Box and Fiddle
Year 33 No 08
April 2010
Price £2.50
44 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £27.50 + p&p £9.90 (UK)
Editor – Karin Ingram, Hawick
B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time-consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
Don’t forget to vote for the B&F Awards (BAFFIs), closing date May 1st. Also don’t forget to order your summer issues if your Club doesn’t meet over the simmer…………
Karin Ingram
NAAFC Festival 2010
by James Coutts
Saturday 13th March saw The MacDonald Inshyra Grange Hotel host the 36th NAAFC Festival. Despite the change of date to a week later than normal, we had a fantastic entry level in the competitions. This, allied with the large number of enthusiasts and traders in attendance created a great atmosphere and buzz throughout the day.
The adjudicators’ panel were extremely impressed with the standard of playing across the competitions, and it was especially pleasing to see so many new faces in the Classical Accordion classes. We also had a new competition – Open RSCDS Solo – with the new RSCDS Dance Trophy as the prize for the worthy winner, who this year was Susan MacFadyen Thank you to the RSCDS for their sponsorship.
The huge entry, the biggest for 25 years, made for hectic scheduling, but we managed to get all the solo and duet competitions finished to allow everyone to descend on the Inshyra Suits for the Bands Section. As always, this was one of the highlights of the day and it was great to see so many youngsters teaming up with some of the band scene’s experienced stalwarts. The Band section and Prize Winners concert were recorded by BBC Radio Scotland, who were delighted at the quantity and quality of the music displayed. Once again, I’d like to thank Jennifer Cruickshank and her team for the excellent coverage given to the Festival. After the concert, which was expertly compered by Dave Millward and John Caskie, Alan Gardiner’s SDB gave a great performance at the Dance, which was enjoyed and appreciated by a large crowd.
The 2011 Festival returns to its normal Saturday, which is the 5th of March. We hope to see everyone, and even a few more there again. The location of Inshyra Grange, allied with the facilities and excellent management and staff, has been a big factor in our decision to keep the Festival there for the foreseeable future.
Of course, the Festival doesn’t just happen and I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those who contributed to making the day a success. In no particular order, thanks to all the competitors, adjudicators, parents, stewards, helpers, enthusiasts, raffle donors, traders, advertisers and BBC Radio Scotland. The biggest thank-you, however, goes to Lorna Mair, Richard Ross and the rest of the Festival Committee. The time, effort and expense they give to the Festival is remarkable and it is both a privilege and pleasure to work with them all throughout the year.
Results
Junior Accordion
Under 10 Traditional Accordion Solo – Islesteps Shield
1) Andrew Erskine (Forth)
2) Alexander Girling (Glenfarg)
3) Ewan Dowie (Kettlebridge)
Under 12 Traditional Accordion Solo – Pentland Cup
1) Kyle Innes (Strathmiglo)
2) Scott Main (Strathmiglo)
3) Jake Laing (Windygates)
12 and Under 16 Traditional Solo – Jim Johnstone Cup
1) Sam Rutherford (Aberdeen)
2) Steven Todd (Dalkeith)
3) Adam Gibb (Biggar)
Junior Accordion Solo Pipe Music – Bill Black Cup
1) Steven Todd (Dalkeith)
2) Duncan Muir (Closeburn)
3) Alex Stewart (Stanley)
Junior Traditional Duet – Angus Howie Cups
1) Duncan Muir (Closeburn) & Roy Anderson (Rosewell)
2) Magnus & Jack Westwell (Edinburgh)
3) Scott & Ewan Main (Strathmiglo)
Overall Junior Accordion Champion – Alex Little Memorial Trophy
Steven Todd (Dalkeith)
Senior Accordion
Senior Traditional Accordion Solo – Clinkscale Cup
1) Liam Stewart (Galston)
2) Andrew Gibb (Biggar)
3) Matthew MacLennan (Kiltarlity)
Senior Accordion Pipe Music Solo – Bill Powrie Memorial Cup
1) Andrew Gibb (Biggar)
2) Matthew MacLennan (Kiltarlity)
3) Gary Sutherland (Giffordtown)
Open Accordion Championship – Todhills Trophy
1) Gary Sutherland (Giffordtown)
2) William Scott (Dumbarton)
3) Alexander Methven (Clackmannan)
Senior Overall Accordion Champion - The Bobby MacLeod Trophy
Andrew Gibb (Biggar)
Open Buttonkey Accordion Solo – Windygates Trophy
1) Graeme MacKay (Inverness)
2) Anne-Louise Stewart (Isle of Lewis)
3) Robin Waite (Canonbie)
Trios – Jimmy Blue Trophy & Eric Goodfellow Memorial Shield
1) Steven Todd (Dalkeith)
2) Adam Gibb (Biggar)
3) Erin McGinley (Thornhill)
Bands – Overall Winner - Iain MacPhail Cup
Sam Rutherford (Aberdeen)
Runners Up John Fairbairn Memorial Trophy
Steven Todd (Dalkeith)
Nick Cowling (Aberdeen)
Band – Rhythm Section - Arthur Easson Memorial Trophy
Sam Rutherford (Aberdeen)
Own Composition – Willie Wilson Cup
1) Marie Fielding (Falkirk)
2) Andy Kain (Wishaw)
3) William Scott (Dumbarton)
RSCDS Open Dance – RSCDS Trophy
1) Susan MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
2) Matthew MacLennan (Kiltarlity)
Under 12 Classical Solo – Kelso Cup
1) Alexander Girling (Glenfarg)
2) Mark Smith (Bishopton)
3) Kyle Innes (Strathmiglo)
Under 14 Classical Solo – Aberdeen Cup
1) Emma Dickson (Dolphinton)
2) Heather Clark (Paisley)
3) Beth MacPherson (Paisley)
Under 16 Classical Solo – Dundee Shield
1) Nicola Smith (Bishopton)
2) Craig Hart (Erskine)
3) Rebekah Mitchell (Paisley)
Under 14 Classical Polka Solo – Newtongrange Shield
1)
2)
3)
Open Classical Solo – Jimmy Clinkscale Shield
1) Grant McFarlane (Paisley)
2) Alistair Barr (Wishaw)
3) Craig Paton (Milnathort)
Under 13 Classical Duet – Beith & District A&F Club Cups (Willie Wilson Memorial Trophies)
1) Adam Gibb (Biggar) & Emma Dickson (Dolphinton)
2) Andrew & samantha Erskine (Forth)
3) Fraser Herwitt (Quothquan) & Katie Todd (Dalkeith)
Under 16 Classical Duet - Alex MacArthur Cups
1) Duncan Muir (Closeburn) & Roy Anderson (Rosewell)
2) Claire Black & Robbie Paterson (Biggar)
3) Nicola Edoni & Craig Hart (Erskine)
Open Classical Duet – Dunfermline Cup
1) Grant McFarlane (Paisley) & Paula Kelly (Renfrew)
2) Alan Shute (Coatbridge) & David Barr (Wishaw)
3) Erin McGinley & Adele Queen (Thornhill)
Classical Polka
Under 14 Classical Polka Solo – Newtongrange Shield
1) Alex Stewart (Stanley)
2) Adam Gibb (Biggar)
3) Adin Graham (Windygates)
Open Classical Polka Solo – Tign-Na-Gorm Cup
1) Paul Capaldi (Galashiels)
2) Craig Paton (Milnathort)
3) Alexander Young (Houston)
Under 14 Classical Musette Accordion Solo – John Laidlaw Memorial Trophy
1) Alex Stewart (Stanley)
2) Robbie Paterson (Biggar)
3) Alexander Girling (Glenfarg)
Open Classical Musette Accordion Solo – Christine Hunter Memorial Trophy
1) Craig Paton (Milnathort)
2) Paul Capaldi (Galashiels)
3) William Scott (Dumbarton)
Fiddle Sections
Under 12 Fiddle Solo – NAAFC Musselburgh Festival Trophy
1) Stuart Davidson (Tarves)
2) Sean Allan (Newmains)
3) Anna Westwell (Edinburgh)
Junior Fiddle Solo – MSR – Strathspey and Reel Association Cup & Kirsy’s Ceilidh Shield
1) Eilidh Anderson (Tarland)
2) Hannah Renton (Aberdeen)
3) George Davidson (Tarves)
Junior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Dougie Welsh Cup
1) Hannah Renton (Aberdeen)
2) Jack Westwell (Edinburgh)
3) Sean Allan (Newmains)
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Strathspey, MSR – St. Boswell Cup
1) Maggie Adamson (Shetland)
2) Shona MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
3) Raemond Jappy (Findochty)
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Ron Gonella Cup
1) Anne Nicol (Insch)
2) Erin Smith (Aberdeen)
3) Shona MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
Open Fiddle Championship – Banchory S&R Society Trophy
1) Erin Smith (Aberdeen)
2) Maggie Adamson (Shetland)
3) Shona MacFadyen (West kilbride)
Overall Fiddle Champion - The Angus Fitchet Trophy
Anne Nicol (Insch) & Erin Smith (Aberdeen)
Overall Junior Fiddle Champion – Judith Linton Trophy
Hannah Renton (Aberdeen)
Open Fiddle Groups – Lesmahagow Quaich
1) No Strings Attached
2) Kain’s Weans (Wishaw)
3) Any Westwell (Edinburgh)
Youngest Girl Competitor – John McQueen Medal
India Smith (Penicuik)
Youngest Boy Competitor – John McQueen Medal
Fin Renton (Aberdeen)
In conversation with Ian Holmes
by Billy Wortley
I enjoyed a magical afternoon in the company of Ian Holmes at his home in Dumfries and was enthralled with his conversation as he spoke of his experiences in the world of accordion music.
Ian began to play the piano accordion when he was around eleven or twelve years of age, on an instrument left at the family home by his elder brother Archie’s pal. Having given it a try on this accordion, he then borrowed one from the local butcher. The first tune that he mastered was The Auld Hoose, played on the black notes (one brick at a time) and although self taught, he made progress. The progress was such that he was soon asked to provide the music at parties and small dances and was enrolled into the YW(M)CA concert party.
Around 1948 he decided that he should learn to read music and he enrolled for lessons from local teacher, Alex Carter. At that time Alex did not like Scottish dance music and actually taught Ian light classics. When questioned, Ian said that he felt it was the correct decision with him having to teach himself the rudiments of traditional music. He added that it cannot be a coincidence that the “big four” Shand, MacLeod, Fitchet and Powrie were virtually self-taught, they had nothing to learn and were the inspiration to Ian and many of his generation. Having made progress, Alex Carter suggested to Ian that he purchase a reconditioned 120 bass Scandalli Vibrante Four. He was thereafter asked to play solo in concerts by the local RAFA Orchestra, of which Alex was the conductor.
When he was fourteen Ian started to play as a member of a local band that had engagements most Fridays and Saturdays.
When he was around fifteen Ian met Bobby MacLeod and his Band at a dance in the neighbouring village of Moniaive. Ian was allowed to play Bobby’s Co-operativa accordion at half time and thereby started a friendship, which would last for over fifty years. The Band line-up was Bobby and Alisdair Downie (accordions), Alex “Pibroch” Mackenzie (fiddle), David Whitehead (piano), Willie Lowe (double bass) and Johnny Fellows (drums). Ian told me that Johnny was the first drummer to use brushes in a Scottish Dance Band, thereby starting a trend. Willie Lowe and Ian Holmes remain friends and often talk on the phone. Bobby told Ian that that although Willie preferred playing modern music, he nevertheless asked him to join him on piano. Apparently many of the clever harmonies used today were Willie’s ideas and he was the first second accordionist to play a chordal accompaniment.
Ian Holmes and Bobby MacLeod shared a close friendship and in his book “Pas De Bas” Bobby wrote, “One of my best friends, Ian Holmes, the ‘Musician’s Musician’, delights with his flair for arrangements of the highest taste, combining always a subtlety of thought in his work. Ian also innovates in himself, outside the field of arranging by playing professionally, all three types of accordion.”
In 1953, Ian purchased Bobby’s Co-operativa accordion from Andy Tosh of The Hawthorn Accordion Band.
In 1953 also, Angus Fitchet’s Band was playing at a dance at Penpont. As usual, the music was exceptional and Ian was part of the crowd gathered around the stage listening. Angus bent down and remarked to Ian and the girl standing next to him, “I haven’t seen you pair dancing yet.” They did have a dance, which eventually led to marriage. I learned that Ian and Margaret have now been married for fifty-two years. By coincidence Margaret also plays the accordion.
Around this time, whilst walking in Dumfries, Ian and Margaret met Jimmy Shand and his fiddler, Syd Chalmers, and so started another long friendship.
In 1956 Ian attended a local dance at which the music was provided by The Bobby MacLeod Band. On this occasion it was a five-piece only, because second accordionist, Hugh Malarky, was ill. Much to Ian’s delight, however, Bobby asked him to sit in. Ian explained that the band stayed in Dumfries overnight. He added, with a smile that, having decided that they should try to get some sleep, pianist Davie Whitehead started whistling. Drummer, Lawrence Brotherhood, eventually asked him to stop, to which Davie replied, “Aye, okay then, but let me finish the set first, twice each tune and back to the original.”
In 1956 Ian was “called up” for National Service in the Royal Air Force. Having been stationed in several different Air Stations he was eventually posted to West Freugh, Near Stranraer where he stayed until he was demobbed in 1958. Around this time he composed his first tunes, a 6/8 bagpipe march Miss Margaret Bell and The Queen of the South Polka. The latter was subsequently recorded by the famous “Hamefarers” Shetland Band.
In 1957 he was granted sufficient leave in order to practice and compete at a major accordion event in The City Hall, Perth. From an entry of around thirty-five, he won the All Scotland Senior Traditional March, Strathspey and Reel section and was presented with The Jimmy Shand Shield. The adjudicator, incidentally, was Lindsay Ross.
Early in 1958 he went on leave with pal Ted Hayes to his home in Dublin. At a dance in the Irish Club he met Pat McGarr and his Gallowglass Ceili Band. On learning that Ian was soon to be demobbed, Pat offered Ian a job playing with the Band. After giving the matter much thought, Ian declined Pat’s offer and after he was demobbed he returned to his job as a coachbuilder in Dumfries, where his workmates nicknamed him “the long distance melodeon player”.
He and Margaret were married on 6th November that year and they spent their honeymoon at The Mishnish Hotel at Tobermory with Bobby and Jean MacLeod. They all went to the Golf Dance, where music was played by Pibroch Mackenzie and Calum MacLean. Ian and Calum have been firm friends from that time. It was in 1958 that Ian did his first solo broadcast in a show called “Almost Brand New” on the BBC Scottish Home Service.
In 1959 Ian was asked by Andrew Rankine to “guest” with his band at dances at Preston and Nelson and several months later, he and Margaret moved residence to Stenhousemuir. On moving, Ian joined The Andrew Rankine Scottish Dance Band. At the time the line-up was Andrew and Ian (accordions), Bobby Christie (violin), Robert “Brush” Campbell (piano), Tom McTague (bass) and Billy Thom on drums. This was one of the most popular bands of the time, playing across Scotland and England. Most weekends they performed in English cities such as London, Newcastle, Liverpool etc. They also broadcast frequently on BBC Radio.
In 1961 The Andrew Rankine Band played at a concert with Andy Stewart in The Festival Hall, London.
Around 1961 Ian was asked by Bobby MacLeod to join his Band for the TV Show “The White Heather Club”. The compere and star was Andy Stewart and Ian recollects that amongst others that he met and befriended were Dixie Ingram, Moira Anderson, Robin Hall, Jimmie McGregor, the Brand Sisters and Jimmy Urquhart and Peter Malan. With shows starring The Corrie Folk Trio and Paddy Bell, the company travelled to and recorded two shows in Germany. These were done before an audience of troops from the Scots Greys in the Roundhouse, which had been the German Officers’ Quarters for the notorious Belsen Concentration Camp. By this time Belsen village had been renamed Hohne. Ian and several others were taken to the immaculately kept cemetery, located on the actual site of the camp. The fiddler, Alex “Pibroch” McKenzie had been one of the first of the British troops to enter and liberate the horror camp at the end of the War. Ian said, “A very moving and unforgettable experience.”
In 1961 Ian and Margaret’s daughter Rhona was born and in 1963 their second daughter Mhorag was born.
The Rankine Band made several recordings for EMI with producer George Martin, who later gained great fame with The Beatles. One of the tracks was Ian’s Scottish Waltz, which was one of the several sets arranged for the band by Ian.
In 1962 Ian started his own Band and their first (live) broadcast was on 7th May from Edinburgh. A five-piece, the line up was: Ian (accordion), Kenny Wilson (fiddle) Davie Whitehead (piano), Stan Saunders (bass) and Bert Leishman (drums). After the rehearsal the Band retired to the lounge to be greeted by none other than Jimmy Shand, who was playing at Waverley Market and who had dropped in to wish them good luck. Stan Saunders was a regular member of Jimmy’s Band but he’d kindly insisted that Stan should play in Ian’s broadcast.
In 1963 the Band’s first LP, Let’s have a Party, was issued. This was the first Scottish Dance Band to record a Quickstep and there was also another first, for Ian insisted that the names of the band members should be listed on the sleeve.
Around 1968 Ian’s Band performed the pilot shows for The White Heather Show at several locations across the country.
In the mid 1960s, Ian was asked by Bobby MacLeod to go to the Decca Studios in London’s West Hampstead to record two LPs. On fiddle, incidentally, was Syd Chalmers.
In 1970 Ian and Margaret decided to return to Dumfries. After the hustle and bustle of the 60s Ian had hoped to lead a quieter life, but with Bobby McNeillie now on second accordion, the Band was in even greater demand and busier than ever, with long distances to travel. The line-up in the Halls was: Ian and Bobby (accordionists), Kenny Wilson (fiddle) and Gordon Young on drums. Ian explained, “Sometimes it was hard work, but always enjoyable, for Bobby McNeillie had the ability to memorise and play second accordion arrangements, which added a broad dimension to the music.” For broadcasts and recordings the band was augmented by Bill Hendry on piano and Stan Saunders on bass.
In 1971 Ian was made redundant and after six weeks on the dole seeking employment, he accepted a job in a local music shop, later becoming a partner. This continued until 1973 when the owner decided to retire and Ian was asked to remain as manager by the new proprietor. After some deliberation, Ian decided to start his own business and he and Margaret acquired premises. Ian and Margaret remain grateful for the help and support they received from Mickie Ainsworth and Bill Wilkie in the early years. The business continued for twenty-seven years, until he and Margaret retired in 2000.
In 1978, Ian and the Band recorded a programme for BBC Radio in The Salutation Hotel, Perth. For this they were joined by Angus Fitchet, who had been the match-maker who brought Ian and Margaret together in 1953. The following year, Angus again joined the Band to record a programme from Studio One in Glasgow.
Also in 1979, a “dream came true” for Ian and Margaret when they visited Switzerland with a coach tour.
Regrettably, Ian was diagnosed with diabetes in 1979, with the general belief being that this had been brought on by the sudden death of his second accordionist, Bobby McNeillie in 1978.
Over the succeeding years Ian visited Norway, Sweden and Switzerland on numerous occasions; he made friends with many of the great continental players and acquired several Scandinavian and Swiss accordions.
In 1987 Ian was made an honorary member of one of Sweden’s leading orchestras, “tunnbybalgarno”, the Bromollo Accordion Orchestra, with which he had performed on several occasions. It was indeed an honour for, although the orchestra had been formed in 1973, Ian was only the fifth person to be so honoured.
Also in 1987, Ian recorded and released his cassette, Sounds Scandinavian. As no one else had produced anything like it, it was very popular and when he reviewed it, Sweden’s Ove Hahn stated it sounded so authentic he could hardly believe it was played by a Scotsman and awarded it five out of a possible six stars.
In 1989 Ian suffered a “frozen shoulder” and when the pain became worse, he decided to change from the bulky piano accordion to the more compact 5-row instrument and, having used it on his 1990 broadcast from Carlisle, there was a mixed reaction with some folk telling him, “You have lost your sound”. However, during a subsequent visit to Tobermory, Ian was reassured with his friends Bobby MacLeod and Calum MacLean voicing enthusiasm for the “new” sound. Bobby advised Ian not to listen to the critics, as he had received the same treatment when he changed from the Co-operativa to the Hohner Morino; indeed some of his sternest critics had become ardent Morino players themselves.
A wee story to tell concerning Ian playing the button-key. On one occasion, whilst visiting Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Shand at Auchtermuchty, he was invited by Jimmy “to have a go” at playing Jimmy’s 3-row Gola. Having played it, Jimmy said to him, “Son, you’re a one-off, for naebody else can play a’ they accordions and you play them well.”
In 1991 Ian and his Band broadcast a programme on Radio Scotland consisting solely of tunes composed by Angus Fitchet.
In 1993 Ian was asked to appear at the Titano Accordion Festival at Vinstra in Norway. He played selections of Scottish Dance Music and also a Scandinavian style waltz he’d specially written called Hilsen Til Venstra (Greetings to Vinstra). The festival was truly an international affair for there were accordionists from Italy, Germany, Romania, France, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, with Ian being the only player from Britain.
In 1995, Ian fulfilled a long ambition to make a broadcast with the entire programme consisting of tunes composed by Jimmy Shand. Part of the ambition was to have his old friend, Ian Powrie, as guest fiddler. The programme was well received with many people saying it was one of the best ever broadcasts. Jimmy phoned Ian the next morning to say thank you and that he was delighted at the way his tunes had been arranged and played. The Band on that occasion, incidentally, comprised: Ian and Ricky Franci (accordions), Ian Powrie (fiddle), James Clark (piano), Stan Saunders (bass) and Drew Dalgleish on drums.
Ian Powrie recorded a Scottish country dance CD with the Band and he joined them on broadcasts for the next five years until he and his wife, Leila, returned to Australia in 1999. The 1999 recording was in fact Ian Powrie’s last performance in Scotland.
Ian sent Swiss friend Arthur Brugger his new Swiss Polka ‘For My Friend Arthur Brugger’ and later that year they played it together at a restaurant on the Allmenalp. It was Arthur who persuaded Ian to record his CD Ian in Switzerland in 1998 and he was so pleased with the results that he sent Ian a magnificent cow-bell inscribed “Ian Holmes in Switzerland greetings from Arthur Brugger”, a mark of true Swiss friendship.
Ian and Margaret’s friendship with the great continental players was such that they had frequent visits from Scandinavian friends. In 1999, Dolfi Rogenmoser, Willi Zahner and Ernst Ehrler spent a week in Dumfries. Ian was able to drive them around and show them the Scottish countryside. He also arranged for them to play at Bill Wilkie’s concert in Perth City Hall. The audience loved them and Ian joined in on their final number, a Swiss Schottische called Gluck Gluck. They received a standing ovation and, in an interview for a magazine, Dolfi stated that night was the most memorable of his long career. It was certainly memorable for Ian, for that was the same stage on which he had been presented with The Jimmy Shand Shield after becoming the All Scottish Champion in 1957 and where he had played with Bobby MacLeod, Andrew Rankine and with his own Band.
In 1996, Ian was back in Switzerland and whilst at the Hochst Guesthouse he became aware of a problem with the sight of his left eye. This soon cleared and things returned to normal. In 1997, however, the problem re-occurred but this time it became slowly worse until he became completely blind in his left eye. The problem sometimes affected the right eye and on several occasions he was completely blind for around two weeks. In May 2000, he underwent major surgery to the left eye at Gartnavel Hospital. The next year saw the same operation on his right eye and a second operation was carried out on his left eye in 2004. Since that time things have remained stable. All operations were carried out by Doctor Tom Barrie and Ian dedicated a new 6/8 bagpipe march to him in his broadcast on 14th October, 2006.
When interviewed by Robbie Shepherd in 2006, on BBC Radio Scotland, Ian spoke of the eight types of accordion he played and in 2007 at Windygates Accordion Club he featured all those eight different accordions.
He has composed well over four hundred tunes, has made dozens of recordings and has broadcast regularly on the radio for over half a century. He is without question, one of our most gifted ever players.
He continues to play at Accordion Clubs across Scotland with the Band now comprising Ian on accordion, Gordon Simpson on fiddle and James Clark on keyboard. Although seventy-five years of age, he has no plans to retire.
It was in The Hole in the Wa’ in Dumfries in the early 1960s, that the Accordion Club movement as we know it was born. The Dumfries Club is now titled the Islesteps Club and is located in Locharbriggs Social Club; it remains very popular and vibrant with a procession of talented local players taking the stage at each meeting. Prominent amongst these local players is Ian Holmes. He has willingly played for local organisations and charities over the years and importantly has supported and indeed continues to support his local Accordion Club.
As my conversation with Ian drew to a close he said, “Through our travels here and abroad, Margaret and I have acquired so many friends. Music has given me a wonderful life and I’m grateful for the contribution, support and encouragement of so many of our top musicians, who over the years played in the Band.” He concluded by saying, “With my interest in so many styles of music, there’s never a dull moment.”
Jack Cooper (1933 – 2010) Obituary
by Neil Copland & Joan Blue
Neil Copland – NAAFC Vice Chairman
My first encounter with Jack Cooper was when my parents took me along to Dundee Accordion & Fiddle Club as a ten-year-old. Jack was always very pleased to welcome new players to the Club and especially younger players, such was his enthusiasm for keeping our music alive. Over the years since then Jack became a very close friend as well as a musical associate who played with me in the band on occasion.
In the early seventies, Dundee A&F Club was very lucky to have a loyal band of players, both young and some more mature, and this pleased Jack as the Club had been his idea along with accordionist Arthur Spink. When Arthur emigrated to Australia, Jack continued to plough his energy into keeping Dundee Club alive and the many friendships that were made as a result of people meeting at the Club are a great testament to his enthusiasm for the Club and then the NAAFC. Jack was very much at the forefront when it was suggested that Dundee Club junior members should start to form bands amongst themselves. He gave all the junior members of the Club a great deal of encouragement to get together and practise hard for club meetings every month. One such band that was formed was the Dundee Accordion & Fiddle Club Junior Band – now known as the Craigowl Dance Band and still regularly broadcasting on BBC's “Take the Floor” programme, albeit with some changes in personnel since those heady days as thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds.
Jack always liked to be organising events and he loved to be at the helm in organising the annual Dundee Club Dinner Dance in The Invercarse Hotel, Dundee – they were legendary for lots of reasons! He was also instrumental in organising the annual Dundee Club trip to places such as Banchory, Cullen, Lochearnhead and Oban every October. Club members would assemble in Dundee city centre to board the coach on the Saturday morning and as the weekend always coincided with the local Dundee holiday weekend we could make a long weekend of it. The weekend was full of great music, good food, and lots of laughs – many a story is often recalled when former club members get together and invariably, Jack was in the mix of them all.
As some of our more mature Box & Fiddle readers will recall, Jack was also instrumental in organising the annual NAAFC AGM and Weekend Gathering for many years. Who can forget those memorable days at Dunblane Hydro, Perth's Station Hotel and Dundee's Invercarse Hotel, when the great and good of Scottish dance bands/music were honoured for their contribution to our heritage? We still of course continue this tradition every year at Huntingtower Hotel in Perth but all the activity is now concentrated on the Sunday rather than over the whole weekend. The annual display of photographs at the AGM and Celebrity Luncheon taken from days past are a great trip down memory lane and always very popular.
As many of you know, the NAAFC also created the Jimmy Shand Scholarship at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) and again this was a suggestion initially made by Jack as a means of paying tribute to the legend that was, and still is, Jimmy Shand.
Outside of his involvement in playing Scottish dance music and the NAAFC, Jack was the Dance Director for the BBC television show “The White Heather Club”. He was also an accomplished Scottish Country Dancer and choreographer. Jack was also a very active member of Dundee Ski Club and held the office of President on a number of occasions over the years he was active in the sport. All of the above activities were Jack's hobbies as he was also a very successful businessman in the family business working alongside his dad, John.
Jack didn't keep good health over the last few years and when I had reason to be regularly visiting my dad in Dundee's Victoria Hospital Jack was often in the same ward, so it meant that I could go and speak to whichever of the two of them wasn't sleeping – it was a case of twenty minutes speaking to one of them and then change to the other end of the ward for twenty minutes with the other who had woken up by then.
Jack Cooper will be sorely missed by the Scottish music and dance fraternity – his efforts on behalf of the NAAFC and Scottish music and dance can never be understated. It is also due to Jack's encouragement that there are many of today's musicians in the Dundee/Tayside area who came through the Dundee A&F Club and are still very active on the dance band scene. Jack's determination to give them a platform from which to launch a musical career will never be forgotten.
Joan Blue
Jack played drums in my husband, Jimmy Blue’s, band for more than 20 years. Not only was he our drummer – he was a great friend, part of our family. He was an extremely loyal member of the band and in all these years, never let us down. If he was offered another gig, he would always check first that we didn’t have an engagement on that date.
Jack led a pretty full life. Although he spent a year ill in bed when he was young, he listened to radio and records and became hooked on Scottish dance music. He joined a pipe band, learned to play drums. He started going to Scottish Country Dances and soon started up his own Scottish dance team – The Gie Gordons. As they became well known, they auditioned for a new programme which was being produced on BBC Television – “The White Heather Club”. So successful were they that Jack became probably the first choreographer for the programme and The Gie Gordons made their television debut. As well as dancing, Jack took up skiing and became a member of the Dundee Ski Club and was one of the enthusiasts who built the first hut at Glenshee. Eventually he became President of the Dundee club and held that post for a number of years.
The Perth A&F Club began in September 1970. Jack, with his usual boundless energy, started the Dundee Club in January 1971. He encouraged the young musicians to play together and one success was The Dundee Accordion and Fiddle Club Junior Band (who later changed their name to The Craigowl SDB) with Kevin Clark and Bruce Quirie on accordions, Margaret Quirie on fiddle, Gil Simpson on piano and David Scott on drums. It is truly amazing that this band is still broadcasting with some of the original members.
Another idea Jack had was to book a hotel for a weekend, and a busload of Dundee Club members headed off – sometimes to The Fall of Lora Hotel at Oban – and spent a great weekend playing and socialising. When the National Association began, it used to take place in the afternoon, but Jack suggested that we make it a weekend and thus began these wonderful occasions at The Salutation Hotel and Station Hotel in Perth and at Dunblane Hydro. He worked so hard to make these weekends enjoyable. I used to help him get the place cards organised. He knew who could sit with whom and who didn’t get on, etc. It was Jack, also, who started collecting band photographs and mounted these wonderful displays that we gazed at every year.
But when I think of Jack, I recall the fun we all had together. Each year, Bobby and Agnes Crowe and Jimmy and I went to Bunessan for ten days. Jack came with us on three occasions. I shall never forget one day when we were going over to Staffa. I was looking for the binoculars and asked Jack, who was already in the car – “Jack, have you got the binocs?” to which he replied, quick as a flash, “No, its just the way I’m sitting.” Another memorable occasion was when we were on a ‘tour’ of Caithness. The redoubtable Jimmy Simpson, who owned the island of Stroma, offered to take us over there for the day. We all boarded his landing craft and we were barely out of John o’ Groats harbour when Jack enquired, “When does the duty free open?” Quick as a flash Jimmy Simpson said, “Now!” and produced a bottle of whisky from under his seat. And Jack was always polite! He wouldnever leave after spending a day or having a meal at Forgandenny, without saying, “Thanks for your hospital.” Mind you, he usually greeted me with, “When are you getting the mask off?” Yes, a cheeky devil but a true friend who will be very much missed.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
On the Rocks – James Coutts SDB – Three Tree Records CD01
All Dressed in Yellow – Fiddlers’ Bid – HBM001
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s)
3rd April 10 – Michael Garvin SDB
10th April 10 – The Pentlands Ceilidh Band
17th April – Lindsay Weir SDB
24th April 10 – Ian Thomson SDB – OB from Inverurie Town Hall
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 27th April 10 – Neil Hardie SDB
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 18th April 10 – Sandy Nixon SDB
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 4th April 10 – Pentland Ceilidh Band
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 1st April 10 – Ray Carse
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 18th April 10 – Iain Cathcart Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 26th April 10 – George Rennie SDB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 28th April 10 – Rosely Ceilidh Band
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 19th April 10 – David Oswald SDB
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 11th April 10 – Nicky McMichan SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 13th April 10 – Bruce Lindsay SDB
Britannia (Arden House Hotel) -
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 8th April 10 – Bon Accords
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 6th April 10 – Craig Paton SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 1st April 10 - tbc
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 20th April 10 – Dick Black Trio
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 15th April 10 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Coldingham (Village Hall) - 5th April 10 – Andy Kain Trio
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 1st April 10 – Neil Caul SDB
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club)
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 7th April 10 – Craig Paton SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 21st April 10 – Gordon Shand SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 13th April 10 – Club Night
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate) 19th April 10 – Colin Dewar SDB
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 20th April 10 – Alastair MacLeod Trio
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 26th April 10 – Iain Anderson SDB
Forfar (The Royal Hotel) - 25th April 10 – Richard Smith Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 14th April 10 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Fort William 6th April 10 – Colin Dewar Trio
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) – 1st April 10 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 22nd April 10 – AGM + Iain MacPhail SDB
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 7th April 10 – Judith Linton Trio
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 27th April 10 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) - 4th April 10 - tbc
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 11th April 10 – Michael Philip SDB
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 19th April 10 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio + Own Composition
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 14th April 10 – Wayne Robertson Duo
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 1st April 10 – Jim MacKay SDB
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 6th April 10 – Neil Hardie SDB 16th April – Dance to Roger Dobson
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 28th April 10 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Kintore (Torryburn Arms Hotel) – 7th April 10 – Marian Anderson SDB
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 15th April 10 – Addie Harper & Friends
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 24th April 10 – Dance to Iain MacPhail SDB
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) –
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) -
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 20th April 10 – Steven Carcary Trio
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 27th April 10 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 20th April 10 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Montrose (Park Hotel) –
Newburgh (The Ship Hotel) - 29th April 10 - tbc
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Thorterdykes Roadhouse)
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 6th April 10 – Scott Band Trio
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) – 1st April 10 – Iain Anderson Trio
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 29th April 10 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 20th April 10 – Michael Garvin SDB
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) - 7th April 10 – 30th Anniversary Celebration – Bruce Lindsay Trio
Reading Scottish Fiddlers (Willowbank Infant School, Woodley) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 13th April 10 – Dollarfield Band
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 1st April 10 – Ian Cruickshanks Trio
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) -
Selkirk (Angus O’Malley’s) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 29th April 10 – Annual fundraiser featuring 4 local bands
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) - 7th April 10 – Ian Holmes SDB
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) - 10th April 10 – Club Members & Friends
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 13th April 10 – Gemma Donald Trio
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 5th April 10 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 1st April 10 – Wayne Robertson Duo
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 15th April 10 – Dick Black Band
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) - 3rd & 17th April 10 – Local Players
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 8th April 10 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 20th April 10 – Andy Kain Trio
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Arbroath
5. Balloch
6. Banchory
7. Beith
8. Biggar
9. Blairgowrie
10. Button-key
11. Campsie
12. Carlisle
13. Castle Douglas
14. Coalburn
15. Crieff
16. Dingwall
17. Dunblane
18. Dunfermline
19. Duns
20. Forfar
21. Forres
22. Galashiels
23. Glendale
24. Glenrothes
25. Gretna
26. Haddington
27. Highland
28. Inveraray
29. Isle of Skye
30. Islesteps
31. Kelso
32. Kintore
33. Lanark
34. Lewis & Harris
35. Livingston
36. Lockerbie
37. Mauchline
38. Montrose
39. Newburgh
40. Newtongrange
41. North East
42. Oban
43. Peebles
44. Perth
45. Premier
46. Renfrew
47. Rothbury
48. Shetland
49. Sutherland
50. Teviotdale
51. Thornhill
52. Turriff
53. West Barnes
54. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2009
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed early 08-09
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
14. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
15. Button Key A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 -
21. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
22. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
23. Cults A & F Club (
24. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
25. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
26. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
27. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
28. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
29. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
30. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
31. Ellon A&F Club (
32. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
33. Forfar A&F Club (
34. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
35. Fort William A&F Club (2009 -
36. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
37. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
38. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
39. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
40. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
41. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
42. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
43. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
44. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
45. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
46. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
47. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
48. Kintore A&F Club (
49. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
50. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
51. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
52. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
53. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
54 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
55 Maine Valley A&F Club (
56 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
57 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
58 Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
59 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
60 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
61. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
62 Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
63 Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
64 Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
65 Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
66 Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
67 Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
68 Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
69 Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
70 Selkirk A&F Club (
71.Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
72 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
73 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
74 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
75 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
76 Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
77 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
78 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
79 West Barnes ( - present)
80 Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
81. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
82. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
83. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
84. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
85. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
86. Buchan A&F Club
87 Callander A&F Club (
88 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
89 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
90 Club Accord
91 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
92. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
93. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
94. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
95. Derwentside A&F Club
96. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
97. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
98. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
99. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
100. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
101. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
102. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
103. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
104. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
105. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
106. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
107. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
108. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
109. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
110. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
111. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
112. Mull A&F Club
113. Newcastleton Accordion Club
114. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
115. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
116. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
117. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
118. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
119. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
120. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
121. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
122. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
123. Tranent A&F Club
124. Vancouver
125. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
126. Wellbank A&F Club
127. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time-consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
Don’t forget to vote for the B&F Awards (BAFFIs), closing date May 1st. Also don’t forget to order your summer issues if your Club doesn’t meet over the simmer…………
Karin Ingram
NAAFC Festival 2010
by James Coutts
Saturday 13th March saw The MacDonald Inshyra Grange Hotel host the 36th NAAFC Festival. Despite the change of date to a week later than normal, we had a fantastic entry level in the competitions. This, allied with the large number of enthusiasts and traders in attendance created a great atmosphere and buzz throughout the day.
The adjudicators’ panel were extremely impressed with the standard of playing across the competitions, and it was especially pleasing to see so many new faces in the Classical Accordion classes. We also had a new competition – Open RSCDS Solo – with the new RSCDS Dance Trophy as the prize for the worthy winner, who this year was Susan MacFadyen Thank you to the RSCDS for their sponsorship.
The huge entry, the biggest for 25 years, made for hectic scheduling, but we managed to get all the solo and duet competitions finished to allow everyone to descend on the Inshyra Suits for the Bands Section. As always, this was one of the highlights of the day and it was great to see so many youngsters teaming up with some of the band scene’s experienced stalwarts. The Band section and Prize Winners concert were recorded by BBC Radio Scotland, who were delighted at the quantity and quality of the music displayed. Once again, I’d like to thank Jennifer Cruickshank and her team for the excellent coverage given to the Festival. After the concert, which was expertly compered by Dave Millward and John Caskie, Alan Gardiner’s SDB gave a great performance at the Dance, which was enjoyed and appreciated by a large crowd.
The 2011 Festival returns to its normal Saturday, which is the 5th of March. We hope to see everyone, and even a few more there again. The location of Inshyra Grange, allied with the facilities and excellent management and staff, has been a big factor in our decision to keep the Festival there for the foreseeable future.
Of course, the Festival doesn’t just happen and I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those who contributed to making the day a success. In no particular order, thanks to all the competitors, adjudicators, parents, stewards, helpers, enthusiasts, raffle donors, traders, advertisers and BBC Radio Scotland. The biggest thank-you, however, goes to Lorna Mair, Richard Ross and the rest of the Festival Committee. The time, effort and expense they give to the Festival is remarkable and it is both a privilege and pleasure to work with them all throughout the year.
Results
Junior Accordion
Under 10 Traditional Accordion Solo – Islesteps Shield
1) Andrew Erskine (Forth)
2) Alexander Girling (Glenfarg)
3) Ewan Dowie (Kettlebridge)
Under 12 Traditional Accordion Solo – Pentland Cup
1) Kyle Innes (Strathmiglo)
2) Scott Main (Strathmiglo)
3) Jake Laing (Windygates)
12 and Under 16 Traditional Solo – Jim Johnstone Cup
1) Sam Rutherford (Aberdeen)
2) Steven Todd (Dalkeith)
3) Adam Gibb (Biggar)
Junior Accordion Solo Pipe Music – Bill Black Cup
1) Steven Todd (Dalkeith)
2) Duncan Muir (Closeburn)
3) Alex Stewart (Stanley)
Junior Traditional Duet – Angus Howie Cups
1) Duncan Muir (Closeburn) & Roy Anderson (Rosewell)
2) Magnus & Jack Westwell (Edinburgh)
3) Scott & Ewan Main (Strathmiglo)
Overall Junior Accordion Champion – Alex Little Memorial Trophy
Steven Todd (Dalkeith)
Senior Accordion
Senior Traditional Accordion Solo – Clinkscale Cup
1) Liam Stewart (Galston)
2) Andrew Gibb (Biggar)
3) Matthew MacLennan (Kiltarlity)
Senior Accordion Pipe Music Solo – Bill Powrie Memorial Cup
1) Andrew Gibb (Biggar)
2) Matthew MacLennan (Kiltarlity)
3) Gary Sutherland (Giffordtown)
Open Accordion Championship – Todhills Trophy
1) Gary Sutherland (Giffordtown)
2) William Scott (Dumbarton)
3) Alexander Methven (Clackmannan)
Senior Overall Accordion Champion - The Bobby MacLeod Trophy
Andrew Gibb (Biggar)
Open Buttonkey Accordion Solo – Windygates Trophy
1) Graeme MacKay (Inverness)
2) Anne-Louise Stewart (Isle of Lewis)
3) Robin Waite (Canonbie)
Trios – Jimmy Blue Trophy & Eric Goodfellow Memorial Shield
1) Steven Todd (Dalkeith)
2) Adam Gibb (Biggar)
3) Erin McGinley (Thornhill)
Bands – Overall Winner - Iain MacPhail Cup
Sam Rutherford (Aberdeen)
Runners Up John Fairbairn Memorial Trophy
Steven Todd (Dalkeith)
Nick Cowling (Aberdeen)
Band – Rhythm Section - Arthur Easson Memorial Trophy
Sam Rutherford (Aberdeen)
Own Composition – Willie Wilson Cup
1) Marie Fielding (Falkirk)
2) Andy Kain (Wishaw)
3) William Scott (Dumbarton)
RSCDS Open Dance – RSCDS Trophy
1) Susan MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
2) Matthew MacLennan (Kiltarlity)
Under 12 Classical Solo – Kelso Cup
1) Alexander Girling (Glenfarg)
2) Mark Smith (Bishopton)
3) Kyle Innes (Strathmiglo)
Under 14 Classical Solo – Aberdeen Cup
1) Emma Dickson (Dolphinton)
2) Heather Clark (Paisley)
3) Beth MacPherson (Paisley)
Under 16 Classical Solo – Dundee Shield
1) Nicola Smith (Bishopton)
2) Craig Hart (Erskine)
3) Rebekah Mitchell (Paisley)
Under 14 Classical Polka Solo – Newtongrange Shield
1)
2)
3)
Open Classical Solo – Jimmy Clinkscale Shield
1) Grant McFarlane (Paisley)
2) Alistair Barr (Wishaw)
3) Craig Paton (Milnathort)
Under 13 Classical Duet – Beith & District A&F Club Cups (Willie Wilson Memorial Trophies)
1) Adam Gibb (Biggar) & Emma Dickson (Dolphinton)
2) Andrew & samantha Erskine (Forth)
3) Fraser Herwitt (Quothquan) & Katie Todd (Dalkeith)
Under 16 Classical Duet - Alex MacArthur Cups
1) Duncan Muir (Closeburn) & Roy Anderson (Rosewell)
2) Claire Black & Robbie Paterson (Biggar)
3) Nicola Edoni & Craig Hart (Erskine)
Open Classical Duet – Dunfermline Cup
1) Grant McFarlane (Paisley) & Paula Kelly (Renfrew)
2) Alan Shute (Coatbridge) & David Barr (Wishaw)
3) Erin McGinley & Adele Queen (Thornhill)
Classical Polka
Under 14 Classical Polka Solo – Newtongrange Shield
1) Alex Stewart (Stanley)
2) Adam Gibb (Biggar)
3) Adin Graham (Windygates)
Open Classical Polka Solo – Tign-Na-Gorm Cup
1) Paul Capaldi (Galashiels)
2) Craig Paton (Milnathort)
3) Alexander Young (Houston)
Under 14 Classical Musette Accordion Solo – John Laidlaw Memorial Trophy
1) Alex Stewart (Stanley)
2) Robbie Paterson (Biggar)
3) Alexander Girling (Glenfarg)
Open Classical Musette Accordion Solo – Christine Hunter Memorial Trophy
1) Craig Paton (Milnathort)
2) Paul Capaldi (Galashiels)
3) William Scott (Dumbarton)
Fiddle Sections
Under 12 Fiddle Solo – NAAFC Musselburgh Festival Trophy
1) Stuart Davidson (Tarves)
2) Sean Allan (Newmains)
3) Anna Westwell (Edinburgh)
Junior Fiddle Solo – MSR – Strathspey and Reel Association Cup & Kirsy’s Ceilidh Shield
1) Eilidh Anderson (Tarland)
2) Hannah Renton (Aberdeen)
3) George Davidson (Tarves)
Junior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Dougie Welsh Cup
1) Hannah Renton (Aberdeen)
2) Jack Westwell (Edinburgh)
3) Sean Allan (Newmains)
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Strathspey, MSR – St. Boswell Cup
1) Maggie Adamson (Shetland)
2) Shona MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
3) Raemond Jappy (Findochty)
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Ron Gonella Cup
1) Anne Nicol (Insch)
2) Erin Smith (Aberdeen)
3) Shona MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
Open Fiddle Championship – Banchory S&R Society Trophy
1) Erin Smith (Aberdeen)
2) Maggie Adamson (Shetland)
3) Shona MacFadyen (West kilbride)
Overall Fiddle Champion - The Angus Fitchet Trophy
Anne Nicol (Insch) & Erin Smith (Aberdeen)
Overall Junior Fiddle Champion – Judith Linton Trophy
Hannah Renton (Aberdeen)
Open Fiddle Groups – Lesmahagow Quaich
1) No Strings Attached
2) Kain’s Weans (Wishaw)
3) Any Westwell (Edinburgh)
Youngest Girl Competitor – John McQueen Medal
India Smith (Penicuik)
Youngest Boy Competitor – John McQueen Medal
Fin Renton (Aberdeen)
In conversation with Ian Holmes
by Billy Wortley
I enjoyed a magical afternoon in the company of Ian Holmes at his home in Dumfries and was enthralled with his conversation as he spoke of his experiences in the world of accordion music.
Ian began to play the piano accordion when he was around eleven or twelve years of age, on an instrument left at the family home by his elder brother Archie’s pal. Having given it a try on this accordion, he then borrowed one from the local butcher. The first tune that he mastered was The Auld Hoose, played on the black notes (one brick at a time) and although self taught, he made progress. The progress was such that he was soon asked to provide the music at parties and small dances and was enrolled into the YW(M)CA concert party.
Around 1948 he decided that he should learn to read music and he enrolled for lessons from local teacher, Alex Carter. At that time Alex did not like Scottish dance music and actually taught Ian light classics. When questioned, Ian said that he felt it was the correct decision with him having to teach himself the rudiments of traditional music. He added that it cannot be a coincidence that the “big four” Shand, MacLeod, Fitchet and Powrie were virtually self-taught, they had nothing to learn and were the inspiration to Ian and many of his generation. Having made progress, Alex Carter suggested to Ian that he purchase a reconditioned 120 bass Scandalli Vibrante Four. He was thereafter asked to play solo in concerts by the local RAFA Orchestra, of which Alex was the conductor.
When he was fourteen Ian started to play as a member of a local band that had engagements most Fridays and Saturdays.
When he was around fifteen Ian met Bobby MacLeod and his Band at a dance in the neighbouring village of Moniaive. Ian was allowed to play Bobby’s Co-operativa accordion at half time and thereby started a friendship, which would last for over fifty years. The Band line-up was Bobby and Alisdair Downie (accordions), Alex “Pibroch” Mackenzie (fiddle), David Whitehead (piano), Willie Lowe (double bass) and Johnny Fellows (drums). Ian told me that Johnny was the first drummer to use brushes in a Scottish Dance Band, thereby starting a trend. Willie Lowe and Ian Holmes remain friends and often talk on the phone. Bobby told Ian that that although Willie preferred playing modern music, he nevertheless asked him to join him on piano. Apparently many of the clever harmonies used today were Willie’s ideas and he was the first second accordionist to play a chordal accompaniment.
Ian Holmes and Bobby MacLeod shared a close friendship and in his book “Pas De Bas” Bobby wrote, “One of my best friends, Ian Holmes, the ‘Musician’s Musician’, delights with his flair for arrangements of the highest taste, combining always a subtlety of thought in his work. Ian also innovates in himself, outside the field of arranging by playing professionally, all three types of accordion.”
In 1953, Ian purchased Bobby’s Co-operativa accordion from Andy Tosh of The Hawthorn Accordion Band.
In 1953 also, Angus Fitchet’s Band was playing at a dance at Penpont. As usual, the music was exceptional and Ian was part of the crowd gathered around the stage listening. Angus bent down and remarked to Ian and the girl standing next to him, “I haven’t seen you pair dancing yet.” They did have a dance, which eventually led to marriage. I learned that Ian and Margaret have now been married for fifty-two years. By coincidence Margaret also plays the accordion.
Around this time, whilst walking in Dumfries, Ian and Margaret met Jimmy Shand and his fiddler, Syd Chalmers, and so started another long friendship.
In 1956 Ian attended a local dance at which the music was provided by The Bobby MacLeod Band. On this occasion it was a five-piece only, because second accordionist, Hugh Malarky, was ill. Much to Ian’s delight, however, Bobby asked him to sit in. Ian explained that the band stayed in Dumfries overnight. He added, with a smile that, having decided that they should try to get some sleep, pianist Davie Whitehead started whistling. Drummer, Lawrence Brotherhood, eventually asked him to stop, to which Davie replied, “Aye, okay then, but let me finish the set first, twice each tune and back to the original.”
In 1956 Ian was “called up” for National Service in the Royal Air Force. Having been stationed in several different Air Stations he was eventually posted to West Freugh, Near Stranraer where he stayed until he was demobbed in 1958. Around this time he composed his first tunes, a 6/8 bagpipe march Miss Margaret Bell and The Queen of the South Polka. The latter was subsequently recorded by the famous “Hamefarers” Shetland Band.
In 1957 he was granted sufficient leave in order to practice and compete at a major accordion event in The City Hall, Perth. From an entry of around thirty-five, he won the All Scotland Senior Traditional March, Strathspey and Reel section and was presented with The Jimmy Shand Shield. The adjudicator, incidentally, was Lindsay Ross.
Early in 1958 he went on leave with pal Ted Hayes to his home in Dublin. At a dance in the Irish Club he met Pat McGarr and his Gallowglass Ceili Band. On learning that Ian was soon to be demobbed, Pat offered Ian a job playing with the Band. After giving the matter much thought, Ian declined Pat’s offer and after he was demobbed he returned to his job as a coachbuilder in Dumfries, where his workmates nicknamed him “the long distance melodeon player”.
He and Margaret were married on 6th November that year and they spent their honeymoon at The Mishnish Hotel at Tobermory with Bobby and Jean MacLeod. They all went to the Golf Dance, where music was played by Pibroch Mackenzie and Calum MacLean. Ian and Calum have been firm friends from that time. It was in 1958 that Ian did his first solo broadcast in a show called “Almost Brand New” on the BBC Scottish Home Service.
In 1959 Ian was asked by Andrew Rankine to “guest” with his band at dances at Preston and Nelson and several months later, he and Margaret moved residence to Stenhousemuir. On moving, Ian joined The Andrew Rankine Scottish Dance Band. At the time the line-up was Andrew and Ian (accordions), Bobby Christie (violin), Robert “Brush” Campbell (piano), Tom McTague (bass) and Billy Thom on drums. This was one of the most popular bands of the time, playing across Scotland and England. Most weekends they performed in English cities such as London, Newcastle, Liverpool etc. They also broadcast frequently on BBC Radio.
In 1961 The Andrew Rankine Band played at a concert with Andy Stewart in The Festival Hall, London.
Around 1961 Ian was asked by Bobby MacLeod to join his Band for the TV Show “The White Heather Club”. The compere and star was Andy Stewart and Ian recollects that amongst others that he met and befriended were Dixie Ingram, Moira Anderson, Robin Hall, Jimmie McGregor, the Brand Sisters and Jimmy Urquhart and Peter Malan. With shows starring The Corrie Folk Trio and Paddy Bell, the company travelled to and recorded two shows in Germany. These were done before an audience of troops from the Scots Greys in the Roundhouse, which had been the German Officers’ Quarters for the notorious Belsen Concentration Camp. By this time Belsen village had been renamed Hohne. Ian and several others were taken to the immaculately kept cemetery, located on the actual site of the camp. The fiddler, Alex “Pibroch” McKenzie had been one of the first of the British troops to enter and liberate the horror camp at the end of the War. Ian said, “A very moving and unforgettable experience.”
In 1961 Ian and Margaret’s daughter Rhona was born and in 1963 their second daughter Mhorag was born.
The Rankine Band made several recordings for EMI with producer George Martin, who later gained great fame with The Beatles. One of the tracks was Ian’s Scottish Waltz, which was one of the several sets arranged for the band by Ian.
In 1962 Ian started his own Band and their first (live) broadcast was on 7th May from Edinburgh. A five-piece, the line up was: Ian (accordion), Kenny Wilson (fiddle) Davie Whitehead (piano), Stan Saunders (bass) and Bert Leishman (drums). After the rehearsal the Band retired to the lounge to be greeted by none other than Jimmy Shand, who was playing at Waverley Market and who had dropped in to wish them good luck. Stan Saunders was a regular member of Jimmy’s Band but he’d kindly insisted that Stan should play in Ian’s broadcast.
In 1963 the Band’s first LP, Let’s have a Party, was issued. This was the first Scottish Dance Band to record a Quickstep and there was also another first, for Ian insisted that the names of the band members should be listed on the sleeve.
Around 1968 Ian’s Band performed the pilot shows for The White Heather Show at several locations across the country.
In the mid 1960s, Ian was asked by Bobby MacLeod to go to the Decca Studios in London’s West Hampstead to record two LPs. On fiddle, incidentally, was Syd Chalmers.
In 1970 Ian and Margaret decided to return to Dumfries. After the hustle and bustle of the 60s Ian had hoped to lead a quieter life, but with Bobby McNeillie now on second accordion, the Band was in even greater demand and busier than ever, with long distances to travel. The line-up in the Halls was: Ian and Bobby (accordionists), Kenny Wilson (fiddle) and Gordon Young on drums. Ian explained, “Sometimes it was hard work, but always enjoyable, for Bobby McNeillie had the ability to memorise and play second accordion arrangements, which added a broad dimension to the music.” For broadcasts and recordings the band was augmented by Bill Hendry on piano and Stan Saunders on bass.
In 1971 Ian was made redundant and after six weeks on the dole seeking employment, he accepted a job in a local music shop, later becoming a partner. This continued until 1973 when the owner decided to retire and Ian was asked to remain as manager by the new proprietor. After some deliberation, Ian decided to start his own business and he and Margaret acquired premises. Ian and Margaret remain grateful for the help and support they received from Mickie Ainsworth and Bill Wilkie in the early years. The business continued for twenty-seven years, until he and Margaret retired in 2000.
In 1978, Ian and the Band recorded a programme for BBC Radio in The Salutation Hotel, Perth. For this they were joined by Angus Fitchet, who had been the match-maker who brought Ian and Margaret together in 1953. The following year, Angus again joined the Band to record a programme from Studio One in Glasgow.
Also in 1979, a “dream came true” for Ian and Margaret when they visited Switzerland with a coach tour.
Regrettably, Ian was diagnosed with diabetes in 1979, with the general belief being that this had been brought on by the sudden death of his second accordionist, Bobby McNeillie in 1978.
Over the succeeding years Ian visited Norway, Sweden and Switzerland on numerous occasions; he made friends with many of the great continental players and acquired several Scandinavian and Swiss accordions.
In 1987 Ian was made an honorary member of one of Sweden’s leading orchestras, “tunnbybalgarno”, the Bromollo Accordion Orchestra, with which he had performed on several occasions. It was indeed an honour for, although the orchestra had been formed in 1973, Ian was only the fifth person to be so honoured.
Also in 1987, Ian recorded and released his cassette, Sounds Scandinavian. As no one else had produced anything like it, it was very popular and when he reviewed it, Sweden’s Ove Hahn stated it sounded so authentic he could hardly believe it was played by a Scotsman and awarded it five out of a possible six stars.
In 1989 Ian suffered a “frozen shoulder” and when the pain became worse, he decided to change from the bulky piano accordion to the more compact 5-row instrument and, having used it on his 1990 broadcast from Carlisle, there was a mixed reaction with some folk telling him, “You have lost your sound”. However, during a subsequent visit to Tobermory, Ian was reassured with his friends Bobby MacLeod and Calum MacLean voicing enthusiasm for the “new” sound. Bobby advised Ian not to listen to the critics, as he had received the same treatment when he changed from the Co-operativa to the Hohner Morino; indeed some of his sternest critics had become ardent Morino players themselves.
A wee story to tell concerning Ian playing the button-key. On one occasion, whilst visiting Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Shand at Auchtermuchty, he was invited by Jimmy “to have a go” at playing Jimmy’s 3-row Gola. Having played it, Jimmy said to him, “Son, you’re a one-off, for naebody else can play a’ they accordions and you play them well.”
In 1991 Ian and his Band broadcast a programme on Radio Scotland consisting solely of tunes composed by Angus Fitchet.
In 1993 Ian was asked to appear at the Titano Accordion Festival at Vinstra in Norway. He played selections of Scottish Dance Music and also a Scandinavian style waltz he’d specially written called Hilsen Til Venstra (Greetings to Vinstra). The festival was truly an international affair for there were accordionists from Italy, Germany, Romania, France, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, with Ian being the only player from Britain.
In 1995, Ian fulfilled a long ambition to make a broadcast with the entire programme consisting of tunes composed by Jimmy Shand. Part of the ambition was to have his old friend, Ian Powrie, as guest fiddler. The programme was well received with many people saying it was one of the best ever broadcasts. Jimmy phoned Ian the next morning to say thank you and that he was delighted at the way his tunes had been arranged and played. The Band on that occasion, incidentally, comprised: Ian and Ricky Franci (accordions), Ian Powrie (fiddle), James Clark (piano), Stan Saunders (bass) and Drew Dalgleish on drums.
Ian Powrie recorded a Scottish country dance CD with the Band and he joined them on broadcasts for the next five years until he and his wife, Leila, returned to Australia in 1999. The 1999 recording was in fact Ian Powrie’s last performance in Scotland.
Ian sent Swiss friend Arthur Brugger his new Swiss Polka ‘For My Friend Arthur Brugger’ and later that year they played it together at a restaurant on the Allmenalp. It was Arthur who persuaded Ian to record his CD Ian in Switzerland in 1998 and he was so pleased with the results that he sent Ian a magnificent cow-bell inscribed “Ian Holmes in Switzerland greetings from Arthur Brugger”, a mark of true Swiss friendship.
Ian and Margaret’s friendship with the great continental players was such that they had frequent visits from Scandinavian friends. In 1999, Dolfi Rogenmoser, Willi Zahner and Ernst Ehrler spent a week in Dumfries. Ian was able to drive them around and show them the Scottish countryside. He also arranged for them to play at Bill Wilkie’s concert in Perth City Hall. The audience loved them and Ian joined in on their final number, a Swiss Schottische called Gluck Gluck. They received a standing ovation and, in an interview for a magazine, Dolfi stated that night was the most memorable of his long career. It was certainly memorable for Ian, for that was the same stage on which he had been presented with The Jimmy Shand Shield after becoming the All Scottish Champion in 1957 and where he had played with Bobby MacLeod, Andrew Rankine and with his own Band.
In 1996, Ian was back in Switzerland and whilst at the Hochst Guesthouse he became aware of a problem with the sight of his left eye. This soon cleared and things returned to normal. In 1997, however, the problem re-occurred but this time it became slowly worse until he became completely blind in his left eye. The problem sometimes affected the right eye and on several occasions he was completely blind for around two weeks. In May 2000, he underwent major surgery to the left eye at Gartnavel Hospital. The next year saw the same operation on his right eye and a second operation was carried out on his left eye in 2004. Since that time things have remained stable. All operations were carried out by Doctor Tom Barrie and Ian dedicated a new 6/8 bagpipe march to him in his broadcast on 14th October, 2006.
When interviewed by Robbie Shepherd in 2006, on BBC Radio Scotland, Ian spoke of the eight types of accordion he played and in 2007 at Windygates Accordion Club he featured all those eight different accordions.
He has composed well over four hundred tunes, has made dozens of recordings and has broadcast regularly on the radio for over half a century. He is without question, one of our most gifted ever players.
He continues to play at Accordion Clubs across Scotland with the Band now comprising Ian on accordion, Gordon Simpson on fiddle and James Clark on keyboard. Although seventy-five years of age, he has no plans to retire.
It was in The Hole in the Wa’ in Dumfries in the early 1960s, that the Accordion Club movement as we know it was born. The Dumfries Club is now titled the Islesteps Club and is located in Locharbriggs Social Club; it remains very popular and vibrant with a procession of talented local players taking the stage at each meeting. Prominent amongst these local players is Ian Holmes. He has willingly played for local organisations and charities over the years and importantly has supported and indeed continues to support his local Accordion Club.
As my conversation with Ian drew to a close he said, “Through our travels here and abroad, Margaret and I have acquired so many friends. Music has given me a wonderful life and I’m grateful for the contribution, support and encouragement of so many of our top musicians, who over the years played in the Band.” He concluded by saying, “With my interest in so many styles of music, there’s never a dull moment.”
Jack Cooper (1933 – 2010) Obituary
by Neil Copland & Joan Blue
Neil Copland – NAAFC Vice Chairman
My first encounter with Jack Cooper was when my parents took me along to Dundee Accordion & Fiddle Club as a ten-year-old. Jack was always very pleased to welcome new players to the Club and especially younger players, such was his enthusiasm for keeping our music alive. Over the years since then Jack became a very close friend as well as a musical associate who played with me in the band on occasion.
In the early seventies, Dundee A&F Club was very lucky to have a loyal band of players, both young and some more mature, and this pleased Jack as the Club had been his idea along with accordionist Arthur Spink. When Arthur emigrated to Australia, Jack continued to plough his energy into keeping Dundee Club alive and the many friendships that were made as a result of people meeting at the Club are a great testament to his enthusiasm for the Club and then the NAAFC. Jack was very much at the forefront when it was suggested that Dundee Club junior members should start to form bands amongst themselves. He gave all the junior members of the Club a great deal of encouragement to get together and practise hard for club meetings every month. One such band that was formed was the Dundee Accordion & Fiddle Club Junior Band – now known as the Craigowl Dance Band and still regularly broadcasting on BBC's “Take the Floor” programme, albeit with some changes in personnel since those heady days as thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds.
Jack always liked to be organising events and he loved to be at the helm in organising the annual Dundee Club Dinner Dance in The Invercarse Hotel, Dundee – they were legendary for lots of reasons! He was also instrumental in organising the annual Dundee Club trip to places such as Banchory, Cullen, Lochearnhead and Oban every October. Club members would assemble in Dundee city centre to board the coach on the Saturday morning and as the weekend always coincided with the local Dundee holiday weekend we could make a long weekend of it. The weekend was full of great music, good food, and lots of laughs – many a story is often recalled when former club members get together and invariably, Jack was in the mix of them all.
As some of our more mature Box & Fiddle readers will recall, Jack was also instrumental in organising the annual NAAFC AGM and Weekend Gathering for many years. Who can forget those memorable days at Dunblane Hydro, Perth's Station Hotel and Dundee's Invercarse Hotel, when the great and good of Scottish dance bands/music were honoured for their contribution to our heritage? We still of course continue this tradition every year at Huntingtower Hotel in Perth but all the activity is now concentrated on the Sunday rather than over the whole weekend. The annual display of photographs at the AGM and Celebrity Luncheon taken from days past are a great trip down memory lane and always very popular.
As many of you know, the NAAFC also created the Jimmy Shand Scholarship at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) and again this was a suggestion initially made by Jack as a means of paying tribute to the legend that was, and still is, Jimmy Shand.
Outside of his involvement in playing Scottish dance music and the NAAFC, Jack was the Dance Director for the BBC television show “The White Heather Club”. He was also an accomplished Scottish Country Dancer and choreographer. Jack was also a very active member of Dundee Ski Club and held the office of President on a number of occasions over the years he was active in the sport. All of the above activities were Jack's hobbies as he was also a very successful businessman in the family business working alongside his dad, John.
Jack didn't keep good health over the last few years and when I had reason to be regularly visiting my dad in Dundee's Victoria Hospital Jack was often in the same ward, so it meant that I could go and speak to whichever of the two of them wasn't sleeping – it was a case of twenty minutes speaking to one of them and then change to the other end of the ward for twenty minutes with the other who had woken up by then.
Jack Cooper will be sorely missed by the Scottish music and dance fraternity – his efforts on behalf of the NAAFC and Scottish music and dance can never be understated. It is also due to Jack's encouragement that there are many of today's musicians in the Dundee/Tayside area who came through the Dundee A&F Club and are still very active on the dance band scene. Jack's determination to give them a platform from which to launch a musical career will never be forgotten.
Joan Blue
Jack played drums in my husband, Jimmy Blue’s, band for more than 20 years. Not only was he our drummer – he was a great friend, part of our family. He was an extremely loyal member of the band and in all these years, never let us down. If he was offered another gig, he would always check first that we didn’t have an engagement on that date.
Jack led a pretty full life. Although he spent a year ill in bed when he was young, he listened to radio and records and became hooked on Scottish dance music. He joined a pipe band, learned to play drums. He started going to Scottish Country Dances and soon started up his own Scottish dance team – The Gie Gordons. As they became well known, they auditioned for a new programme which was being produced on BBC Television – “The White Heather Club”. So successful were they that Jack became probably the first choreographer for the programme and The Gie Gordons made their television debut. As well as dancing, Jack took up skiing and became a member of the Dundee Ski Club and was one of the enthusiasts who built the first hut at Glenshee. Eventually he became President of the Dundee club and held that post for a number of years.
The Perth A&F Club began in September 1970. Jack, with his usual boundless energy, started the Dundee Club in January 1971. He encouraged the young musicians to play together and one success was The Dundee Accordion and Fiddle Club Junior Band (who later changed their name to The Craigowl SDB) with Kevin Clark and Bruce Quirie on accordions, Margaret Quirie on fiddle, Gil Simpson on piano and David Scott on drums. It is truly amazing that this band is still broadcasting with some of the original members.
Another idea Jack had was to book a hotel for a weekend, and a busload of Dundee Club members headed off – sometimes to The Fall of Lora Hotel at Oban – and spent a great weekend playing and socialising. When the National Association began, it used to take place in the afternoon, but Jack suggested that we make it a weekend and thus began these wonderful occasions at The Salutation Hotel and Station Hotel in Perth and at Dunblane Hydro. He worked so hard to make these weekends enjoyable. I used to help him get the place cards organised. He knew who could sit with whom and who didn’t get on, etc. It was Jack, also, who started collecting band photographs and mounted these wonderful displays that we gazed at every year.
But when I think of Jack, I recall the fun we all had together. Each year, Bobby and Agnes Crowe and Jimmy and I went to Bunessan for ten days. Jack came with us on three occasions. I shall never forget one day when we were going over to Staffa. I was looking for the binoculars and asked Jack, who was already in the car – “Jack, have you got the binocs?” to which he replied, quick as a flash, “No, its just the way I’m sitting.” Another memorable occasion was when we were on a ‘tour’ of Caithness. The redoubtable Jimmy Simpson, who owned the island of Stroma, offered to take us over there for the day. We all boarded his landing craft and we were barely out of John o’ Groats harbour when Jack enquired, “When does the duty free open?” Quick as a flash Jimmy Simpson said, “Now!” and produced a bottle of whisky from under his seat. And Jack was always polite! He wouldnever leave after spending a day or having a meal at Forgandenny, without saying, “Thanks for your hospital.” Mind you, he usually greeted me with, “When are you getting the mask off?” Yes, a cheeky devil but a true friend who will be very much missed.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
On the Rocks – James Coutts SDB – Three Tree Records CD01
All Dressed in Yellow – Fiddlers’ Bid – HBM001
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s)
3rd April 10 – Michael Garvin SDB
10th April 10 – The Pentlands Ceilidh Band
17th April – Lindsay Weir SDB
24th April 10 – Ian Thomson SDB – OB from Inverurie Town Hall
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 27th April 10 – Neil Hardie SDB
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 18th April 10 – Sandy Nixon SDB
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 4th April 10 – Pentland Ceilidh Band
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 1st April 10 – Ray Carse
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 18th April 10 – Iain Cathcart Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 26th April 10 – George Rennie SDB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 28th April 10 – Rosely Ceilidh Band
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 19th April 10 – David Oswald SDB
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 11th April 10 – Nicky McMichan SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 13th April 10 – Bruce Lindsay SDB
Britannia (Arden House Hotel) -
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 8th April 10 – Bon Accords
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 6th April 10 – Craig Paton SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 1st April 10 - tbc
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 20th April 10 – Dick Black Trio
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 15th April 10 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Coldingham (Village Hall) - 5th April 10 – Andy Kain Trio
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 1st April 10 – Neil Caul SDB
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club)
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 7th April 10 – Craig Paton SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 21st April 10 – Gordon Shand SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 13th April 10 – Club Night
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate) 19th April 10 – Colin Dewar SDB
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 20th April 10 – Alastair MacLeod Trio
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 26th April 10 – Iain Anderson SDB
Forfar (The Royal Hotel) - 25th April 10 – Richard Smith Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 14th April 10 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Fort William 6th April 10 – Colin Dewar Trio
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) – 1st April 10 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 22nd April 10 – AGM + Iain MacPhail SDB
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 7th April 10 – Judith Linton Trio
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 27th April 10 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) - 4th April 10 - tbc
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 11th April 10 – Michael Philip SDB
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 19th April 10 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio + Own Composition
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 14th April 10 – Wayne Robertson Duo
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 1st April 10 – Jim MacKay SDB
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 6th April 10 – Neil Hardie SDB 16th April – Dance to Roger Dobson
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 28th April 10 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Kintore (Torryburn Arms Hotel) – 7th April 10 – Marian Anderson SDB
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 15th April 10 – Addie Harper & Friends
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 24th April 10 – Dance to Iain MacPhail SDB
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) –
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) -
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 20th April 10 – Steven Carcary Trio
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 27th April 10 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 20th April 10 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Montrose (Park Hotel) –
Newburgh (The Ship Hotel) - 29th April 10 - tbc
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Thorterdykes Roadhouse)
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 6th April 10 – Scott Band Trio
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) – 1st April 10 – Iain Anderson Trio
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 29th April 10 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 20th April 10 – Michael Garvin SDB
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) - 7th April 10 – 30th Anniversary Celebration – Bruce Lindsay Trio
Reading Scottish Fiddlers (Willowbank Infant School, Woodley) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 13th April 10 – Dollarfield Band
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 1st April 10 – Ian Cruickshanks Trio
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) -
Selkirk (Angus O’Malley’s) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 29th April 10 – Annual fundraiser featuring 4 local bands
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) - 7th April 10 – Ian Holmes SDB
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) - 10th April 10 – Club Members & Friends
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 13th April 10 – Gemma Donald Trio
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 5th April 10 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 1st April 10 – Wayne Robertson Duo
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 15th April 10 – Dick Black Band
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) - 3rd & 17th April 10 – Local Players
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 8th April 10 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 20th April 10 – Andy Kain Trio
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Arbroath
5. Balloch
6. Banchory
7. Beith
8. Biggar
9. Blairgowrie
10. Button-key
11. Campsie
12. Carlisle
13. Castle Douglas
14. Coalburn
15. Crieff
16. Dingwall
17. Dunblane
18. Dunfermline
19. Duns
20. Forfar
21. Forres
22. Galashiels
23. Glendale
24. Glenrothes
25. Gretna
26. Haddington
27. Highland
28. Inveraray
29. Isle of Skye
30. Islesteps
31. Kelso
32. Kintore
33. Lanark
34. Lewis & Harris
35. Livingston
36. Lockerbie
37. Mauchline
38. Montrose
39. Newburgh
40. Newtongrange
41. North East
42. Oban
43. Peebles
44. Perth
45. Premier
46. Renfrew
47. Rothbury
48. Shetland
49. Sutherland
50. Teviotdale
51. Thornhill
52. Turriff
53. West Barnes
54. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2009
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed early 08-09
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
14. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
15. Button Key A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 -
21. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
22. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
23. Cults A & F Club (
24. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
25. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
26. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
27. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
28. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
29. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
30. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
31. Ellon A&F Club (
32. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
33. Forfar A&F Club (
34. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
35. Fort William A&F Club (2009 -
36. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
37. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
38. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
39. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
40. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
41. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
42. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
43. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
44. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
45. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
46. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
47. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
48. Kintore A&F Club (
49. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
50. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
51. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
52. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
53. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
54 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
55 Maine Valley A&F Club (
56 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
57 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
58 Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
59 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
60 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
61. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
62 Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
63 Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
64 Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
65 Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
66 Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
67 Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
68 Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
69 Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
70 Selkirk A&F Club (
71.Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
72 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
73 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
74 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
75 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
76 Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
77 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
78 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
79 West Barnes ( - present)
80 Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
81. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
82. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
83. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
84. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
85. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
86. Buchan A&F Club
87 Callander A&F Club (
88 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
89 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
90 Club Accord
91 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
92. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
93. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
94. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
95. Derwentside A&F Club
96. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
97. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
98. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
99. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
100. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
101. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
102. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
103. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
104. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
105. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
106. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
107. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
108. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
109. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
110. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
111. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
112. Mull A&F Club
113. Newcastleton Accordion Club
114. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
115. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
116. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
117. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
118. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
119. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
120. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
121. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
122. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
123. Tranent A&F Club
124. Vancouver
125. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
126. Wellbank A&F Club
127. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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