Box and Fiddle Archive
  • Home
  • Musician Biographies
    • Surnames A to B >
      • Mickie Ainsworth
      • Tom Alexander MBE >
        • 1998 - 40 Years in Showbiz
        • Oct 2008 - 50th Anniversary
        • Oct 2008 - 50th Anniversary
        • 2009 Guest of honour
        • 2009 Guest of Honour
        • Nov 2013 Jack's Obituary
      • Paul Anderson of Tarland
      • Dr Tom Anderson MBE
      • Willie Atkinson
      • Freeland Barbour
      • Dave Barclay
      • George Bell
      • Bill Black >
        • 2006
        • March 1983
      • Jimmy Blair
      • Jimmy Blue >
        • Oct / Nov 1990
        • February 2000
      • Joan Blue (1987) >
        • Joan Blue (2016)
      • David Bowen
      • Robin Brock >
        • Oct 1982
        • Feb 1982
        • Mar 2014
      • Bill Brown (CD Reviewer)
      • Bobby Brown (Adam Rennie Quartet)
      • Bobby Brown (Canada) >
        • March 1982
        • April 1997
        • January 2007
        • May 2011
      • Felix Burns
    • Surnames C - D >
      • Stuart Cameron
      • John Carmichael
      • Rab Carruthers
      • Iain Cathcart
      • Bobby Coghill
      • Bobby Colgan
      • Jack Cooper
      • Charlie Cowie
      • Jim Crawford
      • John Crawford
      • Bobby Crowe
      • David Cunningham Snr
      • George Darling
      • Jack Delaney
      • Keith Dickson
      • Roger Dobson
      • Blair Douglas >
        • Run Rig Dance Band
      • John Douglas
    • Surnames E to G >
      • Jimmy Edwards
      • John Ellis
      • Robin Ellis >
        • Robin Ellis
      • Jack Emblow
      • Bill Ewan
      • Colin Finlayson
      • Angus Fitchet
      • David Flockhart
      • Ewan Galloway
      • Graham Geddes
      • Ron Gonella >
        • Mar 1994
        • Oct 1982
      • Rob Gordon
      • Niel Gow
      • Billy Grant (drummer)
    • Surnames H - J >
      • Jim Halcrow >
        • Jim Halcrow
      • Derek Hamilton
      • Stan Hamilton
      • William Hannah
      • Matthew Hardie
      • Addie Harper
      • Isobel Harper
      • Bobby Harvey
      • Bill Hendry
      • Ian Holmes
      • Max Houliston >
        • Jan 1983
        • March 1992
      • Tom Hughes (1986)
      • Alastair Hunter
      • Graham Jamieson >
        • Dec 1983
      • Jim Johnstone >
        • March 1982
        • Sept 1992
    • Surnames K to L >
      • Ron Kerr
      • Charlie Kirkpatrick
      • Andrew Knight
      • Sandy Legget
      • Judith Linton
    • Surnames Mac - Mc >
      • Alex MacArthur
      • Alasdair MacCuish
      • Alistair McCulloch
      • Fergie MacDonald
      • Jim Mackay (Caithness)
      • Bobby MacLeod >
        • Memories of (2009)
      • Jim MacLeod
      • Rory MacLeod
      • Neil McMillan
      • Iain MacPhail >
        • May 2003
        • Sept 1982
      • Fraser McGlynn
      • Nicol McLaren
    • Surnames M >
      • Dougie Maxwell
      • Gus Millar
      • Graeme Mitchell
      • Dennis Morrison
      • Ian Muir
      • Bert Murray
      • Ken Mutch
    • Surnames N - P >
      • Paddy Neary
      • Craig Paton
      • Gordon Pattullo >
        • Gordon Pattullo (40th Anniv)
      • Iain Peterson
      • Ian Powrie >
        • The People's Journal
        • Sept 1983
    • Surnames R >
      • Andrew Rankine
      • Frank Reid
      • Tony Reid
      • Adam Rennie
      • John Renton
      • Donal Ring
      • Jim Ritchie
      • Arthur Scott Robertson
      • Graham Ross
      • Lindsay Ross
    • Surnames S >
      • Stan Saunders
      • Sir Jimmy Shand >
        • April 1982
        • Feb 1998 (90 Years old)
        • Feb 1999 (Knighthood)
        • Jan 2001
        • Feb 2001 (Tributes)
        • Oct 2003 (Sculpture)
        • Sept 2016 (Auction of Memorabilia)
      • Neil Sinclair
      • James Scott Skinner >
        • April 1993
      • Robbie Shepherd >
        • October 1985
        • M.B.E. March 2001
        • 2006 Hamish Henderson Award
      • George 'Faunty' Smith
      • Gordon Smith
      • Hamish Smith
      • Will Starr
      • Andy Stewart MBE
      • Liam Stewart
      • George Stirrat
    • Surnames T >
      • Bill Thom
      • Kenny Thomson
      • Sandy Tulloch
      • Violet Tulloch
    • Surnames W - Y >
      • David Vernon
      • Robin & Deryn Waitt
      • Robert Whitehead
      • Bill Wilkie MBE
      • Pam Wilkie
      • Norrie Williams
      • Callum Wilson
      • Ena Wilson
      • Iain Wilson
      • Kenny Wilson
      • Peter and Daniel Wyper
      • Jimmy Yeaman
    • Poems by Andy Stewart >
      • Jimmy Shand
      • Angus Fitchet
      • Bobby MacLeod
      • Ian Powrie
    • Poem by Jock Turpie
  • Roll of Honour
    • Accordion Teachers >
      • Ian Anderson (2018)
      • Jean Brown (2009) >
        • Jean Brown (Cambusnethan, Wishaw)
      • Louis Cabrelli
      • Renaldo Capaldi (2008)
      • Charles Duncan
      • Peter Farnan
      • Ron Hodgson (1982)
      • Ron Hodgson (2014)
      • Charles 'Chick' Kelly (21/01/95)
      • Chrissie Leatham
      • Jimmy Martin (2008)
      • Owen Murray
      • Bill Spence (2007)
      • Tom Veldon (15/01/95)
      • Wilson Wood (2005)
      • Rosemary Wright
    • Obituaries >
      • A to B >
        • Bobby Abbott (2016)
        • Mickie Ainsworth (2012)
        • Tom Alexander MBE (2020)
        • Ian Anderson (Forres) 2004
        • John Anderson (2005)
        • Will Atkinson (2003)
        • Dave Barclay (2010)
        • JIm Barrie (2016)
        • Bill Black (2016)
        • Jim Berry (2012)
        • Jimmy Blue (1999)
        • Bill Brian (2011)
        • Jim Brown (1998)
      • C >
        • Angus Cameron (1998)
        • Colin Campbell (2015)
        • Duncan Campbell (2011)
        • Tom Clark (2020)
        • Ronnie Coburn (2010)
        • Bobby Colgan (2020)
        • Terry Connor (2000)
        • Ronnie Cooper (1982)
        • Alan ' Barney' Coulson (2020)
        • Charlie Cowie (1995)
        • Ernie Cowie (2009)
        • Billy Craib (2019)
        • Jim Crawford (2007)
        • John Crawford (2020)
        • Ian Crichton (1934 - 99)
        • Bobby Cronie (1998)
        • Roger Crook (1942 - 2013)
        • Bobby Crowe (2014)
      • D to E >
        • Tony Dalton (2014)
        • Adrian Dante (2005)
        • Margaret Davidson (2020)
        • Robin Davidson (2020)
        • Jim Devlin (1989)
        • Fred Donald (Forres) 2017
        • Ian Duncan (2011)
        • Maurice Duncan (2017)
        • Tommy Edmondson (2001)
        • Bob Edward (1998)
        • Peem Edwards (1999)
        • John Ellis (2015)
      • F to G >
        • John Fairbairn (2003)
        • Frank Farquharson (2002)
        • Colin Finlayson (1952-93)
        • Angus Fitchet (1998)
        • Tommy Ford (2017)
        • John Gibson (1961 - 1990)
        • Eric Goodfellow (2008)
        • Joe Gordon (2020)
        • Rob Gordon (24/04/94)
        • Hebbie Gray (2018)
        • Jack Gray (1929-2013)
        • Wilbert (Bill) Grund (2010)
      • H to K >
        • Jim Halcrow (2015)
        • Tom Hall (2011)
        • Ian Hardie (2012)
        • William J. Hardie (1916 - 95)
        • Addie Harper (2002)
        • Alistair Henderson (2005)
        • Bill Hendry (1995) (of Falkirk)
        • Alasdair Heron (2010)
        • Bob Hobkirk (2002)
        • Ian Holmes (2017) >
          • Ian Holmes (2017)
        • John Huband (1942 - 2000)
        • Christine Hunter (1998)
        • Willie Hunter (1994)
        • Joe Hutton (1995)
        • Dave Ireland (1992)
        • Gordon Jamieson (2005)
        • Bryce Johnstone (2017)
        • Allan Kindness (2014)
      • L >
        • John Laidlaw (1996)
        • Florence Lawie (2020)
        • Tommy Lees (2014)
        • Bruce Lindsay Snr (2020)
        • Jimmy Lindsay (2020)
        • Alex Little (2001)
        • Ben Lyons (2015)
      • Mac to M >
        • Duncan 'Dochie' MacCallum (2020)
        • Mark MacDougall (2015)
        • Iain MacFadyen (1983) (Producer)
        • Ally MacIntyre (2015)
        • John Mackie (1996)
        • Calum MacLean (2015)
        • Jim MacLeod (2004)
        • Jim MacRae (2001)
        • Rory MacLeod (2019)
        • Gervasio Marcosignori (2013)
        • John McDonald (2016)
        • Fraser McGlynn (2018)
        • Ewan McGowan (2015)
        • Blanche McInnes (1988)
        • Allan McIntosh (2012)
        • Iain McLachlan (1995)
        • Bob McMath (2016)
        • Hamish Menzies (2020)
        • Jim Muir (2001)
        • George Muir (1995)
        • Bert Murray MBE (2003)
      • N to R >
        • Andrew Nairn (2010)
        • Eann Nicolson (1990)
        • Dermot O'Brien (2007)
        • Stan Peacock (1994)
        • Davie Pollock (of Roslin) (2018)
        • Bill Powrie (1980)
        • Ian Powrie (2011)
        • Dave Pullar (2020)
        • Bert Rae (2015)
        • Ian Redford (1988)
        • Jimmy Ritchie (2001)
        • John Rooney (2015)
        • Graham Ross (2020)
        • Walter Rutherford (2018)
      • S to T >
        • Stan Saunders (2011)
        • Davie Simpson of Invergowrie (1999)
        • Gordon Simpson (2016)
        • Bill Smith (1998) (Banchory)
        • Ian Smith (2005) First Editor)
        • Margaret Smith (2015)
        • Rosalind Snaith (2020)
        • Arthur Spink (2017)
        • Jack Stalker (2019)
        • Alex 'Toby' Stewart (2010)
        • Andy Stewart (1933-93)
        • Billy Stewart (2016)
        • Roy Stewart (2005)
        • Peter Straughan (1999)
        • Kenny Thomson (2013)
        • Toralf Tollefsen (27/11/94)
        • Bobby Torrance (2011)
        • Dr Sandy Tulloch (2006)
      • U to Z >
        • Jimmy Urquhart (1993)
        • Roddy Urquhart (2000)
        • Charlie Walkins (2014)
        • Bill Wilkie (2017)
        • Ian Wilkie (1995)
        • Pam Wilkie (2016)
        • Norrie Williams (2015)
        • Willie Wilson (1991) (Beith)
  • NAAFC Awards Archive
    • NAAFC Honours >
      • 1979
      • 1980s >
        • 1981 Angus Fitchet
        • 1982 Bobby MacLeod
        • 1983 Ian Powrie
        • 1984 Andy Stewart MBE
      • 1990s >
        • 1990 Jimmy Blue
        • 1992 Robbie Shepherd MBE
        • 1994 Alex MacArthur
        • 1994 Andrew Rankine
        • 1995 Max Houliston
        • 1996 Jim MacLeod MBE
        • 1997 Musicians of Shetland
        • 1998 Ian Holmes
        • 1999 Bill Black
      • 2000s >
        • 2000 Bobby Crowe
        • 2000 Alex Little
        • 2000 Jim Ritchie
        • 2000 Stan Saunders
        • 2000 Bill Thom
        • 2000 Pam Wilkie
        • 2001 Mickie Ainsworth
        • 2001 Addie Harper
        • 2001 Jim Johnstone
        • 2001 Bill Wilkie MBE
        • 2002 Dave Barclay
        • 2002 John Crawford
        • 2002 David Cunningham
        • 2002 Gus Millar
        • 2002 Jimmy Yeaman
        • 2003 Iain MacPhail
        • 2004 John Carmichael
        • 2004 Iain Peterson
        • 2005 Bobby Coghill
        • 2005 Ken Mutch
        • 2005 Robert Whitehead
        • 2006 Jack Cooper
        • 2006 Jack Delaney
        • 2006 David Flockhart
        • 2007 Jimmy Burgess
        • 2007 Bobby Colgan
        • 2008 Bobby Harvey
        • 2008 Neil MacMillan
        • 2008 Gordon Pattullo
        • 2009 Tom Alexander MBE
        • 2009 Andrew Knight
      • 2010s >
        • 2010 John Ellis
        • 2010 Fraser McGlynn
        • 2011 Bobby Brown (Canada)
        • 2011 Ian Muir
        • 2012 John Douglas
        • 2012 Jim Halcrow
        • 2012 Charlie Kirkpatrick
        • 2013 Derek Hamilton
        • 2014 Robin Brock
        • 2014 Calum MacLean
        • 2014 Hamish Smith
        • 2015 David Ross
        • 2015 Iain Wilson
        • 2015 Kenny Wilson
        • 2015 Gordon Young
        • 2016 Joan Blue
        • 2016 Bill Ewan
        • 2016 Isobel Harper
        • 2016 Neil Sinclair
        • 2017 George Darling
        • 2017 Alasdair MacLeod
        • 2017 Violet Tulloch
        • 2018 - Freeland Barbour
        • 2018 Bill Hendry
        • 2018 Graeme Mitchell
        • 2019 - Billy Craib
        • 2019 - Dochie McCallum
        • 2019 - Margaret Smith
        • 2019 - Davie Stewart
      • 2020s >
        • 2020 Covid 19 No Awards
        • 2021 Anda Campbell
        • 2012 Peter Bruce
        • 2021 Malcolm Ross
    • BAFFI Awards
    • Scholarship
    • SDB of the Year
  • Club Reports
    • Club Reports Summary >
      • 1970s
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    • Club Directory
    • Guest Artistes >
      • Summary
      • Lesmahagow A&F Club >
        • 1980s
        • 1990s
        • 2000s
      • Newtongrange >
        • 1970s
        • 1980s
        • 1990s
        • 2000s
        • 2010s
      • Perth A&F Club >
        • 1970s
        • 1980s
        • 1990s
        • 2000s
        • 2010s
    • A >
      • Aberdeen A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Acharacle A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Alnwick A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Birthday (2002)
      • Annan A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
      • Arbroath A&F Club >
        • 1989 - 90
      • Armadale A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 21st Birthday (1999)
      • Ayr A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
    • B >
      • Balloch A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Banchory
      • Banff and District
      • Beith & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 40th Anniversary (Beith)
      • Biggar A&F Club >
        • 1970s >
          • 1977 - 78
          • 1978 - 79
          • 1979 - 80
        • 1980s >
          • 1980 - 81
          • 1981 - 88
          • 1988 - 89
          • 1989 - 90
        • 1990s >
          • 1990 - 91
          • 1990 - 91
          • 1991 - 92
          • 1992 - 93
          • 1993 - 94
          • 1994 - 95
          • 1995 - 96
          • 1996 - 97
          • 1997 - 98
          • 1998 - 99
          • 25th Anniversary (1999)
          • 1999-2000
        • 2000s >
          • 2000 - 01
          • 2001 - 02
          • 2002 - 03
          • 2003 - 04
          • 2004 - 05
          • 2005 - 06
          • 2006 - 07
          • 2007 - 08
          • 2008 - 09
          • 2009 - 10
        • 2010s >
          • 2010 - 11
          • 2011 - 12
          • 2012 - 13
          • 2013 - 14
          • 2014 - 15
          • 2015 - 16
          • 2016 - 17
          • 2017 - 18
          • 2018 - 19
          • 2019 - 20
        • 2020s >
          • 2020 - 21
      • Blairgowrie A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
      • Brig Mill A&F Club >
        • 1989 - 90
      • Britannia (Kirkcudbright) A&F Club >
        • 2007 - 08
      • Bromley A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
        • Bromley (2014)
      • Buchan A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Button Key (Windygates) A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
        • 20th Anniv (2007)
    • C >
      • Callander A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
      • Campbeltown A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
      • Campsie A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
        • The Campsie Players
        • 20th Anniversary (2015)
      • Carlisle A&F Club >
        • 1993 - 94
      • Castle Douglas A&F Club
      • Coalburn A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Coldingham A&F Club >
        • 2008 - 09
      • Coupar Angus A&F Club >
        • 1978 - 79
      • Crathes A&F Club
      • Cults A&F Club >
        • 1999 - 2000
      • Cumnock & District A&F Club >
        • History
        • 1977 - 78
    • D >
      • Dalriada A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 21st Birthday (2002)
      • Denny & Dunipace A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
      • Dingwall A&F Club >
        • 1979 - 80
        • 21st Anniversary (2000)
        • 25th Anniversary (2004)
      • Dumfries Accordion Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 1978 - 79
        • 1979 - 80
      • Dunblane A&F Club
      • Dundee & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Dunfermline & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
      • Duns A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
    • E to F >
      • East Kilbride A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
        • 1984 - 85
        • Norrie Williams (2015)
      • Edinburgh / Chrissie Leatham A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
      • Ellon A&F Club >
        • 1994 - 95
      • Ettrick & Yarrow >
        • 1990 - 91
      • Falkirk A&F Club >
        • 1978 - 79
      • Fintry A&F Club
      • Forfar A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Forres A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • Forres 21st Anniv (1999)
      • Fort William A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
    • G >
      • Galston A&F Club >
        • Club History
        • 1977 - 78
        • 30th Anniversary (1999)
        • Final Report (2006)
      • Glendale A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 40th Anniversary (Glendale)
      • Glenfarg A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
        • 30th Anniv (Sept 2018)
      • Glenrothes A&F Club >
        • 1993 - 94
      • Gorebridge A&F Club >
        • 1981 - 82
      • Gretna (see North Cumbria) A&F Club >
        • 50th Anniversary (2016)
    • H to K >
      • Haddington A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
      • Highland A&F Club >
        • Club History
        • 1977 - 78
        • Highland 25th Birthday (1999)
        • 40th Anniversary (Highland)
      • Inveraray A&F Club >
        • 1991 - 92
        • 25th Anniversary (2016)
      • Islay A&F Club >
        • 1993 - 94
      • Isle of Skye A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Islesteps A&F Club >
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
      • Kelso A&F Club >
        • Introducing the Clubs No 8
        • 1977 - 78
        • 30th Anniv (2006)
        • 40th Anniversary (2016)
      • Kinlochsheil A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
      • Kintore A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 2010 - 11
    • L >
      • Ladybank A&F Club >
        • 1997 - 98
      • Lanark A&F Club >
        • 1996 - 97
      • Langholm A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Lauder A&F Club >
        • 2009 - 10
      • Lesmahagow A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
        • 1984 - 85
        • Closure announced
        • 2005 Final Report
      • Lewis & Harris A&F Club >
        • 1996 - 97
        • 20th Anniversary
      • Livingston A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • Murdo MacLeod
      • Lockerbie A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 40th Anniversary (Lockerbie)
    • M >
      • The M.A.F.I.A. >
        • History
        • 1977 - 78
        • Closing Speech
      • Mauchline >
        • 30th Anniv (Mauchline)
      • Monklands A&F Club >
        • 1978 - 79
      • Montrose A&F Club >
        • 1984 - 85
      • Morecambe A&F Club
      • Muirhead A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
    • N >
      • Newburgh A&F Club >
        • 2002 - 03
        • 40th Anniversary
        • Jim Berry
      • New Cumnock A&F Club >
        • 1979 - 80
      • Newmill-on-Teviot A&F Club >
        • 1999 - 2000
      • Newtongrange A&F Club >
        • 1979 - 80
      • Newton St Boswells >
        • 1977 - 78
      • North Cumbria (Gretna) A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • North East (Keith) A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • Ian Duncan
        • 40th Anniversary North East
      • Northern (Templepatrick, N.I.) A&F Club >
        • 2011 - 12
    • O to P >
      • Oban A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Anniversary (1999)
        • 40th Anniversary (2015)
      • Orkney A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
        • Orkney 40th Anniv 2017
      • Peebles A&F Club >
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
        • 1984 - 85
      • Perth & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 1992 Letter
        • 40th Anniv (2010)
      • Phoenix (Ardrishaig) A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
      • Premier A&F Club
    • R to S >
      • Reading Scottish Fiddlers >
        • 1997 - 98
      • Renfrew A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Renfrew (Moorpark) A&F Club >
        • 1984 - 85
      • Rothbury (Coquetdale) A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Anniversary (1999)
      • Scottish Accordion Music (Crathes) >
        • 1998 - 99
      • Seghill Comrades A&F Club >
        • 2010 - 11
      • Selkirk A&F Club >
        • 1998 - 99
      • Shetland A&F Club >
        • Shetland 40th Anniv (2017)
      • Stirling A&F Club >
        • 1991 - 92
      • Stonehouse A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
      • Straiton A&F Club >
        • History
        • 1977 - 78
      • Stranraer A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Sutherland A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
        • 20th Anniv (2007)
    • T to Z >
      • Thornhill A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
      • Torthorwald A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Turriff 30th Anniversary
      • Tynedale A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • Tynedale 30th Anniv (2010)
      • Uist & Benbecula A&F Club >
        • 2007 - 08
        • 21st Anniversary (2016)
      • Wellbank A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • West Barnes A&F Club >
        • 2001 - 02
      • Wick A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Birthday (2001)
        • 40th Anniversary (2015)
  • Pipe Music Articles
    • Composers A - L >
      • Willie Bryson
      • John D Burgess
      • Duncan Campbell
      • George Cockburn
      • William D Dumbreck
      • William Fergusson
      • Ron Fleming
      • Duncan Johnstone
      • Willie Lawrie
    • Composers Mac >
      • John MacColl
      • John MacDonald
      • Angus MacKay
      • Hugh MacKay
      • John M MacKenzie BEM
      • Donald MacLean of Lewis
      • Capt John A MacLellan MBE
      • Donald MacLeod
      • Peter R MacLeod Snr & Jnr
      • Archibald MacNeill
    • Composers M + Mc >
      • David Charles Mather
      • James Mauchline
      • Captain D R McLellan
      • John McLellan
      • George S McLennan
      • Donald McPhedran
    • Composers N - Z >
      • Donald Shaw Ramsay
      • James Ross Riddell
      • James "Robbie" Robertson
      • Willie Ross
      • John Wilson
  • B&F Issues (1977-2020)
    • Oct 1977 - Apr 1980 >
      • Oct 1977 - Apr 78
      • Oct 1978 - Apr 79 >
        • Oct 1978
        • Nov 1978
        • Dec 1978
        • Jan 1979
        • Feb 1979
        • Mar 1979
        • Apr 1979
      • Sept 1979 - Apr 80 >
        • Sept 1979
        • Oct 1979
        • Nov 1979
        • Dec 1979
        • Jan 1980
        • Feb 1980
        • Mar 1980
        • Apr 1980
    • Sept 1980 - Apr 1985 >
      • Sept 1980 - Apr 81 >
        • Sept 1980
        • Oct 1980
        • Nov 1980
        • Dec 1980
        • Jan 1981
        • Feb 1981
        • Mar 1981
        • Apr 1981
      • Sept 1981 - Apr 82 >
        • Sept 1981
        • Oct 1981
        • Nov 1981
        • Dec 1981
        • Jan 1982
        • Feb 1982
        • Mar 1982
        • Apr 1982
      • Sept 1982 - Apr 83 >
        • Sept 1982
        • Oct 1982
        • Nov 1982
        • Dec 1982
        • Jan 1983
        • Feb 1983
        • Mar 1983
        • Apr 1983
      • Sept 1983 - Apr 84 >
        • Sept 1983
        • Oct 1983
        • Nov 1983
        • Dec 1983
        • Jan 1984
        • Feb 1984
        • Mar 1984
        • Apr 1984
      • Sept 1984 - Apr 85 >
        • Sept 1984
        • Oct 1984
        • Nov 1984
        • Dec 1984
        • Jan 1985
        • Feb 1985
        • Mar 1985
        • Apr 1985
    • Sept 1985 - Apr 1990 >
      • Sept 1985 - Apr 86 >
        • Sept 1985
        • Oct 1985
        • Nov 1985
        • Dec 1985
        • Jan / Feb 1986
        • Mar 1986
        • Apr 1986
      • Sept 1986 - Apr 87 >
        • Sept 1986
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Kenny Thomson (1944 – 2013) - Obituary
by Alasdair, Grant & Stuart Thomson
​B&F June 2013

Kenny Thomson was born on 18th March 1944 in Muirkirk, Ayrshire, the first son of Jim and Eadie Thomson. Jim and Eadie were both part-time musicians – Eadie played piano and Jim the accordion, both in Samson’s Band around the Muirkirk area. As a wee boy, Kenny listened intently to his Dad playing at home and before long started to “accompany” him on his first “accordion”, a wooden foot stool strapped around his neck! His first real accordion, an 8 bass Steldini, came courtesy of Santa at Christmas 1947, three months before his fourth birthday!
 
Kenny attended Muirkirk Junior Secondary School until he was 15. During this time, he continued to play the accordion, progressing to bigger and better instruments. He received accordion tuition from Robert (Bobby) McFarlane Adamson (another former Muirkirk man) who was at that time considered to be the best music teacher in the district.
Kenny’s first Hohner accordion, an Atlantic IV, was bought new in November 1957. He bought a new Hohner Morino VM in April 1965. Following repeated trips back and forth to McCormack’s in Glasgow for repairs, they ordered a replacement. When it arrived in January 1966, Kenny went to collect it and Neil McCormack opened up the packaging to be met with what is now known as the Morino VN. It has always been presumed to have been (at least one of) the first Morino VNs in Britain.  On opening up the case, Neil McCormack was surprised at the “Gola” style couplers in place of the familiar “Domino” couplers of the “M” model, exclaiming,
 
 “Oh my goodness, what do we have here?”             (or words to that effect................)
 
In recent years, Kenny had been finding the weight of the Morino V problematic so, he had his Atlantic restored. He couldn’t bear to part with either but he felt the Atlantic more manageable.
 
When he was growing up in Muirkirk, there was another budding accordionist in the village - Ronnie Easton. The two used to take turns to play at local functions - Church Guild socials and the like. On one occasion, somebody slipped up and BOTH were asked to play. Each did his first spot and at the interval, they had a “jamming session” backstage and decided to play together in the second half. Thus was born a friendship which lasted for many years. In September 1965, they recorded an EP in Biggar’s Music Studio, Glasgow, as “Ronnie Easton and the Eglinton Dance Band.” The tracks on it were, “The Accordion Polka”, a strathspey “Lochiel’s Rant”, a jig “The New Rigged Ship” and a reel “Roxburgh Castle”.
 
On leaving School, Kenny had three ambitions. The first was to be an electrician which he achieved after he left school in 1959, when he served an apprenticeship as an electrician with the National Coal Board at Lugar Works. He left that employment in 1967 to follow in his Dad’s footsteps, becoming a bus driver with Western SMT, fulfilling his second ambition. Ambition number three was to play on the radio with Jimmy Shand. While he didn’t fully realise that one, he did play with Jimmy Shand – albeit in Jimmy Junior’s accordion workshop in Auchtermuchty in 1992.
 
As a bus driver, Kenny had to allow his love of playing music to take second place, shift working being incompatible with band work.
In 1967 Jock Loch persuaded Kenny to help him out by playing with Jock’s “Blackthorn Dance Band” at a dance in Barr. Numerous gigs followed but again, shift working was getting in the way. A change of course was required so during 1970, Kenny became a lorry driver. While still far from ideal, at least he knew he wouldn’t be working “backshift”.
Jock was also responsible for Kenny and his brother Stuart playing their first guest artist spot which was at Straiton Accordion Club in 1975. That in turn led to Kenny competing in the Duos with Stuart, Trios with the addition of Dave Waters (bass) and the Band sections with the aforementioned plus John Holmes (fiddle), in the West of Scotland Accordion Championships. Over consecutive years, considerable success was achieved in each class.
Also attending the accordion club circuit around this time was his old acquaintance Ronnie Easton. In 1976, they both joined a new band being formed by Derek Lawrence. What Kenny didn’t know was that Derek’s intention was for the band to audition for BBC Radio Scotland’s “Scottish Dance Music” programme. The band successfully passed the BBC audition, going on to record a number of broadcasts both there and at Radio Forth. Within a couple of years Derek emigrated to Canada, at which point Ronnie took over the band. Sadly in 1979, Ronnie also left to work in England. This put Kenny in charge of the band and Ian Muir took over the vacant position of lead accordion. This was the birth of “Kenny Thomson & the Wardlaw Scottish Dance Band”. Under Kenny’s professional leadership, the band had a successful career, performing regularly on “Take the Floor” and recording a number of LPs and CDs as well as playing at Scottish Country Dances and Ceilidhs throughout the UK.  During his musical career, Kenny played in many locations from Shetland in the north to Lewes in the south of England in addition to Georgia US; Toronto, Sweden, Malta, and Tunisia.
 
Watching Kenny play, his concentration was often misinterpreted as ‘dourness!’ This couldn’t have been further from the truth; in private he was kind, humorous and even prone to the odd romantic gesture.
It was while driving with Western SMT at Cumnock that Kenny met his future wife Cathy. They started going out together in 1969. When Kenny used to drive the miners' bus that passed Cathy’s family home; she would wait at the gate in anticipation, and he would throw red roses to her as he passed.
 
Kenny and Cathy married on 3rd October 1970 and later, they settled in Cumnock, going on to raise a family of their own. Elder son Grant was born in June 1977 and Alasdair followed in March 1986. They inherited Kenny’s interest in transport; his strong work ethic; his droll sense of humour - and, of course, his love of music, which was nurtured in them from early childhood. They each in turn had filled in with the band at the odd gig over the years, Grant on fiddle, and Alasdair on bass.
 
They enjoyed family holidays together in a touring caravan in the ‘80s and ‘90s, visiting places like Blackpool, Oban and Fort William. Kenny’s Dad had links with Dumfries & Galloway region. This resulted in one place becoming a particular favourite haunt - quiet Kirkcudbright.
Kenny also forged a link with Gatehouse of Fleet when, in 1979, he was asked to play for the local RSCDS Branch. It must have gone well – he played there annually for the next 33 years, latterly for Gatehouse Scottish Country Dance Class. Kenny’s final appearance there was in December 2012.
 
In recent years, many an enjoyable “New Year’s Night” musical evening took place in the family home - Kenny and Stuart playing the boxes, Grant and Alasdair on fiddle and bass respectively. Cathy and Stuart’s wife Audrey would sing along like Fran and Anna, but making up the words as they went along! On these occasions, it was traditional for Kenny to refer to his 'Drink-Barometer;' basically, if he could still play the first four bars of “The Tushkar”, he hadn't had enough!
 
As Alasdair was growing up, he helped Kenny discover a latent interest in sport. Towards the end of a nice "boys' day out" in Glasgow when Alasdair was 13, Kenny asked him to look in the glove box of the car, where he found an envelope containing two tickets to an evening kick-off at Ibrox. It was the first time either of them had been to a football match, and it was to be the first of several matches they attended together over the years. On the car journeys back, they would discuss football tactics, transfer policy and linesman's decisions as men do - as if either of them knew what they were talking about!
 
Kenny retired from his job as a lorry driver with T French & Son, in September 2009 – having counted down the days for the preceding five years. Then, of course, he went straight back out to drive for French part-time –
 
 “Well, it’s different when you don’t HAVE to do it,” he reasoned!
 
He maintained a connection with his bus driving days too, by becoming a member of the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, near Dunfermline. Whenever he had a free Sunday, he enjoyed being around and driving some of the bus types he had driven during his time with Western SMT.
 
The family had matured and Kenny and Cathy had been introduced to the joys of cruise holidays in 2005, taking two that year! They never looked back.
After Scottish Dance Music, Kenny’s other great musical love was Jazz. (Hence the saxophone tattoo on his right forearm. It isn’t commonly known that Kenny used to play both sax and clarinet. The reason he decided to concentrate on the accordion was that he was never satisfied with the clarity of sound he achieved on high notes).
It was on that first cruise of 2005, he was able to satisfy a lengthy desire, by visiting New Orleans and sampling the Mardi-Gras atmosphere. They were to repeat the visit in March 2013, and it was in the latter stages of this cruise that Kenny first became unwell. He passed away peacefully on the 5th April in Ayr Hospital, after a short illness, surrounded by his family.
Kenny Thomson was a much-loved husband, dad, brother, brother-in-law, father-in-law, granddad, highly respected musician, bandleader, colleague and friend who will be sorely missed.
Cathy, Grant, Alasdair, Stuart and their respective families would like to extend their thanks to all who attended Kenny’s funeral, sent cards or messages of sympathy, or contributed to the Retiral Collection, which raised the sum of £900. This was split between Cancer Support UK and Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland.
Suzanne Croy
Kenny Thomson’s sound and style of arrangements always held great appeal for me. I wore down many cassette recordings of radio broadcasts by listening and re-listening to various tracks. The first time I met Kenny was as a teenager when I had my own band. We had entered the band competition at Ayr Music Festival and we were all delighted that Kenny gave the band a super score and commented favourably on the selection we played (which was heavily influenced by the medleys and arrangements of Kenny and Ronnie Easton!)
I was absolutely thrilled called me in 1999 to play bas in The Wardlaw Band. I remember the first rehearsal. Often, it takes some time for a band to settle down when there is a change of personnel; getting familiar with members’ styles and embellishments, but I remember feeling completely at home from eight bars in. That was because of the musicianship and professionalism of Kenny and his Band. What a privilege to have had 14 years of fantastic music, recordings, fun and friendship. Kenny was a perfectionist. His solid leadership qualities and sense of musicality when arranging music are second to none. He had the ability to understand the role of each instrument in the band and bring out the best in the musicians around him. He remains the only Scottish Dance Band leader I have played with who scored the drum parts and indicated which octave the bass was to play certain notes. Kenny was a leader who knew the sound he wanted and never compromised on this. I admired him hugely for this even if we had one difference of opinion in all these years! Kenny preferred the sound of my electric guitar and electric double bass to the acoustic!
Kenny loved to play strathspeys, even recording an 8 x 32 bar dance on Take the Floor. Despite some reservations regarding how listeners would react to this, after recording the track, the producer exclaimed ‘lovely’. Kenny had a knack for putting sets together and creating the right level of interest in each measure.
Over the years, Kenny and I became good friends. Kenny was a genuine man with a huge intellect. Far from the normal topics of conversation on the way to gigs, the Wardlaw Band could find themselves engrossed in discussing subjects as diverse as Scottish history to current affairs. Kenny also had a keen sense of humour and was a thoughtful man. As he arrived at my daughter Rachel’s christening, he presented us with a lovely march he had written. It has pride of place on the house!
Kenny was also a true friend who has supported me over the years, well outwith the remit of ‘just’ being my bandleader. I am still deeply shocked and saddened that we have lost such a brilliant, talented, musician and one of the most decent, genuine people I have ever been privileged enough to consider my friend. Kenny, I thank you for the opportunity of being part of your Band for so many years. It is the end of an era and I will treasure all the recordings and memories.
Derek Hamilton
I suppose you could say I was Kenny Thomson's record producer.
I first new Kenny back in the late 60s early 70s through the Accordion Club movement and in those early days he always struck me as a 'dapper' young man. I don't think I ever saw Kenny in casual clothes – he was always very well dressed wherever he was.
That was to prove to be a measure of the man – everything polished, neat and tidy and perfect. That was Kenny and that was his music.
I got to know him properly in 1980 when, having taken over Ronnie Easton's very successful band and formed it into the Wardlaw Scottish Dance Band, he was keen to make an album. George Fleming and I had started a new record label – Ayrespin Music and Kenny and the band used the studio to practice for broadcasts for the BBC and Radio Forth. I recorded these practices and Kenny knew that I knew what sort of sound he wanted so it was quite natural that he recorded his debut album at Ayrespin. 'Double First' was the title as it was Kenny's first and it was Ayrespin's first commercial album.
I remember at the end of the session when it was all 'in the can' I chastised Kenny for not praising the guys for their superb contribution during a fairly long day. The best they got was ' Aye well I suppose it'll dae'! But Kenny explained that he was bad at lifting spirits not like Derek Lawrence who was the ultimate optimist and enthusiast. Kenny had played in that band and knew how Derek worked but just wasn't able to be anything other than how he was.
Following on from 'Double First' Kenny did at least two albums for the RSCDS and one for Sue Petyt of Dumfries and I produced a further three on the Bryansroom Label.
I can't say if he took the same attitude with the others but for the albums I produced he certainly looked for perfection in the recording. To all intents and purposes he surrounded himself with people he knew would give him a good solid performance and that left him to worry only about his own. Which he did to the point of almost destruction! When it came to things like that, Kenny had ears like a bat as well as perfect pitch. He had an obsession with correct timing for the dances. If he was a second or two out he would ask me to 'sort it' He just liked things to be right.
He never was totally pleased with anything he recorded but then I used to tell him 'That's fine Kenny – at least you've got somewhere to go next time. One you reach total perfection and satisfaction it's time to give up!'
Kenny never did give up – oh he threatened a few times but never actually got round to it I'm glad to say.
The world could do with more musicians like Kenny Thomson. He knew what he wanted and he normally got it because he knew how to get it. He was also one of the most capable musicians I have ever met.
He will be sadly missed by me and many others.
RONNIE EASTON (Lifelong friend and fellow accordionist)
 
The first time I came across Kenny was when we were both booked to do an old folks concert in Muirkirk. I was only 12 or 13 at the time and Kenny was just a wee boy. I realised then that he could certainly play the box a lot better than his years displayed.
Later we were both taught by the same teacher, Robert McF Adamson of Cumnock who famously composed the Triumph March.
Kenny's similar thinking to mine drew us together and he came to my house regularly to play tunes.
As the years progressed it was obvious to me that Kenny had a great talent on not only the box but on the Saxaphone which he took up as a teenager. He travelled up to Glasgow for lessons and was eventually so good at it that he was offered a professional job down south with a big band. Kenny turned that opportunity down and gave up the sax in favour of the box. As I recall this was because there were certain elements of sax playing he was failing to master and in his frustration just decided enough was enough.
That showed me what Kenny was – a total perfectionist. He really was just that in everything he did. It had to be right and he expected the same from everyone else.
Brian Griffin and I had become good friends and when the Accordion Clubs started up he and I played duets around many of them. Eventually, in 1974 or 1975 I think it was, Brian joined the Iain MacPhail Band.
I was introduced to Derek Lawrence at a concert in Ayr where Derek was accompanying a singer and, having heard me do my first spot, asked if he could play piano for me in the second half. Derek had been playing with Bobby Jack but was trying to start his own band and asked me to join. He was looking for a second box player and had some bookings so I suggested that the very man for the job was Kenny Thomson. We all had similar likes in music – great fans on the Ian Powrie Band.
'Just bring the chords you want' I said to Derek, 'and the 'wee man' will play exactly what you want'.
And Kenny did. That was another great asset he had – he gave you what you wanted musically.
When Derek left for Canada I took over the band retaining Kenny on second box – well, lead plus block chords Mickie Ainsworth style.
In 1979 I decided to go down south to get better work in the day job and left Kenny to take over the band. To replace me he brought in Ian Muir, and the Wardlaw Band was born. The rest is history as they say.
I will always remember Kenny for his absolute conviction to the music. He was a total perfectionist and it showed. I'll miss him.
 
Ian Muir
I first started playing with Kenny and The Wardlaw Band in 1980, playing Scottish Country dances, ceilidhs, broadcasts for the BBC, Radio Forth and West Sound. I was also involved in the Band’s first commercial recording ‘Double first’, which was first for The Wardlaw and first for Ayrespin Records, the label started by George Fleming and Derek Hamilton. I learned a lot from Kenny, being only 16 years of age when I joined the band I had a lot to learn and I remember sitting in Gordon Simpson’s house at a practice session before Ronnie Easton’s final BBC broadcast thinking to myself that I would never be able to cope! The band was in great form!
Kenny was a perfectionist in every aspect of his playing career and in everything he did in life. His professional standards were of the highest level and he expected everyone around him to aspire to the same standards, from his meticulous playing, exact musical arrangements through to dress code and equipment care and maintenance. (His cable wrapping was an art form in itself!)
I remember one of the first Box and Fiddle Clubs we did as a six-piece; it was Perth and Kanny wanted us all to be on our ‘mettle’ for it. John Gibson was playing piano at the time; he didn’t own a red shirt, so Kenny insisted on him buying one for the Perth gig. We arrived in Perth to find John already there and sporting a brand new Red shirt – probably the brightest red shirt I have ever seen! Only problem was that it was made from some kind of plasticky rubbery material and was so shiny that you could have used it as a mirror! Kenny’s face was a study – he just shook his head and muttered in his Cumnock twang “Well, ah suppose it’s rid…”
Kenny was an inspiration to many of us and will be a huge loss to our music scene. A man of many talents not least of which was his ability to scoff two whole digestive biscuits….in one go!!  
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