Box and Fiddle
Year 37 No 07
March 2014
Price £2.70
44 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £29.70 + p&p £13.75 (UK)
Editor – Karin Ingram, Hawick
B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
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
This month we carry the first of our articles about our NAAFC Guests of Honour, who this year are Robin Brock, Calum MacLean and Hamish Smith.
We are very much looking forward to seeing everyone once again at the NAAFC Festival at Inshyra Grange and of course next month we will carry a full report.
Karin Ingram
Robin Brock
by Charlie Todd
When leaving Biggar there is no more scenic route than the road to the Border town of Peebles, and even in January it was no hardship to make that journey to meet up with one of Scotland’s most versatile and experienced musicians in his beautiful home, Meldonfoot, a couple of miles from the town. Robin Brock was equally at home on string bass or accordion and he has played with the best. Sir Jimmy Shand, Jim Johnstone and Jim MacLeod I knew about, but ‘The Corries Folk Trio’ came as a bit of a surprise.
Robin’s story starts at Thorntonloch near Dunbar (now the site of the Torness Power Station), where he was born. His dad, Robert, served in the Royal Artillery and was taken prisoner-of-war in North Africa spending the remainder of the war in P-o-W camps in Italy and Germany (Stalag 11B near Bremen). His mum, May, and Aunt Nan both played fiddle but it was the marriage of his mum’s best friend, Chrissy Fairbairn, to Tranent 5-row accordionist John Johnstone which resulted in a constant trickle of musicians visiting the house and which was to have far reaching results in later years. The family made a number of moves, firstly to Gilmerton, then Rosslynlee before finally settling in Penicuik in 1966 and it was at Mauricewood Mains Farm on the outskirts of Penicuik that Robin eventually settled when he married.
Early Days
When very young Robin had been keen on acquiring an accordion but his dad didn’t share his enthusiasm so he was in his late teens before he bought his first musical instrument, a rhythm guitar. He quickly discovered that he had an aptitude for it and around 1958 he joined Andrew Stoddart’s band, ‘The Glenesk’. The line-up of this popular and extremely busy band was Andrew Stoddart and Ken Lindsay on accordions, Charlie Anderson from Penicuik (later Davy Flockhart) on piano, John Arthur from Edinburgh (ex Shetlands) on fiddle and Davy Ewart, again from Penicuik, on drums. The band travelled far and wide in and old 15cwt Ford Thames. I recall seeing their names appearing regularly in Margaret Watson’s visitors book when she organised the dances in Ardrishaig Hall. Anyway, Andrew had a notion to do an audition for the Home Service’s ‘Scottish Dance Music’ but for that the band needed a string bass player and the problem was that locally they were in short supply (if not totally non existent). The solution was at hand though – Andrew simply told Robin he was going to be the band’s string bass so he’d better find one quickly and start practicing! Unphased, Robin went along to Gordon Simpson’s Music Shop in Edinburgh and did just that, although he had to part with £49 10/- (a tidy sum in those days) for the privilege. It’s amazing when ‘needs must’ what can be achieved – again he knuckled down and taught himself to be a proficient player. He had a good ear, which helped greatly, but he also in time became a very competent sight reader of the bass line. Incidentally after all that ‘The Glenesk’ never got round to applying for an audition but, as we’ll see, Robin’s effort and expense wasn’t in vain. At the same time he also played rhythm guitar in a local ‘group’ initially called ‘Andy and the Boppers’ later renamed ‘The Andy Russell Seven’.
The Swinging 60’s
In the early 60’s Robin left ‘The Glenesk’ and while attending a dance he met Jim Johnstone who had completed his National Service and had just finished with the Andrew Rankine Band (Andrew intended emigrating to Australia at that point). During their conversation Jim asked Robin what he played and he replied ‘bass’. No more was said at that point but two nights later came a knock at the door. With Robin on board Jim had formed the nucleus of a band with Bobby Colgan on drums and Davy Flockhart on piano but he still needed a fiddler. Robin suggested Alan Johnston from Gorebridge who was duly recruited. Jim was a ‘stickler’ for having things just right and the band practiced endlessly, so much so that even today, 50 years later, Robin can remember the exact bass line of all the sets they used for their successful audition and debut broadcast in August 1963. It was Jim’s band who did the last 4 shows of the famous ‘’White Heather Club’ TV series. Two were recorded in Quarriers Home at Bridge of Weir and the very last two were from The Ship Inn in Eyemouth with Robin Hall and Jimmie McGregor, Dixie Ingram, Ted Darling, Eleanor Leith and the Isobel James Dancers.
At this time Robin was attending Agricultural College (and later Edinburgh’s Royal Botanical Gardens) where a fellow student knew a folk singer / guitarist by the name of Roy Williamson who together with Bill Smith and Ronnie Browne had formed ‘The Corrie Folk Trio’. Their first engagement had been in the Waverley Bar in Edinburgh but they were as yet virtually unknown. They augmented their act with the addition of a female Irish vocalist called Paddie Bell but Bill Smith thought they needed a string bass player so Robin agreed to join them in 1962. Robin recalls a week long tour ‘up north’ in 1964. The tour had a few unintentional highlights. They were in Aberdeen at the time of the infamous typhoid scare playing in the city for two nights but lodging well outside and it was while staying near Inverness that Robin met another name for the future, young Isla St Clair (later of Generation Game fame).
At the end of the tour Robin and Bill Smith, with all the instruments, were traveling south on their way home in Robin’s van when they stopped in Tyndrum. Fortunately Bill phoned his wife to discover that Ben Lyons had desperately been trying to contact them for a week and that he wanted them to appear at the Albert Hall, Stirling that very evening. The rest of the group were rounded up and appeared in a show with the Peggy O’Keefe Trio, Lita Rosa, Dean Ford and the Gaylords (who later became the chart topping group ‘Marmalade’) and top-of-the-bill singer Jimmy Young (later better known as a Radio D.J.). After the show hoards of fans swamped the dressing room – Jimmy Young thought it was his autograph they were after but he was wrong – it was the ‘The Corrie Folk Trio with Paddie Bell’ who had made the biggest impact with the audience.
TV shows followed when producers W. Gordon Smith and Iain MacFadyen booked them for ‘Hoot’nanny’, ‘Sing Along’, and ‘Degrees of Folk’. The Trio were resident on all of these shows which brought Robin into contact with a wealth of big showbiz names – The Dubliners, The Clancy Brothers, Roger Whittaker and Julie Felix to name but a few. All of these artistes were just starting out and had yet to make their names. ‘Degrees of Folk’ took Robin and his colleagues to universities all over the U.K. including Northern Ireland. Comperes on the show were Ian Campbell and Alex Norton (the current ‘Taggart’). Peter Morrison and his wife were backing singers on ‘Sing Along’ while Pete Kerr (later a record producer and author) was a clarinetist. It was after one recording session in Edinburgh when everyone went to the Buckingham Hotel for a drink to unwind that Robin found himself seated next to the lead vocalist of a new but as yet unknown Australian folk group who were in the show. In conversation with this young lady Robin learned that they had two wishes – to get work and to see the Loch Ness Monster! Robin referred them to John Worth, the manager of the Inverness Empire Theatre and to agent Tommy Ure in Kyle of Lochalsh (bandboys used the phrase ‘On Tour with Tommy Ure’) which helped them on the road to stardom (if not a sighting of Nessie). The vocalist was Judith Durham and the group the ‘Seekers’.
In 1966 Jim Johnstone’s Band split up when Jim was offered the chance to tour Australia with Jimmy Shand Snr. But as one door closes another opens and Robin received a phone call from S.T.V. Producer Hal Duncan who was piloting a T.V. show called ‘Sounds of Britain’ and needed a bass player. The pilot, with a 14 piece band, was successful so thirteen shows were commissioned. Robin recall with a smile that the first had 6 or 7 musicians, the second only 3 and by the fourth Robin was on his own! Robin’s role became that of a ‘session musician’ playing as- and-when required with the other guests and groups appearing on the show. He related one amusing incident. In those days of fanatical trade union ‘demarcation’ he unintentionally almost caused a strike by the stage crew. The Producer liked to have Robin on screen in the background and asked him to move round very slightly. Picking up his bass and mike stand he moved a couple of feet and all hell broke loose – under no circumstances were musicians allowed to carry out the work of the stage-hands, even something as simple as moving a microphone 2 feet. ‘Sounds of Britain’ eventually broadcast 64 shows and broke the ground for ‘Thingummyjig’ which started in 1976 with Jim Johnstone as the backing band. Robin played in Jim’s band for the first two series.
Shortly after returning from Oz, Jimmy Shand Snr went to Canada for three months and Junior took over the band but needed a bass player and Robin was available. When Jimmy Snr returned he asked Robin to join the band and for the next two years Robin travelled the length and breadth of the country. The band recorded over 100 ‘Heather Mixture’ shows, produced by Ben Lyons, for radio during Robin’s two years with them. He recalls playing at dances down south with 40 old time dances on the programme and Robin didn’t know a single on of them! Jimmy did but it was a complete new repertoire for Robin. He ‘enjoyed it all immensely’ but as time wore on a problem reared its head for the first, although not the last, time. Jimmy could be in Aberdeen one night, Liverpool the next and Southampton the one following that. It was a series of distant one-night-stands interspersed with an occasion week in a theatre and Robin was developing a landscaping business and didn’t have the luxury of a long lie in every morning. Sometimes he got no sleep at all and after two years he reluctantly had to call it a day.
70’s - with Jim MacLeod at the Dunblane Hydro
Inevitably in his travels with Jimmy, Robin had met everyone on the scene and, as often happens, word got round about his departure from the Shand Band. He had intended to take life easier but Jim MacLeod had been contracted for the ‘On Tour’ radio series and he now required an experienced bass player so Robin once again found himself on the road. Although much of Jim’s work was at Dunblane Hydro the ‘On Tour’ series took them all over Scotland. In fact Robin wondered what he had let himself in for when the first two shows came from Paible in North Uist and Ollaberry in Shetland. They also did many shows from Grampian TV including their well produced Hogmanay Show. “Gentleman Jim” recalls Robin “actually played far more modern ballroom dance music than Scottish at the Hydro, that was the band’s strength, and his skills as an M.C. were second to none – the type of audiences we catered for loved him”. By 1974 though, after almost seven years with Jim, the long hours and the long miles were once again taking their toll. John Sinton had appeared on the scene and Robin asked him if he fancied taking over for a spell. This he did and the two of them still joke when they meet, after almost 40 years, about when Robin “will get his job back”.
I mentioned in my introduction that Robin was also fondly remembered leading his own band on accordion in the early 70’s. You’ll probably have noticed a certain lack of references to ‘playing the accordion’ thus far. As for the guitar and bass Robin has had no formal tuition on this instrument either. Theatre, TV and radio work all involved a certain amount of ‘hanging about’ with the band-boys and to pass the time Robin began to dabble in the accordion, borrowing one and trying to emulate what he had seen and heard others doing. Gradually it became quite a passion but he was in his thirties before he decided to buy a Hohner Morino V Domino Coupler from his old pal Andrew Stoddart. As a bass player he was well known to the producers of the Scottish Dance Music – Jim Hunter had greeted him with a cool ‘you again’ on one occasion when he appeared for about the fifth time that week. He had handed over to Robert Crawford and it was Robert whom he enquired with about the possibility of a broadcast on lead accordion. There were no shortcuts though, so an audition was organised and in the company of a group of old friends Jack Delaney, Bobby Christie, Davy Flockhart, Stan Saunders and Gordon Young. With an experienced line-up like that they sailed through. Robin phoned presenter David Findlay, before the first broadcast was transmitted in 1972, and asked if they could be introduced as ‘Robin Brock and Friends’ rather than as a formal, working Scottish Dance Band. In all they did about a dozen broadcasts in the next few years (Pam Brough and Dave Barclay deputized occasionally), a very creditable total, and Robin’s recipe for success was simply good, lively, straightforward tunes which let the band relax and play with a swing. He also went on to compose some very good marches ‘Miss Linda MacFarlane’, ‘McCrostie Park’, ‘Bobby Brown’s Welcome to Shetland’, ‘Master Alastair Cunningham Weir’ and ‘Miss Jennifer Fletcher’ which get a periodic airing on ‘Take the Floor’.
Around 1974/5 Robin rejoined the Jim Johnstone Band for TV’s ‘Songs of Scotland’ on bass but when second box player Alex MacArthur decided to leave the band Jim brought in Alasdair MacLeod on bass and switched Robin to an entirely new role for him – second box. As an incentive he told Robin that the band were doing a broadcast in a fortnight’s time so he had better be ready – which he was. The band did the Hogmanay Show from Aberdeen that year in the illustrious company of Shotts and Dykehead Caledonian Pipe Band (under P/M Tom McAllister and with an unforgettable drum salute under the direction of the legendary Leading Drummer Alex Duthart), Rolf Harris, Aimi MacDonald, Ronald Fraser, Peter Morrison and Alastair McDonald.
Robin had made the point several times during our conversation that being a competent bass player in the pre-electronic keyboard days was a guarantee of a full diary. There simply weren’t that many around and he picked up work in a ‘session’ role doing broadcasts and LPs with many of the top bands. Off the top of his head he recalls names such as Iain MacPhail, Cameron Kerr, Andrew Rankine, Ian Holmes, Max Houliston, Grace McCleaver, The Olympians and a wealth of work for Waverly Records.
Mixing Business and Pleasure
Just to put his other activities into context, Robin was farming Mauricewood Mains and managing a landscaping contracting business, one branch of which, the ‘Maintenance Department’ employed 90 men grass-cutting and gardening all over Scotland (military establishments, ancient monuments and S.S.H.A estates). He had also established 600 acres of tree and shrub nurseries, his specialism back in his days at Agricultural College and Edinburgh’s Royal Botanical Gardens. By mid to late 1978 Robin had decided to take a year off as pressure once again mounted but he agreed to do a broadcast with close friend Ian Holmes at the end of 1979 from the Dean Tavern in Newtongrange for Radio Forth. (He can’t remember whether it was on bass or box).
Producer Sandy Wilkie from Radio Forth was on hand and during a break Robin was pulling his leg along the lines of ‘you really need someone on Radio Forth who knows the Scottish Dance music scene from the inside’. Again Robin thought no more of it, but two days later Sandy phoned to offer him a ten minute slot on Radio Forth’s Friday night show ‘Pure Scotch’, presented at that time by Bill Torrance, and starting almost immediately. Robin had to get his thinking cap on, and quickly, because he didn’t at that point have any concrete ideas about what the show lacked. But he immediately thought of the thriving Accordion and Fiddle Club scene and called his spot ‘Accordion Club News’. He gave the dates of Club meetings in Radio Forth’s transmission area, the guest artistes and played tracks from their LPs to give listeners a taste of what they would hear.
Steve Jack took over Bill Torrance’s seat and Robin’s role expanded, but I’ll let Jimmy Clinkscale tell the story from his February 1982 write up on Robin – “Robin co-presents ‘Pure Scotch’ with Steve Jack every Friday night on Radio Forth. The programme is a light-hearted, two hour Scottish request programme. However, his main interest every week is his very own programme called ‘Folks Around Robin.’ Every week Robin plays host to a band or well-known group of musicians and records their music. Each selection of music is interspersed with ‘informal blethers’ when the bandleader is invited to introduce members of the band, tunes they play and recount any interesting or amusing incidents from the past.
“There is anything from ten to twelve hours of hard graft involved in any programme” say Robin, “but I really enjoy it. I have been so many places, met so many marvellous people through Scottish music that I’m only too delighted to be able to put something back into it.”
‘Folks Around Robin’ started in 1981 and ran for two and a half years. It was broadcast on a Monday evening and repeated on a Saturday. Robin used his knowledge of the scene to bring live bands into the studio where they recorded their sets but more importantly the bandleader, and occasionally other band members, were interviewed. Amongst Robin’s favourites were Sandy MacArthur, Angus Fitchet and Jim Johnstone – they had a natural and infectious humour coupled with a wealth of stories gathered over the years. He also achieved some notable ‘firsts’ tempting Andrew Rankine, Angus Fitchet and Bobby MacLeod back into the studio leading bands for the first time in decades. Radio Forth also started an annual live show in the Usher Hall (later the Playhouse Theatre) in Edinburgh, which allowed him to bring over to Scotland, again for the first time ever, Canadian stars such as fiddlers Graham Townsend and Rudy Meeks and the highly acclaimed Cape Breton Symphony Fiddle with Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent. The 1979 show was tinged with sadness because it was there that his close friend Sandy MacArthur collapsed, on stage, in front of a full house. Robin was in the wings and it was he who closed the curtains and rushed to phone for the ambulance as others tried to revive Sandy. Steve Jack moved on from ‘Pure Scotch’ after four years leaving Robin in the driving seat for a further nine. The show was upped to 3 hours and Robin used it to promote all aspects of our music bringing artistes, particularly Scottish singers when they released a new LP, in to the studio to be interviewed.
An interesting aside at this point which demonstrates Robin’s organising ability. In 1986 Robin’s son, Russell, was attending George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh who had a long standing arrangement with a school in Zimbabwe (previously Southern Rhodesia) whereby the Rugby First 15 went out to play a few matches. Robin attended the P.T.A. meeting charged with deciding how to raise the substantial funds required for the trip. The talk was of ‘coffee mornings’ and the like – which Robin realised would take forever. He arranged to see the Headmaster privately the following day, explained his background, and offered to organise a big fundraising concert. From there it went along the lines of - ‘Ah yes, the Assembly Hall (300 seats)’ – ‘Well no, more the Usher Hall (3,000) seats’. The cast included the School Choir, two pipe bands (Heriot School P.B. and the Grade 1 Scottish Gas P.B.), the Jim Johnstone SDB, The Morag Alexander Dancers, M.C. Bill Torrance, singers Bill McCue and Thora Kerr, accordionists Iain McPhail and John Huband and top-of-the-bill the one and only Andy Stewart. As a finale Jim Aitken (Captain) and several other members of Scotland’s Grand Slam winning Rugby Team of 1984 came on stage and sang a closing number with the entertainers. Everyone gave their services free gratis and the Council gave the Usher Hall for a nominal rent. The results were highly satisfactory – not only the Rugby Team but also the Hockey Team and the entire Pipe Band went to Zimbabwe for a memorable visit and every pupil received £50 spending money. Beat that!
Robin’s Radio Forth stint took him right through to 1992. In 1992/3 he ‘returned to his roots’ (if you’ll forgive the pun) writing and publishing a 205 page masterpiece entitled the ‘Hardy Nursery Stock Tree and Shrub Manual’ (launched in the House of Commons by, among others the M.P. son of George McKelvey of the Shand Band) and five years later he sold Mauricewood Mains Farm, the entire business and went to live in Monaco. Even there his organising abilities came to the fore when the revitalized the ‘British Association’ (they didn’t have a Caledonian Society) and staged charity events featuring local residents supplemented by, amongst others, singer Peter Mallan, Billy Anderson and Albany, Bill Torrance and Jim McColl of Beechgrove Garden fame. In 2010 he returned home to Scotland full-time, buying and refurbishing Meldonfoot near Peebles (needless to say the gardens underwent a major redevelopment under his experienced eye).
Robin has spent a lifetime in Scottish music as bass player, accordionist and broadcaster (from both sides of the desk). He will indeed be a very worthy Guest of Honour at our June gathering.
“Gone But Not Forgotten”
The Bromley Accordion & Fiddle Club
by Robin Ellis
Readers of long standing may remember that in 1995 I was somewhat disappointed to find that the nearest Scottish style Accordion and Fiddle Club was some 350 miles north of my home in Kent. It seemed that the only solution was to form my own Club in Bromley. This I duly did and it ran quite successfully for some 12 years, after which it became obvious that it could not continue. The main reason being a diminishing number of available guest performers and local players due to the general ageing of all concerned.
Meeting some of the Club supporters at local Scottish dances, a number voiced the opinion that it would be a pity to lose touch with all the friends we had made and so it was decided to meet up twice a year at a local hotel for lunch and enjoy a jolly good chat. This was a great success but again there was a cry’ “There is no music!” As most of us were retired the idea of the ‘Tea Ceilidh’ was born. The format was simple. We meet twice a year in the afternoon. The first hour is playing, mainly fiddle and accordion music but as it is a ceilidh anything goes. We have pianists, singers, poets, the odd quiz and, of course, Scottish music. Then we have tea and as you might guess plenty of concersation. Did you know that all Scottish musicians seem to love sausage rolls – we never seem to have enough – we might as well forget sandwiches and cakes. The last hour is more entertainment ending up with the traditional stramash.
We are not, I am afraid, a real accordion and fiddle Club and never will be, but we are, I hope, keeping some of the original spirit alive. We have learnt that one must adapt to fit the circumstances of the times. Hopefully we shall keep going for a few more years until we are all too old to play. One thing seems to be a fact – old musicians never give up, they just get more and more ‘pianissimo’ until they eventually become ‘tacit’.
Manfrini Aria
by Daniel McPhee
My father introduced me to the button accordion …………..
Happy Birthday Lockerbie Club!
40th Anniversary
by
The meeting of 26th November 2013 in The Queens Hotel was the 40th Anniversary of our Club. It was almost standing room only when MC John Watret began introducing the volunteer players. First on stage was our Treasurer since the Club was formed in 1973, Jockie Brockbank on accordion accompanied on keyboard by Betty Mitchell who also accompanied him at the first meeting all those years ago. The were accompanied on accordion by Willie McRobert, who also had played at the first meeting (just a teenager then!) and on drums by Ian Riddet, a regular player at the Club. The other local players on the night were on accordion, Jim Fraser, David Dunbar, Don Fergusson, James Johnstone, John Douglas, Tony Dalton, Ronnie Easton, Leonard Brown, Janet Graham, Duncan Hutchison, Newby Park and Robin Waitt. Our only fiddler was Ian Woods. Accompanying the players on keyboard were Iain Wilson, our regular accompanist, Betty Mitchell and Derek Hamilton. Drumming was shared by Ian Riddet and Bob Dorrance.
Unfortunately several players had to stand down as time was, once again, in short supply! Our apologies.
Our guest artistes for the evening were Iain MacPhail and his Band, who entertained us with a varied programme including reels, jigs, waltzes, pipe marches, etc., played in the great, distinctive Iain MacPhail style. Iain was accompanied by Brian Griffin on accordion, Judith Smith on fiddle, Dorothy Lawson on keyboard and Nicky McMichan on drums.
After our birthday cake was cut by Committee member Madge Jardine and Betty Mitchell, Jockie Brockbank was pleasantly surprised when Willie McRobert, on behalf of the Club, presented him with a ‘long-service’ certificate in recognition of 40 years as Club Treasurer! Jockie was delighted to receive the Certificate. Unknown to him, his colleagues on the Committee, Madge, John and Sandy, had arranged the ‘surprise’, which he much appreciated.
After another excellent night of music, John Watret thanked everyone for coming along and supporting the Club, and also thanked The queens Hotel for their assistance in the evening’s arrangements.
Will Hannah in Orkney
10th – 13th August 1929
by Charlie Todd
While transcribing back-issues of the ‘B&F’ onto the Website I came across an old photo of a group including Will Hannah in the November 1989 issue. The short accompanying article read : Musical memories came flooding back recently for Orkney woman, Mrs Peggy Ferguson. The last time she was involved in this picture she was in front of the camera – that’s her seated third from right – all of sixty years ago.
The occasion was a souvenir picture for the fan’s of Scots melodeon star, Will Hannah, during his one and only visit to Orkney. He was taken north by Bob Milne who ran the music shop in Junction Road, Kirkwall.
Will played to a packed Temperance Hall, for box buffs the instrument is believed to have been an Excelsior, and gave them a night to remember.
Mrs Ferguson, of Clay Loan, has a special reason for cherishing the memory. She was Will’s accompanist. As she glanced at the photograph of the group for the very first time, a delighted Mrs Ferguson recalled “We didn’t even have a rehearsal. Will told me the tempos and away we went. Fortunately, I knew most of the tunes and you can only get three keys on that particular melodeon so I didn’t have too much to worry about.”
Was she apprehensive about playing the piano for such a famous musician? “I didn’t have the sense to be nervous in those days”, replied a modest Mrs Ferguson, who was well known in local concert circles at the time.
She continued “It was a grand night, the seats were forms and the best stance, the two windows at the back, which were on a higher level and provided the best view, were taken early. Will was a gentleman- I think he lived in West Lothian and was a miner.”
The photograph, which was loaned to us by local musician, Jim Anderson, was taken in photographer Tom Kent’s garden behind the Longship shop in Broad Street, Kirkwall.
It’s impossible to scan a photo from newspaper print so I e-mailed the Secretary of the Orkney Club, Bert Baikie, and asked if he could track down the photo. The offices of the ‘Orcadian’ newspaper were unable to help so Bert tried the Orkney Library Archive where he found the photographs and the original article concerning Will’s visit to Orkney from 10th – 13th August, 1929. The event was recorded in ‘The Orcadian’ as follows –
Parlophone Concert – One of the most popular events in Kirkwall over the weekend was a series of concerts under the auspices of the Parlophone Gramophone Company organized by Mr Milne of Junction Road, Kirkwall. Crowded houses attended on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday last, the chief attraction being Mr William Hannah, Scotland’s premier accordionist, supported by well known local artistes. Mr Hannah gave a fine selection of popular tunes from his repertoire, which so electrified the audience that they unquestionably acclaimed him worthy of the title.
But best of all they came up with not one but three excellent photographs – certainly the first I’ve ever seen of Will. My thanks to Bert Baikie, for his prompt attention (all this took just over a week) and to The Orcadian and the Orkney Library Archive (for jointly retaining these photographs for the last 84 years). It makes me wonder what else is out there!
Fred Hanna (1924-2014) (Obituary)
Ulsterman Fred Hanna
Ulsterman Fred Hanna (born in Poyntzpass, Country Armagh, in 1924) studied……….
Webwatch
by Bill Young
www.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Viva Marcosignori!! Reviewed by Rob Howard
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
1st March 2014 – Clappy Doo Ceilidh Band
8th March 2014 – Burns Brothers Ceilidh Band + Inshyra Concert
15th March 2014 – Matthew MacLennan SDB + Inshyra Band competition
22nd March 2014 – Archive Session
29th March 2014 – Nicol McLaren & the Glencraig SDB
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 25th March 2014 – Gordon Pattullo & Gemma Donald
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle) 12th March 2014 – Marie Fielding & Duncan Black
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 16th March 2014 – Neil Hardie SDB
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 2nd March 2014 – AGM + Burns Brothers Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 16th March 2014 – Ross MacPherson SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 26th March 2014 – Dave & Diane Morrice
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 9th March 2014 – Matthew MacLennan SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 11th March 2014 – Ian Muir SDB
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 13th March 2014 – Jack Stalker & George Wilson
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 4th March 2014 – Leonard Brown and Malcolm Ross
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 6th March 2014 – John Morgan
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 18th March 2014 – David Kennedy Trio
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 20th March 2014 – Neil Hardie SDB
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 6th March 2014 – Ray Carse
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) - 18th March 2014 – Janet Graham Trio
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 5th March 2014 – Neil Caul SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 19th March 2014 – Matthew MacLennan SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 11th March 2014 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross 28th March – Dance to Willie McFarlane Band
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate) 17th March 2014 – Leonard Brown Band
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 18th March 2014 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 24th March 2014 – David Oswald SDB
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 30th March 2014 – Gavin Piper
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 12th March 2014 – Graham Geddes Trio
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) – 6th March 2014 – John Fairbairn Memorial Evening
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 20th March 2014 – Robert Black Trio
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 5th March 2014 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) - 2nd March 2014 – Ray Carse
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 16th March 2014 – Billy Anderson & Albany
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 17th March 2014 – Alex McIntyre
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 12th March 2014 – Jack Delaney SDB
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 6th March 2014 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 4th March 2014 – Steven Carcary SDB
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 26th March 2014 – Gordon Clark SDB
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 20th March 2014 – Kilrymont Accordion Band
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 24th March 2014 – John Morgan
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) – 12th March 2014 – Stuart Anderson Trio
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 6th March 2014 – Matthew MacLennan Trio
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 18th March 2014 – Bon Accords
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 25th March 2014 – Clappy Doo C.B.
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 18th March 2014 – Liam Stewart Trio
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th March 2014 – Steven Carcary Duo
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) - March 2014 -
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Buccleugh Bowling Club) 19th March 2014 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 31st March 2014 – Fiddlers von Trap
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 4th March 2014 – Wayne Robertson
Northern (Lylehill Suite, Templepatrick, N.I.) - 5th March 2014 – Dunloy Concert Group
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) – 6th March 2014 – West Telferton Cale C.B.
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) – 17th March 2014 – Maggie Adamson & Brian Nicholson
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 27th March 2014 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 18th March 2014 – Neil MacEachern SDB
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 11th March 2014 – Stuart McKeown Trio
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 6th March 2014 – Craig Paton & Andy Kain
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 4th March 2014 – John Morgan
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 6th March 2014 – Club Night 27th March – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio 28th March – End of Season Supper Dance to Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) - 5th March 2014 – John Morgan
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 11th March 2014 – Richard Smith Trio
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 3rd March 2014 – Alan Roy
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 6th March 2014 – John Stuart SDB
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 20th March 2014 – Gordon Pattullo & Gemma Donald
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) - 1st & 15th March 2014 – Saturday Ceilidh Night
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 13th March 2014 – Judith Linton Trio
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 18th March 2014 – Maggie Adamson & Brian Nicholson
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Arbroath
5. Balloch
6. Banff
7. Biggar
8. Blairgowrie
9. Button-Key
10. Campsie
11. Castle Douglas
12. Coalburn
13. Coldingham (final meeting)
12. Dingwall
13. Dunfermline
14. Duns
15. Fintry
16. Forfar
17. Glendale
18. Gretna
19. Haddington
20. Highland
21. Inveraray
22. Isle of Skye
23. Islesteps
24. Kelso
25. Ladybank
26. Lanark
27. Livingston
28. Lockerbie (40th Anniversary)
29. Mauchline
30. Newburgh
31. Newtongrange
32. North East
33. Northern
34. Oban
35. Peebles
36. Perth
37. Renfrew
38. Shetland
39. Stonehouse
40. Thurso
41. West Barnes
42. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2013
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
10. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
11. Button Key A&F Club (
12. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
13. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
14. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
15. Coalburn A&F Club (
16. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
17. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
18. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
19. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
20. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
21. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
22. Ellon A&F Club (
23. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
24. Forfar A&F Club (
25. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
26. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
27. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
28. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
29. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
30. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
31. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
32. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
33. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
34. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
35. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
36. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
37. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
38. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
39. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
40. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
41 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
42 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
43 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
44 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
45 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
46. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
47. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
48. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
49. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
50. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
51. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
52. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
53. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
54. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
55 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
56 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
57 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
58 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
58 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
60 West Barnes ( - present)
61 Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
62. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
63. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
64. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
65. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
66. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
67. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
68. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
69. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
70. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
71. Buchan A&F Club
72. Callander A&F Club (
73. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
74. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
75. Club Accord
76. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
77 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
78. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
79. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
80. Cults A & F Club (
81. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
82. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
83. Derwentside A&F Club
84. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
85. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
86. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
87. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
88. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
89. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
90. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
91. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
92. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
93. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
94. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
95. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
96. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
97. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
98. Kintore A&F Club (
99. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
100. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
101. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Maine Valley A&F Club (
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
107. Mull A&F Club
108. Newcastleton Accordion Club
109. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
110. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
111. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
112. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
113. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
114. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
115. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
116. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
117. Selkirk A&F Club (
118. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
119. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
120. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
121 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
122 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
123. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
124. Tranent A&F Club
125. Vancouver
126. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
127. Wellbank A&F Club
128. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
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
This month we carry the first of our articles about our NAAFC Guests of Honour, who this year are Robin Brock, Calum MacLean and Hamish Smith.
We are very much looking forward to seeing everyone once again at the NAAFC Festival at Inshyra Grange and of course next month we will carry a full report.
Karin Ingram
Robin Brock
by Charlie Todd
When leaving Biggar there is no more scenic route than the road to the Border town of Peebles, and even in January it was no hardship to make that journey to meet up with one of Scotland’s most versatile and experienced musicians in his beautiful home, Meldonfoot, a couple of miles from the town. Robin Brock was equally at home on string bass or accordion and he has played with the best. Sir Jimmy Shand, Jim Johnstone and Jim MacLeod I knew about, but ‘The Corries Folk Trio’ came as a bit of a surprise.
Robin’s story starts at Thorntonloch near Dunbar (now the site of the Torness Power Station), where he was born. His dad, Robert, served in the Royal Artillery and was taken prisoner-of-war in North Africa spending the remainder of the war in P-o-W camps in Italy and Germany (Stalag 11B near Bremen). His mum, May, and Aunt Nan both played fiddle but it was the marriage of his mum’s best friend, Chrissy Fairbairn, to Tranent 5-row accordionist John Johnstone which resulted in a constant trickle of musicians visiting the house and which was to have far reaching results in later years. The family made a number of moves, firstly to Gilmerton, then Rosslynlee before finally settling in Penicuik in 1966 and it was at Mauricewood Mains Farm on the outskirts of Penicuik that Robin eventually settled when he married.
Early Days
When very young Robin had been keen on acquiring an accordion but his dad didn’t share his enthusiasm so he was in his late teens before he bought his first musical instrument, a rhythm guitar. He quickly discovered that he had an aptitude for it and around 1958 he joined Andrew Stoddart’s band, ‘The Glenesk’. The line-up of this popular and extremely busy band was Andrew Stoddart and Ken Lindsay on accordions, Charlie Anderson from Penicuik (later Davy Flockhart) on piano, John Arthur from Edinburgh (ex Shetlands) on fiddle and Davy Ewart, again from Penicuik, on drums. The band travelled far and wide in and old 15cwt Ford Thames. I recall seeing their names appearing regularly in Margaret Watson’s visitors book when she organised the dances in Ardrishaig Hall. Anyway, Andrew had a notion to do an audition for the Home Service’s ‘Scottish Dance Music’ but for that the band needed a string bass player and the problem was that locally they were in short supply (if not totally non existent). The solution was at hand though – Andrew simply told Robin he was going to be the band’s string bass so he’d better find one quickly and start practicing! Unphased, Robin went along to Gordon Simpson’s Music Shop in Edinburgh and did just that, although he had to part with £49 10/- (a tidy sum in those days) for the privilege. It’s amazing when ‘needs must’ what can be achieved – again he knuckled down and taught himself to be a proficient player. He had a good ear, which helped greatly, but he also in time became a very competent sight reader of the bass line. Incidentally after all that ‘The Glenesk’ never got round to applying for an audition but, as we’ll see, Robin’s effort and expense wasn’t in vain. At the same time he also played rhythm guitar in a local ‘group’ initially called ‘Andy and the Boppers’ later renamed ‘The Andy Russell Seven’.
The Swinging 60’s
In the early 60’s Robin left ‘The Glenesk’ and while attending a dance he met Jim Johnstone who had completed his National Service and had just finished with the Andrew Rankine Band (Andrew intended emigrating to Australia at that point). During their conversation Jim asked Robin what he played and he replied ‘bass’. No more was said at that point but two nights later came a knock at the door. With Robin on board Jim had formed the nucleus of a band with Bobby Colgan on drums and Davy Flockhart on piano but he still needed a fiddler. Robin suggested Alan Johnston from Gorebridge who was duly recruited. Jim was a ‘stickler’ for having things just right and the band practiced endlessly, so much so that even today, 50 years later, Robin can remember the exact bass line of all the sets they used for their successful audition and debut broadcast in August 1963. It was Jim’s band who did the last 4 shows of the famous ‘’White Heather Club’ TV series. Two were recorded in Quarriers Home at Bridge of Weir and the very last two were from The Ship Inn in Eyemouth with Robin Hall and Jimmie McGregor, Dixie Ingram, Ted Darling, Eleanor Leith and the Isobel James Dancers.
At this time Robin was attending Agricultural College (and later Edinburgh’s Royal Botanical Gardens) where a fellow student knew a folk singer / guitarist by the name of Roy Williamson who together with Bill Smith and Ronnie Browne had formed ‘The Corrie Folk Trio’. Their first engagement had been in the Waverley Bar in Edinburgh but they were as yet virtually unknown. They augmented their act with the addition of a female Irish vocalist called Paddie Bell but Bill Smith thought they needed a string bass player so Robin agreed to join them in 1962. Robin recalls a week long tour ‘up north’ in 1964. The tour had a few unintentional highlights. They were in Aberdeen at the time of the infamous typhoid scare playing in the city for two nights but lodging well outside and it was while staying near Inverness that Robin met another name for the future, young Isla St Clair (later of Generation Game fame).
At the end of the tour Robin and Bill Smith, with all the instruments, were traveling south on their way home in Robin’s van when they stopped in Tyndrum. Fortunately Bill phoned his wife to discover that Ben Lyons had desperately been trying to contact them for a week and that he wanted them to appear at the Albert Hall, Stirling that very evening. The rest of the group were rounded up and appeared in a show with the Peggy O’Keefe Trio, Lita Rosa, Dean Ford and the Gaylords (who later became the chart topping group ‘Marmalade’) and top-of-the-bill singer Jimmy Young (later better known as a Radio D.J.). After the show hoards of fans swamped the dressing room – Jimmy Young thought it was his autograph they were after but he was wrong – it was the ‘The Corrie Folk Trio with Paddie Bell’ who had made the biggest impact with the audience.
TV shows followed when producers W. Gordon Smith and Iain MacFadyen booked them for ‘Hoot’nanny’, ‘Sing Along’, and ‘Degrees of Folk’. The Trio were resident on all of these shows which brought Robin into contact with a wealth of big showbiz names – The Dubliners, The Clancy Brothers, Roger Whittaker and Julie Felix to name but a few. All of these artistes were just starting out and had yet to make their names. ‘Degrees of Folk’ took Robin and his colleagues to universities all over the U.K. including Northern Ireland. Comperes on the show were Ian Campbell and Alex Norton (the current ‘Taggart’). Peter Morrison and his wife were backing singers on ‘Sing Along’ while Pete Kerr (later a record producer and author) was a clarinetist. It was after one recording session in Edinburgh when everyone went to the Buckingham Hotel for a drink to unwind that Robin found himself seated next to the lead vocalist of a new but as yet unknown Australian folk group who were in the show. In conversation with this young lady Robin learned that they had two wishes – to get work and to see the Loch Ness Monster! Robin referred them to John Worth, the manager of the Inverness Empire Theatre and to agent Tommy Ure in Kyle of Lochalsh (bandboys used the phrase ‘On Tour with Tommy Ure’) which helped them on the road to stardom (if not a sighting of Nessie). The vocalist was Judith Durham and the group the ‘Seekers’.
In 1966 Jim Johnstone’s Band split up when Jim was offered the chance to tour Australia with Jimmy Shand Snr. But as one door closes another opens and Robin received a phone call from S.T.V. Producer Hal Duncan who was piloting a T.V. show called ‘Sounds of Britain’ and needed a bass player. The pilot, with a 14 piece band, was successful so thirteen shows were commissioned. Robin recall with a smile that the first had 6 or 7 musicians, the second only 3 and by the fourth Robin was on his own! Robin’s role became that of a ‘session musician’ playing as- and-when required with the other guests and groups appearing on the show. He related one amusing incident. In those days of fanatical trade union ‘demarcation’ he unintentionally almost caused a strike by the stage crew. The Producer liked to have Robin on screen in the background and asked him to move round very slightly. Picking up his bass and mike stand he moved a couple of feet and all hell broke loose – under no circumstances were musicians allowed to carry out the work of the stage-hands, even something as simple as moving a microphone 2 feet. ‘Sounds of Britain’ eventually broadcast 64 shows and broke the ground for ‘Thingummyjig’ which started in 1976 with Jim Johnstone as the backing band. Robin played in Jim’s band for the first two series.
Shortly after returning from Oz, Jimmy Shand Snr went to Canada for three months and Junior took over the band but needed a bass player and Robin was available. When Jimmy Snr returned he asked Robin to join the band and for the next two years Robin travelled the length and breadth of the country. The band recorded over 100 ‘Heather Mixture’ shows, produced by Ben Lyons, for radio during Robin’s two years with them. He recalls playing at dances down south with 40 old time dances on the programme and Robin didn’t know a single on of them! Jimmy did but it was a complete new repertoire for Robin. He ‘enjoyed it all immensely’ but as time wore on a problem reared its head for the first, although not the last, time. Jimmy could be in Aberdeen one night, Liverpool the next and Southampton the one following that. It was a series of distant one-night-stands interspersed with an occasion week in a theatre and Robin was developing a landscaping business and didn’t have the luxury of a long lie in every morning. Sometimes he got no sleep at all and after two years he reluctantly had to call it a day.
70’s - with Jim MacLeod at the Dunblane Hydro
Inevitably in his travels with Jimmy, Robin had met everyone on the scene and, as often happens, word got round about his departure from the Shand Band. He had intended to take life easier but Jim MacLeod had been contracted for the ‘On Tour’ radio series and he now required an experienced bass player so Robin once again found himself on the road. Although much of Jim’s work was at Dunblane Hydro the ‘On Tour’ series took them all over Scotland. In fact Robin wondered what he had let himself in for when the first two shows came from Paible in North Uist and Ollaberry in Shetland. They also did many shows from Grampian TV including their well produced Hogmanay Show. “Gentleman Jim” recalls Robin “actually played far more modern ballroom dance music than Scottish at the Hydro, that was the band’s strength, and his skills as an M.C. were second to none – the type of audiences we catered for loved him”. By 1974 though, after almost seven years with Jim, the long hours and the long miles were once again taking their toll. John Sinton had appeared on the scene and Robin asked him if he fancied taking over for a spell. This he did and the two of them still joke when they meet, after almost 40 years, about when Robin “will get his job back”.
I mentioned in my introduction that Robin was also fondly remembered leading his own band on accordion in the early 70’s. You’ll probably have noticed a certain lack of references to ‘playing the accordion’ thus far. As for the guitar and bass Robin has had no formal tuition on this instrument either. Theatre, TV and radio work all involved a certain amount of ‘hanging about’ with the band-boys and to pass the time Robin began to dabble in the accordion, borrowing one and trying to emulate what he had seen and heard others doing. Gradually it became quite a passion but he was in his thirties before he decided to buy a Hohner Morino V Domino Coupler from his old pal Andrew Stoddart. As a bass player he was well known to the producers of the Scottish Dance Music – Jim Hunter had greeted him with a cool ‘you again’ on one occasion when he appeared for about the fifth time that week. He had handed over to Robert Crawford and it was Robert whom he enquired with about the possibility of a broadcast on lead accordion. There were no shortcuts though, so an audition was organised and in the company of a group of old friends Jack Delaney, Bobby Christie, Davy Flockhart, Stan Saunders and Gordon Young. With an experienced line-up like that they sailed through. Robin phoned presenter David Findlay, before the first broadcast was transmitted in 1972, and asked if they could be introduced as ‘Robin Brock and Friends’ rather than as a formal, working Scottish Dance Band. In all they did about a dozen broadcasts in the next few years (Pam Brough and Dave Barclay deputized occasionally), a very creditable total, and Robin’s recipe for success was simply good, lively, straightforward tunes which let the band relax and play with a swing. He also went on to compose some very good marches ‘Miss Linda MacFarlane’, ‘McCrostie Park’, ‘Bobby Brown’s Welcome to Shetland’, ‘Master Alastair Cunningham Weir’ and ‘Miss Jennifer Fletcher’ which get a periodic airing on ‘Take the Floor’.
Around 1974/5 Robin rejoined the Jim Johnstone Band for TV’s ‘Songs of Scotland’ on bass but when second box player Alex MacArthur decided to leave the band Jim brought in Alasdair MacLeod on bass and switched Robin to an entirely new role for him – second box. As an incentive he told Robin that the band were doing a broadcast in a fortnight’s time so he had better be ready – which he was. The band did the Hogmanay Show from Aberdeen that year in the illustrious company of Shotts and Dykehead Caledonian Pipe Band (under P/M Tom McAllister and with an unforgettable drum salute under the direction of the legendary Leading Drummer Alex Duthart), Rolf Harris, Aimi MacDonald, Ronald Fraser, Peter Morrison and Alastair McDonald.
Robin had made the point several times during our conversation that being a competent bass player in the pre-electronic keyboard days was a guarantee of a full diary. There simply weren’t that many around and he picked up work in a ‘session’ role doing broadcasts and LPs with many of the top bands. Off the top of his head he recalls names such as Iain MacPhail, Cameron Kerr, Andrew Rankine, Ian Holmes, Max Houliston, Grace McCleaver, The Olympians and a wealth of work for Waverly Records.
Mixing Business and Pleasure
Just to put his other activities into context, Robin was farming Mauricewood Mains and managing a landscaping contracting business, one branch of which, the ‘Maintenance Department’ employed 90 men grass-cutting and gardening all over Scotland (military establishments, ancient monuments and S.S.H.A estates). He had also established 600 acres of tree and shrub nurseries, his specialism back in his days at Agricultural College and Edinburgh’s Royal Botanical Gardens. By mid to late 1978 Robin had decided to take a year off as pressure once again mounted but he agreed to do a broadcast with close friend Ian Holmes at the end of 1979 from the Dean Tavern in Newtongrange for Radio Forth. (He can’t remember whether it was on bass or box).
Producer Sandy Wilkie from Radio Forth was on hand and during a break Robin was pulling his leg along the lines of ‘you really need someone on Radio Forth who knows the Scottish Dance music scene from the inside’. Again Robin thought no more of it, but two days later Sandy phoned to offer him a ten minute slot on Radio Forth’s Friday night show ‘Pure Scotch’, presented at that time by Bill Torrance, and starting almost immediately. Robin had to get his thinking cap on, and quickly, because he didn’t at that point have any concrete ideas about what the show lacked. But he immediately thought of the thriving Accordion and Fiddle Club scene and called his spot ‘Accordion Club News’. He gave the dates of Club meetings in Radio Forth’s transmission area, the guest artistes and played tracks from their LPs to give listeners a taste of what they would hear.
Steve Jack took over Bill Torrance’s seat and Robin’s role expanded, but I’ll let Jimmy Clinkscale tell the story from his February 1982 write up on Robin – “Robin co-presents ‘Pure Scotch’ with Steve Jack every Friday night on Radio Forth. The programme is a light-hearted, two hour Scottish request programme. However, his main interest every week is his very own programme called ‘Folks Around Robin.’ Every week Robin plays host to a band or well-known group of musicians and records their music. Each selection of music is interspersed with ‘informal blethers’ when the bandleader is invited to introduce members of the band, tunes they play and recount any interesting or amusing incidents from the past.
“There is anything from ten to twelve hours of hard graft involved in any programme” say Robin, “but I really enjoy it. I have been so many places, met so many marvellous people through Scottish music that I’m only too delighted to be able to put something back into it.”
‘Folks Around Robin’ started in 1981 and ran for two and a half years. It was broadcast on a Monday evening and repeated on a Saturday. Robin used his knowledge of the scene to bring live bands into the studio where they recorded their sets but more importantly the bandleader, and occasionally other band members, were interviewed. Amongst Robin’s favourites were Sandy MacArthur, Angus Fitchet and Jim Johnstone – they had a natural and infectious humour coupled with a wealth of stories gathered over the years. He also achieved some notable ‘firsts’ tempting Andrew Rankine, Angus Fitchet and Bobby MacLeod back into the studio leading bands for the first time in decades. Radio Forth also started an annual live show in the Usher Hall (later the Playhouse Theatre) in Edinburgh, which allowed him to bring over to Scotland, again for the first time ever, Canadian stars such as fiddlers Graham Townsend and Rudy Meeks and the highly acclaimed Cape Breton Symphony Fiddle with Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent. The 1979 show was tinged with sadness because it was there that his close friend Sandy MacArthur collapsed, on stage, in front of a full house. Robin was in the wings and it was he who closed the curtains and rushed to phone for the ambulance as others tried to revive Sandy. Steve Jack moved on from ‘Pure Scotch’ after four years leaving Robin in the driving seat for a further nine. The show was upped to 3 hours and Robin used it to promote all aspects of our music bringing artistes, particularly Scottish singers when they released a new LP, in to the studio to be interviewed.
An interesting aside at this point which demonstrates Robin’s organising ability. In 1986 Robin’s son, Russell, was attending George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh who had a long standing arrangement with a school in Zimbabwe (previously Southern Rhodesia) whereby the Rugby First 15 went out to play a few matches. Robin attended the P.T.A. meeting charged with deciding how to raise the substantial funds required for the trip. The talk was of ‘coffee mornings’ and the like – which Robin realised would take forever. He arranged to see the Headmaster privately the following day, explained his background, and offered to organise a big fundraising concert. From there it went along the lines of - ‘Ah yes, the Assembly Hall (300 seats)’ – ‘Well no, more the Usher Hall (3,000) seats’. The cast included the School Choir, two pipe bands (Heriot School P.B. and the Grade 1 Scottish Gas P.B.), the Jim Johnstone SDB, The Morag Alexander Dancers, M.C. Bill Torrance, singers Bill McCue and Thora Kerr, accordionists Iain McPhail and John Huband and top-of-the-bill the one and only Andy Stewart. As a finale Jim Aitken (Captain) and several other members of Scotland’s Grand Slam winning Rugby Team of 1984 came on stage and sang a closing number with the entertainers. Everyone gave their services free gratis and the Council gave the Usher Hall for a nominal rent. The results were highly satisfactory – not only the Rugby Team but also the Hockey Team and the entire Pipe Band went to Zimbabwe for a memorable visit and every pupil received £50 spending money. Beat that!
Robin’s Radio Forth stint took him right through to 1992. In 1992/3 he ‘returned to his roots’ (if you’ll forgive the pun) writing and publishing a 205 page masterpiece entitled the ‘Hardy Nursery Stock Tree and Shrub Manual’ (launched in the House of Commons by, among others the M.P. son of George McKelvey of the Shand Band) and five years later he sold Mauricewood Mains Farm, the entire business and went to live in Monaco. Even there his organising abilities came to the fore when the revitalized the ‘British Association’ (they didn’t have a Caledonian Society) and staged charity events featuring local residents supplemented by, amongst others, singer Peter Mallan, Billy Anderson and Albany, Bill Torrance and Jim McColl of Beechgrove Garden fame. In 2010 he returned home to Scotland full-time, buying and refurbishing Meldonfoot near Peebles (needless to say the gardens underwent a major redevelopment under his experienced eye).
Robin has spent a lifetime in Scottish music as bass player, accordionist and broadcaster (from both sides of the desk). He will indeed be a very worthy Guest of Honour at our June gathering.
“Gone But Not Forgotten”
The Bromley Accordion & Fiddle Club
by Robin Ellis
Readers of long standing may remember that in 1995 I was somewhat disappointed to find that the nearest Scottish style Accordion and Fiddle Club was some 350 miles north of my home in Kent. It seemed that the only solution was to form my own Club in Bromley. This I duly did and it ran quite successfully for some 12 years, after which it became obvious that it could not continue. The main reason being a diminishing number of available guest performers and local players due to the general ageing of all concerned.
Meeting some of the Club supporters at local Scottish dances, a number voiced the opinion that it would be a pity to lose touch with all the friends we had made and so it was decided to meet up twice a year at a local hotel for lunch and enjoy a jolly good chat. This was a great success but again there was a cry’ “There is no music!” As most of us were retired the idea of the ‘Tea Ceilidh’ was born. The format was simple. We meet twice a year in the afternoon. The first hour is playing, mainly fiddle and accordion music but as it is a ceilidh anything goes. We have pianists, singers, poets, the odd quiz and, of course, Scottish music. Then we have tea and as you might guess plenty of concersation. Did you know that all Scottish musicians seem to love sausage rolls – we never seem to have enough – we might as well forget sandwiches and cakes. The last hour is more entertainment ending up with the traditional stramash.
We are not, I am afraid, a real accordion and fiddle Club and never will be, but we are, I hope, keeping some of the original spirit alive. We have learnt that one must adapt to fit the circumstances of the times. Hopefully we shall keep going for a few more years until we are all too old to play. One thing seems to be a fact – old musicians never give up, they just get more and more ‘pianissimo’ until they eventually become ‘tacit’.
Manfrini Aria
by Daniel McPhee
My father introduced me to the button accordion …………..
Happy Birthday Lockerbie Club!
40th Anniversary
by
The meeting of 26th November 2013 in The Queens Hotel was the 40th Anniversary of our Club. It was almost standing room only when MC John Watret began introducing the volunteer players. First on stage was our Treasurer since the Club was formed in 1973, Jockie Brockbank on accordion accompanied on keyboard by Betty Mitchell who also accompanied him at the first meeting all those years ago. The were accompanied on accordion by Willie McRobert, who also had played at the first meeting (just a teenager then!) and on drums by Ian Riddet, a regular player at the Club. The other local players on the night were on accordion, Jim Fraser, David Dunbar, Don Fergusson, James Johnstone, John Douglas, Tony Dalton, Ronnie Easton, Leonard Brown, Janet Graham, Duncan Hutchison, Newby Park and Robin Waitt. Our only fiddler was Ian Woods. Accompanying the players on keyboard were Iain Wilson, our regular accompanist, Betty Mitchell and Derek Hamilton. Drumming was shared by Ian Riddet and Bob Dorrance.
Unfortunately several players had to stand down as time was, once again, in short supply! Our apologies.
Our guest artistes for the evening were Iain MacPhail and his Band, who entertained us with a varied programme including reels, jigs, waltzes, pipe marches, etc., played in the great, distinctive Iain MacPhail style. Iain was accompanied by Brian Griffin on accordion, Judith Smith on fiddle, Dorothy Lawson on keyboard and Nicky McMichan on drums.
After our birthday cake was cut by Committee member Madge Jardine and Betty Mitchell, Jockie Brockbank was pleasantly surprised when Willie McRobert, on behalf of the Club, presented him with a ‘long-service’ certificate in recognition of 40 years as Club Treasurer! Jockie was delighted to receive the Certificate. Unknown to him, his colleagues on the Committee, Madge, John and Sandy, had arranged the ‘surprise’, which he much appreciated.
After another excellent night of music, John Watret thanked everyone for coming along and supporting the Club, and also thanked The queens Hotel for their assistance in the evening’s arrangements.
Will Hannah in Orkney
10th – 13th August 1929
by Charlie Todd
While transcribing back-issues of the ‘B&F’ onto the Website I came across an old photo of a group including Will Hannah in the November 1989 issue. The short accompanying article read : Musical memories came flooding back recently for Orkney woman, Mrs Peggy Ferguson. The last time she was involved in this picture she was in front of the camera – that’s her seated third from right – all of sixty years ago.
The occasion was a souvenir picture for the fan’s of Scots melodeon star, Will Hannah, during his one and only visit to Orkney. He was taken north by Bob Milne who ran the music shop in Junction Road, Kirkwall.
Will played to a packed Temperance Hall, for box buffs the instrument is believed to have been an Excelsior, and gave them a night to remember.
Mrs Ferguson, of Clay Loan, has a special reason for cherishing the memory. She was Will’s accompanist. As she glanced at the photograph of the group for the very first time, a delighted Mrs Ferguson recalled “We didn’t even have a rehearsal. Will told me the tempos and away we went. Fortunately, I knew most of the tunes and you can only get three keys on that particular melodeon so I didn’t have too much to worry about.”
Was she apprehensive about playing the piano for such a famous musician? “I didn’t have the sense to be nervous in those days”, replied a modest Mrs Ferguson, who was well known in local concert circles at the time.
She continued “It was a grand night, the seats were forms and the best stance, the two windows at the back, which were on a higher level and provided the best view, were taken early. Will was a gentleman- I think he lived in West Lothian and was a miner.”
The photograph, which was loaned to us by local musician, Jim Anderson, was taken in photographer Tom Kent’s garden behind the Longship shop in Broad Street, Kirkwall.
It’s impossible to scan a photo from newspaper print so I e-mailed the Secretary of the Orkney Club, Bert Baikie, and asked if he could track down the photo. The offices of the ‘Orcadian’ newspaper were unable to help so Bert tried the Orkney Library Archive where he found the photographs and the original article concerning Will’s visit to Orkney from 10th – 13th August, 1929. The event was recorded in ‘The Orcadian’ as follows –
Parlophone Concert – One of the most popular events in Kirkwall over the weekend was a series of concerts under the auspices of the Parlophone Gramophone Company organized by Mr Milne of Junction Road, Kirkwall. Crowded houses attended on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday last, the chief attraction being Mr William Hannah, Scotland’s premier accordionist, supported by well known local artistes. Mr Hannah gave a fine selection of popular tunes from his repertoire, which so electrified the audience that they unquestionably acclaimed him worthy of the title.
But best of all they came up with not one but three excellent photographs – certainly the first I’ve ever seen of Will. My thanks to Bert Baikie, for his prompt attention (all this took just over a week) and to The Orcadian and the Orkney Library Archive (for jointly retaining these photographs for the last 84 years). It makes me wonder what else is out there!
Fred Hanna (1924-2014) (Obituary)
Ulsterman Fred Hanna
Ulsterman Fred Hanna (born in Poyntzpass, Country Armagh, in 1924) studied……….
Webwatch
by Bill Young
www.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Viva Marcosignori!! Reviewed by Rob Howard
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
1st March 2014 – Clappy Doo Ceilidh Band
8th March 2014 – Burns Brothers Ceilidh Band + Inshyra Concert
15th March 2014 – Matthew MacLennan SDB + Inshyra Band competition
22nd March 2014 – Archive Session
29th March 2014 – Nicol McLaren & the Glencraig SDB
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 25th March 2014 – Gordon Pattullo & Gemma Donald
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle) 12th March 2014 – Marie Fielding & Duncan Black
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 16th March 2014 – Neil Hardie SDB
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 2nd March 2014 – AGM + Burns Brothers Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 16th March 2014 – Ross MacPherson SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 26th March 2014 – Dave & Diane Morrice
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 9th March 2014 – Matthew MacLennan SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 11th March 2014 – Ian Muir SDB
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 13th March 2014 – Jack Stalker & George Wilson
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 4th March 2014 – Leonard Brown and Malcolm Ross
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 6th March 2014 – John Morgan
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 18th March 2014 – David Kennedy Trio
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 20th March 2014 – Neil Hardie SDB
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 6th March 2014 – Ray Carse
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) - 18th March 2014 – Janet Graham Trio
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 5th March 2014 – Neil Caul SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 19th March 2014 – Matthew MacLennan SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 11th March 2014 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross 28th March – Dance to Willie McFarlane Band
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate) 17th March 2014 – Leonard Brown Band
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 18th March 2014 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 24th March 2014 – David Oswald SDB
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 30th March 2014 – Gavin Piper
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 12th March 2014 – Graham Geddes Trio
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) – 6th March 2014 – John Fairbairn Memorial Evening
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 20th March 2014 – Robert Black Trio
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 5th March 2014 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) - 2nd March 2014 – Ray Carse
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 16th March 2014 – Billy Anderson & Albany
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 17th March 2014 – Alex McIntyre
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 12th March 2014 – Jack Delaney SDB
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 6th March 2014 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 4th March 2014 – Steven Carcary SDB
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 26th March 2014 – Gordon Clark SDB
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 20th March 2014 – Kilrymont Accordion Band
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 24th March 2014 – John Morgan
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) – 12th March 2014 – Stuart Anderson Trio
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 6th March 2014 – Matthew MacLennan Trio
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 18th March 2014 – Bon Accords
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 25th March 2014 – Clappy Doo C.B.
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 18th March 2014 – Liam Stewart Trio
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th March 2014 – Steven Carcary Duo
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) - March 2014 -
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Buccleugh Bowling Club) 19th March 2014 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 31st March 2014 – Fiddlers von Trap
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 4th March 2014 – Wayne Robertson
Northern (Lylehill Suite, Templepatrick, N.I.) - 5th March 2014 – Dunloy Concert Group
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) – 6th March 2014 – West Telferton Cale C.B.
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) – 17th March 2014 – Maggie Adamson & Brian Nicholson
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 27th March 2014 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 18th March 2014 – Neil MacEachern SDB
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 11th March 2014 – Stuart McKeown Trio
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 6th March 2014 – Craig Paton & Andy Kain
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 4th March 2014 – John Morgan
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 6th March 2014 – Club Night 27th March – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio 28th March – End of Season Supper Dance to Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) - 5th March 2014 – John Morgan
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 11th March 2014 – Richard Smith Trio
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 3rd March 2014 – Alan Roy
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 6th March 2014 – John Stuart SDB
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 20th March 2014 – Gordon Pattullo & Gemma Donald
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) - 1st & 15th March 2014 – Saturday Ceilidh Night
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 13th March 2014 – Judith Linton Trio
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 18th March 2014 – Maggie Adamson & Brian Nicholson
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Arbroath
5. Balloch
6. Banff
7. Biggar
8. Blairgowrie
9. Button-Key
10. Campsie
11. Castle Douglas
12. Coalburn
13. Coldingham (final meeting)
12. Dingwall
13. Dunfermline
14. Duns
15. Fintry
16. Forfar
17. Glendale
18. Gretna
19. Haddington
20. Highland
21. Inveraray
22. Isle of Skye
23. Islesteps
24. Kelso
25. Ladybank
26. Lanark
27. Livingston
28. Lockerbie (40th Anniversary)
29. Mauchline
30. Newburgh
31. Newtongrange
32. North East
33. Northern
34. Oban
35. Peebles
36. Perth
37. Renfrew
38. Shetland
39. Stonehouse
40. Thurso
41. West Barnes
42. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2013
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
10. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
11. Button Key A&F Club (
12. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
13. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
14. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
15. Coalburn A&F Club (
16. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
17. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
18. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
19. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
20. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
21. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
22. Ellon A&F Club (
23. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
24. Forfar A&F Club (
25. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
26. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
27. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
28. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
29. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
30. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
31. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
32. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
33. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
34. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
35. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
36. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
37. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
38. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
39. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
40. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
41 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
42 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
43 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
44 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
45 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
46. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
47. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
48. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
49. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
50. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
51. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
52. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
53. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
54. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
55 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
56 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
57 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
58 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
58 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
60 West Barnes ( - present)
61 Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
62. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
63. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
64. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
65. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
66. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
67. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
68. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
69. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
70. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
71. Buchan A&F Club
72. Callander A&F Club (
73. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
74. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
75. Club Accord
76. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
77 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
78. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
79. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
80. Cults A & F Club (
81. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
82. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
83. Derwentside A&F Club
84. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
85. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
86. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
87. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
88. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
89. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
90. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
91. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
92. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
93. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
94. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
95. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
96. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
97. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
98. Kintore A&F Club (
99. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
100. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
101. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Maine Valley A&F Club (
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
107. Mull A&F Club
108. Newcastleton Accordion Club
109. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
110. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
111. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
112. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
113. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
114. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
115. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
116. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
117. Selkirk A&F Club (
118. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
119. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
120. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
121 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
122 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
123. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
124. Tranent A&F Club
125. Vancouver
126. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
127. Wellbank A&F Club
128. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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