Box and Fiddle
Year 42 No 07
March 2019
Price £3.00
48 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £33.60 + p&p £15.85 (UK)
Editor – Pia Walker, Cupar
B&F Treasurer –
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
The days are getting longer, which means that the nights are getting shorter – except during festival time………
Pia Walker
Young Fiddler of the Year 2019 – Benedict Morris
by
I began playing the fiddle………….
Duncan (Dochie) McCallum
by Charlie Kirkpatrick
I was recently looking through my collection of music books when I came across a tune called Dochie McCallum Esq. in Graeme Mitchell’s excellent collection of compositions. If I can paraphrase Graeme who writes of Dochie, a fine exponent of the three row Shand Morino accordion; Dochie sits down and meticulously works out the best possible usage of bellows and rows to achieve a more flowing style of playing, the end product being a massively “chunky” and “canny” style of playing that for me demonstrates great control and expertise.
Thinking about this tune took me back to the early sixties when one of my favourite bands on Scottish Dance Music was the Hamish Menzies band from Callander. My recollection is that the band had a great tight, swingy sound and also that although it was normal at the time for bands to play the original tune then two alternatives before returning to the original, this band played the original along with three alternatives. A number of years later I saw them playing at the Highlanders Institute in Glasgow and as an aspiring button box player was entranced by the button box player who although he was playing the tune hardly seemed to be moving the bellows. This button box player was Dochie MacCallum.
Duncan McCallum, or Dochie McCallum as he is universally known, was born in Dubh Loch Cottage, Rowardennan on the banks of Loch Lomond and has lived all of his life in that area. This is the same Dubh Loch Cottage that gained fame some years later when Fiona MacMillan composed a nice 4/4 march in its honour – a tune that has featured many times on Take the Floor. After leaving the local Balfron High School, Dochie worked for several years with the Forestry Commission before becoming the local postie in the Drymen area for 16 years. A change of career saw Dochie working with Scottish Water before taking early retirement in September 1994.
Our readers of course will mostly know Dochie through his amazing ability on the Shand Morino button box. He was given a melodeon by an uncle when he was four years old and in a comparatively short time managed to play a few tunes – the first tune that he mastered was The Standard on the Braes of Mar. Dochie progressed at the music and after a series of accordions he eventually in 1948 purchased a Caselli three row, 48 bass instrument from Jimmy Shand who at that time was working part time with Watts of Wellgate in Dundee. Dochie well remembers the journey to Dundee and going to the Shand household at 13 Sutherland Street, Dundee to pick up the accordion. Dochie, however, is mainly associated with his Shand Morino accordion which he purchased from J T Forbes of Dundee in 1963 and still has to this day. He was proud to be present at the very first Windygates Shand Morino Gathering in January 1995 and among his most treasured possessions, are a certificate recognising his participation in that event and a hand written note from Sir Jimmy Shand thanking him for his presence there.
Having increased his repertoire of tunes, Dochie used to play with a local band in the Drymen area at dances, ceilidhs, etc. and as was the norm at that time when visiting bands came to play at dances the local band used to play at the interval. Things changed for Dochie when Andrew Rankine came with his band to Drymen Hall. The second accordion player in the band, Jack Delaney, heard Dochie playing and recommended him to the Glengarry Band in Callander which was run by Arthur Easson who later went on to gain fame as the drummer in the famous Ian Powrie band. When Arthur Easson left the band it was taken over by Hamish Menzies and this began a happy 12 year relationship with the Hamish Menzies Scottish Dance Band playing all over Scotland, the north of England and as far south as Burnley and Worcester. The aforementioned Jack Delaney subsequently joined the band having left Andrew Rankine when that band went full time.
Dochie says of Jack Delaney; “He was the man solely responsible for where I eventually got to in the Scottish Dance music scene. He coached me in the discipline of playing for country dances and in the playing of strathspeys and waltzs”. It should be stated at this point that Dochie cannot read music and to overcome this, Jack Delaney used to put any new tune that the band was to play on a reel to reel tape. Dochie says; “I used to lock myself in a room and practice that tune until I had it note perfect”. By now the band which consisted of Hamish Menzies on fiddle, Dochie and Jack on accordions, Walter Sinton (brother of John Sinton) on piano, John Buchanan on double bass and Bert Leishman on drums had passed the audition for the BBC and were appearing regularly on the Scottish Dance music programme. All in all the band did a total of 29 broadcasts most of which were live.
On the subject of broadcasts, apparently the band would have studio rehearsal on the afternoon of the broadcasts to check timing and sound and then after a short break it was back to the studio for the live session. Given that Dochie did not have a note of music in front of him it says so much for his ability, his concentration and his dedication to say nothing of his amazing memory.
Eventually, Dochie left the band and this roughly coincided with the start of the Accordion and Fiddle club movement with the local clubs of the MAFIA (Milngavie), Fintry and Balloch being favourites. Those clubs were a great meeting place for all the local musicians and in particular Dochie talks fondly of the late Colin Finlayson who used to attend often in the company of Gordon Simpson. Dochie describes Colin as being “a special guy”. In due course guest artist spots at clubs took place with the first being at Balloch. The backing on that occasion as on most of Dochie’s guest artist appearances was “the heavy team” – Neil McMillan on piano, Ricky Franci on second accordion and Gus Millar on drums. Since then Dochie and the boys have appeared at most of the clubs around Scotland and also Dochie recalls appearing at several Shetland Festivals with a trio. Dochie is very proud of the fact that Fraser McGlynn once introduced him at the Dalriada club saying; “all these backing players play with the top bands in the country but they still enjoy having a tune with Dochie” This meant a lot to Dochie who had a great respect for and friendship with Fraser who he rates as “the best button box player ever”.
As with many other players of our music, Dochie was greatly influenced by Sir Jimmy Shand but his musical idols were Bobby MacLeod, Ian Holmes and of course the aforementioned Fraser McGlynn. Over the years, Dochie has had a number of his compositions published and played by other bands – one for his great friends Neil and Fiona MacMillan, one for their eldest daughter Sheena MacMillan, The Nettie Fraser Two-step and the Delia Graham Polka spring to mind. Other highlights of Dochie’s musical career included a CD called “Naethin ower Fancy” featuring the man himself along with Neil MacMillan on backing – this won the CD of the year in 2004 at our annual BAAFI awards and he had also been nominated in the Guest Artist of the year category on a previous occasion.
I think that Graeme Mitchell’s tune title Dochie McCallum Esq. perfectly sums up this modest, unassuming gentleman who has been one of our foremost button key accordion players for many years and who is worthy of being one of our Guests of Honour at our annual Celebrity Luncheon at the Invercarse Hotel, Dundee on Sunday 30 June 2019.
In Memory – Dr Ian Hall (1931 – 2018)
by Sandy Nixon
It was with great sadness I learned of the death on 26th December of Dr Ian Hall of Portincaple, Garelochhead, after a long battle against cancer.
I first met Ian in 1980 on my first band trip to Manchester. Ian was one of the leading lights in the Manchester RSCDS. As was the custom, the band and many of the dancers were invited back to the Hall household after the dance. I was struck then by the warmth of the welcome we received from Ian and his family. There began my long association with the Halls.
When he retired in 1997, Ian and his wife Heulwen moved to Portincaple, Garelochhead and became actively involved with the Helensburgh branch of the RSCDS. Ian became the teacher of the couples’ class. I have had the pleasure of playing with my band for the couples’ class Christmas dance for many years and it was always a pleasure meeting up with Ian and Heulwen.
Ian was also a talented musician, playing 2nd accordion in son David’s band; Heulwen playing piano. He also played at many fiddle rallies around the country and thoroughly enjoyed that scene too. Ill health curtailed Ian’s dancing and playing in the past few years but he maintained an active interest in the Scottish country dancing scene.
We have lost one of the greatest enthusiasts of that scene, and one of the nicest people you would ever hope to have met.
In Memory – John McLeod White (1942-2019)
by George T. Watt
It was with sadness we learned that………
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Midnight and Closedown – Reveal Records – Reveal 078CDX
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
2nd March 2019 – Simon Howie SDB + Kathleen Boyle
9th March 2019 – An archive session + highlights from the NAAFC Festival’s Prize Winners Concert
16th March 2019 – A compilation hour featuring many of our leading bands plus we return to the NAAFC Festival for the ever popular band competition
23rd March 2019 – 60s Bairns + guest Archie Mcallister
30th March 2019 – Ian Cruickshanks SDB
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 26th March 2019 – Neil McMillan SDB
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 13th March 2019 – Iain Anderson SDB
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 17th March 2019 – Bob Liddle
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 3rd March 2019 – AGM + Sandy Nixon SDB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 17th March 2019 – Adam Gibb SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 25th March 2019 - tbc
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 27th March 2019 – Dave & Diane Morrice
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) – 18th March 2019 – Ian Smith Band
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) – 10th March 2019 – Robert Robertson & Ross Wilson
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 12th March 2019 – Burns Brothers CB
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) – 14th March 2019 – Alan Small Duo
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 5th March 2019 – James Coutts SDB
Canderside (Stonehouse Bowling Club) - 14th March 2019 – Frank Morrison SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Threave Rovers Football Club) – 19th March 2019 – Shirley Cathcart
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) - 3rd March 2019 – Archie McAllister Duo
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 21st March 2019 – Scott Leslie Band
Crieff & District (British Legion) 7th March 2019 – Stella Wilkie & Joan Blue
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) - 19th March 2019 – Stuart McKeown
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 6th March 2019 – Roddy Matthews Band
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 20th March 2019 – Brandon McPhee Trio
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) – 12th March 2019 – Iain MacPhail SDB 15th March 2019 – Social Evening
Duns (Masonic Lodge) 18th March 2019 – Marian Anderson SDB
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 19th March 2019 – Colin Donaldson Trio
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 31st March 2019 - tbc
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 13th March 2019 – Andrew Knight & the West Telferton CB
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) - 5th March 2019 – Marian Anderson SDB
Galashiels (Gala YM RFC) - 7th March 2019 – Club Night
Glasgow (Scotstounhill Bowling Club) -
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 21st March 2019 – Ian Cruickshanks Trio
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 6th March 2019 – James Coutts SDB
Gretna (The Solway Lodge Hotel) - 3rd March 2019 – Frank Morrison SDB
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 18th March 2019 – Gavin Piper Duo
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) - 13th March 2019 – Marie Fielding & Duncan Black
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 7th March 2019 – Gillian Stevenson Band
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) – 5th March 2019 – Martin Donaldson Band
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 27th March 2019 – Marian Anderson Trio
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) – March 2019 – Derek Edmond Trio
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) - 7th March 2019 – Leonard Brown
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 19th March 2019 – Glencraig SDB
Lockerbie (Mid Annandale Comrades Club) 26th March 2019 – Gavin Piper
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) - 24th March 2019 – Scott Band SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 19th March 2019 – Duncan Black Trio
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 6th March 2019 – Ewan Galloway SDB
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) - 28th March 2019 - tbc
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 25th March 2019 – Alan Gardiner Trio
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 5th March 2019 – Leonard Brown
Oban (The Royal Hotel) – 7th March 2019 – Duncan Black
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 6th 13th 20th 27th March 2019 – Club Night
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 28th March 2019 – Glencraig SDB
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) – 19th March 2019 – Jim Lindsay SDB
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 13th March 2019 – Marian Anderson Trio
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 14th March 2019 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 5th 19th 26th March 2019 – Club Night 12th March 2019 – John Morgan
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 14th March 2019 – Club Night 28th March 2019 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) - 16th March 2019 – Adin Graham Trio
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 4th March 2019 – John Morgan
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 7th March 2019 – Brandon McPhee
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 21st March 2019 – Clyde Valley CB
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 19th March 2019 – Gordon Pattullo Duo
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Arbroath
3. Balloch
4. Banff & District
5. Beith
6. Biggar
7. Blairgowrie
8. Button Key
9. Campsie
10. Castle Douglas
11. Coalburn
12. Dingwall
13. Dunblane
14. Dunfermline
15. Duns
16. Ellon
17. Forfar
18. Forres
19. Glendale
20. Gretna
21. Highland
22. Inveraray
23. Isle of Skye
24. Islesteps
25. Kelso
26. Langholm
27. Livingston
28. Mauchline
29. Newburgh
30. Peebles
31. Renfrew
32. Seghill
33. Shetland
34. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2016
(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. Canderside A&F Club (Stonehouse) (Feb 2019 – present)
14. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
15. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
16. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
17. Coalburn A&F Club (
18. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
19. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
20. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
21. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
22. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
23. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
24. Ellon A&F Club (
25. Forfar A&F Club (
26. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
27. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
28. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 -
29. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
30. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
31. 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)
32. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
33. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
34. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
35. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
36. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
37. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
38. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
39. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
40 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
41. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
42 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
43 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
44 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
45. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
46. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
47. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
48. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
49. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
50. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
51. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
52. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
53 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
54 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
55 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
56 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
57 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?)
58. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
59. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
60. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
61. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
62. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
63. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
64. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
65. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
66. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
67. Buchan A&F Club
68. Callander A&F Club (
69. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
70. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
71. Club Accord
72. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
73 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
74. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
75. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
76. Cults A & F Club (
77. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
78. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
79. Derwentside A&F Club
80. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
81. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
82. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
83. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
84. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
85. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
86. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
87. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
88. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
89. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
90. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
91. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
92. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
93. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
94. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
95. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
96. Kintore A&F Club (
97. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
98. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
99. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
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. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
112. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
113. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
114. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
115. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
116. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
117. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
118. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
119. Selkirk A&F Club (
120. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
121. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
122. Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
123. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
124 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
125 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
126. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
127. Tranent A&F Club
128. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
129. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
130. Wellbank A&F Club
131. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
132. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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B&F Treasurer –
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
The days are getting longer, which means that the nights are getting shorter – except during festival time………
Pia Walker
Young Fiddler of the Year 2019 – Benedict Morris
by
I began playing the fiddle………….
Duncan (Dochie) McCallum
by Charlie Kirkpatrick
I was recently looking through my collection of music books when I came across a tune called Dochie McCallum Esq. in Graeme Mitchell’s excellent collection of compositions. If I can paraphrase Graeme who writes of Dochie, a fine exponent of the three row Shand Morino accordion; Dochie sits down and meticulously works out the best possible usage of bellows and rows to achieve a more flowing style of playing, the end product being a massively “chunky” and “canny” style of playing that for me demonstrates great control and expertise.
Thinking about this tune took me back to the early sixties when one of my favourite bands on Scottish Dance Music was the Hamish Menzies band from Callander. My recollection is that the band had a great tight, swingy sound and also that although it was normal at the time for bands to play the original tune then two alternatives before returning to the original, this band played the original along with three alternatives. A number of years later I saw them playing at the Highlanders Institute in Glasgow and as an aspiring button box player was entranced by the button box player who although he was playing the tune hardly seemed to be moving the bellows. This button box player was Dochie MacCallum.
Duncan McCallum, or Dochie McCallum as he is universally known, was born in Dubh Loch Cottage, Rowardennan on the banks of Loch Lomond and has lived all of his life in that area. This is the same Dubh Loch Cottage that gained fame some years later when Fiona MacMillan composed a nice 4/4 march in its honour – a tune that has featured many times on Take the Floor. After leaving the local Balfron High School, Dochie worked for several years with the Forestry Commission before becoming the local postie in the Drymen area for 16 years. A change of career saw Dochie working with Scottish Water before taking early retirement in September 1994.
Our readers of course will mostly know Dochie through his amazing ability on the Shand Morino button box. He was given a melodeon by an uncle when he was four years old and in a comparatively short time managed to play a few tunes – the first tune that he mastered was The Standard on the Braes of Mar. Dochie progressed at the music and after a series of accordions he eventually in 1948 purchased a Caselli three row, 48 bass instrument from Jimmy Shand who at that time was working part time with Watts of Wellgate in Dundee. Dochie well remembers the journey to Dundee and going to the Shand household at 13 Sutherland Street, Dundee to pick up the accordion. Dochie, however, is mainly associated with his Shand Morino accordion which he purchased from J T Forbes of Dundee in 1963 and still has to this day. He was proud to be present at the very first Windygates Shand Morino Gathering in January 1995 and among his most treasured possessions, are a certificate recognising his participation in that event and a hand written note from Sir Jimmy Shand thanking him for his presence there.
Having increased his repertoire of tunes, Dochie used to play with a local band in the Drymen area at dances, ceilidhs, etc. and as was the norm at that time when visiting bands came to play at dances the local band used to play at the interval. Things changed for Dochie when Andrew Rankine came with his band to Drymen Hall. The second accordion player in the band, Jack Delaney, heard Dochie playing and recommended him to the Glengarry Band in Callander which was run by Arthur Easson who later went on to gain fame as the drummer in the famous Ian Powrie band. When Arthur Easson left the band it was taken over by Hamish Menzies and this began a happy 12 year relationship with the Hamish Menzies Scottish Dance Band playing all over Scotland, the north of England and as far south as Burnley and Worcester. The aforementioned Jack Delaney subsequently joined the band having left Andrew Rankine when that band went full time.
Dochie says of Jack Delaney; “He was the man solely responsible for where I eventually got to in the Scottish Dance music scene. He coached me in the discipline of playing for country dances and in the playing of strathspeys and waltzs”. It should be stated at this point that Dochie cannot read music and to overcome this, Jack Delaney used to put any new tune that the band was to play on a reel to reel tape. Dochie says; “I used to lock myself in a room and practice that tune until I had it note perfect”. By now the band which consisted of Hamish Menzies on fiddle, Dochie and Jack on accordions, Walter Sinton (brother of John Sinton) on piano, John Buchanan on double bass and Bert Leishman on drums had passed the audition for the BBC and were appearing regularly on the Scottish Dance music programme. All in all the band did a total of 29 broadcasts most of which were live.
On the subject of broadcasts, apparently the band would have studio rehearsal on the afternoon of the broadcasts to check timing and sound and then after a short break it was back to the studio for the live session. Given that Dochie did not have a note of music in front of him it says so much for his ability, his concentration and his dedication to say nothing of his amazing memory.
Eventually, Dochie left the band and this roughly coincided with the start of the Accordion and Fiddle club movement with the local clubs of the MAFIA (Milngavie), Fintry and Balloch being favourites. Those clubs were a great meeting place for all the local musicians and in particular Dochie talks fondly of the late Colin Finlayson who used to attend often in the company of Gordon Simpson. Dochie describes Colin as being “a special guy”. In due course guest artist spots at clubs took place with the first being at Balloch. The backing on that occasion as on most of Dochie’s guest artist appearances was “the heavy team” – Neil McMillan on piano, Ricky Franci on second accordion and Gus Millar on drums. Since then Dochie and the boys have appeared at most of the clubs around Scotland and also Dochie recalls appearing at several Shetland Festivals with a trio. Dochie is very proud of the fact that Fraser McGlynn once introduced him at the Dalriada club saying; “all these backing players play with the top bands in the country but they still enjoy having a tune with Dochie” This meant a lot to Dochie who had a great respect for and friendship with Fraser who he rates as “the best button box player ever”.
As with many other players of our music, Dochie was greatly influenced by Sir Jimmy Shand but his musical idols were Bobby MacLeod, Ian Holmes and of course the aforementioned Fraser McGlynn. Over the years, Dochie has had a number of his compositions published and played by other bands – one for his great friends Neil and Fiona MacMillan, one for their eldest daughter Sheena MacMillan, The Nettie Fraser Two-step and the Delia Graham Polka spring to mind. Other highlights of Dochie’s musical career included a CD called “Naethin ower Fancy” featuring the man himself along with Neil MacMillan on backing – this won the CD of the year in 2004 at our annual BAAFI awards and he had also been nominated in the Guest Artist of the year category on a previous occasion.
I think that Graeme Mitchell’s tune title Dochie McCallum Esq. perfectly sums up this modest, unassuming gentleman who has been one of our foremost button key accordion players for many years and who is worthy of being one of our Guests of Honour at our annual Celebrity Luncheon at the Invercarse Hotel, Dundee on Sunday 30 June 2019.
In Memory – Dr Ian Hall (1931 – 2018)
by Sandy Nixon
It was with great sadness I learned of the death on 26th December of Dr Ian Hall of Portincaple, Garelochhead, after a long battle against cancer.
I first met Ian in 1980 on my first band trip to Manchester. Ian was one of the leading lights in the Manchester RSCDS. As was the custom, the band and many of the dancers were invited back to the Hall household after the dance. I was struck then by the warmth of the welcome we received from Ian and his family. There began my long association with the Halls.
When he retired in 1997, Ian and his wife Heulwen moved to Portincaple, Garelochhead and became actively involved with the Helensburgh branch of the RSCDS. Ian became the teacher of the couples’ class. I have had the pleasure of playing with my band for the couples’ class Christmas dance for many years and it was always a pleasure meeting up with Ian and Heulwen.
Ian was also a talented musician, playing 2nd accordion in son David’s band; Heulwen playing piano. He also played at many fiddle rallies around the country and thoroughly enjoyed that scene too. Ill health curtailed Ian’s dancing and playing in the past few years but he maintained an active interest in the Scottish country dancing scene.
We have lost one of the greatest enthusiasts of that scene, and one of the nicest people you would ever hope to have met.
In Memory – John McLeod White (1942-2019)
by George T. Watt
It was with sadness we learned that………
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Midnight and Closedown – Reveal Records – Reveal 078CDX
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
2nd March 2019 – Simon Howie SDB + Kathleen Boyle
9th March 2019 – An archive session + highlights from the NAAFC Festival’s Prize Winners Concert
16th March 2019 – A compilation hour featuring many of our leading bands plus we return to the NAAFC Festival for the ever popular band competition
23rd March 2019 – 60s Bairns + guest Archie Mcallister
30th March 2019 – Ian Cruickshanks SDB
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 26th March 2019 – Neil McMillan SDB
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 13th March 2019 – Iain Anderson SDB
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 17th March 2019 – Bob Liddle
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 3rd March 2019 – AGM + Sandy Nixon SDB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 17th March 2019 – Adam Gibb SDB
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 25th March 2019 - tbc
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 27th March 2019 – Dave & Diane Morrice
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) – 18th March 2019 – Ian Smith Band
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) – 10th March 2019 – Robert Robertson & Ross Wilson
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 12th March 2019 – Burns Brothers CB
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) – 14th March 2019 – Alan Small Duo
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 5th March 2019 – James Coutts SDB
Canderside (Stonehouse Bowling Club) - 14th March 2019 – Frank Morrison SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Threave Rovers Football Club) – 19th March 2019 – Shirley Cathcart
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) - 3rd March 2019 – Archie McAllister Duo
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 21st March 2019 – Scott Leslie Band
Crieff & District (British Legion) 7th March 2019 – Stella Wilkie & Joan Blue
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) - 19th March 2019 – Stuart McKeown
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 6th March 2019 – Roddy Matthews Band
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 20th March 2019 – Brandon McPhee Trio
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) – 12th March 2019 – Iain MacPhail SDB 15th March 2019 – Social Evening
Duns (Masonic Lodge) 18th March 2019 – Marian Anderson SDB
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 19th March 2019 – Colin Donaldson Trio
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 31st March 2019 - tbc
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 13th March 2019 – Andrew Knight & the West Telferton CB
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) - 5th March 2019 – Marian Anderson SDB
Galashiels (Gala YM RFC) - 7th March 2019 – Club Night
Glasgow (Scotstounhill Bowling Club) -
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 21st March 2019 – Ian Cruickshanks Trio
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 6th March 2019 – James Coutts SDB
Gretna (The Solway Lodge Hotel) - 3rd March 2019 – Frank Morrison SDB
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 18th March 2019 – Gavin Piper Duo
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) - 13th March 2019 – Marie Fielding & Duncan Black
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 7th March 2019 – Gillian Stevenson Band
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) – 5th March 2019 – Martin Donaldson Band
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 27th March 2019 – Marian Anderson Trio
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) – March 2019 – Derek Edmond Trio
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) - 7th March 2019 – Leonard Brown
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 19th March 2019 – Glencraig SDB
Lockerbie (Mid Annandale Comrades Club) 26th March 2019 – Gavin Piper
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) - 24th March 2019 – Scott Band SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 19th March 2019 – Duncan Black Trio
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 6th March 2019 – Ewan Galloway SDB
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) - 28th March 2019 - tbc
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 25th March 2019 – Alan Gardiner Trio
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 5th March 2019 – Leonard Brown
Oban (The Royal Hotel) – 7th March 2019 – Duncan Black
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 6th 13th 20th 27th March 2019 – Club Night
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 28th March 2019 – Glencraig SDB
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) – 19th March 2019 – Jim Lindsay SDB
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 13th March 2019 – Marian Anderson Trio
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 14th March 2019 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 5th 19th 26th March 2019 – Club Night 12th March 2019 – John Morgan
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 14th March 2019 – Club Night 28th March 2019 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) - 16th March 2019 – Adin Graham Trio
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 4th March 2019 – John Morgan
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 7th March 2019 – Brandon McPhee
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 21st March 2019 – Clyde Valley CB
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 19th March 2019 – Gordon Pattullo Duo
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Arbroath
3. Balloch
4. Banff & District
5. Beith
6. Biggar
7. Blairgowrie
8. Button Key
9. Campsie
10. Castle Douglas
11. Coalburn
12. Dingwall
13. Dunblane
14. Dunfermline
15. Duns
16. Ellon
17. Forfar
18. Forres
19. Glendale
20. Gretna
21. Highland
22. Inveraray
23. Isle of Skye
24. Islesteps
25. Kelso
26. Langholm
27. Livingston
28. Mauchline
29. Newburgh
30. Peebles
31. Renfrew
32. Seghill
33. Shetland
34. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2016
(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. Canderside A&F Club (Stonehouse) (Feb 2019 – present)
14. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
15. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
16. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
17. Coalburn A&F Club (
18. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
19. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
20. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
21. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
22. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
23. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
24. Ellon A&F Club (
25. Forfar A&F Club (
26. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
27. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
28. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 -
29. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
30. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
31. 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)
32. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
33. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
34. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
35. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
36. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
37. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
38. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
39. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
40 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
41. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
42 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
43 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
44 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
45. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
46. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
47. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
48. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
49. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
50. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
51. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
52. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
53 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
54 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
55 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
56 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
57 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?)
58. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
59. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
60. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
61. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
62. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
63. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
64. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
65. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
66. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
67. Buchan A&F Club
68. Callander A&F Club (
69. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
70. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
71. Club Accord
72. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
73 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
74. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
75. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
76. Cults A & F Club (
77. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
78. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
79. Derwentside A&F Club
80. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
81. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
82. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
83. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
84. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
85. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
86. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
87. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
88. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
89. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
90. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
91. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
92. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
93. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
94. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
95. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
96. Kintore A&F Club (
97. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
98. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
99. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
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. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
112. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
113. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
114. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
115. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
116. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
117. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
118. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
119. Selkirk A&F Club (
120. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
121. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
122. Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
123. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
124 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
125 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
126. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
127. Tranent A&F Club
128. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
129. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
130. Wellbank A&F Club
131. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
132. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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