Introducing the Clubs – No 27 Lockerbie
by Jockie Brockbank
Lockerbie Accordion and Fiddle club recently celebrated its Silver Jubilee. The Club was formed in November 1973 as some local enthusiasts had visited some other Clubs not too far from Lockerbie, including The Hole in the Wa’, Dumfries where it all began, Gretna and Langholm. These Clubs appeared to be very popular, attracting capacity audiences, so it was decided to form one in Lockerbie.
A meeting was held in the Black Bull Hotel and our first Committee was formed. Willie Pringle (President), Christine Hunter (Secretary), Jockie Brockbank (Treasurer), George Borthwick, Willie Coupland, Jim and Moira Harkness, Keith McLean and Willie Scott the noted fiddler from Eskdalemuir. His shepherd’s cottage home was a mecca for many noted musicians among them accordionist Ian Holmes who was a great friend of Willie’s. Sadly George Borthwick, Wllie Coupland and Willie Scott died quite a few years ago and, of course, we had the unfortunate death of Christine Hunter last January. Keith McLean left the Committee when he moved from the area. For several years Jimmy McKenzie the well-known shepherds’ crookmaker, and Tom Porteous the popular button box player from Moffat were Committee members. At present we still have the same President and Treasurer who also acts as Secretary meantime, and Jim and Moira Harkness, Madge Jardine and Billy Simpson, one time drummer in the Purple Heather Band which also included Ken Mackie and Jockie Brockbank on accordions and the late Jim (Jemima) Elliot on piano and played regularly over the south of Scotland in the 1950’s and 60’s.
Jim Harkness has been our compere since the Club began and has never missed a club night. His better-half Moira, who looks after the entrance and hotel liaison administration, has never missed a meeting either. The husband and wife partnership has helped greatly to make the Club run so successfully. Madge looks after the raffle and sale of the ‘B&F’ and Billy is always at hand to help in whatever capacity required. Although not a Committee member Mrs Betty Mitchell has been our piano accompanist since the club started, rarely missing a club night. The Committee greatly appreciates her support.
The Club’s first venue was the Rex Restaurant owned by Committee member Keith McLean. Keith had a bar licence for the Rex and because of this and the fact that the Glasgow-London coaches stopped for catering services in early morning we had to be out of the hall by 10.30pm. Nowadays it in more often midnight before we end our evening’s entertainment.
Our first guest artiste was Ian Holmes and since then we have had most of the prominent players on the Scottish Dance Music scene, as well as some not so well known musicians who nevertheless provide excellent entertainment.
After a few years at the Rex we moved to the Queens Hotel as Keith McLean decided to sell his premises. We spent a few years there until we moved to the Blue Bell Hotel where mine hosts were Brian and Margaret Griffin – Brian formerly of the Iain MacPhail Band. Brian was a great help to the Club accompanying some of the local players and encouraging them in their playing. After Brian and Margaret sold the hotel we stayed of for a few years and eventually moved back to the Queens Hotel, our present venue where we are well looked after by the proprietors.
During the 25 years we have rarely have fewer than 25 local players on a club night. A year or two ago the audience fell away a little but now we have 70 or 80 non-players coming along to support us. We have players of all age groups coming along to play, including two young Lockerbie boys – Nicky McMichan and Grant Dinwoodie, both members of the Keith Dickson Orchestra. We are sure that we will hear more of these two young players in the years ahead. They certainly keep some of the more experienced players on their toes and perhaps make some of them feel like advertising their instrument for sale!
As you will gather from this epistle the club in Lockerbie is currently flourishing and so on Tuesday, 24th November last we celebrated our Silver Jubilee in the Queens Hotel. A toast to the Club was proposed by Jimmy Kirkpatrick, one of our regular players from Dumfries. Thereafter everyone received a glass of wine and a piece of birthday cake appropriately decorated for the occasion.
Unfortunately our President, Willie Pringle, was in hospital and therefore missed the occasion. The guest artistes for the evening was the group Albany from Fife, which included the leader, Billy Anderson (accordion), Jack Paul (guitar), Kenny Downie (drums) and Margaret McLeod (vocalist). The group entertained us with a great variety of music, song and some very amusing stories which had the audience ‘in stitches’. Margaret McLeod included some Gaelic in her repertoire much to the delight of the audience.
The players who came along to the Club for our celebration were – on piano – Betty Mitchell, Nicky McMichan and William McRobert. On accordion – Jim Fraser, Jimmy Kirkpatrick, Eddie Bell, Walter Beattie, Walter Carlyle, Ian Gracie, Nicky McMichan, William McRobert, Walter McMillan, Tom Porteous, Robbie Stewart, Billy Telfer, Andy Whiteside, and our Secretary and Treasurer Jocky Brockbank. Bobby McBride was the only fiddler and the tin whistle was played by Willie Little. The mouth organ was played by Bob Irving and Robbie Stewart. Drumming during the evening was shared by Jackie Bonnar, Ian Riddet and our Committee member Billy Simpson. Janette Salvenmoser accompanied some of the players on the Irish bodhran.
Everyone appeared to enjoy the festivities, but we are sure than now and again our thoughts were with our former Secretary, the late Christine Hunter, who did so much for the Club for just short of 25 years. It is a great pity that her unfortunate illness and untimely death prevented her from enjoying the evening with us. A trophy in memory of Christine is being donated by the Club, to be played for at the forthcoming Musselburgh Festival of which she was Secretary for several years.
It was almost midnight when the last notes were played, bringing to a close a very memorable anniversary. Here’s to the next 25. Who knows, some of the older players amongst us might just make it with our instruments balanced on our zimmers!!
Box and Fiddle
February 1999
A meeting was held in the Black Bull Hotel and our first Committee was formed. Willie Pringle (President), Christine Hunter (Secretary), Jockie Brockbank (Treasurer), George Borthwick, Willie Coupland, Jim and Moira Harkness, Keith McLean and Willie Scott the noted fiddler from Eskdalemuir. His shepherd’s cottage home was a mecca for many noted musicians among them accordionist Ian Holmes who was a great friend of Willie’s. Sadly George Borthwick, Wllie Coupland and Willie Scott died quite a few years ago and, of course, we had the unfortunate death of Christine Hunter last January. Keith McLean left the Committee when he moved from the area. For several years Jimmy McKenzie the well-known shepherds’ crookmaker, and Tom Porteous the popular button box player from Moffat were Committee members. At present we still have the same President and Treasurer who also acts as Secretary meantime, and Jim and Moira Harkness, Madge Jardine and Billy Simpson, one time drummer in the Purple Heather Band which also included Ken Mackie and Jockie Brockbank on accordions and the late Jim (Jemima) Elliot on piano and played regularly over the south of Scotland in the 1950’s and 60’s.
Jim Harkness has been our compere since the Club began and has never missed a club night. His better-half Moira, who looks after the entrance and hotel liaison administration, has never missed a meeting either. The husband and wife partnership has helped greatly to make the Club run so successfully. Madge looks after the raffle and sale of the ‘B&F’ and Billy is always at hand to help in whatever capacity required. Although not a Committee member Mrs Betty Mitchell has been our piano accompanist since the club started, rarely missing a club night. The Committee greatly appreciates her support.
The Club’s first venue was the Rex Restaurant owned by Committee member Keith McLean. Keith had a bar licence for the Rex and because of this and the fact that the Glasgow-London coaches stopped for catering services in early morning we had to be out of the hall by 10.30pm. Nowadays it in more often midnight before we end our evening’s entertainment.
Our first guest artiste was Ian Holmes and since then we have had most of the prominent players on the Scottish Dance Music scene, as well as some not so well known musicians who nevertheless provide excellent entertainment.
After a few years at the Rex we moved to the Queens Hotel as Keith McLean decided to sell his premises. We spent a few years there until we moved to the Blue Bell Hotel where mine hosts were Brian and Margaret Griffin – Brian formerly of the Iain MacPhail Band. Brian was a great help to the Club accompanying some of the local players and encouraging them in their playing. After Brian and Margaret sold the hotel we stayed of for a few years and eventually moved back to the Queens Hotel, our present venue where we are well looked after by the proprietors.
During the 25 years we have rarely have fewer than 25 local players on a club night. A year or two ago the audience fell away a little but now we have 70 or 80 non-players coming along to support us. We have players of all age groups coming along to play, including two young Lockerbie boys – Nicky McMichan and Grant Dinwoodie, both members of the Keith Dickson Orchestra. We are sure that we will hear more of these two young players in the years ahead. They certainly keep some of the more experienced players on their toes and perhaps make some of them feel like advertising their instrument for sale!
As you will gather from this epistle the club in Lockerbie is currently flourishing and so on Tuesday, 24th November last we celebrated our Silver Jubilee in the Queens Hotel. A toast to the Club was proposed by Jimmy Kirkpatrick, one of our regular players from Dumfries. Thereafter everyone received a glass of wine and a piece of birthday cake appropriately decorated for the occasion.
Unfortunately our President, Willie Pringle, was in hospital and therefore missed the occasion. The guest artistes for the evening was the group Albany from Fife, which included the leader, Billy Anderson (accordion), Jack Paul (guitar), Kenny Downie (drums) and Margaret McLeod (vocalist). The group entertained us with a great variety of music, song and some very amusing stories which had the audience ‘in stitches’. Margaret McLeod included some Gaelic in her repertoire much to the delight of the audience.
The players who came along to the Club for our celebration were – on piano – Betty Mitchell, Nicky McMichan and William McRobert. On accordion – Jim Fraser, Jimmy Kirkpatrick, Eddie Bell, Walter Beattie, Walter Carlyle, Ian Gracie, Nicky McMichan, William McRobert, Walter McMillan, Tom Porteous, Robbie Stewart, Billy Telfer, Andy Whiteside, and our Secretary and Treasurer Jocky Brockbank. Bobby McBride was the only fiddler and the tin whistle was played by Willie Little. The mouth organ was played by Bob Irving and Robbie Stewart. Drumming during the evening was shared by Jackie Bonnar, Ian Riddet and our Committee member Billy Simpson. Janette Salvenmoser accompanied some of the players on the Irish bodhran.
Everyone appeared to enjoy the festivities, but we are sure than now and again our thoughts were with our former Secretary, the late Christine Hunter, who did so much for the Club for just short of 25 years. It is a great pity that her unfortunate illness and untimely death prevented her from enjoying the evening with us. A trophy in memory of Christine is being donated by the Club, to be played for at the forthcoming Musselburgh Festival of which she was Secretary for several years.
It was almost midnight when the last notes were played, bringing to a close a very memorable anniversary. Here’s to the next 25. Who knows, some of the older players amongst us might just make it with our instruments balanced on our zimmers!!
Box and Fiddle
February 1999