Box and Fiddle
Year 32 No 03
November 2008
Price £2.30
44 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £27.50 + p&p £9.90 (UK)
Editor – Karin Ingram, Hawick
B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time-consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
I really don’t know where the year has gone – it seems as though we’re still waiting for summer to arrive and yet we’re getting ready for Christmas. A great time was had by all at the Inverness Button-Box Gathering. Congratulation to Catherine Mackay and many thanks to our roving reporter and photographer, Heather McLean and Rory MacLeod.
I hope everyone who visited the Shetland Festival returned safe and sound and has managed to recover. Evelyn McLean and Margo MacLennan have said that they’ll give us uncensored accounts of what went on for the December issue. Be afraid – be very afraid!
I was over at the Celtic Colours Festival in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and had a marvelous time. It was wall-to-wall fiddles, but only a couple of accordions. I’ll do a short report for next month. Also next month we’ll carry the updated Guest Artiste List, so if there are any additions or changes please let me know by the 8th.
Karin Ingram
The Inverness Button-Box Gathering
by Heather McLean
Eden Court, Inverness – Thursday 18th September
Over 700 people…….
The Bon Accords – An Appreciation
by Derek Hamilton
I first met The Bon Accords – Robin and Deryn Waitt, a husband and wife team – away back 30 something years ago. It was at the West of Scotland Championships in Straiton, Ayrshire run single-handedly by Jock Loch.
My mate Ritchie Holland and I used to play accordion duets the various clubs including Straiton, again run by Jock Loch. He had persuaded us to enter the competition at his West of Scotland Championships. We arrived in Sraiton about 9.00am and the village was already buzzing with accordionists and their families.
The Black Bull Hotel, the Accordion Club meeting place, was already shaping up to be one of the main attractions of the day, although the competitions were being held in the local hall close by.
In the Black Bull main bar were a couple of box players just sitting playing tunes. I recall they did that most of the day, never seeming to tire of the music. They weren’t being paid to entertain the vast crowds that passed through the pub. They just did it because they loved playing and were steeped in the music. They were, I discovered, The Bon Accords.
I remember being fascinated by the pair, who were most unorthodox in their use of the boxes. He, Robin, played a Shand Morino 3-row and she, Deryn, played a piano box. Nothing unusual about that you might think, but there was. Deryn played lead and Robin played second box! This was mighty unusual at the time. Come to think of it, it still is quiet uncommon for a button-box player to play a second box part. Chords don’t come easy on the right hand of a Shand Morino!
But not only did Robin play chords, his grasp of harmony was brilliant and all off the top of his head.
When Deryn played Robin accompanied.
I had never seen this pair before and really, at this stage, didn’t even get the chance to speak to them very much. If truth be known, I thought they were away above my station in the music scene and they, strangely, thought the same of me!
I got to know Robin and Deryn well much later. In 1983 the famous Irish accordion virtuoso, Dermot O’Brien, packed up life in the ould country and headed for the big attractions of the USA. He disbanded his world famous trio. He came back in 1984 to do his annual round of Accordion Club guest spots. Deryn used to organize his British tours and when Dermot was looking for musos to play with him on the tour Robin and Deryn suggested I would fit in. Consequently I got a call and, to cut a long story short, did the gigs. I got to know Robin and Deryn well at that time and became quite a fan of their unique style of playing. They did the support act for most of Dermot’s shows. They worked with many Irish stars like Brendan Shine, Johnny McEvoy, Bridie Gallagher, Paddy Reilly and Daniel O’Donnell in his early days. They toured Ireland extensively and built up a repertoire of Irish music and songs that is second to none. I guess there are very few Irish songs that Deryn doesn’t know the words for and you can bet Robin knows the tune!
I would go as far as to say that Robin Waitt is one of the most under-rated button-box players on the scene. There are valid reason for this of course, the major one being that they have always been far too busy playing at dances and functions, entertaining probably millions of people over their career, to be part of ‘the scene’. They are so popular that they have built up a huge following in the South of Scotland and the North of England as well as Ireland. They are entertainers and very professional.
It might be unfair to say that Robin is the musical brain of The Bon Accords because of the implications for Deryn, but I know that she won’t mind me saying that. She’s the boss!!! Deryn is an organiser as well as a musician. Robin is a musician – full stop! Oh yes and a bit of a technical wizard as well, having MIDI’d his box himself.
Robin has a knack, I suppose it’s a gift, for being able to accompany any box player with his unique style of second accordion work. He can chord, harmonise at will and pick up the melody with little or no effort at all. He is also a first class exponent of the button-box as a lead player too. Even after all those years he loves to play and enjoys the challenge of accompanying. Over recent years Deryn has been organizing an annual get-together of musicians and friends. Venues as far flung as Dornie, Tinglecreek, Roy Bridge, Killarney and Castle Douglas have seen us meet just for the craic.
It’s always The Bon Accords that are there enthusiastically setting the tune going. Robin just revels in sitting in on second box with anyone who turns up for a tune. They don’t do many Accordion Club guest spots. I, for one, would say not enough. They are different, even unique, in what they do but they do it with an enthusiastic approach that belies nearly 35 years in the business. Keep doing what you do guys – just do more of it!!
Renaldo Capaldi (1938 – 2008)
by Ron Howard
Renaldo Capaldi, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, passed away on Sunday, October 5th 2008 at the age of 70. Born in 1938 into a musical family, Renaldo (known to his friends as Ron) was the son of Carmino Capaldi who, with his brother Nick, formed The Capaldi Brothers, a leading accordion duo touring variety theatres in the late 1920s and 30s. Nick’s son, Jim Capaldi (1944 – 2005) became an internationally known singer / songwriter, with hit records such as Love Hurts, and younger son Nick is (at the time of writing) the drummer with Joe Brown and the Bruvvers.
Ron Capaldi became a very fine solo concert accordionist, appearing at accordion events and in professional musical productions around Great Britain for many years. Also an accordion and guitar teacher, composer, arranger, NAO Festival adjudicator, and BCA Examiner, Ron Capaldi made a steady living from his musical prowess. He made one recording, Pure Accordion, which features accordion specialties performed on his beloved Hohner Gola.
In 1986, he became proprietor and editor of the Accordion Times, until ill health forced him to sell the magazine to Robert Rolston in 1990.
Sadly, Renaldo Capaldi was troubled by poor health throughout his life, and this limited his activities more and more as he grew older, until he retired in 2002. He is survived by wife Anne, son Paul, a professional accordionist and teacher (based in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders) and grandchildren.
Eric Goodfellow 26/01/1944 – 11/08/2008
by
Eric was born in 1944 in English Kershope on the outskirts of Newcastletown. He moved house almost every two years through his fathers work as a shepherd. It was at the age of eight that he acquired a taste for Scottish dance music through listening to old 78s and, during that same summer, played the accordion for the first time whilst on his annual holiday at his uncle’s. Every holiday there the first thing he would make for would be the accordion, and eventually he taught himself to play. In 1959 he bought his first accordion for £15 with wages from his first job.
Eric’s first band was a Trio with Ian Thomson on second accordion and Joe Jardine on drums. Their first dance was in 1963 at Newmill Village Hall where they received the princely sum of £9. The picture opposite (middle right) was taken in 1966 at a dance in Bentpath Village Hall, from left to right are Ian Thomson (accordion), Bob Hobkirk (fiddle), Joe Jardine (drums) Albert (Albie) Tedham (piano) and Eric on accordion.
By 1972 Eric had a six-piece band that auditioned for their first broadcast in that same year. After passing the audition their first broadcast was in 1973 in Edinburgh with the BBC. The picture on this page shows this band : Alasdair MacLeod (bass), Ian Wilson (piano), Billy Bell (fiddle), Drew Dalgleish (drums) and Jock Borthwick on second accordion. After that broadcast the same band went on to record another five broadcasts where only on the odd occasion was a slight change made. Jim Law was on bass for one broadcast and Iain MacPhail stepped in on second accordion for another as did Alan Jarvis on drums.
In 1974 whilst on holiday in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, Eric met a young lass by the name of Elsie. After spending the week together in Mull Elsie went to Hawick with Eric for a week’s holiday as this was where Eric lived at the time. During that week Eric proposed and they were married the following week. In 1975 they had their first child, Carol, followed by Eric in 1977. In 1978 the band made their last broadcast as Eric as Eric wanted to spend more time with his family. In 1979 their third child Helen was born completing the family.
As the family got older Eric started playing again and made two cassettes, one in the eighties and one in the nineties. The band promoted their tapes at Accordion and Fiddle clubs on both sides of the Border. Latterly his band changed to a Trio with Jock Borthwick on second accordion and his son Eric on drums. Eric was renowned for his impeccable timing by the dancers. He was a perfectionist when it came to his music and the sound of his equipment but always left room for improvement saying, “The day you say you are good, you might as well give up, as you have nothing to work towards.” He was a well respected accordionist, not only by band members of his era but also by the younger musicians. Eric had lots of encouragement and praise for young musicians learning and said they were the future of Scottish dance music.
Everyone that knew Eric would know he liked nothing more than to tell jokes and he had a way of making people smile wherever he went. Eric is going to be sadly missed not only by his family, but by all throughout the Borders and everywhere he played at dances and Clubs. He was a true gentleman to all who knew him and a loving, caring husband, dad and grandpa.
If Eric could say anything to youngsters who are learning to play Scottish dance music then it would be to keep it simple, make it swing and play from the heart.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Far Far From Ypres – Various Atrists – Greentrax – CDTRAX1418
The Curer – Deoch ‘n’ Dorus – Skipinnish Records – SKIPCD16
An Angus Welcome – Deirdre Adamson Quartet – Deeay Music – DACD0831
Caricature – Graeme Mitchell SDB – Independent – MITCH2
Letters to the Editor
REMEMBERING JIM JOHNSTONE
My first recollection of hearing Jim’s music was in the 1960s on an LP which featured the bands of both Jim and Jimmy Blue. It wasn’t until 1990 that Sue and I had the pleasure of seeing and hearing Jim play live in The Burnett Arms when he was the guest artiste at the Banchory A&F Club. It was a chance encounter as we were on holiday in Scotland from the Falkland Islands and in the Banchory area at the time which coincided with a Club night. We didn’t know that Jim was top of the bill so that was a welcome bonus in addition to the excellent local players. Needless to say the performance of Jim and the Band was second to none. When Jim learned we were visiting all the way from the Falklands he presented us with his cassette Tribute to Jimmy Shand which had just been released. I still cherish that cassette.
The next time we met Jim was in June 1995 at The Station Hotel in Perth during the NAAFC Annual Weekend Gathering. We were amazed by his energy and stamina. He played several times on Saturday. We noticed he wasn’t around in the evening and learned that he had gone to Edinburgh to play at the Scottish Evening show at The King James Hotel. We were a bit disappointed that we wouldn’t hear Jim play any more but later on he returned and, seemingly tireless, continued where he left off that afternoon so fortunately there was no disappointment. If I recall rightly Jim chaired the AGM the next morning and took his turn at least once more on stage later that day. As well as liking his music we also appreciated his sense of humour. We remember a particular story he told but were a bit surprised at the content as it was not at all complimentary about his beloved instrument – a demonstration of his strength of character and modesty. I recall that the story went something like this, but members of his band might correct me :
Jim and the band were standing outside a hall (can’t remember where) waiting to be let in for their gig. A couple of young lads were passing by and one of them said, “What are you lot waiting here for?” Jim replied, “We’re waiting for the doors to open as we’re the band that’s playing here tonight.” The lad asked, “What’s in those big boxes?” Jim replied, “Accordions.” “Och you’re no’ a real band then!” the lad responded as they went on their way.
The last time I saw Jim was at the Scottish Evening show at The King James Hotel in Edinburgh when we were at a business dinner, shortly after the Perth Weekend Gathering. I especially chose the venue for the dinner as I knew that Jim would be performing but unfortunately the dinner for the show was fully booked. We had our dinner in another dining room but a combination of the slow service, eating, drinking and the talking took longer than expected and I was missing the music. Looking at my watch I declined the pudding and made my excuses to catch the tail end of the show. I was only there minutes when my curious business associate joined me and he soon appreciated why I was so desperate to leave the table!
We were very shocked and saddened when we heard that Jim had a stroke several years ago and when we learned of his recent death. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family and friends. We’re pleased that we met Jim and discovered that the man was every bit as good as his music. Thankfully there are many fine recordings of Jim and his band and those, together with his compositions, are a lasting testimony to his substantial contribution to the music of Scotland. We will always remember him as the Gentleman Jim of Scottish music.
Derek & Sue Howatt, Falkland Islands
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 20.30 with Robbie Shepherd
1st Nov 08 – Robert Whitehead & the Danelaw SDB (Glenfiddich 2008)
8th Nov 08 – Pentland CB (Glenfiddich 2008)
15th Nov 08 – Charlie Kirkpatrick SDB with Bruce MacGregor presenting (Blair Douglas)
22nd Nov 08 – Lindsay Weir SDB (Alastair MacFadyen, President RSCDS)
29th Nov 08 – Frank Reid SDB from Cecil Sharpe House, London with guests Nicky Spence and Piper John Angus Smith
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 25th Nov 08 – Pentlands Ceilidh Band
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 16th Nov 08 – The Occasionals
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 2nd Nov 08 – David Bowen Duo
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 6th Nov 08 – Freeland Barbour
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 16th Nov 08 – Steven Carcary Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 24th Nov 08 – Gordon Pattullo CB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 26th Nov 08 – Rosley Ceilidh Band
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 17th Nov 08 – Willie Scott
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 9th Nov 08 – Alan Gardiner SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) -
Britannia (Arden House Hotel) - 26th Nov 08 – John Douglas SDB
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 13th Nov 08 – Walter Perrie Duo
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 4th Nov 08 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 6th Nov 08 – Club Night
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 18th Nov 08 – Donald McLeod Trio
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 20th Nov 08 – Andrew Gibb SDB
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 6th Nov 08 – Alex McIntyre
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 12th Nov 08 – Bill Black SDB
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 5th Nov 08 – Niall Kirkpatrick SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 19th Nov 08 – Walter Perrie Duo
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 11th Nov 08 – Walter Perrie & Tom Cowing
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate) 17th Nov 08 – Burns Brothers Trio
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 18th Nov 08 – Alan Roy
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 24th Nov 08 – Karyn McCulloch SDB
Forfar (The Royal Hotel) - 30th Nov 08 – Ian McCallum Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 12th Nov 08 – John Renton SDB
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) – 6th Nov 08 – Bob Liddle
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 20th Nov 08 – Jim & Alexander Lindsay Duo
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 5th Nov 08 – The Occasionals
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 25th Nov 08 – Ian McCallum Trio
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) - 2nd Nov 08 – Johnny Duncan
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 23rd Nov 08 – Susan MAcFadyen SDB
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 21st Nov 08 – Lewis & Harris A&F Club
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 12th Nov 08 – Sileas Sinclair Trio
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 6th Nov 08 – Neil Sinclair SDB
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 4th Nov 08 – Alan Gardiner SDB 16th Nov – Dance to West Telferton Cale SDB
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 26th Nov 08 – Robin Hamilton SDB
Kintore (Torryburn Arms Hotel) – 5th Nov 08 – Colin Dewar
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 20th Nov 08 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 24th Nov 08 – Sandy Lindsay
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) – 12th Nov 08 – Walter Perrie Duo
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) -
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 18th Nov 08 – Walter Perrie & Tom Cowing
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 25th Nov 08 – Bill Black SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 18th Nov 08 – Brian Griffin Duo
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th Nov 08 – George Balfour Trio
Newburgh (The Ship Hotel) - 27th Nov 08 – Jimmy Cassidy
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Thorterdykes Roadhouse) 19th Nov 08 – Lyne Valley Band
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 24th Nov 08 – Johnny Duncan Duo
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 4th Nov 08 – Colin Dewar
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) – 6th Nov 08 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 27th Nov 08 – Robert Menzies
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 18th Nov 08 – Matthew MacLennan SDB
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) -
Reading Scottish Fiddlers (Willowbank Infant School, Woodley) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 6th Nov 08 – Lyne Valley Band
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) - 9th Nov 08 – All Players Welcome
Selkirk (Angus O’Malley’s) - 13th Nov 08 – Andy Kain Trio
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) - 5th Nov 08 – Ian Muir SDB
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 11th Nov 08 – Nicky McMichan Trio
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 3rd Nov 08 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 6th Nov 08 – The Garioch Fiddlers
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 20th Nov 08 – Steve Roxton
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) - 8th & 22nd Nov 08 – Local Artistes
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 13th Nov 08 – Jim Gold SDB
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 18th Nov 08 – Colin Donaldson Trio
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Arbroath
5. Banchory
6. Banff
7. Blairgowrie
8. Bromley
9. Button Key
10. Campsie
11. Carlisle
12. Castle Douglas
13. Coalburn
14. Crieff
15. Cults
16. Dingwall
17. Dunblane
18. Dunfermline
19. Duns
20. Fintry
21. Forfar
22. Forres
23. Galashiels
24. Glendale
25. Glenrothes
26. Gretna
27. Highland
28. Inveraray
29. Isle of Skye
30. Islesteps
31. Kelso
32. Kintore
33. Lanark
34. Lewis & Harris
35. Livingston
36. Lockerbie
37. Montrose
38. Newburgh
39. Newtongrange
40. North East
41. Oban
42. Orkney
43. Peebles
44. Rothbury
45. Stonehouse
46. Sutherland
47. Teviotdale
48. Thornhill
49. Thurso
50. Turriff
51. Tynedale
52. West Barnes
53. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2007
(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 early 08-09
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. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
14. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
15. Button Key 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. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
32. Forfar A&F Club (
33. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
34. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
35. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
36. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
37. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
38. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
39. 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)
40. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
41. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
42. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
43. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
44. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
45. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
46. Kintore A&F Club (
47. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
48. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
49. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
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. Maine Valley A&F Club (
54. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
55. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
56. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
57. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
58. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
59. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
60. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
61. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
62. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
63. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
64. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
65. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
66. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
67. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
68. Selkirk A&F Club (
69. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
70. Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
71. Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
72. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
73. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
74. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
75. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
76. Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
77. West Barnes ( - present)
78. 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?)
79. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
80. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
81. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
82. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
83. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
84. Buchan A&F Club
85 Callander A&F Club (
86 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
87 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
88 Club Accord
89 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
90. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
91. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
92. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
93. Derwentside A&F Club
94. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
95. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
96. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
97. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
98. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
99. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
100. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
101. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
102. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
103. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
104. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
105. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
106. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
107. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
108. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
109. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
110. Mull A&F Club
111. Newcastleton Accordion Club
112. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
113. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
114. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
115. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
116. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
117. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
118. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
119. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
120. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
121. Tranent A&F Club
122. Vancouver
123. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
124. Wellbank A&F Club
125. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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Half Page (b&w) - £70
Quarter Page (colour) - £55
Quarter Page (b&w) - £35
Eighth Page - £18
Small Boxed £12
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
I really don’t know where the year has gone – it seems as though we’re still waiting for summer to arrive and yet we’re getting ready for Christmas. A great time was had by all at the Inverness Button-Box Gathering. Congratulation to Catherine Mackay and many thanks to our roving reporter and photographer, Heather McLean and Rory MacLeod.
I hope everyone who visited the Shetland Festival returned safe and sound and has managed to recover. Evelyn McLean and Margo MacLennan have said that they’ll give us uncensored accounts of what went on for the December issue. Be afraid – be very afraid!
I was over at the Celtic Colours Festival in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and had a marvelous time. It was wall-to-wall fiddles, but only a couple of accordions. I’ll do a short report for next month. Also next month we’ll carry the updated Guest Artiste List, so if there are any additions or changes please let me know by the 8th.
Karin Ingram
The Inverness Button-Box Gathering
by Heather McLean
Eden Court, Inverness – Thursday 18th September
Over 700 people…….
The Bon Accords – An Appreciation
by Derek Hamilton
I first met The Bon Accords – Robin and Deryn Waitt, a husband and wife team – away back 30 something years ago. It was at the West of Scotland Championships in Straiton, Ayrshire run single-handedly by Jock Loch.
My mate Ritchie Holland and I used to play accordion duets the various clubs including Straiton, again run by Jock Loch. He had persuaded us to enter the competition at his West of Scotland Championships. We arrived in Sraiton about 9.00am and the village was already buzzing with accordionists and their families.
The Black Bull Hotel, the Accordion Club meeting place, was already shaping up to be one of the main attractions of the day, although the competitions were being held in the local hall close by.
In the Black Bull main bar were a couple of box players just sitting playing tunes. I recall they did that most of the day, never seeming to tire of the music. They weren’t being paid to entertain the vast crowds that passed through the pub. They just did it because they loved playing and were steeped in the music. They were, I discovered, The Bon Accords.
I remember being fascinated by the pair, who were most unorthodox in their use of the boxes. He, Robin, played a Shand Morino 3-row and she, Deryn, played a piano box. Nothing unusual about that you might think, but there was. Deryn played lead and Robin played second box! This was mighty unusual at the time. Come to think of it, it still is quiet uncommon for a button-box player to play a second box part. Chords don’t come easy on the right hand of a Shand Morino!
But not only did Robin play chords, his grasp of harmony was brilliant and all off the top of his head.
When Deryn played Robin accompanied.
I had never seen this pair before and really, at this stage, didn’t even get the chance to speak to them very much. If truth be known, I thought they were away above my station in the music scene and they, strangely, thought the same of me!
I got to know Robin and Deryn well much later. In 1983 the famous Irish accordion virtuoso, Dermot O’Brien, packed up life in the ould country and headed for the big attractions of the USA. He disbanded his world famous trio. He came back in 1984 to do his annual round of Accordion Club guest spots. Deryn used to organize his British tours and when Dermot was looking for musos to play with him on the tour Robin and Deryn suggested I would fit in. Consequently I got a call and, to cut a long story short, did the gigs. I got to know Robin and Deryn well at that time and became quite a fan of their unique style of playing. They did the support act for most of Dermot’s shows. They worked with many Irish stars like Brendan Shine, Johnny McEvoy, Bridie Gallagher, Paddy Reilly and Daniel O’Donnell in his early days. They toured Ireland extensively and built up a repertoire of Irish music and songs that is second to none. I guess there are very few Irish songs that Deryn doesn’t know the words for and you can bet Robin knows the tune!
I would go as far as to say that Robin Waitt is one of the most under-rated button-box players on the scene. There are valid reason for this of course, the major one being that they have always been far too busy playing at dances and functions, entertaining probably millions of people over their career, to be part of ‘the scene’. They are so popular that they have built up a huge following in the South of Scotland and the North of England as well as Ireland. They are entertainers and very professional.
It might be unfair to say that Robin is the musical brain of The Bon Accords because of the implications for Deryn, but I know that she won’t mind me saying that. She’s the boss!!! Deryn is an organiser as well as a musician. Robin is a musician – full stop! Oh yes and a bit of a technical wizard as well, having MIDI’d his box himself.
Robin has a knack, I suppose it’s a gift, for being able to accompany any box player with his unique style of second accordion work. He can chord, harmonise at will and pick up the melody with little or no effort at all. He is also a first class exponent of the button-box as a lead player too. Even after all those years he loves to play and enjoys the challenge of accompanying. Over recent years Deryn has been organizing an annual get-together of musicians and friends. Venues as far flung as Dornie, Tinglecreek, Roy Bridge, Killarney and Castle Douglas have seen us meet just for the craic.
It’s always The Bon Accords that are there enthusiastically setting the tune going. Robin just revels in sitting in on second box with anyone who turns up for a tune. They don’t do many Accordion Club guest spots. I, for one, would say not enough. They are different, even unique, in what they do but they do it with an enthusiastic approach that belies nearly 35 years in the business. Keep doing what you do guys – just do more of it!!
Renaldo Capaldi (1938 – 2008)
by Ron Howard
Renaldo Capaldi, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, passed away on Sunday, October 5th 2008 at the age of 70. Born in 1938 into a musical family, Renaldo (known to his friends as Ron) was the son of Carmino Capaldi who, with his brother Nick, formed The Capaldi Brothers, a leading accordion duo touring variety theatres in the late 1920s and 30s. Nick’s son, Jim Capaldi (1944 – 2005) became an internationally known singer / songwriter, with hit records such as Love Hurts, and younger son Nick is (at the time of writing) the drummer with Joe Brown and the Bruvvers.
Ron Capaldi became a very fine solo concert accordionist, appearing at accordion events and in professional musical productions around Great Britain for many years. Also an accordion and guitar teacher, composer, arranger, NAO Festival adjudicator, and BCA Examiner, Ron Capaldi made a steady living from his musical prowess. He made one recording, Pure Accordion, which features accordion specialties performed on his beloved Hohner Gola.
In 1986, he became proprietor and editor of the Accordion Times, until ill health forced him to sell the magazine to Robert Rolston in 1990.
Sadly, Renaldo Capaldi was troubled by poor health throughout his life, and this limited his activities more and more as he grew older, until he retired in 2002. He is survived by wife Anne, son Paul, a professional accordionist and teacher (based in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders) and grandchildren.
Eric Goodfellow 26/01/1944 – 11/08/2008
by
Eric was born in 1944 in English Kershope on the outskirts of Newcastletown. He moved house almost every two years through his fathers work as a shepherd. It was at the age of eight that he acquired a taste for Scottish dance music through listening to old 78s and, during that same summer, played the accordion for the first time whilst on his annual holiday at his uncle’s. Every holiday there the first thing he would make for would be the accordion, and eventually he taught himself to play. In 1959 he bought his first accordion for £15 with wages from his first job.
Eric’s first band was a Trio with Ian Thomson on second accordion and Joe Jardine on drums. Their first dance was in 1963 at Newmill Village Hall where they received the princely sum of £9. The picture opposite (middle right) was taken in 1966 at a dance in Bentpath Village Hall, from left to right are Ian Thomson (accordion), Bob Hobkirk (fiddle), Joe Jardine (drums) Albert (Albie) Tedham (piano) and Eric on accordion.
By 1972 Eric had a six-piece band that auditioned for their first broadcast in that same year. After passing the audition their first broadcast was in 1973 in Edinburgh with the BBC. The picture on this page shows this band : Alasdair MacLeod (bass), Ian Wilson (piano), Billy Bell (fiddle), Drew Dalgleish (drums) and Jock Borthwick on second accordion. After that broadcast the same band went on to record another five broadcasts where only on the odd occasion was a slight change made. Jim Law was on bass for one broadcast and Iain MacPhail stepped in on second accordion for another as did Alan Jarvis on drums.
In 1974 whilst on holiday in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, Eric met a young lass by the name of Elsie. After spending the week together in Mull Elsie went to Hawick with Eric for a week’s holiday as this was where Eric lived at the time. During that week Eric proposed and they were married the following week. In 1975 they had their first child, Carol, followed by Eric in 1977. In 1978 the band made their last broadcast as Eric as Eric wanted to spend more time with his family. In 1979 their third child Helen was born completing the family.
As the family got older Eric started playing again and made two cassettes, one in the eighties and one in the nineties. The band promoted their tapes at Accordion and Fiddle clubs on both sides of the Border. Latterly his band changed to a Trio with Jock Borthwick on second accordion and his son Eric on drums. Eric was renowned for his impeccable timing by the dancers. He was a perfectionist when it came to his music and the sound of his equipment but always left room for improvement saying, “The day you say you are good, you might as well give up, as you have nothing to work towards.” He was a well respected accordionist, not only by band members of his era but also by the younger musicians. Eric had lots of encouragement and praise for young musicians learning and said they were the future of Scottish dance music.
Everyone that knew Eric would know he liked nothing more than to tell jokes and he had a way of making people smile wherever he went. Eric is going to be sadly missed not only by his family, but by all throughout the Borders and everywhere he played at dances and Clubs. He was a true gentleman to all who knew him and a loving, caring husband, dad and grandpa.
If Eric could say anything to youngsters who are learning to play Scottish dance music then it would be to keep it simple, make it swing and play from the heart.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Far Far From Ypres – Various Atrists – Greentrax – CDTRAX1418
The Curer – Deoch ‘n’ Dorus – Skipinnish Records – SKIPCD16
An Angus Welcome – Deirdre Adamson Quartet – Deeay Music – DACD0831
Caricature – Graeme Mitchell SDB – Independent – MITCH2
Letters to the Editor
REMEMBERING JIM JOHNSTONE
My first recollection of hearing Jim’s music was in the 1960s on an LP which featured the bands of both Jim and Jimmy Blue. It wasn’t until 1990 that Sue and I had the pleasure of seeing and hearing Jim play live in The Burnett Arms when he was the guest artiste at the Banchory A&F Club. It was a chance encounter as we were on holiday in Scotland from the Falkland Islands and in the Banchory area at the time which coincided with a Club night. We didn’t know that Jim was top of the bill so that was a welcome bonus in addition to the excellent local players. Needless to say the performance of Jim and the Band was second to none. When Jim learned we were visiting all the way from the Falklands he presented us with his cassette Tribute to Jimmy Shand which had just been released. I still cherish that cassette.
The next time we met Jim was in June 1995 at The Station Hotel in Perth during the NAAFC Annual Weekend Gathering. We were amazed by his energy and stamina. He played several times on Saturday. We noticed he wasn’t around in the evening and learned that he had gone to Edinburgh to play at the Scottish Evening show at The King James Hotel. We were a bit disappointed that we wouldn’t hear Jim play any more but later on he returned and, seemingly tireless, continued where he left off that afternoon so fortunately there was no disappointment. If I recall rightly Jim chaired the AGM the next morning and took his turn at least once more on stage later that day. As well as liking his music we also appreciated his sense of humour. We remember a particular story he told but were a bit surprised at the content as it was not at all complimentary about his beloved instrument – a demonstration of his strength of character and modesty. I recall that the story went something like this, but members of his band might correct me :
Jim and the band were standing outside a hall (can’t remember where) waiting to be let in for their gig. A couple of young lads were passing by and one of them said, “What are you lot waiting here for?” Jim replied, “We’re waiting for the doors to open as we’re the band that’s playing here tonight.” The lad asked, “What’s in those big boxes?” Jim replied, “Accordions.” “Och you’re no’ a real band then!” the lad responded as they went on their way.
The last time I saw Jim was at the Scottish Evening show at The King James Hotel in Edinburgh when we were at a business dinner, shortly after the Perth Weekend Gathering. I especially chose the venue for the dinner as I knew that Jim would be performing but unfortunately the dinner for the show was fully booked. We had our dinner in another dining room but a combination of the slow service, eating, drinking and the talking took longer than expected and I was missing the music. Looking at my watch I declined the pudding and made my excuses to catch the tail end of the show. I was only there minutes when my curious business associate joined me and he soon appreciated why I was so desperate to leave the table!
We were very shocked and saddened when we heard that Jim had a stroke several years ago and when we learned of his recent death. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family and friends. We’re pleased that we met Jim and discovered that the man was every bit as good as his music. Thankfully there are many fine recordings of Jim and his band and those, together with his compositions, are a lasting testimony to his substantial contribution to the music of Scotland. We will always remember him as the Gentleman Jim of Scottish music.
Derek & Sue Howatt, Falkland Islands
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 20.30 with Robbie Shepherd
1st Nov 08 – Robert Whitehead & the Danelaw SDB (Glenfiddich 2008)
8th Nov 08 – Pentland CB (Glenfiddich 2008)
15th Nov 08 – Charlie Kirkpatrick SDB with Bruce MacGregor presenting (Blair Douglas)
22nd Nov 08 – Lindsay Weir SDB (Alastair MacFadyen, President RSCDS)
29th Nov 08 – Frank Reid SDB from Cecil Sharpe House, London with guests Nicky Spence and Piper John Angus Smith
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 25th Nov 08 – Pentlands Ceilidh Band
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 16th Nov 08 – The Occasionals
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 2nd Nov 08 – David Bowen Duo
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 6th Nov 08 – Freeland Barbour
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 16th Nov 08 – Steven Carcary Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 24th Nov 08 – Gordon Pattullo CB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 26th Nov 08 – Rosley Ceilidh Band
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 17th Nov 08 – Willie Scott
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 9th Nov 08 – Alan Gardiner SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) -
Britannia (Arden House Hotel) - 26th Nov 08 – John Douglas SDB
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 13th Nov 08 – Walter Perrie Duo
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 4th Nov 08 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 6th Nov 08 – Club Night
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 18th Nov 08 – Donald McLeod Trio
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 20th Nov 08 – Andrew Gibb SDB
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 6th Nov 08 – Alex McIntyre
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 12th Nov 08 – Bill Black SDB
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 5th Nov 08 – Niall Kirkpatrick SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 19th Nov 08 – Walter Perrie Duo
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 11th Nov 08 – Walter Perrie & Tom Cowing
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate) 17th Nov 08 – Burns Brothers Trio
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 18th Nov 08 – Alan Roy
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 24th Nov 08 – Karyn McCulloch SDB
Forfar (The Royal Hotel) - 30th Nov 08 – Ian McCallum Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 12th Nov 08 – John Renton SDB
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) – 6th Nov 08 – Bob Liddle
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 20th Nov 08 – Jim & Alexander Lindsay Duo
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 5th Nov 08 – The Occasionals
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 25th Nov 08 – Ian McCallum Trio
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) - 2nd Nov 08 – Johnny Duncan
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 23rd Nov 08 – Susan MAcFadyen SDB
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 21st Nov 08 – Lewis & Harris A&F Club
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 12th Nov 08 – Sileas Sinclair Trio
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 6th Nov 08 – Neil Sinclair SDB
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 4th Nov 08 – Alan Gardiner SDB 16th Nov – Dance to West Telferton Cale SDB
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 26th Nov 08 – Robin Hamilton SDB
Kintore (Torryburn Arms Hotel) – 5th Nov 08 – Colin Dewar
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 20th Nov 08 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 24th Nov 08 – Sandy Lindsay
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) – 12th Nov 08 – Walter Perrie Duo
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) -
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 18th Nov 08 – Walter Perrie & Tom Cowing
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 25th Nov 08 – Bill Black SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 18th Nov 08 – Brian Griffin Duo
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th Nov 08 – George Balfour Trio
Newburgh (The Ship Hotel) - 27th Nov 08 – Jimmy Cassidy
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Thorterdykes Roadhouse) 19th Nov 08 – Lyne Valley Band
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 24th Nov 08 – Johnny Duncan Duo
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 4th Nov 08 – Colin Dewar
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) – 6th Nov 08 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 27th Nov 08 – Robert Menzies
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 18th Nov 08 – Matthew MacLennan SDB
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) -
Reading Scottish Fiddlers (Willowbank Infant School, Woodley) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 6th Nov 08 – Lyne Valley Band
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) - 9th Nov 08 – All Players Welcome
Selkirk (Angus O’Malley’s) - 13th Nov 08 – Andy Kain Trio
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) - 5th Nov 08 – Ian Muir SDB
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 11th Nov 08 – Nicky McMichan Trio
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 3rd Nov 08 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 6th Nov 08 – The Garioch Fiddlers
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 20th Nov 08 – Steve Roxton
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) - 8th & 22nd Nov 08 – Local Artistes
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 13th Nov 08 – Jim Gold SDB
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 18th Nov 08 – Colin Donaldson Trio
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Arbroath
5. Banchory
6. Banff
7. Blairgowrie
8. Bromley
9. Button Key
10. Campsie
11. Carlisle
12. Castle Douglas
13. Coalburn
14. Crieff
15. Cults
16. Dingwall
17. Dunblane
18. Dunfermline
19. Duns
20. Fintry
21. Forfar
22. Forres
23. Galashiels
24. Glendale
25. Glenrothes
26. Gretna
27. Highland
28. Inveraray
29. Isle of Skye
30. Islesteps
31. Kelso
32. Kintore
33. Lanark
34. Lewis & Harris
35. Livingston
36. Lockerbie
37. Montrose
38. Newburgh
39. Newtongrange
40. North East
41. Oban
42. Orkney
43. Peebles
44. Rothbury
45. Stonehouse
46. Sutherland
47. Teviotdale
48. Thornhill
49. Thurso
50. Turriff
51. Tynedale
52. West Barnes
53. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2007
(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 early 08-09
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. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
14. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
15. Button Key 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. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
32. Forfar A&F Club (
33. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
34. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
35. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
36. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
37. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
38. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
39. 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)
40. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
41. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
42. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
43. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
44. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
45. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
46. Kintore A&F Club (
47. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
48. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
49. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
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. Maine Valley A&F Club (
54. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
55. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
56. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
57. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
58. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
59. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
60. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
61. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
62. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
63. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
64. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
65. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
66. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
67. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
68. Selkirk A&F Club (
69. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
70. Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
71. Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
72. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
73. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
74. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
75. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
76. Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
77. West Barnes ( - present)
78. 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?)
79. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
80. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
81. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
82. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
83. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
84. Buchan A&F Club
85 Callander A&F Club (
86 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
87 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
88 Club Accord
89 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
90. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
91. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
92. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
93. Derwentside A&F Club
94. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
95. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
96. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
97. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
98. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
99. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
100. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
101. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
102. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
103. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
104. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
105. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
106. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
107. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
108. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
109. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
110. Mull A&F Club
111. Newcastleton Accordion Club
112. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
113. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
114. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
115. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
116. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
117. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
118. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
119. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
120. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
121. Tranent A&F Club
122. Vancouver
123. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
124. Wellbank A&F Club
125. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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Full Page (colour) - £220
Full Page (b&w) - £140
Half Page (colour) - £110
Half Page (b&w) - £70
Quarter Page (colour) - £55
Quarter Page (b&w) - £35
Eighth Page - £18
Small Boxed £12