Box and Fiddle Archive
  • Home
  • Musician Biographies
    • Surnames A to B >
      • Mickie Ainsworth
      • Tom Alexander MBE >
        • 1998 - 40 Years in Showbiz
        • Oct 2008 - 50th Anniversary
        • Oct 2008 - 50th Anniversary
        • 2009 Guest of honour
        • 2009 Guest of Honour
        • Nov 2013 Jack's Obituary
      • Paul Anderson of Tarland
      • Dr Tom Anderson MBE
      • Willie Atkinson
      • Freeland Barbour
      • Dave Barclay
      • George Bell
      • Bill Black >
        • 2006
        • March 1983
      • Jimmy Blair
      • Jimmy Blue >
        • Oct / Nov 1990
        • February 2000
      • Joan Blue (1987) >
        • Joan Blue (2016)
      • David Bowen
      • Robin Brock >
        • Oct 1982
        • Feb 1982
        • Mar 2014
      • Bill Brown (CD Reviewer)
      • Bobby Brown (Adam Rennie Quartet)
      • Bobby Brown (Canada) >
        • March 1982
        • April 1997
        • January 2007
        • May 2011
      • Felix Burns
    • Surnames C - D >
      • Stuart Cameron
      • John Carmichael
      • Rab Carruthers
      • Iain Cathcart
      • Bobby Coghill
      • Bobby Colgan
      • Jack Cooper
      • Charlie Cowie
      • Jim Crawford
      • John Crawford
      • Bobby Crowe
      • David Cunningham Snr
      • George Darling
      • Jack Delaney
      • Keith Dickson
      • Roger Dobson
      • Blair Douglas >
        • Run Rig Dance Band
      • John Douglas
    • Surnames E to G >
      • Jimmy Edwards
      • John Ellis
      • Robin Ellis >
        • Robin Ellis
      • Jack Emblow
      • Bill Ewan
      • Colin Finlayson
      • Angus Fitchet
      • David Flockhart
      • Ewan Galloway
      • Graham Geddes
      • Ron Gonella >
        • Mar 1994
        • Oct 1982
      • Rob Gordon
      • Niel Gow
      • Billy Grant (drummer)
    • Surnames H - J >
      • Jim Halcrow >
        • Jim Halcrow
      • Derek Hamilton
      • Stan Hamilton
      • William Hannah
      • Matthew Hardie
      • Addie Harper
      • Isobel Harper
      • Bobby Harvey
      • Bill Hendry
      • Ian Holmes
      • Max Houliston >
        • Jan 1983
        • March 1992
      • Tom Hughes (1986)
      • Alastair Hunter
      • Graham Jamieson >
        • Dec 1983
      • Jim Johnstone >
        • March 1982
        • Sept 1992
    • Surnames K to L >
      • Ron Kerr
      • Charlie Kirkpatrick
      • Andrew Knight
      • Sandy Legget
      • Judith Linton
    • Surnames Mac - Mc >
      • Alex MacArthur
      • Alasdair MacCuish
      • Alistair McCulloch
      • Fergie MacDonald
      • Jim Mackay (Caithness)
      • Bobby MacLeod >
        • Memories of (2009)
      • Jim MacLeod
      • Rory MacLeod
      • Neil McMillan
      • Iain MacPhail >
        • May 2003
        • Sept 1982
      • Fraser McGlynn
      • Nicol McLaren
    • Surnames M >
      • Dougie Maxwell
      • Gus Millar
      • Graeme Mitchell
      • Dennis Morrison
      • Ian Muir
      • Bert Murray
      • Ken Mutch
    • Surnames N - P >
      • Paddy Neary
      • Craig Paton
      • Gordon Pattullo >
        • Gordon Pattullo (40th Anniv)
      • Iain Peterson
      • Ian Powrie >
        • The People's Journal
        • Sept 1983
    • Surnames R >
      • Andrew Rankine
      • Frank Reid
      • Tony Reid
      • Adam Rennie
      • John Renton
      • Donal Ring
      • Jim Ritchie
      • Arthur Scott Robertson
      • Graham Ross
      • Lindsay Ross
    • Surnames S >
      • Stan Saunders
      • Sir Jimmy Shand >
        • April 1982
        • Feb 1998 (90 Years old)
        • Feb 1999 (Knighthood)
        • Jan 2001
        • Feb 2001 (Tributes)
        • Oct 2003 (Sculpture)
        • Sept 2016 (Auction of Memorabilia)
      • Neil Sinclair
      • James Scott Skinner >
        • April 1993
      • Robbie Shepherd >
        • October 1985
        • M.B.E. March 2001
        • 2006 Hamish Henderson Award
      • George 'Faunty' Smith
      • Gordon Smith
      • Hamish Smith
      • Will Starr
      • Andy Stewart MBE
      • Liam Stewart
      • George Stirrat
    • Surnames T >
      • Bill Thom
      • Kenny Thomson
      • Sandy Tulloch
      • Violet Tulloch
    • Surnames W - Y >
      • David Vernon
      • Robin & Deryn Waitt
      • Robert Whitehead
      • Bill Wilkie MBE
      • Pam Wilkie
      • Norrie Williams
      • Callum Wilson
      • Ena Wilson
      • Iain Wilson
      • Kenny Wilson
      • Peter and Daniel Wyper
      • Jimmy Yeaman
    • Poems by Andy Stewart >
      • Jimmy Shand
      • Angus Fitchet
      • Bobby MacLeod
      • Ian Powrie
    • Poem by Jock Turpie
  • Roll of Honour
    • Accordion Teachers >
      • Ian Anderson (2018)
      • Jean Brown (2009) >
        • Jean Brown (Cambusnethan, Wishaw)
      • Louis Cabrelli
      • Renaldo Capaldi (2008)
      • Charles Duncan
      • Peter Farnan
      • Ron Hodgson (1982)
      • Ron Hodgson (2014)
      • Charles 'Chick' Kelly (21/01/95)
      • Chrissie Leatham
      • Jimmy Martin (2008)
      • Owen Murray
      • Bill Spence (2007)
      • Tom Veldon (15/01/95)
      • Wilson Wood (2005)
      • Rosemary Wright
    • Obituaries >
      • A to B >
        • Bobby Abbott (2016)
        • Mickie Ainsworth (2012)
        • Tom Alexander MBE (2020)
        • Ian Anderson (Forres) 2004
        • John Anderson (2005)
        • Will Atkinson (2003)
        • Dave Barclay (2010)
        • JIm Barrie (2016)
        • Bill Black (2016)
        • Jim Berry (2012)
        • Jimmy Blue (1999)
        • Bill Brian (2011)
        • Jim Brown (1998)
      • C >
        • Angus Cameron (1998)
        • Colin Campbell (2015)
        • Duncan Campbell (2011)
        • Tom Clark (2020)
        • Ronnie Coburn (2010)
        • Bobby Colgan (2020)
        • Terry Connor (2000)
        • Ronnie Cooper (1982)
        • Alan ' Barney' Coulson (2020)
        • Charlie Cowie (1995)
        • Ernie Cowie (2009)
        • Billy Craib (2019)
        • Jim Crawford (2007)
        • John Crawford (2020)
        • Ian Crichton (1934 - 99)
        • Bobby Cronie (1998)
        • Roger Crook (1942 - 2013)
        • Bobby Crowe (2014)
      • D to E >
        • Tony Dalton (2014)
        • Adrian Dante (2005)
        • Margaret Davidson (2020)
        • Robin Davidson (2020)
        • Jim Devlin (1989)
        • Fred Donald (Forres) 2017
        • Ian Duncan (2011)
        • Maurice Duncan (2017)
        • Tommy Edmondson (2001)
        • Bob Edward (1998)
        • Peem Edwards (1999)
        • John Ellis (2015)
      • F to G >
        • John Fairbairn (2003)
        • Frank Farquharson (2002)
        • Colin Finlayson (1952-93)
        • Angus Fitchet (1998)
        • Tommy Ford (2017)
        • John Gibson (1961 - 1990)
        • Eric Goodfellow (2008)
        • Joe Gordon (2020)
        • Rob Gordon (24/04/94)
        • Hebbie Gray (2018)
        • Jack Gray (1929-2013)
        • Wilbert (Bill) Grund (2010)
      • H to K >
        • Jim Halcrow (2015)
        • Tom Hall (2011)
        • Ian Hardie (2012)
        • William J. Hardie (1916 - 95)
        • Addie Harper (2002)
        • Alistair Henderson (2005)
        • Bill Hendry (1995) (of Falkirk)
        • Alasdair Heron (2010)
        • Bob Hobkirk (2002)
        • Ian Holmes (2017) >
          • Ian Holmes (2017)
        • John Huband (1942 - 2000)
        • Christine Hunter (1998)
        • Willie Hunter (1994)
        • Joe Hutton (1995)
        • Dave Ireland (1992)
        • Gordon Jamieson (2005)
        • Bryce Johnstone (2017)
        • Allan Kindness (2014)
      • L >
        • John Laidlaw (1996)
        • Florence Lawie (2020)
        • Tommy Lees (2014)
        • Bruce Lindsay Snr (2020)
        • Jimmy Lindsay (2020)
        • Alex Little (2001)
        • Ben Lyons (2015)
      • Mac to M >
        • Duncan 'Dochie' MacCallum (2020)
        • Mark MacDougall (2015)
        • Iain MacFadyen (1983) (Producer)
        • Ally MacIntyre (2015)
        • John Mackie (1996)
        • Calum MacLean (2015)
        • Jim MacLeod (2004)
        • Jim MacRae (2001)
        • Rory MacLeod (2019)
        • Gervasio Marcosignori (2013)
        • John McDonald (2016)
        • Fraser McGlynn (2018)
        • Ewan McGowan (2015)
        • Blanche McInnes (1988)
        • Allan McIntosh (2012)
        • Iain McLachlan (1995)
        • Bob McMath (2016)
        • Hamish Menzies (2020)
        • Jim Muir (2001)
        • George Muir (1995)
        • Bert Murray MBE (2003)
      • N to R >
        • Andrew Nairn (2010)
        • Eann Nicolson (1990)
        • Dermot O'Brien (2007)
        • Stan Peacock (1994)
        • Davie Pollock (of Roslin) (2018)
        • Bill Powrie (1980)
        • Ian Powrie (2011)
        • Dave Pullar (2020)
        • Bert Rae (2015)
        • Ian Redford (1988)
        • Jimmy Ritchie (2001)
        • John Rooney (2015)
        • Graham Ross (2020)
        • Walter Rutherford (2018)
      • S to T >
        • Stan Saunders (2011)
        • Davie Simpson of Invergowrie (1999)
        • Gordon Simpson (2016)
        • Bill Smith (1998) (Banchory)
        • Ian Smith (2005) First Editor)
        • Margaret Smith (2015)
        • Rosalind Snaith (2020)
        • Arthur Spink (2017)
        • Jack Stalker (2019)
        • Alex 'Toby' Stewart (2010)
        • Andy Stewart (1933-93)
        • Billy Stewart (2016)
        • Roy Stewart (2005)
        • Peter Straughan (1999)
        • Kenny Thomson (2013)
        • Toralf Tollefsen (27/11/94)
        • Bobby Torrance (2011)
        • Dr Sandy Tulloch (2006)
      • U to Z >
        • Jimmy Urquhart (1993)
        • Roddy Urquhart (2000)
        • Charlie Walkins (2014)
        • Bill Wilkie (2017)
        • Ian Wilkie (1995)
        • Pam Wilkie (2016)
        • Norrie Williams (2015)
        • Willie Wilson (1991) (Beith)
  • NAAFC Awards Archive
    • NAAFC Honours >
      • 1979
      • 1980s >
        • 1981 Angus Fitchet
        • 1982 Bobby MacLeod
        • 1983 Ian Powrie
        • 1984 Andy Stewart MBE
      • 1990s >
        • 1990 Jimmy Blue
        • 1992 Robbie Shepherd MBE
        • 1994 Alex MacArthur
        • 1994 Andrew Rankine
        • 1995 Max Houliston
        • 1996 Jim MacLeod MBE
        • 1997 Musicians of Shetland
        • 1998 Ian Holmes
        • 1999 Bill Black
      • 2000s >
        • 2000 Bobby Crowe
        • 2000 Alex Little
        • 2000 Jim Ritchie
        • 2000 Stan Saunders
        • 2000 Bill Thom
        • 2000 Pam Wilkie
        • 2001 Mickie Ainsworth
        • 2001 Addie Harper
        • 2001 Jim Johnstone
        • 2001 Bill Wilkie MBE
        • 2002 Dave Barclay
        • 2002 John Crawford
        • 2002 David Cunningham
        • 2002 Gus Millar
        • 2002 Jimmy Yeaman
        • 2003 Iain MacPhail
        • 2004 John Carmichael
        • 2004 Iain Peterson
        • 2005 Bobby Coghill
        • 2005 Ken Mutch
        • 2005 Robert Whitehead
        • 2006 Jack Cooper
        • 2006 Jack Delaney
        • 2006 David Flockhart
        • 2007 Jimmy Burgess
        • 2007 Bobby Colgan
        • 2008 Bobby Harvey
        • 2008 Neil MacMillan
        • 2008 Gordon Pattullo
        • 2009 Tom Alexander MBE
        • 2009 Andrew Knight
      • 2010s >
        • 2010 John Ellis
        • 2010 Fraser McGlynn
        • 2011 Bobby Brown (Canada)
        • 2011 Ian Muir
        • 2012 John Douglas
        • 2012 Jim Halcrow
        • 2012 Charlie Kirkpatrick
        • 2013 Derek Hamilton
        • 2014 Robin Brock
        • 2014 Calum MacLean
        • 2014 Hamish Smith
        • 2015 David Ross
        • 2015 Iain Wilson
        • 2015 Kenny Wilson
        • 2015 Gordon Young
        • 2016 Joan Blue
        • 2016 Bill Ewan
        • 2016 Isobel Harper
        • 2016 Neil Sinclair
        • 2017 George Darling
        • 2017 Alasdair MacLeod
        • 2017 Violet Tulloch
        • 2018 - Freeland Barbour
        • 2018 Bill Hendry
        • 2018 Graeme Mitchell
        • 2019 - Billy Craib
        • 2019 - Dochie McCallum
        • 2019 - Margaret Smith
        • 2019 - Davie Stewart
      • 2020s >
        • 2020 Covid 19 No Awards
        • 2021 Anda Campbell
        • 2012 Peter Bruce
        • 2021 Malcolm Ross
    • BAFFI Awards
    • Scholarship
    • SDB of the Year
  • Club Reports
    • Club Reports Summary >
      • 1970s
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    • Club Directory
    • Guest Artistes >
      • Summary
      • Lesmahagow A&F Club >
        • 1980s
        • 1990s
        • 2000s
      • Newtongrange >
        • 1970s
        • 1980s
        • 1990s
        • 2000s
        • 2010s
      • Perth A&F Club >
        • 1970s
        • 1980s
        • 1990s
        • 2000s
        • 2010s
    • A >
      • Aberdeen A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Acharacle A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Alnwick A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Birthday (2002)
      • Annan A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
      • Arbroath A&F Club >
        • 1989 - 90
      • Armadale A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 21st Birthday (1999)
      • Ayr A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
    • B >
      • Balloch A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Banchory
      • Banff and District
      • Beith & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 40th Anniversary (Beith)
      • Biggar A&F Club >
        • 1970s >
          • 1977 - 78
          • 1978 - 79
          • 1979 - 80
        • 1980s >
          • 1980 - 81
          • 1981 - 88
          • 1988 - 89
          • 1989 - 90
        • 1990s >
          • 1990 - 91
          • 1990 - 91
          • 1991 - 92
          • 1992 - 93
          • 1993 - 94
          • 1994 - 95
          • 1995 - 96
          • 1996 - 97
          • 1997 - 98
          • 1998 - 99
          • 25th Anniversary (1999)
          • 1999-2000
        • 2000s >
          • 2000 - 01
          • 2001 - 02
          • 2002 - 03
          • 2003 - 04
          • 2004 - 05
          • 2005 - 06
          • 2006 - 07
          • 2007 - 08
          • 2008 - 09
          • 2009 - 10
        • 2010s >
          • 2010 - 11
          • 2011 - 12
          • 2012 - 13
          • 2013 - 14
          • 2014 - 15
          • 2015 - 16
          • 2016 - 17
          • 2017 - 18
          • 2018 - 19
          • 2019 - 20
        • 2020s >
          • 2020 - 21
      • Blairgowrie A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
      • Brig Mill A&F Club >
        • 1989 - 90
      • Britannia (Kirkcudbright) A&F Club >
        • 2007 - 08
      • Bromley A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
        • Bromley (2014)
      • Buchan A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Button Key (Windygates) A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
        • 20th Anniv (2007)
    • C >
      • Callander A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
      • Campbeltown A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
      • Campsie A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
        • The Campsie Players
        • 20th Anniversary (2015)
      • Carlisle A&F Club >
        • 1993 - 94
      • Castle Douglas A&F Club
      • Coalburn A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Coldingham A&F Club >
        • 2008 - 09
      • Coupar Angus A&F Club >
        • 1978 - 79
      • Crathes A&F Club
      • Cults A&F Club >
        • 1999 - 2000
      • Cumnock & District A&F Club >
        • History
        • 1977 - 78
    • D >
      • Dalriada A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 21st Birthday (2002)
      • Denny & Dunipace A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
      • Dingwall A&F Club >
        • 1979 - 80
        • 21st Anniversary (2000)
        • 25th Anniversary (2004)
      • Dumfries Accordion Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 1978 - 79
        • 1979 - 80
      • Dunblane A&F Club
      • Dundee & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Dunfermline & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
      • Duns A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
    • E to F >
      • East Kilbride A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
        • 1984 - 85
        • Norrie Williams (2015)
      • Edinburgh / Chrissie Leatham A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
      • Ellon A&F Club >
        • 1994 - 95
      • Ettrick & Yarrow >
        • 1990 - 91
      • Falkirk A&F Club >
        • 1978 - 79
      • Fintry A&F Club
      • Forfar A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Forres A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • Forres 21st Anniv (1999)
      • Fort William A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
    • G >
      • Galston A&F Club >
        • Club History
        • 1977 - 78
        • 30th Anniversary (1999)
        • Final Report (2006)
      • Glendale A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 40th Anniversary (Glendale)
      • Glenfarg A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
        • 30th Anniv (Sept 2018)
      • Glenrothes A&F Club >
        • 1993 - 94
      • Gorebridge A&F Club >
        • 1981 - 82
      • Gretna (see North Cumbria) A&F Club >
        • 50th Anniversary (2016)
    • H to K >
      • Haddington A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
      • Highland A&F Club >
        • Club History
        • 1977 - 78
        • Highland 25th Birthday (1999)
        • 40th Anniversary (Highland)
      • Inveraray A&F Club >
        • 1991 - 92
        • 25th Anniversary (2016)
      • Islay A&F Club >
        • 1993 - 94
      • Isle of Skye A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Islesteps A&F Club >
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
      • Kelso A&F Club >
        • Introducing the Clubs No 8
        • 1977 - 78
        • 30th Anniv (2006)
        • 40th Anniversary (2016)
      • Kinlochsheil A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
      • Kintore A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 2010 - 11
    • L >
      • Ladybank A&F Club >
        • 1997 - 98
      • Lanark A&F Club >
        • 1996 - 97
      • Langholm A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Lauder A&F Club >
        • 2009 - 10
      • Lesmahagow A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
        • 1984 - 85
        • Closure announced
        • 2005 Final Report
      • Lewis & Harris A&F Club >
        • 1996 - 97
        • 20th Anniversary
      • Livingston A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • Murdo MacLeod
      • Lockerbie A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 40th Anniversary (Lockerbie)
    • M >
      • The M.A.F.I.A. >
        • History
        • 1977 - 78
        • Closing Speech
      • Mauchline >
        • 30th Anniv (Mauchline)
      • Monklands A&F Club >
        • 1978 - 79
      • Montrose A&F Club >
        • 1984 - 85
      • Morecambe A&F Club
      • Muirhead A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
    • N >
      • Newburgh A&F Club >
        • 2002 - 03
        • 40th Anniversary
        • Jim Berry
      • New Cumnock A&F Club >
        • 1979 - 80
      • Newmill-on-Teviot A&F Club >
        • 1999 - 2000
      • Newtongrange A&F Club >
        • 1979 - 80
      • Newton St Boswells >
        • 1977 - 78
      • North Cumbria (Gretna) A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • North East (Keith) A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • Ian Duncan
        • 40th Anniversary North East
      • Northern (Templepatrick, N.I.) A&F Club >
        • 2011 - 12
    • O to P >
      • Oban A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Anniversary (1999)
        • 40th Anniversary (2015)
      • Orkney A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
        • Orkney 40th Anniv 2017
      • Peebles A&F Club >
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
        • 1984 - 85
      • Perth & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 1992 Letter
        • 40th Anniv (2010)
      • Phoenix (Ardrishaig) A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
      • Premier A&F Club
    • R to S >
      • Reading Scottish Fiddlers >
        • 1997 - 98
      • Renfrew A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Renfrew (Moorpark) A&F Club >
        • 1984 - 85
      • Rothbury (Coquetdale) A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Anniversary (1999)
      • Scottish Accordion Music (Crathes) >
        • 1998 - 99
      • Seghill Comrades A&F Club >
        • 2010 - 11
      • Selkirk A&F Club >
        • 1998 - 99
      • Shetland A&F Club >
        • Shetland 40th Anniv (2017)
      • Stirling A&F Club >
        • 1991 - 92
      • Stonehouse A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
      • Straiton A&F Club >
        • History
        • 1977 - 78
      • Stranraer A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Sutherland A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
        • 20th Anniv (2007)
    • T to Z >
      • Thornhill A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
      • Torthorwald A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Turriff 30th Anniversary
      • Tynedale A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • Tynedale 30th Anniv (2010)
      • Uist & Benbecula A&F Club >
        • 2007 - 08
        • 21st Anniversary (2016)
      • Wellbank A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • West Barnes A&F Club >
        • 2001 - 02
      • Wick A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Birthday (2001)
        • 40th Anniversary (2015)
  • Pipe Music Articles
    • Composers A - L >
      • Willie Bryson
      • John D Burgess
      • Duncan Campbell
      • George Cockburn
      • William D Dumbreck
      • William Fergusson
      • Ron Fleming
      • Duncan Johnstone
      • Willie Lawrie
    • Composers Mac >
      • John MacColl
      • John MacDonald
      • Angus MacKay
      • Hugh MacKay
      • John M MacKenzie BEM
      • Donald MacLean of Lewis
      • Capt John A MacLellan MBE
      • Donald MacLeod
      • Peter R MacLeod Snr & Jnr
      • Archibald MacNeill
    • Composers M + Mc >
      • David Charles Mather
      • James Mauchline
      • Captain D R McLellan
      • John McLellan
      • George S McLennan
      • Donald McPhedran
    • Composers N - Z >
      • Donald Shaw Ramsay
      • James Ross Riddell
      • James "Robbie" Robertson
      • Willie Ross
      • John Wilson
  • B&F Issues (1977-2020)
    • Oct 1977 - Apr 1980 >
      • Oct 1977 - Apr 78
      • Oct 1978 - Apr 79 >
        • Oct 1978
        • Nov 1978
        • Dec 1978
        • Jan 1979
        • Feb 1979
        • Mar 1979
        • Apr 1979
      • Sept 1979 - Apr 80 >
        • Sept 1979
        • Oct 1979
        • Nov 1979
        • Dec 1979
        • Jan 1980
        • Feb 1980
        • Mar 1980
        • Apr 1980
    • Sept 1980 - Apr 1985 >
      • Sept 1980 - Apr 81 >
        • Sept 1980
        • Oct 1980
        • Nov 1980
        • Dec 1980
        • Jan 1981
        • Feb 1981
        • Mar 1981
        • Apr 1981
      • Sept 1981 - Apr 82 >
        • Sept 1981
        • Oct 1981
        • Nov 1981
        • Dec 1981
        • Jan 1982
        • Feb 1982
        • Mar 1982
        • Apr 1982
      • Sept 1982 - Apr 83 >
        • Sept 1982
        • Oct 1982
        • Nov 1982
        • Dec 1982
        • Jan 1983
        • Feb 1983
        • Mar 1983
        • Apr 1983
      • Sept 1983 - Apr 84 >
        • Sept 1983
        • Oct 1983
        • Nov 1983
        • Dec 1983
        • Jan 1984
        • Feb 1984
        • Mar 1984
        • Apr 1984
      • Sept 1984 - Apr 85 >
        • Sept 1984
        • Oct 1984
        • Nov 1984
        • Dec 1984
        • Jan 1985
        • Feb 1985
        • Mar 1985
        • Apr 1985
    • Sept 1985 - Apr 1990 >
      • Sept 1985 - Apr 86 >
        • Sept 1985
        • Oct 1985
        • Nov 1985
        • Dec 1985
        • Jan / Feb 1986
        • Mar 1986
        • Apr 1986
      • Sept 1986 - Apr 87 >
        • Sept 1986
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Bert Murray, M.B.E.
by Grant Crawford

How many of you, like myself, scanned the New Years Honours List last Hogmanay looking to see if you recognised anyone’s name? One recipient listed was a Herbert Murray of Aberdeen. At the time the name did not register with me but when I later read the report more carefully I noticed the said Mr Murray was to receive an MBE for ‘Service to Scottish Music’. It was then that it suddenly dawned on me that many others and I know this gentleman simply as Bert.
​
Bert was born in Ferryhill, Aberdeen on 26th January 1913. His grandfather Alex (Sandy) Murray from Banchory was an excellent fiddler who played in a  dance band with his brother on cornet and cousin on double bass and was an early influence on the young Bert. Bert recalls tales of them having to walk 40 miles to play at a dance and then sometimes walk home again to be home for their work in the morning. Bert also recalls the story of James Scott Skinner, a great friend of his grandfather, “Coming to visit and the children being put below the bed while the men folk had a tune and a dram. Scott skinner would pass tobacco under the bed to the children and one night the bed nearly caught fire”.
Bert first held a fiddle at the age on 9 and recalls, “One of my older brothers was learning to play the violin. I watched and listened thinking one day I would like to try that. Each day he was told to practice for one hour but always cut this short so he could go out and join his chums”.
“As soon as he had gone I opened the case, took out the violin and before long I was able to play some simple little tunes. My mother, in the next room and aware of what was going on kept quiet until some weeks had passed. I always had to watch the time and make sure I had returned the violin safely to its case before my father returned home from work as I thought he would probably be annoyed with me for playing my brother’s instruments.

“However, unknown to me, my father arrived home early one day and remarked, “Gordon (my brother) is making progress at last”, to which my mother replied “that is Bert playing.

“Watching the time I returned the violin to it’s case and went through to the kitchen where to my horror I discovered Dad had come home early. “I’m not annoyed laddie, I want you to carry on playing he told me.
Needless to say my brother was delighted that he no longer had to play as he hated his tuition but unfortunately the instrument had to be returned to the Education Authority. The following Saturday Dad took me around a few second hand shops till we secured the purchase of a violin for 35/-“.

Bert found a teacher in nearby Ferryhill Terrace and before long was reading music and making steady progress with his playing. Unfortunately not long after this Bert’s father had to give up work due to illness but his mother took a job in the kitchen of the Atheneum, Castle Street in order that Bert’s musical education could continue. Alas after just a year his tutor had to cease teaching (also due to ill health), but such was his enthusiasm that Bert decided to carry on and teach himself.

Having become a reasonable player he joined the Aberdeen S&R Society at the age of 13, attending the weekly practice nights. These were held in a large downstairs room at Paterson, Son and Marr Wood, Union Street, one of the many music shops in Aberdeen. Bert recalls there were a number of music shops in Aberdeen remembering Craig’s and Bruce Millar’s in George Street, Neil’s of Queen Street, Bowman’s of Bridge Street and Alex Strachan’s in Lower Skene Street behind H.M. Theatre.

Some months after joining the Society he took part in the annual concert held in the Music Hall, Union Street, and Bert still treasures a photograph taken on that occasion. Some of the names he recalls include conductor, Alex Sim, pianist Mrs Shand, Sandy Diack, Tom and George Johnstone, Leslie Davidson and a left handed player George Taylor. Also in the photo are two fellow ‘teenagers’ – Sandy Runcie and Bill Hardie.

A couple of years after joining, Alex Sim invited Bert to accompany him and some other members of the Society to a fiddle competition to be held at Bleaton Hall, Spittal of Glenshee. It was here that Bert was to meet a fellow competitor and strike up a friendship that was to last until the passing of this fellow fiddler. Bert recalls that “This loon could fair play and produced such a strong tone and possessed a distinguishing style and sound”. This young las went on to become the legend we knew as Angus Fitchet. No silverware was to make the long journey back to Aberdeen on that first occasion but Bert returned home in 1931 and 1932 with two fine silver cups which still adorn his display cabinet along with many other trophies and mementos he has collected over the years.

On leaving school at the age of 14, Bert “cast aff the short breeks and donned a pair o’ langers” in the hope of gaining employment. Before long he was to find work as a pageboy at the Palais D’Danse in diamond Street and this was to be the start of a new episode in his life. He recalls “Beautifully dressed, elegant ladies and gentlemen, the interior richly decorated, deep pile carpets surrounding the dance floor and the balcony and stairways being adorned with matching luxurious settees and armchairs”.
Al Leslie conducted the dance orchestra at that time and professional dance teachers were employed to teach Bert and his fellow pageboys demonstration dances such as The Charleston, Frisco and Black Bottom, to be performed on the nights when there was no cabaret. However, Friday night was Bert’s favourite as the dance hall remained opened till the early hours of the morning and the dance card included Gay Gordons, Dashing White Sergeant, Eightsome Reel and Lancers and Bert, now known for his prowess on the fiddle, was invited to join the orchestra for these evenings.

It was also from these Friday night spots that Bert was to get his first big break. His boss at the Palais introduced him to a gentleman by the name of Neil MacLean, a well known Gaelic Tenor who was also a manager with BBC  in Belmont Street. This introduction led to the first, at the age of 15, of three appearances on Children’s Hour.

During the war years Bert served as a Sergeant in the Royal Artillery being posted as far south as Exeter before returning home for a spell in the Gordon Highlanders. He managed to continue his playing by joining various bands set up by his comrades to play at camp dances and concerts.

On leaving the army Bert joined the busy Annie Shand Scott Band in 1949 and played with her for 6 years before leaving to join the bands of Bill Slessor and Johnny Walker before moving on again to join Alastair hunter’s Band, making several TV appearances on programmes such as ‘Scotch Corner’.

Bert retired from work and playing in 1977 in order that he could devote more time to caring for his wife Isobel whose health was failing. Music was completely forgotten about and Bert did not know of his good friend Robbie Shepherd’s programme ‘Take the Floor’, as the radio was not even turned on. Sadly, Isobel passed away in 1984 and then in 1985, “someone threw a switch again” as Bert puts it and Bert returned to playing and composing. Amazingly when Bert took the fiddle “oot frae un’er the bed” it was still in perfect tune after 8 years.

Bert has written over 750 tunes, and although he says he has now stopped composing, he had just completed a waltz to mark the wedding of a friend’s daughter a few hours before I spoke to him regarding this article (Aug 2000). One of Bert’s friends, Les Wheeler, set about the enormous task of storing all of his tunes in written form to computer and indeed 17 volumes of Bert’s tunes and arrangements have been published to date as well as a new compilation album recently published by Taigh na Teud Publications. Bert first had some of his tunes, including the popular strathspey, ‘Mrs B. Jolly’ and the Reel ‘Oor Willie’, published in The Thistle Collection, by Kerr’s Music. In 1986, at the tender age of 73, Bert was invited by Gibson Ross to make an album of his favourite tunes, along with Esme Shepherd on piano and Brian Cruickshanks on bass, entitled ‘Bert Murray on the Fiddle’ (CWGR091). Since then Bert has also committed all of his composition to tape thus ensuring a fine record of compositions be preserved. His tunes can often be heard on broadcasts and many have been recorded by numerous artistes both at home and abroad. Looking through the volumes it is clear that Bert possesses a quirky sense of humour when naming tunes.

Of all his compositions Sean Maguire’s Reel is perhaps the best known and Bert explains the background, “In 1955 Dr ?Kevin McCann, who made many written contributions to the B&F some years ago, (these are all on file in the Archive) was invited by John Junnor to come over from Ireland to the North East to meet a few fiddlers, including myself. Kevin brought along a fellow player by the name of Sean Maguire. Sean spent the night playing with John at the piano and had all present enthralled with his playing. I was so overwhelmed by this virtuoso performance I decided to compose a tune for this genius of a fiddler. Within a few days I had composed a tune for both Sean and Kevin and posted them copies. Imagine my surprise when, a few years later (1957), Kevin sent me a copy of the LP ‘The Four Star Quartet’ featuring my tune played by the great man himself. The ultimate compliment”.

Bert has, over the years, undertaken several trips to Canada and America both as an adjudicator and for his own pleasure and indeed used one such trip as recuperation after a heart scare a few years ago. Bert is proud of the many friendships he has nurtured during his trips abroad.

Ask Bert what the highlights of his life are and in a positive tone he’ll tell you there are many but, so far, Sean Maguire recording his tune, having so many musical friends throughout the world and the fact that some of them have dedicated compositions to him, (the best known perhaps being Billy McGuire’s tune ‘The Auld Fiddler’, as played by Ally Bain and Phil Cunningham and published in one of Iain Peterson’s books) and, of course, his meeting with H. M. The Queen at the Palace of Holyrood House on Wed, 5th July 2000 for his investiture as a Member of the Order of the British Empire.

Of the future, Bert is looking forward to taking up an invitation to perform some of his compositions at ‘Fiddle 2000’ in November and is honoured at ‘being the only living composer’ to have his tunes used in the fiddle competitions at the 2001 Musselburgh Festival. Just to help ensure he is around for the occasion he takes the odd nip of his favourite dark rum. Here’s to the power of Captain Morgan and the gentleman who signs himself The Auld Fiddler.   
 
Box and Fiddle
September 2000
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