Box and Fiddle
Year 17 No 07
April 1994
Introducing the Clubs
No 21 East Kilbride
by Alex Stupart
At a public meeting in the Murray Hall, East Kilbride, in the autumn of 1978, the foundations were laid for the foundation of the East Kilbride A&F Club.
In order that funds were available for the venture, a dance was held in the Murray Hall, with the Doublet SDB providing the music, early in 1979. A few months later, the Club’s first guests were Malcolm McLean and Frank Henery in the Function Room of the Murray Bar. A permanent home was found when the Stuart Hotel management agreed to let the Club have use of its premises, and in September 1979, the Club started off the new season with the Wallochmor Ceilidh Band as the guest astistes.
Throughout the formative years Iain Henderson, Paul Johnstone, Hugh Gebbie and latterly Grant Crawford formed a group known as the Maxwelltown Trio and played at weddings and various functions and all fees received were donated to the Club to help strengthen Club funds.
In 1983, the Club’s home venue had to be changed due to the management of the Stusrt Hotel requesting an increased fee for the use of their premises. Fortunately, Hugh Gebbie was friendly with the management of the King’s Park Hotel in Rutherglen and an amicable agreement was reached with them. Also at that time Marion Gebbie, Hugh’s wife, took over as M.C.
In 1985, East Kilbride had a twinning visitation from Ballerup, Denmark and the Club, through East Kilbride Arts Council, played at an open air party in the town centre.
The Club were able to obtain the services of the top bands of the day, but did not overlook the up-and-coming players and the likes of Jennifer Forrest and the Oakbank Sound were givenm their chance to establish themselves.
In May, 1989, under the auspices of East Kilbride District Council, the Club held an open air concert at Torrance House to open a fortnight of events to celebrate the East Kilbride Arts Festival and on a beautiful afternoon a most enjoyable time was had by all, with the Kelvin Ceilidh Band and Karen Higgins and Friends adding to the entertainment that afternoon. In all £150 was raised for charity and it was decided to donate this sum to Carnbooth House for Deaf/Blind Children.
Due to a management buy-out at the King’s Park Hotel finance, once again, reared its ugly head and in November 1990 we found we had to change venue once again. Fortunately there was no meeting in December giving us more time to find a new home. Hugh and Margy Fraser were friendly with the proprietors of Sweeper’ Function Suite in Cambuslang, Tom and Fran Brown, and in January 1991 ‘Sweepers’ became our new home, where we have had many happy evenings with top artistes as our guests and with Iain Henderson at the helm we hope to be there for some time to come.
No 21 East Kilbride
by Alex Stupart
At a public meeting in the Murray Hall, East Kilbride, in the autumn of 1978, the foundations were laid for the foundation of the East Kilbride A&F Club.
In order that funds were available for the venture, a dance was held in the Murray Hall, with the Doublet SDB providing the music, early in 1979. A few months later, the Club’s first guests were Malcolm McLean and Frank Henery in the Function Room of the Murray Bar. A permanent home was found when the Stuart Hotel management agreed to let the Club have use of its premises, and in September 1979, the Club started off the new season with the Wallochmor Ceilidh Band as the guest astistes.
Throughout the formative years Iain Henderson, Paul Johnstone, Hugh Gebbie and latterly Grant Crawford formed a group known as the Maxwelltown Trio and played at weddings and various functions and all fees received were donated to the Club to help strengthen Club funds.
In 1983, the Club’s home venue had to be changed due to the management of the Stusrt Hotel requesting an increased fee for the use of their premises. Fortunately, Hugh Gebbie was friendly with the management of the King’s Park Hotel in Rutherglen and an amicable agreement was reached with them. Also at that time Marion Gebbie, Hugh’s wife, took over as M.C.
In 1985, East Kilbride had a twinning visitation from Ballerup, Denmark and the Club, through East Kilbride Arts Council, played at an open air party in the town centre.
The Club were able to obtain the services of the top bands of the day, but did not overlook the up-and-coming players and the likes of Jennifer Forrest and the Oakbank Sound were givenm their chance to establish themselves.
In May, 1989, under the auspices of East Kilbride District Council, the Club held an open air concert at Torrance House to open a fortnight of events to celebrate the East Kilbride Arts Festival and on a beautiful afternoon a most enjoyable time was had by all, with the Kelvin Ceilidh Band and Karen Higgins and Friends adding to the entertainment that afternoon. In all £150 was raised for charity and it was decided to donate this sum to Carnbooth House for Deaf/Blind Children.
Due to a management buy-out at the King’s Park Hotel finance, once again, reared its ugly head and in November 1990 we found we had to change venue once again. Fortunately there was no meeting in December giving us more time to find a new home. Hugh and Margy Fraser were friendly with the proprietors of Sweeper’ Function Suite in Cambuslang, Tom and Fran Brown, and in January 1991 ‘Sweepers’ became our new home, where we have had many happy evenings with top artistes as our guests and with Iain Henderson at the helm we hope to be there for some time to come.