Box and Fiddle
Year 19 No 01
September 1995
George Muir (Arbroath) - Obituary
by ?
Mr George Muir, 18 St Ninian’s road, Arbroath, a well-known Scottish fiddler, died on June 27th at Arbroath Infirmary after a short illness. A former member of Jimmy Shand’s Band, until recently George played regularly at the Foundry Bar, Arbroath.
A native of the town, he was educated at Abbey and Parkhouse Primary Schools and Keptie School. At the age of 12, George started playing the fiddle and a year later he was playing at dances in The Good Templar Hall, later the Sea Cadets’ Hall in Arrot Street ; Forester’s Hall, Green Street, now Lodge St Vigean 101 ; and the Café Moderne, now premises above the Mandarin Palace in High Street. He also played at many weddings.
When he left school he had a number of jobs, starting with William Ross, jeweler, Hamilton Green; and then to J.H. Herron’s music shop, where he stayed for two years with duties which included making special polish for pianos. He was there until the age of 18, when he went to Douglas Fraser and Sons Ltd, as a tool boy.
In 1928 he became a drummer with the Arbroath Highland Pipe Band, which rehearsed in the old Hill School. He kept up his membership until the early 60’s. He was also drummer with the British Legion Pipe Band, which then used premises in Guthrie Port.
He decided to set up his own band and in the early 1930’s with two accordions, drummer and piano in addition to his own fiddle, the George Muir Band was formed.
Call-up came in 1940, and he became a member of the Pipes and Drums of the Black Watch and in 1943, he was posted to India where he remained for two years, with the 12th Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters. He played in the Battalion Pipe Band, and was a violinist in the Battalion big band.
Back in civilian life, he spend nine months working a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift with Alexander Shanks and Co. Ltd, and then three years on the day shift.
In the late 1940’s George played for three years with Jimmy Shand, and during that time toured the Shetlands, where Messrs Shand and Muir would go round houses where housebound folk lived, and play them a few tunes. After he stopped being a full-time member of the band, George was sometimes asked to play as a guest musician.
For two years George worked in Jimmy Shand’s accordion repair business in Guthrie Port, before joining Francis Webster & Sons Ltd, as a canvas inspector. He remained with that firm for 25½ years, until he retired in 1978.
George appeared three times on that grand programme ‘Bothy Nichts’, which many people would like Grampian Television to revive. He was a member of the ‘St Tammers’, which included Arnold and Sadie Masson and Alec Wood.
Music was his life and George turned his hand not only to playing but also to composing. His tunes can be heard regularly at the Foundry Bar.
George was a stalwart member of Arbroath A&F Club and a regular player.
Predeceased by his wife, Anne, George is survived by his four children, George Jnr, Frank, Chrissie (Mrs Brimmer) and Patricia (Mrs Burnett).
by ?
Mr George Muir, 18 St Ninian’s road, Arbroath, a well-known Scottish fiddler, died on June 27th at Arbroath Infirmary after a short illness. A former member of Jimmy Shand’s Band, until recently George played regularly at the Foundry Bar, Arbroath.
A native of the town, he was educated at Abbey and Parkhouse Primary Schools and Keptie School. At the age of 12, George started playing the fiddle and a year later he was playing at dances in The Good Templar Hall, later the Sea Cadets’ Hall in Arrot Street ; Forester’s Hall, Green Street, now Lodge St Vigean 101 ; and the Café Moderne, now premises above the Mandarin Palace in High Street. He also played at many weddings.
When he left school he had a number of jobs, starting with William Ross, jeweler, Hamilton Green; and then to J.H. Herron’s music shop, where he stayed for two years with duties which included making special polish for pianos. He was there until the age of 18, when he went to Douglas Fraser and Sons Ltd, as a tool boy.
In 1928 he became a drummer with the Arbroath Highland Pipe Band, which rehearsed in the old Hill School. He kept up his membership until the early 60’s. He was also drummer with the British Legion Pipe Band, which then used premises in Guthrie Port.
He decided to set up his own band and in the early 1930’s with two accordions, drummer and piano in addition to his own fiddle, the George Muir Band was formed.
Call-up came in 1940, and he became a member of the Pipes and Drums of the Black Watch and in 1943, he was posted to India where he remained for two years, with the 12th Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters. He played in the Battalion Pipe Band, and was a violinist in the Battalion big band.
Back in civilian life, he spend nine months working a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift with Alexander Shanks and Co. Ltd, and then three years on the day shift.
In the late 1940’s George played for three years with Jimmy Shand, and during that time toured the Shetlands, where Messrs Shand and Muir would go round houses where housebound folk lived, and play them a few tunes. After he stopped being a full-time member of the band, George was sometimes asked to play as a guest musician.
For two years George worked in Jimmy Shand’s accordion repair business in Guthrie Port, before joining Francis Webster & Sons Ltd, as a canvas inspector. He remained with that firm for 25½ years, until he retired in 1978.
George appeared three times on that grand programme ‘Bothy Nichts’, which many people would like Grampian Television to revive. He was a member of the ‘St Tammers’, which included Arnold and Sadie Masson and Alec Wood.
Music was his life and George turned his hand not only to playing but also to composing. His tunes can be heard regularly at the Foundry Bar.
George was a stalwart member of Arbroath A&F Club and a regular player.
Predeceased by his wife, Anne, George is survived by his four children, George Jnr, Frank, Chrissie (Mrs Brimmer) and Patricia (Mrs Burnett).