Bill Spence (1919-2007) - Obituary
by Jock Thomson
B&F September 2007
Bill was a man that Scotland (and particularly Hawick) was extremely lucky to have in its midst, because his parents had originally intended to emigrate to New Zealand. He was brought up in Hawick, where he started showing his musical talents at an early age, going for lessons from his neighbour, Mr Smith of Allars Crescent. During his school years in Hawick he joined the Boys’ Brigade eventually becoming an officer. Bill fought with the KOSB and, after the war years, was reunited with Mary whom he married in December 1948. Mary still stays in the family home. Barry, their only child, was born in 1951.
Meanwhile Bill’s musical career was progressing and he passed the British College of Accordionists Registered Teachers Certificate in 1952. He also traveled to London to compete in and win the British Accordion Championship. He opened his music shop in Drumlanrig Square in 1963, eventually moving to Buccleuch Street where the music shop continues to trade. It has remained in family hands with his son Barry and grand-daughters Sandy and Adrienne. In 1964 Bill passed the BMG Certificate. He also composed and arranged music. Two of his own compositions were the 2/4s Royal Scot Farewell and Glendale Highlanders and some of his arrangements were published in the Hohner Popular Series of Piano Accordion Music.
Bill was a great influence to many of the Border musicians, teaching accordion and guitar in the back room of the shop and many of his pupils sat their exams in Bill’s home. To name but a few they included Eric Goodfellow, Bill and Jim Anderson, Jock Borthwick, Neil Barron, Luigi Nardini, Steve Hislop (Hizzy) and yours truly, also, Jimmy Clinkscale and George Butler who both organised accordion concerts in Border towns. Many of Scotland’s leading musicians, including Sir Jimmy Shand and Jimmy Blue, visited Bill over the years. My sincere thanks to all who helped me research this obituary. It was a great privilege to have known and been a pupil of the very talented Bill Spence.
The following piece was written in ‘the Hawick Tongue’ by a local historian, teacher and musician, Ian Landles.
Born on Trinity Street, off o’ the Lunn the butcher kind, hei bade in Allars Crescent. The first boy in the Congregational 4th Hawick BBs hei bade on ti be an officer. Hei was educated at the High School till it burnt doon – hei didni dae’s either – and heid ti gaun ti Wilton. Hei sterted playin the piani when hei was seeven bein taught by Mr Smith in Allars Crescent and got his first accordion when hei was 14 teachin umsel that sucessfihly that hei was sune teachin eet at weekends in Edinburgh. Hei later studied under Dr Shirlaw o Edinburgh University becoming an ALCM and an LBCA. Hei’s a TD tae which presumably disni stand for Tone Deef! Durin the war hei fought wi the 4th KOSBs bein among the last o the BEF ti come oot when France fell, but hei still fund time ti play for Selby Wright, the Radio Padre. He hed his ain accordion bands entertainin at coolness concerts, dinners, functions and weddins, playin at Scottish Accordion Festivals and ogtin gaun ti London for the British championships. As weel as reaching the piani, the accordion and the guitar for 45 years hei set up his music shop in 1963 first in what’s noo Brydons the Joiners in Drumlanrig Square, then in Buccleuch Street where hei’s ti move wi the times inti the video business which involves him watchin a film a night ti ken what ti order so if ever Barry Norman packs up Bill’s ready ti step inti his shoes. When hei dez get time ti umsel hei enjoys walkin roond Mertins Brig or up the Mair. Hei likes the Hawick songs, hei played at the Ball for years and minds vividly o playin Cornets up ti the Moat and doon ti the Tooer Knowe – him on the accordion, Davie Scott on the trumpet and Tony Nelson on the drums – Wat Robson was in the band tae but heid hev hed some hatter getting the pinai up the Loan! The Hawick songs meant maist ti um though durin the war when hei played the piani for Wullie Slorance when RSM Andra Baittie organised his Hawick nights fer frae Bonnie Teviotdale ti which absent Teries thochts certainly flew hameward.
His havourite song’s ‘I Like Auld Hawick the Best’. That’s his philosophy tae. Hei could hev moved ti further his music but Bill’s been happy ti hev spent his life in oor ain auld toon.
Meanwhile Bill’s musical career was progressing and he passed the British College of Accordionists Registered Teachers Certificate in 1952. He also traveled to London to compete in and win the British Accordion Championship. He opened his music shop in Drumlanrig Square in 1963, eventually moving to Buccleuch Street where the music shop continues to trade. It has remained in family hands with his son Barry and grand-daughters Sandy and Adrienne. In 1964 Bill passed the BMG Certificate. He also composed and arranged music. Two of his own compositions were the 2/4s Royal Scot Farewell and Glendale Highlanders and some of his arrangements were published in the Hohner Popular Series of Piano Accordion Music.
Bill was a great influence to many of the Border musicians, teaching accordion and guitar in the back room of the shop and many of his pupils sat their exams in Bill’s home. To name but a few they included Eric Goodfellow, Bill and Jim Anderson, Jock Borthwick, Neil Barron, Luigi Nardini, Steve Hislop (Hizzy) and yours truly, also, Jimmy Clinkscale and George Butler who both organised accordion concerts in Border towns. Many of Scotland’s leading musicians, including Sir Jimmy Shand and Jimmy Blue, visited Bill over the years. My sincere thanks to all who helped me research this obituary. It was a great privilege to have known and been a pupil of the very talented Bill Spence.
The following piece was written in ‘the Hawick Tongue’ by a local historian, teacher and musician, Ian Landles.
Born on Trinity Street, off o’ the Lunn the butcher kind, hei bade in Allars Crescent. The first boy in the Congregational 4th Hawick BBs hei bade on ti be an officer. Hei was educated at the High School till it burnt doon – hei didni dae’s either – and heid ti gaun ti Wilton. Hei sterted playin the piani when hei was seeven bein taught by Mr Smith in Allars Crescent and got his first accordion when hei was 14 teachin umsel that sucessfihly that hei was sune teachin eet at weekends in Edinburgh. Hei later studied under Dr Shirlaw o Edinburgh University becoming an ALCM and an LBCA. Hei’s a TD tae which presumably disni stand for Tone Deef! Durin the war hei fought wi the 4th KOSBs bein among the last o the BEF ti come oot when France fell, but hei still fund time ti play for Selby Wright, the Radio Padre. He hed his ain accordion bands entertainin at coolness concerts, dinners, functions and weddins, playin at Scottish Accordion Festivals and ogtin gaun ti London for the British championships. As weel as reaching the piani, the accordion and the guitar for 45 years hei set up his music shop in 1963 first in what’s noo Brydons the Joiners in Drumlanrig Square, then in Buccleuch Street where hei’s ti move wi the times inti the video business which involves him watchin a film a night ti ken what ti order so if ever Barry Norman packs up Bill’s ready ti step inti his shoes. When hei dez get time ti umsel hei enjoys walkin roond Mertins Brig or up the Mair. Hei likes the Hawick songs, hei played at the Ball for years and minds vividly o playin Cornets up ti the Moat and doon ti the Tooer Knowe – him on the accordion, Davie Scott on the trumpet and Tony Nelson on the drums – Wat Robson was in the band tae but heid hev hed some hatter getting the pinai up the Loan! The Hawick songs meant maist ti um though durin the war when hei played the piani for Wullie Slorance when RSM Andra Baittie organised his Hawick nights fer frae Bonnie Teviotdale ti which absent Teries thochts certainly flew hameward.
His havourite song’s ‘I Like Auld Hawick the Best’. That’s his philosophy tae. Hei could hev moved ti further his music but Bill’s been happy ti hev spent his life in oor ain auld toon.