Box and Fiddle Year 01 No 05
February 1978
Price 10p
8 pages
Editor - Ian Smith, 50 Mount Vernon Road, Stranraer
Editorial
The Secretary for the new Club at Banchory is Mr William Smith, 27 Station Road, Banchory Tel 2611
One was or another this month has been quiet a momentous one. First there was the Association’s Festival at Musselburgh. This was the first time you Editor had been there and I was most impressed by the organization. It was first class, as was the concert, which was packed. And the following dance, which was a sell out. The standard of musicianship and competitiveness was also very high. Take a bow everyone who contributed to a satisfactory day at Musselburgh.
Then there was the Extraordinary Meeting in Perth which set your paper on a more solid base from which it can only grow. Up to now the ‘Box and Fiddle’ had been on trial and at this meeting everyone present voted the paper a success and. After much discussion, it was put on a more permanent footing.
There will be no Record Review this month as Derek Hamilton, your genial scribe, is in the process of changing his abode. His new address is 143 Orchard Street, Galston, Ayrshire.
Decisions Taken
At the Association’s Extraordinary Meeting held at Perth on 19th February, 1978, the following decisions were made and passed :
1. That the newspaper ‘Box and Fiddle’ be continued.
2. That the price be increased to 15p as from 1st April 1978.
3. That each Club will pay for their copies ordered by them to the Treasurer.
4. That the advertising rates remain as they are.
5. After much discussion it was agreed that the publication date be fixed at the 1st of the month.
6. That the new deadline to the Editor will be the 15th day of each month.
7. That at the AGM, due to be held in June, 1978, the whole matter can be reviewed.
Musselburgh Festival Success
Despite the very uncertain weather, a record entry and audience attended the Association’s Festival at Musselburgh on 4th February. The concert was a sell-out and the dance was an unqualified success.
The band for the dance was the Jim Johnstone Broadcasting Band, who kept the crowd on their feet with their variety of dances and scintillating playing.
One ‘unco-happy’ gentlemen at the dance was Bill Black, whose boys had done extremely well that day. Another gentleman who was over the moon at meeting so many ‘auld freens’, he was fair taken with fact that “here in this hall were gathered members from Clubs as far apart as Wick to Alnwick”. This alone made his day.
The seats at the concert were all taken up long before the concert started and they were not disappointed by the performers who entertained. They were the finest accordionists and fiddlers on display, and singers too.
Great credit must be given to the Committee and the hard work they put in under the leadership of Mr Alex Little, Chairman and Master of Ceremonies for the day. The only criticism one could make was regarding the prices being charged in the cafeteria. They were way out.
The adjudicators for the day were John Carmichael, accordions, and Alistair Hunter, fiddles. In their remarks they praised the high overall standard of the competitors. They were all so close that the adjudicators jumped on the least wee mistake in an endeavour to find the winners of each section.
The following is the list of winners but, as the Chairman so rightly remarked, “Where you have winners you also have losers, but I hope the losers will be back next year to try and be winners”.
The ‘Box and Fiddle’ was on sale for the first time and all the back numbers on display were quickly sold out.
Results :
Traditional
Junior Accordion (solo)
1. Duncan Black (Stanley)
2. William Currie (Milngavie)
3. Dawn Turner (Kirriemuie)
Senior Accordion (solo)
1. Alex Lindsay (Montrose)
2. Neil Copland (Dundee)
3. Graeme Mitchell (Huntly)
Junior Fiddle (solo)
1. Addie Harper (Wick)
2. Mark Winchester (Keith)
Senior Fiddle
1. Gillian Yellop (Haltwistle)
2. James Ferguson (Edinburgh)
3. Melvin Wilson (Alloa)
Senior Fiddle (Slow Air)
1. Richard Rutter (Edinburgh)
2. Donald McAllister (Haddington)
3. Melvin Wilson (Alloa)
Junior Duet
1. Robert & Duncan Black (Stanley)
2. Hugh & John Donald, Ayr
Trios
1. Graeme Mitchell (Huntly)
2. Gary Mair (Kirriemuir)
Band
Bill Black (Stanley)
Classical
Under 12 (solo)
1. Scott Leslie (Dunbar)
2. Yvonne Mathieson (Blackburn)
3. Iain Stewart (Swinton)
Under 14 (solo)
1. Isabel Rosie (Bearsden)
2. David Wilson (Blackburn)
3. Carol Faulds (Cocksburnpath)
Under 16 (solo)
1. Iain Horsburgh (Blackridge)
2. Keith Wilson (Edinburgh)
3. James Bell (Dunbar)
Open Solo
1. Stewart Wilson (Haddington)
2. Marian Wilson (Berwick-upon-Tweed)
3. Stuart McKeown (Milngavie)
Under 16 (Duet)
1. Sandra Fairbairn & Carol Faulds (Cocksburnpath)
2. Iain Horsburgh (Blackridge) & Carol Farquhar (Whitburn)
3. Yvonne Mathieson and David Wilson (Blackburn)
Open Duet
1. Neil & Allan Copland (Dundee)
2. Malcolm & Isabel Rosie (Bearsden)
The Ronnie Easton Story
By Ian Smith
Ronnie is well known throughout the accordion club scene. He is one of those guest artistes who give a consistently high standard of playing the accordion. Of a quiet and unassuming disposition, he prefers to express himself through his music.
Born in 1938 at Muirkirk into a coal mining family, the only music connection being that his mother’s family were noted in the piping world. He started to learn the accordion at 11 years of age and was taught by Mr Robert McF. Adamson of Cumnock. At sixteen he started his first dance band and played round the local dances which were then mainly 50-50 dances.
On leaving school, he went where all the rest of the lads went, doon the pot, remaining there for eight years. Kames Colliery closed down, so they moved to Cumnock. It was there that he joined the Travellers Modern Band, still playing locally from Ayr to Dumfries.
Up to this time the music purveyed was the typical mixture of the times, till he visited Straiton Accordion Club and was immediately infatuated by traditional music and the enthusiasm that was being created. He gladly joined in.
This, as far as Ronnie was concerned, was the ‘in music’. Teaming up with Brian Griffin, the two of them lifted a host of duet prizes. In 1971 he won the West of Scotland Accordion Championships.
In the following three years they won the duets at Gretna, and, with Robin Waitte, two years running.?????? (as printed – unsure what it’s supposed to say).
Ronnie’s wife’s name is Margaret, whom he met and married in Kilmarnock, where he went to live in 1968. He works as a mechanic with a textile firm.
The year that things really began to happen for Ronnie was 1976. He fell in the Derek Laurence, who had in his band Kenny Thomson, accordion, Sandy Colhill, then on drums, Neil McMillan from Balmaha on bass and Jim Barrie on fiddle.
They auditioned for BBC Radio Scotland in July, 1976, and the following December the Derek Laurance Band made their first broadcast. This was followed in 1977 by two broadcasts on BBC Radio 4 and one on Radio Forth.
July, 1977, saw the break-up of the band when Derek took himself off to Canada. Ronnie took over the band and added a pianist, Alan Adams. On 21st January, the Ronnie Easton Band played their first programme on BBC Radio Scotland. They now have a record coming out on the Grampian label sometime in April.
This is just the beginning, everything that has gone before was just the learning, the training for bigger things that will surely follow on now that the band is getting to be known for its beautiful blend of traditional music played in the Ronnie Easton style.
Fiddling Holiday
A fiddle course will be held at Stirling University in the first fortnight of July. This is being run by Tom Anderson, President of TSMA and Aly Bain. They will be helped by Angus Grant of Fort William, Jardine Stuart of Ellon and Angus Cameron of Kirriemuir. This course will also cater for children. Although this is not a TSMA undertaking all the musicians are members and they will be doing this voluntarily. More details later.
On 4th March, the TSMa are running a ceilidh in Perth at the Windsor Restaurant with Bill Black’s Band, Pat Ward (Irish fiddler from Kinross), Charlie Murray (bothy singer from Forfar), the Stewarts of Blair, Jimmy McGregor of Perth (entertained and singer) and a host of other artistes.
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel) 28th Feb 78 Paddy Neary
Alnwick (Nag’s Head) 8th Mar 78 12th Apr 78 Currie Brothers
Balloch (Balloch Hotel) 19th March 78 Billy Anderson Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel)
Beith (Anderson Hotel) 20th Mar 78 George Stirrat, 17th Apr 78 Currie Brothers
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) 13th Mar 78 Alan Coulston Trio
Cumnock (Royal Hotel) 21st Feb 78
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel) 2nd March Paddy Neary, 6th April
Dunfermline (Kinema Ballroom) 7th March 78 Currie Brothers, 4th April 78 Bobby MacLeod
Forres (Brig Motel) 8th March 78 Alistair Hunter
Galston (Parakeet, Hurlford) 3th Feb 78 Paddy Neary
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler)
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel) 17th Mar 78 Annual Dinner Dance Bill Black’s Band
Keith (Seafield Arms Hotel) 7th Mar 78
Kelso (Queen’s Head Hotel) 29th Mar 78 Bill Black and Family
Langholm (Crown Hotel)
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club) 16th Mar 78 Max Houliston & Kenny Wilson, 20th Apr 78 Ian Holmes
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel)
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull) Gordon Pattullo, 2nd Feb 78
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel) 21st Mar 78 Billy Anderson Trio, 31st Mar 78 Jim Halcrow and his Band from Shetland
North Cumbria (Huntsman Inn - Penton) 15th Feb 78 Annual Buffet & Social with Roger Dobson SDB
Oban (Park Hotel) 1st Mar 78 Paddy Neary, 5th Apr 78
Perth (Salutation Hotel) 21st Feb 78 Paddy Neary
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel)
Rothbury (venue?)
Straiton (Black Bull Hotel) 27th Feb 78 Bill Black and Family
Stranraer (North West Castle Hotel) 6th Mar 78 John Carmichael Trio, 3rd April
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel)
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) 21st Mar 78 Currie Brothers
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Balloch
4. Banchory
5. Beith
6. Biggar
7. Buchan
8. Dundee
9. Dunfermline & District
10. Forres
11 Glendale
12. Highland / Inverness
13. Keith
14. Kelso
15. Livingston
16. M.A.F.I.A.
17. Newton St Boswells
18. North Cumbria
19. Oban
20. Rothbury
21. Straiton
22. Stranraer
23. Wick
BASED ON THE ABOVE THE FULL CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT FEBRUARY 1978 BECOMES :-
1. Aberdeen A&F Club
2. Alnwick A&F Club
3. Balloch A&F Club
4. Banff & District A&F Club
5. Beith & District A&F Club
6. Biggar A&F Club
7. Bonchester Accordion Club
8. Buchan A&F Club
9. Cumbria Accordion Club
10. Cumnock A&F Club
11. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s)
12. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club
13. Dunblane & District A&F Club
14. Dundee & District A&F Club
15. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
16. Fintry A&F Club
17. Galston A&F Club
18. Glendale Accordion Club
19. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
20. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
21 Kelso A&F Club
22 Langholm A&F Club
23 Livingston A&F Club
24 Lockerbie A&F Club
25 M.A.F.I.A.
26 Newcastleton Accordion Club
27 Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
28. North East A&F Club (aka Keith Club)
29. Oban A&F Club
30. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
31. Perth & District A&F Club
32. Renfrew A&F Club
33. Rothbury Accordion club
34. Straiton Accordion Club
35. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
36. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
37. Wick A&F Club
The Secretary for the new Club at Banchory is Mr William Smith, 27 Station Road, Banchory Tel 2611
One was or another this month has been quiet a momentous one. First there was the Association’s Festival at Musselburgh. This was the first time you Editor had been there and I was most impressed by the organization. It was first class, as was the concert, which was packed. And the following dance, which was a sell out. The standard of musicianship and competitiveness was also very high. Take a bow everyone who contributed to a satisfactory day at Musselburgh.
Then there was the Extraordinary Meeting in Perth which set your paper on a more solid base from which it can only grow. Up to now the ‘Box and Fiddle’ had been on trial and at this meeting everyone present voted the paper a success and. After much discussion, it was put on a more permanent footing.
There will be no Record Review this month as Derek Hamilton, your genial scribe, is in the process of changing his abode. His new address is 143 Orchard Street, Galston, Ayrshire.
Decisions Taken
At the Association’s Extraordinary Meeting held at Perth on 19th February, 1978, the following decisions were made and passed :
1. That the newspaper ‘Box and Fiddle’ be continued.
2. That the price be increased to 15p as from 1st April 1978.
3. That each Club will pay for their copies ordered by them to the Treasurer.
4. That the advertising rates remain as they are.
5. After much discussion it was agreed that the publication date be fixed at the 1st of the month.
6. That the new deadline to the Editor will be the 15th day of each month.
7. That at the AGM, due to be held in June, 1978, the whole matter can be reviewed.
Musselburgh Festival Success
Despite the very uncertain weather, a record entry and audience attended the Association’s Festival at Musselburgh on 4th February. The concert was a sell-out and the dance was an unqualified success.
The band for the dance was the Jim Johnstone Broadcasting Band, who kept the crowd on their feet with their variety of dances and scintillating playing.
One ‘unco-happy’ gentlemen at the dance was Bill Black, whose boys had done extremely well that day. Another gentleman who was over the moon at meeting so many ‘auld freens’, he was fair taken with fact that “here in this hall were gathered members from Clubs as far apart as Wick to Alnwick”. This alone made his day.
The seats at the concert were all taken up long before the concert started and they were not disappointed by the performers who entertained. They were the finest accordionists and fiddlers on display, and singers too.
Great credit must be given to the Committee and the hard work they put in under the leadership of Mr Alex Little, Chairman and Master of Ceremonies for the day. The only criticism one could make was regarding the prices being charged in the cafeteria. They were way out.
The adjudicators for the day were John Carmichael, accordions, and Alistair Hunter, fiddles. In their remarks they praised the high overall standard of the competitors. They were all so close that the adjudicators jumped on the least wee mistake in an endeavour to find the winners of each section.
The following is the list of winners but, as the Chairman so rightly remarked, “Where you have winners you also have losers, but I hope the losers will be back next year to try and be winners”.
The ‘Box and Fiddle’ was on sale for the first time and all the back numbers on display were quickly sold out.
Results :
Traditional
Junior Accordion (solo)
1. Duncan Black (Stanley)
2. William Currie (Milngavie)
3. Dawn Turner (Kirriemuie)
Senior Accordion (solo)
1. Alex Lindsay (Montrose)
2. Neil Copland (Dundee)
3. Graeme Mitchell (Huntly)
Junior Fiddle (solo)
1. Addie Harper (Wick)
2. Mark Winchester (Keith)
Senior Fiddle
1. Gillian Yellop (Haltwistle)
2. James Ferguson (Edinburgh)
3. Melvin Wilson (Alloa)
Senior Fiddle (Slow Air)
1. Richard Rutter (Edinburgh)
2. Donald McAllister (Haddington)
3. Melvin Wilson (Alloa)
Junior Duet
1. Robert & Duncan Black (Stanley)
2. Hugh & John Donald, Ayr
Trios
1. Graeme Mitchell (Huntly)
2. Gary Mair (Kirriemuir)
Band
Bill Black (Stanley)
Classical
Under 12 (solo)
1. Scott Leslie (Dunbar)
2. Yvonne Mathieson (Blackburn)
3. Iain Stewart (Swinton)
Under 14 (solo)
1. Isabel Rosie (Bearsden)
2. David Wilson (Blackburn)
3. Carol Faulds (Cocksburnpath)
Under 16 (solo)
1. Iain Horsburgh (Blackridge)
2. Keith Wilson (Edinburgh)
3. James Bell (Dunbar)
Open Solo
1. Stewart Wilson (Haddington)
2. Marian Wilson (Berwick-upon-Tweed)
3. Stuart McKeown (Milngavie)
Under 16 (Duet)
1. Sandra Fairbairn & Carol Faulds (Cocksburnpath)
2. Iain Horsburgh (Blackridge) & Carol Farquhar (Whitburn)
3. Yvonne Mathieson and David Wilson (Blackburn)
Open Duet
1. Neil & Allan Copland (Dundee)
2. Malcolm & Isabel Rosie (Bearsden)
The Ronnie Easton Story
By Ian Smith
Ronnie is well known throughout the accordion club scene. He is one of those guest artistes who give a consistently high standard of playing the accordion. Of a quiet and unassuming disposition, he prefers to express himself through his music.
Born in 1938 at Muirkirk into a coal mining family, the only music connection being that his mother’s family were noted in the piping world. He started to learn the accordion at 11 years of age and was taught by Mr Robert McF. Adamson of Cumnock. At sixteen he started his first dance band and played round the local dances which were then mainly 50-50 dances.
On leaving school, he went where all the rest of the lads went, doon the pot, remaining there for eight years. Kames Colliery closed down, so they moved to Cumnock. It was there that he joined the Travellers Modern Band, still playing locally from Ayr to Dumfries.
Up to this time the music purveyed was the typical mixture of the times, till he visited Straiton Accordion Club and was immediately infatuated by traditional music and the enthusiasm that was being created. He gladly joined in.
This, as far as Ronnie was concerned, was the ‘in music’. Teaming up with Brian Griffin, the two of them lifted a host of duet prizes. In 1971 he won the West of Scotland Accordion Championships.
In the following three years they won the duets at Gretna, and, with Robin Waitte, two years running.?????? (as printed – unsure what it’s supposed to say).
Ronnie’s wife’s name is Margaret, whom he met and married in Kilmarnock, where he went to live in 1968. He works as a mechanic with a textile firm.
The year that things really began to happen for Ronnie was 1976. He fell in the Derek Laurence, who had in his band Kenny Thomson, accordion, Sandy Colhill, then on drums, Neil McMillan from Balmaha on bass and Jim Barrie on fiddle.
They auditioned for BBC Radio Scotland in July, 1976, and the following December the Derek Laurance Band made their first broadcast. This was followed in 1977 by two broadcasts on BBC Radio 4 and one on Radio Forth.
July, 1977, saw the break-up of the band when Derek took himself off to Canada. Ronnie took over the band and added a pianist, Alan Adams. On 21st January, the Ronnie Easton Band played their first programme on BBC Radio Scotland. They now have a record coming out on the Grampian label sometime in April.
This is just the beginning, everything that has gone before was just the learning, the training for bigger things that will surely follow on now that the band is getting to be known for its beautiful blend of traditional music played in the Ronnie Easton style.
Fiddling Holiday
A fiddle course will be held at Stirling University in the first fortnight of July. This is being run by Tom Anderson, President of TSMA and Aly Bain. They will be helped by Angus Grant of Fort William, Jardine Stuart of Ellon and Angus Cameron of Kirriemuir. This course will also cater for children. Although this is not a TSMA undertaking all the musicians are members and they will be doing this voluntarily. More details later.
On 4th March, the TSMa are running a ceilidh in Perth at the Windsor Restaurant with Bill Black’s Band, Pat Ward (Irish fiddler from Kinross), Charlie Murray (bothy singer from Forfar), the Stewarts of Blair, Jimmy McGregor of Perth (entertained and singer) and a host of other artistes.
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel) 28th Feb 78 Paddy Neary
Alnwick (Nag’s Head) 8th Mar 78 12th Apr 78 Currie Brothers
Balloch (Balloch Hotel) 19th March 78 Billy Anderson Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel)
Beith (Anderson Hotel) 20th Mar 78 George Stirrat, 17th Apr 78 Currie Brothers
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) 13th Mar 78 Alan Coulston Trio
Cumnock (Royal Hotel) 21st Feb 78
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel) 2nd March Paddy Neary, 6th April
Dunfermline (Kinema Ballroom) 7th March 78 Currie Brothers, 4th April 78 Bobby MacLeod
Forres (Brig Motel) 8th March 78 Alistair Hunter
Galston (Parakeet, Hurlford) 3th Feb 78 Paddy Neary
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler)
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel) 17th Mar 78 Annual Dinner Dance Bill Black’s Band
Keith (Seafield Arms Hotel) 7th Mar 78
Kelso (Queen’s Head Hotel) 29th Mar 78 Bill Black and Family
Langholm (Crown Hotel)
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club) 16th Mar 78 Max Houliston & Kenny Wilson, 20th Apr 78 Ian Holmes
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel)
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull) Gordon Pattullo, 2nd Feb 78
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel) 21st Mar 78 Billy Anderson Trio, 31st Mar 78 Jim Halcrow and his Band from Shetland
North Cumbria (Huntsman Inn - Penton) 15th Feb 78 Annual Buffet & Social with Roger Dobson SDB
Oban (Park Hotel) 1st Mar 78 Paddy Neary, 5th Apr 78
Perth (Salutation Hotel) 21st Feb 78 Paddy Neary
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel)
Rothbury (venue?)
Straiton (Black Bull Hotel) 27th Feb 78 Bill Black and Family
Stranraer (North West Castle Hotel) 6th Mar 78 John Carmichael Trio, 3rd April
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel)
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) 21st Mar 78 Currie Brothers
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Balloch
4. Banchory
5. Beith
6. Biggar
7. Buchan
8. Dundee
9. Dunfermline & District
10. Forres
11 Glendale
12. Highland / Inverness
13. Keith
14. Kelso
15. Livingston
16. M.A.F.I.A.
17. Newton St Boswells
18. North Cumbria
19. Oban
20. Rothbury
21. Straiton
22. Stranraer
23. Wick
BASED ON THE ABOVE THE FULL CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT FEBRUARY 1978 BECOMES :-
1. Aberdeen A&F Club
2. Alnwick A&F Club
3. Balloch A&F Club
4. Banff & District A&F Club
5. Beith & District A&F Club
6. Biggar A&F Club
7. Bonchester Accordion Club
8. Buchan A&F Club
9. Cumbria Accordion Club
10. Cumnock A&F Club
11. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s)
12. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club
13. Dunblane & District A&F Club
14. Dundee & District A&F Club
15. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
16. Fintry A&F Club
17. Galston A&F Club
18. Glendale Accordion Club
19. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
20. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
21 Kelso A&F Club
22 Langholm A&F Club
23 Livingston A&F Club
24 Lockerbie A&F Club
25 M.A.F.I.A.
26 Newcastleton Accordion Club
27 Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
28. North East A&F Club (aka Keith Club)
29. Oban A&F Club
30. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
31. Perth & District A&F Club
32. Renfrew A&F Club
33. Rothbury Accordion club
34. Straiton Accordion Club
35. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
36. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
37. Wick A&F Club