Box and Fiddle
Year 45 No 06
June 2022
Price £3.00
40 Page Magazine
12 month UK subscription £49.45
ditor – Pia Walker, Cupar
B&F Treasurer – Scott Band
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
First of all: have you contacted Charlie Kirkpatrick for your ticket to the AGM and Celebrity Luncheon? .…….
Pia
From the Chairman
As I write this, I hope that this finds you all well. After a difficult 2 years coping with Lockdown, we are seeing a return to normality across the country with the Accordion & Fiddle clubs starting to meet again. However, the spectre of covid, although receding, has not disappeared completely. Many of our member Clubs have reopened, albeit with attendances below the norm, but we expect all to be up and running by the traditional season start in the autumn.
With this in mind, the NAAFC Executive Committee have taken the difficult decision to suspend the publication of the Box and Fiddle for the summer months when few Clubs are meeting. This means we are stopping after the June issue and restarting in October.
The maxim of the NAAFC and the B&F magazine is to support the Accordion & Fiddle Club members of the Association and, since the majority of magazine sales are via the Clubs, the sensible approach was to break over the summer and pick up in October as we expect most Clubs will then return to normality.
For all of our direct subscribers, fear not – your subscription will carry on after the summer break and you will still receive your full compliment of subscribed copies.
We hope you understand the reasons behind the decision, and look forward to seeing as many as possible at the AGM and Celebrity Luncheon at The Invercarse Hotel, Dundee on 26th June.
Nicol McLaren
Guests of Honour 2022
John Sinton – in Interview with Pia Walker
John was born in Bridge of Allan Nursing Home and lived with his mum Charlotte (Lottie), dad William (Willie) and older brother Walter in Dunblane. In his pre-teen years the family moved house and by pure coincidence moved in to Jim MacLeod’s old house. In his early twenties John married May and moved to Blackford where their daughter Amanda was born. They stayed there for seven years and then moved to Dunblane, where his son Steven was born in the house that they bought from seeing a plan at the Ideal Home Exhibition in 1978, and in which they still stay. It has a lovely sunroom at the back of the house, where numerous band practices and parties have been held, and where other Dunblane musicians such as the late Billy Thom used to come for a tune and a whisky. Billy always liked May’s generous measures!
Neither of John and May’s two children is musically inclined. Amanda is a software analyst and Steven works for the HM Revenue & Customs. However, John has three ladies in his home: May, who he says is the best support a man could have, and two double basses, both beautiful instruments, one of which was given to him by his predecessor in the Jim MacLeod Band, Robin Brock, and which has now been refurbished to playing condition.
Although his first job was as a milk delivery boy, John also delivered messages for a local grocer’s shop two nights a week. This was the original home delivery service on a grocer’s bicycle! After McLaren High School he went to the trade school in Perth, and learnt more in one year there than he did in the high school. He worked for McNaughton’s Garage in Blackford which was a good apprentice training ground for what was to come, and by his early twenties he was running the small body shop there. He then started working for Morrisons Landrover Ltd, Stirling in 1976 as a panel beater and progressed through to the manager’s job in the body and paint shop, where he worked for 20 years. This was his dream job: he loved seeing damaged vehicles brought back to pre-accident condition. The staff were excellent, and he had a company car. He was also given time off by his boss whenever he needed it to go and play music!
John took early retirement after 34 years of working for Morrisons and now he enjoys working as a decorator. This took him once to London for an Edinburgh interior designer, to decorate a new flat in Tower West Chelsea.
John’s interest in playing music started in 1963 after a Boys Brigade exchange trip to Denmark, where he met Søren Lundgreen and went to stay with the family in Copenhagen. John told me that has kept in touch with Søren throughout the years. The Lundgren family was very musical. Søren played bass guitar, and on returning home John wanted to learn to play the bass guitar too. Like his brother Walter, John was taught to play the piano but didn’t like being hit over the knuckles with a ruler! Therefore the bass guitar and then the double bass became his métier.
Walter played piano with the Hamish Menzies Band at a regular dance in the Lochearnhead Hall on a Saturday night. Still in his teens, John was invited up by Hamish to sit in with the band to ‘hae a tune.’ It was there that he met Graham Myles who was on piano that night, because Walter had a cold. After that he was asked to join the Clachan Ceilidh Group, which was a complete concert party with singers, dancers and six-piece band. It was overseen by Jack Delaney and included Graham on piano and drummer Robert Ramsey. This band was a big influence in John’s life and so began an illustrious career in Scottish dance music. John, Graham and Robert went on to form the JGR Trio, playing light jazz. One of the highlights was when they entered a talent competition at the Dunblane Hydro and came second to the folk singer Moira Kerr.
Whilst at McNaughton’s Garage John met Bill Anderson, who was a parts delivery driver from Perth and played drums. Bill suggested that John should come up to the Perth Accordion and Fiddle Club, where he was introduced to Billy Craib, who was pleased to see another bass player at the club. It was there that he also met Willie Simpson, who asked John to play on an LP he was to record, and since then he has been a frequent visitor to many a club.
In the late 60s and early 70s he joined the Caberfeidh Dance Band run by Ricky Francis. Tommy Walker played accordion in this band, which went on to become the Tommy Walker Dance Band. After an audition for the BBC the Walker band did its first broadcast in 1973, and John went on to do many more broadcasts with other Scottish dance bands in the years to follow.
One gig in Rothesay with Tommy required the two of them to cross The Narrows, but they missed the last ferry over to the gig and had to get someone from the local pub to row them across. After two unsuccessful attempts at finding a seaworthy boat, they found one that didn’t leak too badly, and started their journey with the bass sticking out the front like a figurehead and Tommy sitting on his accordion box. They had to bail with a couple of cans and found that salt water was not good for Tommy’s blue suede shoes. The journey back at 1.00 am was a little easier, he told me.
John played with quite a few bands in the early 70s. This included summer concerts with Bobby Harvey in Largs on a Wednesday and Dunoon on a Thursday. As he says, it was always an experience! A week with Jimmy Shand was to follow in the North of England, with packed dance halls showing Shand’s popularity. John was asked to do more and more gigs, probably because he sees his job as laying down the foundation for the rest of the band, as he likes playing at the lower end of the bass, and thus enabling dancers to dance to the rhythm of the band.
In 1972 he was asked to join the Jimmy Blue Band on Andy Stewart’s tour down under, which meant asking for ten weeks off work. The band played to packed houses all the way, which for a novice tourer was a fantastic experience. The applause and cheering were deafening. Furthermore, there were tour managers that took care of everything, something unheard of on the Scottish scene. John remembers fondly an Air New Zealand inaugural flight from Sydney to Auckland when they were all served free drinks. He did not elaborate!
It was during his stay in Perth, WA that Ian Powrie invited the band to stay with him and his family for the five days that they played in the City Hall. John recalls that “we had mince and tatties, and apple pie. After so many weeks away missing home, it was just like being home.” Naturally there was music although Ian never took out his fiddle.
The band continued the tour, but on the trip to Zimbabwe the bass was lost in transit, something you don’t want to happen on a tour. Luckily it was returned the following day. When the tour ended it was back home to real life.
John and May used to visit the Dunblane Hydro to dance to Jim MacLeod’s five-piece band and always hoped that Robin Brock or Stan Saunders would be playing. At the time the Hydro was owned by Reo Stakis, and it was to become a very important part in John’s musical life. In 1974 John was asked to join the Jim MacLeod Band. He remembers playing for 300 to 400 people on a Saturday night. The hotel was a huge employer of musicians with up to 13 musicians playing in various areas at any one time, as well as a DJ. Jim’s band played there five nights a week from May to October. The work with Jim was varied. It was also here that John recognised the importance of always being immaculately dressed, especially for their television, theatre and concert work. The band had a large wardrobe of tartan jackets, dinner suits, white jackets, black trousers and different coloured shirts and ties. He still has the Jim MacLeod tartan jacket in his wardrobe and considers it one of most treasured possessions.
Stakis Hotels were good to musicians and also did a lot for charity. Jim once encouraged John to do something for the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust, which he agreed to. And being John he did not take the easy challenge! First, they ran dances to raise the £3,000 for the challenge, of John’s choosing. And in January 2003 he completed the trek up Kilimanjaro and raised £5,200 in total. It was an amazing experience, and the views, sunrises and sunsets at 5,895 metres were spectacular. However, it was difficult to eat food or sleep at -15c. He came back a honed man!
A recurring gig for John was to play for the Queen at the Ghillies’ Ball at Balmoral. He has done this from 1974 with Jim MacLeod and then John Carmichael, until the COVID-19 pandemic raised its ugly head. He also played with John Carmichael on the fourteen Northern Nights shows for Grampian TV. On the last show the band needed a stand-in piano player. His brother Walter who had emigrated to Australia was arriving back on holiday that day, and he was asked to join them so John finally got to play a gig with his brother!
Through the years, John became more and more busy with the MacLeod Band and he remembers doing three gigs in one day, making it a total of thirty-three gigs in the month. He was once asked to do a broadcast with Jim Johnstone for Take the Floor, as Jim and Billy Craib got their holiday dates mixed up and Stan Saunders was unavailable. It was a dream come true, but as was the norm he had to ask Jim MacLeod if this was ok. It was, but John, who had driven from his work in Stirling to Edinburgh, arrived late. He is still mortified at this, although Jim Johnstone forgave him.
Despite being very busy John loved his life and it was a great shock when Jim MacLeod died 2004 which perhaps heralded the end of an era. The music at the Hydro however continued for a while with the Jim Cleland Band.
It is not only Scottish dance music, but also traditional jazz and big band music that takes up John’s time. On one of the Northern Nights shows Alastair McDonald came along with Clan McJazz, and John enjoyed their spot. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAMt1NNSoBM). After the recording Alastair asked for John’s phone number and said he would be in touch. This led to a gig in Eaglesham, and after that he was asked to step in for the George Penman Band, as George, the bass player, was going on holiday. After George became ill, John continued as his deputy. When George died in 2009 John got the job of the organiser, running the band which became the Penman Jazzmen, because he had an email address! The Penman band did seven and a half years in King Tuts’ Wah Wah Hut and many other places around Glasgow, including under the clock at Central Station, where they had to keep turning down the volume for train announcements. They also did jazz festivals around the country. This band was formed in 1959 and because it played music the punters liked and at a tempo they enjoyed dancing to, it continued being popular until John called time on the band in 2021, because of the COVID-19 restrictions.
John joined the rehearsal band the Sound of Seventeen for a number of years, and this took him to play at concerts for the Edinburgh Festival and at the Cork Jazz Festival. Asked to name his favourite gigs, he would reply that his best experiences had been playing at a BBC Take The Floor broadcast with Robert Black at Pacific Quay in 2014 for the Commonwealth Games, the Radio Two Ballroom series ‘Saturday Nights’ in the Strathearn Restaurant at Gleneagles with pianist Donald Christie, jazz nights on the Waverley Paddle Steamer, and finally an appearance at the Perth Festival with a very young band led by Nicky McMichan (when a comment was made by another musician who shall remain nameless, that it was like Pa and the four weans coming on stage!)
John took early retirement from Morrisons in 2010, but he is not a man to sit at home. Apart from his music there is his decorating work which keeps him well occupied (after seeing his home I just might hire him!) He wants to play for as long as he can and there are bands playing music. He has enjoyed playing with many bands and musicians throughout the years - too many to mention - and he would like to thank them all for the gigs. He is currently the bass player with the Leonard Brown All-star Band. He enjoys life, the work, the gigs and the rush of adrenaline when performing. If life gets too hectic, he goes fly-fishing for rainbow trout at Orchill Loch. He also likes to go on holiday, and his tan from a recent one to Antigua is enviable.
John is a worthy recipient of the Guest of Honour Award, and we all look forward to hearing the dulcet tones from his double bass at many a club night and broadcast for a long time to come.
From Jim Cleland
Well done, John!
This is a well-deserved award in recognition of your ability as a bass player and your commitment to the music scene.
You have covered many different styles of music as well as the Scottish scene. Best known as part of the Jim MacLeod Band for many years and now playing bass in many of the top bands today. You played with the Penman Jazz Band and also provided dinner music in the Gleneagles Hotel for many years.
All the best for the future.
Multi-instrumentalist Mike Vass names first Associate Artist in Traditional Music at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Mike Vass, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and arranger, is the first…………..
TMSA Traditional Competitions
by Denis Shepherd
The general consensus was that it was great to be back ……………..……….
Musical Memories – Part 21
by Denis Shepherd
At the start of Musical Memories, I told you about my early interest ………..
Centre Stage
Willie MacKay MBE
IN MEMORY
Derek Hamilton – 1945 – 2022
by Charlie Kirkpatrick
Donald Ridley 1941 – 2022
by Roddy Matthews
The Borders lost one of their greatest accordionists on 11th April 2022 with the passing of Donald Ridley of Brampton.
Donald was born in 1941 into a musical Methodist family and his musical interest grew through singing and playing for some of the great hymns. He was an accomplished pianist and played for church services at some of the outlying chapels in the area. But he always loved Scottish dance music and at the age of 18 bought himself an accordion and started to play. He was a member of The Lyne Valley SDB for around 58 years, when he and the leader, David Bell, started to play together. One of his most famous tunes was Donald Ridley’s Compliments to Oliver Waugh, who played the fiddle for the band. He also wrote a lovely tune for David Bell’s sister, Rosalind Snaith, who was band pianist for many years.
Donald Ridley and David Bell were both founding Committee members of Gretna Accordion & Fiddle Club. Another well-known tune of Donald’s is Strawberries Galore. Indeed, Donald was a prolific composer of tunes and has left us with three wonderful printed volumes.
His first commercial recording was with local musicians on an L.P. called Bonnie North Tyne where he played on several tracks. In later life, with the assistance of Jim Nichol of Pathhead on keyboard, he recorded three wonderful albums which included many of his own compositions. He also made an album with The Lyne Valley SDB.
Donald also loved playing cricket and his idea of a good weekend was a fine cricket match followed by a night out playing with the band, travelling widely throughout the country to bring their music to others. A member of the family building business, Donald was known by all for being an extremely hard worker, occasionally retreating to the van to write down a new tune which had just come into his head.
Donald particularly loved his time in The Shetland Isles, where he stayed with Betty Galbraith, and he enjoyed a valued friendship with Willie Hunter and Jim & David Halcrow. Many of Donald’s tunes have a Shetland accent to them and remain challenging to players today. In more recent years Donald cherished memories of times spent playing music with Bryan Gear and Violet Tulloch.
A statement made by an old cricketing friend on Donald’s at his graveside was “He had not a bad bone in his body”, which was so true, for he was a man of high integrity – genuine and true to the last.
I was privileged, in his last few months, to play the last tune with him and lifted his accordion onto his weakened knees so he could play a beautiful set of Shetland Waltzes. Then a wry smile and a twinkle appeared in his eye as he burst into Crackens, a challenging reel by Graeme Mitchell, as if to say that towards the end of his life he could still play the harder tunes. Next time I called he was sadly unable to play again.
Donald was a man of Christian faith and with a love of roaming the hills, which he often walked alone, and also with a true love of Scottish dance music. He always encouraged both young and older players and he is greatly missed. He is remembered with huge affection by all who knew him.
John Cameron 1946 – 2022
by Jim Campbell
Accordionist and pianist John Cameron of Portree, a stalwart of the Skye Accordion & Fiddle Club, has for many years been admired for his musical talent and willingness to accompany and encourage other Club players.
His great experience was evident and countless people will remember John for his beautiful music in Portree Church of Scotland which he served for many years.
The sympathies of all who knew him go to Chrissie and their family in their sad loss.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Release – Frays Thomsen - Independent
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes
04/06/2022 – Archive repeat of Iain Cathcart SDB recorded for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002
11/06/2022 – Liam Stewart from October 2021
18/06/2022 – New – Susan MacFadyen SDB
25/06/2022 – New – Duncan Black SDBs
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Jubilee Hall, Newton-on-the Moor)
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 5th June 2022 – Lomond C.B.
Banchory (Royal British Legion) – -
Banff & District (The Fife Lodge Hotel) – 22nd June 2022 – Frank Morrison SDB
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) –
Blairgowrie (Rattray Bowling Club) - 8th June 2022 – Stella Wilkie & Joan Blue 14th June – Gavin Piper
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) –
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) -
Canderside (Stonehouse Bowling Club) -
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 9th June 2022 – Allandale Fiddlers
Castle Douglas (Threave Rovers Football Club) –
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) -
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) -
Crieff & District (British Legion)
Dingwall (National Hotel) –
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) –
Dunfermline (Masonic Hall, Rosyth) –
Dumfries (Crichton Royal Golf Club) -
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 26th June 2022 - tbc
Forres (Forres Golf Club) – 13th June 2022 - AGM
Galashiels (Clovenfors Hotel) -
Glendale (The Glendale Hall, Wooler) -
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 1st June 2022 – Nicola Braid & Gordon Haddow
Glenrothes (Queen Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 28th June 2022 – Colin Dewar
Gretna (The Richard Greenhow Centre) -
Hidden Toun (Haddington Bowling Club) -
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 20th June 2022 - AGM
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) - 8th June 2022 - AGM
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) –
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) –
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) - 17th June 2022 – Club Night
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite, Mauchline & District Kilmarnock FC Supporters Club) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 1st June 2022 – Kyle Innes
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 1st June 2022 – Concert in aid of local performers
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 2nd June 2022 – Freeland Barbour & The Occasionals
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 7th 14th 28th June 2022 – Club Nights 21st June – Leonard Brown
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
TMSA (Aberdeen) – Sportmans Club - 21st June 2022 - Session
Turriff (Royal British Legion, Fyvie) – 2nd June 2022 – Tom Orr Trio
Tynedale (Tynedale Farmers Function Suite) – 16th June 2022 – Roger Dobson SDB
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Arbroath
2. Biggar
3. Blairgowrie
4. Buttonkey
5. Canderside
6. Castle Douglas
7. Crieff
8. Dingwall & District
9. Dumfries
10. Dunfermline
11. Forfar
12. Glendale
13. Glenfarg
14. Highland
15. Isle of Skye
16. Kelso
17. Langholm
18. Mauchline
19. Perth
20. Seghill
21. Turriff & District
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT DEC 2022
(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. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
4. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
5. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
6. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
7. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
8. Button Key A&F Club (
9. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
10. Canderside A&F Club (Stonehouse) (Feb 2019 – present)
11. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
12. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
13. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
14. Coalburn A&F Club (
15. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
16. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
17. Dumfries A&F Club (1965 renamed Islesteps Jan 1981 – 2021 then back to Dumfries)
18. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
19. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
20. Forfar A&F Club (1984 – present)
21. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
22. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
23. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
24. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
25. 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)
26. Hidden Toun A&F (Haddington) (Jan 2022 – present)
27. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
28. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
29. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
30. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
31. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
32. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
33. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
34. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
35. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
36. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
37. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
38. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
39. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
40. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
41. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
42. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
43 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
44 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
45 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
46 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
47 Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership, closed due to Covid or omitted in error?)
48. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – Covid 19 – March 2020)
49. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
50. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
51. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
52. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – restarted ? till Covid 19 in March 2020)
53. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
54. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
55. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
56. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
57. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
58. Britannia B&F Club (joined 07-08 but much older
59. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
60. Buchan A&F Club
61. Callander A&F Club (
62. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980 – 1997?)
63. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
64. Club Accord
65. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
66 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
67. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
68. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
69. Cults A & F Club (
70. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
71. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981 - ?)
72. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
73. Derwentside A&F Club
74. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
75. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
76. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
77. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
78. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
79. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – April 2020 – Covid19)
80. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
81. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
82. Ellon A&F Club (1984 – April 2020 Covid19)
83. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
84. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
85. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F - later The Railway Club, Inverlochy )
86. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
87. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 – March 2018)
88. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
89. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
90. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
91. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
92. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
93. Kintore A&F Club (
94. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
95. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
96. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
97. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
98. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
99. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – March 2020 - Covid)
100. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 – Covid 19 – March 2020)
101. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
102. Maine Valley A&F Club (
103. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
104. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
105. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
106. Mull A&F Club
107. Newcastleton Accordion Club
108. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
109. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
110. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
111. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
112. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
113. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
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 – closed at Covid 19 in March 2020)
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 – Scott Band
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
First of all: have you contacted Charlie Kirkpatrick for your ticket to the AGM and Celebrity Luncheon? .…….
Pia
From the Chairman
As I write this, I hope that this finds you all well. After a difficult 2 years coping with Lockdown, we are seeing a return to normality across the country with the Accordion & Fiddle clubs starting to meet again. However, the spectre of covid, although receding, has not disappeared completely. Many of our member Clubs have reopened, albeit with attendances below the norm, but we expect all to be up and running by the traditional season start in the autumn.
With this in mind, the NAAFC Executive Committee have taken the difficult decision to suspend the publication of the Box and Fiddle for the summer months when few Clubs are meeting. This means we are stopping after the June issue and restarting in October.
The maxim of the NAAFC and the B&F magazine is to support the Accordion & Fiddle Club members of the Association and, since the majority of magazine sales are via the Clubs, the sensible approach was to break over the summer and pick up in October as we expect most Clubs will then return to normality.
For all of our direct subscribers, fear not – your subscription will carry on after the summer break and you will still receive your full compliment of subscribed copies.
We hope you understand the reasons behind the decision, and look forward to seeing as many as possible at the AGM and Celebrity Luncheon at The Invercarse Hotel, Dundee on 26th June.
Nicol McLaren
Guests of Honour 2022
John Sinton – in Interview with Pia Walker
John was born in Bridge of Allan Nursing Home and lived with his mum Charlotte (Lottie), dad William (Willie) and older brother Walter in Dunblane. In his pre-teen years the family moved house and by pure coincidence moved in to Jim MacLeod’s old house. In his early twenties John married May and moved to Blackford where their daughter Amanda was born. They stayed there for seven years and then moved to Dunblane, where his son Steven was born in the house that they bought from seeing a plan at the Ideal Home Exhibition in 1978, and in which they still stay. It has a lovely sunroom at the back of the house, where numerous band practices and parties have been held, and where other Dunblane musicians such as the late Billy Thom used to come for a tune and a whisky. Billy always liked May’s generous measures!
Neither of John and May’s two children is musically inclined. Amanda is a software analyst and Steven works for the HM Revenue & Customs. However, John has three ladies in his home: May, who he says is the best support a man could have, and two double basses, both beautiful instruments, one of which was given to him by his predecessor in the Jim MacLeod Band, Robin Brock, and which has now been refurbished to playing condition.
Although his first job was as a milk delivery boy, John also delivered messages for a local grocer’s shop two nights a week. This was the original home delivery service on a grocer’s bicycle! After McLaren High School he went to the trade school in Perth, and learnt more in one year there than he did in the high school. He worked for McNaughton’s Garage in Blackford which was a good apprentice training ground for what was to come, and by his early twenties he was running the small body shop there. He then started working for Morrisons Landrover Ltd, Stirling in 1976 as a panel beater and progressed through to the manager’s job in the body and paint shop, where he worked for 20 years. This was his dream job: he loved seeing damaged vehicles brought back to pre-accident condition. The staff were excellent, and he had a company car. He was also given time off by his boss whenever he needed it to go and play music!
John took early retirement after 34 years of working for Morrisons and now he enjoys working as a decorator. This took him once to London for an Edinburgh interior designer, to decorate a new flat in Tower West Chelsea.
John’s interest in playing music started in 1963 after a Boys Brigade exchange trip to Denmark, where he met Søren Lundgreen and went to stay with the family in Copenhagen. John told me that has kept in touch with Søren throughout the years. The Lundgren family was very musical. Søren played bass guitar, and on returning home John wanted to learn to play the bass guitar too. Like his brother Walter, John was taught to play the piano but didn’t like being hit over the knuckles with a ruler! Therefore the bass guitar and then the double bass became his métier.
Walter played piano with the Hamish Menzies Band at a regular dance in the Lochearnhead Hall on a Saturday night. Still in his teens, John was invited up by Hamish to sit in with the band to ‘hae a tune.’ It was there that he met Graham Myles who was on piano that night, because Walter had a cold. After that he was asked to join the Clachan Ceilidh Group, which was a complete concert party with singers, dancers and six-piece band. It was overseen by Jack Delaney and included Graham on piano and drummer Robert Ramsey. This band was a big influence in John’s life and so began an illustrious career in Scottish dance music. John, Graham and Robert went on to form the JGR Trio, playing light jazz. One of the highlights was when they entered a talent competition at the Dunblane Hydro and came second to the folk singer Moira Kerr.
Whilst at McNaughton’s Garage John met Bill Anderson, who was a parts delivery driver from Perth and played drums. Bill suggested that John should come up to the Perth Accordion and Fiddle Club, where he was introduced to Billy Craib, who was pleased to see another bass player at the club. It was there that he also met Willie Simpson, who asked John to play on an LP he was to record, and since then he has been a frequent visitor to many a club.
In the late 60s and early 70s he joined the Caberfeidh Dance Band run by Ricky Francis. Tommy Walker played accordion in this band, which went on to become the Tommy Walker Dance Band. After an audition for the BBC the Walker band did its first broadcast in 1973, and John went on to do many more broadcasts with other Scottish dance bands in the years to follow.
One gig in Rothesay with Tommy required the two of them to cross The Narrows, but they missed the last ferry over to the gig and had to get someone from the local pub to row them across. After two unsuccessful attempts at finding a seaworthy boat, they found one that didn’t leak too badly, and started their journey with the bass sticking out the front like a figurehead and Tommy sitting on his accordion box. They had to bail with a couple of cans and found that salt water was not good for Tommy’s blue suede shoes. The journey back at 1.00 am was a little easier, he told me.
John played with quite a few bands in the early 70s. This included summer concerts with Bobby Harvey in Largs on a Wednesday and Dunoon on a Thursday. As he says, it was always an experience! A week with Jimmy Shand was to follow in the North of England, with packed dance halls showing Shand’s popularity. John was asked to do more and more gigs, probably because he sees his job as laying down the foundation for the rest of the band, as he likes playing at the lower end of the bass, and thus enabling dancers to dance to the rhythm of the band.
In 1972 he was asked to join the Jimmy Blue Band on Andy Stewart’s tour down under, which meant asking for ten weeks off work. The band played to packed houses all the way, which for a novice tourer was a fantastic experience. The applause and cheering were deafening. Furthermore, there were tour managers that took care of everything, something unheard of on the Scottish scene. John remembers fondly an Air New Zealand inaugural flight from Sydney to Auckland when they were all served free drinks. He did not elaborate!
It was during his stay in Perth, WA that Ian Powrie invited the band to stay with him and his family for the five days that they played in the City Hall. John recalls that “we had mince and tatties, and apple pie. After so many weeks away missing home, it was just like being home.” Naturally there was music although Ian never took out his fiddle.
The band continued the tour, but on the trip to Zimbabwe the bass was lost in transit, something you don’t want to happen on a tour. Luckily it was returned the following day. When the tour ended it was back home to real life.
John and May used to visit the Dunblane Hydro to dance to Jim MacLeod’s five-piece band and always hoped that Robin Brock or Stan Saunders would be playing. At the time the Hydro was owned by Reo Stakis, and it was to become a very important part in John’s musical life. In 1974 John was asked to join the Jim MacLeod Band. He remembers playing for 300 to 400 people on a Saturday night. The hotel was a huge employer of musicians with up to 13 musicians playing in various areas at any one time, as well as a DJ. Jim’s band played there five nights a week from May to October. The work with Jim was varied. It was also here that John recognised the importance of always being immaculately dressed, especially for their television, theatre and concert work. The band had a large wardrobe of tartan jackets, dinner suits, white jackets, black trousers and different coloured shirts and ties. He still has the Jim MacLeod tartan jacket in his wardrobe and considers it one of most treasured possessions.
Stakis Hotels were good to musicians and also did a lot for charity. Jim once encouraged John to do something for the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust, which he agreed to. And being John he did not take the easy challenge! First, they ran dances to raise the £3,000 for the challenge, of John’s choosing. And in January 2003 he completed the trek up Kilimanjaro and raised £5,200 in total. It was an amazing experience, and the views, sunrises and sunsets at 5,895 metres were spectacular. However, it was difficult to eat food or sleep at -15c. He came back a honed man!
A recurring gig for John was to play for the Queen at the Ghillies’ Ball at Balmoral. He has done this from 1974 with Jim MacLeod and then John Carmichael, until the COVID-19 pandemic raised its ugly head. He also played with John Carmichael on the fourteen Northern Nights shows for Grampian TV. On the last show the band needed a stand-in piano player. His brother Walter who had emigrated to Australia was arriving back on holiday that day, and he was asked to join them so John finally got to play a gig with his brother!
Through the years, John became more and more busy with the MacLeod Band and he remembers doing three gigs in one day, making it a total of thirty-three gigs in the month. He was once asked to do a broadcast with Jim Johnstone for Take the Floor, as Jim and Billy Craib got their holiday dates mixed up and Stan Saunders was unavailable. It was a dream come true, but as was the norm he had to ask Jim MacLeod if this was ok. It was, but John, who had driven from his work in Stirling to Edinburgh, arrived late. He is still mortified at this, although Jim Johnstone forgave him.
Despite being very busy John loved his life and it was a great shock when Jim MacLeod died 2004 which perhaps heralded the end of an era. The music at the Hydro however continued for a while with the Jim Cleland Band.
It is not only Scottish dance music, but also traditional jazz and big band music that takes up John’s time. On one of the Northern Nights shows Alastair McDonald came along with Clan McJazz, and John enjoyed their spot. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAMt1NNSoBM). After the recording Alastair asked for John’s phone number and said he would be in touch. This led to a gig in Eaglesham, and after that he was asked to step in for the George Penman Band, as George, the bass player, was going on holiday. After George became ill, John continued as his deputy. When George died in 2009 John got the job of the organiser, running the band which became the Penman Jazzmen, because he had an email address! The Penman band did seven and a half years in King Tuts’ Wah Wah Hut and many other places around Glasgow, including under the clock at Central Station, where they had to keep turning down the volume for train announcements. They also did jazz festivals around the country. This band was formed in 1959 and because it played music the punters liked and at a tempo they enjoyed dancing to, it continued being popular until John called time on the band in 2021, because of the COVID-19 restrictions.
John joined the rehearsal band the Sound of Seventeen for a number of years, and this took him to play at concerts for the Edinburgh Festival and at the Cork Jazz Festival. Asked to name his favourite gigs, he would reply that his best experiences had been playing at a BBC Take The Floor broadcast with Robert Black at Pacific Quay in 2014 for the Commonwealth Games, the Radio Two Ballroom series ‘Saturday Nights’ in the Strathearn Restaurant at Gleneagles with pianist Donald Christie, jazz nights on the Waverley Paddle Steamer, and finally an appearance at the Perth Festival with a very young band led by Nicky McMichan (when a comment was made by another musician who shall remain nameless, that it was like Pa and the four weans coming on stage!)
John took early retirement from Morrisons in 2010, but he is not a man to sit at home. Apart from his music there is his decorating work which keeps him well occupied (after seeing his home I just might hire him!) He wants to play for as long as he can and there are bands playing music. He has enjoyed playing with many bands and musicians throughout the years - too many to mention - and he would like to thank them all for the gigs. He is currently the bass player with the Leonard Brown All-star Band. He enjoys life, the work, the gigs and the rush of adrenaline when performing. If life gets too hectic, he goes fly-fishing for rainbow trout at Orchill Loch. He also likes to go on holiday, and his tan from a recent one to Antigua is enviable.
John is a worthy recipient of the Guest of Honour Award, and we all look forward to hearing the dulcet tones from his double bass at many a club night and broadcast for a long time to come.
From Jim Cleland
Well done, John!
This is a well-deserved award in recognition of your ability as a bass player and your commitment to the music scene.
You have covered many different styles of music as well as the Scottish scene. Best known as part of the Jim MacLeod Band for many years and now playing bass in many of the top bands today. You played with the Penman Jazz Band and also provided dinner music in the Gleneagles Hotel for many years.
All the best for the future.
Multi-instrumentalist Mike Vass names first Associate Artist in Traditional Music at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Mike Vass, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and arranger, is the first…………..
TMSA Traditional Competitions
by Denis Shepherd
The general consensus was that it was great to be back ……………..……….
Musical Memories – Part 21
by Denis Shepherd
At the start of Musical Memories, I told you about my early interest ………..
Centre Stage
Willie MacKay MBE
IN MEMORY
Derek Hamilton – 1945 – 2022
by Charlie Kirkpatrick
Donald Ridley 1941 – 2022
by Roddy Matthews
The Borders lost one of their greatest accordionists on 11th April 2022 with the passing of Donald Ridley of Brampton.
Donald was born in 1941 into a musical Methodist family and his musical interest grew through singing and playing for some of the great hymns. He was an accomplished pianist and played for church services at some of the outlying chapels in the area. But he always loved Scottish dance music and at the age of 18 bought himself an accordion and started to play. He was a member of The Lyne Valley SDB for around 58 years, when he and the leader, David Bell, started to play together. One of his most famous tunes was Donald Ridley’s Compliments to Oliver Waugh, who played the fiddle for the band. He also wrote a lovely tune for David Bell’s sister, Rosalind Snaith, who was band pianist for many years.
Donald Ridley and David Bell were both founding Committee members of Gretna Accordion & Fiddle Club. Another well-known tune of Donald’s is Strawberries Galore. Indeed, Donald was a prolific composer of tunes and has left us with three wonderful printed volumes.
His first commercial recording was with local musicians on an L.P. called Bonnie North Tyne where he played on several tracks. In later life, with the assistance of Jim Nichol of Pathhead on keyboard, he recorded three wonderful albums which included many of his own compositions. He also made an album with The Lyne Valley SDB.
Donald also loved playing cricket and his idea of a good weekend was a fine cricket match followed by a night out playing with the band, travelling widely throughout the country to bring their music to others. A member of the family building business, Donald was known by all for being an extremely hard worker, occasionally retreating to the van to write down a new tune which had just come into his head.
Donald particularly loved his time in The Shetland Isles, where he stayed with Betty Galbraith, and he enjoyed a valued friendship with Willie Hunter and Jim & David Halcrow. Many of Donald’s tunes have a Shetland accent to them and remain challenging to players today. In more recent years Donald cherished memories of times spent playing music with Bryan Gear and Violet Tulloch.
A statement made by an old cricketing friend on Donald’s at his graveside was “He had not a bad bone in his body”, which was so true, for he was a man of high integrity – genuine and true to the last.
I was privileged, in his last few months, to play the last tune with him and lifted his accordion onto his weakened knees so he could play a beautiful set of Shetland Waltzes. Then a wry smile and a twinkle appeared in his eye as he burst into Crackens, a challenging reel by Graeme Mitchell, as if to say that towards the end of his life he could still play the harder tunes. Next time I called he was sadly unable to play again.
Donald was a man of Christian faith and with a love of roaming the hills, which he often walked alone, and also with a true love of Scottish dance music. He always encouraged both young and older players and he is greatly missed. He is remembered with huge affection by all who knew him.
John Cameron 1946 – 2022
by Jim Campbell
Accordionist and pianist John Cameron of Portree, a stalwart of the Skye Accordion & Fiddle Club, has for many years been admired for his musical talent and willingness to accompany and encourage other Club players.
His great experience was evident and countless people will remember John for his beautiful music in Portree Church of Scotland which he served for many years.
The sympathies of all who knew him go to Chrissie and their family in their sad loss.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Release – Frays Thomsen - Independent
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes
04/06/2022 – Archive repeat of Iain Cathcart SDB recorded for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002
11/06/2022 – Liam Stewart from October 2021
18/06/2022 – New – Susan MacFadyen SDB
25/06/2022 – New – Duncan Black SDBs
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Jubilee Hall, Newton-on-the Moor)
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 5th June 2022 – Lomond C.B.
Banchory (Royal British Legion) – -
Banff & District (The Fife Lodge Hotel) – 22nd June 2022 – Frank Morrison SDB
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) –
Blairgowrie (Rattray Bowling Club) - 8th June 2022 – Stella Wilkie & Joan Blue 14th June – Gavin Piper
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) –
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) -
Canderside (Stonehouse Bowling Club) -
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 9th June 2022 – Allandale Fiddlers
Castle Douglas (Threave Rovers Football Club) –
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) -
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) -
Crieff & District (British Legion)
Dingwall (National Hotel) –
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) –
Dunfermline (Masonic Hall, Rosyth) –
Dumfries (Crichton Royal Golf Club) -
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 26th June 2022 - tbc
Forres (Forres Golf Club) – 13th June 2022 - AGM
Galashiels (Clovenfors Hotel) -
Glendale (The Glendale Hall, Wooler) -
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 1st June 2022 – Nicola Braid & Gordon Haddow
Glenrothes (Queen Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 28th June 2022 – Colin Dewar
Gretna (The Richard Greenhow Centre) -
Hidden Toun (Haddington Bowling Club) -
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 20th June 2022 - AGM
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) - 8th June 2022 - AGM
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) –
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) –
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) - 17th June 2022 – Club Night
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite, Mauchline & District Kilmarnock FC Supporters Club) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 1st June 2022 – Kyle Innes
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 1st June 2022 – Concert in aid of local performers
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 2nd June 2022 – Freeland Barbour & The Occasionals
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 7th 14th 28th June 2022 – Club Nights 21st June – Leonard Brown
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
TMSA (Aberdeen) – Sportmans Club - 21st June 2022 - Session
Turriff (Royal British Legion, Fyvie) – 2nd June 2022 – Tom Orr Trio
Tynedale (Tynedale Farmers Function Suite) – 16th June 2022 – Roger Dobson SDB
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Arbroath
2. Biggar
3. Blairgowrie
4. Buttonkey
5. Canderside
6. Castle Douglas
7. Crieff
8. Dingwall & District
9. Dumfries
10. Dunfermline
11. Forfar
12. Glendale
13. Glenfarg
14. Highland
15. Isle of Skye
16. Kelso
17. Langholm
18. Mauchline
19. Perth
20. Seghill
21. Turriff & District
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT DEC 2022
(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. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
4. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
5. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
6. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
7. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
8. Button Key A&F Club (
9. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
10. Canderside A&F Club (Stonehouse) (Feb 2019 – present)
11. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
12. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
13. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
14. Coalburn A&F Club (
15. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
16. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
17. Dumfries A&F Club (1965 renamed Islesteps Jan 1981 – 2021 then back to Dumfries)
18. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
19. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
20. Forfar A&F Club (1984 – present)
21. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
22. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
23. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
24. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
25. 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)
26. Hidden Toun A&F (Haddington) (Jan 2022 – present)
27. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
28. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
29. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
30. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
31. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
32. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
33. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
34. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
35. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
36. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
37. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
38. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
39. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
40. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
41. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
42. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
43 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
44 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
45 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
46 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
47 Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership, closed due to Covid or omitted in error?)
48. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – Covid 19 – March 2020)
49. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
50. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
51. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
52. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – restarted ? till Covid 19 in March 2020)
53. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
54. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
55. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
56. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
57. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
58. Britannia B&F Club (joined 07-08 but much older
59. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
60. Buchan A&F Club
61. Callander A&F Club (
62. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980 – 1997?)
63. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
64. Club Accord
65. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
66 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
67. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
68. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
69. Cults A & F Club (
70. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
71. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981 - ?)
72. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
73. Derwentside A&F Club
74. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
75. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
76. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
77. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
78. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
79. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – April 2020 – Covid19)
80. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
81. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
82. Ellon A&F Club (1984 – April 2020 Covid19)
83. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
84. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
85. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F - later The Railway Club, Inverlochy )
86. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
87. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 – March 2018)
88. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
89. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
90. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
91. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
92. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
93. Kintore A&F Club (
94. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
95. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
96. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
97. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
98. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
99. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – March 2020 - Covid)
100. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 – Covid 19 – March 2020)
101. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
102. Maine Valley A&F Club (
103. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
104. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
105. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
106. Mull A&F Club
107. Newcastleton Accordion Club
108. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
109. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
110. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
111. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
112. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
113. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
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 – closed at Covid 19 in March 2020)
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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