Box and Fiddle Archive
  • Home
  • Musician Biographies
    • Surnames A to B >
      • Mickie Ainsworth
      • Tom Alexander MBE >
        • 1998 - 40 Years in Showbiz
        • Oct 2008 - 50th Anniversary
        • Oct 2008 - 50th Anniversary
        • 2009 Guest of honour
        • 2009 Guest of Honour
        • Nov 2013 Jack's Obituary
      • Paul Anderson of Tarland
      • Dr Tom Anderson MBE
      • Willie Atkinson
      • Freeland Barbour
      • Dave Barclay
      • George Bell
      • Bill Black >
        • 2006
        • March 1983
      • Jimmy Blair
      • Jimmy Blue >
        • Oct / Nov 1990
        • February 2000
      • Joan Blue (1987) >
        • Joan Blue (2016)
      • David Bowen
      • Robin Brock >
        • Oct 1982
        • Feb 1982
        • Mar 2014
      • Bill Brown (CD Reviewer)
      • Bobby Brown (Adam Rennie Quartet)
      • Bobby Brown (Canada) >
        • March 1982
        • April 1997
        • January 2007
        • May 2011
      • Felix Burns
    • Surnames C - D >
      • Stuart Cameron
      • John Carmichael
      • Rab Carruthers
      • Iain Cathcart
      • Bobby Coghill
      • Bobby Colgan
      • Jack Cooper
      • Charlie Cowie
      • Jim Crawford
      • John Crawford
      • Bobby Crowe
      • David Cunningham Snr
      • George Darling
      • Jack Delaney
      • Keith Dickson
      • Roger Dobson
      • Blair Douglas >
        • Run Rig Dance Band
      • John Douglas
    • Surnames E to G >
      • Jimmy Edwards
      • John Ellis
      • Robin Ellis >
        • Robin Ellis
      • Jack Emblow
      • Bill Ewan
      • Colin Finlayson
      • Angus Fitchet
      • David Flockhart
      • Ewan Galloway
      • Graham Geddes
      • Ron Gonella >
        • Mar 1994
        • Oct 1982
      • Rob Gordon
      • Niel Gow
      • Billy Grant (drummer)
    • Surnames H - J >
      • Jim Halcrow >
        • Jim Halcrow
      • Derek Hamilton
      • Stan Hamilton
      • William Hannah
      • Matthew Hardie
      • Addie Harper
      • Isobel Harper
      • Bobby Harvey
      • Bill Hendry
      • Ian Holmes
      • Max Houliston >
        • Jan 1983
        • March 1992
      • Tom Hughes (1986)
      • Alastair Hunter
      • Graham Jamieson >
        • Dec 1983
      • Jim Johnstone >
        • March 1982
        • Sept 1992
    • Surnames K to L >
      • Ron Kerr
      • Charlie Kirkpatrick
      • Andrew Knight
      • Sandy Legget
      • Judith Linton
    • Surnames Mac - Mc >
      • Alex MacArthur
      • Alasdair MacCuish
      • Alistair McCulloch
      • Fergie MacDonald
      • Jim Mackay (Caithness)
      • Bobby MacLeod >
        • Memories of (2009)
      • Jim MacLeod
      • Rory MacLeod
      • Neil McMillan
      • Iain MacPhail >
        • May 2003
        • Sept 1982
      • Fraser McGlynn
      • Nicol McLaren
    • Surnames M >
      • Dougie Maxwell
      • Gus Millar
      • Graeme Mitchell
      • Dennis Morrison
      • Ian Muir
      • Bert Murray
      • Ken Mutch
    • Surnames N - P >
      • Paddy Neary
      • Craig Paton
      • Gordon Pattullo >
        • Gordon Pattullo (40th Anniv)
      • Iain Peterson
      • Ian Powrie >
        • The People's Journal
        • Sept 1983
    • Surnames R >
      • Andrew Rankine
      • Frank Reid
      • Tony Reid
      • Adam Rennie
      • John Renton
      • Donal Ring
      • Jim Ritchie
      • Arthur Scott Robertson
      • Graham Ross
      • Lindsay Ross
    • Surnames S >
      • Stan Saunders
      • Sir Jimmy Shand >
        • April 1982
        • Feb 1998 (90 Years old)
        • Feb 1999 (Knighthood)
        • Jan 2001
        • Feb 2001 (Tributes)
        • Oct 2003 (Sculpture)
        • Sept 2016 (Auction of Memorabilia)
      • Neil Sinclair
      • James Scott Skinner >
        • April 1993
      • Robbie Shepherd >
        • October 1985
        • M.B.E. March 2001
        • 2006 Hamish Henderson Award
      • George 'Faunty' Smith
      • Gordon Smith
      • Hamish Smith
      • Will Starr
      • Andy Stewart MBE
      • Liam Stewart
      • George Stirrat
    • Surnames T >
      • Bill Thom
      • Kenny Thomson
      • Sandy Tulloch
      • Violet Tulloch
    • Surnames W - Y >
      • David Vernon
      • Robin & Deryn Waitt
      • Robert Whitehead
      • Bill Wilkie MBE
      • Pam Wilkie
      • Norrie Williams
      • Callum Wilson
      • Ena Wilson
      • Iain Wilson
      • Kenny Wilson
      • Peter and Daniel Wyper
      • Jimmy Yeaman
    • Poems by Andy Stewart >
      • Jimmy Shand
      • Angus Fitchet
      • Bobby MacLeod
      • Ian Powrie
    • Poem by Jock Turpie
  • Roll of Honour
    • Accordion Teachers >
      • Ian Anderson (2018)
      • Jean Brown (2009) >
        • Jean Brown (Cambusnethan, Wishaw)
      • Louis Cabrelli
      • Renaldo Capaldi (2008)
      • Charles Duncan
      • Peter Farnan
      • Ron Hodgson (1982)
      • Ron Hodgson (2014)
      • Charles 'Chick' Kelly (21/01/95)
      • Chrissie Leatham
      • Jimmy Martin (2008)
      • Owen Murray
      • Bill Spence (2007)
      • Tom Veldon (15/01/95)
      • Wilson Wood (2005)
      • Rosemary Wright
    • Obituaries >
      • A to B >
        • Bobby Abbott (2016)
        • Mickie Ainsworth (2012)
        • Tom Alexander MBE (2020)
        • Ian Anderson (Forres) 2004
        • John Anderson (2005)
        • Will Atkinson (2003)
        • Dave Barclay (2010)
        • JIm Barrie (2016)
        • Bill Black (2016)
        • Jim Berry (2012)
        • Jimmy Blue (1999)
        • Bill Brian (2011)
        • Jim Brown (1998)
      • C >
        • Angus Cameron (1998)
        • Colin Campbell (2015)
        • Duncan Campbell (2011)
        • Tom Clark (2020)
        • Ronnie Coburn (2010)
        • Bobby Colgan (2020)
        • Terry Connor (2000)
        • Ronnie Cooper (1982)
        • Alan ' Barney' Coulson (2020)
        • Charlie Cowie (1995)
        • Ernie Cowie (2009)
        • Billy Craib (2019)
        • Jim Crawford (2007)
        • John Crawford (2020)
        • Ian Crichton (1934 - 99)
        • Bobby Cronie (1998)
        • Roger Crook (1942 - 2013)
        • Bobby Crowe (2014)
      • D to E >
        • Tony Dalton (2014)
        • Adrian Dante (2005)
        • Margaret Davidson (2020)
        • Robin Davidson (2020)
        • Jim Devlin (1989)
        • Fred Donald (Forres) 2017
        • Ian Duncan (2011)
        • Maurice Duncan (2017)
        • Tommy Edmondson (2001)
        • Bob Edward (1998)
        • Peem Edwards (1999)
        • John Ellis (2015)
      • F to G >
        • John Fairbairn (2003)
        • Frank Farquharson (2002)
        • Colin Finlayson (1952-93)
        • Angus Fitchet (1998)
        • Tommy Ford (2017)
        • John Gibson (1961 - 1990)
        • Eric Goodfellow (2008)
        • Joe Gordon (2020)
        • Rob Gordon (24/04/94)
        • Hebbie Gray (2018)
        • Jack Gray (1929-2013)
        • Wilbert (Bill) Grund (2010)
      • H to K >
        • Jim Halcrow (2015)
        • Tom Hall (2011)
        • Ian Hardie (2012)
        • William J. Hardie (1916 - 95)
        • Addie Harper (2002)
        • Alistair Henderson (2005)
        • Bill Hendry (1995) (of Falkirk)
        • Alasdair Heron (2010)
        • Bob Hobkirk (2002)
        • Ian Holmes (2017) >
          • Ian Holmes (2017)
        • John Huband (1942 - 2000)
        • Christine Hunter (1998)
        • Willie Hunter (1994)
        • Joe Hutton (1995)
        • Dave Ireland (1992)
        • Gordon Jamieson (2005)
        • Bryce Johnstone (2017)
        • Allan Kindness (2014)
      • L >
        • John Laidlaw (1996)
        • Florence Lawie (2020)
        • Tommy Lees (2014)
        • Bruce Lindsay Snr (2020)
        • Jimmy Lindsay (2020)
        • Alex Little (2001)
        • Ben Lyons (2015)
      • Mac to M >
        • Duncan 'Dochie' MacCallum (2020)
        • Mark MacDougall (2015)
        • Iain MacFadyen (1983) (Producer)
        • Ally MacIntyre (2015)
        • John Mackie (1996)
        • Calum MacLean (2015)
        • Jim MacLeod (2004)
        • Jim MacRae (2001)
        • Rory MacLeod (2019)
        • Gervasio Marcosignori (2013)
        • John McDonald (2016)
        • Fraser McGlynn (2018)
        • Ewan McGowan (2015)
        • Blanche McInnes (1988)
        • Allan McIntosh (2012)
        • Iain McLachlan (1995)
        • Bob McMath (2016)
        • Hamish Menzies (2020)
        • Jim Muir (2001)
        • George Muir (1995)
        • Bert Murray MBE (2003)
      • N to R >
        • Andrew Nairn (2010)
        • Eann Nicolson (1990)
        • Dermot O'Brien (2007)
        • Stan Peacock (1994)
        • Davie Pollock (of Roslin) (2018)
        • Bill Powrie (1980)
        • Ian Powrie (2011)
        • Dave Pullar (2020)
        • Bert Rae (2015)
        • Ian Redford (1988)
        • Jimmy Ritchie (2001)
        • John Rooney (2015)
        • Graham Ross (2020)
        • Walter Rutherford (2018)
      • S to T >
        • Stan Saunders (2011)
        • Davie Simpson of Invergowrie (1999)
        • Gordon Simpson (2016)
        • Bill Smith (1998) (Banchory)
        • Ian Smith (2005) First Editor)
        • Margaret Smith (2015)
        • Rosalind Snaith (2020)
        • Arthur Spink (2017)
        • Jack Stalker (2019)
        • Alex 'Toby' Stewart (2010)
        • Andy Stewart (1933-93)
        • Billy Stewart (2016)
        • Roy Stewart (2005)
        • Peter Straughan (1999)
        • Kenny Thomson (2013)
        • Toralf Tollefsen (27/11/94)
        • Bobby Torrance (2011)
        • Dr Sandy Tulloch (2006)
      • U to Z >
        • Jimmy Urquhart (1993)
        • Roddy Urquhart (2000)
        • Charlie Walkins (2014)
        • Bill Wilkie (2017)
        • Ian Wilkie (1995)
        • Pam Wilkie (2016)
        • Norrie Williams (2015)
        • Willie Wilson (1991) (Beith)
  • NAAFC Awards Archive
    • NAAFC Honours >
      • 1979
      • 1980s >
        • 1981 Angus Fitchet
        • 1982 Bobby MacLeod
        • 1983 Ian Powrie
        • 1984 Andy Stewart MBE
      • 1990s >
        • 1990 Jimmy Blue
        • 1992 Robbie Shepherd MBE
        • 1994 Alex MacArthur
        • 1994 Andrew Rankine
        • 1995 Max Houliston
        • 1996 Jim MacLeod MBE
        • 1997 Musicians of Shetland
        • 1998 Ian Holmes
        • 1999 Bill Black
      • 2000s >
        • 2000 Bobby Crowe
        • 2000 Alex Little
        • 2000 Jim Ritchie
        • 2000 Stan Saunders
        • 2000 Bill Thom
        • 2000 Pam Wilkie
        • 2001 Mickie Ainsworth
        • 2001 Addie Harper
        • 2001 Jim Johnstone
        • 2001 Bill Wilkie MBE
        • 2002 Dave Barclay
        • 2002 John Crawford
        • 2002 David Cunningham
        • 2002 Gus Millar
        • 2002 Jimmy Yeaman
        • 2003 Iain MacPhail
        • 2004 John Carmichael
        • 2004 Iain Peterson
        • 2005 Bobby Coghill
        • 2005 Ken Mutch
        • 2005 Robert Whitehead
        • 2006 Jack Cooper
        • 2006 Jack Delaney
        • 2006 David Flockhart
        • 2007 Jimmy Burgess
        • 2007 Bobby Colgan
        • 2008 Bobby Harvey
        • 2008 Neil MacMillan
        • 2008 Gordon Pattullo
        • 2009 Tom Alexander MBE
        • 2009 Andrew Knight
      • 2010s >
        • 2010 John Ellis
        • 2010 Fraser McGlynn
        • 2011 Bobby Brown (Canada)
        • 2011 Ian Muir
        • 2012 John Douglas
        • 2012 Jim Halcrow
        • 2012 Charlie Kirkpatrick
        • 2013 Derek Hamilton
        • 2014 Robin Brock
        • 2014 Calum MacLean
        • 2014 Hamish Smith
        • 2015 David Ross
        • 2015 Iain Wilson
        • 2015 Kenny Wilson
        • 2015 Gordon Young
        • 2016 Joan Blue
        • 2016 Bill Ewan
        • 2016 Isobel Harper
        • 2016 Neil Sinclair
        • 2017 George Darling
        • 2017 Alasdair MacLeod
        • 2017 Violet Tulloch
        • 2018 - Freeland Barbour
        • 2018 Bill Hendry
        • 2018 Graeme Mitchell
        • 2019 - Billy Craib
        • 2019 - Dochie McCallum
        • 2019 - Margaret Smith
        • 2019 - Davie Stewart
      • 2020s >
        • 2020 Covid 19 No Awards
        • 2021 Anda Campbell
        • 2012 Peter Bruce
        • 2021 Malcolm Ross
    • BAFFI Awards
    • Scholarship
    • SDB of the Year
  • Club Reports
    • Club Reports Summary >
      • 1970s
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    • Club Directory
    • Guest Artistes >
      • Summary
      • Lesmahagow A&F Club >
        • 1980s
        • 1990s
        • 2000s
      • Newtongrange >
        • 1970s
        • 1980s
        • 1990s
        • 2000s
        • 2010s
      • Perth A&F Club >
        • 1970s
        • 1980s
        • 1990s
        • 2000s
        • 2010s
    • A >
      • Aberdeen A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Acharacle A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Alnwick A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Birthday (2002)
      • Annan A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
      • Arbroath A&F Club >
        • 1989 - 90
      • Armadale A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 21st Birthday (1999)
      • Ayr A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
    • B >
      • Balloch A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Banchory
      • Banff and District
      • Beith & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 40th Anniversary (Beith)
      • Biggar A&F Club >
        • 1970s >
          • 1977 - 78
          • 1978 - 79
          • 1979 - 80
        • 1980s >
          • 1980 - 81
          • 1981 - 88
          • 1988 - 89
          • 1989 - 90
        • 1990s >
          • 1990 - 91
          • 1990 - 91
          • 1991 - 92
          • 1992 - 93
          • 1993 - 94
          • 1994 - 95
          • 1995 - 96
          • 1996 - 97
          • 1997 - 98
          • 1998 - 99
          • 25th Anniversary (1999)
          • 1999-2000
        • 2000s >
          • 2000 - 01
          • 2001 - 02
          • 2002 - 03
          • 2003 - 04
          • 2004 - 05
          • 2005 - 06
          • 2006 - 07
          • 2007 - 08
          • 2008 - 09
          • 2009 - 10
        • 2010s >
          • 2010 - 11
          • 2011 - 12
          • 2012 - 13
          • 2013 - 14
          • 2014 - 15
          • 2015 - 16
          • 2016 - 17
          • 2017 - 18
          • 2018 - 19
          • 2019 - 20
        • 2020s >
          • 2020 - 21
      • Blairgowrie A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
      • Brig Mill A&F Club >
        • 1989 - 90
      • Britannia (Kirkcudbright) A&F Club >
        • 2007 - 08
      • Bromley A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
        • Bromley (2014)
      • Buchan A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Button Key (Windygates) A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
        • 20th Anniv (2007)
    • C >
      • Callander A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
      • Campbeltown A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
      • Campsie A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
        • The Campsie Players
        • 20th Anniversary (2015)
      • Carlisle A&F Club >
        • 1993 - 94
      • Castle Douglas A&F Club
      • Coalburn A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Coldingham A&F Club >
        • 2008 - 09
      • Coupar Angus A&F Club >
        • 1978 - 79
      • Crathes A&F Club
      • Cults A&F Club >
        • 1999 - 2000
      • Cumnock & District A&F Club >
        • History
        • 1977 - 78
    • D >
      • Dalriada A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 21st Birthday (2002)
      • Denny & Dunipace A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
      • Dingwall A&F Club >
        • 1979 - 80
        • 21st Anniversary (2000)
        • 25th Anniversary (2004)
      • Dumfries Accordion Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 1978 - 79
        • 1979 - 80
      • Dunblane A&F Club
      • Dundee & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Dunfermline & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
      • Duns A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
    • E to F >
      • East Kilbride A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
        • 1984 - 85
        • Norrie Williams (2015)
      • Edinburgh / Chrissie Leatham A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
      • Ellon A&F Club >
        • 1994 - 95
      • Ettrick & Yarrow >
        • 1990 - 91
      • Falkirk A&F Club >
        • 1978 - 79
      • Fintry A&F Club
      • Forfar A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Forres A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • Forres 21st Anniv (1999)
      • Fort William A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
    • G >
      • Galston A&F Club >
        • Club History
        • 1977 - 78
        • 30th Anniversary (1999)
        • Final Report (2006)
      • Glendale A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 40th Anniversary (Glendale)
      • Glenfarg A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
        • 30th Anniv (Sept 2018)
      • Glenrothes A&F Club >
        • 1993 - 94
      • Gorebridge A&F Club >
        • 1981 - 82
      • Gretna (see North Cumbria) A&F Club >
        • 50th Anniversary (2016)
    • H to K >
      • Haddington A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
      • Highland A&F Club >
        • Club History
        • 1977 - 78
        • Highland 25th Birthday (1999)
        • 40th Anniversary (Highland)
      • Inveraray A&F Club >
        • 1991 - 92
        • 25th Anniversary (2016)
      • Islay A&F Club >
        • 1993 - 94
      • Isle of Skye A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Islesteps A&F Club >
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
      • Kelso A&F Club >
        • Introducing the Clubs No 8
        • 1977 - 78
        • 30th Anniv (2006)
        • 40th Anniversary (2016)
      • Kinlochsheil A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
      • Kintore A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 2010 - 11
    • L >
      • Ladybank A&F Club >
        • 1997 - 98
      • Lanark A&F Club >
        • 1996 - 97
      • Langholm A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Lauder A&F Club >
        • 2009 - 10
      • Lesmahagow A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
        • 1984 - 85
        • Closure announced
        • 2005 Final Report
      • Lewis & Harris A&F Club >
        • 1996 - 97
        • 20th Anniversary
      • Livingston A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • Murdo MacLeod
      • Lockerbie A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 40th Anniversary (Lockerbie)
    • M >
      • The M.A.F.I.A. >
        • History
        • 1977 - 78
        • Closing Speech
      • Mauchline >
        • 30th Anniv (Mauchline)
      • Monklands A&F Club >
        • 1978 - 79
      • Montrose A&F Club >
        • 1984 - 85
      • Morecambe A&F Club
      • Muirhead A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
    • N >
      • Newburgh A&F Club >
        • 2002 - 03
        • 40th Anniversary
        • Jim Berry
      • New Cumnock A&F Club >
        • 1979 - 80
      • Newmill-on-Teviot A&F Club >
        • 1999 - 2000
      • Newtongrange A&F Club >
        • 1979 - 80
      • Newton St Boswells >
        • 1977 - 78
      • North Cumbria (Gretna) A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • North East (Keith) A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • Ian Duncan
        • 40th Anniversary North East
      • Northern (Templepatrick, N.I.) A&F Club >
        • 2011 - 12
    • O to P >
      • Oban A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Anniversary (1999)
        • 40th Anniversary (2015)
      • Orkney A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
        • Orkney 40th Anniv 2017
      • Peebles A&F Club >
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
        • 1984 - 85
      • Perth & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 1992 Letter
        • 40th Anniv (2010)
      • Phoenix (Ardrishaig) A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
      • Premier A&F Club
    • R to S >
      • Reading Scottish Fiddlers >
        • 1997 - 98
      • Renfrew A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Renfrew (Moorpark) A&F Club >
        • 1984 - 85
      • Rothbury (Coquetdale) A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Anniversary (1999)
      • Scottish Accordion Music (Crathes) >
        • 1998 - 99
      • Seghill Comrades A&F Club >
        • 2010 - 11
      • Selkirk A&F Club >
        • 1998 - 99
      • Shetland A&F Club >
        • Shetland 40th Anniv (2017)
      • Stirling A&F Club >
        • 1991 - 92
      • Stonehouse A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
      • Straiton A&F Club >
        • History
        • 1977 - 78
      • Stranraer A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Sutherland A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
        • 20th Anniv (2007)
    • T to Z >
      • Thornhill A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
      • Torthorwald A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Turriff 30th Anniversary
      • Tynedale A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • Tynedale 30th Anniv (2010)
      • Uist & Benbecula A&F Club >
        • 2007 - 08
        • 21st Anniversary (2016)
      • Wellbank A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • West Barnes A&F Club >
        • 2001 - 02
      • Wick A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Birthday (2001)
        • 40th Anniversary (2015)
  • Pipe Music Articles
    • Composers A - L >
      • Willie Bryson
      • John D Burgess
      • Duncan Campbell
      • George Cockburn
      • William D Dumbreck
      • William Fergusson
      • Ron Fleming
      • Duncan Johnstone
      • Willie Lawrie
    • Composers Mac >
      • John MacColl
      • John MacDonald
      • Angus MacKay
      • Hugh MacKay
      • John M MacKenzie BEM
      • Donald MacLean of Lewis
      • Capt John A MacLellan MBE
      • Donald MacLeod
      • Peter R MacLeod Snr & Jnr
      • Archibald MacNeill
    • Composers M + Mc >
      • David Charles Mather
      • James Mauchline
      • Captain D R McLellan
      • John McLellan
      • George S McLennan
      • Donald McPhedran
    • Composers N - Z >
      • Donald Shaw Ramsay
      • James Ross Riddell
      • James "Robbie" Robertson
      • Willie Ross
      • John Wilson
  • B&F Issues (1977-2020)
    • Oct 1977 - Apr 1980 >
      • Oct 1977 - Apr 78
      • Oct 1978 - Apr 79 >
        • Oct 1978
        • Nov 1978
        • Dec 1978
        • Jan 1979
        • Feb 1979
        • Mar 1979
        • Apr 1979
      • Sept 1979 - Apr 80 >
        • Sept 1979
        • Oct 1979
        • Nov 1979
        • Dec 1979
        • Jan 1980
        • Feb 1980
        • Mar 1980
        • Apr 1980
    • Sept 1980 - Apr 1985 >
      • Sept 1980 - Apr 81 >
        • Sept 1980
        • Oct 1980
        • Nov 1980
        • Dec 1980
        • Jan 1981
        • Feb 1981
        • Mar 1981
        • Apr 1981
      • Sept 1981 - Apr 82 >
        • Sept 1981
        • Oct 1981
        • Nov 1981
        • Dec 1981
        • Jan 1982
        • Feb 1982
        • Mar 1982
        • Apr 1982
      • Sept 1982 - Apr 83 >
        • Sept 1982
        • Oct 1982
        • Nov 1982
        • Dec 1982
        • Jan 1983
        • Feb 1983
        • Mar 1983
        • Apr 1983
      • Sept 1983 - Apr 84 >
        • Sept 1983
        • Oct 1983
        • Nov 1983
        • Dec 1983
        • Jan 1984
        • Feb 1984
        • Mar 1984
        • Apr 1984
      • Sept 1984 - Apr 85 >
        • Sept 1984
        • Oct 1984
        • Nov 1984
        • Dec 1984
        • Jan 1985
        • Feb 1985
        • Mar 1985
        • Apr 1985
    • Sept 1985 - Apr 1990 >
      • Sept 1985 - Apr 86 >
        • Sept 1985
        • Oct 1985
        • Nov 1985
        • Dec 1985
        • Jan / Feb 1986
        • Mar 1986
        • Apr 1986
      • Sept 1986 - Apr 87 >
        • Sept 1986
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Jack Cooper
(1933 – 2010)

Picture
By Neil Copland - NAAFC Vice Chairman 
My first encounter with Jack Cooper was when my parents took me along to Dundee Accordion & Fiddle Club as a ten-year-old.  Jack was always very pleased to welcome new players to the Club and especially younger players, such was his enthusiasm for keeping our music alive.  Over the years since then Jack became a very close friend as well as a musical associate who played with me in the band on occasion.

In the early seventies, Dundee A&F Club was very lucky to have a loyal band of players, both young and some more mature, and this pleased Jack as the Club had been his idea along with accordionist Arthur Spink.  When Arthur emigrated to Australia, Jack continued to plough his energy into keeping Dundee Club alive and the many friendships that were made as a result of people meeting at the Club are a great testament to his enthusiasm for the Club and then the NAAFC.  Jack was very much at the forefront when it was suggested that Dundee Club junior members should start to form bands amongst themselves.  He gave all the junior members of the Club a great deal of encouragement to get together and practise hard for club meetings every month.  One such band that was formed was the Dundee Accordion & Fiddle Club Junior Band – now known as the Craigowl Dance Band and still regularly broadcasting on BBC's “Take the Floor” programme, albeit with some changes in personnel since those heady days as thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds.

Jack always liked to be organising events and he loved to be at the helm in organising the annual Dundee Club Dinner Dance in The Invercarse Hotel, Dundee – they were legendary for lots of reasons!  He was also instrumental in organising the annual Dundee Club trip to places such as Banchory, Cullen, Lochearnhead and Oban every October.  Club members would assemble in Dundee city centre to board the coach on the Saturday morning and as the weekend always coincided with the local Dundee holiday weekend we could make a long weekend of it.  The weekend was full of great music, good food, and lots of laughs – many a story is often recalled when former club members get together and invariably, Jack was in the mix of them all.

As some of our more mature Box & Fiddle readers will recall, Jack was also instrumental in organising the annual NAAFC AGM and Weekend Gathering for many years.  Who can forget those memorable days at Dunblane Hydro, Perth's Station Hotel and Dundee's Invercarse Hotel, when the great and good of Scottish dance bands/music were honoured for their contribution to our heritage?  We still of course continue this tradition every year at Huntingtower Hotel in Perth but all the activity is now concentrated on the Sunday rather than over the whole weekend.  The annual display of photographs at the AGM and Celebrity Luncheon taken from days past are a great trip down memory lane and always very popular.

As many of you know, the NAAFC also created the Jimmy Shand Scholarship at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) and again this was a suggestion initially made by Jack as a means of paying tribute to the legend that was, and still is, Jimmy Shand.

Outside of his involvement in playing Scottish dance music and the NAAFC, Jack was the Dance Director for the BBC television show “The White Heather Club”.  He was also an accomplished Scottish Country Dancer and choreographer.  Jack was also a very active member of Dundee Ski Club and held the office of President on a number of occasions over the years he was active in the sport.  All of the above activities were Jack's hobbies as he was also a very successful businessman in the family business working alongside his dad, John.

Jack didn't keep good health over the last few years and when I had reason to be regularly visiting my dad in Dundee's Victoria Hospital Jack was often in the same ward, so it meant that I could go and speak to whichever of the two of them wasn't sleeping – it was a case of twenty minutes speaking to one of them and then change to the other end of the ward for twenty minutes with the other who had woken up by then.

Jack Cooper will be sorely missed by the Scottish music and dance fraternity – his efforts on behalf of the NAAFC and Scottish music and dance can never be understated.  It is also due to Jack's encouragement that there are many of today's musicians in the Dundee/Tayside area who came through the Dundee A&F Club and are still very active on the dance band scene.  Jack's determination to give them a platform from which to launch a musical career will never be forgotten.

​By Joan Blue
Jack played drums in my husband, Jimmy Blue’s, band for more than 20 years. Not only was he our drummer – he was a great friend, part of our family. He was an extremely loyal member of the band and in all these years, never let us down. If he was offered another gig, he would always check first that we didn’t have an engagement on that date.
Jack led a pretty full life. Although he spent a year ill in bed when he was young, he listened to radio and records and became hooked on Scottish dance music. He joined a pipe band, learned to play drums. He started going to Scottish Country Dances and soon started up his own Scottish dance team – The Gie Gordons. As they became well known, they auditioned for a new programme which was being produced on BBC Television – “The White Heather Club”. So successful were they that Jack became probably the first choreographer for the programme and The Gie Gordons made their television debut. As well as dancing, Jack took up skiing and became a member of the Dundee Ski Club and was one of the enthusiasts who built the first hut at Glenshee. Eventually he became President of the Dundee club and held that post for a number of years.
The Perth A&F Club began in September 1970. Jack, with his usual boundless energy, started the Dundee Club in January 1971. He encouraged the young musicians to play together and one success was The Dundee Accordion and Fiddle Club Junior Band (who later changed their name to The Craigowl SDB) with Kevin Clark and Bruce Quirie on accordions, Margaret Quirie on fiddle, Gil Simpson on piano and David Scott on drums. It is truly amazing that this band is still broadcasting with some of the original members.
Another idea Jack had was to book a hotel for a weekend, and a busload of Dundee Club members headed off – sometimes to The Fall of Lora Hotel at Oban – and spent a great weekend playing and socialising. When the National Association began, it used to take place in the afternoon, but Jack suggested that we make it a weekend and thus began these wonderful occasions at The Salutation Hotel and Station Hotel in Perth and at Dunblane Hydro. He worked so hard to make these weekends enjoyable. I used to help him get the place cards organised. He knew who could sit with whom and who didn’t get on, etc. It was Jack, also, who started collecting band photographs and mounted these wonderful displays that we gazed at every year.
But when I think of Jack, I recall the fun we all had together. Each year, Bobby and Agnes Crowe and Jimmy and I went to Bunessan for ten days. Jack came with us on three occasions. I shall never forget one day when we were going over to Staffa. I was looking for the binoculars and asked Jack, who was already in the car – “Jack, have you got the binocs?” to which he replied, quick as a flash, “No, its just the way I’m sitting.” Another memorable occasion was when we were on a ‘tour’ of Caithness. The redoubtable Jimmy Simpson, who owned the island of Stroma, offered to take us over there for the day. We all boarded his landing craft and we were barely out of John o’ Groats harbour when Jack enquired, “When does the duty free open?” Quick as a flash Jimmy Simpson said, “Now!” and produced a bottle of whisky from under his seat. And Jack was always polite! He would never leave after spending a day or having a meal at Forgandenny, without saying, “Thanks for your hospital.” Mind you, he usually greeted me with, “When are you getting the mask off?” Yes, a cheeky devil but a true friend who will be very much missed.

Box and Fiddle 
April 2010


Jack Cooper
by Tom Clark
​B&F February 1990

The “Annual Gathering” of the N.A.A.F.C. usually held in June in the Station Hotel, Perth has become one of the highlights of the Scottish musical year, eagerly awaited by players and listeners from all over the country. When we attend at this Gathering, few of us give any serious thought to the work involved and the preparation required to ensure the success of this weekend.

The man responsible to the National Executive of the N.A.A.F.C. for the organisation and smooth running of events is, of course, Jack Cooper of Dundee.

Jack has a wealth of experience to call on to help him in his task. His association with the Scottish music and dance scene goes back a long way. From drumming in the Boys’ Brigade Pipe Band in the 50’s, to broadcasting with dance bands, T.V. appearances on the White Heather Club, recording sessions with various bands and involvement with the N.A.A.F.C.

In the midst of this fairly hectic programme, Jack managed to find time, along with Arthur Spink, to start up the Dundee Accordion and Fiddle Club and has been Chairman ever since.

When I spoke to his about a feature article in the “Box and Fiddle”, his first reaction was that he wasn’t likely to find time in the immediate future. So, I was very pleased when, a couple of days later, he appeared on my doorstep, armed with a file packed with all sorts of scraps of information, newspaper clippings, whole editions, photographs and details of his activities over the years.

THE EARLY DAYS

It all seems to have started with drumming in the B.B. Pipe Band at St. Andrew’s Church, Dundee, and later with the McLeod Pipe Band. It wasn’t long before Jack had adapted his style and technique to suit the growing interest in Scottish Dance Bands at the time and he soon found himself freelancing with many bands.

His first experience of a studio was as a drummer with the Betty Anderson Quartet, broadcasting on B.B.C.’s Scottish Dance Music programme from Coldside Studios in Dundee. This was to prove to be the first of many such sessions, both for broadcasting and recording with different outfits spanning his career up to the present day.

THE LOVE OF DANCING

Jack says it was watching dancers doing their stuff, whilst he was drumming, that probably gave him the desire to get involved. “I used to watch the dancers, and I decided that I would like to start a team of my own.” The repetition of the established and well known dances led Jack to think about writing and composing new dances, an activity that was to prove of great value to him in later years when he found himself Dance Director in the White Heather Club T.V. programmes. The “Gie Gordons Dancers” were formed, and led by Jack, danced their way throughout the country and over to the Continent.

One unforgettable experience about this time was when Jack and his team were privileged to take part in the Royal Command Variety Show in the Alhambra Theatre, Glasgow, in July 1958, dancing to the Jimmy Shand SDB. ”It was a marvellous experience” says Jack “and one I shall always remember”.

Jack tells me that he will always remember with gratitude the help and assistance given to him by Jimmy Shand in dancing with the band. “Jimmy was always prepared to help in any way he could, and it was through him that I was given the opportunity to appear in the Command Performance”. From an old clipping Jack lent me, I note that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh seemed to take a special interest in the dancers, Her Majesty being a dancer.

Jack says that one of his treasurer memories is of the time he was involved in the Thames Television presentation of “This is Your Life” by Eammon Andrews when the subject was Jimmy Shand. “It was such an experience to see Jimmy being honoured in this very special way”.

THE WHITE HEATHER CLUB

Those of us who were around in those days of the late 50’s and the 60’s can probably recall a whole list of memories of the “White Heather Club” shows. For Jack, it was the highlight of his career. “It’s hard remembering all the details because there were just so many Shows, but it really was a great chapter in my life”. In the first few years of the show, Jack used his own team, the “Gie Gordons Dancers”. Later on, when rehearsals and filming became very time consuming, Jack was forced to give up the Show and return to work in the family business in Buchanan Street, Dundee, which he now runs.

Some time later however, in 1960/61, a phone call from Iain McFadyen, the programme Producer, offering Jack the position of Dance Director, lured his back. “I just couldn’t resist the challenge” says Jack “working with some of the finest dancers in the country, it was one of the best experiences of my life. The wonderful atmosphere of the show, the association with Jimmy Shand, Bobby MacLeod, Ian Powrie and Andy Stewart and a host of others, was something I wouldn’t have missed for the world”.

It was now that Jack’s earlier experience in writing and composing dance routines came to his aid as he needed to come up with attractive sets for the camera. “With so many Shows, it wasn’t long before we ran out of routines” says Jack “so it meant a lot of hard work keeping ahead”.

NOSTAGLIA

In March 1983, Dougie Donnelly hosted a wonderful night of nostalgia for many who had been involved in the “White Heather Club” days.

All the stars were there. Jack was in the audience that night, at the recording. “It was marvellous to meet up with old friends I hadn’t seen for years. The old clips from some of the shows were just great to see again”. Scottish viewers loved it, and there were a few who were hopeful that the programme might have been the ‘kick start’ to the revival of such a show on T.V. (I suspect there were a few moist eyes as well).

THE ACCORDION CLUB SCENE

Around about the start of the 70’s, Scottish music saw the development of the phenomenon which was to bring about a complete transformation for listeners and musicians – Accordion and Fiddle Clubs.

As the number of Clubs increased, a co-ordinating body was formed to try and regulate their activities as far as possible. Jack was very much involved at the beginning and was a founder member of the N.A.A.F.C. along with other members of the Executive Committee.

At the same time, the formation of the Dundee Club took place, instigated by Jack together with Arthur Spink. “The opening night was in the Queen’s Hotel, Dundee, on Monday 1st February 1971. Guest artiste was Will Starr and inevitably it was a great night. We had 250 members joined up and we normally had about 120 attending each meeting. There was always a big turnout of players from all over Angus, Fife and many other areas”.

As a direct result of the Club scene, Scottish Dance Bands have become much more numerous again, with many fine young players taking the opportunity afforded by being able to play before large audiences. Many of these have gone on to become established in bands throughout the country.

Jack has been involved with many other bands, notably with John Huband and the Tayside Sound, a fine blend of experienced players, all from the Tayside area. With this group and many others, Jack has appeared regularly at Clubs all over Scotland.

“The Scottish music and dancing world has been very kind to me” says Jack “I have made so many friends over the years and have done many things which otherwise would have passed me by. There’s a great spirit of friendship amongst all those involved and let’s hope that this continues to grow over the years ahead. The band’s I’ve been involved with include –

Broadcasting

Betty Anderson Quartet

The Cameron Kerr S.D.B.

John Huband and the Tayside Sound

Guesting :-

Blue Bonnets S.D.B., Bill Black S.D.B., The Gie Gordons S.D.B., The Olympians, the Jack Forsyth S.D.B., Bobby Crowe, John Ellis, Jim Johnstone, Jimmy Shand, Dennis Morrison, the Craigowl SDB and the Simon Howie S.D.B.”

Jack has appeared on the Grampian T.V. series “Andy’s Party” with Andy Stewart and Jimmy Blue and his band (as drummer). Further appearances followed on S.T.V.’s “Thingummyjig” again as drummer with the Jimmy Blue Band.

“I’ve been privileged to make recording with some groups including Arthur Spink, Will Starr, John Ellis, John Huband and the Tayside Sound, John Huband’s Muirhead Orchestra, Stuart Anderson, Deirdre Adamson, Jimmy Blue and his Band and Ian Powrie and Friends”.

Phew! What a list. I don’t think there are many players on the scene who have been so involved in such a variety of ways as Jack has. How he managed to maintain such a pace, I just don’t know.

Jack is still very much involved in the playing side, as well as his other activities at Association and Club level, and always seems to retain his enthusiasm.

So, the next time you take part at the Station Hotel, spare a little thought for the guy who makes it all possible and pours himself into the task, year after year. Mind you, he enjoys every minute of it. Keep up the good work Jack!                  

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