Box and Fiddle
Year 25 No 09
May 2002
Price £1.75
40 Page Magazine
3 month subscription £5.25 + p&p £1.80
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
Karin Ingram
Dave Barclay
by Tom Clark
Dave Barclay is to be honoured by the NAAFC at this year’s AGM. This article first appeared in the B&F in February 1988. No-one was accredited with authorship, so we are assuming that it was written by the then Editor, Tom Clark. We are indebted to Jimmy Helm for allowing us to use these photographs, all of which were published in his book ‘Who’s on the Dance Music Tonight?’
For most people who have been involved in the Dance Band scene over the years, the name of Dave Barclay has always been synonymous with all that is best in bass playing. Dave is another of that fine breed of musicians who was around in the early days and is still very much involved today, being heard regularly with various bands. Dave, of course, was a regular member of the famous Powrie sound, but his musical experience and training spans a very broad coverage of most types and styles of music. Dave is a very busy man but I eventually managed to track him down.
“A native of Brechin, I began violin lessons at the age of ten with the visiting school’ music instructor and progressed to private tuition while at Brechin high School. On leaving school to work in a local accountant’s office I traveled to Dundee two evenings a week to study harmony and counterpoint with Henry Kerby L.T.C.L., A.R.C.M., who had his studios above Methven Simpson’s Music Shop in Reform Street.
Around this time in the early fifties I laid aside the fiddle and began playing double bass, initially being self-taught on bass technique due to the lack of instructors at the time.
I began working with local modern bands in and around Brechin and meantime my brother Raymond turned professional on piano, first with Dave Phin at Dunblane Hydro and then at The Empress Ballroom, Dundee. This resident band at The Empress had two very good bass players during his stay and I had regular tuition from both on bass technique, with special emphasis on bowing. The owners of The Empress had a policy of booking the big name bands frequently and it was an education to go and hear some of the finest bass players in the country with the bands of Dankworth, Ted Heath, Jack Parnell, etc. My introduction to the Scottish music scene was really unintentional – having been asked by Lindsay Ross to play on his second BBC broadcast. This led to several years’ playing on the dance circuit with Lindsay and a nine month period in 1955 with Jack Forsyth’s Band.
In 1957 I left the Scottish music business and joined the resident band in The Locarno Ballroom, Montrose – playing four or five nights a week. The proprietor, Mr Fortunato, a fine vocalist and alto saxophone player, kept really up to date with his music – always giving the band the current hit tunes as well as some of the great standards. I spent a very enjoyable and educational two years with this band – the sight-reading proved to be invaluable in the years to come. Incidentally, this band had two very fine drummers during my stay – Stan Gorman, who later joined the BBC Midland Orchestra, and Bobby Kerr, who was for many years percussionist with the SNO and now owns The Drum Shop in Glasgow. In 1959 I rejoined Lindsay’s Band and moved to Friockheim, having just married Lindsay’s sister, Marjorie, who was on piano with the band.
In early ’61 I was asked by Ian Powrie to join his band – they having just started doing The White Heather Club television shows, thus beginning an association with Andy Stewart leading to a very heavy work schedule for the band including two long seasons in the Glasgow Empire, Scottish tours, television and radio, plus two tours of Australia and New Zealand as well as the band’s commitments on the dance circuit.
When Ian disbanded in the mid-sixties to leave for Australia, Jimmy Blue carried on with the band retaining most of the original members including myself, and still continuing the busy schedule with Andy Stewart, which included several series of Scotch Corner for Scottish Television and successful summer seasons in H.M. Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Ayr and Blackpool.
These long sessions of stage shows were gratifying for me as I did the pit orchestra work as well as the Scottish Band spot on stage.
I found this orchestra work good experience, playing under such musical directors as George Michie, Pat McCann, Arthur Blake and Alex Sutherland.
When Jimmy Blue gave up playing professionally in the seventies I continued to play for Andy Stewart on a freelance basis. This period of the 70s and early 80s was a prolific time for musical television shows. As well as Scotch Corner I was involved at Scottish Television in a series of Dateline, The Melody Lingers On and Showcase with Arthur Blake, Hear Hear with Mark Simpson and Sounds Gaelic and Shindig with John Carmichael.
At Grampian Television there were two series of At Home with Kenneth McKellar with MD Alex Sutherland, six series of 13 shows of Welcome to the Ceilidh with Hebbie Gray’s Band, and a few series of Andy’s Party with Andy Stewart.
The main feature of a career in the music business has been a long and happy association with Andy Stewart – first with Ian Powrie, then Jimmy Blue, and from the mid-70s as a freelance musician until Andy curtailed his workload in 1983. Among the highlights of these many engagements with Andy would certainly be four very enjoyable tours of Australia and New Zealand.
Current trends seem to favour not using bass players at dance gigs, relying on amplified keyboards and accordion left hand for a bass sound. This is no doubt due to economic necessity but is very unfortunate for the young bass players who, in spite of having good tuition nowadays, don’t have the opportunity to go ‘on the road’ with a band – an experience which I and my contemporaries wouldn’t have missed for anything.”
I think that most bandsmen would echo Dave’s sentiments as far as a bass player is concerned.
In the old days every band carried a bass player regularly, in the halls as well as for broadcasting. Transport always included accommodation for the bass. Electronic keyboards and accordion left land don’t really substitute adequately for the double bass, but perhaps things may change again at some point in the future.
Meantime we have to be content with the sound of a double bass during broadcasts or at some clubs. Dave is still very much in demand and is also very busy running an antique business with his wife Marjorie in Friockheim.
Dave Barclay will be honoured along with Gus Millar, Jimmy Yeaman, David Cunningham Snr and John Crawford at the NAAFC AGM on Sunday 30th June
Collectors’ Pieces
by Charlie Gore
Charlie Gore edited and published ‘The Scottish Fiddle Music Index’ in 1994. This was the first attempt ever made to index the titles of the 12,000 or so traditional tunes, songs, airs and miscellaneous music published in the printed collections of the 18th and early 19th centuries. The chief value of the Index to researchers, musicians and students of the tradition is that it has made it possible to locate any tune listed and to identify an accessible source for the music (mostly based on collections held at the National Library of Scotland).
Some reflections on the printed collections of
Adam Craig, Edinburgh (c1695 – 1756)
James Oswald, Dunfermline, Edinburgh & London (c1710 – 17??)
Neil Stewart, Edinburgh (c1730 – before 1816)
Robert Bremner, Edinburgh & London (c1713 – 1789)
James Aird, Glasgow (c1750 – 1795)
Up until now, I have been unable to study the great music collections of the early 18th Century in the depth I would have liked. There is only one reason for this: I can’t afford the current prices charged by the central libraries for copies taken from microfilm. Acquiring full sets of copies of these collections, some of which are very large, would involve an investment of £hundreds. This is a very real regret. Maybe some day the authorities will awake to the realization that fiddlers and enthusiasts in general are not paid huge salaries or supported by sponsorship and that the guardianship of the nation’s property could be spiced with a little generosity towards those members of society who might make best use of it. Bear in mind that all the notable collections of fiddle music were donated to the nation on the clear understanding that they would remain available for study; then consider that perhaps 85% of fiddle players live out of reach of any of our national libraries and probably wouldn’t be seen dead in one! This should surprise no-one and is certainly not a criticism of the players, but it is something the library service should think positively about. It would be such a very simple matter to make a one-off gesture and transfer a set of photocopies of the whole of the 18th century printed repertoire to a central photocopy archive from which inexpensive photocopies could then be made for evermore without further handling of either the film or the originals. Better still and equally practical, these copies could go onto CD-ROM or on-line and be available worldwide in audio-visual form. All I personally want is a set of music copies that I can study in depth with a fiddle in my hand (and maybe a dram nearby!) I believe most fiddlers would settle for that. Working from the originals was never easy; now, unless the would-be researcher lives on top of a central library, it is hardly an option at all.
A relatively small but important proportion of the old music is available from other sources much more easily accessed. In Kerr’s Collections, for example, as well as in the likes of the Athole or Skye Collections, dance music abounds. The drawback to it is that it is 99% anonymous – no authorship, no date, no source, no comment. Music loses its history and much of its character in this way. Yet these well-known books have been the principal source for the Scottish repertoire for the past hundred years. Small wonder that Scotland’s fiddlers have little to say on the subject! The most immediate source for recognizable music from the older collections would be John Glen’s ‘Dance Music of Scotland’ (the reader will be gratified to hear that this has been republished in 2001!) Glen was one of the few 19th Century collectors who made it his business to provide a fully identifiable source referenced for each piece he published. Some publishers in the 20th Century followed his example. The earliest music collections printed in Scotland were modeled on the work of London publishers such as Playford, father and son, who had been producing dance manuals and tune books (some with a strong Scots flavour) since the 1650s. The first with a full Scots pedigree was ‘A Collection of the Choicest Scots Tunes…within the Compass of the Voice, Violin or German Flute….’. It bears the name of Adam Craig (Edinburgh, 1727). James Oswald and William McGibbon were publishing work of a roughly similar kind in the 1740s. By the 1760s, professional musicians and publishers like Robert Bremner and Neil Stewart were flourishing in Edinburgh and producing Scottish Dance music collections of the type that was to follow in a positive flood from then ubtil the turn of the century and a decade or two beyond. To quote (with his approval I hope) from David Johnson’s admirable account in ‘Scottish Fiddle Music in the 18th Century’ (1984 and 1997) :
“The first (dance music) collections to be produced specifically for the Scottish market…..were Neil Stewart’s Newest and Best Reels or Country Dances (c1761 – 65) and Robert Bremner’s Scots Reels or Country Dances (c1765) These books had similar contents as well as similar titles. Both contained large numbers of ancient tunes appearing in print for the first time, showing that half-forgotten reels and jigs had been dug out of people’s memories and written down, to meet sharply increased demand. Many old tunes were also written down in manuscripts at this time”.
In this way much of the very old dance music of Scotland came to be remembered as a valued part of the developing tradition. All through that Golden Age of dance and dance music (say 1760 to 1830), publishers were careful to note such details as ‘Old Highland Air’, ‘Very Old’, ‘Irish’, alongside notes of authorship, style of dance and indications of tempo, like ‘Slow’ or ‘Slowish’, ‘Slow when not danced’ and so on. The Gows and William Marshall began to see their music in print in the 1780s and were to set the pattern for many of the collections of their time. One Glasgow published who bucked the trend was James Aird. He produced a work of six small volumes (containing over 1,000 titles!) which is much more in the style of some of the older collections (i.e. pre-Bremner & Stewart), less specifically dance orientated, with many old tunes and song airs. Of course these were overlooked by the dance music selectors of a century later. As a result, much of the material has never again seen the light of day. Those later publishers, looking to satisfy a specific demand, tended to be interested only in dance tunes, especially reels and strathspeys. Much excellent material still remains to be re-discovered but, thanks to the early publishers, it was not irretrievably lost.
The music reproduced here was first published by Robert Bremner. His ‘Colonel Crawford’s Reel’ (c1757) became ‘The Earl of Dalkeith’s Reel’ (1792) and was finally chosen as the original tune for ‘Dalkeith’s Strathspey’ (RSCDS Book 9, 1934). It plays as a strathspey in all its guises. ‘The Parks of Fochabers, a Reel’ (Gow Repository, Book 3) was Bremner’s ‘The Parks of Kilbirnie’ (c1757) and also seems more comfortable as a strathspey.
All these collections are accessible at various libraries around Scotland and beyond. For further info contact Charlie Gore.
Sabhal Mor Ostaig
by
A stunning coastal location……
Celtic Fling
by Karin Ingram
NAAFC Chairman Nicol McLaren was called upon……..
The Piping Shrike
by Jean Lumsden
April has been a busy month for us………
Bob Allan
I was born at Craigoshena at Glen Esk, Angus and moved to Lauder with my family while still a wee bairn. My father was a gamekeeper and we later moved to Carskie Estate, Mull of Kintyre. It was at Kirriemuir, when I was ten years old, that I saw and heard a fiddle for the first time. Will Irvine gave me a three-quarter fiddle and I had a few lessons from a Mr Guild from Forfar. I remember Lindsay Ross as a wee lad having lessons from his too. Willie Findlay, who lived next door to us, had lessons at the same time. Only 12 months later Willie and I could play better than our teacher. Smart lads we were! By the time we were 17 we had formed a wee dance band along with Jim Clark on the box, Ian Campbell on piano and Campbell Renfrew on drums. Success followed success; we were famous – well nearly! We played in places high and low, up and down the glens and even at Cortachy Castle. Unfortunately Princess Margaret wasn’t there the day we gave a great rendition of The Muckin’ O’ Geordie’s Byre. Of course we had a bit of competition in those days from the likes of Jim Cameron’s Band, Jimmy Shand and a few other fellows you may know. We were having a lot of fun and great times. In between playing fiddle I managed to find time to serve a joinery apprenticeship with John Strathearn and Sons. I didn’t make much money, so Ron McIntosh and I left ‘Kirrie’ to make our fortunes in sunny Australia. Ron had toured with Jim Cameron’s Band and the Niel Robertson Band along with Scott Cameron, a brilliant accordionist who now lives in Canada. I’d rank his playing with the great Davie Stewart, Dougie Milne and Angus Cruickshanks, all from the ‘Kirrie’ area.
Myself, I didn’t play again for nearly 20 years. I took up playing again in a few small groups for Country Dancing and pleasure. It’s not the same as before, but I still like to get out the fiddle and play the music I love. There’s plenty of young talent here though so there’s no need to worry – the Scottish and Irish music will ring out for many a day yet.
Since retiring, well sort of, I have become interested in fiddle making and have made quite a few fiddles using European maple and spruce, Tasmanian blackwood and King William pine. But that’s another story that I’ll tell another day. One of my fiddles is now owned by Lesley Cockram, a young viola player who plays with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. She is currently in Wales and will be playing my fiddle at Alasdair Fraser’s school on the Isle of Skye and around Ireland later this year.
I’ll be back in the old country for a few weeks in April this year and am looking forward to catching up with family and old friends and familiar places.
Greeting from Inverness
by Margo MacLennan
I had a great time in Musselburgh catching up………..
Newtongrange 2002
by Margaret Smith
Once again the Dean Tavern at Newtongrange was a hive of activity on Sunday, 14th April. As ever the annual competitions of the Newtongrange A&F Club had attracted a large entry, and there were competitors from as far afield as Buckie, Inverness and the Borders.
These competitions are always well organised, and this year was no exception. Margaret and George Smith have been the driving force since the competitions began (accordions only in 1979, and fiddle classes starting in 1981), but they are the first to admit that it would be an impossible task without the help and dedication of the Club’s Committee.
Neil Copland (Musselburgh Festival) and his wife, Mo Rutherford are also regular helpers. Mo provides wonderful piano accompaniment for the fiddle classes. And has been known to win a trophy or two when she sits in with bands and trios.
There were 12 classes and no-one envied adjudicators James Lindsay and Ron Kerr having to decide the winners from the line-up on talent in each class. Everyone agreed that James and Ron did an excellent job. Their comments were extremely encouraging, and where criticism was necessary it was always constructive.
There was no time wasted between classes, and indeed the competitions were running ahead of time for much of the afternoon.
Newtongrange club are very grateful to everyone who bought tickets and donated prizes for the raffle.
The Club would also like to thank the Management of The Dean Tavern where they hold their Club Nights and Dances as well as the Annual Competitions. As Maggie says “They always do us proud”.
The Newtongrange Competitions always have a special buzz. While the competitors are all keen to win, there is no back-biting or jealousy. This is what our music scene is all about, so long may we continue to head for The Dean each April!
Competition Results
Junior Accordions
Jim Johnstone Trophy
1) Gemma Coupland (Loanhead)
2) Jim Gold (Douglas)
Junior Accordions – Pipe Music
Edinburgh Evening News Trophy
1) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
2) Robert Menzies (Thornhill)
Junior Fiddles
Gilbert Lang Trophy
1) Kerry Alexander(Buckie)
2) Emma Alexander (Buckie)
Intermediate Accordions
Dean Tavern Trophy
1) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
2) Alison Hope (Peebles)
Intermediate Fiddles
John Lincoln Trophy
1) Ronnie Gibson (Bonnyrigg)
2) Shona MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
Intermediate Fiddles – Slow Air
1) Steven Duggan (Dundee)
2) Shona MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
Senior Accordions
Newtongrange Club Trophy
1) Susan MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
2) Stewart Walker (Inverness)
Senior Accordions – Pipe Music
Midlothian District council Trophy
1) Susan MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
2) Robin Hamilton (East Fortune)
Senior Fiddles
Newtongrange Club Trophy
1) Andrew Knight (Newtongrange)
2) Annabelle Gillan (Edinburgh)
Senior Fiddles – Slow Air
Newtongrange Club Trophy
1) Annabelle Gillan (Edinburgh)
2) Andrew Knight (Newtongrange)
Trios
Peter Rae Trophy
1) Ian Greig (Edinburgh)
2) Andrew Knight (Newtongrange)
Bands
Bobby MacLeod Trophy
1) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh) + Best Rhythm Section
2) Andrew Knight (Newtongrange)
Overall Accordion
Alice & Jim Mooney Trophy
Susan MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
Overall fiddle
Kath & Rob Forrest Trophy
Annabelle Gillan (Edinburgh)
A special trophy was also awarded to Dick Rutter who has competed for 21 years
CD Reviews
Karyn’s First Choice – Karyn McCulloch
Set Two – Ian Thomson SDB
Book Review
The MacAndrew Collection – The Compositions of Hector MacAndrew 1903-1980 – Champion Publishing
The MacAndrew Collection Performed by Paul Anderson (fiddle) and Dennis Morrison (piano) CHAMP CD02 (CD to accompany the above)
The Leith Collection – 26 Original Compositions by Iain King
Take the Floor – Saturdays with Robbie Shepherd
4th May 02 – Skipinnish + Addie Harper Tribute
11th May 02 – Lindsay Weir SDB + Listeners’ Letters
18th May 02 – Iain Cathcart SDB + New CDs and Listeners’ Letters
25th May 02 – Sandy Nixon SDB + Bands of the Past – Angus Cameron
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) – 28th May 02 – AGM + Gordon Pattullo
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) -
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 5th May 02 – Gary Donaldson Trio
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 2nd May 02 – Jim Cleland
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 27th May 02 – Wayne Robertson & Davie Stewart
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 22nd May 02 – Marian Anderson SDB
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) –
Belford (Community Centre) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) –
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 14th May 02 – Tayside Young Fiddlers
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) - 14th May 02 – Club night & AGM
Button Key (Windygates Institute) –
Campbeltown (The Royal Hotel) -
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 7th May 02 – Jimmy Lindsay SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 3rd May 02 – Dance to John Douglas SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 16th May 02 – Club night
Crathes (Crathes Hall, Banchory) - 12th May 02 – All players welcome
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 2nd May 02 – John Archie McVicar Trio
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 8th May 02 – Robert Whitehead
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead) 21st May 02 – Allan MacIntosh SDB
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 1st May 02 – Ian Thomson SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 15th May 02 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 7th May 02 - AGM
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (The Village Inn) –
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 21st May 02 – Steven Carcary & Malcolm Ross
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 27th May 02 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Forfar (Plough Inn) -
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 8th May 02 – Garioch Blend
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) –
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 1st May 02 – Give Way
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 28th May 02 – Mac Kinnear
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) -
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 20th May 02 – John Renton SDB
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 16th May 02 – Colin Dewar SDB
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) –
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 29th May 02 – Bill Black SDB
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) – 1st May 02 – Tom Alexander
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) -
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 19th May 02 – Roy Hendrie Trio
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 2nd May 02 – Davie Stewart Trio
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 21st May 02 – Ian Holmes Trio
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 1st May 02 – Deirdre Adamson
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 7th May 02 – Lynne Christie SDB
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 21st May 02 – Colin Garvin SDB
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) - 7th May 2002 – Dermot O’Brien
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 2nd May 02 – The Occasionals
Selkirk (Cricket Club) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Masonic Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 6th May 02 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Turriff (Royal British Legion) – 2nd May 02 – Tommy Newcomen
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 16th May 02 – Wayne Robertson
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 9th May 02 – Fiddlers von Trapp
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 21st May 02 – Bill Black SDB
Yarrow (Gordon Arms) -
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Arbroath
5. Balloch
6. Banff
7. Biggar
8. Bromley
9. Button Key
10. Campsie
11. Castle Douglas
12. Cults
13. Dingwall
14. Dunblane
15. Dunfermline
16. Dunoon & Cowal
17. Ellon
18. Forfar
19. Forres
20. Galston
21. Glenrothes & District
22. Gretna
23. Highland
24. Inveraray
25. Isle of Skye
26. Kelso
27. Lanark
28. Lesmahagow
29. Lewis & Harris
30. Livingston
31. Lockerbie
32. Montrose
33. North East
34. Peebles
35. Perth
36. Premier
37. Renfrew
38. Rothbury
39. Scottish Accordion Music Group (Crathes)
40. Shetland
41 Thornhill
42 Thurso
43. Turriff
44. Tynedale
45. West Barnes
46. Wick
47. Yarrow
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2002
(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. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Bromley A&F Club
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campbeltown A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
29. Ellon A&F Club (
30. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
31. Forfar A&F Club (
32. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
33. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
34. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
35. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
36. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
37. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
38. 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)
39. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
40. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
41. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
42. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
43. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
44. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
45. Kintore A&F Club (
46. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed
47. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – present)
48. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
49. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
52. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
53. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
54. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
55. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
56. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
57. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
58. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
59. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
60. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
61. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
62. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
63. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
64. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
65. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
66. Selkirk A&F Club (
67. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
68. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
69. Sutherland A&F Club (
70. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
71. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
72. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
73. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
74. Vancouver
75. West Barnes ( - present)
76. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
77. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – )
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
78. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
79. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
80. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
81. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
82. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
83. Buchan A&F Club
84. Callander A&F Club (
85. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
86. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
87. Club Accord
88. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
89. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
90. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
91. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
92. Derwentside A&F Club
93. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
94. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
95. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
96. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
97. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
98. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
99. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
100. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
101. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
102. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
103. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Mull A&F Club
107. Newcastleton Accordion Club
108. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
109. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
110. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
111. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
112. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
113. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
114. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
115. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
116. Tranent A&F Club
117. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
118. Wellbank A&F Club
Advertising rates
Full Page - £120
Half Page - £60
Quarter Page - £30
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
Karin Ingram
Dave Barclay
by Tom Clark
Dave Barclay is to be honoured by the NAAFC at this year’s AGM. This article first appeared in the B&F in February 1988. No-one was accredited with authorship, so we are assuming that it was written by the then Editor, Tom Clark. We are indebted to Jimmy Helm for allowing us to use these photographs, all of which were published in his book ‘Who’s on the Dance Music Tonight?’
For most people who have been involved in the Dance Band scene over the years, the name of Dave Barclay has always been synonymous with all that is best in bass playing. Dave is another of that fine breed of musicians who was around in the early days and is still very much involved today, being heard regularly with various bands. Dave, of course, was a regular member of the famous Powrie sound, but his musical experience and training spans a very broad coverage of most types and styles of music. Dave is a very busy man but I eventually managed to track him down.
“A native of Brechin, I began violin lessons at the age of ten with the visiting school’ music instructor and progressed to private tuition while at Brechin high School. On leaving school to work in a local accountant’s office I traveled to Dundee two evenings a week to study harmony and counterpoint with Henry Kerby L.T.C.L., A.R.C.M., who had his studios above Methven Simpson’s Music Shop in Reform Street.
Around this time in the early fifties I laid aside the fiddle and began playing double bass, initially being self-taught on bass technique due to the lack of instructors at the time.
I began working with local modern bands in and around Brechin and meantime my brother Raymond turned professional on piano, first with Dave Phin at Dunblane Hydro and then at The Empress Ballroom, Dundee. This resident band at The Empress had two very good bass players during his stay and I had regular tuition from both on bass technique, with special emphasis on bowing. The owners of The Empress had a policy of booking the big name bands frequently and it was an education to go and hear some of the finest bass players in the country with the bands of Dankworth, Ted Heath, Jack Parnell, etc. My introduction to the Scottish music scene was really unintentional – having been asked by Lindsay Ross to play on his second BBC broadcast. This led to several years’ playing on the dance circuit with Lindsay and a nine month period in 1955 with Jack Forsyth’s Band.
In 1957 I left the Scottish music business and joined the resident band in The Locarno Ballroom, Montrose – playing four or five nights a week. The proprietor, Mr Fortunato, a fine vocalist and alto saxophone player, kept really up to date with his music – always giving the band the current hit tunes as well as some of the great standards. I spent a very enjoyable and educational two years with this band – the sight-reading proved to be invaluable in the years to come. Incidentally, this band had two very fine drummers during my stay – Stan Gorman, who later joined the BBC Midland Orchestra, and Bobby Kerr, who was for many years percussionist with the SNO and now owns The Drum Shop in Glasgow. In 1959 I rejoined Lindsay’s Band and moved to Friockheim, having just married Lindsay’s sister, Marjorie, who was on piano with the band.
In early ’61 I was asked by Ian Powrie to join his band – they having just started doing The White Heather Club television shows, thus beginning an association with Andy Stewart leading to a very heavy work schedule for the band including two long seasons in the Glasgow Empire, Scottish tours, television and radio, plus two tours of Australia and New Zealand as well as the band’s commitments on the dance circuit.
When Ian disbanded in the mid-sixties to leave for Australia, Jimmy Blue carried on with the band retaining most of the original members including myself, and still continuing the busy schedule with Andy Stewart, which included several series of Scotch Corner for Scottish Television and successful summer seasons in H.M. Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Ayr and Blackpool.
These long sessions of stage shows were gratifying for me as I did the pit orchestra work as well as the Scottish Band spot on stage.
I found this orchestra work good experience, playing under such musical directors as George Michie, Pat McCann, Arthur Blake and Alex Sutherland.
When Jimmy Blue gave up playing professionally in the seventies I continued to play for Andy Stewart on a freelance basis. This period of the 70s and early 80s was a prolific time for musical television shows. As well as Scotch Corner I was involved at Scottish Television in a series of Dateline, The Melody Lingers On and Showcase with Arthur Blake, Hear Hear with Mark Simpson and Sounds Gaelic and Shindig with John Carmichael.
At Grampian Television there were two series of At Home with Kenneth McKellar with MD Alex Sutherland, six series of 13 shows of Welcome to the Ceilidh with Hebbie Gray’s Band, and a few series of Andy’s Party with Andy Stewart.
The main feature of a career in the music business has been a long and happy association with Andy Stewart – first with Ian Powrie, then Jimmy Blue, and from the mid-70s as a freelance musician until Andy curtailed his workload in 1983. Among the highlights of these many engagements with Andy would certainly be four very enjoyable tours of Australia and New Zealand.
Current trends seem to favour not using bass players at dance gigs, relying on amplified keyboards and accordion left hand for a bass sound. This is no doubt due to economic necessity but is very unfortunate for the young bass players who, in spite of having good tuition nowadays, don’t have the opportunity to go ‘on the road’ with a band – an experience which I and my contemporaries wouldn’t have missed for anything.”
I think that most bandsmen would echo Dave’s sentiments as far as a bass player is concerned.
In the old days every band carried a bass player regularly, in the halls as well as for broadcasting. Transport always included accommodation for the bass. Electronic keyboards and accordion left land don’t really substitute adequately for the double bass, but perhaps things may change again at some point in the future.
Meantime we have to be content with the sound of a double bass during broadcasts or at some clubs. Dave is still very much in demand and is also very busy running an antique business with his wife Marjorie in Friockheim.
Dave Barclay will be honoured along with Gus Millar, Jimmy Yeaman, David Cunningham Snr and John Crawford at the NAAFC AGM on Sunday 30th June
Collectors’ Pieces
by Charlie Gore
Charlie Gore edited and published ‘The Scottish Fiddle Music Index’ in 1994. This was the first attempt ever made to index the titles of the 12,000 or so traditional tunes, songs, airs and miscellaneous music published in the printed collections of the 18th and early 19th centuries. The chief value of the Index to researchers, musicians and students of the tradition is that it has made it possible to locate any tune listed and to identify an accessible source for the music (mostly based on collections held at the National Library of Scotland).
Some reflections on the printed collections of
Adam Craig, Edinburgh (c1695 – 1756)
James Oswald, Dunfermline, Edinburgh & London (c1710 – 17??)
Neil Stewart, Edinburgh (c1730 – before 1816)
Robert Bremner, Edinburgh & London (c1713 – 1789)
James Aird, Glasgow (c1750 – 1795)
Up until now, I have been unable to study the great music collections of the early 18th Century in the depth I would have liked. There is only one reason for this: I can’t afford the current prices charged by the central libraries for copies taken from microfilm. Acquiring full sets of copies of these collections, some of which are very large, would involve an investment of £hundreds. This is a very real regret. Maybe some day the authorities will awake to the realization that fiddlers and enthusiasts in general are not paid huge salaries or supported by sponsorship and that the guardianship of the nation’s property could be spiced with a little generosity towards those members of society who might make best use of it. Bear in mind that all the notable collections of fiddle music were donated to the nation on the clear understanding that they would remain available for study; then consider that perhaps 85% of fiddle players live out of reach of any of our national libraries and probably wouldn’t be seen dead in one! This should surprise no-one and is certainly not a criticism of the players, but it is something the library service should think positively about. It would be such a very simple matter to make a one-off gesture and transfer a set of photocopies of the whole of the 18th century printed repertoire to a central photocopy archive from which inexpensive photocopies could then be made for evermore without further handling of either the film or the originals. Better still and equally practical, these copies could go onto CD-ROM or on-line and be available worldwide in audio-visual form. All I personally want is a set of music copies that I can study in depth with a fiddle in my hand (and maybe a dram nearby!) I believe most fiddlers would settle for that. Working from the originals was never easy; now, unless the would-be researcher lives on top of a central library, it is hardly an option at all.
A relatively small but important proportion of the old music is available from other sources much more easily accessed. In Kerr’s Collections, for example, as well as in the likes of the Athole or Skye Collections, dance music abounds. The drawback to it is that it is 99% anonymous – no authorship, no date, no source, no comment. Music loses its history and much of its character in this way. Yet these well-known books have been the principal source for the Scottish repertoire for the past hundred years. Small wonder that Scotland’s fiddlers have little to say on the subject! The most immediate source for recognizable music from the older collections would be John Glen’s ‘Dance Music of Scotland’ (the reader will be gratified to hear that this has been republished in 2001!) Glen was one of the few 19th Century collectors who made it his business to provide a fully identifiable source referenced for each piece he published. Some publishers in the 20th Century followed his example. The earliest music collections printed in Scotland were modeled on the work of London publishers such as Playford, father and son, who had been producing dance manuals and tune books (some with a strong Scots flavour) since the 1650s. The first with a full Scots pedigree was ‘A Collection of the Choicest Scots Tunes…within the Compass of the Voice, Violin or German Flute….’. It bears the name of Adam Craig (Edinburgh, 1727). James Oswald and William McGibbon were publishing work of a roughly similar kind in the 1740s. By the 1760s, professional musicians and publishers like Robert Bremner and Neil Stewart were flourishing in Edinburgh and producing Scottish Dance music collections of the type that was to follow in a positive flood from then ubtil the turn of the century and a decade or two beyond. To quote (with his approval I hope) from David Johnson’s admirable account in ‘Scottish Fiddle Music in the 18th Century’ (1984 and 1997) :
“The first (dance music) collections to be produced specifically for the Scottish market…..were Neil Stewart’s Newest and Best Reels or Country Dances (c1761 – 65) and Robert Bremner’s Scots Reels or Country Dances (c1765) These books had similar contents as well as similar titles. Both contained large numbers of ancient tunes appearing in print for the first time, showing that half-forgotten reels and jigs had been dug out of people’s memories and written down, to meet sharply increased demand. Many old tunes were also written down in manuscripts at this time”.
In this way much of the very old dance music of Scotland came to be remembered as a valued part of the developing tradition. All through that Golden Age of dance and dance music (say 1760 to 1830), publishers were careful to note such details as ‘Old Highland Air’, ‘Very Old’, ‘Irish’, alongside notes of authorship, style of dance and indications of tempo, like ‘Slow’ or ‘Slowish’, ‘Slow when not danced’ and so on. The Gows and William Marshall began to see their music in print in the 1780s and were to set the pattern for many of the collections of their time. One Glasgow published who bucked the trend was James Aird. He produced a work of six small volumes (containing over 1,000 titles!) which is much more in the style of some of the older collections (i.e. pre-Bremner & Stewart), less specifically dance orientated, with many old tunes and song airs. Of course these were overlooked by the dance music selectors of a century later. As a result, much of the material has never again seen the light of day. Those later publishers, looking to satisfy a specific demand, tended to be interested only in dance tunes, especially reels and strathspeys. Much excellent material still remains to be re-discovered but, thanks to the early publishers, it was not irretrievably lost.
The music reproduced here was first published by Robert Bremner. His ‘Colonel Crawford’s Reel’ (c1757) became ‘The Earl of Dalkeith’s Reel’ (1792) and was finally chosen as the original tune for ‘Dalkeith’s Strathspey’ (RSCDS Book 9, 1934). It plays as a strathspey in all its guises. ‘The Parks of Fochabers, a Reel’ (Gow Repository, Book 3) was Bremner’s ‘The Parks of Kilbirnie’ (c1757) and also seems more comfortable as a strathspey.
All these collections are accessible at various libraries around Scotland and beyond. For further info contact Charlie Gore.
Sabhal Mor Ostaig
by
A stunning coastal location……
Celtic Fling
by Karin Ingram
NAAFC Chairman Nicol McLaren was called upon……..
The Piping Shrike
by Jean Lumsden
April has been a busy month for us………
Bob Allan
I was born at Craigoshena at Glen Esk, Angus and moved to Lauder with my family while still a wee bairn. My father was a gamekeeper and we later moved to Carskie Estate, Mull of Kintyre. It was at Kirriemuir, when I was ten years old, that I saw and heard a fiddle for the first time. Will Irvine gave me a three-quarter fiddle and I had a few lessons from a Mr Guild from Forfar. I remember Lindsay Ross as a wee lad having lessons from his too. Willie Findlay, who lived next door to us, had lessons at the same time. Only 12 months later Willie and I could play better than our teacher. Smart lads we were! By the time we were 17 we had formed a wee dance band along with Jim Clark on the box, Ian Campbell on piano and Campbell Renfrew on drums. Success followed success; we were famous – well nearly! We played in places high and low, up and down the glens and even at Cortachy Castle. Unfortunately Princess Margaret wasn’t there the day we gave a great rendition of The Muckin’ O’ Geordie’s Byre. Of course we had a bit of competition in those days from the likes of Jim Cameron’s Band, Jimmy Shand and a few other fellows you may know. We were having a lot of fun and great times. In between playing fiddle I managed to find time to serve a joinery apprenticeship with John Strathearn and Sons. I didn’t make much money, so Ron McIntosh and I left ‘Kirrie’ to make our fortunes in sunny Australia. Ron had toured with Jim Cameron’s Band and the Niel Robertson Band along with Scott Cameron, a brilliant accordionist who now lives in Canada. I’d rank his playing with the great Davie Stewart, Dougie Milne and Angus Cruickshanks, all from the ‘Kirrie’ area.
Myself, I didn’t play again for nearly 20 years. I took up playing again in a few small groups for Country Dancing and pleasure. It’s not the same as before, but I still like to get out the fiddle and play the music I love. There’s plenty of young talent here though so there’s no need to worry – the Scottish and Irish music will ring out for many a day yet.
Since retiring, well sort of, I have become interested in fiddle making and have made quite a few fiddles using European maple and spruce, Tasmanian blackwood and King William pine. But that’s another story that I’ll tell another day. One of my fiddles is now owned by Lesley Cockram, a young viola player who plays with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. She is currently in Wales and will be playing my fiddle at Alasdair Fraser’s school on the Isle of Skye and around Ireland later this year.
I’ll be back in the old country for a few weeks in April this year and am looking forward to catching up with family and old friends and familiar places.
Greeting from Inverness
by Margo MacLennan
I had a great time in Musselburgh catching up………..
Newtongrange 2002
by Margaret Smith
Once again the Dean Tavern at Newtongrange was a hive of activity on Sunday, 14th April. As ever the annual competitions of the Newtongrange A&F Club had attracted a large entry, and there were competitors from as far afield as Buckie, Inverness and the Borders.
These competitions are always well organised, and this year was no exception. Margaret and George Smith have been the driving force since the competitions began (accordions only in 1979, and fiddle classes starting in 1981), but they are the first to admit that it would be an impossible task without the help and dedication of the Club’s Committee.
Neil Copland (Musselburgh Festival) and his wife, Mo Rutherford are also regular helpers. Mo provides wonderful piano accompaniment for the fiddle classes. And has been known to win a trophy or two when she sits in with bands and trios.
There were 12 classes and no-one envied adjudicators James Lindsay and Ron Kerr having to decide the winners from the line-up on talent in each class. Everyone agreed that James and Ron did an excellent job. Their comments were extremely encouraging, and where criticism was necessary it was always constructive.
There was no time wasted between classes, and indeed the competitions were running ahead of time for much of the afternoon.
Newtongrange club are very grateful to everyone who bought tickets and donated prizes for the raffle.
The Club would also like to thank the Management of The Dean Tavern where they hold their Club Nights and Dances as well as the Annual Competitions. As Maggie says “They always do us proud”.
The Newtongrange Competitions always have a special buzz. While the competitors are all keen to win, there is no back-biting or jealousy. This is what our music scene is all about, so long may we continue to head for The Dean each April!
Competition Results
Junior Accordions
Jim Johnstone Trophy
1) Gemma Coupland (Loanhead)
2) Jim Gold (Douglas)
Junior Accordions – Pipe Music
Edinburgh Evening News Trophy
1) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
2) Robert Menzies (Thornhill)
Junior Fiddles
Gilbert Lang Trophy
1) Kerry Alexander(Buckie)
2) Emma Alexander (Buckie)
Intermediate Accordions
Dean Tavern Trophy
1) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
2) Alison Hope (Peebles)
Intermediate Fiddles
John Lincoln Trophy
1) Ronnie Gibson (Bonnyrigg)
2) Shona MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
Intermediate Fiddles – Slow Air
1) Steven Duggan (Dundee)
2) Shona MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
Senior Accordions
Newtongrange Club Trophy
1) Susan MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
2) Stewart Walker (Inverness)
Senior Accordions – Pipe Music
Midlothian District council Trophy
1) Susan MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
2) Robin Hamilton (East Fortune)
Senior Fiddles
Newtongrange Club Trophy
1) Andrew Knight (Newtongrange)
2) Annabelle Gillan (Edinburgh)
Senior Fiddles – Slow Air
Newtongrange Club Trophy
1) Annabelle Gillan (Edinburgh)
2) Andrew Knight (Newtongrange)
Trios
Peter Rae Trophy
1) Ian Greig (Edinburgh)
2) Andrew Knight (Newtongrange)
Bands
Bobby MacLeod Trophy
1) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh) + Best Rhythm Section
2) Andrew Knight (Newtongrange)
Overall Accordion
Alice & Jim Mooney Trophy
Susan MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
Overall fiddle
Kath & Rob Forrest Trophy
Annabelle Gillan (Edinburgh)
A special trophy was also awarded to Dick Rutter who has competed for 21 years
CD Reviews
Karyn’s First Choice – Karyn McCulloch
Set Two – Ian Thomson SDB
Book Review
The MacAndrew Collection – The Compositions of Hector MacAndrew 1903-1980 – Champion Publishing
The MacAndrew Collection Performed by Paul Anderson (fiddle) and Dennis Morrison (piano) CHAMP CD02 (CD to accompany the above)
The Leith Collection – 26 Original Compositions by Iain King
Take the Floor – Saturdays with Robbie Shepherd
4th May 02 – Skipinnish + Addie Harper Tribute
11th May 02 – Lindsay Weir SDB + Listeners’ Letters
18th May 02 – Iain Cathcart SDB + New CDs and Listeners’ Letters
25th May 02 – Sandy Nixon SDB + Bands of the Past – Angus Cameron
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) – 28th May 02 – AGM + Gordon Pattullo
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) -
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 5th May 02 – Gary Donaldson Trio
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 2nd May 02 – Jim Cleland
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 27th May 02 – Wayne Robertson & Davie Stewart
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 22nd May 02 – Marian Anderson SDB
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) –
Belford (Community Centre) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) –
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 14th May 02 – Tayside Young Fiddlers
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) - 14th May 02 – Club night & AGM
Button Key (Windygates Institute) –
Campbeltown (The Royal Hotel) -
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 7th May 02 – Jimmy Lindsay SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 3rd May 02 – Dance to John Douglas SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 16th May 02 – Club night
Crathes (Crathes Hall, Banchory) - 12th May 02 – All players welcome
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 2nd May 02 – John Archie McVicar Trio
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 8th May 02 – Robert Whitehead
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead) 21st May 02 – Allan MacIntosh SDB
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 1st May 02 – Ian Thomson SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 15th May 02 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 7th May 02 - AGM
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (The Village Inn) –
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 21st May 02 – Steven Carcary & Malcolm Ross
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 27th May 02 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Forfar (Plough Inn) -
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 8th May 02 – Garioch Blend
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) –
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 1st May 02 – Give Way
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 28th May 02 – Mac Kinnear
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) -
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 20th May 02 – John Renton SDB
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 16th May 02 – Colin Dewar SDB
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) –
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 29th May 02 – Bill Black SDB
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) – 1st May 02 – Tom Alexander
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) -
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 19th May 02 – Roy Hendrie Trio
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 2nd May 02 – Davie Stewart Trio
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 21st May 02 – Ian Holmes Trio
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 1st May 02 – Deirdre Adamson
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 7th May 02 – Lynne Christie SDB
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 21st May 02 – Colin Garvin SDB
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) - 7th May 2002 – Dermot O’Brien
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 2nd May 02 – The Occasionals
Selkirk (Cricket Club) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Masonic Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 6th May 02 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Turriff (Royal British Legion) – 2nd May 02 – Tommy Newcomen
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 16th May 02 – Wayne Robertson
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 9th May 02 – Fiddlers von Trapp
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 21st May 02 – Bill Black SDB
Yarrow (Gordon Arms) -
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Arbroath
5. Balloch
6. Banff
7. Biggar
8. Bromley
9. Button Key
10. Campsie
11. Castle Douglas
12. Cults
13. Dingwall
14. Dunblane
15. Dunfermline
16. Dunoon & Cowal
17. Ellon
18. Forfar
19. Forres
20. Galston
21. Glenrothes & District
22. Gretna
23. Highland
24. Inveraray
25. Isle of Skye
26. Kelso
27. Lanark
28. Lesmahagow
29. Lewis & Harris
30. Livingston
31. Lockerbie
32. Montrose
33. North East
34. Peebles
35. Perth
36. Premier
37. Renfrew
38. Rothbury
39. Scottish Accordion Music Group (Crathes)
40. Shetland
41 Thornhill
42 Thurso
43. Turriff
44. Tynedale
45. West Barnes
46. Wick
47. Yarrow
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2002
(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. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Bromley A&F Club
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campbeltown A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
29. Ellon A&F Club (
30. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
31. Forfar A&F Club (
32. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
33. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
34. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
35. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
36. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
37. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
38. 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)
39. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
40. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
41. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
42. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
43. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
44. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
45. Kintore A&F Club (
46. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed
47. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – present)
48. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
49. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
52. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
53. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
54. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
55. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
56. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
57. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
58. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
59. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
60. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
61. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
62. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
63. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
64. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
65. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
66. Selkirk A&F Club (
67. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
68. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
69. Sutherland A&F Club (
70. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
71. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
72. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
73. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
74. Vancouver
75. West Barnes ( - present)
76. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
77. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – )
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
78. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
79. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
80. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
81. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
82. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
83. Buchan A&F Club
84. Callander A&F Club (
85. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
86. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
87. Club Accord
88. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
89. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
90. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
91. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
92. Derwentside A&F Club
93. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
94. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
95. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
96. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
97. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
98. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
99. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
100. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
101. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
102. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
103. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Mull A&F Club
107. Newcastleton Accordion Club
108. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
109. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
110. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
111. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
112. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
113. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
114. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
115. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
116. Tranent A&F Club
117. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
118. Wellbank A&F Club
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