Box and Fiddle
Year 20 No 05
February 1997
Price 70p
12 pages
7 month subscription £8.00
Editor – Ron Ramsay, 48 Hospitalfield Road, Arbroath, Angus, DD11 2LS
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Margaret Smith, Smeaton Farm Cottage, Dalkeith, Midlothian, EH22 2NL
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
Well, here we are at the start of another year and I hope you all had a nice Christmas and a good start to the New Year.
Hogmanay was quite good this year with a traditional Scottish Dance Band, lively dances, a Piper to pipe in the New Year, traditional fare of stovies, shortbread and a wee dram of whisky. I bet you’re wondering which channel this was on? Certainly not on T.V. which was the usual disappointment.
This was a local function which folk seem to enjoy better than the programmes on the media. I’m sure there are hundreds of such parties throughout the country which would make good material for televising to people not so fortunate as to be able to get out and about.
Still a distinct lack of letters! Let’s hear about your views on the music scene.
Ron Ramsay
21st Anniversary at Aberdeen
by Charlie Lawie
The Aberdeen A&F Club celebrated a milestone event at our regular Tuesday evening on 26th November, 1996, when we reached our 21st Anniversary and chose to mark this important occasion with due recognition for those who had done so much to establish the Aberdeen Club at a meeting held during November, 1975.
The Club originated with a meeting in the Old Gloucester Hotel, Union Street, Aberdeen, called as a result of an advert in Aberdeen Journals inserted by Tom Wemyss, who, rightly, thought that this area of ours should have its own Accordion and Fiddle Club.
A large number of interested people responded to the newspaper appeal and enthusiastically agreed to the idea of a Club, proceeded to draw up a Constitution and Committee and set out aims and objectives for the future of the Club.
One could say the Aberdeen Club, like so many throughout Scotland, was established in response to what was clearly felt to be a pressing need to have a safe, pleasant and friendly meeting place for similarly minded musicians and supporters and to develop a keen interest among the young and provide a platform for the presentation of their music and instrumental skills.
The members of the 1975 founding Committee were truly representative of the Aberdeen playing scene at the time and comprised ; Chairman and accordionist, Tom Wemyss, Secretary and pianist, Esma Shepherd, Treasurer and accordionist, Frank Thomson, Committee, Alistair Hunter (accordionist), Alda (non playing member), Helen Sorrie (accordionist), Martin Conn (accordionist), Robbie Shepherd (non playing member), Florence Burns (fiddler) and Skene Foote (accordionist).
The newly former Committee then set themselves the task of arranging for the very first meeting, and others which the then Secretary, Esma shepherd, recorded.
‘The first night of the Club was held on Monday, 26th January, 1976, when Jimmy Blue was the guest artiste. About 200 people turned up, and it was a great night. The Committee were delighted with the response.
The second meeting was on 23rd February, when Angus Fitchet was guest. His enthusiasm for his music and his obvious enjoyment got across to the audience and Angus was a very popular choice’.
The Aberdeen club was now successfully launched and, five months later, we had 218 subscribing members and growing rapidly under the guidance of a dedicated Committee. We own them a great deal.
After holding the Club evenings for a while in the Gloucester Hotel, burgeoning numbers compelled a shift to the Queen Hotel, an absolutely superb place for a developing Club and a wonderful venue for the great musicians and band entertainers of the time. Within a couple of years we were regularly having audiences of up to 400. Our greatest turnout was for the well known and much loved Arthur Spink who brought in nearly 500 to hear him that memorable night. Large crowds for Club nights were very common in those days and reading and thinking back to those halcyon days will induce a touch of mistiness to the eyes of those who were very much part of it.
Another move, this time to the Amatola Hotel for a short stay, when we hosted the Cape Breton Symphony and Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent, who were a playing revelation and clearly influenced a lot of young people in musical style and content.
Shortly after this we moved to our present venue, the Dee Motel, where, since then, we have enjoyed an excellent relationship with the management and staff and had some really memorable club nights. We continue to provide an essential musical focal point, whether for musicians or supporters, young or old, and if we are judged a successful Club it is because of the combined efforts of so many genuine and generous people.
When the present Committee realised our 21st was approaching we speedily agreed that we would mark the occasion as a night to remember and have the 1975 founding Committee as our honoured guests.
Two of the 1975 Committee had to regretfully decline our invitation, Skene Foote, unfortunately through illness, and Martin Conn because he and his group, the Gordonaires, would be doing three gigs in the heat of the Gulf States at that time.
The Ian Thomson band were booked in place of Jim Johnstone who had to call off due to a necessary operation.
Tuesday, 26th November, the night of our 21st Anniversary Celebration, was a very special night for those deeply rooted in the Accordion and fiddle Club scene.
Tom Wemyss our very first Chairman, honoured guests of the 1975 founding Committee, Lord Provost of the City of Aberdeen, Margaret Farquhar, were introduced by present chairman Stanley Flett, and given a warm welcome by those attending.
Graeme Mitchell and his band provided some excellent music for dancing during the first half, for those with sufficient energy, of pleasant background music for those who wished to listen or catch up on what had happened over many years.
Prior to the presentation ceremony we had a truly magnificent 21st Birthday cake made, and beautifully decorated wit the N.A.A.F.C. motif, by Harry Deegan, cut by both Tom Wemyss and Stanley Flett, our very first Chairman and present Chairman.
Stanley Flett in his address paid tributeto the effort of Tom Wemyss in seeking to start an A&F Club in the Aberdeen area and to the members of the 1975 founding Committee for the enthusiasm shown in support of that ideal. The importance of working together for the good of the Club was borne in mind and they, like careful builders, had put in place strong, solid foundations which had supported the Club well over 21 years. Great emphasis had been placed on the need to help the young by providing a musical platform and a great deal of success over the years was due to the clear direction given by the members of the 1975 founding Committee. The Club offered them our grateful appreciation and he called for the Lord Provost of the City of Aberdeen, Margaret Farquhar, to make the presentation to Tom Wemyss, Frank Thomson, Alistair Hunter, Alda Hadden, Helen Anderson, Robbie Shepherd and Florence Lawie. Esma Shepherd could not attend because of her mother’s illness and husband Robbie accepted on her behalf.
Tom Wemyss, responding on behalf of these guests, gave sincere thanks to the Aberdeen Club for making the occasion such a memorable one. The accordion had been a wonderful instrument to him and, he was sure, many others.
He remembered fondly the days of Perth and Bill Wilkie and the many friends he had made through playing the instrument. On coming to Aberdeen it was clear to him that the Club was necessary in order to provide a place to meet and help others to gain the same opportunities and enjoyment as himself.
He recalled those early days, the hard work everyone put in, the great friendship, the personalities of that time, the satisfying crowds and how worthwhile it had all been and how pleasing it was that the Club still continued to provide an essential service for the people of the area.
Tonight had been a wonderful evening for all who had been honoured, and he thanked the members for making it a night to remember.
Flowers were presented to the Lord Provost and to Mrs Wemyss by Susan McIntosh.
After an excellent buffet supper provided by the Dee Motel, which took a bit longer than we had anticipated, dancing resumed, this time to the Ian Thomson band who took us to a 12.15 close with Chairman, Stanley Flett, summing up the pleasure of the evening and thanking all for their participation and contribution to the undoubted success of this very special evening.
Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent
Bobby and his Band will be in Scotland, probably between 29th July – 14th August, 1997, and are available to play at Clubs, concerts, Scottish Country and Old Time Dances etc. Organisers are asked to get in touch with the Editor, in the first instance, with provisional dates and venues. The band line-up is Bobby on lead accordion, Laird Brown (second accordion), Cathy Collins (piano), Fred Collins (drums) and Rob Wolanski.
International Accordion Festival
by Tom Duncan
Wayne Robertson from Arbroath, was guest accordion player at the Wyre Accordion Club on Wednesday, 18th September. The Club meets at the Castle Gardens Hotel, near Blackpool. His choice of programme, together with his skill on the accordion enthralled an appreciative audience. There is no doubt that he will be asked to make a return visit.
Wayne and his band will be leading the Scottish dancing at the International Accordion Festival at the Holiday Club Pontins, near Blackpool, from 13th to 17th March, 1997. He will also be in charge of the Scottish Workshop, one of the many arranged at the event. Many Scots have already indicated that they will be making the journey over the Border, to enjoy the music of Wayne and his band and that of the many other top-line artistes already booked. Some additions to the programme of last year include – a Ceilidh Corner and Line Dancing.
East Meets West
Two of Scotland’s most prolific composers, Bert Murray from Aberdeen, and Ian Crichton from the Isle of Lewis, met for the first time last month.
Ian and Ishbel were visiting the Granite City for a few days and although they have been friends for a number of years, this was their first meeting. They correspond regularly with weekly telephone calls.
Ian and Ishbel were overwhelmed by the V.I.P. treatment they got from Bert, Robbie and Esme Shepherd during their brief visit and have acquired a taste for ‘Macallan’, I wonder who introduced them to that?
The Glasgow Lewis and Harris Association Quaich for 1996
Ian Crichton has been awarded the Quaich in recognition of his great contribution to music in Scotland and the honour he has brought to the Isle of Lewis.
The presentation will be made on 1st November, 1996, at the 109th Annual Gathering in Glasgow. More details in the next issue.
William Dutch – Obituary
by kind permission of ‘The Montrose Review’
Mr William Dutch, founder of the Montrose A&F Club, and the resurrected Highland Games Committee has died in the Royal Infirmary. He was 85.
Mr Dutch, Rossie Island Road, Montrose, was a former nurse, along with his wife Flora, at Sunnyside Royal Hospital when it was known as the Montrose royal Asylum. He was a sister there for six years before moving to Aston-on-Trent near Derby.
During the Second World War he served with the British Expeditionary Force in France and was then posted to the City Mental hospital in Belfast followed by a posting to Mid-Wales Mental Hospital where he was in charge of rehabilitation of soldiers.
After the war, Mr Dutch returned to Derby where he qualified as a State Registered Occupational Therapist and became Head of Department before taking up the position of Director of Therapeutic Studies at Winwick Hospital, Cheshire.
He returned to Montrose in 1976 after retiring from the Heath Service after more than 46 years.
In his younger days Mr Dutch was a keen Highland Games competitor and was North of Scotland grass track cycling champion and was the founding chairman of Montrose Highland Games which had lapsed 50 years previously. He was just as successful in starting the Accordion and Fiddle Club.
Mr Dutch is survived by his son and daughter.
Metal Fiddle Tradition of Donegal
by Dr Kevin McCann
The modern violin is considered to have been introduced to the musical community in Ireland during the 17th century. It is typically referred to as the fiddle amongst traditional music enthusiasts.
This name no doubt belies its links with older, bowed instruments used in Ireland. Accompanying the rapid growth in the popularity of the modern timber fiddle were attempts to build copies of that instrument.
By the middle of the 19th century the fiddle was firmly established as one of the most important, if not the prime instrument, for playing traditional Irish music.
During this period some masters of itinerant craftsman families also comprised the most respected of fiddlers in Donegal. Those families typically made a combined living as professional fiddlers and highly skilled journeymen whitesmiths who also produced tin fiddles.
Most noted amongst these were brothers Alec and Mickey McConnell from Ardara, as well as Michael (often Mict Mor, or an Dochartach Mor – Big Mickey or Big Doherty) Doherty and eventually his sons Charlie, Hughie and Simon. The last instrument from the family was Hughie’s son, the late Simon (Stranorlar) Doherty.
The above players comprised some of the most talented fiddlers Donegal has ever known. Their reputations as magnificent players are still commonly noted amongst current practitioners in the county. Based on fiddle and commercial recordings the fame of John, Mickey and Simon Doherty has spread much further.
It is not certain when first attempts were made, but their intense familiarity with the fiddle eventually led them to direct their whitesmithing talent to construct fiddles from tin plate. The results of their efforts are testimony to their masterful skills.
Thie instruments soon became noted among the musical community and tin fiddles were highly sought-after items. Their popularity eventually inspired non-craftsmen, though fiddlers all the same, to make similar instruments.
The latter usually had a significant knowledge of the fiddle through their own playing. The best example from this group of makers is the brass fiddle crafted by Frank and Paddy Cassidy and described below.
The single surviving account we have on the construction of metal fiddles from a maker is by Simon Doherty in ‘The Northern Fiddler’. In this account he stresses the similarity with the making of timber instruments. The tools used by the whitesmiths to make an instrument were few. They included a scribe, a right and a left gilbow snip (though the job could be done with one or the other) for cutting the plate, a shaping bag (a sand-filled leather bag about half the size of a pillow), a tin man’s anvil and spike heads, a planishing hammer for shaping and tapping current surfaces, a stretching hammer and a soldering iron.
The back and the belly would be cut out of the plate to the size and shape of the modern instrument with a 5mm flange left all round. The arch of the back and belly could be easily started by gently pressing a timber instrument into the shaping bag.
This formed a mould into which the plate was tapped. Following this, the back and belly, would be finished off by tapping out using different spike heads on the tin man’s anvil. Using the diameter of an old penny for measurement, which corresponded closely to the normal height of the sides of the fiddle, the sides were cut in strips to the normal height with an approximate 2mm flange left on the top and bottom.
The latter flanges would be turned over to a right angle while the strips were held straight. At this point, the cured shapes of the sides were then formed by stretching or shortening the flanges. This was the most difficult part of the construction as shortening a flange in particular results in crinkling of the tin plate. It took tremendous skill to bend the C bouts without crinkling the flanges and yet in the extract examples there is very little evidence of crinkling, paying testimony to the superior craftsmanship of the makers.
The side strips were commonly cut in five strips. These were made up of two C bouts, a long single strip below the C bouts (or as referred to by older players – the hips of the fiddle) and two strips above the C bouts (or the shoulders). Where tin plate was short, strips were cut out of whatever lengths existed and interlocking mechanical joints connected the strips.
At this point the sides were set into the belly of the fiddle and the flange of the belly was folded over the flanges of the sides. Solder and flux were inserted into the joint and the whole sealed with a soldering iron. The tinler neck of the fiddle was then inserted. A small rivet through the top of the fiddle added strength at this point.
Furthermore, a strip of tin was wrapped around the base of the neck and soldered onto the sides. The neck was then riveted from both sides through this cup-like strip. In some cases, the neck was further secured to the belly and built around the block of the neck, through which the neck was again riveted.
According to folk memory, Necks from damaged timber fiddles were typically used to complete tin fiddles. It is significant to note however, that on each of the extant instruments the necks and pegs were made by the whitesmith who made the body.
A tin base bar was soldered on to the belly in the normal position. The F holes, or the S holes as they are sometimes called, were made by a technique called ‘chiselling’. The patterns would be marked out on the belly using a scribe. At the top of the pattern a small hole would be drilled and the F hole shape cut out using sharpened files. In some circumstances where the quality of appearance of the fiddle was not important to the customer, or if the time allowed for making was very short, F holes were not chiselled but two round holes on either side of the bridge were drilled.
The belly was then attached by folding its flange over the flange of the upper surface of the sides. Just before closing this joint, solder and flux were inserted and the joint was sealed by tapping fully closed and running a hot iron over the outer surface of the joint. The nut was made by forming a loop with a short piece of wire and soldering only the base of the loop into place. The top of the loop was then bent downwards to form a lip to which the tailpiece could be attached. To finish, a sound post was inserted. In the end, the joints over the entire instrument would be inspected and either tapped or filed to ensure joints were secure and no sharp surfaces remained.
The fiddle were made from whatever tin plate was available. This could be from old cans etc., though shop-bough tin plate was considered ideal. The thickness of the plate varied with 30-gauge appearing to be the most common, though some fiddles were made using plate as thin as 18-gauge.
The latter are so thin that both the back and the belly can be easily flexed by pressing with the hand, yet they stand up to the pressures of being tuned to concert pitch.
The weakest part of these is the fixing of the neck so that the fingerboards almost rest on the belly but the necks are still quite strongly anchored in place by the riveted box structures. Where downward warping of the fingerboard occurred the player or the maker often made adjustments by shaving down the height of the bridge to bring the string action in line with timber instruments.
Traditional players commonly played flat handed i.e. they rested the base of their wrist onto the back of the fiddle as opposed to arching out and away from the fiddle in the classical hold. The thin flange formed by the join of the back and the sides could easily irritate or dig into the wrist.
To counter this, the flange at this point was sometimes rolled around a piece of wire and soldered to make it a smooth, rounded surface which did not press sharply into the wrist. Lastly, it should be remembered that tin plate is sandwich-like in manufacture. It has an iron core which is thinly coated on both sides with tin.
With time, the tin coating eventually wears, exposing the iron core. When this happens the instrument will continually rust. As such, tin fiddles have a limited lifetime of approximately 100 years, if not otherwise protected.
‘Uses and Advantages of the Metal Fiddle’ will be published in the next edition. Does any reader have recollections of such fiddles? Please let m know if any are still in existence.
Your Letters
Record Review
Kirrie Musicians Have it Taped
Heatherset – Heather Smith, Accordion champion
Novelty Accordion – Graham Edwardson’s Shetland Band
Book Review
Vidlin Voe Vol 2 – Frank & Ronald Jamieson
Muckle Ayre Vol 3 – Ronald G. Jamieson
Take the Floor – Saturdays at 6.30pm with Robbie Shepherd
2nd Nov 96 – David Cunningham Jnr SDB
9th Nov 96 – Neil Barron SDB – OB from Leeds
16th Nov 96 – Maurice Duncan SDB
23rd Nov 96 – Ian Hutson SDB
30th Nov 96 – Debut of Scott Leslie SDB
7th Dec 96 – OB from the Riverside club – Alasdair MacCuish and the Black Rose Ceilidh Band with Guests.
14th Dec 96 – Jim Lindsay SDB
21st Dec 96 – Graham Geddes SDB
28th Dec 96 – OB from the Gordon Schools, Huntly Lynn Gould SDB and pianist George Donald (Scotland the What!)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Dee Motel) – 25th Feb 97 – Ian Thomson SDB
Alnwick (Golden Fleece) – members only 12th Feb 97 – John Morgan
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 16th Feb 97 – Keith Dickson Orchestra
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 2nd Feb 97 – Willie Simpson Trio
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 6th Feb 97 – James Coutts SDB
Ayr (Gartferry Hotel) – 2nd Feb 97 – Wendy Godfrey SDB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Hall) – 16th Fen 97 – Bill Black SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 24th Feb 97 – Craig McCallum SDB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 26th Feb 97 – Lynn Gould SDB
Beith & District (Hotel de Croft, Dalry) – 17th Feb 97 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Belford (Community Club) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 9th Feb 97 – Cameronian SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 11th Feb 97 – Craigellachie SDB
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) - 18th Feb 97 – Stuart Forbes (fiddle)
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 13th Feb 97 – Andy Grier & Friends
Campsie (Glazert House Hotel) - 4th Feb 97 – Stuart McKeown SDB
Carlisle (Border Regiment Club, Carlisle Castle) - 6th Feb 97 – Julie Best
Castle Douglas (Ernespie House Hotel) – 18th Feb 97 – Sandy Leggat SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 20th Feb 97 – Andrew Knight SDB
Crieff & District (Arduthie Hotel) 6th Feb 97 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead)
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 5th Feb 97 – James Coutts SDB
Dunblane (Westlands Hotel) – 18th Feb 97 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Dundee (Dexters) –
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 11th Feb 97 – Bill Black SDB
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (Sweepers, Cambuslang) – 6th Feb 97 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Ellon (Ladbroke Hotel) – 18th Feb 97 – The Garioch Fiddlers
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 24th Feb 97 – Scott Gordon Trio
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 23rd Feb 97 – Black Rose Ceilidh Band
Forres (Brig Motel) – 12th Feb 97 – Ian Cruickshank SDB
Fort William (Alexandra Hotel) –
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) – 6th Feb 97 – Club Night
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) – 10th Feb 97 – Pauline Lavery Trio
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) – 20th Feb 97 – Julie Best
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) -
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 25th Feb 97 – Alex Wlaker Accordion Band
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) - 19th Feb 97 – Coila Sound
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 17th Feb 97 – Willie Simpson Trio
Inveraray (Loch Fyne Hotel) - 4th Feb 97 – Gordon Pattullo
Islay (White Hart Hotel) -
Isle of Skye -
Islesteps (Waterhole, Lochfoot) – 4th Feb 97 - tba
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 26th Feb 97 – Newtongrange Club
Kinlochshiel (Islander Function Room) -
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) –
Lanark (Masonic Hall) -
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 13th Feb 97 – Colin Garvin SDB
Livingston (Deans Community Centre) 18th Feb 97 – The Polmont Fiddlers
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 25th Feb 97 – West Telferton Ceilidh Band
Mauchline (Sorn Village Hall) 18th Feb 97 – Bill Black SDB
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th Feb 97 – A.G.M. & Bill Black SDB
Muirhead (Belmont Arms, Meigle) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 4th Feb 97 – Simon Howie & Duncan Black
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) – 6th Feb 97 – Club Night with local artistes
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) – 27th Feb 97 – Tommy Ford
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 18th Feb 97 – Iain Anderson SDB (Gartocharn)
Premier NI (Camlin Function Rooms) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 11th Feb 97 – Iain Cathcart SDB
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 6th Feb 97 – Willie McFarlane Band
Shetland (venue?) -
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) -
Thornhill (Dumfries-shire) - 12th Feb 97 – Roger Dobson SDB
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Royal Oak Hotel) – 6th Feb 97 – Kathleen, Ian & Friends
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) – 18th Feb 97 – Addie Harper Jnr
Yarrow (Gordon Arms) - 19th Feb 97 – Jim & Jean McConnachie
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Annan
2. Arbroath
3. Armadale
4. Balloch
5. Banchory
6. Banff
7. Beith
8. Belford
9. Biggar
10. Button Key
11. Campsie
12. Castle Douglas
13. Coalburn
14. Crieff
15. Dalriada
18. Dingwall
19. Dunfermline
20. Dunoon & Cowal
21. East Kilbride
22. Forfar
23. Forres
24. Galashiels
25. Glendale
26. Glenrothes
27. Gretna
28. Islesteps
29. Kelso
30. Kintore
31. Lesmahagow
32. Livingston
33. Lockerbie
34. Montrose
35. North East
36. Oban
37. Peebles
38. Perth
39. Renfrew
40. Rothbury
41. Stirling
42. Thornhill
43. Thurso
44. Turriff
45. Yarrow
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1995
(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 (Sept 1976 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started?
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. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
7. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
8. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
9. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
10. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
11. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
12. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
13. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
14. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
15. Bromley A&F Club
16. Button Key A&F Club (
17. Campbeltown A&F Club (
18. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
19. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
20. Coalburn A&F Club (
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
23. Derwentside A&F Club
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? -
27. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
28. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Etterick & Yarrow (Jan 1989 -
32. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
33. Forfar A&F Club (
34. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
35. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
36. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
37. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
38. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
39. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
40. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
41. 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)
42. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
43. Inveraray A&F Club (Oct 1991 - present)
44. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
45. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
46. Isle of Skye A&F Club (
47. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
48. Kintore A&F Club (
49. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – present)
50. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
51. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
52. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
53. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
54. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
55. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
56. Mauchline A&F Club (first mention 1986? - present)
57. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
58. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
59. Mull A&F Club
60. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
61. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
62. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
63. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
64. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
65. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
66. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
67. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
68. Renfrew A&F Club (
69. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
70. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
71. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
72. Sutherland A&F Club (
73. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
74. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
75. Tranent A&F Club
76. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
77. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
78. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
79. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
80. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
81. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
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. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
92. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
93. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
94. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
95. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
96. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
97. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
98. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
99. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
100. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
101. Newcastleton Accordion Club
102. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
103. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
104. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
105. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
106. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
107. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
108. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
109. Wellbank A&F Club
Advertising rates increased
Full Page - £94 to £113 from Sept 96
Half Page - £47 to £57
Quarter Page - £24 to £29
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Margaret Smith, Smeaton Farm Cottage, Dalkeith, Midlothian, EH22 2NL
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
Well, here we are at the start of another year and I hope you all had a nice Christmas and a good start to the New Year.
Hogmanay was quite good this year with a traditional Scottish Dance Band, lively dances, a Piper to pipe in the New Year, traditional fare of stovies, shortbread and a wee dram of whisky. I bet you’re wondering which channel this was on? Certainly not on T.V. which was the usual disappointment.
This was a local function which folk seem to enjoy better than the programmes on the media. I’m sure there are hundreds of such parties throughout the country which would make good material for televising to people not so fortunate as to be able to get out and about.
Still a distinct lack of letters! Let’s hear about your views on the music scene.
Ron Ramsay
21st Anniversary at Aberdeen
by Charlie Lawie
The Aberdeen A&F Club celebrated a milestone event at our regular Tuesday evening on 26th November, 1996, when we reached our 21st Anniversary and chose to mark this important occasion with due recognition for those who had done so much to establish the Aberdeen Club at a meeting held during November, 1975.
The Club originated with a meeting in the Old Gloucester Hotel, Union Street, Aberdeen, called as a result of an advert in Aberdeen Journals inserted by Tom Wemyss, who, rightly, thought that this area of ours should have its own Accordion and Fiddle Club.
A large number of interested people responded to the newspaper appeal and enthusiastically agreed to the idea of a Club, proceeded to draw up a Constitution and Committee and set out aims and objectives for the future of the Club.
One could say the Aberdeen Club, like so many throughout Scotland, was established in response to what was clearly felt to be a pressing need to have a safe, pleasant and friendly meeting place for similarly minded musicians and supporters and to develop a keen interest among the young and provide a platform for the presentation of their music and instrumental skills.
The members of the 1975 founding Committee were truly representative of the Aberdeen playing scene at the time and comprised ; Chairman and accordionist, Tom Wemyss, Secretary and pianist, Esma Shepherd, Treasurer and accordionist, Frank Thomson, Committee, Alistair Hunter (accordionist), Alda (non playing member), Helen Sorrie (accordionist), Martin Conn (accordionist), Robbie Shepherd (non playing member), Florence Burns (fiddler) and Skene Foote (accordionist).
The newly former Committee then set themselves the task of arranging for the very first meeting, and others which the then Secretary, Esma shepherd, recorded.
‘The first night of the Club was held on Monday, 26th January, 1976, when Jimmy Blue was the guest artiste. About 200 people turned up, and it was a great night. The Committee were delighted with the response.
The second meeting was on 23rd February, when Angus Fitchet was guest. His enthusiasm for his music and his obvious enjoyment got across to the audience and Angus was a very popular choice’.
The Aberdeen club was now successfully launched and, five months later, we had 218 subscribing members and growing rapidly under the guidance of a dedicated Committee. We own them a great deal.
After holding the Club evenings for a while in the Gloucester Hotel, burgeoning numbers compelled a shift to the Queen Hotel, an absolutely superb place for a developing Club and a wonderful venue for the great musicians and band entertainers of the time. Within a couple of years we were regularly having audiences of up to 400. Our greatest turnout was for the well known and much loved Arthur Spink who brought in nearly 500 to hear him that memorable night. Large crowds for Club nights were very common in those days and reading and thinking back to those halcyon days will induce a touch of mistiness to the eyes of those who were very much part of it.
Another move, this time to the Amatola Hotel for a short stay, when we hosted the Cape Breton Symphony and Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent, who were a playing revelation and clearly influenced a lot of young people in musical style and content.
Shortly after this we moved to our present venue, the Dee Motel, where, since then, we have enjoyed an excellent relationship with the management and staff and had some really memorable club nights. We continue to provide an essential musical focal point, whether for musicians or supporters, young or old, and if we are judged a successful Club it is because of the combined efforts of so many genuine and generous people.
When the present Committee realised our 21st was approaching we speedily agreed that we would mark the occasion as a night to remember and have the 1975 founding Committee as our honoured guests.
Two of the 1975 Committee had to regretfully decline our invitation, Skene Foote, unfortunately through illness, and Martin Conn because he and his group, the Gordonaires, would be doing three gigs in the heat of the Gulf States at that time.
The Ian Thomson band were booked in place of Jim Johnstone who had to call off due to a necessary operation.
Tuesday, 26th November, the night of our 21st Anniversary Celebration, was a very special night for those deeply rooted in the Accordion and fiddle Club scene.
Tom Wemyss our very first Chairman, honoured guests of the 1975 founding Committee, Lord Provost of the City of Aberdeen, Margaret Farquhar, were introduced by present chairman Stanley Flett, and given a warm welcome by those attending.
Graeme Mitchell and his band provided some excellent music for dancing during the first half, for those with sufficient energy, of pleasant background music for those who wished to listen or catch up on what had happened over many years.
Prior to the presentation ceremony we had a truly magnificent 21st Birthday cake made, and beautifully decorated wit the N.A.A.F.C. motif, by Harry Deegan, cut by both Tom Wemyss and Stanley Flett, our very first Chairman and present Chairman.
Stanley Flett in his address paid tributeto the effort of Tom Wemyss in seeking to start an A&F Club in the Aberdeen area and to the members of the 1975 founding Committee for the enthusiasm shown in support of that ideal. The importance of working together for the good of the Club was borne in mind and they, like careful builders, had put in place strong, solid foundations which had supported the Club well over 21 years. Great emphasis had been placed on the need to help the young by providing a musical platform and a great deal of success over the years was due to the clear direction given by the members of the 1975 founding Committee. The Club offered them our grateful appreciation and he called for the Lord Provost of the City of Aberdeen, Margaret Farquhar, to make the presentation to Tom Wemyss, Frank Thomson, Alistair Hunter, Alda Hadden, Helen Anderson, Robbie Shepherd and Florence Lawie. Esma Shepherd could not attend because of her mother’s illness and husband Robbie accepted on her behalf.
Tom Wemyss, responding on behalf of these guests, gave sincere thanks to the Aberdeen Club for making the occasion such a memorable one. The accordion had been a wonderful instrument to him and, he was sure, many others.
He remembered fondly the days of Perth and Bill Wilkie and the many friends he had made through playing the instrument. On coming to Aberdeen it was clear to him that the Club was necessary in order to provide a place to meet and help others to gain the same opportunities and enjoyment as himself.
He recalled those early days, the hard work everyone put in, the great friendship, the personalities of that time, the satisfying crowds and how worthwhile it had all been and how pleasing it was that the Club still continued to provide an essential service for the people of the area.
Tonight had been a wonderful evening for all who had been honoured, and he thanked the members for making it a night to remember.
Flowers were presented to the Lord Provost and to Mrs Wemyss by Susan McIntosh.
After an excellent buffet supper provided by the Dee Motel, which took a bit longer than we had anticipated, dancing resumed, this time to the Ian Thomson band who took us to a 12.15 close with Chairman, Stanley Flett, summing up the pleasure of the evening and thanking all for their participation and contribution to the undoubted success of this very special evening.
Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent
Bobby and his Band will be in Scotland, probably between 29th July – 14th August, 1997, and are available to play at Clubs, concerts, Scottish Country and Old Time Dances etc. Organisers are asked to get in touch with the Editor, in the first instance, with provisional dates and venues. The band line-up is Bobby on lead accordion, Laird Brown (second accordion), Cathy Collins (piano), Fred Collins (drums) and Rob Wolanski.
International Accordion Festival
by Tom Duncan
Wayne Robertson from Arbroath, was guest accordion player at the Wyre Accordion Club on Wednesday, 18th September. The Club meets at the Castle Gardens Hotel, near Blackpool. His choice of programme, together with his skill on the accordion enthralled an appreciative audience. There is no doubt that he will be asked to make a return visit.
Wayne and his band will be leading the Scottish dancing at the International Accordion Festival at the Holiday Club Pontins, near Blackpool, from 13th to 17th March, 1997. He will also be in charge of the Scottish Workshop, one of the many arranged at the event. Many Scots have already indicated that they will be making the journey over the Border, to enjoy the music of Wayne and his band and that of the many other top-line artistes already booked. Some additions to the programme of last year include – a Ceilidh Corner and Line Dancing.
East Meets West
Two of Scotland’s most prolific composers, Bert Murray from Aberdeen, and Ian Crichton from the Isle of Lewis, met for the first time last month.
Ian and Ishbel were visiting the Granite City for a few days and although they have been friends for a number of years, this was their first meeting. They correspond regularly with weekly telephone calls.
Ian and Ishbel were overwhelmed by the V.I.P. treatment they got from Bert, Robbie and Esme Shepherd during their brief visit and have acquired a taste for ‘Macallan’, I wonder who introduced them to that?
The Glasgow Lewis and Harris Association Quaich for 1996
Ian Crichton has been awarded the Quaich in recognition of his great contribution to music in Scotland and the honour he has brought to the Isle of Lewis.
The presentation will be made on 1st November, 1996, at the 109th Annual Gathering in Glasgow. More details in the next issue.
William Dutch – Obituary
by kind permission of ‘The Montrose Review’
Mr William Dutch, founder of the Montrose A&F Club, and the resurrected Highland Games Committee has died in the Royal Infirmary. He was 85.
Mr Dutch, Rossie Island Road, Montrose, was a former nurse, along with his wife Flora, at Sunnyside Royal Hospital when it was known as the Montrose royal Asylum. He was a sister there for six years before moving to Aston-on-Trent near Derby.
During the Second World War he served with the British Expeditionary Force in France and was then posted to the City Mental hospital in Belfast followed by a posting to Mid-Wales Mental Hospital where he was in charge of rehabilitation of soldiers.
After the war, Mr Dutch returned to Derby where he qualified as a State Registered Occupational Therapist and became Head of Department before taking up the position of Director of Therapeutic Studies at Winwick Hospital, Cheshire.
He returned to Montrose in 1976 after retiring from the Heath Service after more than 46 years.
In his younger days Mr Dutch was a keen Highland Games competitor and was North of Scotland grass track cycling champion and was the founding chairman of Montrose Highland Games which had lapsed 50 years previously. He was just as successful in starting the Accordion and Fiddle Club.
Mr Dutch is survived by his son and daughter.
Metal Fiddle Tradition of Donegal
by Dr Kevin McCann
The modern violin is considered to have been introduced to the musical community in Ireland during the 17th century. It is typically referred to as the fiddle amongst traditional music enthusiasts.
This name no doubt belies its links with older, bowed instruments used in Ireland. Accompanying the rapid growth in the popularity of the modern timber fiddle were attempts to build copies of that instrument.
By the middle of the 19th century the fiddle was firmly established as one of the most important, if not the prime instrument, for playing traditional Irish music.
During this period some masters of itinerant craftsman families also comprised the most respected of fiddlers in Donegal. Those families typically made a combined living as professional fiddlers and highly skilled journeymen whitesmiths who also produced tin fiddles.
Most noted amongst these were brothers Alec and Mickey McConnell from Ardara, as well as Michael (often Mict Mor, or an Dochartach Mor – Big Mickey or Big Doherty) Doherty and eventually his sons Charlie, Hughie and Simon. The last instrument from the family was Hughie’s son, the late Simon (Stranorlar) Doherty.
The above players comprised some of the most talented fiddlers Donegal has ever known. Their reputations as magnificent players are still commonly noted amongst current practitioners in the county. Based on fiddle and commercial recordings the fame of John, Mickey and Simon Doherty has spread much further.
It is not certain when first attempts were made, but their intense familiarity with the fiddle eventually led them to direct their whitesmithing talent to construct fiddles from tin plate. The results of their efforts are testimony to their masterful skills.
Thie instruments soon became noted among the musical community and tin fiddles were highly sought-after items. Their popularity eventually inspired non-craftsmen, though fiddlers all the same, to make similar instruments.
The latter usually had a significant knowledge of the fiddle through their own playing. The best example from this group of makers is the brass fiddle crafted by Frank and Paddy Cassidy and described below.
The single surviving account we have on the construction of metal fiddles from a maker is by Simon Doherty in ‘The Northern Fiddler’. In this account he stresses the similarity with the making of timber instruments. The tools used by the whitesmiths to make an instrument were few. They included a scribe, a right and a left gilbow snip (though the job could be done with one or the other) for cutting the plate, a shaping bag (a sand-filled leather bag about half the size of a pillow), a tin man’s anvil and spike heads, a planishing hammer for shaping and tapping current surfaces, a stretching hammer and a soldering iron.
The back and the belly would be cut out of the plate to the size and shape of the modern instrument with a 5mm flange left all round. The arch of the back and belly could be easily started by gently pressing a timber instrument into the shaping bag.
This formed a mould into which the plate was tapped. Following this, the back and belly, would be finished off by tapping out using different spike heads on the tin man’s anvil. Using the diameter of an old penny for measurement, which corresponded closely to the normal height of the sides of the fiddle, the sides were cut in strips to the normal height with an approximate 2mm flange left on the top and bottom.
The latter flanges would be turned over to a right angle while the strips were held straight. At this point, the cured shapes of the sides were then formed by stretching or shortening the flanges. This was the most difficult part of the construction as shortening a flange in particular results in crinkling of the tin plate. It took tremendous skill to bend the C bouts without crinkling the flanges and yet in the extract examples there is very little evidence of crinkling, paying testimony to the superior craftsmanship of the makers.
The side strips were commonly cut in five strips. These were made up of two C bouts, a long single strip below the C bouts (or as referred to by older players – the hips of the fiddle) and two strips above the C bouts (or the shoulders). Where tin plate was short, strips were cut out of whatever lengths existed and interlocking mechanical joints connected the strips.
At this point the sides were set into the belly of the fiddle and the flange of the belly was folded over the flanges of the sides. Solder and flux were inserted into the joint and the whole sealed with a soldering iron. The tinler neck of the fiddle was then inserted. A small rivet through the top of the fiddle added strength at this point.
Furthermore, a strip of tin was wrapped around the base of the neck and soldered onto the sides. The neck was then riveted from both sides through this cup-like strip. In some cases, the neck was further secured to the belly and built around the block of the neck, through which the neck was again riveted.
According to folk memory, Necks from damaged timber fiddles were typically used to complete tin fiddles. It is significant to note however, that on each of the extant instruments the necks and pegs were made by the whitesmith who made the body.
A tin base bar was soldered on to the belly in the normal position. The F holes, or the S holes as they are sometimes called, were made by a technique called ‘chiselling’. The patterns would be marked out on the belly using a scribe. At the top of the pattern a small hole would be drilled and the F hole shape cut out using sharpened files. In some circumstances where the quality of appearance of the fiddle was not important to the customer, or if the time allowed for making was very short, F holes were not chiselled but two round holes on either side of the bridge were drilled.
The belly was then attached by folding its flange over the flange of the upper surface of the sides. Just before closing this joint, solder and flux were inserted and the joint was sealed by tapping fully closed and running a hot iron over the outer surface of the joint. The nut was made by forming a loop with a short piece of wire and soldering only the base of the loop into place. The top of the loop was then bent downwards to form a lip to which the tailpiece could be attached. To finish, a sound post was inserted. In the end, the joints over the entire instrument would be inspected and either tapped or filed to ensure joints were secure and no sharp surfaces remained.
The fiddle were made from whatever tin plate was available. This could be from old cans etc., though shop-bough tin plate was considered ideal. The thickness of the plate varied with 30-gauge appearing to be the most common, though some fiddles were made using plate as thin as 18-gauge.
The latter are so thin that both the back and the belly can be easily flexed by pressing with the hand, yet they stand up to the pressures of being tuned to concert pitch.
The weakest part of these is the fixing of the neck so that the fingerboards almost rest on the belly but the necks are still quite strongly anchored in place by the riveted box structures. Where downward warping of the fingerboard occurred the player or the maker often made adjustments by shaving down the height of the bridge to bring the string action in line with timber instruments.
Traditional players commonly played flat handed i.e. they rested the base of their wrist onto the back of the fiddle as opposed to arching out and away from the fiddle in the classical hold. The thin flange formed by the join of the back and the sides could easily irritate or dig into the wrist.
To counter this, the flange at this point was sometimes rolled around a piece of wire and soldered to make it a smooth, rounded surface which did not press sharply into the wrist. Lastly, it should be remembered that tin plate is sandwich-like in manufacture. It has an iron core which is thinly coated on both sides with tin.
With time, the tin coating eventually wears, exposing the iron core. When this happens the instrument will continually rust. As such, tin fiddles have a limited lifetime of approximately 100 years, if not otherwise protected.
‘Uses and Advantages of the Metal Fiddle’ will be published in the next edition. Does any reader have recollections of such fiddles? Please let m know if any are still in existence.
Your Letters
Record Review
Kirrie Musicians Have it Taped
Heatherset – Heather Smith, Accordion champion
Novelty Accordion – Graham Edwardson’s Shetland Band
Book Review
Vidlin Voe Vol 2 – Frank & Ronald Jamieson
Muckle Ayre Vol 3 – Ronald G. Jamieson
Take the Floor – Saturdays at 6.30pm with Robbie Shepherd
2nd Nov 96 – David Cunningham Jnr SDB
9th Nov 96 – Neil Barron SDB – OB from Leeds
16th Nov 96 – Maurice Duncan SDB
23rd Nov 96 – Ian Hutson SDB
30th Nov 96 – Debut of Scott Leslie SDB
7th Dec 96 – OB from the Riverside club – Alasdair MacCuish and the Black Rose Ceilidh Band with Guests.
14th Dec 96 – Jim Lindsay SDB
21st Dec 96 – Graham Geddes SDB
28th Dec 96 – OB from the Gordon Schools, Huntly Lynn Gould SDB and pianist George Donald (Scotland the What!)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Dee Motel) – 25th Feb 97 – Ian Thomson SDB
Alnwick (Golden Fleece) – members only 12th Feb 97 – John Morgan
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 16th Feb 97 – Keith Dickson Orchestra
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 2nd Feb 97 – Willie Simpson Trio
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 6th Feb 97 – James Coutts SDB
Ayr (Gartferry Hotel) – 2nd Feb 97 – Wendy Godfrey SDB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Hall) – 16th Fen 97 – Bill Black SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 24th Feb 97 – Craig McCallum SDB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 26th Feb 97 – Lynn Gould SDB
Beith & District (Hotel de Croft, Dalry) – 17th Feb 97 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Belford (Community Club) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 9th Feb 97 – Cameronian SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 11th Feb 97 – Craigellachie SDB
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) - 18th Feb 97 – Stuart Forbes (fiddle)
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 13th Feb 97 – Andy Grier & Friends
Campsie (Glazert House Hotel) - 4th Feb 97 – Stuart McKeown SDB
Carlisle (Border Regiment Club, Carlisle Castle) - 6th Feb 97 – Julie Best
Castle Douglas (Ernespie House Hotel) – 18th Feb 97 – Sandy Leggat SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 20th Feb 97 – Andrew Knight SDB
Crieff & District (Arduthie Hotel) 6th Feb 97 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead)
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 5th Feb 97 – James Coutts SDB
Dunblane (Westlands Hotel) – 18th Feb 97 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Dundee (Dexters) –
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 11th Feb 97 – Bill Black SDB
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (Sweepers, Cambuslang) – 6th Feb 97 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Ellon (Ladbroke Hotel) – 18th Feb 97 – The Garioch Fiddlers
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 24th Feb 97 – Scott Gordon Trio
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 23rd Feb 97 – Black Rose Ceilidh Band
Forres (Brig Motel) – 12th Feb 97 – Ian Cruickshank SDB
Fort William (Alexandra Hotel) –
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) – 6th Feb 97 – Club Night
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) – 10th Feb 97 – Pauline Lavery Trio
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) – 20th Feb 97 – Julie Best
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) -
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 25th Feb 97 – Alex Wlaker Accordion Band
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) - 19th Feb 97 – Coila Sound
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 17th Feb 97 – Willie Simpson Trio
Inveraray (Loch Fyne Hotel) - 4th Feb 97 – Gordon Pattullo
Islay (White Hart Hotel) -
Isle of Skye -
Islesteps (Waterhole, Lochfoot) – 4th Feb 97 - tba
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 26th Feb 97 – Newtongrange Club
Kinlochshiel (Islander Function Room) -
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) –
Lanark (Masonic Hall) -
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 13th Feb 97 – Colin Garvin SDB
Livingston (Deans Community Centre) 18th Feb 97 – The Polmont Fiddlers
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 25th Feb 97 – West Telferton Ceilidh Band
Mauchline (Sorn Village Hall) 18th Feb 97 – Bill Black SDB
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th Feb 97 – A.G.M. & Bill Black SDB
Muirhead (Belmont Arms, Meigle) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 4th Feb 97 – Simon Howie & Duncan Black
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) – 6th Feb 97 – Club Night with local artistes
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) – 27th Feb 97 – Tommy Ford
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 18th Feb 97 – Iain Anderson SDB (Gartocharn)
Premier NI (Camlin Function Rooms) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 11th Feb 97 – Iain Cathcart SDB
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 6th Feb 97 – Willie McFarlane Band
Shetland (venue?) -
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) -
Thornhill (Dumfries-shire) - 12th Feb 97 – Roger Dobson SDB
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Royal Oak Hotel) – 6th Feb 97 – Kathleen, Ian & Friends
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) – 18th Feb 97 – Addie Harper Jnr
Yarrow (Gordon Arms) - 19th Feb 97 – Jim & Jean McConnachie
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Annan
2. Arbroath
3. Armadale
4. Balloch
5. Banchory
6. Banff
7. Beith
8. Belford
9. Biggar
10. Button Key
11. Campsie
12. Castle Douglas
13. Coalburn
14. Crieff
15. Dalriada
18. Dingwall
19. Dunfermline
20. Dunoon & Cowal
21. East Kilbride
22. Forfar
23. Forres
24. Galashiels
25. Glendale
26. Glenrothes
27. Gretna
28. Islesteps
29. Kelso
30. Kintore
31. Lesmahagow
32. Livingston
33. Lockerbie
34. Montrose
35. North East
36. Oban
37. Peebles
38. Perth
39. Renfrew
40. Rothbury
41. Stirling
42. Thornhill
43. Thurso
44. Turriff
45. Yarrow
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1995
(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 (Sept 1976 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started?
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. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
7. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
8. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
9. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
10. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
11. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
12. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
13. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
14. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
15. Bromley A&F Club
16. Button Key A&F Club (
17. Campbeltown A&F Club (
18. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
19. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
20. Coalburn A&F Club (
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
23. Derwentside A&F Club
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? -
27. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
28. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Etterick & Yarrow (Jan 1989 -
32. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
33. Forfar A&F Club (
34. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
35. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
36. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
37. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
38. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
39. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
40. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
41. 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)
42. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
43. Inveraray A&F Club (Oct 1991 - present)
44. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
45. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
46. Isle of Skye A&F Club (
47. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
48. Kintore A&F Club (
49. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – present)
50. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
51. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
52. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
53. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
54. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
55. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
56. Mauchline A&F Club (first mention 1986? - present)
57. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
58. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
59. Mull A&F Club
60. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
61. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
62. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
63. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
64. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
65. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
66. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
67. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
68. Renfrew A&F Club (
69. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
70. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
71. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
72. Sutherland A&F Club (
73. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
74. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
75. Tranent A&F Club
76. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
77. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
78. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
79. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
80. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
81. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
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. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
92. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
93. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
94. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
95. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
96. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
97. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
98. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
99. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
100. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
101. Newcastleton Accordion Club
102. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
103. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
104. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
105. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
106. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
107. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
108. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
109. Wellbank A&F Club
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