Box and Fiddle
Year 35 No 05
January 2012
Price £2.60
44 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £28.60 + p&p £11 (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! Exciting things are afoot in the world of the Box and Fiddle magazine. From next month (February) we move to full colour, so please make the most of it and send us good-quality photographs with your articles and reports. It also means that, to allow for the Printers’ requirements, we must bring the deadline for Club Reports forward into line with articles and adverts. So from now on, any magazine content must be with me (by e-mail) by the 8th of the preceding month.
If you haven’t already booked your tickets for out Ruby Anniversary Gala Concert, better be quick! It’s definitely going to be a sell-out, so make sure that you don’t miss it.
See you next month – in full colour!
Karin Ingram
The Stanley Ceilidh 2011
by Iain Cathcart
Another successful……….
David Flockhart 1938 - 2008
by Shauna Flockhart
David Porteous Flockhart was born on 11th May 1938 in Edinburgh and lived in Abbeyhill with his parents, Dave and Ella, and his younger brother Peter. He attended Leith Academy, being accepted there on a scholarship. One of his main hobbies was wrestling and he gained the title of East of Scotland Junior Wrestling Champion. In his teenage years he saved any spare money he had until he had enough to buy the motorbike he had dreamed of, a Thunderbird 1000; he and his group of fellow bikers travelled many miles together. He was taught classical piano and worked his way through the grades, being allowed out with his friends only after half an hour’s practice every evening. In 1962 he married Jean Walker whom he met at Edinburgh University; four years later in 1966 I was born. We moved from a flat in Meadowbank, Edinburgh to Musselburgh not long after.
The first band he played with regularly was Peter Innes when he was twenty-one and he went on to play and record with many bands through the course of his life, including Bobby Crowe, Andrew Rankine, Ron Gonella, Allan McIntosh, Bobby Moore, Fergie MacDonald, Robert Macleod, Simon Howie, Calum MacLean, Anda Campbell, Hector McFadyen, John MacGregor, Andrew Stoddart & The Glenesk and many, many others.
The first broadcasting band he played with was Jim Johnstone. He started playing in Jim’s band in 1963. Bobby Colgan and Jim appeared at Holyrood Park when Mum and Dad were out for a walk; he asked Dad if he would like to join the band, this was Jim’s first broadcasting band which consisted of Jim Johnstone, Allan Johnstone, Bobby Colgan, Robin Brock and Dad. The band recorded many broadcasts and Jim’s debut album. They also recorded the final four programmes of The White Heather Club.
Some of my fondest memories are of listening to the fantastic musical talent in the unique atmosphere of The Mishnish Hotel in Tobermory, Dad having a tune with Jim Johnstone, Graeme Mitchell, Bobby MacLeod, Jimmy Shand, Bobby Colgan, Billy Thom, Pibroch MacKenzie, Richard Hughes to name a few. These were really special times for Dad; I can remember him back then, tears streaming down his face with laughter at Bobby Colgan’s jokes (often cracked halfway through one of his songs!) and there was no doubt Dad was enjoying the tune, his body language said it all! He played with Jim for around seven years, Jim then ended the band to play professionally with Jimmy Shand and left for Australia for several months.
Dad’s left hand was badly burned in a camping accident when he was very young and he had to work hard to reach an octave but Jim was adamant that he played an octave with his left hand and not sound like a “plinky plonk”. He persevered and played the octave from then on. The discipline in Jim’s band gave him a solid foundation for his musical career and he thoroughly enjoyed the “Johnstone” years of his life.
In the early 70s Gordon Young, Jack Delaney, Robin Brock and Dad started up an accordion club in The Alan Ramsay Hotel in Carlops. It turned out to be a really successful club and went from strength to strength, attracting top rate musicians as well as bringing on young players at the time, many of them now very well known in the band scene. Robin was then asked to go for an audition by the BBC producer at the time, Robert Crawford. Bob Christie joined them on fiddle and they went on to do many broadcasts that year for various producers of different programmes; he called the band Robin and friends. Dad had a major hand in the harmony arrangements.
He then joined Iain MacPhail’s Band, playing for many years travelling up and down the country as well as abroad. They bought between them a converted Mr Whippy Ice Cream van which took them to many gigs; later we as a family had many happy holidays in it, the engine was inside so we didn’t get wet every time it broke down! Iain’s band still plays in South America every year; Dad loved his yearly trip to Rio. The band played the summer season at The King James Hotel for around two decades. He had a large input in the musical arrangements, especially the early days with Iain. He loved the excitement of playing in Iain’s band; he and Graham Jamieson had a strong musical bond which he said was often difficult to achieve with a drummer, real empathy for each other’s playing. He had similar experiences with other drummers such as Billy Thom, Max Ketchin and Gordon Young and of course, George Darling, whom he played with for many years in Iain’s band. There were a few personnel changes over the years and Dad enjoyed all the different experiences with the band especially trips such as to Shetland where he always said the hospitality was outstanding; there he made many lifelong friends and had many stories to tell of his experiences, conversations, tunes…
So many of the people he met through the band scene, not only musicians, turned out over the years to be good friends, the music being the catalyst but actually finding out there were many other common interests. He became interested in the work of Rudolf Steiner, attending meetings on a Tuesday night in Tobermory and read more than he had ever done before. Robin Brock, as well as sharing the musical aspects of life with Dad from back at the beginning playing bass in Jim’s band, was also one of his closest friends, and they met often over the years socially as well as musically. In the last few years of Dad’s life Robin was of great support to him, they spent a lot of time together travelling to France and various places in Europe.
After working at Edinburgh University in the area of pharmacology he moved to Inveresk Research in Musselburgh. In around 1982 he bought an area of land and foreshore just round from Tobermory Bay which used to be outdoor bathing pools, “Port na Coite”. He had become interested in shellfish cultivation through a diving friend he met at the British Sub Aqua Club in Portobello (which I went with him to every Wednesday evening). He took voluntary redundancy from his job and never really looked back. He built a wee hut he could stay in while attending his oysters. As years went on he became more interested in an oyster/scallop hatchery (where he would breed them to sell on for other farmers to grow). He built a hatchery and an algae unit, painstakingly taking all he needed for the build round to Port na Coite on Anabel, his service raft, which he had built for the task as there is no road access, only a footpath or by sea.
In 1998 his first grandchild Rhona was born, and then Struan was born in 2000. He was so proud of them both and spent a lot of quality time chatting to them and teaching them about oysters and scallops and many other subjects. They were very close to him and miss him dearly; he would have been so chuffed at their musical progress Rhona on violin and Struan on drums. They had their first public performance in The Mishnish Hotel in Tobermory at the Mull Festival this year.
In 2004 Dad was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer which was devastating news not only for him but everyone who knew him. He fought the disease with enormous bravery and dignity, never once complaining and always producing a smile, I honestly don’t know how he managed it. He passed away on 17th November 2008, the saddest day of my life.
I know there are many parts of my Dad’s life I’ve not covered, especially events before I can remember but thankfully with the help of some of his fellow musicians I hope this gives a wee insight into his life, I’m really sorry if I have missed anyone I should have included. There are so many experiences I was so lucky to have, which would never have happened without Dad, and I know I am so fortunate to have had him. As well as being my father he was also my best friend, and a friend of many other people who knew him. He was the most likable person you could ever meet.
Murdo MacLeod
Founder of the Livingston A&F Club
by BA & JB
Over the years Murdo has written many articles about Club members for the Box and Fiddle. We thought it was time to turn the tables on someone so vital to the history of the Club. Murdo, with his soft Highland accent, has played his part as Chairman, Treasurer, MC and writer of Club reports for the Box and Fiddle. He was born in Harris in the Western Isles into a family of seven. As a young lad his first language was Gaelic, which he still speaks fluently today. His father was a well respected professional piper, who composed many tunes, among them being ‘Loch Voshmid’ which incidentally was played by John Morrison, a regular fiddler at the Club, when he competed at The Golden Fiddle Awards at Perth in 1969. He came third when the judges were Hector MacAndrew and Yehudi Menhhin. From an early age he was immersed in Scottish music – pipe and Scottish Dance music – a keen listener to the bands of the day on the wireless including Jimmy Shand, Bobby MacLeod and Will Hannah. He learned the pipes and could get a tune out of the accordion.
As was the way of many teenage islanders, Murdo moved to the mainland for work in various locations before going to Aberdeen University, where he obtained his Geography Degree. Whilst in Aberdeen Murdo had digs with Mr and Mrs Mair, who turned out to run an open house for musicians. Here he met many bandleaders including Alastair Hunter and Ian Powrie, also the aforementioned fiddler Hector MacAndrew. Mr and Mrs Mair had had two sons and a daughter, Florence, who played the fiddle and eventually joined Alistair Hunter’s Band. One of the young ladies who went to the same school as Florence was Evelyn Carle, who was to become Murdo’s wife many years later.
His first teaching post was in Glasgow and during this time he attended many social occasions at The Glasgow Highlanders’ Institute. He attended most of the grand dances and so heard most of the great Scottish dance bands of the time and made friends with many of the bandleaders (which was very useful later when he formed the Accordion Club!)
After marrying Evelyn in 1965 the newly-weds moved to Thornhill, as Murdo had a teaching job in Dumfries. As always his love of Scottish dance music was there and this led him to the famous ‘”Hole in the Wa’ “ pub owned by Max Houliston. Murdo became friendly with him and was privileged to be at what was to be the first Accordion and Fiddle Club as we know it today. The first guest was Kenny Wilson, the Leadhills fiddler. In 1967 the family moved to Livingston when Murdo became a Lecturer at the Edinburgh College of Commerce which later became Napier College. As ever Murdo’s interest brought him into contact with many musicians including John MacGregor, the bandleader, and John Know, the folk singer; and together they instigated informal gatherings at The West End Hotel in Edinburgh. Among the many guests there were Iain MacPhail, Jack Stalker and Alex MacArthur. Roger suggested a guest might be a folk singing friend of his and Murdo turned down the idea. It turns out that this singer was Barbara Dickson!
Nearer home he organised music sessions in The Ladywell Community Centre, when people came to play together without an audience. This led him to founding The Livingston Accordion and Fiddle Club in September 1973 in Rab’s Bar in Livingston Station. Murdo is very proud to be the founder of the Club and also of becoming the first Honorary Member.
The amount of time and energy these projects involved is due to his wife Evelyn giving him free rein to indulge his interest, so she is deserving of the grateful thanks of everyone who has enjoyed the music and companionship of the Club. Evelyn and Murdo have a son and daughter who both carry on the musical tradition. Niall plays bass guitar and used to play in a band and Aline plays guitar and sings a good Gaelic song.
Through his friendship with John MacGregor he met the Edinburgh accordion teacher Chrissie Letham, who encouraged many of her pupils to attend the Club and his friendship with so many bandleaders meant it was easy for the Club to get great guests.
Since the beginning, the Club has changed venues in and around Livingston 14 times and Murdo has attended and still attends most of the meetings. He is always there to lend a willing hand in any way he can. This includes interviewing and writing articles about Club Members for The Box and Fiddle. Away from music his time is still given generously to charity work, including volunteering at St John’s Hospital in Livingston.
In conclusion Murdo comments that he is so appreciative of the abilities of the players who attend the Club and perform so effortlessly, often with no music, he is reminded of the lines in Oliver Goldsmith’s ‘Deserted Village’ :
“And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew
That one small head could carry all he knew.”
Iain Wilson – The Elvanfoot Pianist
by Charlie Todd
Iain Wilson, like elder brother Kenny, was born and raised at the ‘Hass’ Farm in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire. It was Iain who was initially gifted a fiddle and sent for lessons to Alex Brown in Abington, but he was not particularly inspired by the instrument and after a couple of years decided to change to the piano. Again his parents thought he should do it properly and he started lessons with Margaret M. Carmichael at Trigony, Closeburn in 1949 and finished nine years later in 1958 at Grade VI. Before he was age to drive this involved cycling down from Leadhills to Elvanfoot Post Office, where he left his bicycle, and catching the Edinburgh to Dumfries bus as far as Closeburn, sometimes accompanied by Ena Wilson (later pianist with the Lothian SDB) whose parents ran the Post Office. As was often the case, this tuition was entirely down the classical route, indeed when Iain did start to pay in a Scottish Dance band in 1952 Margaret was very vocal in her opposition.
The opportunity had arisen that year to play with brother Kenny in Andrew Coke’s Dance Band when Andrew’s dad retired from the pianist’s role. Iain describes Andrew as an excellent player (he deputised as accordionist on occasion in the Angus Fitchet Band) and the band were very busy throughout the year. Travel, particularly in winter, could be a problem since as some readers will be aware Leadhills sits near to Wanlockhead, Scotland’s highest village and winters at that time could be severe. The solution was to get themselves down to Crawford in time to set off in Andrew’s car for the venue, then on their return Andrew dropped them off at the Lanarkshire County Council’s Roads Depot in Crawford from where, after a heat in the bothy, Hugh Moorcroft, the driver of the ‘big ploo’ took them both back up to Leadhills, clearing snow and gritting the narrow road on the way.
Iain played with Andrew’s band from 1952 till 1962 with a year’s break in 1955/6 while Andrew did his National Service. For that year he and Kenny moved to the Jim Anderson Band from Broughton in Peeblesshire. Again transport arrangements brought back some fond memories as he remembered travelling to dances in Arthur Brown’s (long associated with Livingston A&F Club) Austin Seven with its leaking roof which necessitated the wearing of a waterproof coat and a sou wester, something Iain always played on a bit by sitting with his collar turned up.
When Andrew decided to sell up at Crawford and move to Onich, Kenny and Iain went their separate ways. Since then Iain has played with a string of bands, some on a regular basis, and some on a more casual basis. Certainly it would be fair to say that as one door closed another opened.
His regular bands (although line-ups varied over the years) were :-
Andrew Coke 1952-62 (Andrew, Kenny Wilson, Jack Watson/Johnny Nichol, Andrew Hogg and Iain)
Graham Barbour and Jack Stitt 1963-68 (Graham/Jack, John Douglas, Sandy McClelland and Iain)
Eric Goodfellow 1968-78 (Eric, Jock Borthwick, Billy Bell, Alasdair MacLeod, Drew Dalgleish, Tony Farrell (guitar-vocals) and Iain)
Alex MacArthur 1978-89 (Alex, Ian Mearns, Jack Delaney, Bobby Colgan and Iain)
Roger Dobson 1982-84 (Roger, Jock Borthwick, Bob Hobkirk, Drew Dalgleish, Gilbert Lynn and Iain) then 1990-98 (Roger, Alex Graham, Carol Dobson, Drew Dalgleish/Billy Goodfellow and Iain)
Jock Borthwick 1989-2010 (Jock, Will Gillie and Iain)
Bill Richardson 1991 – date (Bill, Derek McLeod/ Kenny Wilson, Fraser Richardson and Iain)
Jean McConnachie 1993-2007 (Jean, Jim McConnachie (small pipes), Max Houliston/John Douglas, David Blair (fiddle), Billy Goodfellow and Iain)
And along the way he also played for short stretches or occasionally with :-
Jim Anderson 1955/6
Andrew & Willie Stoddart 1960’s
Peter Innes 1960’s
John McGregor 1970’s
The Solway Sands early 70’s – 1988
Tommy Pringle 1982-88
Wattie Beattie 1982-84
Alan Gardiner 1986-89
Jack Stalker 2006-09
Ian Kirkpatrick 2007-date
Dick Black 2007-08
Willie McRobert 2010 – date
Gordon Clark 2010 – date
Over the years Iain broadcast with Eric Goodfellow (1970’s), Alex MacArthur (70’s and 80’s), Max Houliston (1980-82), Roger Dobson (1982-84), the Border Strathspey & Reel Society (1980-82) and recently with Neil Barron in his 2009 tribute on the 20th anniversary of the death of Alex MacArthur. He made tapes/CDs/videos with many of the above and additionally with Jim Ritchie, Willie Atkinson, Jean McConnachie and John Douglas.
Iain’s friendship with John Douglas stretches all the way back to 1963 when John played second box in both the Graham Barbour Band (Graham, John, Sandy McClelland on drums and Iain) and also the Jack Stitt Band (same line up with Jack taking over lead on Continental Chromatic to replace Graham). In fact the only time their paths stopped crossing in the last 48 years was when John moved temporarily up the West Coast to the ‘Great Glen Cattle Ranch’ at Lochaber (a short-lived experiment by the eccentric American millionaire Joseph Hobbs which ran for 3 years) and then to the fir plantations being planted around Spean Bridge for a couple of years before moving back to Dumfries-shire. As well as recognising John as a fine band accordionist Iain says “every musician needs a good music shop and John’s is second to none. Nothing is any trouble to him. One phone call to John and he will fix any problem. I am very proud to call him my friend” – sentiments which I am sure are shared by many musicians in the south of Scotland and beyond.
The ‘Solway Sands’ band mentioned above lasted for almost twenty years and was as busy as other commitments allowed and Iain thoroughly enjoyed the range of music they played. It consisted initially of Alan Orr (vocals and bass guitar), Chris Graham (leading on 5 row), Bobby McBryde (fiddle), David Henderson (drums) and Iain. This later evolved into a four piece with Cathy Johnston (vocals), Chris Graham (lead), Ian Glendinning (drums) and Iain. As well as Scottish music they were good at ‘modern ballroom’.
Accordion & Fiddle Clubs
The Clubs have played a part in Iain’s life for many years. When Alex MacArthur moved to the Clydesdale Hotel and started the Biggar Club in 1974 Iain gradually became a regular, particularly after he became Alex’s band pianist in 1978. Scottish dancing had passed its popularity peak and guesting at Clubs enabled Alex to meet friends from the old days as well as make new acquaintances. As a three piece, Alex, Iain and fiddler Ian Mearns travelled throughout Scotland and the north of England (with one memorable week also spent doing clubs in Northern Ireland during ‘the Troubles’) and where possible Alex always supplemented this line-up with a second box player and a drummer from those attending the club. Alex felt that encouraged the locals and no-one would disagree with that. As a sales rep Alex had spent much of his working life behind a steering wheel and he was an excellent (if fast) driver who always owned a large, powerful car.
Iain recalls one narrow escape though, when Alex had a big Volvo Estate. They had been up at Thurso Club with Stevie Beattie on drums and Jennifer Forrest on second box. Having dropped off Jennifer in Airdrie they zipped along the M8 and cut off at Whitburn heading for Forth, Carnwath and Biggar. Throughout the entire journey Iain had commented on an unidentified alien noise coming from somewhere on the car but Alex told him not to worry - for one thing he said he had just bought four new tires. On a long downward hill just short of ‘the Forth’ it was Stevie, from the back seat, who announced ‘we’ve just lost a wheel’ which he had spotted as it crossed the roadside verge. Alex’s instinct was to brake but in a moment of inspiration Iain told him just to take his foot off the accelerator and let the car come to a gradual halt. Heavily laden at the back it did so without any loss of control and it was only when it finally stopped that it settled forward on the hub of its missing front passenger wheel. Alex went to a nearby farm for help while Iain and Stevie went to retrieve the missing wheel. Neither the wheel nor the hub were damaged and by the simple (temporary) expedient of borrowing a wheel nut from the other three wheels they returned safely to Biggar. Iain wouldn’t like to repeat that experience though.
It was during his days with Alex that Iain became friendly with Bill Black and family when they called in to pick up Duncan who played second box for a time. Bill in turn got Iain to play with his band when they were at Broughton (Peeblesshire) and other venues down his way. Bill wrote two very fine tunes call 'Bertha Wilson’s Polka' and a march entitled 'Iain Wilson of South Shortcleugh' which appear in Deeay Music’s ‘Leaside Collection’. And while on the subject of music Iain also became friendly with Donald Ridley who very kindly wrote ‘Iain Wilson’s Reel’ for him.
Iain continues his close association with the Clubs as resident pianist at the Annan, Langholm, Livingston and Lockerbie Clubs as well as doing guest spots with the bands of Ian Kirkpatrick (Dumfries), Willie McRobert (Lockerbie) and Gordon Clark (Gorebridge).
The Daily Record Golden Fiddle Awards
In 1978 Iain acted as accompanist to one of the Border’s finest fiddlers, Albie Tedham of Langholm. Albie progressed effortlessly through the regional heats to win a place at the finals which were to be held in the Assembly Rooms, George Street, Edinburgh. Albie was a real ‘character’ with many idiosyncrasies and was from a ‘travelling people’ background. He wore a hearing aid which he preferred to have turned down low when playing, so at the finals in Edinburgh he failed to hear the adjudicator say ‘in your own time Mr Tedham’ and turned to Iain in front of the large audience with a loud ‘whatsy saying ?’ Iain relayed the instruction to start in his own time. A man of small stature Albie wore a tartan jacket which was a few sizes too big. To the audience it almost appeared as if the bow was being held by the jacket and they started to laugh but as Iain puts it “as soon as they heard how beautifully he played the laughing stopped”. Albie didn’t win but he gave an excellent account of himself. Sadly Albie, a heavy smoker, was to die from cancer aged only 54 on 16th November 1980.
The Border Strathspey & Reel Society
Iain was accompanist with the Border S&R Society from 1973-85 during the period that brother Kenny was Conductor of the Society. During the years 1980-82 they broadcast with Radio Borders and BBC Carlisle.
Tuition
Iain’s home area in the rural part of South Lanarkshire consists of quite a number of small villages (Wiston, Roberton, Abington, Crawford, Elvanfoot, Leadhills and Wanlockhead) which are quite remote from any major facilities and he had often been asked to teach children the piano. He finally took up the challenge in 1970’s and for a period of over 10 years tutored quite a number of pupils down the classical route. His best known pupil, on our scene, is Jim Nichol, now of Loanhead, who plays with the bands of Neil Hardie, David Scott (Peebles) and Ian Hutson although it was Graeme Mitchell up in Huntly who took Jim into the Scottish idiom when he moved up to Aberdeenshire in his student farming days.
Hopetoun Estate
Like brother Kenny, Iain spent his entire working life with the Hopetoun Estate although in Iain’s case he followed in his father’s footsteps as a shepherd. On leaving school he had worked with his dad at ‘the Hass’, Leadhills, which was a rented farm belonging to the Estate which had decided that as the rents came up for renewal they would take the farms back under their own management. This happened to the Hass in 1961 but Iain was offered a shepherding job at South Shortcleugh, near Elvanfoot, where he remained for his entire working life until he retired in 2001.
Home Life
Iain married Bertha Wight in 1960 and they have two sons, Chris and Colin. With Iain away playing regularly he relied very much on Bertha and the boys to help, with Bertha out on the farm doing necessary jobs and the boys copying out arrangements for second box and bass after dad had prepared the master copy for Alex’s broadcasts and Accordion & Fiddle Club appearances. In the pre photocopier days (which at South Shortcleugh were to last into the new Millennium) Rhynas Mitchell of Elgin sent down new sets/arrangements to Alex at the Clydesdale Hotel in Biggar. Alex in turn phoned Iain and son Chris collected them from Alex when he went to Biggar High School the following day. Once completed the full set of scores were returned to Alex by the same method. Iain expresses his sincere thanks to the family for all their efforts over the years.
Now retired for some 10 years to nearby Crawford, Iain and Bertha continue to enjoy a very full musical life which shows no sign of slowing up. Bertha regularly accompanies Iain when he appears at Clubs and most recently I met up with them when Iain was guesting with Willie McFarlane’s Band at the Stonehouse Club. Long may they continue to enjoy, and contribute, to our kind of music.
Burns in Berkshire
by Stuart Forbes
Stuart Forbes of The Craigievar Band reports on the popularity of ‘Burns Night Suppers’ in South East England.
I have spent the best part of 40 years in exile in The Royal Country of Berkshire and I supposed that I have got used to the seasons. In the summer, we have Royal Ascot and The Henley Regatta, closely followed by the tennis at Wimbledon. In the winter, after the anti-climax of Christmas and New Year, we have the season of Burns’ Nights. This season lasts from mid-January to mid-February and can be very enjoyable and financially very welcome. The handful of Scottish bands serving London and the South-East are at full stretch trying to cope with the demand. Berkshire accordionist Frank Reid, always reminds me that his band earns 25% of its annual turnover in January alone.
The English don’t seem to get the hand of calling their event a ‘Burns Night’ or ‘Burns Supper’. They seem to manage to call it a Burns Night Supper or Burns Supper Night, but that is a mere detail. Typically, the haggis is piped in and duly addressed by someone with a sort of Scottish accent, as the local accents can sometimes fail to convey any sort of meaning at all. There is usually The Selkirk Grace, followed by the meal where the haggis can be served as a starter, a main course or some sort of side order, often by staff whose origins are even further away than our English cousins. Occasionally, there are speeches and toasts, but it is usually a race to get the tables cleared in order to get stuck into the ceilidh dancing.
These events can be broadly divided into categories. There are the Scottish Country Dance clubs who include haggis in their meal. There are the military establishments, usually in the Officer’s Mess, the Public Schools, Universities, Livery companies, Pony clubs, Parent Teacher Associations, church restoration fund-raisers and, in fact, any organisation wanting a good night out. At some of the up-market gigs, it is said that they consume £1,000 per table (say 16 people) in drink and even at London prices that is no mean feat. I note that the Institute of Bankers in Scotland, for its London Burns Supper is charging £140 per head. Then there are the hotels and wedding venues that put on a theme night for profit. Among the more interesting nights has been the event at the College of Defense Studies, where the lowest rank is Colonel or equivalent and the NATO HQ at Northwood who have a similar clientele. These military chaps are very good at taking orders and the amazing thing is that the instructions and the music is the same for all of them. For me, the event that tops my list is the one in the village hall with everyone thoroughly enjoying themselves and the walls heaving to the sound of music and laughter.
By way of a variation, we recently performed in the Porto Palace, Thessalonikki, Greece for the St Andrew’s Society Burns Night and, despite the locally made haggis, it was a cracking event.
We have also been very privileged in this part of the UK, in that we have had a number of well-known musicians from north of the border as guests with our band, sharing the fun over the years, including David Hume and Iain MacPhail. However one thing that Frank Reid has failed to disclose is the percentage of his annual turnover earned at Bill Shakespeare Dinners!
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Reel of the Puffins – Jim Lindsay SDB – Highlander Music HRMCD020
DVD Reviews
The Flying Scots – Brandon McPhee SDB with guests Karen Steven, Harvey Brothers and Manson Grant
Book Review
Vintage Accordions – Rob Howard – Independent Publication
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s
7th Jan 12 – Blair Gardiner SDB (Karin Ingram, Editor Box and Fiddle)
14th Jan 12 – Bruce Lindsay SDB
21st Jan 12 – Alasdair Wood SDB (Neil Barron on new book of compositions)
28th Jan 12 – Deoch ‘n’ Dorus
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 31st Jan 12 – Tom Orr Trio
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 15th Jan 12 – Gordon Brown SDB
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 8th Jan 12 – Gary Sutherland SDB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 15th Jan 12 – Alasdair MacLeod SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 25th Jan 12 – Dennis Morrison SDB
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 16th Jan 12 – Alexander Young
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 8th Jan 12 – Dochie McCallum & Friends
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 10th Jan 12 – Deirdre Adamson
Britannia (Arden House Hotel) -
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 12th Jan 12 – Gordon Pattullo 29th Jan 12 – Shand Morino Gathering
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 10th Jan 12 – John Morgan
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 17th Jan 12 – Ian Holmes Trio
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 19th Jan 12 – Iain Cathcart Trio
Coldingham (Village Hall) -
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club)
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) - 17th Jan 12 – Iain Anderson Trio
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 4th Jan 12 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 18th Jan 12 – Players Night
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 10th Jan 12 – Club Night
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate) 16th Jan 12 – Marian Anderson SDB
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 17th Jan 12 – Tommy Newcomen
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 23rd Jan 12 – The Campsie Players
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 29th Jan 12 – Gavin Piper duo
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 4th Jan 12 – Jim MacKay SDB
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) -
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 26th Jan 12 – George Rennie Trio
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) -
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) -
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) - 8th Jan 12 – Gary Blair
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 22nd Jan 12 – David Vernon
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 16th Jan 12 – Archie MacPhee SDB
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 11th Jan 12 – Heron Valley Quartet
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 5th Jan 12 – Sileas Sinclair Trio
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 3rd Jan 12 – Jamie Young SDB
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 25th Jan 12 – Johnny Duncan
Kintore (Torryburn Arms Hotel) –
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 19th Jan 12 – Jack the Box
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 23rd Jan 12 – Seamus O’Sullivan Trio
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) – 11th Jan 12 – Club night
Lauder (Black Bull Hotel) -
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) -
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 17th Jan 12 – Jimmy & Sandy Lindsay
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 31st Jan 12 – Willie McRobert SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 17th Jan 12 – Leonard Brown
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 4th Jan 12 – George Rennie SDB
Newburgh (The Ship Inn) - Jan 12 -
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Thorterdykes Roadhouse) 29th Jan 12 – Open Day
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 30th Jan 12 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Northern (Lylehill Suite, Templepatrick, N.I.) - 4th Jan 12 – Graeme MacKay
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) – 13th Jan 12 – Dance to Alan Gardiner SDB
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) – Jan 12 -
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 26th Jan 12 – Pentlands Ceilidh Band
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 17th Jan 12 – Craig Paton Trio
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) -
Reading Scottish Fiddlers (Willowbank Infant School, Woodley) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 10th Jan 12 – Brian Laurie Orchestra
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 5th Jan 12 – Club Night & Buffet Supper
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) -
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) -
Selkirk (Angus O’Malley’s) - 12th Jan 12 – Paul Capaldi & Keith Dickson
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) - 11th Jan 12 – Club night & Buffet
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) - 21st Jan 12 – Roya MacLean
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 10th Jan 12 – Karyn McCulloch
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 9th Jan 12 – Local Artistes & Bands
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) - 7th & 21st Jan 12 – Local Players
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 12th Jan 12 – Gordon Clark SDB
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 17th Jan 12 – Local Bands Night
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Annan
2. Arbroath
3. Balloch
4. Banff
5. Beith
6. Button-key
7. Campsie
8. Castle Douglas
9. Coalburn
10. Dunblane
11. Duns
12. Forfar
13. Glendale
14. Highland
15. Isle of Skye
16. Kelso
17. Lanark
18. Lewis & Harris
19. Livingston
20. Mauchline
21. Montrose
22. Newtongrange
23. Northern
24. Oban
25. Peebles
26. Perth
27. Rothbury
28. Sutherland
29. Tynedale
30. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2011
(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. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
10. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
11. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
12. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
13. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
16. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
17. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
18. Coalburn A&F Club (
19. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 -
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. Fort William A&F Club (2009 -
35. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
36. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
37. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
38. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
39. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
40. 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)
41. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
42. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
43. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
44. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
45. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
46. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
47. Kintore A&F Club (
48. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
49. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
50. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
51. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
52. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
53. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
54 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
55 Maine Valley A&F Club (
56 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
57 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
58 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
59 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
60. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
61. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
62. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
63. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
64. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
65. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
66. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
67. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
68. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
69. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
70. Selkirk A&F Club (
71. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
72 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
73 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
74 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
75 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
76 Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
77 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
78 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
79 West Barnes ( - present)
80 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?)
81. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
82. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
83. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
84. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
85. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
86. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
87. Buchan A&F Club
88 Callander A&F Club (
89 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
90 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
91 Club Accord
92 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
93. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
94. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
95. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
96. Derwentside A&F Club
97. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
98. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
99. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
100. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
101. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
102. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
103. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
104. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
105. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
106. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
107. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
108. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
109. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
110. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
111. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
112. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
113. Mull A&F Club
114. Newcastleton Accordion Club
115. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
116. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
117. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
118. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
119. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
120. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
121. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
122. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
123. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
124. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
125. Tranent A&F Club
126. Vancouver
127. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
128. Wellbank A&F Club
129. 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! Exciting things are afoot in the world of the Box and Fiddle magazine. From next month (February) we move to full colour, so please make the most of it and send us good-quality photographs with your articles and reports. It also means that, to allow for the Printers’ requirements, we must bring the deadline for Club Reports forward into line with articles and adverts. So from now on, any magazine content must be with me (by e-mail) by the 8th of the preceding month.
If you haven’t already booked your tickets for out Ruby Anniversary Gala Concert, better be quick! It’s definitely going to be a sell-out, so make sure that you don’t miss it.
See you next month – in full colour!
Karin Ingram
The Stanley Ceilidh 2011
by Iain Cathcart
Another successful……….
David Flockhart 1938 - 2008
by Shauna Flockhart
David Porteous Flockhart was born on 11th May 1938 in Edinburgh and lived in Abbeyhill with his parents, Dave and Ella, and his younger brother Peter. He attended Leith Academy, being accepted there on a scholarship. One of his main hobbies was wrestling and he gained the title of East of Scotland Junior Wrestling Champion. In his teenage years he saved any spare money he had until he had enough to buy the motorbike he had dreamed of, a Thunderbird 1000; he and his group of fellow bikers travelled many miles together. He was taught classical piano and worked his way through the grades, being allowed out with his friends only after half an hour’s practice every evening. In 1962 he married Jean Walker whom he met at Edinburgh University; four years later in 1966 I was born. We moved from a flat in Meadowbank, Edinburgh to Musselburgh not long after.
The first band he played with regularly was Peter Innes when he was twenty-one and he went on to play and record with many bands through the course of his life, including Bobby Crowe, Andrew Rankine, Ron Gonella, Allan McIntosh, Bobby Moore, Fergie MacDonald, Robert Macleod, Simon Howie, Calum MacLean, Anda Campbell, Hector McFadyen, John MacGregor, Andrew Stoddart & The Glenesk and many, many others.
The first broadcasting band he played with was Jim Johnstone. He started playing in Jim’s band in 1963. Bobby Colgan and Jim appeared at Holyrood Park when Mum and Dad were out for a walk; he asked Dad if he would like to join the band, this was Jim’s first broadcasting band which consisted of Jim Johnstone, Allan Johnstone, Bobby Colgan, Robin Brock and Dad. The band recorded many broadcasts and Jim’s debut album. They also recorded the final four programmes of The White Heather Club.
Some of my fondest memories are of listening to the fantastic musical talent in the unique atmosphere of The Mishnish Hotel in Tobermory, Dad having a tune with Jim Johnstone, Graeme Mitchell, Bobby MacLeod, Jimmy Shand, Bobby Colgan, Billy Thom, Pibroch MacKenzie, Richard Hughes to name a few. These were really special times for Dad; I can remember him back then, tears streaming down his face with laughter at Bobby Colgan’s jokes (often cracked halfway through one of his songs!) and there was no doubt Dad was enjoying the tune, his body language said it all! He played with Jim for around seven years, Jim then ended the band to play professionally with Jimmy Shand and left for Australia for several months.
Dad’s left hand was badly burned in a camping accident when he was very young and he had to work hard to reach an octave but Jim was adamant that he played an octave with his left hand and not sound like a “plinky plonk”. He persevered and played the octave from then on. The discipline in Jim’s band gave him a solid foundation for his musical career and he thoroughly enjoyed the “Johnstone” years of his life.
In the early 70s Gordon Young, Jack Delaney, Robin Brock and Dad started up an accordion club in The Alan Ramsay Hotel in Carlops. It turned out to be a really successful club and went from strength to strength, attracting top rate musicians as well as bringing on young players at the time, many of them now very well known in the band scene. Robin was then asked to go for an audition by the BBC producer at the time, Robert Crawford. Bob Christie joined them on fiddle and they went on to do many broadcasts that year for various producers of different programmes; he called the band Robin and friends. Dad had a major hand in the harmony arrangements.
He then joined Iain MacPhail’s Band, playing for many years travelling up and down the country as well as abroad. They bought between them a converted Mr Whippy Ice Cream van which took them to many gigs; later we as a family had many happy holidays in it, the engine was inside so we didn’t get wet every time it broke down! Iain’s band still plays in South America every year; Dad loved his yearly trip to Rio. The band played the summer season at The King James Hotel for around two decades. He had a large input in the musical arrangements, especially the early days with Iain. He loved the excitement of playing in Iain’s band; he and Graham Jamieson had a strong musical bond which he said was often difficult to achieve with a drummer, real empathy for each other’s playing. He had similar experiences with other drummers such as Billy Thom, Max Ketchin and Gordon Young and of course, George Darling, whom he played with for many years in Iain’s band. There were a few personnel changes over the years and Dad enjoyed all the different experiences with the band especially trips such as to Shetland where he always said the hospitality was outstanding; there he made many lifelong friends and had many stories to tell of his experiences, conversations, tunes…
So many of the people he met through the band scene, not only musicians, turned out over the years to be good friends, the music being the catalyst but actually finding out there were many other common interests. He became interested in the work of Rudolf Steiner, attending meetings on a Tuesday night in Tobermory and read more than he had ever done before. Robin Brock, as well as sharing the musical aspects of life with Dad from back at the beginning playing bass in Jim’s band, was also one of his closest friends, and they met often over the years socially as well as musically. In the last few years of Dad’s life Robin was of great support to him, they spent a lot of time together travelling to France and various places in Europe.
After working at Edinburgh University in the area of pharmacology he moved to Inveresk Research in Musselburgh. In around 1982 he bought an area of land and foreshore just round from Tobermory Bay which used to be outdoor bathing pools, “Port na Coite”. He had become interested in shellfish cultivation through a diving friend he met at the British Sub Aqua Club in Portobello (which I went with him to every Wednesday evening). He took voluntary redundancy from his job and never really looked back. He built a wee hut he could stay in while attending his oysters. As years went on he became more interested in an oyster/scallop hatchery (where he would breed them to sell on for other farmers to grow). He built a hatchery and an algae unit, painstakingly taking all he needed for the build round to Port na Coite on Anabel, his service raft, which he had built for the task as there is no road access, only a footpath or by sea.
In 1998 his first grandchild Rhona was born, and then Struan was born in 2000. He was so proud of them both and spent a lot of quality time chatting to them and teaching them about oysters and scallops and many other subjects. They were very close to him and miss him dearly; he would have been so chuffed at their musical progress Rhona on violin and Struan on drums. They had their first public performance in The Mishnish Hotel in Tobermory at the Mull Festival this year.
In 2004 Dad was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer which was devastating news not only for him but everyone who knew him. He fought the disease with enormous bravery and dignity, never once complaining and always producing a smile, I honestly don’t know how he managed it. He passed away on 17th November 2008, the saddest day of my life.
I know there are many parts of my Dad’s life I’ve not covered, especially events before I can remember but thankfully with the help of some of his fellow musicians I hope this gives a wee insight into his life, I’m really sorry if I have missed anyone I should have included. There are so many experiences I was so lucky to have, which would never have happened without Dad, and I know I am so fortunate to have had him. As well as being my father he was also my best friend, and a friend of many other people who knew him. He was the most likable person you could ever meet.
Murdo MacLeod
Founder of the Livingston A&F Club
by BA & JB
Over the years Murdo has written many articles about Club members for the Box and Fiddle. We thought it was time to turn the tables on someone so vital to the history of the Club. Murdo, with his soft Highland accent, has played his part as Chairman, Treasurer, MC and writer of Club reports for the Box and Fiddle. He was born in Harris in the Western Isles into a family of seven. As a young lad his first language was Gaelic, which he still speaks fluently today. His father was a well respected professional piper, who composed many tunes, among them being ‘Loch Voshmid’ which incidentally was played by John Morrison, a regular fiddler at the Club, when he competed at The Golden Fiddle Awards at Perth in 1969. He came third when the judges were Hector MacAndrew and Yehudi Menhhin. From an early age he was immersed in Scottish music – pipe and Scottish Dance music – a keen listener to the bands of the day on the wireless including Jimmy Shand, Bobby MacLeod and Will Hannah. He learned the pipes and could get a tune out of the accordion.
As was the way of many teenage islanders, Murdo moved to the mainland for work in various locations before going to Aberdeen University, where he obtained his Geography Degree. Whilst in Aberdeen Murdo had digs with Mr and Mrs Mair, who turned out to run an open house for musicians. Here he met many bandleaders including Alastair Hunter and Ian Powrie, also the aforementioned fiddler Hector MacAndrew. Mr and Mrs Mair had had two sons and a daughter, Florence, who played the fiddle and eventually joined Alistair Hunter’s Band. One of the young ladies who went to the same school as Florence was Evelyn Carle, who was to become Murdo’s wife many years later.
His first teaching post was in Glasgow and during this time he attended many social occasions at The Glasgow Highlanders’ Institute. He attended most of the grand dances and so heard most of the great Scottish dance bands of the time and made friends with many of the bandleaders (which was very useful later when he formed the Accordion Club!)
After marrying Evelyn in 1965 the newly-weds moved to Thornhill, as Murdo had a teaching job in Dumfries. As always his love of Scottish dance music was there and this led him to the famous ‘”Hole in the Wa’ “ pub owned by Max Houliston. Murdo became friendly with him and was privileged to be at what was to be the first Accordion and Fiddle Club as we know it today. The first guest was Kenny Wilson, the Leadhills fiddler. In 1967 the family moved to Livingston when Murdo became a Lecturer at the Edinburgh College of Commerce which later became Napier College. As ever Murdo’s interest brought him into contact with many musicians including John MacGregor, the bandleader, and John Know, the folk singer; and together they instigated informal gatherings at The West End Hotel in Edinburgh. Among the many guests there were Iain MacPhail, Jack Stalker and Alex MacArthur. Roger suggested a guest might be a folk singing friend of his and Murdo turned down the idea. It turns out that this singer was Barbara Dickson!
Nearer home he organised music sessions in The Ladywell Community Centre, when people came to play together without an audience. This led him to founding The Livingston Accordion and Fiddle Club in September 1973 in Rab’s Bar in Livingston Station. Murdo is very proud to be the founder of the Club and also of becoming the first Honorary Member.
The amount of time and energy these projects involved is due to his wife Evelyn giving him free rein to indulge his interest, so she is deserving of the grateful thanks of everyone who has enjoyed the music and companionship of the Club. Evelyn and Murdo have a son and daughter who both carry on the musical tradition. Niall plays bass guitar and used to play in a band and Aline plays guitar and sings a good Gaelic song.
Through his friendship with John MacGregor he met the Edinburgh accordion teacher Chrissie Letham, who encouraged many of her pupils to attend the Club and his friendship with so many bandleaders meant it was easy for the Club to get great guests.
Since the beginning, the Club has changed venues in and around Livingston 14 times and Murdo has attended and still attends most of the meetings. He is always there to lend a willing hand in any way he can. This includes interviewing and writing articles about Club Members for The Box and Fiddle. Away from music his time is still given generously to charity work, including volunteering at St John’s Hospital in Livingston.
In conclusion Murdo comments that he is so appreciative of the abilities of the players who attend the Club and perform so effortlessly, often with no music, he is reminded of the lines in Oliver Goldsmith’s ‘Deserted Village’ :
“And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew
That one small head could carry all he knew.”
Iain Wilson – The Elvanfoot Pianist
by Charlie Todd
Iain Wilson, like elder brother Kenny, was born and raised at the ‘Hass’ Farm in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire. It was Iain who was initially gifted a fiddle and sent for lessons to Alex Brown in Abington, but he was not particularly inspired by the instrument and after a couple of years decided to change to the piano. Again his parents thought he should do it properly and he started lessons with Margaret M. Carmichael at Trigony, Closeburn in 1949 and finished nine years later in 1958 at Grade VI. Before he was age to drive this involved cycling down from Leadhills to Elvanfoot Post Office, where he left his bicycle, and catching the Edinburgh to Dumfries bus as far as Closeburn, sometimes accompanied by Ena Wilson (later pianist with the Lothian SDB) whose parents ran the Post Office. As was often the case, this tuition was entirely down the classical route, indeed when Iain did start to pay in a Scottish Dance band in 1952 Margaret was very vocal in her opposition.
The opportunity had arisen that year to play with brother Kenny in Andrew Coke’s Dance Band when Andrew’s dad retired from the pianist’s role. Iain describes Andrew as an excellent player (he deputised as accordionist on occasion in the Angus Fitchet Band) and the band were very busy throughout the year. Travel, particularly in winter, could be a problem since as some readers will be aware Leadhills sits near to Wanlockhead, Scotland’s highest village and winters at that time could be severe. The solution was to get themselves down to Crawford in time to set off in Andrew’s car for the venue, then on their return Andrew dropped them off at the Lanarkshire County Council’s Roads Depot in Crawford from where, after a heat in the bothy, Hugh Moorcroft, the driver of the ‘big ploo’ took them both back up to Leadhills, clearing snow and gritting the narrow road on the way.
Iain played with Andrew’s band from 1952 till 1962 with a year’s break in 1955/6 while Andrew did his National Service. For that year he and Kenny moved to the Jim Anderson Band from Broughton in Peeblesshire. Again transport arrangements brought back some fond memories as he remembered travelling to dances in Arthur Brown’s (long associated with Livingston A&F Club) Austin Seven with its leaking roof which necessitated the wearing of a waterproof coat and a sou wester, something Iain always played on a bit by sitting with his collar turned up.
When Andrew decided to sell up at Crawford and move to Onich, Kenny and Iain went their separate ways. Since then Iain has played with a string of bands, some on a regular basis, and some on a more casual basis. Certainly it would be fair to say that as one door closed another opened.
His regular bands (although line-ups varied over the years) were :-
Andrew Coke 1952-62 (Andrew, Kenny Wilson, Jack Watson/Johnny Nichol, Andrew Hogg and Iain)
Graham Barbour and Jack Stitt 1963-68 (Graham/Jack, John Douglas, Sandy McClelland and Iain)
Eric Goodfellow 1968-78 (Eric, Jock Borthwick, Billy Bell, Alasdair MacLeod, Drew Dalgleish, Tony Farrell (guitar-vocals) and Iain)
Alex MacArthur 1978-89 (Alex, Ian Mearns, Jack Delaney, Bobby Colgan and Iain)
Roger Dobson 1982-84 (Roger, Jock Borthwick, Bob Hobkirk, Drew Dalgleish, Gilbert Lynn and Iain) then 1990-98 (Roger, Alex Graham, Carol Dobson, Drew Dalgleish/Billy Goodfellow and Iain)
Jock Borthwick 1989-2010 (Jock, Will Gillie and Iain)
Bill Richardson 1991 – date (Bill, Derek McLeod/ Kenny Wilson, Fraser Richardson and Iain)
Jean McConnachie 1993-2007 (Jean, Jim McConnachie (small pipes), Max Houliston/John Douglas, David Blair (fiddle), Billy Goodfellow and Iain)
And along the way he also played for short stretches or occasionally with :-
Jim Anderson 1955/6
Andrew & Willie Stoddart 1960’s
Peter Innes 1960’s
John McGregor 1970’s
The Solway Sands early 70’s – 1988
Tommy Pringle 1982-88
Wattie Beattie 1982-84
Alan Gardiner 1986-89
Jack Stalker 2006-09
Ian Kirkpatrick 2007-date
Dick Black 2007-08
Willie McRobert 2010 – date
Gordon Clark 2010 – date
Over the years Iain broadcast with Eric Goodfellow (1970’s), Alex MacArthur (70’s and 80’s), Max Houliston (1980-82), Roger Dobson (1982-84), the Border Strathspey & Reel Society (1980-82) and recently with Neil Barron in his 2009 tribute on the 20th anniversary of the death of Alex MacArthur. He made tapes/CDs/videos with many of the above and additionally with Jim Ritchie, Willie Atkinson, Jean McConnachie and John Douglas.
Iain’s friendship with John Douglas stretches all the way back to 1963 when John played second box in both the Graham Barbour Band (Graham, John, Sandy McClelland on drums and Iain) and also the Jack Stitt Band (same line up with Jack taking over lead on Continental Chromatic to replace Graham). In fact the only time their paths stopped crossing in the last 48 years was when John moved temporarily up the West Coast to the ‘Great Glen Cattle Ranch’ at Lochaber (a short-lived experiment by the eccentric American millionaire Joseph Hobbs which ran for 3 years) and then to the fir plantations being planted around Spean Bridge for a couple of years before moving back to Dumfries-shire. As well as recognising John as a fine band accordionist Iain says “every musician needs a good music shop and John’s is second to none. Nothing is any trouble to him. One phone call to John and he will fix any problem. I am very proud to call him my friend” – sentiments which I am sure are shared by many musicians in the south of Scotland and beyond.
The ‘Solway Sands’ band mentioned above lasted for almost twenty years and was as busy as other commitments allowed and Iain thoroughly enjoyed the range of music they played. It consisted initially of Alan Orr (vocals and bass guitar), Chris Graham (leading on 5 row), Bobby McBryde (fiddle), David Henderson (drums) and Iain. This later evolved into a four piece with Cathy Johnston (vocals), Chris Graham (lead), Ian Glendinning (drums) and Iain. As well as Scottish music they were good at ‘modern ballroom’.
Accordion & Fiddle Clubs
The Clubs have played a part in Iain’s life for many years. When Alex MacArthur moved to the Clydesdale Hotel and started the Biggar Club in 1974 Iain gradually became a regular, particularly after he became Alex’s band pianist in 1978. Scottish dancing had passed its popularity peak and guesting at Clubs enabled Alex to meet friends from the old days as well as make new acquaintances. As a three piece, Alex, Iain and fiddler Ian Mearns travelled throughout Scotland and the north of England (with one memorable week also spent doing clubs in Northern Ireland during ‘the Troubles’) and where possible Alex always supplemented this line-up with a second box player and a drummer from those attending the club. Alex felt that encouraged the locals and no-one would disagree with that. As a sales rep Alex had spent much of his working life behind a steering wheel and he was an excellent (if fast) driver who always owned a large, powerful car.
Iain recalls one narrow escape though, when Alex had a big Volvo Estate. They had been up at Thurso Club with Stevie Beattie on drums and Jennifer Forrest on second box. Having dropped off Jennifer in Airdrie they zipped along the M8 and cut off at Whitburn heading for Forth, Carnwath and Biggar. Throughout the entire journey Iain had commented on an unidentified alien noise coming from somewhere on the car but Alex told him not to worry - for one thing he said he had just bought four new tires. On a long downward hill just short of ‘the Forth’ it was Stevie, from the back seat, who announced ‘we’ve just lost a wheel’ which he had spotted as it crossed the roadside verge. Alex’s instinct was to brake but in a moment of inspiration Iain told him just to take his foot off the accelerator and let the car come to a gradual halt. Heavily laden at the back it did so without any loss of control and it was only when it finally stopped that it settled forward on the hub of its missing front passenger wheel. Alex went to a nearby farm for help while Iain and Stevie went to retrieve the missing wheel. Neither the wheel nor the hub were damaged and by the simple (temporary) expedient of borrowing a wheel nut from the other three wheels they returned safely to Biggar. Iain wouldn’t like to repeat that experience though.
It was during his days with Alex that Iain became friendly with Bill Black and family when they called in to pick up Duncan who played second box for a time. Bill in turn got Iain to play with his band when they were at Broughton (Peeblesshire) and other venues down his way. Bill wrote two very fine tunes call 'Bertha Wilson’s Polka' and a march entitled 'Iain Wilson of South Shortcleugh' which appear in Deeay Music’s ‘Leaside Collection’. And while on the subject of music Iain also became friendly with Donald Ridley who very kindly wrote ‘Iain Wilson’s Reel’ for him.
Iain continues his close association with the Clubs as resident pianist at the Annan, Langholm, Livingston and Lockerbie Clubs as well as doing guest spots with the bands of Ian Kirkpatrick (Dumfries), Willie McRobert (Lockerbie) and Gordon Clark (Gorebridge).
The Daily Record Golden Fiddle Awards
In 1978 Iain acted as accompanist to one of the Border’s finest fiddlers, Albie Tedham of Langholm. Albie progressed effortlessly through the regional heats to win a place at the finals which were to be held in the Assembly Rooms, George Street, Edinburgh. Albie was a real ‘character’ with many idiosyncrasies and was from a ‘travelling people’ background. He wore a hearing aid which he preferred to have turned down low when playing, so at the finals in Edinburgh he failed to hear the adjudicator say ‘in your own time Mr Tedham’ and turned to Iain in front of the large audience with a loud ‘whatsy saying ?’ Iain relayed the instruction to start in his own time. A man of small stature Albie wore a tartan jacket which was a few sizes too big. To the audience it almost appeared as if the bow was being held by the jacket and they started to laugh but as Iain puts it “as soon as they heard how beautifully he played the laughing stopped”. Albie didn’t win but he gave an excellent account of himself. Sadly Albie, a heavy smoker, was to die from cancer aged only 54 on 16th November 1980.
The Border Strathspey & Reel Society
Iain was accompanist with the Border S&R Society from 1973-85 during the period that brother Kenny was Conductor of the Society. During the years 1980-82 they broadcast with Radio Borders and BBC Carlisle.
Tuition
Iain’s home area in the rural part of South Lanarkshire consists of quite a number of small villages (Wiston, Roberton, Abington, Crawford, Elvanfoot, Leadhills and Wanlockhead) which are quite remote from any major facilities and he had often been asked to teach children the piano. He finally took up the challenge in 1970’s and for a period of over 10 years tutored quite a number of pupils down the classical route. His best known pupil, on our scene, is Jim Nichol, now of Loanhead, who plays with the bands of Neil Hardie, David Scott (Peebles) and Ian Hutson although it was Graeme Mitchell up in Huntly who took Jim into the Scottish idiom when he moved up to Aberdeenshire in his student farming days.
Hopetoun Estate
Like brother Kenny, Iain spent his entire working life with the Hopetoun Estate although in Iain’s case he followed in his father’s footsteps as a shepherd. On leaving school he had worked with his dad at ‘the Hass’, Leadhills, which was a rented farm belonging to the Estate which had decided that as the rents came up for renewal they would take the farms back under their own management. This happened to the Hass in 1961 but Iain was offered a shepherding job at South Shortcleugh, near Elvanfoot, where he remained for his entire working life until he retired in 2001.
Home Life
Iain married Bertha Wight in 1960 and they have two sons, Chris and Colin. With Iain away playing regularly he relied very much on Bertha and the boys to help, with Bertha out on the farm doing necessary jobs and the boys copying out arrangements for second box and bass after dad had prepared the master copy for Alex’s broadcasts and Accordion & Fiddle Club appearances. In the pre photocopier days (which at South Shortcleugh were to last into the new Millennium) Rhynas Mitchell of Elgin sent down new sets/arrangements to Alex at the Clydesdale Hotel in Biggar. Alex in turn phoned Iain and son Chris collected them from Alex when he went to Biggar High School the following day. Once completed the full set of scores were returned to Alex by the same method. Iain expresses his sincere thanks to the family for all their efforts over the years.
Now retired for some 10 years to nearby Crawford, Iain and Bertha continue to enjoy a very full musical life which shows no sign of slowing up. Bertha regularly accompanies Iain when he appears at Clubs and most recently I met up with them when Iain was guesting with Willie McFarlane’s Band at the Stonehouse Club. Long may they continue to enjoy, and contribute, to our kind of music.
Burns in Berkshire
by Stuart Forbes
Stuart Forbes of The Craigievar Band reports on the popularity of ‘Burns Night Suppers’ in South East England.
I have spent the best part of 40 years in exile in The Royal Country of Berkshire and I supposed that I have got used to the seasons. In the summer, we have Royal Ascot and The Henley Regatta, closely followed by the tennis at Wimbledon. In the winter, after the anti-climax of Christmas and New Year, we have the season of Burns’ Nights. This season lasts from mid-January to mid-February and can be very enjoyable and financially very welcome. The handful of Scottish bands serving London and the South-East are at full stretch trying to cope with the demand. Berkshire accordionist Frank Reid, always reminds me that his band earns 25% of its annual turnover in January alone.
The English don’t seem to get the hand of calling their event a ‘Burns Night’ or ‘Burns Supper’. They seem to manage to call it a Burns Night Supper or Burns Supper Night, but that is a mere detail. Typically, the haggis is piped in and duly addressed by someone with a sort of Scottish accent, as the local accents can sometimes fail to convey any sort of meaning at all. There is usually The Selkirk Grace, followed by the meal where the haggis can be served as a starter, a main course or some sort of side order, often by staff whose origins are even further away than our English cousins. Occasionally, there are speeches and toasts, but it is usually a race to get the tables cleared in order to get stuck into the ceilidh dancing.
These events can be broadly divided into categories. There are the Scottish Country Dance clubs who include haggis in their meal. There are the military establishments, usually in the Officer’s Mess, the Public Schools, Universities, Livery companies, Pony clubs, Parent Teacher Associations, church restoration fund-raisers and, in fact, any organisation wanting a good night out. At some of the up-market gigs, it is said that they consume £1,000 per table (say 16 people) in drink and even at London prices that is no mean feat. I note that the Institute of Bankers in Scotland, for its London Burns Supper is charging £140 per head. Then there are the hotels and wedding venues that put on a theme night for profit. Among the more interesting nights has been the event at the College of Defense Studies, where the lowest rank is Colonel or equivalent and the NATO HQ at Northwood who have a similar clientele. These military chaps are very good at taking orders and the amazing thing is that the instructions and the music is the same for all of them. For me, the event that tops my list is the one in the village hall with everyone thoroughly enjoying themselves and the walls heaving to the sound of music and laughter.
By way of a variation, we recently performed in the Porto Palace, Thessalonikki, Greece for the St Andrew’s Society Burns Night and, despite the locally made haggis, it was a cracking event.
We have also been very privileged in this part of the UK, in that we have had a number of well-known musicians from north of the border as guests with our band, sharing the fun over the years, including David Hume and Iain MacPhail. However one thing that Frank Reid has failed to disclose is the percentage of his annual turnover earned at Bill Shakespeare Dinners!
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Reel of the Puffins – Jim Lindsay SDB – Highlander Music HRMCD020
DVD Reviews
The Flying Scots – Brandon McPhee SDB with guests Karen Steven, Harvey Brothers and Manson Grant
Book Review
Vintage Accordions – Rob Howard – Independent Publication
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s
7th Jan 12 – Blair Gardiner SDB (Karin Ingram, Editor Box and Fiddle)
14th Jan 12 – Bruce Lindsay SDB
21st Jan 12 – Alasdair Wood SDB (Neil Barron on new book of compositions)
28th Jan 12 – Deoch ‘n’ Dorus
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 31st Jan 12 – Tom Orr Trio
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 15th Jan 12 – Gordon Brown SDB
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 8th Jan 12 – Gary Sutherland SDB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 15th Jan 12 – Alasdair MacLeod SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 25th Jan 12 – Dennis Morrison SDB
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 16th Jan 12 – Alexander Young
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 8th Jan 12 – Dochie McCallum & Friends
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 10th Jan 12 – Deirdre Adamson
Britannia (Arden House Hotel) -
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 12th Jan 12 – Gordon Pattullo 29th Jan 12 – Shand Morino Gathering
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 10th Jan 12 – John Morgan
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 17th Jan 12 – Ian Holmes Trio
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 19th Jan 12 – Iain Cathcart Trio
Coldingham (Village Hall) -
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club)
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) - 17th Jan 12 – Iain Anderson Trio
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 4th Jan 12 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 18th Jan 12 – Players Night
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 10th Jan 12 – Club Night
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate) 16th Jan 12 – Marian Anderson SDB
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 17th Jan 12 – Tommy Newcomen
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 23rd Jan 12 – The Campsie Players
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 29th Jan 12 – Gavin Piper duo
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 4th Jan 12 – Jim MacKay SDB
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) -
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 26th Jan 12 – George Rennie Trio
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) -
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) -
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) - 8th Jan 12 – Gary Blair
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 22nd Jan 12 – David Vernon
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 16th Jan 12 – Archie MacPhee SDB
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 11th Jan 12 – Heron Valley Quartet
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 5th Jan 12 – Sileas Sinclair Trio
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 3rd Jan 12 – Jamie Young SDB
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 25th Jan 12 – Johnny Duncan
Kintore (Torryburn Arms Hotel) –
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 19th Jan 12 – Jack the Box
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 23rd Jan 12 – Seamus O’Sullivan Trio
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) – 11th Jan 12 – Club night
Lauder (Black Bull Hotel) -
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) -
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 17th Jan 12 – Jimmy & Sandy Lindsay
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 31st Jan 12 – Willie McRobert SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 17th Jan 12 – Leonard Brown
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 4th Jan 12 – George Rennie SDB
Newburgh (The Ship Inn) - Jan 12 -
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Thorterdykes Roadhouse) 29th Jan 12 – Open Day
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 30th Jan 12 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Northern (Lylehill Suite, Templepatrick, N.I.) - 4th Jan 12 – Graeme MacKay
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) – 13th Jan 12 – Dance to Alan Gardiner SDB
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) – Jan 12 -
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 26th Jan 12 – Pentlands Ceilidh Band
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 17th Jan 12 – Craig Paton Trio
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) -
Reading Scottish Fiddlers (Willowbank Infant School, Woodley) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 10th Jan 12 – Brian Laurie Orchestra
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 5th Jan 12 – Club Night & Buffet Supper
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) -
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) -
Selkirk (Angus O’Malley’s) - 12th Jan 12 – Paul Capaldi & Keith Dickson
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) - 11th Jan 12 – Club night & Buffet
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) - 21st Jan 12 – Roya MacLean
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 10th Jan 12 – Karyn McCulloch
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 9th Jan 12 – Local Artistes & Bands
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) - 7th & 21st Jan 12 – Local Players
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 12th Jan 12 – Gordon Clark SDB
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 17th Jan 12 – Local Bands Night
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Annan
2. Arbroath
3. Balloch
4. Banff
5. Beith
6. Button-key
7. Campsie
8. Castle Douglas
9. Coalburn
10. Dunblane
11. Duns
12. Forfar
13. Glendale
14. Highland
15. Isle of Skye
16. Kelso
17. Lanark
18. Lewis & Harris
19. Livingston
20. Mauchline
21. Montrose
22. Newtongrange
23. Northern
24. Oban
25. Peebles
26. Perth
27. Rothbury
28. Sutherland
29. Tynedale
30. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2011
(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. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
10. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
11. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
12. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
13. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
16. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
17. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
18. Coalburn A&F Club (
19. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 -
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. Fort William A&F Club (2009 -
35. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
36. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
37. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
38. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
39. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
40. 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)
41. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
42. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
43. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
44. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
45. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
46. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
47. Kintore A&F Club (
48. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
49. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
50. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
51. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
52. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
53. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
54 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
55 Maine Valley A&F Club (
56 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
57 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
58 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
59 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
60. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
61. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
62. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
63. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
64. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
65. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
66. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
67. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
68. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
69. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
70. Selkirk A&F Club (
71. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
72 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
73 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
74 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
75 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
76 Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
77 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
78 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
79 West Barnes ( - present)
80 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?)
81. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
82. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
83. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
84. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
85. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
86. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
87. Buchan A&F Club
88 Callander A&F Club (
89 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
90 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
91 Club Accord
92 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
93. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
94. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
95. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
96. Derwentside A&F Club
97. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
98. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
99. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
100. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
101. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
102. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
103. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
104. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
105. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
106. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
107. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
108. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
109. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
110. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
111. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
112. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
113. Mull A&F Club
114. Newcastleton Accordion Club
115. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
116. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
117. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
118. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
119. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
120. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
121. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
122. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
123. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
124. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
125. Tranent A&F Club
126. Vancouver
127. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
128. Wellbank A&F Club
129. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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