Box and Fiddle
Year 42 No 03
November 2018
Price £3.00
52 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £33.60 + p&p £15.85 (UK)
Editor – Pia Walker, Cupar
B&F Treasurer –
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time-consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
Doesn’t time fly? We are into the Christmas………
Pia Walker
Ronnie Easto at 80
by Derek Hamilton
October 2nd was Ronnie’s 80th Birthday, but his partner Jean Nichol organised a surprise shindig for him on Sunday 30th September in The Black Bull Hotel, Lauder. Jean’s family took him to lunch at 12.30 and at 2.00 Ronnie was whished out of the room for a dram at the bar. That gave us an opportunity to slip in and organize the gear for the ensuing musical afternoon. Jean then ushered Ronnie in and the look of surprise on his face was just sublime.
Opening up that afternoon’s magical music was Tom Orr (Jean’s grand-daughter’s partner) accompanied by Jim Nichol (Jean’s son) son on piano and Gordon Young on drums. Ronnie then played a few sets and the afternoon continued with all the visited musicians taking it in turns to entertain.
June Meikle (Jean’s daughter) did an excellent job at summarizing Ronnie’s life without embarrassing the nig man in any way! Well done June!
Bobby Colgan was in good form as were Ewan Galloway, Frank Morrison, John Douglas, Neil McMillan, June Meikle, Mike Guiney (an Irishman from Cork, but living in Darvel, who played guitar with Ronnie before he moved to Lauder), Shauna Flockhart, Brian Forrest, Brian Griffin, George Darling and Kenny Wilson. The afternoon was a rip-roaring success thanks to Jean and the family working so hard to make it so.
With a sigh of relief when the stovies, tea and coffee were served, Jean said, “I can go back to telling Ronnie the truth again!” Jean had been slipping out to the shops and “meeting folk she hadn’t seen for ages” in order to get phone calls out to various guests so that Ronnie wouldn’t hear the conversation. Ronnie’s reply, “Ah jist thocht see wiz seein’ anither man. Of course ah should’ve kent better!”
On behalf of Jean and the family – thanks to everyone it a day to remember.
Box and Fiddle Gathering – Eden Court, Inverness – Thursday 20th September 2018
by Margo Maclennan
John ‘The Prof’ Mathieson warmly welcomed an almost full house of button-box enthusiasts with Jim MacKay……………….
Musical Memories – Part 2
by Denis Shepherd
In the previous issue of the B&F, I told you of my early interest in Scottish music and how our family listened to music from the radio and gramophone. With this in mind, my father (who played accordion) came home from a ‘roup’ one day with a fiddle and two bows. Unfortunately for me (but possibly fortunately for the rest of the family), the fiddle and one of the bows had no strings. Despite this, I managed to produce music by ‘playing’ the fiddle and diddling the tunes I had learned from our stock of ‘78’ records. I spent hours standing fiddling and diddling on an old lorry cab which had been deposited near the house, entertaining a large audience…..of nettles! An additional secret member of the audience was sometimes my sister who peeped round the corner to see how my stage presence was developing.
I now realise that diddling was the first thing I ‘performed’ – but in the public domain it was the last, because the first diddling competition I entered was in 2017, and I have now gone on to win my last three diddling competitions. Possibly the skill had lain dormant for 60 years!
I never got as far as playing a fiddle with strings. However, we did have a fiddler in the family – my uncle Donald, my dad’s brother, who also played in the family band. In the early days of Aberdeen Accordion & Fiddle Club, I used to meet up with him and his wife Helen there and Donald would usually seek out the guest fiddle player and ask whether he could play The President!
Not long before he passed away in 1997, Donald enjoyed an 80th birthday party in Logie Coldstone. This was secretly organised by his family and he would have had no inkling what was to happen. One of the entertainers they had booked was Paul Anderson, the legendary Tarland fiddler, and Donald could not resist asking him for a ‘shottie’ on his fiddle – against Helen’s wishes, as she reminded him he had not played for years; “Donald, dinna mak’a feal o’ yersel’!” She was as amazed as everyone else when he proceeded to fiddle his way through a set of tunes as though he played them every day!
Another fiddler still in good forming his 80s was Jimmy Hay, who had been a family friend in my earlier years. When I attended school in Inverurie one of my friends was Bill Clark, and by chance we discovered that Bill’s mum, Anne, had also known Jimmy Hay many years earlier. Bill and I decided to pay him a visit in Kemnay and he insisted on playing us a few tunes – his masterpiece being The Lovat Scouts with Variations. His timing was perfect, helped to a great extent by the tapping of his foot, complete with ‘tackity boot’, as he stood playing. The boot thumping on the floor made an impression on Bill; when Anne asked how the visit had gone, this was the first thing he described!
The second time we visited, Bill took along his fiddle, as he had in the past played in the school orchestra, and the pair played a few duos. On that occasion Bill’s parents dropped us off and, when they arrived later to pick us up, Jimmy invited them in and insisted they hear him play Lovat Scouts. Inevitably, his tackity boot started thumping and Anne, remembering Bill’s previous account, could not contain her laughter; she had to hold a newspaper in front of her face!
On subsequent visits, I managed to borrow my sister’s old acoustic guitar and, not to be left out, made some noises reputed to be bass notes. After a few practices we recorded some numbers on my cassette player and pretended we were doing a Scottish Dance Music radio recording (by the ‘James Hay Trio’ and ‘from our Kemnay studios’), with Bill and myself taking turns making the announcements in our best BBC voices. For our first number, I had announced The Smith’s a Gallant Fireman but, at the moment the music was meant to begin, Jimmy realised he could not use his bow while sitting on his chair and his voice was clearly heard in the background saying, “Ah but I’ll need tae stan’ up – I’m nae playin’ in this cheer!” Jimmy’s playing in these recordings was completely competent and professional, although by now he was over 83.
On the completion of the first set, Bill had just finished a perfect announcement of the second tune, The Cradle Song, when I pointed out he had forgotten to switch on the microphone. He immediately changed to his north-east dialect with an expletive word – switching the mic on just before he did so! There were many other features which you would never hear in a BBC recording. For instance, when a certain tune was announced, Bill’s voice could be heard saying; “This is the ane I’m nae good at!” Aided and abetted by Bill and me, Jimmy carried on with his vocal gems – and only the three of us knew which ones were pre-planned! At the end of one recording, we announced the closing signature tune, Kate Dalrymple, only for the chief fiddler to lead off the following conversation:
“Ach, I’m nae playin’ nae mair!”
“Fit wey?”
“I wis meant tae get twa poun’ for last time an’ I hinna gotten nithin’ yet!”
At Gnome with The Roses
by Pia Walker
A most peculiar title for an article.......................
Full text awaited from Pia
Centre Stage
Deryn Waitt
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Springtime in the Rockies & Other Favourites – Jimmy Burgess with Alan Nicolson & Nornam Goudie – Independent
RSCDS Book 53 – Jim Lindsay SDB – CD085
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
3rd Nov 2018 – Colin Dewar SDB + albums released between 1998 - 2008
10th Nov 2018 – Archive Session – Lindsay Ross SDB + albums released between 2008 - 2018
17th Nov 2018 – Iain Cathcart SDB + 40 Years of Scottish Dance Music
24th Nov 2018 – BBC Radio Scotland’s 40th Anniversary Ceilidh – The Tom Orr Mega Dance Band + Guests
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 27th Nov 2018 – Duncan Black SDB
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 14th Nov 2018 – Ian Muir Trio
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 18th Nov 2018 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 4th Nov 2018 – Steven Carcary Duo
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 18th Nov 2018 – Matthew Maclennan Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 26th Nov 2018 - Matthew Maclennan Trio
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 28th Nov 2018 – George Rennie
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) – 19th Nov 2018 – Richard Ross SDB
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) – 11th Nov 2018 – Andrew Gibb SDB
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 13th Nov 2018 – Judith Linton Trio + AGM
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) – 8th Nov 2018 – Club Night
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 6th Nov 2018 – The Full Scottish SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 8th Nov 2018 – Leonard Brown
Castle Douglas (Threave Rovers Football Club) – 20th Nov 2018 – Music – 4 - U
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) - 4th Nov 2018 – Craigowl SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 15th Nov 2018 – Derek Edmond SDB
Crieff & District (British Legion) 1st Nov 2018 – Marian Anderson
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) - 20th Nov 2018 – Alan Ross Trio
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 7th Nov 2018 – Neil Caul SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 21st Nov 2018 – Jimmy & Sandy Lindsay SDB
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) – 13th Nov 2018 – MacLean Sisters
Duns (Masonic Lodge) 19th Nov 2018 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 20th Nov 2018 – Alan Roy
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 25th Nov 2018 – Jim Johnstone Tribute Band
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 14th Nov 2018 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) - 6th Nov 2018 – Michael Garvin SDB
Galashiels (Gala YM RFC) - 1st Nov 2018 – Willie McFarlane Band
Glasgow (Scotstounhill Bowling Club) - Nov 2018 -
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 22nd Nov 2018 – Iain Anderson SDB
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 7th Nov 2018 – Club Night
Gretna (The Solway Lodge Hotel) - 4th Nov 2018 – Alan Gardiner Trio
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 19th Nov 2018 – Neil Dawson + 45th Anniv
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) - 14th Nov 2018 – Addie Harper Trio
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 1st Nov 2018 – Ewan Galloway SDB
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) – 6th Nov 2018 – Ian Smith Trio
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 28th Nov 2018 – Gordon Clark SDB
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) – 25th Nov 2018 – West Telferton CB
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) - 1st Nov 2018 – Ian Crichton Memorial Charity Night
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 20th Nov 2018 – Gavin Piper
Lockerbie (Mid Annandale Comrades Club) 27th Nov 2018 – Steven Carcary Trio
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) - 18th Nov 2018 – Janet Graham SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 20th Nov 2018 – Rowan Brothers
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 7th Nov 2018 – Callum Wallace Duo
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) - 29th Nov 2018 – Susan & Scott Gordon
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 26th Nov 2018 – Gavin Piper
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 6th Nov 2018 – Gordon Pattullo
Oban (The Royal Hotel) – Nov 2018 -
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 7th 14th 21st 28th Nov 2018 – Club Night
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 29th Nov 2018 – Jim Cleland Band
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) – 20th Nov 2018 – Wayne Robertson & Claire Telford
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 14th Nov 2018 – Iain Anderson Trio
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 1st Nov 2018 – Neil Hardie SDB + AGM
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 6th Nov 2018 – Leonard Brown French Night (Pooled Supper) 13th 20th 27th Nov 2018 – Club Night
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 1st Nov 2018 – Jimmy Cassidy & Callum Wallace 15th Nov 2018 – Club Night 29th Nov 2018 – Claire Gullan & Martainn Skene
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) - 10th Nov 2018 – Daniel McPhee Trio
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 5th Nov 2018 – Robert Whitehead
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 1st Nov 2018 – Lynn Gould Trio
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 15th Nov 2018 – Paul chamberlain& Hotscotch CB
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) - 10th 24th Nov 2018 – Club Nights
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 20th Nov 2018 – Ian J. MacDonald SDB
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Arbroath
2. Aberdeen
3. Alnwick
4. Balloch
5. Banchory
6. Banff & District
7. Blairgowrie
8. Button Key
9. Campsie
10. Castle Douglas
11. Coalburn
12. Crieff
13. Dingwall
14. Dunblane
15. Dunfermline
16. Duns
17. Ellon
18. Forfar
19. Forres
20. Glendale
21. Glenfarg
22. Gretna
23. Highland
24. Isle of Skye
25. Islesteps
26. Kelso
27. Langholm
28. Lewis & Harris
29. Livingston
30. Macmerry
31. North East
32. Orkney
33. Rothbury
34. Shetland
35. Turriff & District
36. Tynedale
37. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2016
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
10. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
11. Button Key A&F Club (
12. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
13. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
14. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
15. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
16. Coalburn A&F Club (
17. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
18. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
19. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
20. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
21. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
22. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
23. Ellon A&F Club (
24. Forfar A&F Club (
25. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
26. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
27. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 -
28. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
29. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
30. 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)
31. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
32. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
33. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
34. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
35. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
36. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
37. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
38. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
39 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
40. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
41 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
42 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
43 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
44. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
45. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
46. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
47. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
48. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
49. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
50. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
51. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
52 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
53 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
54 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
55 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
56 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?)
57. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
58. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
59. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
60. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
61. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
62. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
63. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
64. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
65. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
66. Buchan A&F Club
67. Callander A&F Club (
68. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
69. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
70. Club Accord
71. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
72 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
73. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
74. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
75. Cults A & F Club (
76. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
77. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
78. Derwentside A&F Club
79. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
80. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
81. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
82. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
83. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
84. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
85. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
86. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
87. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
88. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
89. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
90. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
91. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
92. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
93. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
94. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
95. Kintore A&F Club (
96. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
97. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
98. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
99. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
100. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
101. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
102. Maine Valley A&F Club (
103. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
104. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
105. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
106. Mull A&F Club
107. Newcastleton Accordion Club
108. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
109. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
110. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
111. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
112. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
113. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
114. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
115. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
116. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
117. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
118. Selkirk A&F Club (
119. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
120. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
121. Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
122. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
123 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
124 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
125. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
126. Tranent A&F Club
127. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
128. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
129. Wellbank A&F Club
130. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
131. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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B&F Treasurer –
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time-consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
Doesn’t time fly? We are into the Christmas………
Pia Walker
Ronnie Easto at 80
by Derek Hamilton
October 2nd was Ronnie’s 80th Birthday, but his partner Jean Nichol organised a surprise shindig for him on Sunday 30th September in The Black Bull Hotel, Lauder. Jean’s family took him to lunch at 12.30 and at 2.00 Ronnie was whished out of the room for a dram at the bar. That gave us an opportunity to slip in and organize the gear for the ensuing musical afternoon. Jean then ushered Ronnie in and the look of surprise on his face was just sublime.
Opening up that afternoon’s magical music was Tom Orr (Jean’s grand-daughter’s partner) accompanied by Jim Nichol (Jean’s son) son on piano and Gordon Young on drums. Ronnie then played a few sets and the afternoon continued with all the visited musicians taking it in turns to entertain.
June Meikle (Jean’s daughter) did an excellent job at summarizing Ronnie’s life without embarrassing the nig man in any way! Well done June!
Bobby Colgan was in good form as were Ewan Galloway, Frank Morrison, John Douglas, Neil McMillan, June Meikle, Mike Guiney (an Irishman from Cork, but living in Darvel, who played guitar with Ronnie before he moved to Lauder), Shauna Flockhart, Brian Forrest, Brian Griffin, George Darling and Kenny Wilson. The afternoon was a rip-roaring success thanks to Jean and the family working so hard to make it so.
With a sigh of relief when the stovies, tea and coffee were served, Jean said, “I can go back to telling Ronnie the truth again!” Jean had been slipping out to the shops and “meeting folk she hadn’t seen for ages” in order to get phone calls out to various guests so that Ronnie wouldn’t hear the conversation. Ronnie’s reply, “Ah jist thocht see wiz seein’ anither man. Of course ah should’ve kent better!”
On behalf of Jean and the family – thanks to everyone it a day to remember.
Box and Fiddle Gathering – Eden Court, Inverness – Thursday 20th September 2018
by Margo Maclennan
John ‘The Prof’ Mathieson warmly welcomed an almost full house of button-box enthusiasts with Jim MacKay……………….
Musical Memories – Part 2
by Denis Shepherd
In the previous issue of the B&F, I told you of my early interest in Scottish music and how our family listened to music from the radio and gramophone. With this in mind, my father (who played accordion) came home from a ‘roup’ one day with a fiddle and two bows. Unfortunately for me (but possibly fortunately for the rest of the family), the fiddle and one of the bows had no strings. Despite this, I managed to produce music by ‘playing’ the fiddle and diddling the tunes I had learned from our stock of ‘78’ records. I spent hours standing fiddling and diddling on an old lorry cab which had been deposited near the house, entertaining a large audience…..of nettles! An additional secret member of the audience was sometimes my sister who peeped round the corner to see how my stage presence was developing.
I now realise that diddling was the first thing I ‘performed’ – but in the public domain it was the last, because the first diddling competition I entered was in 2017, and I have now gone on to win my last three diddling competitions. Possibly the skill had lain dormant for 60 years!
I never got as far as playing a fiddle with strings. However, we did have a fiddler in the family – my uncle Donald, my dad’s brother, who also played in the family band. In the early days of Aberdeen Accordion & Fiddle Club, I used to meet up with him and his wife Helen there and Donald would usually seek out the guest fiddle player and ask whether he could play The President!
Not long before he passed away in 1997, Donald enjoyed an 80th birthday party in Logie Coldstone. This was secretly organised by his family and he would have had no inkling what was to happen. One of the entertainers they had booked was Paul Anderson, the legendary Tarland fiddler, and Donald could not resist asking him for a ‘shottie’ on his fiddle – against Helen’s wishes, as she reminded him he had not played for years; “Donald, dinna mak’a feal o’ yersel’!” She was as amazed as everyone else when he proceeded to fiddle his way through a set of tunes as though he played them every day!
Another fiddler still in good forming his 80s was Jimmy Hay, who had been a family friend in my earlier years. When I attended school in Inverurie one of my friends was Bill Clark, and by chance we discovered that Bill’s mum, Anne, had also known Jimmy Hay many years earlier. Bill and I decided to pay him a visit in Kemnay and he insisted on playing us a few tunes – his masterpiece being The Lovat Scouts with Variations. His timing was perfect, helped to a great extent by the tapping of his foot, complete with ‘tackity boot’, as he stood playing. The boot thumping on the floor made an impression on Bill; when Anne asked how the visit had gone, this was the first thing he described!
The second time we visited, Bill took along his fiddle, as he had in the past played in the school orchestra, and the pair played a few duos. On that occasion Bill’s parents dropped us off and, when they arrived later to pick us up, Jimmy invited them in and insisted they hear him play Lovat Scouts. Inevitably, his tackity boot started thumping and Anne, remembering Bill’s previous account, could not contain her laughter; she had to hold a newspaper in front of her face!
On subsequent visits, I managed to borrow my sister’s old acoustic guitar and, not to be left out, made some noises reputed to be bass notes. After a few practices we recorded some numbers on my cassette player and pretended we were doing a Scottish Dance Music radio recording (by the ‘James Hay Trio’ and ‘from our Kemnay studios’), with Bill and myself taking turns making the announcements in our best BBC voices. For our first number, I had announced The Smith’s a Gallant Fireman but, at the moment the music was meant to begin, Jimmy realised he could not use his bow while sitting on his chair and his voice was clearly heard in the background saying, “Ah but I’ll need tae stan’ up – I’m nae playin’ in this cheer!” Jimmy’s playing in these recordings was completely competent and professional, although by now he was over 83.
On the completion of the first set, Bill had just finished a perfect announcement of the second tune, The Cradle Song, when I pointed out he had forgotten to switch on the microphone. He immediately changed to his north-east dialect with an expletive word – switching the mic on just before he did so! There were many other features which you would never hear in a BBC recording. For instance, when a certain tune was announced, Bill’s voice could be heard saying; “This is the ane I’m nae good at!” Aided and abetted by Bill and me, Jimmy carried on with his vocal gems – and only the three of us knew which ones were pre-planned! At the end of one recording, we announced the closing signature tune, Kate Dalrymple, only for the chief fiddler to lead off the following conversation:
“Ach, I’m nae playin’ nae mair!”
“Fit wey?”
“I wis meant tae get twa poun’ for last time an’ I hinna gotten nithin’ yet!”
At Gnome with The Roses
by Pia Walker
A most peculiar title for an article.......................
Full text awaited from Pia
Centre Stage
Deryn Waitt
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Springtime in the Rockies & Other Favourites – Jimmy Burgess with Alan Nicolson & Nornam Goudie – Independent
RSCDS Book 53 – Jim Lindsay SDB – CD085
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
3rd Nov 2018 – Colin Dewar SDB + albums released between 1998 - 2008
10th Nov 2018 – Archive Session – Lindsay Ross SDB + albums released between 2008 - 2018
17th Nov 2018 – Iain Cathcart SDB + 40 Years of Scottish Dance Music
24th Nov 2018 – BBC Radio Scotland’s 40th Anniversary Ceilidh – The Tom Orr Mega Dance Band + Guests
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 27th Nov 2018 – Duncan Black SDB
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 14th Nov 2018 – Ian Muir Trio
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 18th Nov 2018 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 4th Nov 2018 – Steven Carcary Duo
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 18th Nov 2018 – Matthew Maclennan Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 26th Nov 2018 - Matthew Maclennan Trio
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 28th Nov 2018 – George Rennie
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) – 19th Nov 2018 – Richard Ross SDB
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) – 11th Nov 2018 – Andrew Gibb SDB
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 13th Nov 2018 – Judith Linton Trio + AGM
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) – 8th Nov 2018 – Club Night
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 6th Nov 2018 – The Full Scottish SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 8th Nov 2018 – Leonard Brown
Castle Douglas (Threave Rovers Football Club) – 20th Nov 2018 – Music – 4 - U
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) - 4th Nov 2018 – Craigowl SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 15th Nov 2018 – Derek Edmond SDB
Crieff & District (British Legion) 1st Nov 2018 – Marian Anderson
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) - 20th Nov 2018 – Alan Ross Trio
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 7th Nov 2018 – Neil Caul SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 21st Nov 2018 – Jimmy & Sandy Lindsay SDB
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) – 13th Nov 2018 – MacLean Sisters
Duns (Masonic Lodge) 19th Nov 2018 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 20th Nov 2018 – Alan Roy
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 25th Nov 2018 – Jim Johnstone Tribute Band
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 14th Nov 2018 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) - 6th Nov 2018 – Michael Garvin SDB
Galashiels (Gala YM RFC) - 1st Nov 2018 – Willie McFarlane Band
Glasgow (Scotstounhill Bowling Club) - Nov 2018 -
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 22nd Nov 2018 – Iain Anderson SDB
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 7th Nov 2018 – Club Night
Gretna (The Solway Lodge Hotel) - 4th Nov 2018 – Alan Gardiner Trio
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 19th Nov 2018 – Neil Dawson + 45th Anniv
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) - 14th Nov 2018 – Addie Harper Trio
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 1st Nov 2018 – Ewan Galloway SDB
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) – 6th Nov 2018 – Ian Smith Trio
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 28th Nov 2018 – Gordon Clark SDB
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) – 25th Nov 2018 – West Telferton CB
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) - 1st Nov 2018 – Ian Crichton Memorial Charity Night
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 20th Nov 2018 – Gavin Piper
Lockerbie (Mid Annandale Comrades Club) 27th Nov 2018 – Steven Carcary Trio
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) - 18th Nov 2018 – Janet Graham SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 20th Nov 2018 – Rowan Brothers
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 7th Nov 2018 – Callum Wallace Duo
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) - 29th Nov 2018 – Susan & Scott Gordon
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 26th Nov 2018 – Gavin Piper
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 6th Nov 2018 – Gordon Pattullo
Oban (The Royal Hotel) – Nov 2018 -
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 7th 14th 21st 28th Nov 2018 – Club Night
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 29th Nov 2018 – Jim Cleland Band
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) – 20th Nov 2018 – Wayne Robertson & Claire Telford
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 14th Nov 2018 – Iain Anderson Trio
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 1st Nov 2018 – Neil Hardie SDB + AGM
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 6th Nov 2018 – Leonard Brown French Night (Pooled Supper) 13th 20th 27th Nov 2018 – Club Night
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 1st Nov 2018 – Jimmy Cassidy & Callum Wallace 15th Nov 2018 – Club Night 29th Nov 2018 – Claire Gullan & Martainn Skene
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) - 10th Nov 2018 – Daniel McPhee Trio
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 5th Nov 2018 – Robert Whitehead
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 1st Nov 2018 – Lynn Gould Trio
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 15th Nov 2018 – Paul chamberlain& Hotscotch CB
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) - 10th 24th Nov 2018 – Club Nights
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 20th Nov 2018 – Ian J. MacDonald SDB
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Arbroath
2. Aberdeen
3. Alnwick
4. Balloch
5. Banchory
6. Banff & District
7. Blairgowrie
8. Button Key
9. Campsie
10. Castle Douglas
11. Coalburn
12. Crieff
13. Dingwall
14. Dunblane
15. Dunfermline
16. Duns
17. Ellon
18. Forfar
19. Forres
20. Glendale
21. Glenfarg
22. Gretna
23. Highland
24. Isle of Skye
25. Islesteps
26. Kelso
27. Langholm
28. Lewis & Harris
29. Livingston
30. Macmerry
31. North East
32. Orkney
33. Rothbury
34. Shetland
35. Turriff & District
36. Tynedale
37. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2016
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
10. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
11. Button Key A&F Club (
12. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
13. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
14. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
15. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
16. Coalburn A&F Club (
17. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
18. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
19. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
20. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
21. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
22. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
23. Ellon A&F Club (
24. Forfar A&F Club (
25. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
26. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
27. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 -
28. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
29. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
30. 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)
31. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
32. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
33. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
34. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
35. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
36. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
37. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
38. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
39 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
40. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
41 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
42 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
43 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
44. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
45. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
46. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
47. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
48. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
49. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
50. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
51. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
52 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
53 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
54 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
55 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
56 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?)
57. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
58. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
59. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
60. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
61. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
62. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
63. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
64. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
65. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
66. Buchan A&F Club
67. Callander A&F Club (
68. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
69. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
70. Club Accord
71. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
72 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
73. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
74. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
75. Cults A & F Club (
76. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
77. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
78. Derwentside A&F Club
79. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
80. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
81. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
82. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
83. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
84. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
85. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
86. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
87. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
88. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
89. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
90. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
91. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
92. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
93. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
94. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
95. Kintore A&F Club (
96. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
97. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
98. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
99. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
100. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
101. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
102. Maine Valley A&F Club (
103. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
104. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
105. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
106. Mull A&F Club
107. Newcastleton Accordion Club
108. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
109. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
110. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
111. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
112. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
113. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
114. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
115. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
116. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
117. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
118. Selkirk A&F Club (
119. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
120. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
121. Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
122. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
123 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
124 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
125. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
126. Tranent A&F Club
127. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
128. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
129. Wellbank A&F Club
130. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
131. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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