Box and Fiddle
Year 25 No 04
December 2001
Price £1.75
44 Page Magazine
6 month subscription £13.70
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
I can’t believe that we’re almost at the end of another year. I would like to take the space to say some heartfelt thank-yous.
to Alison Riddell for proofreading every month,
to Charlie Todd for trying to keep me on track,
to Nicol McLaren for his patience and humour when he has to answer my stupid questions, to Sandra Fleming for all of the accounting work at the beginning of the year
to the Executive Committee of the NAAFC,
to everyone who contributes to the Box and Fiddle and
to all at Culross (particularly Frank, Ian, Bruce, Murray and Pat).
This month I’d also like to say how grateful I am to Seamus O’Sullivan, who managed to zap and extremely nasty bug on my computer! I apologise for this issue not being quite on schedule, but the computer was completely out of commission just at the busiest time. The biggest thank-you of all must go to you, the readers, for continuing to support not only the magazine, but also the A&F Clubs throughout the country.
I hope you enjoy this month’s issue. We have two new columnists. Dave Francis is a musician and dance caller from Edinburgh, and Jean Lumsden is a Scottish Country Dance Teacher from Adelaide in Australia. If any of you would like to contribute articles for publication, please send them to the usual address.
We are also keen to receive any old documentation or photographs relating to Scottish Dance Music.
Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, and don’t forget there’s an issue of the B&F in January.
Karin Ingram
The 14th Shetland Accordion & Fiddle Festival
by
On Thursday, 11th October, Islesburgh Community Centre in Lerwick became the Festival Club for the weekend, for the fourteenth Shetland……………..
Dancing in the Dolomites
by Robin Ellis
Early one September morning (and I mean early!) the band and some fifty dancers mainly from the south-east of England met up at Gatwick airport for a week’s dancing in Levico, a small town in the Italian Dolomites. The advantage of the early start was that we arrived in time for lunch but the disadvantage was that many of us had to leave home in the ‘wee sma’ hours’. Most bands can tell stories about airlines and the carriage of instruments – well we were no exception. Our own personal cases arrived as expected but then our worst fears were realised as the baggage carousel ground to a halt – empty! Contact was made wit the Lost and Found Office, who fortunately spoke English, only to be told that our instruments had, for reasons unknown, not been put on the aircraft at Gatwick but were expected to arrive on a subsequent flight. Our first thoughts were “does this mean an hour, a day or a week?” However we were assured that the flight of another airline was just 30 minutes behind ours and our instruments were on board – to our amazement and relief they were.
The hotel was in an idyllic spot on the shores of its own (well almost) private lake with the town just a short walk away and the mountains behind and opposite. The weather was perfect. What did we do? Well one could swim in the lake, take out a pedalo, walk along the many paths around and about, climb up innumerable mountains or go shopping or sightseeing in the delightful little town. One, incidentally which was not completely spoilt by tourism, real people still lived and worked there. For those more adventurous there were trips into the spectacular Dolomite Region or to the nearby city of Trento and even a train ride to Venice. This last excursion incidentally cost only £12 for a two-hour train ride much of it through the magnificent Val Sugana. Each evening the band was on duty for dancing. One evening an accordionist friend of our MC, who lived near Cavalese came to join us. A real character by the name of Bruno Rungaldier who looks every inch the part and seemed to be able to play almost anything, he even managed some traditional Scottish music. The weather was so warm that even after dancing it was pleasant enough to sit out by the lakeside – oh for such weather in Scotland! In fact the whole area was very similar to much of Scotland; mountains, lakes, friendly people, accordions but with one important extra ingredient – guaranteed sunshine almost every day. Our flight home was delayed due to the troubles in New York a day or two earlier and just as we were preparing for a long wait I was summoned by the airport PA to report to the security office. When I actually found it – I was taken by a very unsmiling policeman through numerous doors into the baggage hall and asked by a much more friendly Customs Officer to open all the band cases to show him the contents. As we pack everything very thoroughly this took some 45 minutes altogether but he seemed to be happy with what he saw and even helped me to repack. Still I suppose this all helped to fill the time. We eventually arrived home some six hours late, in the middle of the night – oh the joys of air travel!
Will we go back again one day? – I certainly hope so.
N.A.A.F.C. Drive to Archive
Fears that much of our heritage is being lost has prompted the N.A.A.F.C. to appoint Charlie Todd as its first Archivist. The aim is to create a central point for the collection and collation of information and memorabilia on the Scottish Dance Music scene. The Association is delighted to see a few individuals building private collections which will preserve various aspects of our history. Four examples of individuals who have made a significant contribution in this respect are Northern Ireland’s Ken Hopkin’s, best known for his magnificent accordion collection but also a collector of anything accordion related and Caroline Hunt who follows a similar path in the Highlands, Jack Cooper, whose collection of photographs has regularly been displayed at the National Association’s Gathering and Jimmy Helm who went public with his excellent book ‘Who’s on The Dance Music Tonight?’
Other than some comparatively recent photographs accumulated by Editors of the Box and Fiddle, the Association is starting with a clean slate. The dangers of losing our heritage are all too apparent when even well-known, if informal, collections such as the photographs which used to line the walls of Jimmy Clinkscale’s Melrose shop’s staircase can disappear forever without a trace when that business closed.
Unlike Ken and Caroline the Association is not intending to retain the hardware of the Scottish music scene but merely ‘the paperwork’ – photographs and documents, (by which we mean dance programmes, newspaper cuttings, dance tickets, articles, theatre programmes) - anything at all related to the Scottish music scene. The disturbing aspect is that although such items will hold cherished memories for the present owners, they frequently mean nothing to the next generation and will end up ‘on the coup’.
As an example, when researching and writing articles in my spell as Editor I was privileged to have the loan of programmes for Royal Variety Club shows at the Alhambra Theatre in Glasgow (who nowadays knows that Mozart Allen was President of the Royal Variety Club in 1962?), recording contracts from the BBC from the 1950’s, and numerous photographs, some of which I was able to use and some not. All these type of items,, obviously, have been borrowed and returned by successive writers and Editors. When researching Hohner I was put in touch with Bob Wilson, a former Managing Director of Bells of Surbiton, who had retired some 4 years earlier and in clearing out his office had thrown out copies of Bells excellent catalogues back to the 1950s.
We don’t anticipate a deluge of documents appearing through the post, although we would be happy if there were, but if you are interested, as we are, in preserving our heritage then perhaps it’s time to think ahead and consider passing some items into our care. Any donations will be acknowledged and officially receipted by the Association. They will remain your property and, if at any stage and for any reason you want them back, your wishes will be respected.
With an eye to the future you may well ask, ‘Well, what if the Association ceases to exist?’ Well up until that day dawns we’ll have a Committee and two of its last duties would be to disperse the funds of the Association and find a permanent home, perhaps in a museum, for the collection. The two duties could well be closely related.
So if we have inspired you to ransack the attic or to look out the old photograph collection from the shoe box in the lobby press, then could you please pass any items of interest to Charlie Todd.
2016 update – only one contribution of any significance was received in response to the above and it has since been returned to its owner. I have no doubt that over the last 15 years innumerable documents and photos have found their way into dustbins all over the country.
14th Ayrshire Music Festival
The Magnum Leisure Centre, Irvine – 6th October 2001
by Derek Hamilton
Although numbers attending were down a bit this year, the Festival was another success in every way. As usual competitors, and their families, traveled some long distances to be at Irvine in time for the competitions. We had competitors from Aberdeen, Dundee, Lanarkshire, Paisley, Angus, Edinburgh, Midlothian and Airdrie as well as the local Ayrshire area.
The standard of competition and playing grows as the years progress. A great deal of praise must go to the competitors and their teachers for the superb effort they all put in.
We should have had Gordon Pattullo as our traditional accordion judge this year but sadly, a few days before the Festival, Gordon had to pull out due to a close family bereavement. Despite having all the problems attached to that, Gordon organised for John Carmichael to be our judge and the Committee would like to say thanks to both of them. Neil Copland has an annual booking with us to judge the Classical because he is just the best. He and Mo have been great friends of the ASMA Festival for many years and we are much the richer for their support.
Judging the fiddle sections this years was Gordon Simpson who, by all accounts, did a first class job of it and, I think, enjoyed the occasion immensely. “It was getting difficult to pick the winners, they are all so good” was Gordon’s comment.
As usual the Committee are indebted to the large army of helpers who, with the minimum of support, just get on with what they have to do. They are the unsung heroes of the day.
Sadly we lost an old friend earlier this year. Alex Little had for many years been our main MC in the theatre and kept the audience amused and the whole show flowing smoothly. In fact he actually gave up a major birthday celebration three years ago so that he didn’t let us down. Such was the man – a great friend and a sad loss.
The big 3-row button-box player from Glasgow (originally Iona) otherwise known as ‘The Exorcist’ (because when he visits you all the ‘spirits’ disappear!), Charlie Kirkpatrick did an excellent job as MC in the theatre. In fact, so good was he, we finished virtually bang on time at lunchtime and the same at the end of the afternoon. A real first for the ASMA Festival – not to mention a vast improvement on his timekeeping for arrival at gigs!!
The ceilidh at night was a real happy family affair thanks to the crowd who came along. Even some friends from Northern Ireland turned up and while the wives went shopping during the day, the lads took in the Festival and they all came along to the ceilidh.
The Committee is indebted to so many people (too many to mention here, but they know who they are) for the success of the day. Here’s to next year – the 1st Saturday in October. Everybody bring a friend, or two or three and we’ll have a real party.
Traditional Fiddle Classes
Under 12 Solo MSR
Irvine Development Corporation Cup
Malcolm Watson
12 and Under 16 Solo MSR
The Chalmers Shield
George Smith
Under 12 Solo Slow Air
Hospitality Cup
Malcolm Watson
12 & Under 16 Solo Slow Air
The Hamilton Shield
Erin Smith
Open Fiddle Solo MSR
West Sound Radio
George Smith
Open Fiddle Solo Slow Air
Alex Colvin Trophy
Erin Smith
Open Fiddle Solo (Pipe)
Bill and Irene Cunningham
Neil Adams
Traditional Accordion Classes
Under 12 Solo Own Choice
The Caberfeidh Shield (ASMA)
Gemma Coupland
12 & Under 16 Solo MSR
Galston Accordion Club Cup
Tom Orr
Open Solo MSR
The George Fleming Cup
Liam Stewart
Junior Solo Pipe MSR
The John Carmichael Trophy
Tom Orr
Open Solo Pipe MSR
Mr & Mrs Duncan McLennan
Liam Stewart
Open Traditional Polka
The MacGillvray Trophy
Susan McFadyen
Own Composition
The Willie Wilson Cup
Gemma Coupland
Trios (Trad Style)
S.C.E.A. Trophy
Neil Adams
Bands (Trad Style)
The Margaret Davidson Shield
Karen Ferguson
Cla1ssical Accordion Classes
Under 12 Solo
Irvine Herald
John Morrison
Under 14 Solo
Trophy Centre
Craig Stevenson
Under 16 Solo
A.R.A. Caterers
Derek Muir
Open Solo
Cunningham District Council
Neal Galbraith
Under 12 Polka
A.S.M.A. Shield
John Morrison
Under 16 Polka
Mr & Mrs Robert Campbell
Derek Muir
Open Polka
The Steward’s Shield (ASMA)
Derek Muir
Free Style Class
Any Age, Any Music Style
The Andy Rae Trophy
Liam Stewart
Sir Jimmy Shand Sculpture Project
by John Thomson
Patron : The Earl of Elgin and Kincardine K.T.
Dear Nicol,
As you know, Sir Jimmy Shand unfortunately died on 23rd December 2000. Sir Jimmy, of course, was loved and respected as a man and a musician, by people from all walks of life, throughout the world. Dr. Sandy Tulloch, Retired Eye Consultant (Dundee), Ian Collie, Retired Director of Education (Dunblane), John McDonald, Retired Police Inspector (Kirkcaldy) and myself, a Retired Police Superintendent, are amongst these people who loved and respected Sir Jimmy. Consequently, they decided to form a Working Group with a view to raising sufficient funds for the erection of a life sized bronze sculpture of Sir Jimmy which would hopefully be sited in Auchtermuchty. David Annand, who is a very well respected Sculptor residing in Kilmany, Fife, would most likely be commissioned to undertake the sculpture involving a total cost of approximately £25,000.
The Earl of Elgin and Sir Jimmy were very close friends. The Earl was appraised of the Project and, on being asked to be Patron, he readily agreed. The Convener of Fife Council and the Chairman of Auchtermuchty Community Council have been informed of the Project.
At the time of Sir Jimmy’s death, as you know, many people paid lovely tributes to him for his tremendous contribution to the Scottish Dance scene. Of course, many of these tributes were published in the Box and Fiddle demonstrating how much band members and members of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs had loved and respected this great man. The Working Group, therefore, wondered if you, as Chairman of the N.A.A.F.C. would be kind enough to draw to the attention of band members and Club members, to the Sculpture Project, by means of the Box and Fiddle, in the hope that they would organize fund raising events to help raise sufficient funds for the Sculpture. If, in time, we were fortunate enough to raise money in excess of the amount required, then any excess would be donated to the Dalgairn Training Centre for the Mentally Handicapped situated at Cupar, Fife. Sir Jimmy’s youngest son David has attended the Centre for a number of years and Sir Jimmy took a great interest in the Centre. In the unfortunate event of insufficient funds being raised, the funds raised would all be given to the Centre and other Charities suggested by the Shand family. The Shand family have, of course, been consulted regarding the Project and have given their full approval. We. the Working Group, would like to thank you, most sincerely, for any help you can give towards raising funds for the Project.
John Thomson
Secretary
Jim Muir (Obituary)
by Frank Farquharson
It is with regret we note that one of the most gifted pianists, Jim Muir, passed away on 4th November 2001
Born in Alyth, the eldest of three sons, Jim started lessons at the age of seven, his tutor neing Dr. Baldwin in Dundee. His musical talent even at that age showed through when, still in short trousers, he was playing to Bill Sutherland’s Country Dancers in Blairgowrie High School.
The next step was when brother Jack and he formed their own band to play at wee gigs around Alyth. This was noted and Jim duly sat at the piano in the Jim Cameron Band. He then went on to play with Hector McPhee, in Edinburgh. This led to the start of his broadcasting career, which spanned many years with Mickie Ainsworth, Jimmy Cassidy and Gordon Pattullo. The happiest of his playing years were spent in the Bobby Harvey Ceilidh Band; to quote Jim “The music is rubbish, but the patter’s guid.” As you will read below, Bobby does not agree!
During Bobby’s tribute to Jim at his funeral, he quoted Scott Skinner, who said “Talent does what it can, genius does what it must.”
First Fintry, and now Blairgowrie Clubs have lost one of the finest accompanists that ever graced the Scottish music scene. I am proud to say that I knew Jim as a musical genius, but sad to say I’ve lost a friend.
The Stanley Weekend
by Bill Black
Once again this ‘feast of music’ weekend has come and gone and once again I never cease to be taken aback by the sheer numbers and quality of musicians who give up their time to come and support us year after year. Also the spectators who travel long distances each year to give us their support. Apart from the effort everyone makes to get here, I feel so grateful for their generosity both in buying raffle tickets and giving so generously to the collection for handicapped children which we have on Friday night every year. It is so gratifying to feel that we can all have such a great time and yet so many other less fortunate human beings can benefit so much.
This year the charity to receive the collection is the same as last year i.e. the new school at Butterstone, near Dunkeld, which caters for children from all over Scotland who have very severe learning difficulties. You just have to visit the school to realise the exceptionally good use made of all donations received. The amount we have to hand over this year is a grand total of £2,100
At this point I must say a huge thank you to a few individuals who have been such a great help in this fundraising effort. First of all I am greatly indebted to Mabel Gray for her huge contribution to our cause. Not only did she donate the beautiful hamper, which was raffled on Friday night and raised a staggering £337, but she also gave us the proceeds of the donations received at her recent birthday party which came to a fantastic £500! “One can hardly believe that she’s just turned a mere 50!” anyway whatever the age, we are very deeply indebted to you Mabel for your generosity. Can I just add at this point how much we appreciate your sterling work at the keyboard over the whole weekend.
Thanks must also go to Ian Gray and his good lady Lilias, from Dumfries, who gave so freely of their time to collect money at the door on Saturday night and to sell raffle tickets both nights and also to be such a terrific help with our collection. Apart from that they were a huge help here at home by washing and drying dishes used by the multitudes who passed through our doors over the weekend, really saved me a lot of work.
Then of course there was Dave Millward, always ready to help with any chore where he may be required. Many thanks this year for your great help with the raffles and the collection, very much appreciated.
Also to Harry MacIntosh for his very willing help with the raffle tickets and the Friday night collection.
To all the supporters, obviously great lovers of Scottish music, who traveled from all points north, south, east and west of Stanley to give us their support, we really do appreciate your efforts and we love your company. I just want to say a really sincere thank-you to you.
Now to the musicians, what can one say about them that has not already been said? About 99% of them are ready to take the stage whenever their names are called which is a huge help to me in trying to keep the proceedings running smoothly over the weekend. The nice thing for me about the whole thing is that the competition aspect is thrown out of the window and everyone is just out to have a good tune together. To all the musicians may I offer my really sincere thanks and I hope you all enjoyed playing as much as we all enjoyed listening.
To the management and staff of the Tayside Hotel, I would like to thank you for your hospitality and for keeping us supplied with good food and the odd ‘dochin dorus’ over the weekend.
Now to the band for the Saturday night’s dance ‘Neil MacEachern’. Absolutely fantastic, ready to start on time, kept the dance going with a swing all night and really superb music to listen to. I spoke with quite a few of the non-dancers who all had the same reaction, “Isn’t this fantastic”.
Musicians taking part over the weekend were as follows :-
On accordion – Morag Robertson, Violet Morrison, James Corbett, Iain Anderson, Lindsay Weir, Murrie and Jimmy Pepe, Iain Cathcart, Shirley Cathcart, Colin Garvin, Harry Smith, Charlie Lawie, Alexander Lindsay, Ronnie Anderson, Alasdair MacCuish, Colin Johnstone, Gordon Brown, Scott Gordon, Ian Hutson, Lynn Christie, Dave Millward, Neil MacEachern and Archie MacKillop. As per usual I managed to get a wee tune myself. Jimmy Cassidy and Marie Coutts were also there but didn’t play.
On fiddle – Florence Lawie, Susan MacIntosh and Russell Hunter.
On piano – Mabel Gray, who gave us some super selections on keyboard, and Anne McCord, not to mention all the players who doubled up on various instruments.
On drums we had Robert MacFadyen, Duncan Christie, George Gray, George Darling and Steven MacInnes.
Finally, on Jaws harp, that grand old man from Forres, 94 year old Angus MacKinnon who gave us a couple of great selections.
To you all i.e. musicians and supporters alike, May I once again say a very sincere thanks, for just being there and being such great company, thank you one and all.
Next year’s ‘Stanley Ceilidh’ is already arranged for the 1st to 3rd November and the band for the Saturday night dance is led by one of the greatest supporters of the Ceilidh, yes, none other than Iain Cathcart, so that is something for us all to look forward to.
Until then, on behalf of Anne and myself, have a lovely Festival season, and may you have lots of good Scottish music.
All the very best of health and happiness.
A Dance Band Almanac
by Dave Francis
We always look forward to the occasional gig that takes us out of the usual round of weddings and parties in the Edinburgh area. So when I received a call asking us to come up to Strathdon and play at a dance to celebrate the first anniversary of the refurbishment of The Lonach Hall, I didn’t hesitate to take the booking.
The journey is always an interesting one. There is a palpable sense of penetrating into a quieter, deeper Scotland when you turn off the A90 and head for the Cairn o’ Mount through the ceremonial arches of Edzell and Fettercairn. The sun was setting as we drove out of Fettercairn, a winter sunset of red, orange, gold and that blue that compliments the gold, and that seems to offer a portal to the spheres above the atmosphere and on into deepest space. At the Clatterin Brig we were turned back by the police, due to an accident on the pass, and so were forced to take the Slug Road from Stonehaven to Banchory. Eventually though we were climbing up and out on to the road from Strathdon itself, The Lonach Hall and the comforts of a good dinner at the Colquhonnie Hotel.
Strathdon is an old stamping ground of mine, having played there and round there many times in various musical guises. It’s also an old haunt of my wife, Mairi, on of the band’s three fiddlers, who used to spend whole summers there when she was wee. I was looking forward to seeing many old acquaintances at the dance, and wasn’t to be disappointed.
Although much of the Hall has been modernised the main performance area remains much as it has always done. Skulls and the heads of deer, antelopes, buffaloes and gazelles, not swift enough to have dodged the bullets of various Forbeses, still gaze down from plaques mounted on dark varnished tongue and groove walls on the dancers below. They are a reminder of a feudal Scotland still existing beneath the egalitarian veneer. Tenants might now call the Laird by his first name rather than ‘Sir’, and forelocks remain untagged, but some of the social divisions remain the same, and there would be few at our dance likely to turn up at The Lonach Ball in the same venue.
The Hall was chilly when we first sat down to play, giving our depping bass player, Big John, a chance to run through some of the band’s tunes. It was also empty apart from a family with small boys who used the space to run back and forward, up and down, with the occasional roll on the floor for good measure. But, as is always the case with a dance in the countryside it gradually started to fill up – the advertised starting time is only ever a rough guide – with a range of ages, including a few more children. We were also joined by a starling, which spent the evening flying from rafter to rafter. Mairi plays the intro for The Barren Rocks, and we’re away, the three fiddles settling in nicely together. The rhythm section suffers a wee blip as John’s amp decides to cut out intermittently, but we get that fixed, and aided by the hall’s rich acoustic, we start to blend. By the time The Barn Dance comes along we are in the groove, where we stay by and large for the rest of the night.
Letters to the Editor
Dear Karin
How do other Club Committees react when ‘club’ players come along and ask to have members of the guest artiste band to back them when there are sufficient club backing players available?
Our Club committee feels that Club players should accompany ANY individual players regardless of them being recognised bandleaders or not, provided backing players are not in short supply on the night. Is this not the purpose of the club – to encourage Club players to accompany each other, and to gain confidence from this? Some of our club players may see this as an unfair advantage, and ask why they were not given the same opportunity. Surely guest bands are there to be paid for their appearance, and not there to be asked to provide backing players for some and not others.
It is fully appreciated that in some Clubs, Club backing players may be in short supply, and needs must, but that is certainly not the case with our Club.
Let’s put the boot on the other foot. Imagine a player with some recognition as a band leader who comes along to the Club as an ordinary Club player. He requests selected artistes from the guest band to accompany him, and we allow it. He comes back at a future date as a guest artiste, and one of the Club players asks for selected artistes from his band to accompany him/her, but remember the boot is on the other foot – how does our recognised bandleader feel now?
Some bandleaders when approached make their feeling known about this and discourage their band from playing with Club members and rightly so.
Feel free to comment.
Sylvia Lockhart (Secretary Campsie A&F Club)
Take the Floor – Saturdays with Robbie Shepherd
1st Dec 01 – Nicol McLaren & the Glencraig SDB + feature on Colin Dewar
8th Dec 01 – Simon Howie SDB + feature on Bobby Crowe’s 40-year association with broadcasting
15th Dec 01 – Ian Thomson SDB - + feature on past sessions – Ian Holmes on Jimmy Shand
22nd Dec 01 – The Occasionals (OB from BP Social Club, Grangemouth)
29th Dec 01 – Donald MacLeod SDB (OB from Balfron High School with guests The Clydesiders)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) – 18th Dec 01 – Social Night with Dick Black
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 23rd Dec 01 – Christmas Dance to The Lyne Valley Band
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 2nd Dec 01 – Club Night
28th Dec 01 – Dick Black
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 6th Dec 01 – Jim & Jean McConnachie
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 16th Dec 01 – West Telferton Cale SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 19th Dec 01 – Christmas Ceilidh - The Garioch Blend
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 17th Dec 01 – John Renton SDB
Belford (Community Centre) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 9th Dec 01 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 11th Dec 01 – Seamus O’Sullivan
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) - 9th Dec 01 – Luncheon & Ceilidh
11th Dec 01 – Bob Murphy
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 13th Dec 01 – Players Open Night
Campbeltown (The Royal Hotel) -
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 4th Dec 01 – Seamus O’Sullivan
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) - 6th Dec 01 – John Morgan
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 7th Dec 01 – Dance to Bruce Lindsay SDB
18th Dec 01 - Ceilidh
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 20th Dec 01 – Judith Linton Trio
Crathes (Crathes Hall, Banchory) - 9th Dec 01 – All players welcome
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 6th Dec 01 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 12th Dec 01 – Carrie-Mor (from Kirriemuir)
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead) 18th Dec 01 – Christmas Music & Party
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 5th Dec 01 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 19th Dec 01 – Billy Anderson & albany
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (The Village Inn) –
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 14th Dec 01 – Christmas Dinner Dance to Dave Stewart & Rab Smillie
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 27th Dec 01 – Gregor Lowrie & Bob Turner
Forfar (Plough Inn) -
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 12th Dec 01 – Jim MacKay SDB
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) – 10th Dec 01 – Karyn McCulloch
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) – 20th Dec 01 – Ian Thomson SDB
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 5th Dec 01 – James Paterson Trio
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 18th Dec 01 – Alf Delorey & Friends
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) - 2nd Dec 01 – Morag Robertson Trio
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 17th Dec 01 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 12th Dec 01 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 14th Dec 01 – Christmas Buffet Dance to Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 4th Dec 01 – Ian Muir Trio
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 19th Dec 01 – Give Way
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) – 5th Dec 01 – David Vernon
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 22nd Dec 01 – Dance to Clyde Valley CB
Langholm (Crown Hotel) – 12th Dec 01 – Jim Johnstone SDB
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 13th Dec 01 – Peter Jardine & Friends
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 6th Dec 01 – Club Night
21st Dec 01 – Christmas Buffet Dance to Dennis Morrison SDB
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 18th Dec 01 – Liam Stewart Duo
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th Dec 01 – Billy Anderson & Albany
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) - 5th Dec 01 – Jim & Jean McConnachie
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 4th Dec 01 – Elgin S&R Society
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) – 6th Dec 01 – Fraser McGlynn Duo
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) –
Premier NI (Camlin Function Rooms) - 4th Dec 01 – Owen Condon
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 6th Dec 01 – David Scott Band
Selkirk (Cricket Club) - 14th Dec 01 – Neil & Caroline Hardie
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 13th Dec 01 – Paul Anderson
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Masonic Hall) - 12th Dec 01 – John Renton SDB
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 10th Dec 01 – Addie Harper SDB
Turriff (Royal British Legion) – 6th Dec 01 – The Garioch Fiddlers
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 18th Dec 01 – Carol Ann MacKay & Friends
Yarrow (Gordon Arms) - 19th Dec 01 – Christmas Club Night
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Annan
3. Arbroath
4. Balloch
5. Banchory
6. Beith & District
7. Biggar
8. Bromley
9. Button Key
10. Campsie
11. Carlisle
12. Castle Douglas
13. Coalburn
14. Crieff & District
15. Cults
16. Dalriada
17. Dunblane
18. Dunfermline & District
19. East Kilbride
20. Ellon
21. Fintry
22. Forfar
23. Forres
24. Galston
25. Glendale
26. Glenrothes
27. Gretna
28. Inveraray
29. Isle of Skye
30. Islesteps
31. Lanark
32. Langholm
33. Lewis & Harris
34. Livingston
35. Lockerbie
36. Mauchline
37. Montrose
38. Newmill (on-Teviot)
39. Newtongrange
40. North East
41. Oban
42. Peebles
43. Perth
44. Premier
45. Renfrew
46. Rothbury
47. Shetland
48. Thurso
49 Tynedale
50. Yarrow
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 1999
(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
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. Bromley A&F Club
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campbeltown 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. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
29. Ellon A&F Club (
30. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
31. Forfar A&F Club (
32. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
33. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
34. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
35. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
36. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
37. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
38. 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)
39. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
40. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
41. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
42. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
43. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
44. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
45. Kintore A&F Club (
46. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed
47. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – present)
48. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
49. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
52. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
53. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
54. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
55. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
56. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
57. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
58. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
59. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
60. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
61. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
62. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
63. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
64. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
65. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
66. Selkirk A&F Club (
67. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
68. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
69. Sutherland A&F Club (
70. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
71. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
72. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
73. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
74. Vancouver
75. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
76. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – )
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
77. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
78. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
79. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
80. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
81. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
82. Buchan A&F Club
83. Callander A&F Club (
84. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
85. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
86. Club Accord
87. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
88. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
89. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
90. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
91. Derwentside A&F Club
92. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
93. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
94. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
95. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
96. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
97. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
98. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
99. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
100. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
101. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
104. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
105. Mull A&F Club
106. Newcastleton Accordion Club
107. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
108. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
109. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
110. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
111. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
112. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
113. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
114. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
115. Tranent A&F Club
116. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
117. Wellbank A&F Club
Advertising rates
Full Page - £120
Half Page - £60
Quarter Page - £30
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
I can’t believe that we’re almost at the end of another year. I would like to take the space to say some heartfelt thank-yous.
to Alison Riddell for proofreading every month,
to Charlie Todd for trying to keep me on track,
to Nicol McLaren for his patience and humour when he has to answer my stupid questions, to Sandra Fleming for all of the accounting work at the beginning of the year
to the Executive Committee of the NAAFC,
to everyone who contributes to the Box and Fiddle and
to all at Culross (particularly Frank, Ian, Bruce, Murray and Pat).
This month I’d also like to say how grateful I am to Seamus O’Sullivan, who managed to zap and extremely nasty bug on my computer! I apologise for this issue not being quite on schedule, but the computer was completely out of commission just at the busiest time. The biggest thank-you of all must go to you, the readers, for continuing to support not only the magazine, but also the A&F Clubs throughout the country.
I hope you enjoy this month’s issue. We have two new columnists. Dave Francis is a musician and dance caller from Edinburgh, and Jean Lumsden is a Scottish Country Dance Teacher from Adelaide in Australia. If any of you would like to contribute articles for publication, please send them to the usual address.
We are also keen to receive any old documentation or photographs relating to Scottish Dance Music.
Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, and don’t forget there’s an issue of the B&F in January.
Karin Ingram
The 14th Shetland Accordion & Fiddle Festival
by
On Thursday, 11th October, Islesburgh Community Centre in Lerwick became the Festival Club for the weekend, for the fourteenth Shetland……………..
Dancing in the Dolomites
by Robin Ellis
Early one September morning (and I mean early!) the band and some fifty dancers mainly from the south-east of England met up at Gatwick airport for a week’s dancing in Levico, a small town in the Italian Dolomites. The advantage of the early start was that we arrived in time for lunch but the disadvantage was that many of us had to leave home in the ‘wee sma’ hours’. Most bands can tell stories about airlines and the carriage of instruments – well we were no exception. Our own personal cases arrived as expected but then our worst fears were realised as the baggage carousel ground to a halt – empty! Contact was made wit the Lost and Found Office, who fortunately spoke English, only to be told that our instruments had, for reasons unknown, not been put on the aircraft at Gatwick but were expected to arrive on a subsequent flight. Our first thoughts were “does this mean an hour, a day or a week?” However we were assured that the flight of another airline was just 30 minutes behind ours and our instruments were on board – to our amazement and relief they were.
The hotel was in an idyllic spot on the shores of its own (well almost) private lake with the town just a short walk away and the mountains behind and opposite. The weather was perfect. What did we do? Well one could swim in the lake, take out a pedalo, walk along the many paths around and about, climb up innumerable mountains or go shopping or sightseeing in the delightful little town. One, incidentally which was not completely spoilt by tourism, real people still lived and worked there. For those more adventurous there were trips into the spectacular Dolomite Region or to the nearby city of Trento and even a train ride to Venice. This last excursion incidentally cost only £12 for a two-hour train ride much of it through the magnificent Val Sugana. Each evening the band was on duty for dancing. One evening an accordionist friend of our MC, who lived near Cavalese came to join us. A real character by the name of Bruno Rungaldier who looks every inch the part and seemed to be able to play almost anything, he even managed some traditional Scottish music. The weather was so warm that even after dancing it was pleasant enough to sit out by the lakeside – oh for such weather in Scotland! In fact the whole area was very similar to much of Scotland; mountains, lakes, friendly people, accordions but with one important extra ingredient – guaranteed sunshine almost every day. Our flight home was delayed due to the troubles in New York a day or two earlier and just as we were preparing for a long wait I was summoned by the airport PA to report to the security office. When I actually found it – I was taken by a very unsmiling policeman through numerous doors into the baggage hall and asked by a much more friendly Customs Officer to open all the band cases to show him the contents. As we pack everything very thoroughly this took some 45 minutes altogether but he seemed to be happy with what he saw and even helped me to repack. Still I suppose this all helped to fill the time. We eventually arrived home some six hours late, in the middle of the night – oh the joys of air travel!
Will we go back again one day? – I certainly hope so.
N.A.A.F.C. Drive to Archive
Fears that much of our heritage is being lost has prompted the N.A.A.F.C. to appoint Charlie Todd as its first Archivist. The aim is to create a central point for the collection and collation of information and memorabilia on the Scottish Dance Music scene. The Association is delighted to see a few individuals building private collections which will preserve various aspects of our history. Four examples of individuals who have made a significant contribution in this respect are Northern Ireland’s Ken Hopkin’s, best known for his magnificent accordion collection but also a collector of anything accordion related and Caroline Hunt who follows a similar path in the Highlands, Jack Cooper, whose collection of photographs has regularly been displayed at the National Association’s Gathering and Jimmy Helm who went public with his excellent book ‘Who’s on The Dance Music Tonight?’
Other than some comparatively recent photographs accumulated by Editors of the Box and Fiddle, the Association is starting with a clean slate. The dangers of losing our heritage are all too apparent when even well-known, if informal, collections such as the photographs which used to line the walls of Jimmy Clinkscale’s Melrose shop’s staircase can disappear forever without a trace when that business closed.
Unlike Ken and Caroline the Association is not intending to retain the hardware of the Scottish music scene but merely ‘the paperwork’ – photographs and documents, (by which we mean dance programmes, newspaper cuttings, dance tickets, articles, theatre programmes) - anything at all related to the Scottish music scene. The disturbing aspect is that although such items will hold cherished memories for the present owners, they frequently mean nothing to the next generation and will end up ‘on the coup’.
As an example, when researching and writing articles in my spell as Editor I was privileged to have the loan of programmes for Royal Variety Club shows at the Alhambra Theatre in Glasgow (who nowadays knows that Mozart Allen was President of the Royal Variety Club in 1962?), recording contracts from the BBC from the 1950’s, and numerous photographs, some of which I was able to use and some not. All these type of items,, obviously, have been borrowed and returned by successive writers and Editors. When researching Hohner I was put in touch with Bob Wilson, a former Managing Director of Bells of Surbiton, who had retired some 4 years earlier and in clearing out his office had thrown out copies of Bells excellent catalogues back to the 1950s.
We don’t anticipate a deluge of documents appearing through the post, although we would be happy if there were, but if you are interested, as we are, in preserving our heritage then perhaps it’s time to think ahead and consider passing some items into our care. Any donations will be acknowledged and officially receipted by the Association. They will remain your property and, if at any stage and for any reason you want them back, your wishes will be respected.
With an eye to the future you may well ask, ‘Well, what if the Association ceases to exist?’ Well up until that day dawns we’ll have a Committee and two of its last duties would be to disperse the funds of the Association and find a permanent home, perhaps in a museum, for the collection. The two duties could well be closely related.
So if we have inspired you to ransack the attic or to look out the old photograph collection from the shoe box in the lobby press, then could you please pass any items of interest to Charlie Todd.
2016 update – only one contribution of any significance was received in response to the above and it has since been returned to its owner. I have no doubt that over the last 15 years innumerable documents and photos have found their way into dustbins all over the country.
14th Ayrshire Music Festival
The Magnum Leisure Centre, Irvine – 6th October 2001
by Derek Hamilton
Although numbers attending were down a bit this year, the Festival was another success in every way. As usual competitors, and their families, traveled some long distances to be at Irvine in time for the competitions. We had competitors from Aberdeen, Dundee, Lanarkshire, Paisley, Angus, Edinburgh, Midlothian and Airdrie as well as the local Ayrshire area.
The standard of competition and playing grows as the years progress. A great deal of praise must go to the competitors and their teachers for the superb effort they all put in.
We should have had Gordon Pattullo as our traditional accordion judge this year but sadly, a few days before the Festival, Gordon had to pull out due to a close family bereavement. Despite having all the problems attached to that, Gordon organised for John Carmichael to be our judge and the Committee would like to say thanks to both of them. Neil Copland has an annual booking with us to judge the Classical because he is just the best. He and Mo have been great friends of the ASMA Festival for many years and we are much the richer for their support.
Judging the fiddle sections this years was Gordon Simpson who, by all accounts, did a first class job of it and, I think, enjoyed the occasion immensely. “It was getting difficult to pick the winners, they are all so good” was Gordon’s comment.
As usual the Committee are indebted to the large army of helpers who, with the minimum of support, just get on with what they have to do. They are the unsung heroes of the day.
Sadly we lost an old friend earlier this year. Alex Little had for many years been our main MC in the theatre and kept the audience amused and the whole show flowing smoothly. In fact he actually gave up a major birthday celebration three years ago so that he didn’t let us down. Such was the man – a great friend and a sad loss.
The big 3-row button-box player from Glasgow (originally Iona) otherwise known as ‘The Exorcist’ (because when he visits you all the ‘spirits’ disappear!), Charlie Kirkpatrick did an excellent job as MC in the theatre. In fact, so good was he, we finished virtually bang on time at lunchtime and the same at the end of the afternoon. A real first for the ASMA Festival – not to mention a vast improvement on his timekeeping for arrival at gigs!!
The ceilidh at night was a real happy family affair thanks to the crowd who came along. Even some friends from Northern Ireland turned up and while the wives went shopping during the day, the lads took in the Festival and they all came along to the ceilidh.
The Committee is indebted to so many people (too many to mention here, but they know who they are) for the success of the day. Here’s to next year – the 1st Saturday in October. Everybody bring a friend, or two or three and we’ll have a real party.
Traditional Fiddle Classes
Under 12 Solo MSR
Irvine Development Corporation Cup
Malcolm Watson
12 and Under 16 Solo MSR
The Chalmers Shield
George Smith
Under 12 Solo Slow Air
Hospitality Cup
Malcolm Watson
12 & Under 16 Solo Slow Air
The Hamilton Shield
Erin Smith
Open Fiddle Solo MSR
West Sound Radio
George Smith
Open Fiddle Solo Slow Air
Alex Colvin Trophy
Erin Smith
Open Fiddle Solo (Pipe)
Bill and Irene Cunningham
Neil Adams
Traditional Accordion Classes
Under 12 Solo Own Choice
The Caberfeidh Shield (ASMA)
Gemma Coupland
12 & Under 16 Solo MSR
Galston Accordion Club Cup
Tom Orr
Open Solo MSR
The George Fleming Cup
Liam Stewart
Junior Solo Pipe MSR
The John Carmichael Trophy
Tom Orr
Open Solo Pipe MSR
Mr & Mrs Duncan McLennan
Liam Stewart
Open Traditional Polka
The MacGillvray Trophy
Susan McFadyen
Own Composition
The Willie Wilson Cup
Gemma Coupland
Trios (Trad Style)
S.C.E.A. Trophy
Neil Adams
Bands (Trad Style)
The Margaret Davidson Shield
Karen Ferguson
Cla1ssical Accordion Classes
Under 12 Solo
Irvine Herald
John Morrison
Under 14 Solo
Trophy Centre
Craig Stevenson
Under 16 Solo
A.R.A. Caterers
Derek Muir
Open Solo
Cunningham District Council
Neal Galbraith
Under 12 Polka
A.S.M.A. Shield
John Morrison
Under 16 Polka
Mr & Mrs Robert Campbell
Derek Muir
Open Polka
The Steward’s Shield (ASMA)
Derek Muir
Free Style Class
Any Age, Any Music Style
The Andy Rae Trophy
Liam Stewart
Sir Jimmy Shand Sculpture Project
by John Thomson
Patron : The Earl of Elgin and Kincardine K.T.
Dear Nicol,
As you know, Sir Jimmy Shand unfortunately died on 23rd December 2000. Sir Jimmy, of course, was loved and respected as a man and a musician, by people from all walks of life, throughout the world. Dr. Sandy Tulloch, Retired Eye Consultant (Dundee), Ian Collie, Retired Director of Education (Dunblane), John McDonald, Retired Police Inspector (Kirkcaldy) and myself, a Retired Police Superintendent, are amongst these people who loved and respected Sir Jimmy. Consequently, they decided to form a Working Group with a view to raising sufficient funds for the erection of a life sized bronze sculpture of Sir Jimmy which would hopefully be sited in Auchtermuchty. David Annand, who is a very well respected Sculptor residing in Kilmany, Fife, would most likely be commissioned to undertake the sculpture involving a total cost of approximately £25,000.
The Earl of Elgin and Sir Jimmy were very close friends. The Earl was appraised of the Project and, on being asked to be Patron, he readily agreed. The Convener of Fife Council and the Chairman of Auchtermuchty Community Council have been informed of the Project.
At the time of Sir Jimmy’s death, as you know, many people paid lovely tributes to him for his tremendous contribution to the Scottish Dance scene. Of course, many of these tributes were published in the Box and Fiddle demonstrating how much band members and members of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs had loved and respected this great man. The Working Group, therefore, wondered if you, as Chairman of the N.A.A.F.C. would be kind enough to draw to the attention of band members and Club members, to the Sculpture Project, by means of the Box and Fiddle, in the hope that they would organize fund raising events to help raise sufficient funds for the Sculpture. If, in time, we were fortunate enough to raise money in excess of the amount required, then any excess would be donated to the Dalgairn Training Centre for the Mentally Handicapped situated at Cupar, Fife. Sir Jimmy’s youngest son David has attended the Centre for a number of years and Sir Jimmy took a great interest in the Centre. In the unfortunate event of insufficient funds being raised, the funds raised would all be given to the Centre and other Charities suggested by the Shand family. The Shand family have, of course, been consulted regarding the Project and have given their full approval. We. the Working Group, would like to thank you, most sincerely, for any help you can give towards raising funds for the Project.
John Thomson
Secretary
Jim Muir (Obituary)
by Frank Farquharson
It is with regret we note that one of the most gifted pianists, Jim Muir, passed away on 4th November 2001
Born in Alyth, the eldest of three sons, Jim started lessons at the age of seven, his tutor neing Dr. Baldwin in Dundee. His musical talent even at that age showed through when, still in short trousers, he was playing to Bill Sutherland’s Country Dancers in Blairgowrie High School.
The next step was when brother Jack and he formed their own band to play at wee gigs around Alyth. This was noted and Jim duly sat at the piano in the Jim Cameron Band. He then went on to play with Hector McPhee, in Edinburgh. This led to the start of his broadcasting career, which spanned many years with Mickie Ainsworth, Jimmy Cassidy and Gordon Pattullo. The happiest of his playing years were spent in the Bobby Harvey Ceilidh Band; to quote Jim “The music is rubbish, but the patter’s guid.” As you will read below, Bobby does not agree!
During Bobby’s tribute to Jim at his funeral, he quoted Scott Skinner, who said “Talent does what it can, genius does what it must.”
First Fintry, and now Blairgowrie Clubs have lost one of the finest accompanists that ever graced the Scottish music scene. I am proud to say that I knew Jim as a musical genius, but sad to say I’ve lost a friend.
The Stanley Weekend
by Bill Black
Once again this ‘feast of music’ weekend has come and gone and once again I never cease to be taken aback by the sheer numbers and quality of musicians who give up their time to come and support us year after year. Also the spectators who travel long distances each year to give us their support. Apart from the effort everyone makes to get here, I feel so grateful for their generosity both in buying raffle tickets and giving so generously to the collection for handicapped children which we have on Friday night every year. It is so gratifying to feel that we can all have such a great time and yet so many other less fortunate human beings can benefit so much.
This year the charity to receive the collection is the same as last year i.e. the new school at Butterstone, near Dunkeld, which caters for children from all over Scotland who have very severe learning difficulties. You just have to visit the school to realise the exceptionally good use made of all donations received. The amount we have to hand over this year is a grand total of £2,100
At this point I must say a huge thank you to a few individuals who have been such a great help in this fundraising effort. First of all I am greatly indebted to Mabel Gray for her huge contribution to our cause. Not only did she donate the beautiful hamper, which was raffled on Friday night and raised a staggering £337, but she also gave us the proceeds of the donations received at her recent birthday party which came to a fantastic £500! “One can hardly believe that she’s just turned a mere 50!” anyway whatever the age, we are very deeply indebted to you Mabel for your generosity. Can I just add at this point how much we appreciate your sterling work at the keyboard over the whole weekend.
Thanks must also go to Ian Gray and his good lady Lilias, from Dumfries, who gave so freely of their time to collect money at the door on Saturday night and to sell raffle tickets both nights and also to be such a terrific help with our collection. Apart from that they were a huge help here at home by washing and drying dishes used by the multitudes who passed through our doors over the weekend, really saved me a lot of work.
Then of course there was Dave Millward, always ready to help with any chore where he may be required. Many thanks this year for your great help with the raffles and the collection, very much appreciated.
Also to Harry MacIntosh for his very willing help with the raffle tickets and the Friday night collection.
To all the supporters, obviously great lovers of Scottish music, who traveled from all points north, south, east and west of Stanley to give us their support, we really do appreciate your efforts and we love your company. I just want to say a really sincere thank-you to you.
Now to the musicians, what can one say about them that has not already been said? About 99% of them are ready to take the stage whenever their names are called which is a huge help to me in trying to keep the proceedings running smoothly over the weekend. The nice thing for me about the whole thing is that the competition aspect is thrown out of the window and everyone is just out to have a good tune together. To all the musicians may I offer my really sincere thanks and I hope you all enjoyed playing as much as we all enjoyed listening.
To the management and staff of the Tayside Hotel, I would like to thank you for your hospitality and for keeping us supplied with good food and the odd ‘dochin dorus’ over the weekend.
Now to the band for the Saturday night’s dance ‘Neil MacEachern’. Absolutely fantastic, ready to start on time, kept the dance going with a swing all night and really superb music to listen to. I spoke with quite a few of the non-dancers who all had the same reaction, “Isn’t this fantastic”.
Musicians taking part over the weekend were as follows :-
On accordion – Morag Robertson, Violet Morrison, James Corbett, Iain Anderson, Lindsay Weir, Murrie and Jimmy Pepe, Iain Cathcart, Shirley Cathcart, Colin Garvin, Harry Smith, Charlie Lawie, Alexander Lindsay, Ronnie Anderson, Alasdair MacCuish, Colin Johnstone, Gordon Brown, Scott Gordon, Ian Hutson, Lynn Christie, Dave Millward, Neil MacEachern and Archie MacKillop. As per usual I managed to get a wee tune myself. Jimmy Cassidy and Marie Coutts were also there but didn’t play.
On fiddle – Florence Lawie, Susan MacIntosh and Russell Hunter.
On piano – Mabel Gray, who gave us some super selections on keyboard, and Anne McCord, not to mention all the players who doubled up on various instruments.
On drums we had Robert MacFadyen, Duncan Christie, George Gray, George Darling and Steven MacInnes.
Finally, on Jaws harp, that grand old man from Forres, 94 year old Angus MacKinnon who gave us a couple of great selections.
To you all i.e. musicians and supporters alike, May I once again say a very sincere thanks, for just being there and being such great company, thank you one and all.
Next year’s ‘Stanley Ceilidh’ is already arranged for the 1st to 3rd November and the band for the Saturday night dance is led by one of the greatest supporters of the Ceilidh, yes, none other than Iain Cathcart, so that is something for us all to look forward to.
Until then, on behalf of Anne and myself, have a lovely Festival season, and may you have lots of good Scottish music.
All the very best of health and happiness.
A Dance Band Almanac
by Dave Francis
We always look forward to the occasional gig that takes us out of the usual round of weddings and parties in the Edinburgh area. So when I received a call asking us to come up to Strathdon and play at a dance to celebrate the first anniversary of the refurbishment of The Lonach Hall, I didn’t hesitate to take the booking.
The journey is always an interesting one. There is a palpable sense of penetrating into a quieter, deeper Scotland when you turn off the A90 and head for the Cairn o’ Mount through the ceremonial arches of Edzell and Fettercairn. The sun was setting as we drove out of Fettercairn, a winter sunset of red, orange, gold and that blue that compliments the gold, and that seems to offer a portal to the spheres above the atmosphere and on into deepest space. At the Clatterin Brig we were turned back by the police, due to an accident on the pass, and so were forced to take the Slug Road from Stonehaven to Banchory. Eventually though we were climbing up and out on to the road from Strathdon itself, The Lonach Hall and the comforts of a good dinner at the Colquhonnie Hotel.
Strathdon is an old stamping ground of mine, having played there and round there many times in various musical guises. It’s also an old haunt of my wife, Mairi, on of the band’s three fiddlers, who used to spend whole summers there when she was wee. I was looking forward to seeing many old acquaintances at the dance, and wasn’t to be disappointed.
Although much of the Hall has been modernised the main performance area remains much as it has always done. Skulls and the heads of deer, antelopes, buffaloes and gazelles, not swift enough to have dodged the bullets of various Forbeses, still gaze down from plaques mounted on dark varnished tongue and groove walls on the dancers below. They are a reminder of a feudal Scotland still existing beneath the egalitarian veneer. Tenants might now call the Laird by his first name rather than ‘Sir’, and forelocks remain untagged, but some of the social divisions remain the same, and there would be few at our dance likely to turn up at The Lonach Ball in the same venue.
The Hall was chilly when we first sat down to play, giving our depping bass player, Big John, a chance to run through some of the band’s tunes. It was also empty apart from a family with small boys who used the space to run back and forward, up and down, with the occasional roll on the floor for good measure. But, as is always the case with a dance in the countryside it gradually started to fill up – the advertised starting time is only ever a rough guide – with a range of ages, including a few more children. We were also joined by a starling, which spent the evening flying from rafter to rafter. Mairi plays the intro for The Barren Rocks, and we’re away, the three fiddles settling in nicely together. The rhythm section suffers a wee blip as John’s amp decides to cut out intermittently, but we get that fixed, and aided by the hall’s rich acoustic, we start to blend. By the time The Barn Dance comes along we are in the groove, where we stay by and large for the rest of the night.
Letters to the Editor
Dear Karin
How do other Club Committees react when ‘club’ players come along and ask to have members of the guest artiste band to back them when there are sufficient club backing players available?
Our Club committee feels that Club players should accompany ANY individual players regardless of them being recognised bandleaders or not, provided backing players are not in short supply on the night. Is this not the purpose of the club – to encourage Club players to accompany each other, and to gain confidence from this? Some of our club players may see this as an unfair advantage, and ask why they were not given the same opportunity. Surely guest bands are there to be paid for their appearance, and not there to be asked to provide backing players for some and not others.
It is fully appreciated that in some Clubs, Club backing players may be in short supply, and needs must, but that is certainly not the case with our Club.
Let’s put the boot on the other foot. Imagine a player with some recognition as a band leader who comes along to the Club as an ordinary Club player. He requests selected artistes from the guest band to accompany him, and we allow it. He comes back at a future date as a guest artiste, and one of the Club players asks for selected artistes from his band to accompany him/her, but remember the boot is on the other foot – how does our recognised bandleader feel now?
Some bandleaders when approached make their feeling known about this and discourage their band from playing with Club members and rightly so.
Feel free to comment.
Sylvia Lockhart (Secretary Campsie A&F Club)
Take the Floor – Saturdays with Robbie Shepherd
1st Dec 01 – Nicol McLaren & the Glencraig SDB + feature on Colin Dewar
8th Dec 01 – Simon Howie SDB + feature on Bobby Crowe’s 40-year association with broadcasting
15th Dec 01 – Ian Thomson SDB - + feature on past sessions – Ian Holmes on Jimmy Shand
22nd Dec 01 – The Occasionals (OB from BP Social Club, Grangemouth)
29th Dec 01 – Donald MacLeod SDB (OB from Balfron High School with guests The Clydesiders)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) – 18th Dec 01 – Social Night with Dick Black
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 23rd Dec 01 – Christmas Dance to The Lyne Valley Band
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 2nd Dec 01 – Club Night
28th Dec 01 – Dick Black
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 6th Dec 01 – Jim & Jean McConnachie
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 16th Dec 01 – West Telferton Cale SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 19th Dec 01 – Christmas Ceilidh - The Garioch Blend
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 17th Dec 01 – John Renton SDB
Belford (Community Centre) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 9th Dec 01 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 11th Dec 01 – Seamus O’Sullivan
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) - 9th Dec 01 – Luncheon & Ceilidh
11th Dec 01 – Bob Murphy
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 13th Dec 01 – Players Open Night
Campbeltown (The Royal Hotel) -
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 4th Dec 01 – Seamus O’Sullivan
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) - 6th Dec 01 – John Morgan
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 7th Dec 01 – Dance to Bruce Lindsay SDB
18th Dec 01 - Ceilidh
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 20th Dec 01 – Judith Linton Trio
Crathes (Crathes Hall, Banchory) - 9th Dec 01 – All players welcome
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 6th Dec 01 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 12th Dec 01 – Carrie-Mor (from Kirriemuir)
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead) 18th Dec 01 – Christmas Music & Party
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 5th Dec 01 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 19th Dec 01 – Billy Anderson & albany
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (The Village Inn) –
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 14th Dec 01 – Christmas Dinner Dance to Dave Stewart & Rab Smillie
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 27th Dec 01 – Gregor Lowrie & Bob Turner
Forfar (Plough Inn) -
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 12th Dec 01 – Jim MacKay SDB
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) – 10th Dec 01 – Karyn McCulloch
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) – 20th Dec 01 – Ian Thomson SDB
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 5th Dec 01 – James Paterson Trio
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 18th Dec 01 – Alf Delorey & Friends
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) - 2nd Dec 01 – Morag Robertson Trio
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 17th Dec 01 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 12th Dec 01 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 14th Dec 01 – Christmas Buffet Dance to Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 4th Dec 01 – Ian Muir Trio
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 19th Dec 01 – Give Way
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) – 5th Dec 01 – David Vernon
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 22nd Dec 01 – Dance to Clyde Valley CB
Langholm (Crown Hotel) – 12th Dec 01 – Jim Johnstone SDB
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 13th Dec 01 – Peter Jardine & Friends
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 6th Dec 01 – Club Night
21st Dec 01 – Christmas Buffet Dance to Dennis Morrison SDB
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 18th Dec 01 – Liam Stewart Duo
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th Dec 01 – Billy Anderson & Albany
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) - 5th Dec 01 – Jim & Jean McConnachie
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 4th Dec 01 – Elgin S&R Society
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) – 6th Dec 01 – Fraser McGlynn Duo
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) –
Premier NI (Camlin Function Rooms) - 4th Dec 01 – Owen Condon
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 6th Dec 01 – David Scott Band
Selkirk (Cricket Club) - 14th Dec 01 – Neil & Caroline Hardie
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 13th Dec 01 – Paul Anderson
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Masonic Hall) - 12th Dec 01 – John Renton SDB
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 10th Dec 01 – Addie Harper SDB
Turriff (Royal British Legion) – 6th Dec 01 – The Garioch Fiddlers
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 18th Dec 01 – Carol Ann MacKay & Friends
Yarrow (Gordon Arms) - 19th Dec 01 – Christmas Club Night
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Annan
3. Arbroath
4. Balloch
5. Banchory
6. Beith & District
7. Biggar
8. Bromley
9. Button Key
10. Campsie
11. Carlisle
12. Castle Douglas
13. Coalburn
14. Crieff & District
15. Cults
16. Dalriada
17. Dunblane
18. Dunfermline & District
19. East Kilbride
20. Ellon
21. Fintry
22. Forfar
23. Forres
24. Galston
25. Glendale
26. Glenrothes
27. Gretna
28. Inveraray
29. Isle of Skye
30. Islesteps
31. Lanark
32. Langholm
33. Lewis & Harris
34. Livingston
35. Lockerbie
36. Mauchline
37. Montrose
38. Newmill (on-Teviot)
39. Newtongrange
40. North East
41. Oban
42. Peebles
43. Perth
44. Premier
45. Renfrew
46. Rothbury
47. Shetland
48. Thurso
49 Tynedale
50. Yarrow
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 1999
(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
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. Bromley A&F Club
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campbeltown 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. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
29. Ellon A&F Club (
30. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
31. Forfar A&F Club (
32. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
33. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
34. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
35. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
36. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
37. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
38. 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)
39. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
40. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
41. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
42. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
43. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
44. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
45. Kintore A&F Club (
46. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed
47. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – present)
48. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
49. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
52. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
53. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
54. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
55. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
56. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
57. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
58. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
59. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
60. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
61. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
62. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
63. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
64. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
65. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
66. Selkirk A&F Club (
67. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
68. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
69. Sutherland A&F Club (
70. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
71. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
72. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
73. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
74. Vancouver
75. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
76. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – )
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
77. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
78. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
79. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
80. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
81. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
82. Buchan A&F Club
83. Callander A&F Club (
84. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
85. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
86. Club Accord
87. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
88. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
89. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
90. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
91. Derwentside A&F Club
92. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
93. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
94. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
95. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
96. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
97. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
98. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
99. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
100. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
101. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
104. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
105. Mull A&F Club
106. Newcastleton Accordion Club
107. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
108. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
109. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
110. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
111. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
112. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
113. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
114. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
115. Tranent A&F Club
116. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
117. Wellbank A&F Club
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