Box and Fiddle
Year 38 No 11
July 2015
Price £2.70
44 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £32.40 + p&p £15.75 (UK)
Editor – Pia Walker, Cupar
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
A year has passed since Marie and I were introduced…………………..
Pia Walker
Happy 40th Anniversary Wick!
by JWFM
Our May Club night also celebrated the club’s 40th birthday and a tremendous night of musical entertainment was provided for a more than full house by all our local artistes and our guests, the Iain MacPhail SDB. Included in the tunes played by the guests was a tune composed by the bandleader for our birthday and this was greatly appreciated by all in the audience.
The chairman made a short speech detailing the formation of the Club and the strength of the club over the years and hoped that the present and future Committees would continue to drive the Club forward and build on the strong foundation created by the original Committee.
No birthday is complete without a birthday cake and there was indeed a cake baked by Club Secretary Irene MacKay. This was then but by Blythe Bullen (6 years) our youngest player on the night and Donald MacGregor from The Caithness Volunteers. Cake was later distributed to those present and was enjoyed by all.
Honorary Memberships were then presented to Peter MacLeod, Billy Thonson (ex-Chairman) and Phyllis Thomson (ex-Committee). Murray and Ellie Lamont (owners of MacKays’ Hotel) were also presented with an Honorary Membership and a presentation plaque. The first Club meeting was held in MAcKaysHotel and the Club continues to meet there to this day. A final presentation of a royal diamond glass memento was presented to Isobel Harper for all her work and support to the Club over many years. The only other remaining member of the original Committee, Charlie Dey, was unable to be present due to family commitments, but an Honorary Membership certificate is on its way by post to him. Charlie had phoned the hotel just before the start of the night’s entertainment and was able to have a quick chat with Peter (MacLeod).
Many positive comments have been received with regard to our birthday night and it is only right that written appreciation should be shown for the Iain MacPhail SDB and all local musicians who performed so ably and helped make our birthday a night to remember.
The Story Behind the Tune ‘Mr & Mrs Alec Ross’ 6/8 March by John MacGregor
by Charlie Todd
It was during a visit to Livingston A&F Club last year where 3 Row Shand Morino accordionist Graham Ross was in attendance that I finally remembered to ask him for the story behind John MacGregor’s fine 6/8 march. Bob McMath from Silverburn had mentioned to me years ago that Alec was Graham’s dad so I knew that part of the story but I knew nothing of Alec or why John wrote the tune. It transpires that the story involves a body of men we’re all familiar with – the 51st Highland Division – but the reality of their situation this time, not the dance.
Alec Ross, or Ackie as he was known in his native Tain, had enlisted in the 4th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders at the outbreak of war in 1939. They were part of the famous 51st Highland Division who, as we all know, suffered the misfortune of having to surrender at St Valery-en-Caux in 1940. These POW’s were to spend a miserable five years in captivity, in Ackie’s case in a Stalag in Poland. As the Russians advanced through Poland in the opening months of 1945 the Germans subjected the prisoners to a series of ‘forced marches’ over many hundreds of miles back into Germany where the survivors were liberated by the Americans.
But the years of captivity, the poor nutrition and particularly the 30-mile-a-day forced marches were to have a disastrous effect on Ackie’s health immediately after the war as his eyesight began to fail. Back in Tain after the war Alec formed the Tain Scottish Dance Band with himself and Ali MacGregor on accordions, Peggy McLeod on fiddle, Annie Kneafsey on piano and Sandy Ross on drums. Sadly by 1948 Ackie had to stand down from the band as he was completely blind. It took the Tain Branch of the Royal British Legion almost 20 years to get the MOD to recognize his plight as a war disability and for him to get a pension.
In 1965 the family moved from Tain to Sighthill in Edinburgh in preparation for a move, about a year later, to the Linburn War Blinded houses at Wilkieston, West Lothian where Alec and Isie (Isabella) lived until his death in 1975.
Although Alec had given up the band he continued to play the 3 row, initially on a Hohner Gaelic then a chance meeting with a ‘Forbes of Dundee’ salesman who stayed nearby in Sighthill and worked from their Causewayside Shop lead to him acquiring a 40 button Shand Morino. He had a marvellous memory for tunes and after hearing 4 part pipe tunes played over a few times could reproduce them faithfully thereafter.
The other hobby which he continued was cycling. We have the following from his obituary in the Ross-shire Journal “Ackie was a great favourite wherever he went on the Games circuit, and was one of the ‘Three Musketeers’ of Ross-shire cycling in these halcyon days, completing the triumvirate of Sandy Bartlett, Contin; Peter Cameron, Conon and Ackie Ross, Tain. They were an invincible team and brought honour and fame to their native county in the sporting world. Ackie’s cycling prowess continued into post war years, and the writer recalls at the beginning of his own Games career witnessing these three protagonists in action, and welcoming the advice and comfort they gave to a mere fledgling. It was always a pleasure to be in Ackie’s company and learn something from him”.
The onset of blindness had ended Alec’s competitive career by 1948 but after his return he and Isie acquired a tandem and for the remainder of his life spent many a happy hours on the road with Isie in the driving seat and Alec providing the power.
After his dad’s death Graham left the accordion in his mum’s house for many years before eventually reviving his own interest and starting playing again. He did four broadcasts between 1982 and 85 with his own ‘Strathalmond SDB’ before hand problems put paid to his professional playing career. A year later he sold the accordion but always had a hankering to get it back but it wasn’t until 2012 that friend Bill Black of Stanley phoned him to say he knew of its whereabouts and they were reunited. Graham, together with fiddler Derek MacLeod, currently do a few retirement homes to keep their hand in.
Memories of Alex Ross by John MacGregor
I first met Alec and Isie at Chrissie Leatham's Accordion Club which was held in the Masonic Hall, Broughton Street, Edinburgh in 1965/66.
I was introduced to them by either Chrissie or Bill Hamilton. We had a good long blether about accordionists, Scottish Dance Bands and tunes.
At the end of the evening Alec asked me if I would like to come to his house in Sighthill for a tune sometime, which I did. This was the start of a long and memorable relationship with the Ross Family. I would call on Alec on a weekly basis to practice new tunes that he had heard on the Scottish Dance Music the previous Saturday. Of course, Alec had it recorded.
One of the accordions that Alec played was the smaller version of the Shand Morino, which he played to a very high standard. He had an excellent memory for tunes and was a very accurate player indeed. Alec had a healthy respect for many accordionists and Scottish Dance Bands, such as Jimmy Blue, Jimmy Lindsay, Will Starr and Jimmy Shand, but his favourite was Fraser McGlynn. Alec loved the way Fraser played 2/4 pipe tunes - competition marches, as he would call them. Tunes such as, The Clan McColl, Morag Ramsay, Brigadier General Ronald Cheape of Tiroran, Kantara to El Arish and many more.
I am almost sure that Alec was the founder member of the Tain Scottish Dance Band although due to circumstances he never broadcast with the band.
Alex and Isie would go on holiday to a little village just outside Tain called Hill of Fearn and stay with Isie's sister, Mrs Hardie (Emma). I was also invited for a few days holiday. We would play morning, noon and night. Sometimes we would go to Ali MacGregor's house in Tain and sometimes Ali came to Hill of Fearn. Looking back, I don’t know how the families put up with us – special times, indeed!
Mr & Mrs Alec Ross (6/8 march)
This was one of those tunes that came to me almost instantly. I started and finished it in a very short period of time. I let Alec hear it and he thought it was a good tune so I played it at the Perth Accordion Festival in 1971. It won the Jimmy Blue Trophy for the Best Original Composition. The pleasing thing for me that night was that Alec and Isie were in the audience.
Jimmy Blue took a liking to the tune and played it on the TV show Scotch Corner. It was also recorded by The Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band on an LP. They were the reigning World Champions at that time.
Alec and Isie were very pleased about that and it has become very popular with dance bands over the years, which is very pleasing for me!
To finish, I would like to mention - at Alec’s funeral, who was I sitting next to? The one and only Jimmy Shand Snr, who had travelled over from Fife to be there, such was the respect Alec got from fellow musicians.
Thanks Alec, Isie and Emma for being such a special part of my life.
In their younger days, when they lived up in Ross-shire, I believe it was quite a common sight to see Alex and Isie travelling on the country roads on their tandem, Isie steering and Alex the powerhouse at the rear.
My thanks to Graham Ross of Livingston and John MacGregor of Comrie for taking the time to provide all of the above.
In Memory
Tributes to Calum MacLean of Tobermory
by Anda Campbell & Ian Holmes
Anda Campbell
A cloud hung over the little town of Tobermory on the 3rd of April, 2015 with the passing of the legendary accordionist, Calum MacLean.
Tobermory Church was packed to capacity for the funeral service on the 9th of April with locals and musical friends from far and wide. The Reverend Johnny Paton conducted a very moving and sympathetic service and Janet Campbell brought tears to everyone’s eyes with her singing of one of Calum’s own compositions, Sunset on Sunart, with words composed by his close friend Duncan McGilp.
At the end we were treated to a beautiful rendition by Gordon Shand of another of Calum’s classic compositions, The Hills of Mull.
Calum was born in tobermory on 23rd June, 1934, the youngest of 6 boys and 2 girls. At the age of 9 he started playing a 10-button, 1-row Empress melodeon. He then progressed to a Hohner Black Dot Double-Ray.
Calum played this melodeon for some time until one day his father gave his elder brother Eoghann the grand sum of £60 to go to Glasgow to buy Calum a decent accordion. Calum fancied a Paolo soprano 3-row, 80 bass accordion, so that was what Eoghann duly bought. But neither of them realised that this accordion was a Continental Chromatic while the Hohner that Calum used to play was diatonic – a completely different system! So when Calum proudly strapped on his new accordion, he couldn’t play a note! However, he persevered and even managed to teach himself to read and write music.
Calum’s mother knew a wealth of Gaelic songs, most of which were passed on to him, and she would correct him if he made any mistakes in the music. Calum’s father took chanter lessons from Pipe Major William Ross at Tiroran School.
Calum started playing at school concerts, dances, ceilidhs, etc when he was about 13 years old, and he played on Saturday nights in the old TA Hall in Tobermory. His payment was about £1 10/- per night, and the entrance fee for the dance was 1/6d.
It was probably at one of these dances in 1958 that Calum met and became firm friends with the famous dance band leader Ian Holmes and his wife Margaret, who were in Tobermory on honeymoon.
Another close friend was John Huband, whom Calum held in very high esteem. As well as recording the LP ‘East Meets West’ together, the pair performed as a duo at many venues.
Over the years Calum visited many foreign countries and in 1970 he competed in Bonn Bad-Godesberg (Germany), successfully winning the Coupe d’Europe, in which over 1,600 competitors took part. He also won many other competitions and Diplomas, including the Gold Medal at the International Accordion Festival in France, which saw him compete against over 3,000 competitors from 70 countries.
In the early 70’s Calum recorded several radio programmes for the BBC and also appeared on five ‘Se Ur Beatha’ programmes on TV. He also recorded many cassettes and albums with local musicians Alasdair MacLeod (bass) and Richard Hughes (drums). Calum was in his late 70’s when he accepted an invitation from the BBC to record his first session of ‘Take the Floor’. He enjoyed the experience so much he went on to do a further two. Another of Calum’s highlights was performing at Trad Style in Perth where he had the audience spellbound with his set of Gaelic Airs, played as only Calum could.
Calum composed more than 300 pieces of music that are played all over Europe. He was still composing up until his final days. One of my own personal favourites is Lonely Ben More, and I am reminded whenever I look at the view from my back window.
Calum had the honour of being chosen as Guest of Honour by the N.A.A.F.C. last June, in his 80th year. It was such a thrill to see him honoured in this way in the presence of his close family and friends.
In 1978 Calum, Bobby MacLeod, John MacIntee and Richard Hughes were the main instigators of the Mull Music Festival, which continues to the present day.
Back in 1981 Calum was performing in the Caird Hall in Dundee where the great Jimmy Shand asked to meet Calum. Calum told Jimmy that they had met before at the Games Dance in Tobermory when Calum was 17 to which Jimmy replied “Ye ken, you dinna look much older now, laddie!”
The kindness shown by Calum and Jean to visitors to their house, Lonan, was unrivalled and no-one was allowed to leave until they had had soup or coffee and home baking. His kindness was not confined to feeding you either. When I was about 18 my brother-in-law appeared one evening with an accordion case, saying “This is for you from Calum!” Inside the case was Calum’s prized Ranco! Calum had bought a new Hohner Morino and decided that I should have his Ranco. I treasured this instrument for many, many years. That is the sort of man that Calum was – the BEST!
Calum could have been a household name all over Europe, but his heart was with his family and his beautiful island home.
Both Ian Holmes and I will miss our long phone conversations with Calum during which the Scottish dance music scene was discussed at great length.
Calum is survived by Jean, his wife of over 54 years, his two daughters, Susan and Carol, his son Calum, and his grandchildren Amy, Rowen, Aiden and Iain. Our thoughts go out to them and their partners.
Mull has lost one of her favourite sons, but the music will go on through his son Calum, whp plays and teaches the bagpipes and is learning to play the 5-row accordion.
“Gus am bris an latha”.
Ian Holmes
For those of us who had Calum MacLean as a friend, life will never be the same. His passing has left a void which cannot be filled and I’m fairly missing our regular Saturday night ‘blethers’ on the phone.
Our friendship began in 1958 when Margaret and I were on honeymoon at the Mishnish Hotel in Tobermory. Our hosts, Bobby and Jean MacLeod, persuaded us to stay for the weekend so we could all attend the Golf Dance in the Western Isles Hotel. AS a strictly non-dancer I was reluctant, but bobby was persuasive and insisted I would enjoy the music, though rather strangely, he said he could not remember just who was playing. Margaret and I were delighted to find that it was our fiddler friend, Alex ‘Pibroch’ MacKenzie and a young Calum playing a 5-row accordion, somewhat of a rarity in those days. The music was absolutely first-class!
Whenever I was up on holiday, I’d always fit in a visit to Calum and Jean. We had so much in common, sharing an interest in bagpipe music, Irish dance tunes and music from the Continent. There was mutual admiration for each others work and I was proud recipient of several dedications including a cracking pipe reel Ian Holmes, and Tyrol-Ian, acknowledging my love of the Swiss idiom. In turn I wrote a musette, Hommages a Calais (Greeting to Cally), a 2/4 march Calum and Jean MacLean of Tobermory and a Swiss style tune Lonan Schottische.
Although he was a highly-rated and extremely talented accordionist/composer, Cally remained very modest, reluctant to speak of past glories. I’d learned of his successes at Continental accordion competitions, yet when asked about these, he shrugged them off as if they were of little importance.
He was a self-taught, natural musician, who had no formal training, taught himself to read and write music with a great knowledge of harmony. These attributes are apparent in his many compositions. He was receptive to many musical styles and he had the rare ability to absorb the basics of the genre and then compose a highly original melody in that particular style. To the lovers of true Traditional Scottish Music, Cally’s playing was completely devoid of any form of gimmickry. It was full of passion and was well summed-up by fellow bandleader, Ian Cruickshanks “When Calum MacLean plays a Gaelic Waltz, you can smell the heather”.
I count myself extremely fortunate to have had such a friend as Calum MacLean.
Book Review
Toralf Tollefsen World Artist – Reviewed by Rob Howard
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
4th July 2015 – Iain Cathcart SDB
11th July 2015 – Compilation Programme
18th July 2015 – TTF Summer Series presented by Ian Muir
25th July 2015 – TTF Summer Series presented by Ian Muir
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 8th July 2015 – Steven Carcary Trio
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 19th July 2015 – John Waugh
Arbroath (Artisan Golf Club) -
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 27th July 2015 – Neil Hardie SDB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 1st July 2015 – Michael Mackay & Country Edition 8th July – Roddy Matthews SDB 15th July – Johnny Duncan 22nd July – Jock Fraser SDB 29th July – George Rennie
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) –
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) –
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 14th July 2015 – Gordon Brown SDB
Britannia (Arden House Hotel ) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 9th July 2015 – Keith Robertson
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) -
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) –
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) -
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) –
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) –
Dunfermline (Civil Service Sports Assoc, Rosyth) –
Duns (Masonic Lodge)
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 21st July 2015 0 Tommy Newcomen
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) –
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 26th July 2015 – Willie McFarlane Band
Forres (Victoria Hotel) –
Fort William (Railway Club) -
Galashiels (Clovenfords Hotel) –
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) -
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 1st July 2015 – Gary Forrest Trio
Gretna (The Gables Hotel) -
Haddington (Railway Inn) -
Highland (Waterside Hotel) –
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) –
Kelso (Cross Rugby Club) –
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) -
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) -
Langholm (British Legion) –
Lewis & Harris (Sea Angling Club) - 2nd July 2015 – Local Players
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 1st July 2015 – Jimmy Cassidy & Callum Wallace
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) -
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Buccleugh Bowling Club)
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Northern (Hilton Hotel & Country Club , Templepatrick, N.I.) -
Oban (The Royal Hotel) –
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 29th July 2015 – Susie simpson SDB
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) –
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 2nd July 2015 – Robert Whitehead Trio
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 7th July 2015 – Liam Stewart & Malcolm Ross 14th 21st 28th July – Club Nights
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 16th July 15 – Ray Carse
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn)
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Annan
3. Arbroath
4. Banff
5. Button Key
6. Dingwall
7. Duns
8. Forres
9. Isle of Skye
10. Lewis & Harris
11. Montrose
12. North East
13. Orkney
14. Peebles
15. Seghill
16. Turriff
17. Tynedale
18. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2014
(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. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
10. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
11. Button Key A&F Club (
12. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
13. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
14. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
15. Coalburn A&F Club (
16. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
17. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
18. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
19. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
20. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
21. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
22. Ellon A&F Club (
23. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
24. Forfar A&F Club (
25. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
26. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
27. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
28. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
29. 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)
30. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
31. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
32. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
33. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
34. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
35. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
36. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
37. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
38. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
39. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
40. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
41 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
42 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
43 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
44 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
45 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
46. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
47. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
48. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
49. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
50. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
51. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
52. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
53. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
54. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
55 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
56 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
57 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
58 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
58 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
60 West Barnes ( - present)
61 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?)
62. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
63. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
64. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
65. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
66. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
67. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
68. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
69. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
70. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
71. Buchan A&F Club
72. Callander A&F Club (
73. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
74. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
75. Club Accord
76. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
77 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
78. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
79. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
80. Cults A & F Club (
81. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
82. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
83. Derwentside A&F Club
84. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
85. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
86. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
87. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
88. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
89. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
90. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
91. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
92. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
93. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
94. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
95. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
96. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
97. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
98. Kintore A&F Club (
99. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
100. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
101. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Maine Valley A&F Club (
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
107. Mull A&F Club
108. Newcastleton Accordion Club
109. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
110. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
111. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
112. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
113. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
114. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
115. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
116. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
117. Selkirk A&F Club (
118. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
119. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
120. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
121 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
122 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
123. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
124. Tranent A&F Club
125. Vancouver
126. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
127. Wellbank A&F Club
128. 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
A year has passed since Marie and I were introduced…………………..
Pia Walker
Happy 40th Anniversary Wick!
by JWFM
Our May Club night also celebrated the club’s 40th birthday and a tremendous night of musical entertainment was provided for a more than full house by all our local artistes and our guests, the Iain MacPhail SDB. Included in the tunes played by the guests was a tune composed by the bandleader for our birthday and this was greatly appreciated by all in the audience.
The chairman made a short speech detailing the formation of the Club and the strength of the club over the years and hoped that the present and future Committees would continue to drive the Club forward and build on the strong foundation created by the original Committee.
No birthday is complete without a birthday cake and there was indeed a cake baked by Club Secretary Irene MacKay. This was then but by Blythe Bullen (6 years) our youngest player on the night and Donald MacGregor from The Caithness Volunteers. Cake was later distributed to those present and was enjoyed by all.
Honorary Memberships were then presented to Peter MacLeod, Billy Thonson (ex-Chairman) and Phyllis Thomson (ex-Committee). Murray and Ellie Lamont (owners of MacKays’ Hotel) were also presented with an Honorary Membership and a presentation plaque. The first Club meeting was held in MAcKaysHotel and the Club continues to meet there to this day. A final presentation of a royal diamond glass memento was presented to Isobel Harper for all her work and support to the Club over many years. The only other remaining member of the original Committee, Charlie Dey, was unable to be present due to family commitments, but an Honorary Membership certificate is on its way by post to him. Charlie had phoned the hotel just before the start of the night’s entertainment and was able to have a quick chat with Peter (MacLeod).
Many positive comments have been received with regard to our birthday night and it is only right that written appreciation should be shown for the Iain MacPhail SDB and all local musicians who performed so ably and helped make our birthday a night to remember.
The Story Behind the Tune ‘Mr & Mrs Alec Ross’ 6/8 March by John MacGregor
by Charlie Todd
It was during a visit to Livingston A&F Club last year where 3 Row Shand Morino accordionist Graham Ross was in attendance that I finally remembered to ask him for the story behind John MacGregor’s fine 6/8 march. Bob McMath from Silverburn had mentioned to me years ago that Alec was Graham’s dad so I knew that part of the story but I knew nothing of Alec or why John wrote the tune. It transpires that the story involves a body of men we’re all familiar with – the 51st Highland Division – but the reality of their situation this time, not the dance.
Alec Ross, or Ackie as he was known in his native Tain, had enlisted in the 4th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders at the outbreak of war in 1939. They were part of the famous 51st Highland Division who, as we all know, suffered the misfortune of having to surrender at St Valery-en-Caux in 1940. These POW’s were to spend a miserable five years in captivity, in Ackie’s case in a Stalag in Poland. As the Russians advanced through Poland in the opening months of 1945 the Germans subjected the prisoners to a series of ‘forced marches’ over many hundreds of miles back into Germany where the survivors were liberated by the Americans.
But the years of captivity, the poor nutrition and particularly the 30-mile-a-day forced marches were to have a disastrous effect on Ackie’s health immediately after the war as his eyesight began to fail. Back in Tain after the war Alec formed the Tain Scottish Dance Band with himself and Ali MacGregor on accordions, Peggy McLeod on fiddle, Annie Kneafsey on piano and Sandy Ross on drums. Sadly by 1948 Ackie had to stand down from the band as he was completely blind. It took the Tain Branch of the Royal British Legion almost 20 years to get the MOD to recognize his plight as a war disability and for him to get a pension.
In 1965 the family moved from Tain to Sighthill in Edinburgh in preparation for a move, about a year later, to the Linburn War Blinded houses at Wilkieston, West Lothian where Alec and Isie (Isabella) lived until his death in 1975.
Although Alec had given up the band he continued to play the 3 row, initially on a Hohner Gaelic then a chance meeting with a ‘Forbes of Dundee’ salesman who stayed nearby in Sighthill and worked from their Causewayside Shop lead to him acquiring a 40 button Shand Morino. He had a marvellous memory for tunes and after hearing 4 part pipe tunes played over a few times could reproduce them faithfully thereafter.
The other hobby which he continued was cycling. We have the following from his obituary in the Ross-shire Journal “Ackie was a great favourite wherever he went on the Games circuit, and was one of the ‘Three Musketeers’ of Ross-shire cycling in these halcyon days, completing the triumvirate of Sandy Bartlett, Contin; Peter Cameron, Conon and Ackie Ross, Tain. They were an invincible team and brought honour and fame to their native county in the sporting world. Ackie’s cycling prowess continued into post war years, and the writer recalls at the beginning of his own Games career witnessing these three protagonists in action, and welcoming the advice and comfort they gave to a mere fledgling. It was always a pleasure to be in Ackie’s company and learn something from him”.
The onset of blindness had ended Alec’s competitive career by 1948 but after his return he and Isie acquired a tandem and for the remainder of his life spent many a happy hours on the road with Isie in the driving seat and Alec providing the power.
After his dad’s death Graham left the accordion in his mum’s house for many years before eventually reviving his own interest and starting playing again. He did four broadcasts between 1982 and 85 with his own ‘Strathalmond SDB’ before hand problems put paid to his professional playing career. A year later he sold the accordion but always had a hankering to get it back but it wasn’t until 2012 that friend Bill Black of Stanley phoned him to say he knew of its whereabouts and they were reunited. Graham, together with fiddler Derek MacLeod, currently do a few retirement homes to keep their hand in.
Memories of Alex Ross by John MacGregor
I first met Alec and Isie at Chrissie Leatham's Accordion Club which was held in the Masonic Hall, Broughton Street, Edinburgh in 1965/66.
I was introduced to them by either Chrissie or Bill Hamilton. We had a good long blether about accordionists, Scottish Dance Bands and tunes.
At the end of the evening Alec asked me if I would like to come to his house in Sighthill for a tune sometime, which I did. This was the start of a long and memorable relationship with the Ross Family. I would call on Alec on a weekly basis to practice new tunes that he had heard on the Scottish Dance Music the previous Saturday. Of course, Alec had it recorded.
One of the accordions that Alec played was the smaller version of the Shand Morino, which he played to a very high standard. He had an excellent memory for tunes and was a very accurate player indeed. Alec had a healthy respect for many accordionists and Scottish Dance Bands, such as Jimmy Blue, Jimmy Lindsay, Will Starr and Jimmy Shand, but his favourite was Fraser McGlynn. Alec loved the way Fraser played 2/4 pipe tunes - competition marches, as he would call them. Tunes such as, The Clan McColl, Morag Ramsay, Brigadier General Ronald Cheape of Tiroran, Kantara to El Arish and many more.
I am almost sure that Alec was the founder member of the Tain Scottish Dance Band although due to circumstances he never broadcast with the band.
Alex and Isie would go on holiday to a little village just outside Tain called Hill of Fearn and stay with Isie's sister, Mrs Hardie (Emma). I was also invited for a few days holiday. We would play morning, noon and night. Sometimes we would go to Ali MacGregor's house in Tain and sometimes Ali came to Hill of Fearn. Looking back, I don’t know how the families put up with us – special times, indeed!
Mr & Mrs Alec Ross (6/8 march)
This was one of those tunes that came to me almost instantly. I started and finished it in a very short period of time. I let Alec hear it and he thought it was a good tune so I played it at the Perth Accordion Festival in 1971. It won the Jimmy Blue Trophy for the Best Original Composition. The pleasing thing for me that night was that Alec and Isie were in the audience.
Jimmy Blue took a liking to the tune and played it on the TV show Scotch Corner. It was also recorded by The Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band on an LP. They were the reigning World Champions at that time.
Alec and Isie were very pleased about that and it has become very popular with dance bands over the years, which is very pleasing for me!
To finish, I would like to mention - at Alec’s funeral, who was I sitting next to? The one and only Jimmy Shand Snr, who had travelled over from Fife to be there, such was the respect Alec got from fellow musicians.
Thanks Alec, Isie and Emma for being such a special part of my life.
In their younger days, when they lived up in Ross-shire, I believe it was quite a common sight to see Alex and Isie travelling on the country roads on their tandem, Isie steering and Alex the powerhouse at the rear.
My thanks to Graham Ross of Livingston and John MacGregor of Comrie for taking the time to provide all of the above.
In Memory
Tributes to Calum MacLean of Tobermory
by Anda Campbell & Ian Holmes
Anda Campbell
A cloud hung over the little town of Tobermory on the 3rd of April, 2015 with the passing of the legendary accordionist, Calum MacLean.
Tobermory Church was packed to capacity for the funeral service on the 9th of April with locals and musical friends from far and wide. The Reverend Johnny Paton conducted a very moving and sympathetic service and Janet Campbell brought tears to everyone’s eyes with her singing of one of Calum’s own compositions, Sunset on Sunart, with words composed by his close friend Duncan McGilp.
At the end we were treated to a beautiful rendition by Gordon Shand of another of Calum’s classic compositions, The Hills of Mull.
Calum was born in tobermory on 23rd June, 1934, the youngest of 6 boys and 2 girls. At the age of 9 he started playing a 10-button, 1-row Empress melodeon. He then progressed to a Hohner Black Dot Double-Ray.
Calum played this melodeon for some time until one day his father gave his elder brother Eoghann the grand sum of £60 to go to Glasgow to buy Calum a decent accordion. Calum fancied a Paolo soprano 3-row, 80 bass accordion, so that was what Eoghann duly bought. But neither of them realised that this accordion was a Continental Chromatic while the Hohner that Calum used to play was diatonic – a completely different system! So when Calum proudly strapped on his new accordion, he couldn’t play a note! However, he persevered and even managed to teach himself to read and write music.
Calum’s mother knew a wealth of Gaelic songs, most of which were passed on to him, and she would correct him if he made any mistakes in the music. Calum’s father took chanter lessons from Pipe Major William Ross at Tiroran School.
Calum started playing at school concerts, dances, ceilidhs, etc when he was about 13 years old, and he played on Saturday nights in the old TA Hall in Tobermory. His payment was about £1 10/- per night, and the entrance fee for the dance was 1/6d.
It was probably at one of these dances in 1958 that Calum met and became firm friends with the famous dance band leader Ian Holmes and his wife Margaret, who were in Tobermory on honeymoon.
Another close friend was John Huband, whom Calum held in very high esteem. As well as recording the LP ‘East Meets West’ together, the pair performed as a duo at many venues.
Over the years Calum visited many foreign countries and in 1970 he competed in Bonn Bad-Godesberg (Germany), successfully winning the Coupe d’Europe, in which over 1,600 competitors took part. He also won many other competitions and Diplomas, including the Gold Medal at the International Accordion Festival in France, which saw him compete against over 3,000 competitors from 70 countries.
In the early 70’s Calum recorded several radio programmes for the BBC and also appeared on five ‘Se Ur Beatha’ programmes on TV. He also recorded many cassettes and albums with local musicians Alasdair MacLeod (bass) and Richard Hughes (drums). Calum was in his late 70’s when he accepted an invitation from the BBC to record his first session of ‘Take the Floor’. He enjoyed the experience so much he went on to do a further two. Another of Calum’s highlights was performing at Trad Style in Perth where he had the audience spellbound with his set of Gaelic Airs, played as only Calum could.
Calum composed more than 300 pieces of music that are played all over Europe. He was still composing up until his final days. One of my own personal favourites is Lonely Ben More, and I am reminded whenever I look at the view from my back window.
Calum had the honour of being chosen as Guest of Honour by the N.A.A.F.C. last June, in his 80th year. It was such a thrill to see him honoured in this way in the presence of his close family and friends.
In 1978 Calum, Bobby MacLeod, John MacIntee and Richard Hughes were the main instigators of the Mull Music Festival, which continues to the present day.
Back in 1981 Calum was performing in the Caird Hall in Dundee where the great Jimmy Shand asked to meet Calum. Calum told Jimmy that they had met before at the Games Dance in Tobermory when Calum was 17 to which Jimmy replied “Ye ken, you dinna look much older now, laddie!”
The kindness shown by Calum and Jean to visitors to their house, Lonan, was unrivalled and no-one was allowed to leave until they had had soup or coffee and home baking. His kindness was not confined to feeding you either. When I was about 18 my brother-in-law appeared one evening with an accordion case, saying “This is for you from Calum!” Inside the case was Calum’s prized Ranco! Calum had bought a new Hohner Morino and decided that I should have his Ranco. I treasured this instrument for many, many years. That is the sort of man that Calum was – the BEST!
Calum could have been a household name all over Europe, but his heart was with his family and his beautiful island home.
Both Ian Holmes and I will miss our long phone conversations with Calum during which the Scottish dance music scene was discussed at great length.
Calum is survived by Jean, his wife of over 54 years, his two daughters, Susan and Carol, his son Calum, and his grandchildren Amy, Rowen, Aiden and Iain. Our thoughts go out to them and their partners.
Mull has lost one of her favourite sons, but the music will go on through his son Calum, whp plays and teaches the bagpipes and is learning to play the 5-row accordion.
“Gus am bris an latha”.
Ian Holmes
For those of us who had Calum MacLean as a friend, life will never be the same. His passing has left a void which cannot be filled and I’m fairly missing our regular Saturday night ‘blethers’ on the phone.
Our friendship began in 1958 when Margaret and I were on honeymoon at the Mishnish Hotel in Tobermory. Our hosts, Bobby and Jean MacLeod, persuaded us to stay for the weekend so we could all attend the Golf Dance in the Western Isles Hotel. AS a strictly non-dancer I was reluctant, but bobby was persuasive and insisted I would enjoy the music, though rather strangely, he said he could not remember just who was playing. Margaret and I were delighted to find that it was our fiddler friend, Alex ‘Pibroch’ MacKenzie and a young Calum playing a 5-row accordion, somewhat of a rarity in those days. The music was absolutely first-class!
Whenever I was up on holiday, I’d always fit in a visit to Calum and Jean. We had so much in common, sharing an interest in bagpipe music, Irish dance tunes and music from the Continent. There was mutual admiration for each others work and I was proud recipient of several dedications including a cracking pipe reel Ian Holmes, and Tyrol-Ian, acknowledging my love of the Swiss idiom. In turn I wrote a musette, Hommages a Calais (Greeting to Cally), a 2/4 march Calum and Jean MacLean of Tobermory and a Swiss style tune Lonan Schottische.
Although he was a highly-rated and extremely talented accordionist/composer, Cally remained very modest, reluctant to speak of past glories. I’d learned of his successes at Continental accordion competitions, yet when asked about these, he shrugged them off as if they were of little importance.
He was a self-taught, natural musician, who had no formal training, taught himself to read and write music with a great knowledge of harmony. These attributes are apparent in his many compositions. He was receptive to many musical styles and he had the rare ability to absorb the basics of the genre and then compose a highly original melody in that particular style. To the lovers of true Traditional Scottish Music, Cally’s playing was completely devoid of any form of gimmickry. It was full of passion and was well summed-up by fellow bandleader, Ian Cruickshanks “When Calum MacLean plays a Gaelic Waltz, you can smell the heather”.
I count myself extremely fortunate to have had such a friend as Calum MacLean.
Book Review
Toralf Tollefsen World Artist – Reviewed by Rob Howard
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
4th July 2015 – Iain Cathcart SDB
11th July 2015 – Compilation Programme
18th July 2015 – TTF Summer Series presented by Ian Muir
25th July 2015 – TTF Summer Series presented by Ian Muir
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 8th July 2015 – Steven Carcary Trio
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 19th July 2015 – John Waugh
Arbroath (Artisan Golf Club) -
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 27th July 2015 – Neil Hardie SDB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 1st July 2015 – Michael Mackay & Country Edition 8th July – Roddy Matthews SDB 15th July – Johnny Duncan 22nd July – Jock Fraser SDB 29th July – George Rennie
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) –
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) –
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 14th July 2015 – Gordon Brown SDB
Britannia (Arden House Hotel ) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 9th July 2015 – Keith Robertson
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) -
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) –
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) -
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) –
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) –
Dunfermline (Civil Service Sports Assoc, Rosyth) –
Duns (Masonic Lodge)
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 21st July 2015 0 Tommy Newcomen
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) –
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 26th July 2015 – Willie McFarlane Band
Forres (Victoria Hotel) –
Fort William (Railway Club) -
Galashiels (Clovenfords Hotel) –
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) -
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 1st July 2015 – Gary Forrest Trio
Gretna (The Gables Hotel) -
Haddington (Railway Inn) -
Highland (Waterside Hotel) –
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) –
Kelso (Cross Rugby Club) –
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) -
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) -
Langholm (British Legion) –
Lewis & Harris (Sea Angling Club) - 2nd July 2015 – Local Players
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 1st July 2015 – Jimmy Cassidy & Callum Wallace
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) -
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Buccleugh Bowling Club)
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Northern (Hilton Hotel & Country Club , Templepatrick, N.I.) -
Oban (The Royal Hotel) –
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 29th July 2015 – Susie simpson SDB
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) –
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 2nd July 2015 – Robert Whitehead Trio
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 7th July 2015 – Liam Stewart & Malcolm Ross 14th 21st 28th July – Club Nights
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 16th July 15 – Ray Carse
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn)
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Annan
3. Arbroath
4. Banff
5. Button Key
6. Dingwall
7. Duns
8. Forres
9. Isle of Skye
10. Lewis & Harris
11. Montrose
12. North East
13. Orkney
14. Peebles
15. Seghill
16. Turriff
17. Tynedale
18. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2014
(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. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
10. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
11. Button Key A&F Club (
12. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
13. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
14. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
15. Coalburn A&F Club (
16. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
17. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
18. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
19. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
20. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
21. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
22. Ellon A&F Club (
23. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
24. Forfar A&F Club (
25. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
26. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
27. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
28. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
29. 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)
30. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
31. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
32. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
33. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
34. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
35. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
36. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
37. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
38. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
39. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
40. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
41 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
42 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
43 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
44 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
45 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
46. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
47. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
48. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
49. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
50. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
51. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
52. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
53. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
54. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
55 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
56 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
57 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
58 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
58 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
60 West Barnes ( - present)
61 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?)
62. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
63. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
64. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
65. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
66. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
67. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
68. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
69. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
70. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
71. Buchan A&F Club
72. Callander A&F Club (
73. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
74. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
75. Club Accord
76. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
77 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
78. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
79. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
80. Cults A & F Club (
81. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
82. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
83. Derwentside A&F Club
84. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
85. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
86. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
87. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
88. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
89. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
90. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
91. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
92. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
93. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
94. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
95. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
96. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
97. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
98. Kintore A&F Club (
99. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
100. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
101. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Maine Valley A&F Club (
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
107. Mull A&F Club
108. Newcastleton Accordion Club
109. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
110. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
111. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
112. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
113. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
114. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
115. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
116. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
117. Selkirk A&F Club (
118. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
119. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
120. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
121 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
122 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
123. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
124. Tranent A&F Club
125. Vancouver
126. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
127. Wellbank A&F Club
128. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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