Box and Fiddle
Year 29 No 05
January 2006
Price £2.20
44 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £24.20 + p&p £7.50 (UK)
Editor – Karin Ingram, Hawick
B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
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
Happy New Year to all of you! Last year just whizzed by, and 2006 is shaping up to be equally busy. The B&F will be the main sponsors of a brand new competition organised by the Traditional Music Department of the RSAMD in Glasgow, and you can read all about it on Page 31. Preparations are well underway for Musselburgh Festival, and Festival chairman James Coutts gives us the details on Page 41.
St Andrews Day saw many dance bands traveling the world, and this month we hear from The Glencraig Band who went to Bahrain and The Andy Kain Band who were in Uganda. Next month we’re off to Kenya and Beijing with Charlie Todd and John Stuart! Where has your band been recently? Let us know and send us photos.
The big news this month was, of course, The Scots Trad Music Awards. Congratulations to all the worthy winners.
Don’t forget, you can still order B&F Calendars, just fill in and return the form on Page 4.
All the best for 2006.
Karin Ingram
The Scots Trad Oscars
by Mark Morpurgo
Shaking off the image of cardigan, jeans………
Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop
by Mark Morpurgo
L.W.F. took the title of Best Community Project of the Year Award at the Hands……….
Half a Century Playing for Dancing
by Robin Ellis
This year, 2005, I realised that it was half a century ago that I first played for Scottish Dancing, although in those days I was merely a class pianist. You may ask, “What on earth was a young man in the south-east of England doing playing for that style of dancing?” Although I have spent all my life in Kent many of my family came from Greenock so maybe it was ‘in the blood’ as they say. Whilst still at school I was introduced to Scottish dancing, it would seem that even in those days there was a shortage of men. I very soon found that although I liked the dancing I actually like the music even more and so spent much of my pocket money buying my first records. They were mainly Parlophone 78s of Jimmy Shand plus a few rather exclusive ones from the Beltona company. After a short time, a dancing class was started in my area and they were looking for a pianist. As a hard up University student I took the job. I seem to remember being paid 10/6d (about 52p) for an evening – quite a respectable fee in those days! I then continued playing and dancing for some years until, in the late 50s, an unexpected chance came to sit in with Jimmy Shand on some of his regular trips to London. This was a wonderful experience and I decided there and then that playing was for me. At that time there were very few bands in the south-east so the only way forward, as I saw it, was to form my own band and to do that I must learn to play the accordion. There were few accordion teachers available and certainly nobody with any knowledge of Scottish music so it was simply a question of teaching myself. This I did. After playing solo for a few years, through the dancing I met up with a pianist, Margaret Wall, a drummer Tom Furlong, and a young accordion player Frank Reid. Although bands were still in short supply there were, in the sixties, very large numbers of dancers – so in 1965 the band was born and soon we were being asked to play for most of the local societies. I must admit the early days were somewhat nerve wracking but as we had all been dancers at least we knew more or less what was expected of us.
For a few years things were going very nicely when suddenly Margaret announced that she was leaving the district to get married. Soon after that Frank decided to join forces with his two brothers and sister to form his own band. It seemed that it would all come to a rather sudden end. However replacements were found with Eric Eunson on keyboard, Roland Hayes on second box and Nevil Osborne on bass. We were in business again. Subsequently there have only been a few changes in personnel. In the early eighties Roland moved away and his place was taken by John Stevens (from Australia would you believe) and Catherine Lowe on accordions. A few years ago Tom Furlong who had been our drummer for some 35 years retired due to ill health and was duly replaced by John Rayfield. Thus we have always managed to find suitable musicians remembering of course the additional help given by accordionist Chris Gilbert, fiddlers Margaret Kendall, Karin Parks, Graham Hetherington and Graeme Forrester, piper and drummer Alan Breedin, drummer Eric Lowe and even bass players Diana Hetherington and Keith Pinnock for occasions when fees allow. Keith also has the distinction of, as far as I know, being the first black SCD musician. Finding replacements is not easy so far from Scotland, but with a great deal of good luck and some excellent friends we have continued now, uninterrupted for 40 years.
Recently we held a dance to which we invited representatives from all the societies for whom we still play as well as a number of the musicians from years gone by. A ten-piece band – now that’s what I call fun! The 70s, 80s and early 90s were a very busy time in the Scottish dance world and we were very much in demand both at home and overseas. Although most of our playing was in England we were also performing in much of Europe as well as the USA. We even managed a Caribbean cruise. On these trips we were playing either for societies abroad, folk festivals or dancing holidays of which we did some 35 over an 18 year period. These trips were very enjoyable but, as the many playing readers will know, usually quite hard work, particularly the traveling. I can’t think why but the equipment and instruments in their flight cases seem to get even heavier as time passes. We were very lucky as in all those years we never sustained any damage to our instruments unlike a number of our fellows.
However a few years ago we reluctantly decided that, with advancing years, we would give up long journeys and only accept local engagements. Fortunately there are still more than enough. Like many musicians I have tried my hand at composing and have produced some 120 tunes and, although most of them remain unpublished, they are well used at our functions. Although I have been known as an accordionist for most of the past 40 years I am happiest, as I started all those years ago, playing piano. There is nothing I like more than a good session on piano with other musicians.
The situation in the south of England is much like everywhere else. The number of dancers is getting fewer and the average age is rising fast. There are now not many dancers under 60. What does the future hold? We must just wait and see but the dancing scene may well be very different in 20 years’ time. Ceilidh dancing which has helped to bring in the younger element in Scotland, has made only a modest impact down here and it is largely country dancing that we are asked to play for.
The present band is usually a 5-piece, two accordions, fiddle, keyboard and drums. As with most bands the increase in the number of dances published, from about 250 when I started playing to some 12,000 now does cause problems from time to time. The recommended tune is often hard to find or even unknown in many cases. A few are surprisingly difficult to play or on other occasions simply unsuitable. I say recommended tune because that is what so many are today, few dances seem to have an original tune ion the true sense of the word. Although we endeavour to play the recommended tune where possible it is very noticeable that quite a few bands don’t even try. Indeed I was dancing at one function a few years ago where not one of the recommended tunes was played in the entire programme! I thought some of the dancers might comment, but no, not a single complaint. Sometimes I wonder why we bother!
Some ten years ago being rather frustrated by the fact that all the Accordion and Fiddle Clubs were 400 miles or more from my home town, I decided that the only solution was to start my own. This has been a very enjoyable if somewhat modest success. Cpmpared to many of those in Scotland we are small in numbers. Our average audience is about 40 and I think almost everybody would be classed as a ‘senior citizen’. Some of long standing in fact, we have quite a few octogenarians! As with dancers but unlike musicians in Scotland there are no young players or even listeners coming along and so I fear the days of an Englisg A&F Club will be very much numbered.
What have been the most memorable occasions over the half century? Was it the tour to USA where we played 14 gigs in 13 days – all in different locations? A Caribbean cruise where Scottish dancing on a rolling ship in a heavy gale meant that all the sets ended up on one side of the dance floor and trying to play an accordion was even more hectic? Or maybe the occasion where we had to deputise for a well-known Scottish band at a few hours’ notice because they were snowbound in Perthshire? Well perhaps! In reality I can honestly say that all our dances have been memorable and enjoyable occasions – well almost all. In our 40 years we have had only a very few functions at which I was longing to reach the end. Most of those were due to freezing halls in those long forgotten days of fuel shortages. I can only say that playing at a well run Scottish Country Dance, whether it be large or small is a most enjoyable experience and I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. Here’s to the next 50 years – well, shall we say the next 10 anyway!!!
Greetings from Inverness
by Margo MacLennan
Season’s Greeting to everyone…….
Box and Fiddle Day at the RSAMD
by Jacqueline France
Take two of Scottish music’s………….
February Ceilidh Weekend
by Deryn Waitt
This coming February……
Wee Andy Went Tae Heaven
By Tom McIver
Wee Andy led a dacent life an’ went tae his reward,
St. Peter led him through thon gates tae come an’ meet The Lord,
“But first”, said Pete, “we’ll dae the tour. Ah’ll huv tae show ye roon,
An’ then we’ll need yer measurements fur thon big fancy goon.
An’ then we’ll measure up yer heid, make sure yer halo fits,
An’ then we’ll haud yer banquet, pal. It’s better than the Ritz,
They walked through gem encrusted streets, past avenues of gold,
Entranced wi’ aw the sights and sounds, admirin’ gifts untold.
St. Peter loved tae daunner roon. He loved tae play the guide,
An’ show aff aw his famous freens. He glow’d wi’ inner pride,
Said Pete, “The Writers’ Workshop meets amang thon lochs an’ braes,
An’ there’s where aw the actors sit, recitin’ Shakespeare’s plays.
Wee Einstein’s aye beside thon burn. That’s him wi’ aw the brains,
An’ ower there’s George Stephenson. That’s him that made the trains,
Composer’s Coarner ower there. The Boss near hit the roof,
When Ah furgoat tae tell Him the Tchaikovsky wis a poof.
Auld Ludwig sits on thunder cloud, composing sangs tae sing,
Ah huv tae write things doon fur him – he cannae hear a thing,
An’ that’ s oor Satchmo ower there. An’ everybody’s sayin’
He’s never loast his magic touch. That’s West End Blues he’s playin’ “
Noo, doon in wan wee valley, near majestic marble rocks,
An ancient apparition played an ancient Hohner box,
He sat there, giein’ it laldy and his face wis glowin’ rid,
An’, truth to tell, he tried like hell, but wisna aw that guid.
Wee Andy asked, “Who’s thon auld guy beside thon marble rocks?
It sounds as if he’s torturin’ a poor old button box”
“Noo, wheesht” said Pete. “If he should hear ye sayin’ a thing like yon,
Ye’d hurt his puir auld feelin’s, son. Tae let ye unnerstaun.
We let him play at banquets, or a pairty noo an’ then,
We aw jist try to humour him. He’s harmless, son, ye ken?
He plays a Shand Morino an’ he hopes tae jine a band,
An’ though we ken it’s only God, He thinks he’s Jimmy Shand”.
Bahrain 2005
by Nicol McLaren
The 70th Anniversary of the Caledonian Society of Awali, Bahrain
This was the Glencraig Scottish Dance Band’s 11th visit to Bahrain to celebrate St Andrews Night and the gig has become one where we all feel we are returning to visit friends!
The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago in the Gulf of Arabia with its principal island (Bahrain Island) being about 40 miles long, 15 miles wide, connected by a 22 mile causeway to Saudi Arabia and having two flourishing Caledonian Societies!
Bahrain was where oil was first discovered in the Gulf and the first well to produce oil was spudded in 1936, quite a few years before its massive neighbour Saudi Arabia began its search for ‘Black Gold’.
The Caledonian Society of Awali was officially formed on the 30th October 1936 (although the first St Andrews Dinner was held on the 30th November 1935) and its first President was Lt. Col P.G. Loch, father of former ‘Father of the House of Commons’ Tam Dalyell. Awali is a town in the centre of Bahrain which essentially started as a ‘camp’ for expatriate workers for the Bapco Oil company. In the 70 years of its existence Awali has developed its own self sufficient community with a hospital, school, shopping centre, hotel, social club and golf course!
After a full day’s travel via Amsterdam and Abu Dhabi airports, we arrived safely in Bahrain to be greeted by a temperature of 24 degrees at one in the morning. The accordion was safe (a big sigh of relief, although I must say KLM have been superb over the years, even ‘finding’ me an accordion to play on time when mine was delayed in Amsterdam!) and all our luggage was collected together by our welcoming party by the time we had cleared immigration!
Wednesday morning commenced with a trip to the capital Manama and some serious shopping in the Soukh, with its profusion of colours, sounds and aromas. All wares were sold, from cloth of colours and textures to gold and jewellery as well as the traditional array of spices and local produce. Bartering is expected, and indeed turned the whole experience of shopping into a challenge to see who would obtain the best price. The Middle East is renowned for the quality and craftsmanship of its gold products and, even after 10 years I still marvel at the sheer volume of quality jewellery in the Gold Soukh.
Then to the serious business of the day – the first game of golf for Messrs Howe and McLaren on the Awali desert course. (Dave and Kirsty decided to stay by the pool and have some serious relaxation time!) The Awali course is a remarkable construction in the middle of the desert (one HUGE bunker really) with the ‘greens’ being a mixture of fine sand and diesel and the fairways being marked by lines of bitumen in the hard packed desert sand. As the locals say, “lt’s a lot better than no golf at all!” It’s even better in 30 degrees of heat, so after a few beers to cool down it was off to the Manama restaurant for a cracking dinner, finally retiring at around 2.30am – not good news for Gordon, Jim Reyner (Guest speaker) and me as we were booked on the 1st tee of the Riffa Golf Club a mere 4 hours later with Society President Alistair Woods. Riffa is a fantastic Grass course (the only one in Bahrain) where the final event in the European Seniors Tour had been won by our own Sam Torrance only a week before. It did seem strange being back in the Clubhouse for breakfast shortly after ten!
The main event (and the raison d’etre) was the St Andrews Ball on that Thursday evening. Held in the Bapco Club, the 200 guests were greeted with home made Atholl Brose before sitting down to a superb, traditional, Scottish dinner of ‘Kail, Fish, Stirk and Crowdie’. Our guest speaker this year was Jim Reyner, who had been the Society President on our first visit in 1995 but is now an Education Adviser in Shetland – how extreme is that?! Jim assured everyone that, although he was concerned initially, “there is life after Awali” and gave a most entertaining speech (even though it was supposed to be the ‘Pious Memory of St Andrew”!) There have been some tremendous speakers over the years we’ve been there – Tam Dalyell (1996), Craig Brown (1997), Jock Brown (1998), Sheriff Irvine Smith (2000), Craigie Veitch (2003) and even Gordon Howe (1999) and Nicol McLaren (2002).
Although Bahrain is one of the most liberal of the Gulf States with alcohol being freely available, being drunk is a criminal offence, and so alcohol cannot be advertised anywhere. The major drinks companies get round this by sponsoring events and supplying all the evening’s refreshments – there were a few criminals around at the end of the night!!!
So to the dance.
The dancing skills and, indeed, enthusiasm of the assembled company has, over the years, grown considerably to the extent that the tickets for the Awali Ball are snapped up very quickly. I’ve tried to introduce new, simple, set dances to the proceedings so that now, the first question I’m asked is, “What new one have you got this year?” It’s not only Scots either – South Africans, Irish, Americans, an increasing group of Danes (almost the most enthusiastic of all) and, dare they admit it, English!!!! (this year we even had a group of Japanese!) all tripping the light fantastic. The floor was packed from the start (Gay Gordons) at about 10.30pm until the last dance (Orcadian Strip the Willow) at 1.45am. As well as the standards (DWS, Eightsome, St Bernard’s etc) we managed requests for Virginia Reel, Riverside, Flying Scotsman, Reel of the 51st and The Circassian Circle. The dance floor is big but it did struggle to cope when every single person in the hall got up to dance The Circassian Circle – brilliant fun though!
For the Bahrain trip we only take accordion and fiddle with us, the Society supplying the digital piano, drums and P.A. (hiring from a local company). It works tremendously well and means we get superb sound and no problems with excess baggage – the gear has always been excellent! Friday (the Muslim ‘Sunday’) was spend relaxing and topping up the suntan (or more correctly, recovering, asleep by the pool!) for the boys but Kirsty had the opportunity to visit the ‘Gems of the East’ exhibition in Manama – a ‘girls only’ day (unusual in the Middle East but organised so that women could go without their traditional ‘coverall’ abaya. Models adorned with diamond encrusted gold necklaces valued at up to $15million each were being snapped up (the necklaces, not the models!) …but not, alas, by Kirsty. She’s still raving about it today!! (A wee bird told me she did, however, purchase a tiara for her impending wedding!)
The homeward journey commenced at 11pm via Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam again arriving in Glasgow at 10.30 on Saturday morning. After 15 hours traveling (Bahrain is 3 hours ahead of GMT) we were glad to be home, but I must say, the people of Awali and, in particular, the Committee of the Caledonian Society make this trip one of the friendliest, most hospitable, trips with the best dancing crowd of all the trips in which we’ve been involved. Roll on the 71st anniversary.
Uganda
by Iain Buchanan
Occasionally a window of opportunity opens which far transcends anything you ever imagined possible. For a few luck musicians Scottish Dance Music has created such an opportunity with the chance to travel to far-flung destinations to ply their craft. This month and next we look at two such venues in East Africa, namely Kampala, capital of Uganda, and Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.
Both cities sit at almost 5,500 feet above sea level, making them cooler than you would first imagine Africa to be. Nairobi in particular has an unusual origin in that it was founded as a supply depot by the British in 1899 on what was to be the Mombassa to Kampala Railway Line while they sorted out the many technical difficulties involved in crossing the Great Rift Valley (which is half a mile deep in some places). It was totally rebuilt in the early 1900s after an outbreak of plague and the burning of the original town. Thereafter the settlement continued to grow, becoming the capital of the British East African Protectorate in 1907 and the capital of the newly independent Kenya in 1963.
Kampala grew up around a fort constructed by Frederick Lugard in 1890 for the British East African Company. In 1962 Kampala replaced Entebbe as the national capital. Much of the city was destroyed after the 1979 overthrow of Idi Amin’s dictatorship and the subsequent civil war. Scars of that conflict can still be seen on some of the city’s buildings.
Kampala is less than a 50-minute flight from Nairobi and shares many of its social problems, customs and lifestyles. Entebbe international Airport is about 60km from Kampala and is synonymous with the fall of the regime led by the dictator Idi Amin as depicted by the film ‘Raid on Entebbe’. Entebbe now has a new airport serving the international community less than 500 yards away from the original which nowadays serves United Nations International Relief efforts. The car parks are filled with row upon row of white UN vehicles, earth moving equipment and supplies, all destined for places such as Sudan, Rwanda, Ethiopia etc.
This was the scene as The Andy Kain Band comprising of Andy himself on fiddle, Liam Stewart on accordion and Iain Buchanan on drums headed off on Tuesday 23rd of November, 2005.
Day 1 – Arrived at Glasgow Airport just after 3.30am for the flight to Brussels and then on to Entebbe via Nairobi. This year the flights were sponsored by SN Brussels airline. Commence probmel number 1. As we tried to check in, we find that they have no record of us on the computer. However, thanks to the wonders of modern technology and a few brief but expensive phone calls between Glasgow and Kampala we were soon on our way, but not before we bumped into John Carmichael, Alastair McCulloch and Alan Kitchen, heading off to sunnier climes on their own trip (Hong Kong). By the time we arrived at Kampala it was after 11pm local time and we were met by two of our hosts James Macbeth and Colin Davidson with suitable transport to tackle the dreadful road conditions. An hour later and we arrive, shaken but not stirred, at the home of our good friends and hosts Gordon and Margaret Bell.
Day 2 – Rising at about 11am after a good night’s sleep we find breakfast is waiting for us. Just enough time to get that down our throats before our first appointment at the Music School of Uganda where it had been arranged for some of the students there to attend a fiddle master class with Andy. This year we managed to take over some sheet music, fiddles, shoulders rests, music stands and bows which we donated to the school. Everything they have has been donated and it’s great to see it being put to such good use. It was refreshing to see the enthusiasm of the students for their music. No forced practice here, instead there is genuine desire to do what it takes to improve their ability on the violin and their technique on the piano is quite remarkable.
Day 3 – Collected by German state transport, we were off for a 90-minute drive to Jinja and to the source of the River Nile at Bujigali Falls. A place of breathtaking natural beauty but also the home of some of East Africa’s best all terrain adventures. Quad biking along the banks of the Nile was just superb! Dressed in mustard coloured overalls, green wellies, crash helmets and goggles we looked ridiculous as we thrashed through the bush. Andy could easily have been mistaken for the Crazy Frog! After several hours touring coffee plantations, villages and racing round the jungle we were off to the exclusive resort of Kingfisher for lunch overlooking the Nile. Spectacular! Unfortunately, none of us had taken our cameras so no pictures. But as our guide said, “Adventures like this are meant to be experienced”. How true! Then on our return to Kampala our hosts have organised an impromptu ceilidh attended by most of the members of the Uganda Caledonian Society. The venue was Gordon and Margaret’s house which is more akin to a dance floor with a house round the edges.
Day 4 – The day of the grand St Andrew’s Ball of the Uganda Caledonian Society, held within the Garden City Shopping Centre in the middle of Kampala. 12 noon was the appointed time for a set up and sound check. However things tend to happen when they happen in Uganda
Day 5 – Rising at 12 noon after a long night of playing, this was our day of rest, relaxing in the African sun at the side of the swimming pool in Gordon and Margaret’s beautiful garden. No sun cream, so we ended up a light shade of pink. In the evening it was off to Pavement Tandoori for one of the best Indian’s ever.
Day 6 – We had been invited to return to Bujigali Falls for a spot of white water rafting, however having seen the water rapids during our quad adventure we decided that none of us could afford to be injured, after all it is our busiest time of year. Instead we were treated to a relaxing boat ride on Lake Victoria which is apparently bigger than Scotland! After a 45-minute cruise we arrived at Paradise Island which I understand was once the exclusive property of Idi Amin during his reign. Today however there is only one inhabitant – Bob the baboon who receives two visits a day and is fed with bananas, mangos and various fruits. Following the cruise back to the mainland it was time to pack for our flight home.
Day 7 – Following the overnight flight from Entebbe, we arrive in Brussels. Since our connection to Glasgow was 12 hours away we headed into Brussels City Centre for a spot of shopping and sight-seeing including the European Parliament, the Belgian Parliament and a visit to the Museum of Music which was extremely interesting, particularly for Andy as there were many rare and expensive violins on show.
Uganda is a country of immense beauty and contrast, full of sights which can barely be described. The people are very polite and generally welcome you warmly. Sadly however, Uganda’s democracy is once again under threat from a regime desperate to cling on to power ands civil unrest has returned to its streets as the people try to hold on to what little democracy they have. However, life goes on, and for some it is a daily struggle just to survive, for others its another day in paradise.
Meet the Musicians
by Sue Petyt
Have you ever woken up with a really good idea………..
CD Reviews – See Hear with Judith Linton
Tam’s Auld Love – Fiddler’s Leap – FLOO1CD – Olam Records
The Speyside Fiddler – James Alexander – CDGR201 – Ross Records
Gowd and Silver – Ronald and Anne-Wendy Stevenson – ECLCD0518 – Eclectic Records
Scottish Dances Vol 12 – Marian Anderson SDB – HRMCDS12 – Highlander Music
DVD Review
Angus Accordion & Fiddle Festival 2005
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 20.30 with Robbie Shepherd
7th Jan 06 – Nicol McLaren & the Glencraig SDB – Fiddle 2005 Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas
14th Feb 06 – Gary Forrest SDB (Lauren McColl in concert from Fiddle 2005)
21st Jan 06 – Sandy Legget SDB (Composer Gordon Shand)
28th Jan 05 – Ian Hutson SDB (OB from Perth with guest Dougie MacLean)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle) ? Jan 06 – Burns Supper
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 15th Jan 06 – Iain Cathcart SDB
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 8th Jan 06 – Judith Linton Trio
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 5th Jan 06 – Club Night
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 15th Jan 06 – Ian Muir Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 25th Jan 06 - tbc
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 16th Jan 06 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Belford (Community Centre) – 26th Jan 06 - tbc
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 8th Jan 06 – Gemma Coupland Band
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 10th Jan 06 - tbc
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) - 10th Jan 06 – Ca-Mar-Er
Button Key (Windygates Institute) –
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 3rd Jan 06 – Blair Gardiner SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 17th Jan 06 – Duncan Hutchison SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 19th Jan 06 – Iain Cathcart SDB
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 13th Jan 06 – Dance to Willie simpson and Gordon Pattullo
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 11th Jan 06 – Club Night
Dalriada (Argyll Hotel, Lochgilphead)
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 4th Jan 06 – Jock Fraser Trio
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 18th Jan 06 – Iain Cathcart SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 10th Jan 06 – Ray Carse
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel) 27th Jan 06 – Willie McFarlane Band 28th Jan - Roy Hendrie Trio 29th Jan – Judith Linton Trio
Duns (Masonic Lodge, Newtown St) 16th Jan 06 – Glenelvan SDB
East Kilbride (Masonic Hall, Kittoch St) –
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 24th Jan 06 – Scott Gordon SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 23rd Jan 06 – Dochie McCallum SDB
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 29th Jan 06 - tbc
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 11th Jan 06 – Bill & Ena Brian
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) – 9th Jan 06 - tbc
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) – 19th Jan 06 – Brian Griffin Duo
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 4th Jan 06 – Club Night
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 31st Jan 06 – Johnny Duncan Trio
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) - 8th Jan 06 – Dance to Local Players
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 8th Jan 06 – Deoch ‘n’ Doris
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 16th Jan 06 – Alan Roy
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 11th Jan 06 – MacAllister Brothers
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 5th Jan 06 – Local Artistes Night
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 5th Jan 06 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 25th Jan 06 – Scott Nichol SDB
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) –
Ladybank (Railway Tavern) - 19th Jan 06 – Jim Quiggley Trio
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 23rd Jan 06 – Tom & Jim Gold & Kain’s Weans
Langholm (Crown Hotel) – 11th Jan 06 – Club Night
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 5th Jan 06 – Club Night
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 19th Jan 06 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 31st Jan 06 – Ian hutson SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 17th Jan 06 – A Tour of Scotland (Margaret & Matt Ferguson, Jean Clark & Bob Berry)
Montrose (Park Hotel) –
Newburgh (The Ship Inn) - 26th Jan 06 – Johnny Duncan
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) - 8th Jan 06 – Open Day
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 30th Jan 06 – John Stuart SDB
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Club) – 26th Jan 06 – Club Night
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 24th Jan 06 – Gordon Pattullo & Angie MacEachern
Phoenix (Argyll Arms hotel, Ardrishaig)
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) - 3rd Jan 06 – Andy Kain
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 10th Jan 06 – Alasdair Heron Trio
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 5th Jan 06 – Club Night
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) -
Selkirk (Cricket Club) - 12th Jan 06 – Neil Hardie SDB
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Bowling Club) - 4th Jan 06 – Club Night
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) - 14th Jan 06 - Daniel
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 10th Jan 06 – Bon Accords
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 9th Jan 06 – Addie Harper SDB
Turriff (Royal British Legion) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 12th Jan 06 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 17th Jan 06 – Local Bands Night
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Annan
3. Banchory
4. Banff & District
5. Biggar
6. Bromley
7. Campsie
8. Coalburn
9. Castle Douglas
10. Crieff
11. Dunblane
12. Duns
13. Fintry
14. Forfar
15. Forres
16. Glendale
17. Glenrothes
18. Haddington
19. Inveraray
20. Kelso
21. Kintore
22. Ladybank
23. Lewis & Harris
24. Livingston
25. Lockerbie
26. Mauchline
27. Newburgh
28. Newmill
29. Newtongrange
30. Oban
31. Perth
32. Premier
33. Reading Scottish Fiddlers
34. Rothbury
35. Shetland
36. Stonehouse
37. Thurso
38. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2004
(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 (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed early 08-09
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Brittania B&F Club ( joined 07-08
14. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
15. Button Key A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
32. Forfar A&F Club (
33. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
34. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
35. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
36. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
37. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
38. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
39. 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)
40. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
41. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
42. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
43. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
44. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
45. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
46. Kintore A&F Club (
47. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
48. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
49. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
52. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
53. Maine Valley A&F Club (
54. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
55. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
56. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
57. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
58. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
59. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
60. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
61. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
62. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
63. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
64. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
65. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
66. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
67. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
68. Selkirk A&F Club (
69. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
70. Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
71. Sutherland A&F Club (
72. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
73. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
74. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
75. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
76. West Barnes ( - present)
77. 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?)
78. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
79. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
80. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
81. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
82. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
83. Buchan A&F Club
84 Callander A&F Club (
85 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
86 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
87 Club Accord
88 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
89. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
90. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
91. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
92. Derwentside A&F Club
93. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
94. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
95. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
96. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
97. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
98. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
99. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
100. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
101. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
102. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
103. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
104. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
105. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
106. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
107. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
108. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
109. Mull A&F Club
110. Newcastleton Accordion Club
111. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
112. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
113. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
114. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
115. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
116. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
117. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
118. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
119. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
120. Tranent A&F Club
121. Vancouver
122. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
123. Wellbank A&F Club
124. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
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
Happy New Year to all of you! Last year just whizzed by, and 2006 is shaping up to be equally busy. The B&F will be the main sponsors of a brand new competition organised by the Traditional Music Department of the RSAMD in Glasgow, and you can read all about it on Page 31. Preparations are well underway for Musselburgh Festival, and Festival chairman James Coutts gives us the details on Page 41.
St Andrews Day saw many dance bands traveling the world, and this month we hear from The Glencraig Band who went to Bahrain and The Andy Kain Band who were in Uganda. Next month we’re off to Kenya and Beijing with Charlie Todd and John Stuart! Where has your band been recently? Let us know and send us photos.
The big news this month was, of course, The Scots Trad Music Awards. Congratulations to all the worthy winners.
Don’t forget, you can still order B&F Calendars, just fill in and return the form on Page 4.
All the best for 2006.
Karin Ingram
The Scots Trad Oscars
by Mark Morpurgo
Shaking off the image of cardigan, jeans………
Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop
by Mark Morpurgo
L.W.F. took the title of Best Community Project of the Year Award at the Hands……….
Half a Century Playing for Dancing
by Robin Ellis
This year, 2005, I realised that it was half a century ago that I first played for Scottish Dancing, although in those days I was merely a class pianist. You may ask, “What on earth was a young man in the south-east of England doing playing for that style of dancing?” Although I have spent all my life in Kent many of my family came from Greenock so maybe it was ‘in the blood’ as they say. Whilst still at school I was introduced to Scottish dancing, it would seem that even in those days there was a shortage of men. I very soon found that although I liked the dancing I actually like the music even more and so spent much of my pocket money buying my first records. They were mainly Parlophone 78s of Jimmy Shand plus a few rather exclusive ones from the Beltona company. After a short time, a dancing class was started in my area and they were looking for a pianist. As a hard up University student I took the job. I seem to remember being paid 10/6d (about 52p) for an evening – quite a respectable fee in those days! I then continued playing and dancing for some years until, in the late 50s, an unexpected chance came to sit in with Jimmy Shand on some of his regular trips to London. This was a wonderful experience and I decided there and then that playing was for me. At that time there were very few bands in the south-east so the only way forward, as I saw it, was to form my own band and to do that I must learn to play the accordion. There were few accordion teachers available and certainly nobody with any knowledge of Scottish music so it was simply a question of teaching myself. This I did. After playing solo for a few years, through the dancing I met up with a pianist, Margaret Wall, a drummer Tom Furlong, and a young accordion player Frank Reid. Although bands were still in short supply there were, in the sixties, very large numbers of dancers – so in 1965 the band was born and soon we were being asked to play for most of the local societies. I must admit the early days were somewhat nerve wracking but as we had all been dancers at least we knew more or less what was expected of us.
For a few years things were going very nicely when suddenly Margaret announced that she was leaving the district to get married. Soon after that Frank decided to join forces with his two brothers and sister to form his own band. It seemed that it would all come to a rather sudden end. However replacements were found with Eric Eunson on keyboard, Roland Hayes on second box and Nevil Osborne on bass. We were in business again. Subsequently there have only been a few changes in personnel. In the early eighties Roland moved away and his place was taken by John Stevens (from Australia would you believe) and Catherine Lowe on accordions. A few years ago Tom Furlong who had been our drummer for some 35 years retired due to ill health and was duly replaced by John Rayfield. Thus we have always managed to find suitable musicians remembering of course the additional help given by accordionist Chris Gilbert, fiddlers Margaret Kendall, Karin Parks, Graham Hetherington and Graeme Forrester, piper and drummer Alan Breedin, drummer Eric Lowe and even bass players Diana Hetherington and Keith Pinnock for occasions when fees allow. Keith also has the distinction of, as far as I know, being the first black SCD musician. Finding replacements is not easy so far from Scotland, but with a great deal of good luck and some excellent friends we have continued now, uninterrupted for 40 years.
Recently we held a dance to which we invited representatives from all the societies for whom we still play as well as a number of the musicians from years gone by. A ten-piece band – now that’s what I call fun! The 70s, 80s and early 90s were a very busy time in the Scottish dance world and we were very much in demand both at home and overseas. Although most of our playing was in England we were also performing in much of Europe as well as the USA. We even managed a Caribbean cruise. On these trips we were playing either for societies abroad, folk festivals or dancing holidays of which we did some 35 over an 18 year period. These trips were very enjoyable but, as the many playing readers will know, usually quite hard work, particularly the traveling. I can’t think why but the equipment and instruments in their flight cases seem to get even heavier as time passes. We were very lucky as in all those years we never sustained any damage to our instruments unlike a number of our fellows.
However a few years ago we reluctantly decided that, with advancing years, we would give up long journeys and only accept local engagements. Fortunately there are still more than enough. Like many musicians I have tried my hand at composing and have produced some 120 tunes and, although most of them remain unpublished, they are well used at our functions. Although I have been known as an accordionist for most of the past 40 years I am happiest, as I started all those years ago, playing piano. There is nothing I like more than a good session on piano with other musicians.
The situation in the south of England is much like everywhere else. The number of dancers is getting fewer and the average age is rising fast. There are now not many dancers under 60. What does the future hold? We must just wait and see but the dancing scene may well be very different in 20 years’ time. Ceilidh dancing which has helped to bring in the younger element in Scotland, has made only a modest impact down here and it is largely country dancing that we are asked to play for.
The present band is usually a 5-piece, two accordions, fiddle, keyboard and drums. As with most bands the increase in the number of dances published, from about 250 when I started playing to some 12,000 now does cause problems from time to time. The recommended tune is often hard to find or even unknown in many cases. A few are surprisingly difficult to play or on other occasions simply unsuitable. I say recommended tune because that is what so many are today, few dances seem to have an original tune ion the true sense of the word. Although we endeavour to play the recommended tune where possible it is very noticeable that quite a few bands don’t even try. Indeed I was dancing at one function a few years ago where not one of the recommended tunes was played in the entire programme! I thought some of the dancers might comment, but no, not a single complaint. Sometimes I wonder why we bother!
Some ten years ago being rather frustrated by the fact that all the Accordion and Fiddle Clubs were 400 miles or more from my home town, I decided that the only solution was to start my own. This has been a very enjoyable if somewhat modest success. Cpmpared to many of those in Scotland we are small in numbers. Our average audience is about 40 and I think almost everybody would be classed as a ‘senior citizen’. Some of long standing in fact, we have quite a few octogenarians! As with dancers but unlike musicians in Scotland there are no young players or even listeners coming along and so I fear the days of an Englisg A&F Club will be very much numbered.
What have been the most memorable occasions over the half century? Was it the tour to USA where we played 14 gigs in 13 days – all in different locations? A Caribbean cruise where Scottish dancing on a rolling ship in a heavy gale meant that all the sets ended up on one side of the dance floor and trying to play an accordion was even more hectic? Or maybe the occasion where we had to deputise for a well-known Scottish band at a few hours’ notice because they were snowbound in Perthshire? Well perhaps! In reality I can honestly say that all our dances have been memorable and enjoyable occasions – well almost all. In our 40 years we have had only a very few functions at which I was longing to reach the end. Most of those were due to freezing halls in those long forgotten days of fuel shortages. I can only say that playing at a well run Scottish Country Dance, whether it be large or small is a most enjoyable experience and I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. Here’s to the next 50 years – well, shall we say the next 10 anyway!!!
Greetings from Inverness
by Margo MacLennan
Season’s Greeting to everyone…….
Box and Fiddle Day at the RSAMD
by Jacqueline France
Take two of Scottish music’s………….
February Ceilidh Weekend
by Deryn Waitt
This coming February……
Wee Andy Went Tae Heaven
By Tom McIver
Wee Andy led a dacent life an’ went tae his reward,
St. Peter led him through thon gates tae come an’ meet The Lord,
“But first”, said Pete, “we’ll dae the tour. Ah’ll huv tae show ye roon,
An’ then we’ll need yer measurements fur thon big fancy goon.
An’ then we’ll measure up yer heid, make sure yer halo fits,
An’ then we’ll haud yer banquet, pal. It’s better than the Ritz,
They walked through gem encrusted streets, past avenues of gold,
Entranced wi’ aw the sights and sounds, admirin’ gifts untold.
St. Peter loved tae daunner roon. He loved tae play the guide,
An’ show aff aw his famous freens. He glow’d wi’ inner pride,
Said Pete, “The Writers’ Workshop meets amang thon lochs an’ braes,
An’ there’s where aw the actors sit, recitin’ Shakespeare’s plays.
Wee Einstein’s aye beside thon burn. That’s him wi’ aw the brains,
An’ ower there’s George Stephenson. That’s him that made the trains,
Composer’s Coarner ower there. The Boss near hit the roof,
When Ah furgoat tae tell Him the Tchaikovsky wis a poof.
Auld Ludwig sits on thunder cloud, composing sangs tae sing,
Ah huv tae write things doon fur him – he cannae hear a thing,
An’ that’ s oor Satchmo ower there. An’ everybody’s sayin’
He’s never loast his magic touch. That’s West End Blues he’s playin’ “
Noo, doon in wan wee valley, near majestic marble rocks,
An ancient apparition played an ancient Hohner box,
He sat there, giein’ it laldy and his face wis glowin’ rid,
An’, truth to tell, he tried like hell, but wisna aw that guid.
Wee Andy asked, “Who’s thon auld guy beside thon marble rocks?
It sounds as if he’s torturin’ a poor old button box”
“Noo, wheesht” said Pete. “If he should hear ye sayin’ a thing like yon,
Ye’d hurt his puir auld feelin’s, son. Tae let ye unnerstaun.
We let him play at banquets, or a pairty noo an’ then,
We aw jist try to humour him. He’s harmless, son, ye ken?
He plays a Shand Morino an’ he hopes tae jine a band,
An’ though we ken it’s only God, He thinks he’s Jimmy Shand”.
Bahrain 2005
by Nicol McLaren
The 70th Anniversary of the Caledonian Society of Awali, Bahrain
This was the Glencraig Scottish Dance Band’s 11th visit to Bahrain to celebrate St Andrews Night and the gig has become one where we all feel we are returning to visit friends!
The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago in the Gulf of Arabia with its principal island (Bahrain Island) being about 40 miles long, 15 miles wide, connected by a 22 mile causeway to Saudi Arabia and having two flourishing Caledonian Societies!
Bahrain was where oil was first discovered in the Gulf and the first well to produce oil was spudded in 1936, quite a few years before its massive neighbour Saudi Arabia began its search for ‘Black Gold’.
The Caledonian Society of Awali was officially formed on the 30th October 1936 (although the first St Andrews Dinner was held on the 30th November 1935) and its first President was Lt. Col P.G. Loch, father of former ‘Father of the House of Commons’ Tam Dalyell. Awali is a town in the centre of Bahrain which essentially started as a ‘camp’ for expatriate workers for the Bapco Oil company. In the 70 years of its existence Awali has developed its own self sufficient community with a hospital, school, shopping centre, hotel, social club and golf course!
After a full day’s travel via Amsterdam and Abu Dhabi airports, we arrived safely in Bahrain to be greeted by a temperature of 24 degrees at one in the morning. The accordion was safe (a big sigh of relief, although I must say KLM have been superb over the years, even ‘finding’ me an accordion to play on time when mine was delayed in Amsterdam!) and all our luggage was collected together by our welcoming party by the time we had cleared immigration!
Wednesday morning commenced with a trip to the capital Manama and some serious shopping in the Soukh, with its profusion of colours, sounds and aromas. All wares were sold, from cloth of colours and textures to gold and jewellery as well as the traditional array of spices and local produce. Bartering is expected, and indeed turned the whole experience of shopping into a challenge to see who would obtain the best price. The Middle East is renowned for the quality and craftsmanship of its gold products and, even after 10 years I still marvel at the sheer volume of quality jewellery in the Gold Soukh.
Then to the serious business of the day – the first game of golf for Messrs Howe and McLaren on the Awali desert course. (Dave and Kirsty decided to stay by the pool and have some serious relaxation time!) The Awali course is a remarkable construction in the middle of the desert (one HUGE bunker really) with the ‘greens’ being a mixture of fine sand and diesel and the fairways being marked by lines of bitumen in the hard packed desert sand. As the locals say, “lt’s a lot better than no golf at all!” It’s even better in 30 degrees of heat, so after a few beers to cool down it was off to the Manama restaurant for a cracking dinner, finally retiring at around 2.30am – not good news for Gordon, Jim Reyner (Guest speaker) and me as we were booked on the 1st tee of the Riffa Golf Club a mere 4 hours later with Society President Alistair Woods. Riffa is a fantastic Grass course (the only one in Bahrain) where the final event in the European Seniors Tour had been won by our own Sam Torrance only a week before. It did seem strange being back in the Clubhouse for breakfast shortly after ten!
The main event (and the raison d’etre) was the St Andrews Ball on that Thursday evening. Held in the Bapco Club, the 200 guests were greeted with home made Atholl Brose before sitting down to a superb, traditional, Scottish dinner of ‘Kail, Fish, Stirk and Crowdie’. Our guest speaker this year was Jim Reyner, who had been the Society President on our first visit in 1995 but is now an Education Adviser in Shetland – how extreme is that?! Jim assured everyone that, although he was concerned initially, “there is life after Awali” and gave a most entertaining speech (even though it was supposed to be the ‘Pious Memory of St Andrew”!) There have been some tremendous speakers over the years we’ve been there – Tam Dalyell (1996), Craig Brown (1997), Jock Brown (1998), Sheriff Irvine Smith (2000), Craigie Veitch (2003) and even Gordon Howe (1999) and Nicol McLaren (2002).
Although Bahrain is one of the most liberal of the Gulf States with alcohol being freely available, being drunk is a criminal offence, and so alcohol cannot be advertised anywhere. The major drinks companies get round this by sponsoring events and supplying all the evening’s refreshments – there were a few criminals around at the end of the night!!!
So to the dance.
The dancing skills and, indeed, enthusiasm of the assembled company has, over the years, grown considerably to the extent that the tickets for the Awali Ball are snapped up very quickly. I’ve tried to introduce new, simple, set dances to the proceedings so that now, the first question I’m asked is, “What new one have you got this year?” It’s not only Scots either – South Africans, Irish, Americans, an increasing group of Danes (almost the most enthusiastic of all) and, dare they admit it, English!!!! (this year we even had a group of Japanese!) all tripping the light fantastic. The floor was packed from the start (Gay Gordons) at about 10.30pm until the last dance (Orcadian Strip the Willow) at 1.45am. As well as the standards (DWS, Eightsome, St Bernard’s etc) we managed requests for Virginia Reel, Riverside, Flying Scotsman, Reel of the 51st and The Circassian Circle. The dance floor is big but it did struggle to cope when every single person in the hall got up to dance The Circassian Circle – brilliant fun though!
For the Bahrain trip we only take accordion and fiddle with us, the Society supplying the digital piano, drums and P.A. (hiring from a local company). It works tremendously well and means we get superb sound and no problems with excess baggage – the gear has always been excellent! Friday (the Muslim ‘Sunday’) was spend relaxing and topping up the suntan (or more correctly, recovering, asleep by the pool!) for the boys but Kirsty had the opportunity to visit the ‘Gems of the East’ exhibition in Manama – a ‘girls only’ day (unusual in the Middle East but organised so that women could go without their traditional ‘coverall’ abaya. Models adorned with diamond encrusted gold necklaces valued at up to $15million each were being snapped up (the necklaces, not the models!) …but not, alas, by Kirsty. She’s still raving about it today!! (A wee bird told me she did, however, purchase a tiara for her impending wedding!)
The homeward journey commenced at 11pm via Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam again arriving in Glasgow at 10.30 on Saturday morning. After 15 hours traveling (Bahrain is 3 hours ahead of GMT) we were glad to be home, but I must say, the people of Awali and, in particular, the Committee of the Caledonian Society make this trip one of the friendliest, most hospitable, trips with the best dancing crowd of all the trips in which we’ve been involved. Roll on the 71st anniversary.
Uganda
by Iain Buchanan
Occasionally a window of opportunity opens which far transcends anything you ever imagined possible. For a few luck musicians Scottish Dance Music has created such an opportunity with the chance to travel to far-flung destinations to ply their craft. This month and next we look at two such venues in East Africa, namely Kampala, capital of Uganda, and Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.
Both cities sit at almost 5,500 feet above sea level, making them cooler than you would first imagine Africa to be. Nairobi in particular has an unusual origin in that it was founded as a supply depot by the British in 1899 on what was to be the Mombassa to Kampala Railway Line while they sorted out the many technical difficulties involved in crossing the Great Rift Valley (which is half a mile deep in some places). It was totally rebuilt in the early 1900s after an outbreak of plague and the burning of the original town. Thereafter the settlement continued to grow, becoming the capital of the British East African Protectorate in 1907 and the capital of the newly independent Kenya in 1963.
Kampala grew up around a fort constructed by Frederick Lugard in 1890 for the British East African Company. In 1962 Kampala replaced Entebbe as the national capital. Much of the city was destroyed after the 1979 overthrow of Idi Amin’s dictatorship and the subsequent civil war. Scars of that conflict can still be seen on some of the city’s buildings.
Kampala is less than a 50-minute flight from Nairobi and shares many of its social problems, customs and lifestyles. Entebbe international Airport is about 60km from Kampala and is synonymous with the fall of the regime led by the dictator Idi Amin as depicted by the film ‘Raid on Entebbe’. Entebbe now has a new airport serving the international community less than 500 yards away from the original which nowadays serves United Nations International Relief efforts. The car parks are filled with row upon row of white UN vehicles, earth moving equipment and supplies, all destined for places such as Sudan, Rwanda, Ethiopia etc.
This was the scene as The Andy Kain Band comprising of Andy himself on fiddle, Liam Stewart on accordion and Iain Buchanan on drums headed off on Tuesday 23rd of November, 2005.
Day 1 – Arrived at Glasgow Airport just after 3.30am for the flight to Brussels and then on to Entebbe via Nairobi. This year the flights were sponsored by SN Brussels airline. Commence probmel number 1. As we tried to check in, we find that they have no record of us on the computer. However, thanks to the wonders of modern technology and a few brief but expensive phone calls between Glasgow and Kampala we were soon on our way, but not before we bumped into John Carmichael, Alastair McCulloch and Alan Kitchen, heading off to sunnier climes on their own trip (Hong Kong). By the time we arrived at Kampala it was after 11pm local time and we were met by two of our hosts James Macbeth and Colin Davidson with suitable transport to tackle the dreadful road conditions. An hour later and we arrive, shaken but not stirred, at the home of our good friends and hosts Gordon and Margaret Bell.
Day 2 – Rising at about 11am after a good night’s sleep we find breakfast is waiting for us. Just enough time to get that down our throats before our first appointment at the Music School of Uganda where it had been arranged for some of the students there to attend a fiddle master class with Andy. This year we managed to take over some sheet music, fiddles, shoulders rests, music stands and bows which we donated to the school. Everything they have has been donated and it’s great to see it being put to such good use. It was refreshing to see the enthusiasm of the students for their music. No forced practice here, instead there is genuine desire to do what it takes to improve their ability on the violin and their technique on the piano is quite remarkable.
Day 3 – Collected by German state transport, we were off for a 90-minute drive to Jinja and to the source of the River Nile at Bujigali Falls. A place of breathtaking natural beauty but also the home of some of East Africa’s best all terrain adventures. Quad biking along the banks of the Nile was just superb! Dressed in mustard coloured overalls, green wellies, crash helmets and goggles we looked ridiculous as we thrashed through the bush. Andy could easily have been mistaken for the Crazy Frog! After several hours touring coffee plantations, villages and racing round the jungle we were off to the exclusive resort of Kingfisher for lunch overlooking the Nile. Spectacular! Unfortunately, none of us had taken our cameras so no pictures. But as our guide said, “Adventures like this are meant to be experienced”. How true! Then on our return to Kampala our hosts have organised an impromptu ceilidh attended by most of the members of the Uganda Caledonian Society. The venue was Gordon and Margaret’s house which is more akin to a dance floor with a house round the edges.
Day 4 – The day of the grand St Andrew’s Ball of the Uganda Caledonian Society, held within the Garden City Shopping Centre in the middle of Kampala. 12 noon was the appointed time for a set up and sound check. However things tend to happen when they happen in Uganda
Day 5 – Rising at 12 noon after a long night of playing, this was our day of rest, relaxing in the African sun at the side of the swimming pool in Gordon and Margaret’s beautiful garden. No sun cream, so we ended up a light shade of pink. In the evening it was off to Pavement Tandoori for one of the best Indian’s ever.
Day 6 – We had been invited to return to Bujigali Falls for a spot of white water rafting, however having seen the water rapids during our quad adventure we decided that none of us could afford to be injured, after all it is our busiest time of year. Instead we were treated to a relaxing boat ride on Lake Victoria which is apparently bigger than Scotland! After a 45-minute cruise we arrived at Paradise Island which I understand was once the exclusive property of Idi Amin during his reign. Today however there is only one inhabitant – Bob the baboon who receives two visits a day and is fed with bananas, mangos and various fruits. Following the cruise back to the mainland it was time to pack for our flight home.
Day 7 – Following the overnight flight from Entebbe, we arrive in Brussels. Since our connection to Glasgow was 12 hours away we headed into Brussels City Centre for a spot of shopping and sight-seeing including the European Parliament, the Belgian Parliament and a visit to the Museum of Music which was extremely interesting, particularly for Andy as there were many rare and expensive violins on show.
Uganda is a country of immense beauty and contrast, full of sights which can barely be described. The people are very polite and generally welcome you warmly. Sadly however, Uganda’s democracy is once again under threat from a regime desperate to cling on to power ands civil unrest has returned to its streets as the people try to hold on to what little democracy they have. However, life goes on, and for some it is a daily struggle just to survive, for others its another day in paradise.
Meet the Musicians
by Sue Petyt
Have you ever woken up with a really good idea………..
CD Reviews – See Hear with Judith Linton
Tam’s Auld Love – Fiddler’s Leap – FLOO1CD – Olam Records
The Speyside Fiddler – James Alexander – CDGR201 – Ross Records
Gowd and Silver – Ronald and Anne-Wendy Stevenson – ECLCD0518 – Eclectic Records
Scottish Dances Vol 12 – Marian Anderson SDB – HRMCDS12 – Highlander Music
DVD Review
Angus Accordion & Fiddle Festival 2005
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 20.30 with Robbie Shepherd
7th Jan 06 – Nicol McLaren & the Glencraig SDB – Fiddle 2005 Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas
14th Feb 06 – Gary Forrest SDB (Lauren McColl in concert from Fiddle 2005)
21st Jan 06 – Sandy Legget SDB (Composer Gordon Shand)
28th Jan 05 – Ian Hutson SDB (OB from Perth with guest Dougie MacLean)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle) ? Jan 06 – Burns Supper
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 15th Jan 06 – Iain Cathcart SDB
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 8th Jan 06 – Judith Linton Trio
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 5th Jan 06 – Club Night
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 15th Jan 06 – Ian Muir Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 25th Jan 06 - tbc
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 16th Jan 06 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Belford (Community Centre) – 26th Jan 06 - tbc
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 8th Jan 06 – Gemma Coupland Band
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 10th Jan 06 - tbc
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) - 10th Jan 06 – Ca-Mar-Er
Button Key (Windygates Institute) –
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 3rd Jan 06 – Blair Gardiner SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 17th Jan 06 – Duncan Hutchison SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 19th Jan 06 – Iain Cathcart SDB
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 13th Jan 06 – Dance to Willie simpson and Gordon Pattullo
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 11th Jan 06 – Club Night
Dalriada (Argyll Hotel, Lochgilphead)
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 4th Jan 06 – Jock Fraser Trio
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 18th Jan 06 – Iain Cathcart SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 10th Jan 06 – Ray Carse
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel) 27th Jan 06 – Willie McFarlane Band 28th Jan - Roy Hendrie Trio 29th Jan – Judith Linton Trio
Duns (Masonic Lodge, Newtown St) 16th Jan 06 – Glenelvan SDB
East Kilbride (Masonic Hall, Kittoch St) –
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 24th Jan 06 – Scott Gordon SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 23rd Jan 06 – Dochie McCallum SDB
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 29th Jan 06 - tbc
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 11th Jan 06 – Bill & Ena Brian
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) – 9th Jan 06 - tbc
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) – 19th Jan 06 – Brian Griffin Duo
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 4th Jan 06 – Club Night
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 31st Jan 06 – Johnny Duncan Trio
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) - 8th Jan 06 – Dance to Local Players
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 8th Jan 06 – Deoch ‘n’ Doris
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 16th Jan 06 – Alan Roy
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 11th Jan 06 – MacAllister Brothers
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 5th Jan 06 – Local Artistes Night
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 5th Jan 06 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 25th Jan 06 – Scott Nichol SDB
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) –
Ladybank (Railway Tavern) - 19th Jan 06 – Jim Quiggley Trio
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 23rd Jan 06 – Tom & Jim Gold & Kain’s Weans
Langholm (Crown Hotel) – 11th Jan 06 – Club Night
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 5th Jan 06 – Club Night
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 19th Jan 06 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 31st Jan 06 – Ian hutson SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 17th Jan 06 – A Tour of Scotland (Margaret & Matt Ferguson, Jean Clark & Bob Berry)
Montrose (Park Hotel) –
Newburgh (The Ship Inn) - 26th Jan 06 – Johnny Duncan
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) - 8th Jan 06 – Open Day
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 30th Jan 06 – John Stuart SDB
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Club) – 26th Jan 06 – Club Night
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 24th Jan 06 – Gordon Pattullo & Angie MacEachern
Phoenix (Argyll Arms hotel, Ardrishaig)
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) - 3rd Jan 06 – Andy Kain
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 10th Jan 06 – Alasdair Heron Trio
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 5th Jan 06 – Club Night
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) -
Selkirk (Cricket Club) - 12th Jan 06 – Neil Hardie SDB
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Bowling Club) - 4th Jan 06 – Club Night
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) - 14th Jan 06 - Daniel
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 10th Jan 06 – Bon Accords
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 9th Jan 06 – Addie Harper SDB
Turriff (Royal British Legion) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 12th Jan 06 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 17th Jan 06 – Local Bands Night
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Annan
3. Banchory
4. Banff & District
5. Biggar
6. Bromley
7. Campsie
8. Coalburn
9. Castle Douglas
10. Crieff
11. Dunblane
12. Duns
13. Fintry
14. Forfar
15. Forres
16. Glendale
17. Glenrothes
18. Haddington
19. Inveraray
20. Kelso
21. Kintore
22. Ladybank
23. Lewis & Harris
24. Livingston
25. Lockerbie
26. Mauchline
27. Newburgh
28. Newmill
29. Newtongrange
30. Oban
31. Perth
32. Premier
33. Reading Scottish Fiddlers
34. Rothbury
35. Shetland
36. Stonehouse
37. Thurso
38. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2004
(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 (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed early 08-09
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Brittania B&F Club ( joined 07-08
14. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
15. Button Key A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
32. Forfar A&F Club (
33. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
34. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
35. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
36. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
37. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
38. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
39. 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)
40. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
41. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
42. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
43. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
44. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
45. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
46. Kintore A&F Club (
47. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
48. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
49. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
52. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
53. Maine Valley A&F Club (
54. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
55. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
56. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
57. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
58. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
59. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
60. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
61. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
62. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
63. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
64. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
65. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
66. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
67. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
68. Selkirk A&F Club (
69. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
70. Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
71. Sutherland A&F Club (
72. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
73. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
74. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
75. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
76. West Barnes ( - present)
77. 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?)
78. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
79. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
80. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
81. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
82. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
83. Buchan A&F Club
84 Callander A&F Club (
85 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
86 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
87 Club Accord
88 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
89. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
90. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
91. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
92. Derwentside A&F Club
93. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
94. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
95. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
96. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
97. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
98. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
99. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
100. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
101. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
102. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
103. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
104. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
105. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
106. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
107. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
108. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
109. Mull A&F Club
110. Newcastleton Accordion Club
111. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
112. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
113. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
114. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
115. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
116. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
117. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
118. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
119. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
120. Tranent A&F Club
121. Vancouver
122. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
123. Wellbank A&F Club
124. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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