips to the mainland to play with the band, until Gus was well enough to rejoin.
Ally moved to the mainland in 1984, firstly to Glasgow, then settling down in Alexandria. He had spells with many top bands including John Renton, Colin Dewar and Allan McIntosh. He would turn up at Accordion Clubs all over the country and have a tune with whoever asked him. He always had words of encouragement for young players starting out on their musical careers with his steady style of drumming suited to many of them.
His other great love was rallying and he traveled the length and breadth of the UK attending events. He was never happier than when in his adopted home of Donegal. Such was the affection he had for the place and the people, he asked that his ashes be scattered there.
In January 2014 Ally was diagnosed with cancer. He fought bravely, however, on the 12th October 2015 passed away peacefully in St Margaret’s Hospice in Clydebank.
The turnout for Ally’s funeral showed the high regard in which he was held with people in attendance not just from Scotland, but England and Ireland also. It was a fitting send off for a genuinely nice man, and a not bad drummer.