Box and Fiddle Archive
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    • A - B Articles >
      • Mickie Ainsworth
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        • 1998 - 40 Years in Showbiz
        • Oct 2008 - 50th Anniversary
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        • 2009 Guest of honour
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        • Nov 2013 Jack's Obituary
      • Paul Anderson of Tarland
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      • Bill Black >
        • 2006
        • March 1983
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      • Jimmy Blue >
        • Oct / Nov 1990
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      • Joan Blue (1987) >
        • Joan Blue (2016)
      • David Bowen
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        • 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
    • A - B Obituaries >
      • 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 - D Articles >
      • 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
    • C - D Obituaries >
      • 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)
      • 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)
    • E - G Articles >
      • 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)
    • E - G Obituaries >
      • Tommy Edmondson (2001)
      • Bob Edward (1998)
      • Peem Edwards (1999)
      • John Ellis (2015)
      • 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 - J Articles >
      • 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
    • H - J Obituaries >
      • 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)
      • Ron Hodgson (2014)
      • 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)
    • K - L Articles >
      • Ron Kerr
      • Charlie Kirkpatrick
      • Andrew Knight
      • Sandy Legget
      • Judith Linton
    • K - L Obituaries >
      • Allan Kindness (2014)
      • John Laidlaw (1996)
      • Florence Lawie (2020)
      • Tommy Lees (2014)
      • Bruce Lindsay Snr (2020)
      • Jimmy Lindsay (2020)
      • Alex Little (2001)
      • Ben Lyons (2015)
    • Mac - Mc Articles >
      • 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
    • Mac - Mc Obituaries >
      • 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)
    • M Articles >
      • Dougie Maxwell
      • Gus Millar
      • Graeme Mitchell
      • Dennis Morrison
      • Ian Muir
      • Bert Murray
      • Ken Mutch
    • M Obituaries >
      • Hamish Menzies (2020)
      • Jim Muir (2001)
      • George Muir (1995)
      • Bert Murray MBE (2003)
    • N - P Articles >
      • Paddy Neary
      • Craig Paton
      • Gordon Pattullo >
        • Gordon Pattullo (40th Anniv)
      • Iain Peterson
      • Ian Powrie >
        • The People's Journal
        • Sept 1983
    • N - P Obituaries >
      • Andrew Nairn (2010)
      • Paddy Neary (2020)
      • Eann Nicolson (1990)
      • Dermot O'Brien (2007)
      • Stan Peacock (1994)
      • Davie Pollock (of Roslin) (2018)
      • Bill Powrie (1980)
      • Ian Powrie (2011)
      • Dave Pullar (2020)
    • R Articles >
      • Andrew Rankine
      • Frank Reid
      • Tony Reid
      • Adam Rennie
      • John Renton
      • Donal Ring
      • Jim Ritchie
      • Arthur Scott Robertson
      • Graham Ross
      • Lindsay Ross
    • R Obituaries >
      • Bert Rae (2015)
      • Ian Redford (1988)
      • Jimmy Ritchie (2001)
      • John Rooney (2015)
      • Graham Ross (2020)
      • Walter Rutherford (2018)
    • S Articles >
      • 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
    • S Obituaries >
      • 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)
    • T Articles >
      • Bill Thom
      • Kenny Thomson
      • Sandy Tulloch
      • Violet Tulloch
    • T Obituaries >
      • Kenny Thomson (2013)
      • Toralf Tollefsen (27/11/94)
      • Bobby Torrance (2011)
      • Dr Sandy Tulloch (2006)
    • U - Z Articles >
      • 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
    • U - Z Obituaries >
      • 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)
    • Accordion Teachers Obits >
      • 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)
      • Sylvia Wilson
      • Wilson Wood (2005)
      • Rosemary Wright
    • Jimmy Clinkscale Articles from 1981
    • Poems by Andy Stewart >
      • Jimmy Shand
      • Angus Fitchet
      • Bobby MacLeod
      • Ian Powrie
    • Poem by Jock Turpie
  • Roll of Honour
  • 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
        • 2021 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 >
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      • Lesmahagow A&F Club >
        • 1980s
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      • 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
          • 2021 - 22
      • 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
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Box and Fiddle
Year 21 No 04                  
December 1997 / January 1998
Price 70p
20 Page Magazine
7 month subscription £8.00

Editor – Charlie Todd, 63 Station Road, Thankerton, Biggar, ML12 6NZ
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Margaret Smith, Smeaton Farm Cottage, Dalkeith, Midlothian, EH22 2NL
 
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
For the ‘Composer’s Corner’ feature I’m very grateful to Major Gavin Stoddart B.E.M., Director of the Army School of Bagpipe Music in Edinburgh Castle for a quick response to my enquiry about the life histories of some of the great composers of pipe music. Readers can look forward to excellent write-ups on P/M Willie Ross, P/M Donald MacLeod, P/M G.S. McLennan and others.

This month we also make a start to the ‘Tune Titles’ feature suggested last month with an opening contribution from W. Chalmers of Johnstone in Renfrewshire. Now that it’s up an running let’s see if we can keep it going.

Record Reviews appear to be like buses – you see hardly any for months and then they all come at once. It’s great to get them because it demonstrates how healthy the recording side of our music scene is but it tends to swamp our ‘Record Reviewer’. Anyway the anonymous ‘Swampy’ and his team of helpers are hard at work and we look forward to the results.

Thinking ahead, remember to enter Musselburgh in your new year diary on Saturday, 7th March, 1998 and Jack Cooper advises that the dates for the Weekend Gathering at the Station Hotel in Perth are 27th / 28th June, 1998 when the Guest of Honour will be Dumfries bandleader Ian Holmes.

The next issue will see the start of a ‘Teachers Directory’ to assist parents in finding good all-round teachers. Teachers of any of the instruments featuring in our scene are invited to drop me a line with their details.

This will be the last issue for 1997, so may I take the opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.   
Charlie Todd

The 1997 Shetland Accordion & Fiddle Festival
by ?
Bandleader Bill Black, in a humorous speech, formally declared the Festival opened sharp at 1 p.m. and made way for bandleader David Cunningham Jnr, on stage with his band, to strike the opening chord - ………………..

Composers Corner
Felix Burns
by Tom Cowing
Felix Joseph Burns was born in Perth on 5th March, 1864. He showed a remarkable musical talent from an early age, progressing from the tin whistle and mouth organ to the piano. He became a fine organist and, joining the local band, mastered a variety of brass and woodwind instruments. From an early age he showed a flair for original composition.

According to Leo Burns, Felix’s youngest son (now 97 years of age and living in Coventry), his father ran away from home at the age of 16 in 1880 and joined the ‘Moore and Burgess Travelling Minstrel Show’. As well as his instrumental skills he had a lifelong love of the theatre and showmanship as reflected in many of the titles of his tunes.

From there he moved on to be a pianist with a traveling ‘Diarama’ Show and it was during this time that he met and married Catherine Burns, his first cousin, from Motherwell (Lanarkshire). During a long and happy marriage they had thirteen children, nine of whom survived into adulthood. They were - sons Frederick, Douglas, Felix Jnr and Leo and daughters Catherine, Winifred, Susan, Leona and Doris.

In 1885 Felix, Catherine and their first two children arrived in the ‘Border City’ of Carlisle with the Diarama Show. Unfortunately the Manager of the Show absconded with the money, a not uncommon occurrence in those days, leaving the Burns family and the rest of the crew stranded.

Felix however, expressed his belief that they would be all right in Carlisle since he liked the look of the place. From his introduction to the Border City at the famous ‘Matchbox Music Hall’ he quickly established himself as a music teacher and working musician. His teaching studio above the Market Arcade in Carlisle contained two grand pianos and a concert harp.

While trying a piano in a local music shop one day he was asked by the manager about the tune he was playing. Replying that it was one of his own compositions the manager asked for a copy and sent it to a publisher in London who accepted it for publication.

This was to be the start of another very successful side of Felix’s career. He published a total of 16 ‘Popular Dance Albums’ (the last three were published after his death by Felix Jnr) which sold at 2 shilling each, in addition to a great many piano solos. Just for the record the Dance Albums were entitled Royal (1905), Imperial (1908), Great Britain (1910), Flag of Empire (1911), Vaudeville (1914), Vanity Fair (1915), London Town (1915), Merry Makers (1917), Gaiety (1918), Old Drury (1919), Black and White (1920), Tower of London (1921), Dickens (1922) and lastly Frivolity (1923). Collectively they contain no less than 120 compositions, an impressive collection in itself. His own personal favourite was a Barn Dance tune entitled ‘Woodland Flowers’.                    

Many of the titles therein reflect the period during which Felix lived, with the British Empire becoming the mightiest the world had ever see during his lifetime but seeing the sun set on it during the Great War of 1914-18. ‘Pageant to Empire’, ‘Queen Mary Waltz’, ‘Somewhere in France’ and ‘Over the Top’ to name but a few. His piano solos were published under several nom-de-plumes, a custom of the time – Leona Lacoste, Claud Roslind and Leon Fabrina.

Despite the fact that he was not blessed with the best of health he was able to cram an amazing amount of musical activities and achievements into his short working life. It is impossible to calculate the total number of his compositions as there were at least twenty-two known Publishing Houses turning out his music under his real name as well as his nom-de-plumes.

He had several part time activities as a musician also. He was the Bandmaster of the 4th Battalion Border Regiment (Volunteers). He was also organist and choirmaster of St Mary’s and St Joseph’s Church in Carlisle and he provided piano accompaniment at the Winter Concerts organized by the Town Council. He was engaged to organize and play at dances in fashionable houses throughout Cumbria and to accompany celebrated performers of the day when they visited Carlisle to give concerts.

Felix would take pride in giving one of his latest compositions its premier at one of the Carlisle Winter Concerts. He is remembered with much affection in his chosen ‘home town’ as a man who was proud of the Border City and contributed to its quality of life and its future. He was always eager to volunteer his services to assist any charitable cause or simply to help or give a little pleasure to those in need.

During, and following, the First World War there were many who needed all sorts of support and to have their spirits lifted. Felix knew that he was fortunate to be blessed with rare talents and that he should use them for the benefit of his fellow man and this he did on countless occasions. He was very well aware of the beneficial and therapeutic effects that music can impart.

In person Felix Burns was a pleasant, quietly spoken and earnest man. Despite his relaxed ways he was a man of great warmth and kindness and very great personality. He was a popular and good natured public figure and, in private, a loving father and dedicated family man who had attained his own success and brought up a highly talented family by his endeavours.

In later life Felix suffered from prolonged ill health (he was probably diabetic) but never complained. He died very suddenly on 19th January, 1920 at the age of 55. He had given 4 music lessons that day and still had 79 pupils on his register. Catherine, his wife, outlived him by 19 years and died in 1939.

To conclude, from impressions gained from my researches and from speaking with Leo, I should say that Felix Burns knew that it was not given to everyone to be a virtuoso but that everyone can enjoy music. He hoped that everyone who is blessed with the ability to play will try to appreciate music in all its forms and work to improve their skills for the betterment of their own enjoyment and satisfaction as well as the appreciation of those who listen to the music they pay.

As Scottish Dance Band musicians we are indeed lucky to benefit from so many fine tunes, bearing in mind that they were originally composed for a completely different musical idiom. His tunes have faced and passed the ultimate test – the test of time, which sees them in everyday usage a century after their composition. I hope that everyone, especially our younger musicians, enjoy these tunes.

The Story Behind the Tune Titles
I can think of no better way to kick off the ‘Tune Titles’ feature than an explanation of your examples i.e. ‘The 91st at Modder River’ and ‘Paardeberg’. Both pipe marches were composed to commemorate actions which took place in the Boer War in South Africa 1899 – 1902.

The 91st Highlanders (or 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) were ordered to cross the Modder River from a bridgehead and this they did against strong opposition. However after being pinned down all day they were forced to retreat having sustained heavy casualties.

‘Paardeberg’ was the scene of the encirclement and eventual surrender of the Boer General Crone and much of his army. This was the first real success of the War for the British which until then had been a series of disasters not the least of which was also commemorated in a well-known Retreat March’. At ‘Magersfontein’ the Highland Brigade suffered severely in an abortive night attack losing, amongst many others, their very popular General Andy Wauchope.

‘Magersfontein’ was composed by Piper, later Pipe Major John McLennan of the Highland Light Infantry (H.L.I.) who was wounded in the action and was awarded the D.C.M. for gallantry. He went on to compose many other fine pipe tunes later in his career.

Your mistake in referring to the 93rd (which was the 2nd Battalion of the A&SH and was not in South Africa) is not uncommon since it appears in some pipe books under that title. Hoping the above will be of interest to your readers. 

Introducing the Committee
Our New Vice Chairman – Nicol McLaren
Continuing the injection of ‘young blood’ into the organisation, the new Vice-Chairman of the Association is Nicol McLaren (37) of Blairgowrie, leader of the Glencraig Scottish Dance Band.

Nicol, a Sales specialist with Dalgety Agriculture, started playing the accordion at 9 years of age when his father bought an old 48 bass Bell piano accordion from a junk shop in Stirling and found that he had a good ‘lug’ for the music – much to the disappointment of his teacher – Marion Campbell of Harbet who quickly realised he played what he heard rather than what was written!!

Scottish Dance Music was always around Nicol, however, with Ian McCallum (then with Grace MacCleaver’s Band) working for his father on the farm at Dunmore and uncle Alex MacArthur always around to give help and encouragement. Indeed it was Alex who gave Nicol his first inspiration to be a bandleader. On the opening night of the Biggar Accordion and Fiddle Club, the family were all part of the huge crowd in the Clydesdale Hotel when Alex asked his ‘wee nephew’ to have a tune. Alex then said he would put a bunch of ‘no-hopers’ around him to see if he could make a band out of them.

Well - that band consisted of – fiddle Ian Powrie, second accordion Jim Johnstone, piano Bpbby Brown, bass Robin Brock and drums Bobby Colgan.

Nicol says “I came off the stage feeling about 10 feet tall and just couldn’t wait to have another go”. That memory has lingered on – it was typical MAcArthur – and from then on I wanted to lead my own band”.

The opportunity did not present itself for some time, however because Nicol stopped playing! While at Edinburgh University, studying agriculture, however, a pal who sang a bit and played guitar persuaded him to do a couple of ‘pub gigs’ – and the bug was back. The Glencraig SDB started in 1984 when Nicol, then a Salesman with S.A.I. in Blairgowrie was asked by a customer if he could put together a band for a church social. Two good friends Dave Bell on drums and Lorna Webster on accordion joined him for the night – and another half dozen bookings were had –the Glencraig was born! The diary grew, and with the inclusion of Gordon Howe on fiddle, Graham Berry on piano and Suzanne on bass, the band developed until, in 1989 they recorded their first cassette for the Dick Webster Cancer Fund and their BBC Broadcast for ‘Take the Floor’ – sadly only a few months after Uncle Alex’s untimely death.

Nicol says he has been very fortunate to have had very few personnel changes over the years and the current regulars of Nicol (lead accordion), Gordon Howe (fiddle), Neil Caul (second accordion), Maureen Rutherford (piano) and Dave Bell (drums) have been together for quite some time playing all over the country – and beyond (the last 3 years in Bahrain for St Andrew’s Night).

The band’s two cassettes for the Dick Webster Cancer Fund have helped Dick to raise the tremendous sum of over £30,000 for cancer relief and they have just released their first CD for the Shielburn Label. Another is to follow early in 1998.

Outside music, Nicol’s hobbies are rugby – he played full-back for Murrayfield R.F.C. for 12 years before retiring about 4 years ago, and golf – rather erratic and very frustrating.

To further Scottish music, he also hosts ‘Sporrans a Burling’ – a Scottish Dance Music programme on Heartland FM, a local radio station based in Pitlochry. “It’s a bit ‘non-hitech’ “ says Nicol, “but I enjoy doing the programmes. I’m the producer, presenter and sound engineer – the buck stops (and starts) with me!”

Nicol says he is delighted to have been elected to the post of Vice-Chairman of an organisation dedicated to the music he loves and pledges to do all he can to further the Association, the music and the young talent emerging today. “Working with Jim Johnstone (my boyhood hero!) is a wee boy’s dream come true, but the whole Executive Committee seem to work very well together. I believe our music, and our Association is in great hands!”
More Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow


by Sandy Tulloch
I used to think that the grace notes in pipe music were a convenient way for a piper to find the place. Two up, two down and hey presto, the note! But not so. The now defunct Lowland pipes had a stopped up bore and could play staccato but not so the Great Highland Bagpipe’s chanter which is like a through gaein’ close. Notes cannot be separated unless a grace note (or two or three or more) are stuck between them. The greatest number I have found in my collection is 9 ! Two row players may have difficulty!

Another piece of research fell on fairly stony ground. We have all possibly heard of something called ‘Heedrum Hodrum’ or more properly ‘Canntareachd’ which preceded manuscript. There were several teaching methods and not much evidence of agreement between them.

This curious method – a sort of Gaelic So-Fah system was in use until the first quarter of the 19th century when Angus MacKay, first piper to Queen Victoria published the first definitive work in 1838 using the Treble Clef. Key signatures were often wrongly used but soon discarded altogether because the pipe had only one scale of nine notes, roughly the scale of ‘A’ with a natural ‘G’. The pipe pitch has never been updated and is close to the modern Bb. But this apartthe scale intervals are also different giving the pipe scale a very distinctive sound. The C# is slightly flat, the D slightly sharp and the F# slightly flat. The high G is also slightly sharp. This peculiar scale does not lend itself to good harmonies and Retreats with Seconds have a very distinctive sound. Compositions by pipers show subtle differences to those by accordionists more used to the ‘normal’ scales. The occasional use of ‘G’ natural does not make a pipe tune. Far less Ceol Mor or Great Music. Bur as far a Ceol Beag (march, strathspey, reel and jig) is concerned, Scots audiences respond in a remarkable way even when played on the accordion. And curiously it is very often the oldest tunes which receive greatest applause. Bit I often wonder what a piper thinks of some of our efforts….!

The Stanley Ceilidh
by Bill and Anne Black
Another ‘Stanley Ceilidh’ Weekend has come and gone, and oh boy, what an array of talent appeared this year. It has often been said before that ‘this has been the best one ever’, but really this time was absolutely unbelievable. A total of 24 accordionists, 6 fiddlers, 6 pianists, 3 bass players, 5 drummers, 1 mouth organ player and 1 Jew’s harp player. The biggest job was getting everyone on stage within the time we had available, but we managed and even had half an hour spare before the clock caught up.

I would like to say a very big thank you to all the musicians who gave up their time and made the effort to come along and support Anne and I in our quest to raise money for handicapped children. Without you all the weekend would be a complete flop.

I would also like to thank all the enthusiasts who gave us their support and donated to the cause so generously.

A special thanks must also go to the management and staff of the Tayside Hotel for their ready co-operation and efficient friendly service over the whole weekend.

To everyone who donated raffle prizes for the Saturday night draw, my sincere thanks. To Mabel Gray who donated a beautiful Christmas Hamper for the Friday night which raised a total of £302.50 in one raffle prize, thanks very much indeed.

Thanks also to Kathryn Nicol, Suzanne Gray and Dave Millward for taking charge of the raffle and collection on Friday night, and to George Hunter, Suzanne Gray and Ian Gray for their assistance at the door on Saturday night.

A very special word of appreciation must go to Anne (my wife) for all her hard work in preparation both before and during the weekend. To everyone who helped in any way at all, my sincere thanks.

The total amount of money raised over the weekend came to a staggering £1,924. The money this year is being donated to Rachel House in Kinross which is a hospice which does outstanding work in the case of terminally ill children.

I’ve said a special thanks to quite a number of people and hopefully no-one has been missed out, but I feel the most special thanks of all must be reserved for the young band from the Shetland Isles who played for our Saturday night dance. This was their first trip outside Shetland as a band and ‘boy oh boy’, did they leave their mark. The Colin and Alan Dance Band which consists of Colin Sutherland, accordion, Alan Nicolson, accordion, Margaret Couper, piano, Alan Scollay, bass, and Ian Tulloch on drums were absolutely fantastic and presented themselves in a really professional manner which was so nice to see. I’ve had a huge number of phone calls from people wondering when they will be back and expressing their heartfelt admiration for this superb band, Well, the good news is that they are going to make a return visit to the ‘Stanley Ceilidh’. This will take place on the first weekend in November in year 1999 as this is our 21st Anniversary of the Stanley Ceilidh so we are alredy looking forward to that.

Getting back to next year, the venue has been booked as usual for 6th – 8th November, 1998. We have been very fortunate in that we have managed to book the services of one of the top bands in Scotland for the Saturday night dance and that is Alasdair MacCuish and the Black Rose Ceilidh Band who have been great supporters over the years.

The musicians who gave us their support over the weekend were as follows - on accordion Hamish Smith, Dave Millward, Morag Robertson, John Gunn, Lesley Craig, Alex Morrison, Hamish McDougall, Jimmy Lindsay, Sandy Lindsay, Alasdair MacCuish, Scott Gordon, Lindsay Weir, Colin Garvin, Bruce Peebles, Iain Cathcart, Lynn Christie, Shirley Campbell, Lynne Gould, Duncan Black, Jock Loch, James Corbett, Pauline Bradley, and of course I managed to get a wee tune myself. Quite an impressive list in anybody’s book.

On fiddles were Kathryn Nicol, Margaret Couper, Susan McIntosh, Mark MacDougall, Carol Dobson and Ian Robertson.

On keyboard were Judith Robertson, Mabel Gray, Margaret Couper, Violet Morrison and Louise Campbell.

On drums were Robert McFadyen, Robert Simpson, Duncan Christie, George Gray and Ian Tulloch.

On bass were Suzanne Gray, Alan Scollay and Mark MacDougall.

And finally the two grand old gentlemen whose combined ages come to around 180 years. On mouth organ was Willie Atkinson from Wooler and on Jew’s harp was Angus McKinnon from Dallas in Morayshire.

All in all an absolutely brilliant weekend was had by all and I trust I will be able to welcome you all back to the ‘Stanley Ceilidh’ on the first weekend in November, 1988. In the meantime may I sincerely thank once again everyone who took part in any way at all to make the weekend such a fantastic success.

Until next year all the best of health, happiness and good music.      

Record Review
The Hurricane – Wayne Robertson S.D.B. – Smith Mearns Recording SMR070

Take the Floor – Saturdays at 6.30pm with Robbie Shepherd
6th Dec 97 – John Renton SDB
13th Dec 97 – Calum Wilson SDB
10th Dec 97 – Lindsay Weir SDB
27th Dec 97 – Jim Johnstone SDB

3rd Jan 98 – OB from The Piping Centre, Glasgow - John Carmichael SDB with Roddy MacLeod and Peter Mallan
10th Jan 98 – Ian Holmes SDB
17th Jan 98 – Nicol McLaren & the Glencraig SDB
24th Jan 98 – OB from Queen’s Hall, Dunoon with Colin Dewar SDB (recorded 14.01.98)
31st Jan 98 – Iain MacPhail SDB

CLUB DIARY 

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