Box and Fiddle
Year 03 No 07
March 1980
Price 15p
8 pages
8 month subscription £2
Editor – Ian Smith, 50 Mount Vernon Road, Stranraer Tele 4098
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
An added bonus from the Annual General Meeting last year. When the publication date was altered this led to an extra edition being possible. So what should have been the last edition this year is now the second last. The will be one more on 15th April.
The AGM this year has not been confirmed but is provisionally set for Sunday, 29th June.
A new Club has joined us and we welcome them and wish them well. This is the Dingwall Club. The gentleman to write to is Michael Shaw, Newton Miller, Strathpeffer, Ross-shire. They meet on the third Wednesday.
South of Scotland Accordion Festival
by the Editor
The outside of the Govan Town Hall gives no clue to the beautiful interior and to the first time visitor it is a pleasure to wander inside and just admire the clean, modern décor which creates a feeling of warmth and cheerfulness that was evident as the players and public mingled and laughed together.
This was the first N.A.O. Festival to be held in the West of Scotland for many years and with an entry of 350 it must surely be repeated.
Owing to the weather being at its most atrocious I was late in arriving so missed many of the fine young competitors, but I was just in time to catch the orchestra sections. This was inspiring stuff. No less than seven orchestras, especially when one considers the age range, from about ten years to seventeen. I don’t think I noticed any older than that.
The catering was in the very capable hands of the Jimmy Blair Parents/Pupils Association. Thanks girls for a great cup of tea and sandwiches at very reasonable prices.
Down below was an accordion display by Jimmy Clinkscale with Paddy Neary doing some demonstrations.
The panel of adjudicators reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ Ivon Beynon, Eileen Beecham, Ron Beecham, Sam McAlpine, Jim Hutcheon, Ron Hodgson, Chic Kelly and Joe Burke.
The whole show was organized by Jimmy and Lola Blair. To organize 350 youngsters in high spirits is not everyone’s idea of an enjoyable day, but everything seemed to go like clockwork. Jimmy and Lola must have slept for a week once it was all over.
Here are the results
Prep Solo
(1) Aileen Lesley
(2) Tracy Aitken
(3) Una Bryson
Advanced Solo
(1) Robert Craig
(2) Gary Blair
(3) Sidney Simpson
Group
(1) Ronmar Quartet leader R. Hodgson
(2) J. Blair Allegro Quartet leader Richard Ross
(3) Joe Burke Accordion Group leader Lesley Couser
Prep Band
(1) Joe Burke Prep Band
(2) J. Blair Prep Orchestra
(3) Loreta Blair Prep Orchestra
Elementary Band
J. Blair Accordion Orchestra
Open Band
(1) J. Blair Accordion Orchestra
(2) Ronmar Accordion Orchestra
(3) J. Blair Advanced Band
Open Solo
(1) Colin McKee
(2) Yvonne McAleer
(3) Robert Craig
Elementary Duet
(1) Fiona Franci & Tonya Halliday
(2) Alec Leckie & Graeme Nelson
(3) Douglas & Elaine Hastie
Bell Trophy
(1) Yvonne McAleer
(2) Robert Grant
(3) Linda McDonald
Higher Intermediate
(1) Stuart Duff
(2) Linda Moore
(3) Thelma Dickson
Under 16 Solo
(1) Stuart Russell
(2) Shona Maitland
(3) Richard Ross
Advanced Duet
(1) Julie Best & Jean Corrigan
(2) Andrew Stark & Robert Grant
(3) Stuart Duff & Douglas Caird
Intermediate Solo
(1) Stewart Abercrombie
(2) Roy Hendrie
(3) Iain McAlpine
SCOTTISH
Under 12
(1) Margo F. Taylor
(2) Nicola Reid
(3) Allan Preston
Under 14
(1) Michael Garvin
(2) Margo F. Taylor
(3) Elaine Welsh
Under 16
(1) Richard Ross
(2) David Wilson
(3) Fiona Carmichael
Senior
(1) Gary Blair
(2) Richard Ross
(3) Fiona Carmichael
Elementary Solo
(1) Andrea Stewart
(2) J. Prentice
(3) Wendy Elder
Under 8 Solo
(1) Pamela McCann
(2) James McConnell
(3) Iain Newton
(4) Iain Carmichael
Under 10 Solo
(1) Lara Halliday
(2) Lorraine Henderson
(3) Craig Beecham
Under 12 Solo
(1) Margo F. Taylor
(2) Lianne Calder
(3) Allan Preston
Under 14 Solo
(1) Tonya Halliday
(2) Scott Graham
(3) Jennifer Wilson
Entertainer
(1) Sandra L. Fleming
(2) Richard Ross
(3) Gordon Hamilton
Intermediate Duet
(1) Michael Garvin & Alistair Lennox
(2) Richard Ross & Roy Hendrie
(3) Laurence Monaghan & Lianne Calder
After the prize giving ceremony, speeches and votes of thanks, the day ended with a super dance and all this happened in just one day – 2nd February, 1980.
The Reel Radio
by Derek Hamilton
Let me begin this month by pandering to those of you in ‘Forth Country’. For those of you who are not, that is the area covered by the Edinburgh-based commercial radio station ‘Radio Forth’.
Robin Brock, well noted for his bass and accordion playing, takes part in a show called ‘Pure Scotch’ every Friday night between 8 – 10pm. The show is hosted by Steve Jack who is a young D.J. with a lot of talent.
‘Pure Scotch’ specializes in all types of Scottish music without the interruptions or banter of the style of Jack MacLaughlin or Gerry MacKenzie.
Robin Brock’s contribution is essentially a news and review feature which takes up about half an hour in the middle of the show. He is not only an enthusiastic performer but is an ideal choice for this type of spot because of his in-depth knowledge of the scene as a whole.
Robin, as many of you will know, has played with just about all the dance bands around. He knows all the musicians and is in regular contact with them.
He is trying desperately hard to make his spot as informative as possible and is looking for information from Accordion and Fiddle Club Secretaries. Club activities, guest artistes, local artistes with special stories, clubs running competitions or festivals, record releases and general news of anyone and everyone involved in the Scottish music scene.
The more information fed into Robin the better the show will be.
It seems to me that at last the Radio medium is coming to realise that there really is something happening out in the field and we should all take full advantage of it.
Robin Brock will be delighted to hear from anyone with facts, information or indeed questions about the A&F music scene in Scotland as a whole, not just Forth Country.
One little comment I may make here. Why do the radio stations have to fight for audiences?
I believe there is room, and indeed a real demand, for a show like ‘Pure Scotch’. There is also a need for the ‘Tartan Terror Show’. Obviously, since they are both on the air on a Friday night they are going to steal each others listeners. That surely can’t be the best way to stimulate interest in the populace at large?
Dear Radio Clyde,
How about Wednesday night, 7-8pm. I’ve got some great ideas for a show called ‘Srtictly Scottish’ ………..!!
Moving on to more national affairs – ‘Take the Floor’ has really set the heather alight and got Scotland talking.
Who would ever have thought Scottish Dance Music would have a phone-in?
Now many people will argue, no doubt, that once again the Beeb are doing things on the cheap. Chat shows and phone-ins are a real cheap form of broadcasting – and you can take the word ‘cheap’ as you please.
Many would argue that the ‘extra’ time available through the new format could be put to better use.
Many more might rightly argue that the dance music bit has actually been reduced in favour of the chat bit. In fact, on the phone-in show, Robert Whitehead’s session finished at 6.50 thus reducing the actual dance music to 35 minutes, which is where we were before ‘Take the Floor’ started.
I agree, of course, that this has not been a regular occurrence but the trend is being set. I would much prefer to see the session part of the show retained at 45 minutes and Robbie Shepherd’s contribution moved to another night of the week. That way there is much less danger of a conflict of interest.
I enjoyed the feature on Jack Emblow although it was perhaps a little out of context on what is essentially a Scottish Show. It certainly whetted my appetite for a full feature on this highly accomplished musician. The time allocated did not do justice to a man who must be rated amongst the top in the world.
As far as the band sessions are concerned praise must go to the engineers for very much improved recordings in recent weeks.
The Lothian broadcast intrigued me at the start. I remember thinking nasty things about the bass player missing out notes. It was only after David Findlay announced the band personnel that I realised that George Meikle, the lead box player, was the culprit. He was using his electronic bass unit. The BBC had made such a good job of recording it, it really did sound like a bass. Pity about the playing of the unit which tended to spoil an otherwise good broadcast.
Bill Douglas made a good. Well played, if somewhat unexciting first broadcast.
The front line are obviously highly competent, bit I feel the back line lets the band down a little. The drums don’t pull the band together and the chord sequences are uninspiring.
Bill Douglas has many fans not only here but in far-off lands and no doubt there are tapes of this broadcast already flying off to Canada and such places to the delight of the following the band has.
The sound produced by Robert Whitehead’s Danelaw Band was much improved from previous broadcasts. A bit heavy on echo but a reasonably tight sound.
They play some good tunes and blend their selections fairly well. What’s more, they are a true ‘dance band’, playing regularly north and south of the Border for Scottish Country Dancing. They are therefore tuned into what the dancers like to hear.
It’s a pity they chose so many Iain MacPhail compositions because I always expect to hear them in the distinctive way that only the MacPhail band produces.
For some the piano may have been a bit heavy, but I would much rather have it that way when it is well played. More often than not the Beeb tend to leave the piano out in the cold for some obscure reason.
I must pass comment on the Bandleader’s choice material in Robert’s broadcast.
The fiddle solo was great and very well played. Pity about the Continental waltz though – not a very exciting tune at all. Ex Scottish Champion Robert, I’m sure, could have found something better than this.
The Danelaw are lined up for a live broadcast in the next set of ‘out-and-about’ sessions being recorded shortly.
George Bell’s broadcast was, to my mind, a great improvement on some of his previous recordings.
This band tends to be dogged by the same deficiencies as the Bill Douglas Band, but they do make up for it by selecting some great tunes.
George is, as many of you know, blind. This disability doesn’t hinder him from writing some of the catchiest tunes on the scene today. It probably helps him in fact and allows his ear to be tuned into the more melodious aspect of Scottish music.
At least with both Bill Douglas and George Bell the band promotes both unknown and young players.
With all the arguments about ‘rent-a-band’ raging at the moment, that must please a lot of people.
I’m looking forward to features in Robbie’s part of the show.
I know he’s got Max Houliston lined up – that’s a must for me.
He’s also going to delve into the past and have a look at the ‘Grand Masters’. Jimmy Shand will be the first and the Beeb are trying to organize this now that Jimmy is recovering full fitness after his recent stay in hospital.
It goes without saying that all my readers will want to say ‘Get well soon’ to the old maestro.
Let me end up this month with an appeal.
The BBC have just announced cutbacks of £130m. Programmes depend on audiences and particularly audience reaction. The more there is, the more chance the programme has of success.
Don’t be afraid to air your views. Write to the BBC, Radio Forth and, for that matter, Radio Clyde. They need to hear from you. Every letter is read and noted.
Record Review
by Derek Hamilton
You may remember that last month I related the saga of difficulty in obtaining the last Fintan Stanley LP ‘Back Again.’ I also mentioned that George Fleming of Crosshouse, Ayrshire, had managed to obtain 26 of these LPs from a source in Eire. Since the column was published George has been inundated with requests for the album.
This has set George thinking. Although there are many good record shops around the country, many tend to stock purely run of the mill LPs which tend to sell well. Very few shops are specialists in the lesser-known LPs. And, of course, who can blame them. They need rapid turnover to keep them viable.
George Fleming, on the other hand, is an enthusiast. A man of many parts, not only does he run a very successful timber-building construction business at his small industrial estate in Gateshead Road, Crosshouse, but he collects accordions, buying and selling them. Another of his hobbies is his Scottish Country Dance Band, as well as running a small, private recording studio. But you only have to walk into George’s lounge to find out his prime pastime – collecting records. He has one of the best collections of SDM I’ve ever seen.
Quite a number of these are the ‘difficult to obtain’ types, such as the Canadian recording of emigrant pianist Stan Hamilton and his Flying Scotsmen.
George considers it a challenge to get his hands on LPs which are hard to get. And if he knows someone else who would like a copy then he will set out to get two!
That’s what happened with the Fintan Stanley LP. He knew there was a demand so he set about satisfying it.
I know that he’s keen to get involved in the supply of records and he’s already tied up arrangements with a number of record companies who will supply him direct.
Around our area there’s been some difficulty in getting Iain MacPhail’s ‘Pride of Edinburgh’ and the Black’s ‘Black Magic’. George has extra copies of each of these as well as Alex MacArthur’s two great albums on Bluebell.
He’s even managed to track down a source for the Fourways album that Robbie reviewed recently.
Just arrived and due for release on 11th March is a great new LP by Andrew Rankine. It’s on his own Artisan label and is called ‘Great Scotch’ (Art 302 or KART 302 for cassette).
It contains a real miscellany of great sounds and features not only Andrew and his Band but two very talented musicians from the Pipe Band world.
Robert Matheson (pipes) and Jim Kilpatrick (snare drum) play with Polkemmet Colliery Pipe Band , but Andrew has managed to extract them and features them on a couple of tracks playing by themselves and also with the Scottish Dance Band.
Although the sleeve mentions that Jim Kilpatrick was World Champion Solo Pipe Band Drumming Champion in 1977 it doesn’t say that he won this honour again on 16th February this year. Congrats to you Jim!
There’s a whole feast of Rankine favourites on the album which was recorded in Andrew’s own studio in Leicester.
Well-known bandleader, accordionist, arranger and composer are just some of Andrew’s talents. On this LP he even sings!
‘When Shall I See Scotland Again?’ written by George MacIntyre in a POW camp during the war appears for the very first time on disc and Andrew sings ‘Flower of Scotland’ just to keep the punters happy.
There’s five of his own compositions included. The LP winds up with his very popular ‘Gleniffer Polka’.
Andrew plays electronic on most of the tracks and is helped by Allan Brown on piano and Jon Whitehead on drums, both members of the Danelaw Band.
There are, of course, the inevitable slips, but I always find this makes an album more interesting.
Incidentally, the album title ‘Great Scotch’ may well have something to do with the fact that it was produced in conjunction with ‘Cutty Sark’ – another Great Scotch!
The record contains a real good mixture of music which will appeal to enthusiasts and punters alike. I’m sure it will be a great big hit.
Fintry on a Warpath
by Yehudi McEwan (i.e. Jimmy Yeaman)
A huge reward is being offered in return for the identity of the Mad Monk of Fintry, alias Two Fingers, alias Mines a hauf, alias Jimmy the One, alias Yehudi MacEwan.
If you see him, approach with extreme caution. He will fiddle his way into your confidence, then, when you are least expecting it he will deafen you with a sustained note or worse ; he may put a full glass of jungle juice into your hand.
He only comes out once a month, usually when it is a full moon. If you happen to be out and hear a loud wailing noise, run for your life, warn your friends, then send for the F.F.S. (Fintry Flying Squad). This is a highly specialized and fully trained unit equipped with the most modern and scientific weapons for defrocking mad monks.
They are ruthless and will not hesitate to use these weapons, especially the extending window pole tipped with a silver bottle opener. The chief of the squad gives this piece of advice for those who have to go out at nights. Wear a sprig of garlic in your buttonhole.
The mad monk fears the sight of a squeeze box in full voice and detests the sight of a glass of Ballantynes in someone else’s hand.
While this reign of terror exists all the pubs in Fintry will remain closed during the full moon period and when he has been exposed a huge bonfire will be lit with him as the centerpiece.
News Flash
It has just been reported that he has been seen creeping in the direction of Balloch.
The reward for the brave and fearless person will be the Freedom of Fintry, the Key to the bar and the pick of choicest hand maidens.
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel) – 29th Apr 80 Sandy MacArthur SDB
Alnwick (Nag’s Head) – members only
Balloch (Loch Lomond Hotel) – 20th Apr 80 Fraser McGlynn SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 7th Apr 80 The Hamefarers (Special)
Banff (Royal Oak Hotel) –
Beith (Anderson Hotel) –
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) – 11th Apr 80 Wattie Beattie (Langholm) 25th Apr 80 Supper Dance Jim Johnstone SDB
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) –
Coupar Angus (Royal Hotel)
Cumbria (Huntsman Inn – Penton) – 16th Apr 80 Wallochmore Ceilidh Band
Cumnock (Tup Inn) –
Derwentside (Royal British Legion, Consett) closed till March 80
Dumfries (Oughton’s)
Dunblane (Hydro) –
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel) – 3rd Apr 80 Dunblane Club
Dunfermline (Kinema Ballroom) – 1st Apr 80 Bobby Crowe Trio
Falkirk (Park Hotel) –
Forres (Brig Motel) –
Galston (Parakeet, Hurlford)
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) – members only
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel)
Kelso (Queen’s Head Hotel) – 26th Mar 80 Allan Ray
Kintore (Crown Hotel) – 16th Apr 80 Dennis Morrison (Newmacher)
Langholm (Crown Hotel)
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) –
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull, Milngavie) –
Monklands (Georgian Hotel, Coatbridge) –
New Cumnock (Crown Hotel) –
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel)
North East (Seafield Arms, Keith) – 1st Apr 80 Angus Cameron 8th Apr The Hamefarers 18th Apr Dinner Dance George Bell Band
Oban (Park Hotel) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 15th Apr 80 Malcolm McLean & Frank Henery
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel)
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Shetland (venue?)
Stranraer (Buck’s Head Hotel) – 7th Apr 80 Currie Brothers
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel)
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Balloch
4. Banchory
5. Banff & District
6. Beith & District
7. Biggar
8. Dunblane & District
9. Dundee & District
10. Dunfermline & District
11. Falkirk
12. Forres
13. Galston
14. Highland
15. Kelso
16. Kintore
17. M.A.F.I.A.
18. Monklands
19. Newtongrange
20. North East
21. Rothbury
22. Stranraer
23. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY (Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Sept 1976)
3. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1971)
4. Banchory A&F Club (1978)
5. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973)
6. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1971)
7. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974)
8. Buchan A&F Club
9. Coquetdale
10. Coupar Angus A&F Club
11. Cumnock A&F Club
12. Derwentside A&F Club
13. Dingwall & District (Aug 1979)
14. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s) (April 1965)
15. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971)
16. Dundee & District A&F Club
17. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
18. Falkirk A&F Club
19. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
20. Galston A&F Club
21. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
22. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
23. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
24. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976)
25. Kintore A&F Club
26. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967)
27. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973)
28. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973)
29. M.A.F.I.A.
30. Monklands A&F Club
31. Newcastleton Accordion Club
32. New Cumnock A&F Club
33. Newtongrange A&F Club (Oct 1977)
34. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
35. North Cumbria
36. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971)
37. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975)
38. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
39. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970)
40. Rothbury Accordion Club (Feb 1974)
41. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978)
42. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
43. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
44. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975)
Not on official list (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
45. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
46. Club Accord
47. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
48. Fintry A&F Club
49. Gretna (June 1966)
50. Renfrew A&F Club
51. Straiton Accordion Club (opened? 3rd club to open – closed March 1979)
52. Wellbank A&F Club
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
An added bonus from the Annual General Meeting last year. When the publication date was altered this led to an extra edition being possible. So what should have been the last edition this year is now the second last. The will be one more on 15th April.
The AGM this year has not been confirmed but is provisionally set for Sunday, 29th June.
A new Club has joined us and we welcome them and wish them well. This is the Dingwall Club. The gentleman to write to is Michael Shaw, Newton Miller, Strathpeffer, Ross-shire. They meet on the third Wednesday.
South of Scotland Accordion Festival
by the Editor
The outside of the Govan Town Hall gives no clue to the beautiful interior and to the first time visitor it is a pleasure to wander inside and just admire the clean, modern décor which creates a feeling of warmth and cheerfulness that was evident as the players and public mingled and laughed together.
This was the first N.A.O. Festival to be held in the West of Scotland for many years and with an entry of 350 it must surely be repeated.
Owing to the weather being at its most atrocious I was late in arriving so missed many of the fine young competitors, but I was just in time to catch the orchestra sections. This was inspiring stuff. No less than seven orchestras, especially when one considers the age range, from about ten years to seventeen. I don’t think I noticed any older than that.
The catering was in the very capable hands of the Jimmy Blair Parents/Pupils Association. Thanks girls for a great cup of tea and sandwiches at very reasonable prices.
Down below was an accordion display by Jimmy Clinkscale with Paddy Neary doing some demonstrations.
The panel of adjudicators reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ Ivon Beynon, Eileen Beecham, Ron Beecham, Sam McAlpine, Jim Hutcheon, Ron Hodgson, Chic Kelly and Joe Burke.
The whole show was organized by Jimmy and Lola Blair. To organize 350 youngsters in high spirits is not everyone’s idea of an enjoyable day, but everything seemed to go like clockwork. Jimmy and Lola must have slept for a week once it was all over.
Here are the results
Prep Solo
(1) Aileen Lesley
(2) Tracy Aitken
(3) Una Bryson
Advanced Solo
(1) Robert Craig
(2) Gary Blair
(3) Sidney Simpson
Group
(1) Ronmar Quartet leader R. Hodgson
(2) J. Blair Allegro Quartet leader Richard Ross
(3) Joe Burke Accordion Group leader Lesley Couser
Prep Band
(1) Joe Burke Prep Band
(2) J. Blair Prep Orchestra
(3) Loreta Blair Prep Orchestra
Elementary Band
J. Blair Accordion Orchestra
Open Band
(1) J. Blair Accordion Orchestra
(2) Ronmar Accordion Orchestra
(3) J. Blair Advanced Band
Open Solo
(1) Colin McKee
(2) Yvonne McAleer
(3) Robert Craig
Elementary Duet
(1) Fiona Franci & Tonya Halliday
(2) Alec Leckie & Graeme Nelson
(3) Douglas & Elaine Hastie
Bell Trophy
(1) Yvonne McAleer
(2) Robert Grant
(3) Linda McDonald
Higher Intermediate
(1) Stuart Duff
(2) Linda Moore
(3) Thelma Dickson
Under 16 Solo
(1) Stuart Russell
(2) Shona Maitland
(3) Richard Ross
Advanced Duet
(1) Julie Best & Jean Corrigan
(2) Andrew Stark & Robert Grant
(3) Stuart Duff & Douglas Caird
Intermediate Solo
(1) Stewart Abercrombie
(2) Roy Hendrie
(3) Iain McAlpine
SCOTTISH
Under 12
(1) Margo F. Taylor
(2) Nicola Reid
(3) Allan Preston
Under 14
(1) Michael Garvin
(2) Margo F. Taylor
(3) Elaine Welsh
Under 16
(1) Richard Ross
(2) David Wilson
(3) Fiona Carmichael
Senior
(1) Gary Blair
(2) Richard Ross
(3) Fiona Carmichael
Elementary Solo
(1) Andrea Stewart
(2) J. Prentice
(3) Wendy Elder
Under 8 Solo
(1) Pamela McCann
(2) James McConnell
(3) Iain Newton
(4) Iain Carmichael
Under 10 Solo
(1) Lara Halliday
(2) Lorraine Henderson
(3) Craig Beecham
Under 12 Solo
(1) Margo F. Taylor
(2) Lianne Calder
(3) Allan Preston
Under 14 Solo
(1) Tonya Halliday
(2) Scott Graham
(3) Jennifer Wilson
Entertainer
(1) Sandra L. Fleming
(2) Richard Ross
(3) Gordon Hamilton
Intermediate Duet
(1) Michael Garvin & Alistair Lennox
(2) Richard Ross & Roy Hendrie
(3) Laurence Monaghan & Lianne Calder
After the prize giving ceremony, speeches and votes of thanks, the day ended with a super dance and all this happened in just one day – 2nd February, 1980.
The Reel Radio
by Derek Hamilton
Let me begin this month by pandering to those of you in ‘Forth Country’. For those of you who are not, that is the area covered by the Edinburgh-based commercial radio station ‘Radio Forth’.
Robin Brock, well noted for his bass and accordion playing, takes part in a show called ‘Pure Scotch’ every Friday night between 8 – 10pm. The show is hosted by Steve Jack who is a young D.J. with a lot of talent.
‘Pure Scotch’ specializes in all types of Scottish music without the interruptions or banter of the style of Jack MacLaughlin or Gerry MacKenzie.
Robin Brock’s contribution is essentially a news and review feature which takes up about half an hour in the middle of the show. He is not only an enthusiastic performer but is an ideal choice for this type of spot because of his in-depth knowledge of the scene as a whole.
Robin, as many of you will know, has played with just about all the dance bands around. He knows all the musicians and is in regular contact with them.
He is trying desperately hard to make his spot as informative as possible and is looking for information from Accordion and Fiddle Club Secretaries. Club activities, guest artistes, local artistes with special stories, clubs running competitions or festivals, record releases and general news of anyone and everyone involved in the Scottish music scene.
The more information fed into Robin the better the show will be.
It seems to me that at last the Radio medium is coming to realise that there really is something happening out in the field and we should all take full advantage of it.
Robin Brock will be delighted to hear from anyone with facts, information or indeed questions about the A&F music scene in Scotland as a whole, not just Forth Country.
One little comment I may make here. Why do the radio stations have to fight for audiences?
I believe there is room, and indeed a real demand, for a show like ‘Pure Scotch’. There is also a need for the ‘Tartan Terror Show’. Obviously, since they are both on the air on a Friday night they are going to steal each others listeners. That surely can’t be the best way to stimulate interest in the populace at large?
Dear Radio Clyde,
How about Wednesday night, 7-8pm. I’ve got some great ideas for a show called ‘Srtictly Scottish’ ………..!!
Moving on to more national affairs – ‘Take the Floor’ has really set the heather alight and got Scotland talking.
Who would ever have thought Scottish Dance Music would have a phone-in?
Now many people will argue, no doubt, that once again the Beeb are doing things on the cheap. Chat shows and phone-ins are a real cheap form of broadcasting – and you can take the word ‘cheap’ as you please.
Many would argue that the ‘extra’ time available through the new format could be put to better use.
Many more might rightly argue that the dance music bit has actually been reduced in favour of the chat bit. In fact, on the phone-in show, Robert Whitehead’s session finished at 6.50 thus reducing the actual dance music to 35 minutes, which is where we were before ‘Take the Floor’ started.
I agree, of course, that this has not been a regular occurrence but the trend is being set. I would much prefer to see the session part of the show retained at 45 minutes and Robbie Shepherd’s contribution moved to another night of the week. That way there is much less danger of a conflict of interest.
I enjoyed the feature on Jack Emblow although it was perhaps a little out of context on what is essentially a Scottish Show. It certainly whetted my appetite for a full feature on this highly accomplished musician. The time allocated did not do justice to a man who must be rated amongst the top in the world.
As far as the band sessions are concerned praise must go to the engineers for very much improved recordings in recent weeks.
The Lothian broadcast intrigued me at the start. I remember thinking nasty things about the bass player missing out notes. It was only after David Findlay announced the band personnel that I realised that George Meikle, the lead box player, was the culprit. He was using his electronic bass unit. The BBC had made such a good job of recording it, it really did sound like a bass. Pity about the playing of the unit which tended to spoil an otherwise good broadcast.
Bill Douglas made a good. Well played, if somewhat unexciting first broadcast.
The front line are obviously highly competent, bit I feel the back line lets the band down a little. The drums don’t pull the band together and the chord sequences are uninspiring.
Bill Douglas has many fans not only here but in far-off lands and no doubt there are tapes of this broadcast already flying off to Canada and such places to the delight of the following the band has.
The sound produced by Robert Whitehead’s Danelaw Band was much improved from previous broadcasts. A bit heavy on echo but a reasonably tight sound.
They play some good tunes and blend their selections fairly well. What’s more, they are a true ‘dance band’, playing regularly north and south of the Border for Scottish Country Dancing. They are therefore tuned into what the dancers like to hear.
It’s a pity they chose so many Iain MacPhail compositions because I always expect to hear them in the distinctive way that only the MacPhail band produces.
For some the piano may have been a bit heavy, but I would much rather have it that way when it is well played. More often than not the Beeb tend to leave the piano out in the cold for some obscure reason.
I must pass comment on the Bandleader’s choice material in Robert’s broadcast.
The fiddle solo was great and very well played. Pity about the Continental waltz though – not a very exciting tune at all. Ex Scottish Champion Robert, I’m sure, could have found something better than this.
The Danelaw are lined up for a live broadcast in the next set of ‘out-and-about’ sessions being recorded shortly.
George Bell’s broadcast was, to my mind, a great improvement on some of his previous recordings.
This band tends to be dogged by the same deficiencies as the Bill Douglas Band, but they do make up for it by selecting some great tunes.
George is, as many of you know, blind. This disability doesn’t hinder him from writing some of the catchiest tunes on the scene today. It probably helps him in fact and allows his ear to be tuned into the more melodious aspect of Scottish music.
At least with both Bill Douglas and George Bell the band promotes both unknown and young players.
With all the arguments about ‘rent-a-band’ raging at the moment, that must please a lot of people.
I’m looking forward to features in Robbie’s part of the show.
I know he’s got Max Houliston lined up – that’s a must for me.
He’s also going to delve into the past and have a look at the ‘Grand Masters’. Jimmy Shand will be the first and the Beeb are trying to organize this now that Jimmy is recovering full fitness after his recent stay in hospital.
It goes without saying that all my readers will want to say ‘Get well soon’ to the old maestro.
Let me end up this month with an appeal.
The BBC have just announced cutbacks of £130m. Programmes depend on audiences and particularly audience reaction. The more there is, the more chance the programme has of success.
Don’t be afraid to air your views. Write to the BBC, Radio Forth and, for that matter, Radio Clyde. They need to hear from you. Every letter is read and noted.
Record Review
by Derek Hamilton
You may remember that last month I related the saga of difficulty in obtaining the last Fintan Stanley LP ‘Back Again.’ I also mentioned that George Fleming of Crosshouse, Ayrshire, had managed to obtain 26 of these LPs from a source in Eire. Since the column was published George has been inundated with requests for the album.
This has set George thinking. Although there are many good record shops around the country, many tend to stock purely run of the mill LPs which tend to sell well. Very few shops are specialists in the lesser-known LPs. And, of course, who can blame them. They need rapid turnover to keep them viable.
George Fleming, on the other hand, is an enthusiast. A man of many parts, not only does he run a very successful timber-building construction business at his small industrial estate in Gateshead Road, Crosshouse, but he collects accordions, buying and selling them. Another of his hobbies is his Scottish Country Dance Band, as well as running a small, private recording studio. But you only have to walk into George’s lounge to find out his prime pastime – collecting records. He has one of the best collections of SDM I’ve ever seen.
Quite a number of these are the ‘difficult to obtain’ types, such as the Canadian recording of emigrant pianist Stan Hamilton and his Flying Scotsmen.
George considers it a challenge to get his hands on LPs which are hard to get. And if he knows someone else who would like a copy then he will set out to get two!
That’s what happened with the Fintan Stanley LP. He knew there was a demand so he set about satisfying it.
I know that he’s keen to get involved in the supply of records and he’s already tied up arrangements with a number of record companies who will supply him direct.
Around our area there’s been some difficulty in getting Iain MacPhail’s ‘Pride of Edinburgh’ and the Black’s ‘Black Magic’. George has extra copies of each of these as well as Alex MacArthur’s two great albums on Bluebell.
He’s even managed to track down a source for the Fourways album that Robbie reviewed recently.
Just arrived and due for release on 11th March is a great new LP by Andrew Rankine. It’s on his own Artisan label and is called ‘Great Scotch’ (Art 302 or KART 302 for cassette).
It contains a real miscellany of great sounds and features not only Andrew and his Band but two very talented musicians from the Pipe Band world.
Robert Matheson (pipes) and Jim Kilpatrick (snare drum) play with Polkemmet Colliery Pipe Band , but Andrew has managed to extract them and features them on a couple of tracks playing by themselves and also with the Scottish Dance Band.
Although the sleeve mentions that Jim Kilpatrick was World Champion Solo Pipe Band Drumming Champion in 1977 it doesn’t say that he won this honour again on 16th February this year. Congrats to you Jim!
There’s a whole feast of Rankine favourites on the album which was recorded in Andrew’s own studio in Leicester.
Well-known bandleader, accordionist, arranger and composer are just some of Andrew’s talents. On this LP he even sings!
‘When Shall I See Scotland Again?’ written by George MacIntyre in a POW camp during the war appears for the very first time on disc and Andrew sings ‘Flower of Scotland’ just to keep the punters happy.
There’s five of his own compositions included. The LP winds up with his very popular ‘Gleniffer Polka’.
Andrew plays electronic on most of the tracks and is helped by Allan Brown on piano and Jon Whitehead on drums, both members of the Danelaw Band.
There are, of course, the inevitable slips, but I always find this makes an album more interesting.
Incidentally, the album title ‘Great Scotch’ may well have something to do with the fact that it was produced in conjunction with ‘Cutty Sark’ – another Great Scotch!
The record contains a real good mixture of music which will appeal to enthusiasts and punters alike. I’m sure it will be a great big hit.
Fintry on a Warpath
by Yehudi McEwan (i.e. Jimmy Yeaman)
A huge reward is being offered in return for the identity of the Mad Monk of Fintry, alias Two Fingers, alias Mines a hauf, alias Jimmy the One, alias Yehudi MacEwan.
If you see him, approach with extreme caution. He will fiddle his way into your confidence, then, when you are least expecting it he will deafen you with a sustained note or worse ; he may put a full glass of jungle juice into your hand.
He only comes out once a month, usually when it is a full moon. If you happen to be out and hear a loud wailing noise, run for your life, warn your friends, then send for the F.F.S. (Fintry Flying Squad). This is a highly specialized and fully trained unit equipped with the most modern and scientific weapons for defrocking mad monks.
They are ruthless and will not hesitate to use these weapons, especially the extending window pole tipped with a silver bottle opener. The chief of the squad gives this piece of advice for those who have to go out at nights. Wear a sprig of garlic in your buttonhole.
The mad monk fears the sight of a squeeze box in full voice and detests the sight of a glass of Ballantynes in someone else’s hand.
While this reign of terror exists all the pubs in Fintry will remain closed during the full moon period and when he has been exposed a huge bonfire will be lit with him as the centerpiece.
News Flash
It has just been reported that he has been seen creeping in the direction of Balloch.
The reward for the brave and fearless person will be the Freedom of Fintry, the Key to the bar and the pick of choicest hand maidens.
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel) – 29th Apr 80 Sandy MacArthur SDB
Alnwick (Nag’s Head) – members only
Balloch (Loch Lomond Hotel) – 20th Apr 80 Fraser McGlynn SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 7th Apr 80 The Hamefarers (Special)
Banff (Royal Oak Hotel) –
Beith (Anderson Hotel) –
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) – 11th Apr 80 Wattie Beattie (Langholm) 25th Apr 80 Supper Dance Jim Johnstone SDB
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) –
Coupar Angus (Royal Hotel)
Cumbria (Huntsman Inn – Penton) – 16th Apr 80 Wallochmore Ceilidh Band
Cumnock (Tup Inn) –
Derwentside (Royal British Legion, Consett) closed till March 80
Dumfries (Oughton’s)
Dunblane (Hydro) –
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel) – 3rd Apr 80 Dunblane Club
Dunfermline (Kinema Ballroom) – 1st Apr 80 Bobby Crowe Trio
Falkirk (Park Hotel) –
Forres (Brig Motel) –
Galston (Parakeet, Hurlford)
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) – members only
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel)
Kelso (Queen’s Head Hotel) – 26th Mar 80 Allan Ray
Kintore (Crown Hotel) – 16th Apr 80 Dennis Morrison (Newmacher)
Langholm (Crown Hotel)
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) –
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull, Milngavie) –
Monklands (Georgian Hotel, Coatbridge) –
New Cumnock (Crown Hotel) –
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel)
North East (Seafield Arms, Keith) – 1st Apr 80 Angus Cameron 8th Apr The Hamefarers 18th Apr Dinner Dance George Bell Band
Oban (Park Hotel) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 15th Apr 80 Malcolm McLean & Frank Henery
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel)
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Shetland (venue?)
Stranraer (Buck’s Head Hotel) – 7th Apr 80 Currie Brothers
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel)
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Balloch
4. Banchory
5. Banff & District
6. Beith & District
7. Biggar
8. Dunblane & District
9. Dundee & District
10. Dunfermline & District
11. Falkirk
12. Forres
13. Galston
14. Highland
15. Kelso
16. Kintore
17. M.A.F.I.A.
18. Monklands
19. Newtongrange
20. North East
21. Rothbury
22. Stranraer
23. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY (Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Sept 1976)
3. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1971)
4. Banchory A&F Club (1978)
5. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973)
6. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1971)
7. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974)
8. Buchan A&F Club
9. Coquetdale
10. Coupar Angus A&F Club
11. Cumnock A&F Club
12. Derwentside A&F Club
13. Dingwall & District (Aug 1979)
14. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s) (April 1965)
15. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971)
16. Dundee & District A&F Club
17. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
18. Falkirk A&F Club
19. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
20. Galston A&F Club
21. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
22. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
23. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
24. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976)
25. Kintore A&F Club
26. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967)
27. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973)
28. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973)
29. M.A.F.I.A.
30. Monklands A&F Club
31. Newcastleton Accordion Club
32. New Cumnock A&F Club
33. Newtongrange A&F Club (Oct 1977)
34. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
35. North Cumbria
36. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971)
37. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975)
38. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
39. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970)
40. Rothbury Accordion Club (Feb 1974)
41. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978)
42. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
43. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
44. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975)
Not on official list (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
45. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
46. Club Accord
47. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
48. Fintry A&F Club
49. Gretna (June 1966)
50. Renfrew A&F Club
51. Straiton Accordion Club (opened? 3rd club to open – closed March 1979)
52. Wellbank A&F Club