Box and Fiddle
Year 42 No 10
June 2019
Price £3.00
52 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £33.60 + p&p £15.85 (UK)
Editor – Pia Walker, Cupar
B&F Treasurer –
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
We are getting closer to the AGM………
Pia Walker
Margaret Smith - 2019 Guest of Honour
by Pia Walker
So many people in the North East of Scotland know and have played with Margaret Smith or been taught by her and only have nice things to say, so I was quite looking forward to driving to Banchory to meet with this lady who has been accompanying many musicians and bands over the years. I wasn’t disappointed. What a nice lady. She invited me into her lovely home in which she has resided since the late 80s and we had a great time chatting about her life.
Pianist Margaret Smith was born in Huntly in 1930. Her father, George Donald, played the fiddle, but only at home, where Margaret after she had learned to play piano, frequently accompanied him. Her mother, Peggy Donald, also loved music and enjoyed sitting at the piano and trying to learn by ear. The musical gene runs in the family. Her younger brother, also George Donald, became well known as a member of ‘Scotland the What’. Margaret is very proud of him and calls him a genius. She told me that it was difficult to get him off the piano at home as he was always practicing. I got the impression that perhaps there was a little bit of competition between them in who should get to practice. They were obviously both very talented and their mother, in order to support the war effort, arranged for concerts in the back garden where the siblings entertained.
Margaret was taught first by Ms Anderson (from Huntly) where the lessons were mostly in classical piano. After finishing school at 15, Margaret traveled to Aberdeen every week for lessons from Mrs Gerrie and gained her music diploma for teaching while she was working full time at the Aberdeen Savings Bank, Huntly. Margaret worked in the bank from when she left school until she married Bill. It was the norm that when a woman got married, she would lose her job, so she started to teach piano. Later, when attitudes had changed and after the children had started school, she resumed her work in the bank and after 27½ years service, retired at the age of 60.
She met the two years older Bill in 1948 when she started as a pianist with the Boys’ Brigade and the Huntly Harmonica Orchestra. They played all over the North East of Scotland, mostly for post-war charities, and had more than 50 musicians in the band. They were out most Fridays, so life was busy.
She married Bill, who played fiddle, in 1953 when she was 23 and they have two children; Jane, who is a violin teacher and the current conductor of the Banchory S&R Society, and William who is a nurse. There are 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, who all have a love of music! The Christmas present list must be huge! William tried his hand at both violin and piano in his younger years, but although he doesn’t play now, the musical gene traveled down to the grandchildren – Jane’s children all play the fiddle and William’s daughter is a beautiful singer, Margaret tells me.
Bill worked for the Liverpool Victoria Friendly society Insurance Co. as an insurance inspector and they remained in huntly until Bill got a job in Banchory in 1973 as a manager. Here Bill was invited to join the Banchory S&R Society and became its Secretary in 1974. It was led by Sandy Milne whose daughter Mary was the pianist. Mary could also play the accordion, and when she moved to that instrument Margaret took over as pianist. She also became their Treasurer, a position she held for about 40 years. Together they were involved in both the Huntly and Banchory communities. Bill was also very involved in the Rotary Club of Banchory. They both became Citizens of the Year for their music contribution to the local community and they were presented with a trophy by the Rotary Club. Since Bill’s death, Margaret has supported them as a piano accompanist and was made an Honorary Member by the President in 2001.
Bill was obviously the love of her life. He sadly passed away in 1998 and after having worked closely in a musical team with Bill, the couple and teaching and playing together, Margaret had to carve a new life for herself. Luckily she has many friends and if she had to mention one in particular, it would be Harry Nicol, whom she persuaded to pick up the fiddle again after a 50 year gap.
Margaret has been involved in music from an early stage. From the time of the aforementioned garden concerts and the Harmonica Dance Band, she has also travelled extensively with the Banchory S&R Society to USA, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland and Shetland. She took organ lessons while in Huntly, and when they moved to Banchory she was asked to help as a temporary church organist – a position that lasted 6 years. She is still asked to step in from time to time. Margaret has also been involved in the Banchory Festival for more than 40 years and loves to see the development of new musicians coming through the ranks. She also danced with the RSCDS both in Huntly and abroad. She is hardly ever at home, as she finds it important to keep going. Nowadays she plays with the group named after the Scolty Hill in various care homes, doing mostly Scottish and sing-along tunes, and if she is not playing she goes with friends to musical events. “It keeps me interested,” she says.
She remembers the start of the Banchory A&F Club when the manager of the Burnett Arms Hotel, the late Bert Flett, offered his function suite free of charge to the Club and Jimmy Blue was invited to be the first guest artist in 1978. Margaret could be seen behind the piano sharing accompaniment duties with Mary Milne at Club meetings and she also became Treasurer. She told me she was present at the first ever NAAFC Luncheon too.
Over the years, through her work in music, she has ‘adopted’ many young players. Graeme Mitchell stayed with her for two summers when he had a summer job in Banchory. She has followed the Anderson family, Paul, David and Heather, from when they were small; and, apparently, a certain Mr Cruickshank is ‘”some boy”. In fact, if you played an instrument in the North East, Margaret has a story to tell about you and a lot of names were certainly mentioned! Many have asked Margaret to be an accompanist during the Glenfiddich Championships and we both agreed it was a pity that this competition no longer exists. At one time she accompanied 5 competitors in one day, two of whom were her own grandchildren.
On the subject of music then and now she says, “Young bands play brilliant music, but rather quickly, and this gives it a different feel, even if it is still in the Scottish idiom.”
Margaret told me she loves playing Scottish music, but plays the chords straight. “I don’t do ‘free-style’ vamping like my friends Pam Wilkie did and Joan Blue does.” She also likes to keep a straight tempo and feels that this is important so you do not lose the melody. She likes light classical music and Handel was mentioned too. Furthermore, she loves waltzes as long as they are not played too slowly.
Thank you Margaret, for letting me interview you – your record of accomplishments definitely makes you a worthy Guest of Honour and I hope you enjoy the day.
From Brian Cruickshank
I have known Margaret and family for over 40 years through the Banchory S&R Society, the Mayfield Group and Banchory F&A Club. One thing for sure is that without music Margaret would be at a total loss what to do with her free time. Despite her elderly years, she is still very active entertaining people around the Banchory area in care homes and in various groups and societies. She is also a regular player of the organ at her church.
Margaret is always willing to help if someone is stuck for a piano player and most definitely music has been her life for all the years I have known her and the family. I could go on and tell you about some of the rows we received from Margaret when we were on our travels abroad, but I will keep that for the day of the awards!
It is a great achievement to be getting this award from the Association and well deserved.
From Graeme Mitchell
I am absolutely delighted that Margaret Smith is to be a Guest of Honour at the Celebrity Luncheon of the NAAFC. Margaret and her late husband Bill dedicated their existence to this music and many youngsters benefited from their encouragement.
I’m proud to say that this included me, but on a personal level it went way beyond that. I stayed with the family for extended periods of time and it is fair to say that Margaret felt the need to take on the adopted mother role. Many a time I was on the receiving end of that ‘finger wagging’ lecture, when conduct was below Mrs Smith’s expectations.
Margaret, you are a delightful lady – you’d better get ‘yer hair deen’ for the 30th June.
Perform in Dumfries
by
The accordion and fiddle section concluded…………….
The Story of Roger Dobson & the Newcastleton Festival
by
Fifty years of the Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival and Scottish dance bands have played a key part both in the hall and in various sessions around the village.
Eliza Mood had a conversation with Scottish dance band leader Roger Dobson about his life in music. Roger was very involved with the Newcastleton Festival in the heady days of the 80s and early 90s and has been a stalwart of the festival for many years.
But let’s not get ahead. Travel back to 1949 when someone – he isn’t quite sure who – gave Roger a little melodeon with 11 buttons. In those days, all of the farmhouses and cottages had a melodeon and a fiddle knocking about and it was only natural for the youngsters to pick them up and have a go. His mother had an old one with the stops on the top and the lad was determined to get a tune out of it. At the age of 11 he played a tune on Sir Jimmy Shand’s Hohner Morino and from that moment he was smitten.
When he left his father’s sheep farm at Kielder, he was hired to a farm in Bellingham and every penny of his wages went into the accordion fund until he had saved the £200 he needed. That was 61 years ago and he plays the Hohner Morino to this day. Since then, it has always been a family affair; Roger’s late brother played the fiddle in his band and after that from the age of 15 his daughter, Carol.
Let’s go back once more, this time to the period leading up to the first Newcastleton Festival. When Max Houliston of ‘The Hole in the Wa’’ in Dumfries instigated the first Accordion & Fiddle Club in 1965, it took off as a special social night for a tune, and Clubs mushroomed from Gretna to Langholm and beyond with smaller villages like Newcastleton joining them. Players would travel from one village to another from September to April. On the English side of the border, a couple of Clubs, Hexham and Carlisle, covered the summer months. The Clubs supported the players by putting on guest artistes and bringing new bands forward. Their popularity rocketed; if you wanted to get into the Crown Hotel in Langholm you’d need to buy your ticket at the previous meeting.
From the moment the Langholm Club started, Roger attended, listened and learned. The farm owner where he worked was interested too, so they traveled together to the Newcastleton, Bonchester Bridge, Dumfries and Newton St Boswells Clubs. These were the grand days and the musicians Roger got to hear provided an incentive to improve his technique during the 2 to 2½ hours’ practice he did each day.
It was Ray Milbourne who, in 1969, thought up the idea of a summer festival in Newcastleton as a way of continuing to give a platform to players and provide dances in traditional style for the dancers who followed them. In the mid-80s Roger’s band took off and he was traveling between 800 – 1,000 miles per week while still shepherding at Kelso and Langholm. During this time he also became Chairman of the Newcastleton Festival Committee.
In 1983 Roger introduced a new element to the Festival, running a special Scottish dance music event at the Doormouse Bar. He would invite 5 or 6 bands, each comprising 2 accordion, fiddle, drums and keyboard to play from Friday lunchtime to Sunday night. As soon as one band stepped down after a 20 – 30 minute spot, another would stand up and give it their all. These were top class players; there were no melodeons and just traditional Scottish dance band tunes. There were no seats going spare and the Doormouse had to let 5 or 10 people out before others could come in. People came to listen to top class music and Roger made sure they would hear it.
Every Festival during the 10 or so years he ran this part of the Festival holds special memories for Roger. It attracted all of the top boys of the day; Andrew Knight, Colin Brown, Alan Gardiner, Eric Goodfellow, Wattie Beattie, Alasdair MacLeod, Iain Cathcart, Helen Murray (who won the accordion competition at Newcastleton)….the long list continued much too fast for me to write down.
Though Roger has reached his 80th birthday the band is still playing at Accordion & Fiddle Clubs and other venues and we look forward to welcoming him once again to the 50th Anniversary Festival in 2019.
Centre Stage
Robert Whitehead
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
These are the Hands – Alexander McCall Smith & James Ross – CDTRAX404
Imminent – Gary Innes – GH102
Winds of Change – Seonaid Lynn & Roddy Johnston - Independent
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
Not shown
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 16th June 2019 – Robert Whitehead
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 2nd June 2019 – Neil Hardie SDB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 24th June 2019 - tbc
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 26th June 2019 – Derek Edmond SDB
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) –
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) –
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 11th June 2019 – John Morgan
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) – 13th June 2019 – Keith Robertson
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) -
Canderside (Stonehouse Bowling Club) -
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 13th June 2019 – The Allerdale Fiddlers
Castle Douglas (Threave Rovers Football Club) –
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) -
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) -
Crieff & District (British Legion) 6th June 2019 – Janet Graham SDB
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) –
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) –
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) –
Duns (Masonic Lodge)
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 18th June 2019 – Alasdair Salter & Ian Thow
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 30th June 2019 – Andrew Knight & the West Telferton CB
Forres (Victoria Hotel) –
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) -
Galashiels (Gala YM RFC) -
Glasgow (Scotstounhill Bowling Club) -
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) -
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 5th June 2019 – David Oswald SDB
Gretna (The Solway Lodge Hotel) -
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 17th June 2019 - AGM
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) –
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 12th June 2019 - AGM
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) –
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) - 7th June 2019 – Sutherland A&F Club
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn)
Lockerbie (Mid Annandale Comrades Club)
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th June 2019 – Steven Carcary Duo
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 4th June 2019 - AGM
Oban (The Royal Hotel) –
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 5th 12th 19th June 2019 – Club Nights 26th June 2019 – Alan Small & Gemma Donald
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) –
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 6th June 2019 – Jimmy Cassidy Duo – supported by Gillian Birnie, Robert Whitehead and Friends
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 4th 11th 18th 25th June 2019 – Club Nights
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 6th June 2019 – Gavin Piper
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 20th June 2019 – Bryan Gear & Martin Henderson
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Balloch
5. Banff & District
6. Biggar
7. Blairgowrie
8 Button Key
9. Canderside
10. Castle Douglas
11. Coalburn
12. Dingwall
13. Dunfermline
14. Duns
15. Ellon
16. Forfar
17. Forres
18. Glendale
19. Glenfarg
20. Gretna
21. Highland
22. Isle of Skye
23. Kelso
24. Langholm
25. Lewis & Harris
26. Livingston
27. Lockerbie
28. Macmerry
29. Mauchline
30. Newburgh
31. North East
32. Orkney
33. Peebles
34. Perth
35. Seghill
36. Turriff & District
37. Tynedale
38. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2018
(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. Canderside A&F Club (Stonehouse) (Feb 2019 – present)
14. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
15. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
16. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
17. Coalburn A&F Club (
18. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
19. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
20. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
21. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
22. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
23. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
24. Ellon A&F Club (
25. Forfar A&F Club (
26. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
27. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
28. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
29. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
30. 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)
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. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
37. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
38. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
39 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
40. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
41 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
42 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
43 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
44. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
45. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
46. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
47. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
48. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
49. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
50. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
51. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
52 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
53 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
54 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
55 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
56 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?)
57. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
58. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
59. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
60. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
61. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
62. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
63. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
64. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
65. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
66. Buchan A&F Club
67. Callander A&F Club (
68. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
69. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
70. Club Accord
71. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
72 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
73. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
74. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
75. Cults A & F Club (
76. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
77. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
78. Derwentside A&F Club
79. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
80. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
81. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
82. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
83. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
84. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
85. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
86. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
87. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
88. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
89. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
90. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 -
91. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
92. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
93. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
94. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
95. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
96. Kintore A&F Club (
97. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
98. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
99. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
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. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
112. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
113. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
114. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
115. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
116. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
117. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
118. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
119. Selkirk A&F Club (
120. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
121. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
122. Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
123. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
124 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
125 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
126. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
127. Tranent A&F Club
128. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
129. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
130. Wellbank A&F Club
131. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
132. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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B&F Treasurer –
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
We are getting closer to the AGM………
Pia Walker
Margaret Smith - 2019 Guest of Honour
by Pia Walker
So many people in the North East of Scotland know and have played with Margaret Smith or been taught by her and only have nice things to say, so I was quite looking forward to driving to Banchory to meet with this lady who has been accompanying many musicians and bands over the years. I wasn’t disappointed. What a nice lady. She invited me into her lovely home in which she has resided since the late 80s and we had a great time chatting about her life.
Pianist Margaret Smith was born in Huntly in 1930. Her father, George Donald, played the fiddle, but only at home, where Margaret after she had learned to play piano, frequently accompanied him. Her mother, Peggy Donald, also loved music and enjoyed sitting at the piano and trying to learn by ear. The musical gene runs in the family. Her younger brother, also George Donald, became well known as a member of ‘Scotland the What’. Margaret is very proud of him and calls him a genius. She told me that it was difficult to get him off the piano at home as he was always practicing. I got the impression that perhaps there was a little bit of competition between them in who should get to practice. They were obviously both very talented and their mother, in order to support the war effort, arranged for concerts in the back garden where the siblings entertained.
Margaret was taught first by Ms Anderson (from Huntly) where the lessons were mostly in classical piano. After finishing school at 15, Margaret traveled to Aberdeen every week for lessons from Mrs Gerrie and gained her music diploma for teaching while she was working full time at the Aberdeen Savings Bank, Huntly. Margaret worked in the bank from when she left school until she married Bill. It was the norm that when a woman got married, she would lose her job, so she started to teach piano. Later, when attitudes had changed and after the children had started school, she resumed her work in the bank and after 27½ years service, retired at the age of 60.
She met the two years older Bill in 1948 when she started as a pianist with the Boys’ Brigade and the Huntly Harmonica Orchestra. They played all over the North East of Scotland, mostly for post-war charities, and had more than 50 musicians in the band. They were out most Fridays, so life was busy.
She married Bill, who played fiddle, in 1953 when she was 23 and they have two children; Jane, who is a violin teacher and the current conductor of the Banchory S&R Society, and William who is a nurse. There are 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, who all have a love of music! The Christmas present list must be huge! William tried his hand at both violin and piano in his younger years, but although he doesn’t play now, the musical gene traveled down to the grandchildren – Jane’s children all play the fiddle and William’s daughter is a beautiful singer, Margaret tells me.
Bill worked for the Liverpool Victoria Friendly society Insurance Co. as an insurance inspector and they remained in huntly until Bill got a job in Banchory in 1973 as a manager. Here Bill was invited to join the Banchory S&R Society and became its Secretary in 1974. It was led by Sandy Milne whose daughter Mary was the pianist. Mary could also play the accordion, and when she moved to that instrument Margaret took over as pianist. She also became their Treasurer, a position she held for about 40 years. Together they were involved in both the Huntly and Banchory communities. Bill was also very involved in the Rotary Club of Banchory. They both became Citizens of the Year for their music contribution to the local community and they were presented with a trophy by the Rotary Club. Since Bill’s death, Margaret has supported them as a piano accompanist and was made an Honorary Member by the President in 2001.
Bill was obviously the love of her life. He sadly passed away in 1998 and after having worked closely in a musical team with Bill, the couple and teaching and playing together, Margaret had to carve a new life for herself. Luckily she has many friends and if she had to mention one in particular, it would be Harry Nicol, whom she persuaded to pick up the fiddle again after a 50 year gap.
Margaret has been involved in music from an early stage. From the time of the aforementioned garden concerts and the Harmonica Dance Band, she has also travelled extensively with the Banchory S&R Society to USA, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland and Shetland. She took organ lessons while in Huntly, and when they moved to Banchory she was asked to help as a temporary church organist – a position that lasted 6 years. She is still asked to step in from time to time. Margaret has also been involved in the Banchory Festival for more than 40 years and loves to see the development of new musicians coming through the ranks. She also danced with the RSCDS both in Huntly and abroad. She is hardly ever at home, as she finds it important to keep going. Nowadays she plays with the group named after the Scolty Hill in various care homes, doing mostly Scottish and sing-along tunes, and if she is not playing she goes with friends to musical events. “It keeps me interested,” she says.
She remembers the start of the Banchory A&F Club when the manager of the Burnett Arms Hotel, the late Bert Flett, offered his function suite free of charge to the Club and Jimmy Blue was invited to be the first guest artist in 1978. Margaret could be seen behind the piano sharing accompaniment duties with Mary Milne at Club meetings and she also became Treasurer. She told me she was present at the first ever NAAFC Luncheon too.
Over the years, through her work in music, she has ‘adopted’ many young players. Graeme Mitchell stayed with her for two summers when he had a summer job in Banchory. She has followed the Anderson family, Paul, David and Heather, from when they were small; and, apparently, a certain Mr Cruickshank is ‘”some boy”. In fact, if you played an instrument in the North East, Margaret has a story to tell about you and a lot of names were certainly mentioned! Many have asked Margaret to be an accompanist during the Glenfiddich Championships and we both agreed it was a pity that this competition no longer exists. At one time she accompanied 5 competitors in one day, two of whom were her own grandchildren.
On the subject of music then and now she says, “Young bands play brilliant music, but rather quickly, and this gives it a different feel, even if it is still in the Scottish idiom.”
Margaret told me she loves playing Scottish music, but plays the chords straight. “I don’t do ‘free-style’ vamping like my friends Pam Wilkie did and Joan Blue does.” She also likes to keep a straight tempo and feels that this is important so you do not lose the melody. She likes light classical music and Handel was mentioned too. Furthermore, she loves waltzes as long as they are not played too slowly.
Thank you Margaret, for letting me interview you – your record of accomplishments definitely makes you a worthy Guest of Honour and I hope you enjoy the day.
From Brian Cruickshank
I have known Margaret and family for over 40 years through the Banchory S&R Society, the Mayfield Group and Banchory F&A Club. One thing for sure is that without music Margaret would be at a total loss what to do with her free time. Despite her elderly years, she is still very active entertaining people around the Banchory area in care homes and in various groups and societies. She is also a regular player of the organ at her church.
Margaret is always willing to help if someone is stuck for a piano player and most definitely music has been her life for all the years I have known her and the family. I could go on and tell you about some of the rows we received from Margaret when we were on our travels abroad, but I will keep that for the day of the awards!
It is a great achievement to be getting this award from the Association and well deserved.
From Graeme Mitchell
I am absolutely delighted that Margaret Smith is to be a Guest of Honour at the Celebrity Luncheon of the NAAFC. Margaret and her late husband Bill dedicated their existence to this music and many youngsters benefited from their encouragement.
I’m proud to say that this included me, but on a personal level it went way beyond that. I stayed with the family for extended periods of time and it is fair to say that Margaret felt the need to take on the adopted mother role. Many a time I was on the receiving end of that ‘finger wagging’ lecture, when conduct was below Mrs Smith’s expectations.
Margaret, you are a delightful lady – you’d better get ‘yer hair deen’ for the 30th June.
Perform in Dumfries
by
The accordion and fiddle section concluded…………….
The Story of Roger Dobson & the Newcastleton Festival
by
Fifty years of the Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival and Scottish dance bands have played a key part both in the hall and in various sessions around the village.
Eliza Mood had a conversation with Scottish dance band leader Roger Dobson about his life in music. Roger was very involved with the Newcastleton Festival in the heady days of the 80s and early 90s and has been a stalwart of the festival for many years.
But let’s not get ahead. Travel back to 1949 when someone – he isn’t quite sure who – gave Roger a little melodeon with 11 buttons. In those days, all of the farmhouses and cottages had a melodeon and a fiddle knocking about and it was only natural for the youngsters to pick them up and have a go. His mother had an old one with the stops on the top and the lad was determined to get a tune out of it. At the age of 11 he played a tune on Sir Jimmy Shand’s Hohner Morino and from that moment he was smitten.
When he left his father’s sheep farm at Kielder, he was hired to a farm in Bellingham and every penny of his wages went into the accordion fund until he had saved the £200 he needed. That was 61 years ago and he plays the Hohner Morino to this day. Since then, it has always been a family affair; Roger’s late brother played the fiddle in his band and after that from the age of 15 his daughter, Carol.
Let’s go back once more, this time to the period leading up to the first Newcastleton Festival. When Max Houliston of ‘The Hole in the Wa’’ in Dumfries instigated the first Accordion & Fiddle Club in 1965, it took off as a special social night for a tune, and Clubs mushroomed from Gretna to Langholm and beyond with smaller villages like Newcastleton joining them. Players would travel from one village to another from September to April. On the English side of the border, a couple of Clubs, Hexham and Carlisle, covered the summer months. The Clubs supported the players by putting on guest artistes and bringing new bands forward. Their popularity rocketed; if you wanted to get into the Crown Hotel in Langholm you’d need to buy your ticket at the previous meeting.
From the moment the Langholm Club started, Roger attended, listened and learned. The farm owner where he worked was interested too, so they traveled together to the Newcastleton, Bonchester Bridge, Dumfries and Newton St Boswells Clubs. These were the grand days and the musicians Roger got to hear provided an incentive to improve his technique during the 2 to 2½ hours’ practice he did each day.
It was Ray Milbourne who, in 1969, thought up the idea of a summer festival in Newcastleton as a way of continuing to give a platform to players and provide dances in traditional style for the dancers who followed them. In the mid-80s Roger’s band took off and he was traveling between 800 – 1,000 miles per week while still shepherding at Kelso and Langholm. During this time he also became Chairman of the Newcastleton Festival Committee.
In 1983 Roger introduced a new element to the Festival, running a special Scottish dance music event at the Doormouse Bar. He would invite 5 or 6 bands, each comprising 2 accordion, fiddle, drums and keyboard to play from Friday lunchtime to Sunday night. As soon as one band stepped down after a 20 – 30 minute spot, another would stand up and give it their all. These were top class players; there were no melodeons and just traditional Scottish dance band tunes. There were no seats going spare and the Doormouse had to let 5 or 10 people out before others could come in. People came to listen to top class music and Roger made sure they would hear it.
Every Festival during the 10 or so years he ran this part of the Festival holds special memories for Roger. It attracted all of the top boys of the day; Andrew Knight, Colin Brown, Alan Gardiner, Eric Goodfellow, Wattie Beattie, Alasdair MacLeod, Iain Cathcart, Helen Murray (who won the accordion competition at Newcastleton)….the long list continued much too fast for me to write down.
Though Roger has reached his 80th birthday the band is still playing at Accordion & Fiddle Clubs and other venues and we look forward to welcoming him once again to the 50th Anniversary Festival in 2019.
Centre Stage
Robert Whitehead
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
These are the Hands – Alexander McCall Smith & James Ross – CDTRAX404
Imminent – Gary Innes – GH102
Winds of Change – Seonaid Lynn & Roddy Johnston - Independent
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
Not shown
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 16th June 2019 – Robert Whitehead
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 2nd June 2019 – Neil Hardie SDB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 24th June 2019 - tbc
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 26th June 2019 – Derek Edmond SDB
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) –
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) –
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 11th June 2019 – John Morgan
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) – 13th June 2019 – Keith Robertson
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) -
Canderside (Stonehouse Bowling Club) -
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 13th June 2019 – The Allerdale Fiddlers
Castle Douglas (Threave Rovers Football Club) –
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) -
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) -
Crieff & District (British Legion) 6th June 2019 – Janet Graham SDB
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) –
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) –
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) –
Duns (Masonic Lodge)
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 18th June 2019 – Alasdair Salter & Ian Thow
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 30th June 2019 – Andrew Knight & the West Telferton CB
Forres (Victoria Hotel) –
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) -
Galashiels (Gala YM RFC) -
Glasgow (Scotstounhill Bowling Club) -
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) -
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 5th June 2019 – David Oswald SDB
Gretna (The Solway Lodge Hotel) -
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 17th June 2019 - AGM
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) –
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 12th June 2019 - AGM
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) –
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) - 7th June 2019 – Sutherland A&F Club
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn)
Lockerbie (Mid Annandale Comrades Club)
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th June 2019 – Steven Carcary Duo
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 4th June 2019 - AGM
Oban (The Royal Hotel) –
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 5th 12th 19th June 2019 – Club Nights 26th June 2019 – Alan Small & Gemma Donald
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) –
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 6th June 2019 – Jimmy Cassidy Duo – supported by Gillian Birnie, Robert Whitehead and Friends
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 4th 11th 18th 25th June 2019 – Club Nights
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 6th June 2019 – Gavin Piper
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 20th June 2019 – Bryan Gear & Martin Henderson
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Balloch
5. Banff & District
6. Biggar
7. Blairgowrie
8 Button Key
9. Canderside
10. Castle Douglas
11. Coalburn
12. Dingwall
13. Dunfermline
14. Duns
15. Ellon
16. Forfar
17. Forres
18. Glendale
19. Glenfarg
20. Gretna
21. Highland
22. Isle of Skye
23. Kelso
24. Langholm
25. Lewis & Harris
26. Livingston
27. Lockerbie
28. Macmerry
29. Mauchline
30. Newburgh
31. North East
32. Orkney
33. Peebles
34. Perth
35. Seghill
36. Turriff & District
37. Tynedale
38. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2018
(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. Canderside A&F Club (Stonehouse) (Feb 2019 – present)
14. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
15. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
16. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
17. Coalburn A&F Club (
18. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
19. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
20. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
21. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
22. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
23. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
24. Ellon A&F Club (
25. Forfar A&F Club (
26. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
27. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
28. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
29. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
30. 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)
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. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
37. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
38. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
39 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
40. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
41 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
42 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
43 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
44. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
45. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
46. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
47. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
48. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
49. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
50. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
51. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
52 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
53 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
54 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
55 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
56 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?)
57. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
58. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
59. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
60. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
61. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
62. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
63. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
64. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
65. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
66. Buchan A&F Club
67. Callander A&F Club (
68. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
69. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
70. Club Accord
71. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
72 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
73. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
74. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
75. Cults A & F Club (
76. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
77. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
78. Derwentside A&F Club
79. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
80. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
81. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
82. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
83. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
84. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
85. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
86. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
87. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
88. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
89. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
90. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 -
91. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
92. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
93. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
94. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
95. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
96. Kintore A&F Club (
97. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
98. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
99. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
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. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
112. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
113. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
114. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
115. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
116. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
117. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
118. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
119. Selkirk A&F Club (
120. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
121. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
122. Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
123. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
124 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
125 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
126. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
127. Tranent A&F Club
128. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
129. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
130. Wellbank A&F Club
131. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
132. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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