Box and Fiddle
Year 32 No 12
August 2009
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
The website is undergoing a major overhaul at the moment, but it will definitely be worth it! Each Club will be able to upload their own information, diary dates, meeting times etc and even their Club Reports. There will also be a new Forum, where you can air your views. Our plan is to launch it on 1st September to tie in with the new season.
As discussed at the AGM we are on a cost cutting exercise. Postal subscribers will see that their renewal is with the August issue as usual, however this year we will not be sending out a second reminder in September, so please return your slip in plenty of time.
Karin Ingram
Lairg Music Festival
by Liz Quinn
The 11th Lairg Festival…………….
Memories of the Mull Maestro
by Lorn MacIntyre
Whenever I look at the picture of Bobby MacLeod’s legendary dance band in its heyday in the 1950s that sits on my study mantelpiece, a tear comes into my eye, because of the six musicians posing in their even suits, only one, Willie Lowe, is still alive, and I danced to most of them. What better reason for a visit to Willie to recall old times in his home in Connel, Argyll? His house commands a panoramic view acriss Loch Etive, and before there was further building around, he could see the mountains of Mull. That island is a constant presence in Willie’s mind, even in his eighties, because that was where both he and Bobby MacLeod were born in 1925. Willie was to play in the Mull maestro’s band for several unforgettable years.
Though they both lived in Tobermory and attended the local school, albeit in different classes, they didn’t meet until music brought them together. Willie’s home set great store by education, since his father was the headmaster, and Willie recalls, “I was told that I would get an accordion if I passed my Highers.” The instrument duly arrived, and Willie mastered it, though this modest man would deny the term. “Bobby came up to the house when I was still at school and dazzled me, playing the accordion in different keys.”
When Willie was abroad doing his National Service, Bobby asked if he could borrow Willie’s accordion, and their friendship and musical collaboration began. An occasional band was formed, with Bobby on the box, Willie vamping on the piano. The drummer was George Purvis, purser on The Lochinvar which plied between Oban and Tobermory. “The dancing was completely new to me,” Willie remembers of these post-war gigs in The Aros Hall, Tobermory. “I’d never seen the Canadian Barn Dance, St Bernard’s Waltz, Gay Gordons or Quadrilles before. To me ceilidh music was a disappointment because I couldn’t play what I’d played in the Army.”
The Band started to venture away from the island, but session time was never wasted. “Charlie Hunter, father of Alasdair, that fine Aberdeen-based bandleader who died last year, was radio operator on The Lochearn. Bobby and Charlie would play on the sail to Oban.” Willie remembers a gig on piano in The McLellan Gallaries, Glasgow “George Purvis said to me : you know what your instrument should be – the bass!” He also remembers that Bobby was “hurt because he was never asked to play at The Argyllshire Gathering Ball in Oban.” Bobby’s life was a flexible one, since hw was the son of the owner of The Mishnish Hotel, Tobermory, but Willie was at College in Glasgow, getting qualifications. “I spent a lot of time coming up to Oban to play – at least weekly – and my studies suffered.” But this is not a complaint. Willie’s face lights up as he charts the evolution of Bobby MacLeod’s Band into one of the most distinctive and admired sounds of its time. Fiddlers could be hard to come by, but Jimmy Shand recommended Alasdair ‘Pibroch’ MacKenzie (“He’ll suit your style of playing son.”) ‘Pibroch’ had played jazz on the fiddle in the Army, and his virtuosic skills had come to the attention of the great Stephane Grappelli. However, it wasn’t jazz Bobby wanted him to play, but Scottish tunes. “It was wonderful to hear Bobby and ‘Pibroch’ playing together, “ Willie recalls wistfully. When Bobby announced that he was forming a full-time band Willie said to himself, “I’m not masquerading as a pianist in a full-time band, not being a pianist at all – much to my regret.” When Bobby’s first broadcast with his Band came on the air Willie phoned from a call-box in London and Jean, Bobby’s wife, held the phone to the public address system in The Mishnish Hotel so that the exile in surbiton could hear the entire broadcast! In the course of our conversation Willlie brings up legendary names associated with the Bobby MacLeod Band ; Davy Whitehead the pianist; Alasdair Downie on second box; the brilliant Fenwick McDougall on double bass. “When I saw how successful Bobby’s full-time band was I thought I should have a shot at it,” Willie reveals. But there was only one vacancy, Fenwick McDougall was about to go to do his National Service, and a double bass player was needed. Bobby offered Willie the vacancy. “I had bought a double bass with the last of my education grant but had never played it, “ Willie confesses. “Bobby was booked for a dance in a loft at the Mart in Oban, but there was no piano. I phoned Glasgow and asked my friends to put my double bass on the train for Oban. The first time I played it was at the Mart dance !”
More memories. “Bobby told me that Fenwick was coming back to his double bass, and said that I could start on the second box. I just played rhythmic chords; this was Bobby’s innovation. We never had music in front of us. Bobby would shout the key and off we went.” As the light begins to fade over Loch Etive, Willie recalls the ultimate sacrifice to the MacLeod sound. “Bobby was going to play in Moscow in 1957. He said he was looking for a bass player, and I said that I would come, though it meant leaving my job. Our two weeks in Russia were followed by a year doing mostly theatre work.” The following year, Willie left the Band a few months before it came off the road.
Bobby returned to Tobermory to help Jean to run The Mishnish Hotel. I have teenage memories of passing The Mishnish on a summer afternoon and hearing Bobby in the public bar, either mastering a new tune or composing one. He and my father Angus, the bank manager, ran summer ceilidhs in The Aros Hall and entertained wealthy Americans on the cruise ships which anchored in Tobermory Bay.
Willie Lowe’s last gig with Bobby was in 1989 at Glengorm Castle on Mull. “I was on keyboard, with the late ‘Pibroch’ MacKenzie’s grandson Steven on drums.” Before Bobby passed away in Tobermory in January 1991, Willie and his wife visited the maestro in hospital in Oban.
This courteous and musically accomplished man, who still plays for Scottish Country Dancers in North Connel, has many more memories; driving with the stylish and charismatic Bobby in his MG sports car to dances; being enchanted by the maestro’s playing in one of Scotland’s greatest dance bands, whose sound still causes that frisson as it did over 50 years ago.
Donald Black Trio - Review
by Liz Quinn
By popular demand,
International Accordion Celebration
by Alastair MacDonald
I have now been living………………
Angus Festival 2009
by Ron Ramsay
The 7th Festival got off…………
4th Falkland Traditional Music Festival
by Pia Walker
If you missed it……….
Jean Brown (nee McCloy) (1929 – 2009) Obituary
by Ronnie Brown and Charlie Todd
With the passing of Jean Brown on 15th February 2009, just six months short of her 80th birthday, Scotland lost a very special lady, whose dedication to her family and to accordion music will never be seen again. She was the last of her generation, but the legacy of that select group of West of Scotland accordion teachers, namely Jimmy and Lola Blair, Charles (Chick) Kelly and Iris Laurie will long be with us, partly through their families who are all now teaching and continuing the good work.
Jean had spent six decades teaching youngsters to play music and giving them the chance to showcase their talents to a wider audience. One of her Accordion Orchestras played to a live audience at The Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow for Radio Clyde.
The youngest of a large family in Cambusnethan, Wishaw, Jean had seven older brothers and sisters. As a youngster she traveled by bus once a week to take accordion lessons from the man who was Glasgow’s best accordion teacher – Mr Tony Verrichio. Money was tight in those days and to help fund those lessons she worked in a local hairdressing salon down Caledonian Road, Wishaw.
Jean’s progress and dedication were phenomenal. She discovered herself to be a natural sight reader, reading sheet music scored for the piano since at that time there was no music published specifically for the relatively new accordion, and was fortunate to have in Tony Verrichio a teacher of the highest ability and with the most demanding standards. It was while she was learning the accordion that she met fellow pupil William Brown whom she was to marry on the 21st June 1951. Jean and Bill (as he was better known) had considerable success at both Local and National Competitions traveling as far as London to compete and among the many awards they gained were Scottish and British Titles in Solos, Duets and Quartets. Jean won the 1950 Scottish Open Senior Classical Title. Photos from the time show her playing a 5-row Continental chromatic, as well as the piano keyed accordion, but it was the latter for which she was known and which she taught (although she was also a gifted clarinet player which very few people knew.)
Jean and Bill were two of the many West of Scotland accordionists who went to Tony Verrichio who dedicated their lives to music. In fact, he formed a dynasty of young teachers who shaped the future of accordion music in that part of the country. Jean and Bill formed ‘The Brown School of Accordionists’ in late 1949, and after their marriage in 1951 taught from their home at 281 McAuslin Street, Glasgow with lessons also being given at other venues in Wishaw, Hamilton and Lanark.
But tragedy was waiting in the wings and sadly Bill passed away in October 1959 aged just 36, just five years after the birth of their son Ronnie. With family members rallying round Jean continued the Music School including trips out from Glasgow on a Sunday to continue the Accordion Orchestras they had started to bring together. These were to become a lifelong passion of Jean’s and over the years enjoyed many successes at national competitions.
In the 1950’s Jean took an Orchestra of Accordionists over to Sweden, where they had a brilliant time and due to sponsorship from ‘Scotch Sellotape’ these local players got a chance to show their talents and to make lasting friendships. By that time the name of the school had been changed to ‘The Jean Brown Accordion School’. Jean remarried in March 1968 (to her father-in-law) and although her new husband Walter was not himself a musician, he helped her run the school until his death on the 15th May 1981.
In 1965 at the time when Glasgow’s re-modernisation was taking place, which included the proposed demolition of their flat, they took the decision to relocate to Wishaw. Since at that time Jean was teaching one day in Glasgow, one in Hamilton and four in Wishaw it seemed the right thing to do as it cut down her travelling time. And so it was that Jean was to spend the rest of her life at 66 Abbotsfords Road, Coltness, Wishaw.
Later she was to teach solely in Wishaw, firstly at Scotts Factory, then the old Co-operative Oakcake Factory on Cambusnethan Street, then in Kirk Road before finally moving into Wishaw YMCA. The school held Annual Concerts in the Wishaw area where the pupils were presented with the Awards for exams and Festival wins and played their party piece. Jean organised these concerts with the help of senior pupils and parents. For many years the school was of such a size that parents and friends easily filled the ‘big hall’ at Motherwell’s Civic Centre – quite an achievement. In 1976 she was joined on the teaching side by her son Ronnie and both worked hard to continue building up the school. Ronnie became a partner in 1980 and the school was renamed the J.R. Brown Music School. During the 1980s the school experienced phenomenal success and at one point Jean was producing at least one British Champion every year and the J.R. Brown Orchestras were winning both local and national titles with annual visits to the All Britain Championships. One Orchestra won an International Orchestra Title at Folkestone in 1984.
Further recognition of Jean’s outstanding talent as a teacher came when she was approached by Douglas Academy Music School in Milngavie and she became the first teacher of Free Bass accordion at the school. Douglas Academy is a specialist music school where they train talented youngsters who want to further their musical careers. Jean travelled once a week to the school and held the post for many years. Two of the pupils she trained there went on to the London Royal Academy to graduate, other to the RSAMD in Glasgow and some to local universities. When the first accordionists applied for the RSAMD in Glasgow, the Academy approached Jean and asked her to join their staff, which she did. Jean looked on it as a tremendous honour to be asked and worked tirelessly to produce the first Bachelor of Education, Mrs Angeline Boslem (nee McCloy, Jean’s niece). She went on to train further B.Eds before retiring due to the amount of travel. Even in retirement she continued to help her son Ronnie, who had taken on the school in an advisory capacity helping with bands and she loved nothing better than working with the young players.
On the ‘home front’ Jean helped her grandson Jonathan with his music training, leading to some British titles but, like herself he had other musical talent and now plays drums in a ceilidh band. As mentioned earlier, several pupils went on to full or part-time musical careers either as teachers or performers. One of the earliest pupils taught at the school was Tom Alexander of the Alexander Brothers (an outstanding classical player.) as were Alistair Gillespie (now in Biggar who went on to teach full-time), Dave Cormack (Hamilton), Alan Shute (Coatbridge),Una Bryson (Strathaven now Lesmahagow), Alan and David Preston (Shotts) and Angeline McCloy as well as several who graduated to Scottish dance / ceilidh music, Allan Smith (Kirkfieldbank), Ian and Alec Graham (Carluke), Charlie Todd (Carmichael / Thankerton) and more recently Stuart Law, Angus Lyon, Patrick Black, Louise Harkness and Colin Train.
Jean was awarded the N.S.O.’s Merit Award in 1991. She was only the second recipient and the first female to gain this award. In the early 90s Jean also became an Examiner for David Keen’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The J.R. Brown Music School held a special Dinner for Jean in 1990 in The Popinjay Hotel, Rosebank to celebrate her 40th teaching year and the event was attended by pupils, former pupils, parents, friends and musicians from all over Scotland.
Jean is survived by her son Ronnie and grandson Jonathan. Ronnie is continuing with the Music School and on August 14th 2009, along with Gary Blair, Brian and Graham Laurie and Alistair Gillespie, has helped organize a Memorial Concert for Mrs Jean Brown and Mrs Iris Laurie in the GLO Centre, Motherwell at 7pm followed by a Ceilidh with The Andrew Gordon Ceilidh Band in Saint Bride’s Hall, Motherwell with all proceeds going to the Stroke Charity.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Take Your Partners For…Vol 2 – Luke Brady SDB – LBSDB02
Rollin’ on the Sea – Gunna Sound Ceilidh Band – GSR001
Book Review
Manran : The Music Collection – Blair Douglas
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 20.30 with Robbie Shepherd
Repeats
1st August 09 – Nicky McMichan SDB (OB Invermoriston)
8th Aug 09 – Gordon Shand SDB (Gordon Smith)
15th Aug 09 – Neil Barron SDB (Tribute to Alex MacArthur)
22nd Aug 09 – Alasdair MacCuish and the Black Rose Ceilidh Band (OB Celtic Connections)
29th Aug 09 – The Reel Thing Ceilidh Band (Iain Anderson)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 16th Aug 09 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 2nd Aug 09 – Ian Cameron SDB
Armadale (Masonic Hall) –
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 31st Aug 09 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 5th Aug 09 – Garioch Blend 12th Aug – Johnny Duncan 19th Aug – John Stuart SDB 26th Aug – Robert Whitehead SDB
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) –
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 11th Aug 09 – Graham Geddes SDB
Britannia (Arden House Hotel) -
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 13th Aug 09 – Pentland Ceilidh Band
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) -
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) –
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) -
Coldingham (Village Hall) - 3rd Aug 09 – Robert Whitehead SDB
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club)
Dingwall (National Hotel) –
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) –
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate)
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 18th Aug 09 – John stuart SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) –
Forfar (The Royal Hotel) - 30th Aug 09 – Richard Smith Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) –
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) -
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 5th Aug 09 – John Stuart SDB
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 25th Aug 09 – Gordon Brown SDB
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) -
Haddington (Railway Inn) -
Highland (Waterside Hotel) –
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) –
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) –
Kintore (Torryburn Arms Hotel) –
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 20th Aug 09 – Rosely Ceilidh Band
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) -
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) –
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 8th Aug 09 – Carnival Day with John Carmichael SDB & Deoch ‘n’ Dorus
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th Aug 09 – Wayne Robertson & Claire Telford 16th Aug – Bruce Lindsay Trio
Newburgh (The Ship Hotel) -
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Thorterdykes Roadhouse)
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) –
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) -
Reading Scottish Fiddlers (Willowbank Infant School, Woodley) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) -
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) -
Selkirk (Angus O’Malley’s) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 20th Aug 09 – Brian Griffin
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn)
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Alnwick
2. Annan
3. Banff
4. Blairgowrie
5. Button-key
6. Coldingham
7. Cults
8. Forfar
9. Lewis & Harris
10. Turriff
11. Tynedale
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2008
(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. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
36. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
37. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
38. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
39. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
40. 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)
41. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
42. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
43. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
44. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
45. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
46. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
47. Kintore A&F Club (
48. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
49. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
50. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
51. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
52. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
53 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
54 Maine Valley A&F Club (
55 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
56 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
57 Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
58 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
59 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
60North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
61 Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
62 Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
63 Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
64 Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
65 Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
66 Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
67 Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
68 Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
69 Selkirk A&F Club (
70Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
71 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
72 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
73 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
74 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
75 Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
76 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
77 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
78 West Barnes ( - present)
79 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?)
80. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
81. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
82. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
83. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
84. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
85. Buchan A&F Club
86 Callander A&F Club (
87 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
88 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
89 Club Accord
90 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
91. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
92. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
93. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
94. Derwentside A&F Club
95. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
96. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
97. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
98. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
99. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
100. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
101. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
102. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
103. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
104. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
105. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
106. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
107. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
108. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
109. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
110. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
111. Mull A&F Club
112. Newcastleton Accordion Club
113. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
114. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
115. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
116. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
117. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
118. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
119. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
120. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
121. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
122. Tranent A&F Club
123. Vancouver
124. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
125. Wellbank A&F Club
126. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
Advertising rates
Back Page (colour) - £300
Full Page (colour) - £220
Full Page (b&w) - £140
Half Page (colour) - £110
Half Page (b&w) - £70
Quarter Page (colour) - £55
Quarter Page (b&w) - £35
Eighth Page - £18
Small Boxed £12
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
The website is undergoing a major overhaul at the moment, but it will definitely be worth it! Each Club will be able to upload their own information, diary dates, meeting times etc and even their Club Reports. There will also be a new Forum, where you can air your views. Our plan is to launch it on 1st September to tie in with the new season.
As discussed at the AGM we are on a cost cutting exercise. Postal subscribers will see that their renewal is with the August issue as usual, however this year we will not be sending out a second reminder in September, so please return your slip in plenty of time.
Karin Ingram
Lairg Music Festival
by Liz Quinn
The 11th Lairg Festival…………….
Memories of the Mull Maestro
by Lorn MacIntyre
Whenever I look at the picture of Bobby MacLeod’s legendary dance band in its heyday in the 1950s that sits on my study mantelpiece, a tear comes into my eye, because of the six musicians posing in their even suits, only one, Willie Lowe, is still alive, and I danced to most of them. What better reason for a visit to Willie to recall old times in his home in Connel, Argyll? His house commands a panoramic view acriss Loch Etive, and before there was further building around, he could see the mountains of Mull. That island is a constant presence in Willie’s mind, even in his eighties, because that was where both he and Bobby MacLeod were born in 1925. Willie was to play in the Mull maestro’s band for several unforgettable years.
Though they both lived in Tobermory and attended the local school, albeit in different classes, they didn’t meet until music brought them together. Willie’s home set great store by education, since his father was the headmaster, and Willie recalls, “I was told that I would get an accordion if I passed my Highers.” The instrument duly arrived, and Willie mastered it, though this modest man would deny the term. “Bobby came up to the house when I was still at school and dazzled me, playing the accordion in different keys.”
When Willie was abroad doing his National Service, Bobby asked if he could borrow Willie’s accordion, and their friendship and musical collaboration began. An occasional band was formed, with Bobby on the box, Willie vamping on the piano. The drummer was George Purvis, purser on The Lochinvar which plied between Oban and Tobermory. “The dancing was completely new to me,” Willie remembers of these post-war gigs in The Aros Hall, Tobermory. “I’d never seen the Canadian Barn Dance, St Bernard’s Waltz, Gay Gordons or Quadrilles before. To me ceilidh music was a disappointment because I couldn’t play what I’d played in the Army.”
The Band started to venture away from the island, but session time was never wasted. “Charlie Hunter, father of Alasdair, that fine Aberdeen-based bandleader who died last year, was radio operator on The Lochearn. Bobby and Charlie would play on the sail to Oban.” Willie remembers a gig on piano in The McLellan Gallaries, Glasgow “George Purvis said to me : you know what your instrument should be – the bass!” He also remembers that Bobby was “hurt because he was never asked to play at The Argyllshire Gathering Ball in Oban.” Bobby’s life was a flexible one, since hw was the son of the owner of The Mishnish Hotel, Tobermory, but Willie was at College in Glasgow, getting qualifications. “I spent a lot of time coming up to Oban to play – at least weekly – and my studies suffered.” But this is not a complaint. Willie’s face lights up as he charts the evolution of Bobby MacLeod’s Band into one of the most distinctive and admired sounds of its time. Fiddlers could be hard to come by, but Jimmy Shand recommended Alasdair ‘Pibroch’ MacKenzie (“He’ll suit your style of playing son.”) ‘Pibroch’ had played jazz on the fiddle in the Army, and his virtuosic skills had come to the attention of the great Stephane Grappelli. However, it wasn’t jazz Bobby wanted him to play, but Scottish tunes. “It was wonderful to hear Bobby and ‘Pibroch’ playing together, “ Willie recalls wistfully. When Bobby announced that he was forming a full-time band Willie said to himself, “I’m not masquerading as a pianist in a full-time band, not being a pianist at all – much to my regret.” When Bobby’s first broadcast with his Band came on the air Willie phoned from a call-box in London and Jean, Bobby’s wife, held the phone to the public address system in The Mishnish Hotel so that the exile in surbiton could hear the entire broadcast! In the course of our conversation Willlie brings up legendary names associated with the Bobby MacLeod Band ; Davy Whitehead the pianist; Alasdair Downie on second box; the brilliant Fenwick McDougall on double bass. “When I saw how successful Bobby’s full-time band was I thought I should have a shot at it,” Willie reveals. But there was only one vacancy, Fenwick McDougall was about to go to do his National Service, and a double bass player was needed. Bobby offered Willie the vacancy. “I had bought a double bass with the last of my education grant but had never played it, “ Willie confesses. “Bobby was booked for a dance in a loft at the Mart in Oban, but there was no piano. I phoned Glasgow and asked my friends to put my double bass on the train for Oban. The first time I played it was at the Mart dance !”
More memories. “Bobby told me that Fenwick was coming back to his double bass, and said that I could start on the second box. I just played rhythmic chords; this was Bobby’s innovation. We never had music in front of us. Bobby would shout the key and off we went.” As the light begins to fade over Loch Etive, Willie recalls the ultimate sacrifice to the MacLeod sound. “Bobby was going to play in Moscow in 1957. He said he was looking for a bass player, and I said that I would come, though it meant leaving my job. Our two weeks in Russia were followed by a year doing mostly theatre work.” The following year, Willie left the Band a few months before it came off the road.
Bobby returned to Tobermory to help Jean to run The Mishnish Hotel. I have teenage memories of passing The Mishnish on a summer afternoon and hearing Bobby in the public bar, either mastering a new tune or composing one. He and my father Angus, the bank manager, ran summer ceilidhs in The Aros Hall and entertained wealthy Americans on the cruise ships which anchored in Tobermory Bay.
Willie Lowe’s last gig with Bobby was in 1989 at Glengorm Castle on Mull. “I was on keyboard, with the late ‘Pibroch’ MacKenzie’s grandson Steven on drums.” Before Bobby passed away in Tobermory in January 1991, Willie and his wife visited the maestro in hospital in Oban.
This courteous and musically accomplished man, who still plays for Scottish Country Dancers in North Connel, has many more memories; driving with the stylish and charismatic Bobby in his MG sports car to dances; being enchanted by the maestro’s playing in one of Scotland’s greatest dance bands, whose sound still causes that frisson as it did over 50 years ago.
Donald Black Trio - Review
by Liz Quinn
By popular demand,
International Accordion Celebration
by Alastair MacDonald
I have now been living………………
Angus Festival 2009
by Ron Ramsay
The 7th Festival got off…………
4th Falkland Traditional Music Festival
by Pia Walker
If you missed it……….
Jean Brown (nee McCloy) (1929 – 2009) Obituary
by Ronnie Brown and Charlie Todd
With the passing of Jean Brown on 15th February 2009, just six months short of her 80th birthday, Scotland lost a very special lady, whose dedication to her family and to accordion music will never be seen again. She was the last of her generation, but the legacy of that select group of West of Scotland accordion teachers, namely Jimmy and Lola Blair, Charles (Chick) Kelly and Iris Laurie will long be with us, partly through their families who are all now teaching and continuing the good work.
Jean had spent six decades teaching youngsters to play music and giving them the chance to showcase their talents to a wider audience. One of her Accordion Orchestras played to a live audience at The Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow for Radio Clyde.
The youngest of a large family in Cambusnethan, Wishaw, Jean had seven older brothers and sisters. As a youngster she traveled by bus once a week to take accordion lessons from the man who was Glasgow’s best accordion teacher – Mr Tony Verrichio. Money was tight in those days and to help fund those lessons she worked in a local hairdressing salon down Caledonian Road, Wishaw.
Jean’s progress and dedication were phenomenal. She discovered herself to be a natural sight reader, reading sheet music scored for the piano since at that time there was no music published specifically for the relatively new accordion, and was fortunate to have in Tony Verrichio a teacher of the highest ability and with the most demanding standards. It was while she was learning the accordion that she met fellow pupil William Brown whom she was to marry on the 21st June 1951. Jean and Bill (as he was better known) had considerable success at both Local and National Competitions traveling as far as London to compete and among the many awards they gained were Scottish and British Titles in Solos, Duets and Quartets. Jean won the 1950 Scottish Open Senior Classical Title. Photos from the time show her playing a 5-row Continental chromatic, as well as the piano keyed accordion, but it was the latter for which she was known and which she taught (although she was also a gifted clarinet player which very few people knew.)
Jean and Bill were two of the many West of Scotland accordionists who went to Tony Verrichio who dedicated their lives to music. In fact, he formed a dynasty of young teachers who shaped the future of accordion music in that part of the country. Jean and Bill formed ‘The Brown School of Accordionists’ in late 1949, and after their marriage in 1951 taught from their home at 281 McAuslin Street, Glasgow with lessons also being given at other venues in Wishaw, Hamilton and Lanark.
But tragedy was waiting in the wings and sadly Bill passed away in October 1959 aged just 36, just five years after the birth of their son Ronnie. With family members rallying round Jean continued the Music School including trips out from Glasgow on a Sunday to continue the Accordion Orchestras they had started to bring together. These were to become a lifelong passion of Jean’s and over the years enjoyed many successes at national competitions.
In the 1950’s Jean took an Orchestra of Accordionists over to Sweden, where they had a brilliant time and due to sponsorship from ‘Scotch Sellotape’ these local players got a chance to show their talents and to make lasting friendships. By that time the name of the school had been changed to ‘The Jean Brown Accordion School’. Jean remarried in March 1968 (to her father-in-law) and although her new husband Walter was not himself a musician, he helped her run the school until his death on the 15th May 1981.
In 1965 at the time when Glasgow’s re-modernisation was taking place, which included the proposed demolition of their flat, they took the decision to relocate to Wishaw. Since at that time Jean was teaching one day in Glasgow, one in Hamilton and four in Wishaw it seemed the right thing to do as it cut down her travelling time. And so it was that Jean was to spend the rest of her life at 66 Abbotsfords Road, Coltness, Wishaw.
Later she was to teach solely in Wishaw, firstly at Scotts Factory, then the old Co-operative Oakcake Factory on Cambusnethan Street, then in Kirk Road before finally moving into Wishaw YMCA. The school held Annual Concerts in the Wishaw area where the pupils were presented with the Awards for exams and Festival wins and played their party piece. Jean organised these concerts with the help of senior pupils and parents. For many years the school was of such a size that parents and friends easily filled the ‘big hall’ at Motherwell’s Civic Centre – quite an achievement. In 1976 she was joined on the teaching side by her son Ronnie and both worked hard to continue building up the school. Ronnie became a partner in 1980 and the school was renamed the J.R. Brown Music School. During the 1980s the school experienced phenomenal success and at one point Jean was producing at least one British Champion every year and the J.R. Brown Orchestras were winning both local and national titles with annual visits to the All Britain Championships. One Orchestra won an International Orchestra Title at Folkestone in 1984.
Further recognition of Jean’s outstanding talent as a teacher came when she was approached by Douglas Academy Music School in Milngavie and she became the first teacher of Free Bass accordion at the school. Douglas Academy is a specialist music school where they train talented youngsters who want to further their musical careers. Jean travelled once a week to the school and held the post for many years. Two of the pupils she trained there went on to the London Royal Academy to graduate, other to the RSAMD in Glasgow and some to local universities. When the first accordionists applied for the RSAMD in Glasgow, the Academy approached Jean and asked her to join their staff, which she did. Jean looked on it as a tremendous honour to be asked and worked tirelessly to produce the first Bachelor of Education, Mrs Angeline Boslem (nee McCloy, Jean’s niece). She went on to train further B.Eds before retiring due to the amount of travel. Even in retirement she continued to help her son Ronnie, who had taken on the school in an advisory capacity helping with bands and she loved nothing better than working with the young players.
On the ‘home front’ Jean helped her grandson Jonathan with his music training, leading to some British titles but, like herself he had other musical talent and now plays drums in a ceilidh band. As mentioned earlier, several pupils went on to full or part-time musical careers either as teachers or performers. One of the earliest pupils taught at the school was Tom Alexander of the Alexander Brothers (an outstanding classical player.) as were Alistair Gillespie (now in Biggar who went on to teach full-time), Dave Cormack (Hamilton), Alan Shute (Coatbridge),Una Bryson (Strathaven now Lesmahagow), Alan and David Preston (Shotts) and Angeline McCloy as well as several who graduated to Scottish dance / ceilidh music, Allan Smith (Kirkfieldbank), Ian and Alec Graham (Carluke), Charlie Todd (Carmichael / Thankerton) and more recently Stuart Law, Angus Lyon, Patrick Black, Louise Harkness and Colin Train.
Jean was awarded the N.S.O.’s Merit Award in 1991. She was only the second recipient and the first female to gain this award. In the early 90s Jean also became an Examiner for David Keen’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The J.R. Brown Music School held a special Dinner for Jean in 1990 in The Popinjay Hotel, Rosebank to celebrate her 40th teaching year and the event was attended by pupils, former pupils, parents, friends and musicians from all over Scotland.
Jean is survived by her son Ronnie and grandson Jonathan. Ronnie is continuing with the Music School and on August 14th 2009, along with Gary Blair, Brian and Graham Laurie and Alistair Gillespie, has helped organize a Memorial Concert for Mrs Jean Brown and Mrs Iris Laurie in the GLO Centre, Motherwell at 7pm followed by a Ceilidh with The Andrew Gordon Ceilidh Band in Saint Bride’s Hall, Motherwell with all proceeds going to the Stroke Charity.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Take Your Partners For…Vol 2 – Luke Brady SDB – LBSDB02
Rollin’ on the Sea – Gunna Sound Ceilidh Band – GSR001
Book Review
Manran : The Music Collection – Blair Douglas
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 20.30 with Robbie Shepherd
Repeats
1st August 09 – Nicky McMichan SDB (OB Invermoriston)
8th Aug 09 – Gordon Shand SDB (Gordon Smith)
15th Aug 09 – Neil Barron SDB (Tribute to Alex MacArthur)
22nd Aug 09 – Alasdair MacCuish and the Black Rose Ceilidh Band (OB Celtic Connections)
29th Aug 09 – The Reel Thing Ceilidh Band (Iain Anderson)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 16th Aug 09 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 2nd Aug 09 – Ian Cameron SDB
Armadale (Masonic Hall) –
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 31st Aug 09 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 5th Aug 09 – Garioch Blend 12th Aug – Johnny Duncan 19th Aug – John Stuart SDB 26th Aug – Robert Whitehead SDB
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) –
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 11th Aug 09 – Graham Geddes SDB
Britannia (Arden House Hotel) -
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 13th Aug 09 – Pentland Ceilidh Band
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) -
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) –
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) -
Coldingham (Village Hall) - 3rd Aug 09 – Robert Whitehead SDB
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club)
Dingwall (National Hotel) –
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) –
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate)
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 18th Aug 09 – John stuart SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) –
Forfar (The Royal Hotel) - 30th Aug 09 – Richard Smith Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) –
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) -
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 5th Aug 09 – John Stuart SDB
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 25th Aug 09 – Gordon Brown SDB
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) -
Haddington (Railway Inn) -
Highland (Waterside Hotel) –
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) –
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) –
Kintore (Torryburn Arms Hotel) –
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 20th Aug 09 – Rosely Ceilidh Band
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) -
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) –
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 8th Aug 09 – Carnival Day with John Carmichael SDB & Deoch ‘n’ Dorus
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th Aug 09 – Wayne Robertson & Claire Telford 16th Aug – Bruce Lindsay Trio
Newburgh (The Ship Hotel) -
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Thorterdykes Roadhouse)
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) –
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) -
Reading Scottish Fiddlers (Willowbank Infant School, Woodley) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) -
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) -
Selkirk (Angus O’Malley’s) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 20th Aug 09 – Brian Griffin
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn)
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Alnwick
2. Annan
3. Banff
4. Blairgowrie
5. Button-key
6. Coldingham
7. Cults
8. Forfar
9. Lewis & Harris
10. Turriff
11. Tynedale
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2008
(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. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
36. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
37. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
38. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
39. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
40. 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)
41. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
42. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
43. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
44. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
45. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
46. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
47. Kintore A&F Club (
48. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
49. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
50. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
51. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
52. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
53 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
54 Maine Valley A&F Club (
55 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
56 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
57 Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
58 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
59 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
60North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
61 Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
62 Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
63 Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
64 Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
65 Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
66 Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
67 Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
68 Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
69 Selkirk A&F Club (
70Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
71 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
72 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
73 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
74 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
75 Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
76 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
77 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
78 West Barnes ( - present)
79 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?)
80. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
81. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
82. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
83. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
84. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
85. Buchan A&F Club
86 Callander A&F Club (
87 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
88 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
89 Club Accord
90 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
91. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
92. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
93. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
94. Derwentside A&F Club
95. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
96. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
97. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
98. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
99. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
100. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
101. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
102. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
103. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
104. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
105. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
106. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
107. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
108. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
109. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
110. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
111. Mull A&F Club
112. Newcastleton Accordion Club
113. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
114. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
115. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
116. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
117. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
118. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
119. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
120. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
121. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
122. Tranent A&F Club
123. Vancouver
124. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
125. Wellbank A&F Club
126. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
Advertising rates
Back Page (colour) - £300
Full Page (colour) - £220
Full Page (b&w) - £140
Half Page (colour) - £110
Half Page (b&w) - £70
Quarter Page (colour) - £55
Quarter Page (b&w) - £35
Eighth Page - £18
Small Boxed £12
