Robbie Shepherd M.B.E.
Takes the Floor
by Karin Ingram
I scarcely know Robbie Shepherd (we’ve met only a handful of times), and yet when we met in Langholm prior to a ‘Take the Floor’ recording with Marian Anderson’s Band I feel as though I am greeting an old friend. In this I am not alone, thousands of listeners to his BBC Radio Scotland ‘Reel Blend’ and ‘Take the Floor’ programmes will frequently say, “I was listening to Robbie this morning”, or “ Who’s Robbie got on next week?” Such is the popularity of the man that we all feel that we are on first name terms with him – and this is just how he likes it. “I never forget that these people are inviting me into their homes each week”.
Before we begin our interview proper, I congratulate him on his recently awarded M.B.E., and ask him how he felt when he found out. “Well, I knew in November, but of course I was sworn to secrecy, I couldn’t tell a sole. I think it’s a wonderful honour for Scottish Dance Music, that’s what it’s for – nae for me!” At this point he is visibly moved, “My one big regret was that I couldn’t tell Jimmy (Shand). I knew he was very ill, but I wasn’t allowed to tell him. Shandy would have been so pleased for me, so proud…..”
Robbie comes from Dunecht near Aberdeen. He recalls his early childhood memories. “Our house was right next to the local hall, and I would lie in bed on a Saturday night listening to the dance music, from the likes of Jim Cameron’s Band. My dad used to go into town and bring home 78s by Adam Rennie and Jimmy shand, all the dance band greats”. His mother played piano, and encouraged the young Robbie to learn, but he claims to have had neither the patience nor the talent. He did however have quite a passable singing voice, and could coax a tune out of a moothie. He was in a band for a while – The Garlogie Four – and began to be in demand for compering concerts and dances.
Robbie has never been afraid of hard work, and although family circumstances necessitated him leaving school at fifteen to take a poorly paid job as an audit assistant, he attendied night school and became a Certified Management Accountant. He continued to compere in the evenings, and his talent was spotted by the powers that be in radio. His first broadcasting role was with BBC Radio Aberdeen, where he presented ‘Meet You Monday’, a request programme for the North-East of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland. Television followed, with the ‘Out and About’ series for Grampian. He also did the commentary for the sheepdog trials and was presenter and quizmaster for the early ‘Beechgrove Garden’ Roadshow. He decided to concentrate on his radio work, taking over the Scottish Dance Music slot after the tragic death in a car accident of the presenter David Findlay. I ask about ‘Take the Floor’. Does he decide which bands should broadcast? ”Never!”, he shakes his head emphatically. “That’s nae my job. I’m nae a musician after all. Sometimes I’ll meet up with someone who’s been in for an audition and they’ll ask me how they did. They don’t realise that I have no say in the matter.” Has he ever disagreed with the decision to broadcast a band? “Everyone has something to offer”, he says diplomatically. “It might not be my taste, but someone will enjoy it”.
He is thrilled that “our kind of music“ can now be heard all over the globe thanks to online digital radio. “I can remember when I used to do a local radio show frae Aberdeen, there was this chap down in Berwick who could pick up the signal – something to do with the way the radio waves traveled – he was our farthest away listener, and he still writes to me yet! Now they can hear me in Australia – if they want to! It’s really marvelous.”
Our talk turns to ‘The Reel Blend’ – his Sunday show. For many years it was available only on AM frequency, just recently being available on FM as well. This move was due to Robbie’s determination. “It was absolutely ridiculous,” he says. “We were the only programme that broadcast solely on AM. I fought for years to have it changed. Then I was told it would be cut to 90 minutes – no way!” At this point I have a vision of a determined Robbie digging his heels in, and slamming his fist on the controller’s desk! Despite his geniality and talent for self-depreciation Mr Shepherd is nobody’s fool. His persistence paid off – he still has his two hours, and it’s now on both frequencies. He puts in a lot of work for this show, “some folk think I’m like a minister, only working for a couple of hours on a Sunday!” Nothing could be further from the truth. Robbie can usually be found at his desk first thing in the morning, and ‘Take the Floor’ recordings can see him working late into the evening. Then there’s all the research. If someone writes in with a query, I like to see if I can answer it for them.” He values the rapport that he has with his listeners, and treats his shows as though he’s speaking to one person sitting in their living room or working away in the kitchen. He tries to answer every letter that he is sent, and will often phone the writers up out of the blue, just to tell them that their letter is going to be read out or a particular piece of music that they requested will be played. This happened to a lady of my acquaintance who had written a poem, which I sent in to ‘The Reel Blend’. She was already thrilled that it might be read out on air, but was over the moon when Robbie phoned her to say thank you for giving him the chance to read it.
Does he think that the dance music scene is changing? “Well there’s this whole new ceilidh scene now. There are some great young players nowadays – and they need someone young to present their music.” Surely he’s not thinking of retiring? “Bear in mind, I grew up along with some of the great bands like Shand, Cameron, MacLeod. There’s new bands now, and the BBC should be looking for someone younger to grow with them and replace meeventually.” I say nothing, but I can just imagine the outcry the day that happens!
At this point the rest of the ‘TTF’ team – Ken Mutch, Jean Sharman, Keith Simpson and Ron McCaskill – arrive, having completed the sound check with the Marian Anderson Band. Robbie nips upstairs to change, the crew have a bite to eat, and then we’re all off to the Buccleuch Hall.
It’s interesting to watch Robbie in ‘professional’ mode. He moves easily among the crowd of dancers, shaking hands here, patting a back there. He has a naturally friendly way with people, he has time for everyone.
He admits to always being nervous before a broadcast, but nobody would ever know. On stage he chats with the band and gives a few words of encouragement to the young guest artiste Sarah Hayes of Northumberland (she was the youngest finalist in Radio 2’s Young Folk Awards). Time for one or two funny asides to the audience, “In Bridge of Don they say the M.B.E. stands for ‘Man Behind Esma’ (his wife!), and the recording is about to begin. The band strikes up ‘Kate Dalrymple’ and we prepare to ‘Take the Floor’…
Two weeks later…
It’s 9 a.m. on the 1st of February. I was up late last night, and am enjoying a ‘long lie’ when the phone rings – it’s Robbie. “Got the Box and Fiddle this morning, well done lass.” Thanks Robbie, that means a lot to me.
Box and Fiddle
March 2001
Before we begin our interview proper, I congratulate him on his recently awarded M.B.E., and ask him how he felt when he found out. “Well, I knew in November, but of course I was sworn to secrecy, I couldn’t tell a sole. I think it’s a wonderful honour for Scottish Dance Music, that’s what it’s for – nae for me!” At this point he is visibly moved, “My one big regret was that I couldn’t tell Jimmy (Shand). I knew he was very ill, but I wasn’t allowed to tell him. Shandy would have been so pleased for me, so proud…..”
Robbie comes from Dunecht near Aberdeen. He recalls his early childhood memories. “Our house was right next to the local hall, and I would lie in bed on a Saturday night listening to the dance music, from the likes of Jim Cameron’s Band. My dad used to go into town and bring home 78s by Adam Rennie and Jimmy shand, all the dance band greats”. His mother played piano, and encouraged the young Robbie to learn, but he claims to have had neither the patience nor the talent. He did however have quite a passable singing voice, and could coax a tune out of a moothie. He was in a band for a while – The Garlogie Four – and began to be in demand for compering concerts and dances.
Robbie has never been afraid of hard work, and although family circumstances necessitated him leaving school at fifteen to take a poorly paid job as an audit assistant, he attendied night school and became a Certified Management Accountant. He continued to compere in the evenings, and his talent was spotted by the powers that be in radio. His first broadcasting role was with BBC Radio Aberdeen, where he presented ‘Meet You Monday’, a request programme for the North-East of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland. Television followed, with the ‘Out and About’ series for Grampian. He also did the commentary for the sheepdog trials and was presenter and quizmaster for the early ‘Beechgrove Garden’ Roadshow. He decided to concentrate on his radio work, taking over the Scottish Dance Music slot after the tragic death in a car accident of the presenter David Findlay. I ask about ‘Take the Floor’. Does he decide which bands should broadcast? ”Never!”, he shakes his head emphatically. “That’s nae my job. I’m nae a musician after all. Sometimes I’ll meet up with someone who’s been in for an audition and they’ll ask me how they did. They don’t realise that I have no say in the matter.” Has he ever disagreed with the decision to broadcast a band? “Everyone has something to offer”, he says diplomatically. “It might not be my taste, but someone will enjoy it”.
He is thrilled that “our kind of music“ can now be heard all over the globe thanks to online digital radio. “I can remember when I used to do a local radio show frae Aberdeen, there was this chap down in Berwick who could pick up the signal – something to do with the way the radio waves traveled – he was our farthest away listener, and he still writes to me yet! Now they can hear me in Australia – if they want to! It’s really marvelous.”
Our talk turns to ‘The Reel Blend’ – his Sunday show. For many years it was available only on AM frequency, just recently being available on FM as well. This move was due to Robbie’s determination. “It was absolutely ridiculous,” he says. “We were the only programme that broadcast solely on AM. I fought for years to have it changed. Then I was told it would be cut to 90 minutes – no way!” At this point I have a vision of a determined Robbie digging his heels in, and slamming his fist on the controller’s desk! Despite his geniality and talent for self-depreciation Mr Shepherd is nobody’s fool. His persistence paid off – he still has his two hours, and it’s now on both frequencies. He puts in a lot of work for this show, “some folk think I’m like a minister, only working for a couple of hours on a Sunday!” Nothing could be further from the truth. Robbie can usually be found at his desk first thing in the morning, and ‘Take the Floor’ recordings can see him working late into the evening. Then there’s all the research. If someone writes in with a query, I like to see if I can answer it for them.” He values the rapport that he has with his listeners, and treats his shows as though he’s speaking to one person sitting in their living room or working away in the kitchen. He tries to answer every letter that he is sent, and will often phone the writers up out of the blue, just to tell them that their letter is going to be read out or a particular piece of music that they requested will be played. This happened to a lady of my acquaintance who had written a poem, which I sent in to ‘The Reel Blend’. She was already thrilled that it might be read out on air, but was over the moon when Robbie phoned her to say thank you for giving him the chance to read it.
Does he think that the dance music scene is changing? “Well there’s this whole new ceilidh scene now. There are some great young players nowadays – and they need someone young to present their music.” Surely he’s not thinking of retiring? “Bear in mind, I grew up along with some of the great bands like Shand, Cameron, MacLeod. There’s new bands now, and the BBC should be looking for someone younger to grow with them and replace meeventually.” I say nothing, but I can just imagine the outcry the day that happens!
At this point the rest of the ‘TTF’ team – Ken Mutch, Jean Sharman, Keith Simpson and Ron McCaskill – arrive, having completed the sound check with the Marian Anderson Band. Robbie nips upstairs to change, the crew have a bite to eat, and then we’re all off to the Buccleuch Hall.
It’s interesting to watch Robbie in ‘professional’ mode. He moves easily among the crowd of dancers, shaking hands here, patting a back there. He has a naturally friendly way with people, he has time for everyone.
He admits to always being nervous before a broadcast, but nobody would ever know. On stage he chats with the band and gives a few words of encouragement to the young guest artiste Sarah Hayes of Northumberland (she was the youngest finalist in Radio 2’s Young Folk Awards). Time for one or two funny asides to the audience, “In Bridge of Don they say the M.B.E. stands for ‘Man Behind Esma’ (his wife!), and the recording is about to begin. The band strikes up ‘Kate Dalrymple’ and we prepare to ‘Take the Floor’…
Two weeks later…
It’s 9 a.m. on the 1st of February. I was up late last night, and am enjoying a ‘long lie’ when the phone rings – it’s Robbie. “Got the Box and Fiddle this morning, well done lass.” Thanks Robbie, that means a lot to me.
Box and Fiddle
March 2001