Box and Fiddle
Year 41 No 04
December 2017
Price £3.00
52 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £33.60 + p&p £15.85 (UK)
In Memory – Fred Donald
by Andy Ross
The Forres Accordion & Fiddle Club said farewell recently to one of its founder members, accordionist Freddie Donald, who passed away at the age of 81. Early in November 1977, he, along with a fellow musician Ray MacKenzie, called on me asking if I would help them to set up a Club in Forres. I agreed, and within a few weeks a Steering Committee had been formed and the first musical meeting was held on Burns Night in January, 1978m with music by Graeme Mitchell and his band along with quite a few players from the North East Club in Keith. After 5 months, a general meeting was held and it was agreed officially to form a Club; and within 10 days, 210 members had joined.
Freddie was on the Club’s Committee for 35 years and did a tremendous amount of work other than playing. He was a joiner by trade and made the two music stands which grace the stage at every meeting after having been decorated by another Club member. For many years, he organised a small group of Club players who entertain at charity and other events in and around Forres. To show the Club’s appreciation for all the assistance he had provided, he was made a Life Member in 2008.
At his funeral we heard a tune he had written. It is names The 25th Anniversary of the Forres Accordion & Fiddle Club and was played by three Club players: fiddler Andy McCormack, accordionist Yvonne Cameron and Ena Brian on keyboard. As his coffin was leaving the chapel, a tune was played on the PA which he had recorded some time ago. It had been recorded by the Club’s Chairperson Sheena Kelman to mark his late mother’s 100th birthday a few years ago.
Because of serious health problems he had moved from Forres to Speyside Nursing Home at Aberlour and this establishment and the Club will benefit equally from the donations received at his funeral in Forres on 2nd November.
by Andy Ross
The Forres Accordion & Fiddle Club said farewell recently to one of its founder members, accordionist Freddie Donald, who passed away at the age of 81. Early in November 1977, he, along with a fellow musician Ray MacKenzie, called on me asking if I would help them to set up a Club in Forres. I agreed, and within a few weeks a Steering Committee had been formed and the first musical meeting was held on Burns Night in January, 1978m with music by Graeme Mitchell and his band along with quite a few players from the North East Club in Keith. After 5 months, a general meeting was held and it was agreed officially to form a Club; and within 10 days, 210 members had joined.
Freddie was on the Club’s Committee for 35 years and did a tremendous amount of work other than playing. He was a joiner by trade and made the two music stands which grace the stage at every meeting after having been decorated by another Club member. For many years, he organised a small group of Club players who entertain at charity and other events in and around Forres. To show the Club’s appreciation for all the assistance he had provided, he was made a Life Member in 2008.
At his funeral we heard a tune he had written. It is names The 25th Anniversary of the Forres Accordion & Fiddle Club and was played by three Club players: fiddler Andy McCormack, accordionist Yvonne Cameron and Ena Brian on keyboard. As his coffin was leaving the chapel, a tune was played on the PA which he had recorded some time ago. It had been recorded by the Club’s Chairperson Sheena Kelman to mark his late mother’s 100th birthday a few years ago.
Because of serious health problems he had moved from Forres to Speyside Nursing Home at Aberlour and this establishment and the Club will benefit equally from the donations received at his funeral in Forres on 2nd November.