Box and Fiddle
Year 35 No 02
October 2011
Price £2.60
44 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £28.60 + p&p £11 (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
Firstly we’d like to wish a warm welcome to our newest Member Club, the Northern Club in Templepatrick, Northern Ireland. We hope to meet up with some of you at our NAAFC events throughout the year.
Newburgh Club has had to shut its doors very suddenly, when its venue ceased trading. Hopefully this will just be a temporary setback and it will be all systems go again very soon.
Another packed issue for you this month. Thank you for all the positive comments regarding the ‘new look’. Keith Dickson has done an amazing amount of work in redesigning not only the Website, but also the magazine It is very much appreciated.
If any Guest artistes need their details to be changed or added please let me know in good time for the December issue.
Karin Ingram
Button-Box Gathering - Eden Court Theatre, Inverness
Thursday, 8th September 2011
by Margo MacLennan
A full house was welcomed by compere ……..
Shetland A&F Festival 2011 Preview
by
The 24th Shetland A&F Festival takes place this month……………
A Ceilidh in Kippen
by
A great way to end my summer holidays………
Happy 40th North East
by Frank Farquharson
Chairman Jim Petrie welcomed a good turnout for the 40th Anniversary meeting of the Club and led the opening stramash. Fiddlers Rachel Stuart and Holly Strathdee remained on stage and gave a great performance. Accordionist Lesley Nicoll played ‘The Dark Island’ and a march. Lorna Edwards on fiddle, accompanied by Jane Farquharson on piano, played a set of jigs, a slow air and a march, strathspey and reel with great confidence. Accordionist John King gave a polished performance of waltzes and reels. Compere Doug Stewart kept events running smoothly.
The guest artistes were The Davie Stewart Trio with Davie on accordion, Bill Ewan on keyboard and Malcolm Ross on drums and what a great programme they produced, excellent content and style. Their Gaelic waltzes were particularly poignant. Jim Petrie surprised two of the founder members of the Club namely George Anderson and Ally Gray, by presenting each of them with a scroll of the Minutes of the First Meeting held in 1971, and an inscribed silver quaich. There was a special Anniversary Cake paraded through the hall and then distributed to the company along with a ‘free’ drink.
The second half was opened by father and son Doug and Iain Stewart from Muir of Ord. Doug had an excellent tenor voice and Iain was an exceptional accordionist and keyboard player. George Anderson, a lifelong friend, paid a warm tribute to the late Ian Duncan, also a founder member who was a talented musician and composer and a loyal supporter of the club. George played ‘The Hayfield Two Step’, one of Ian’s many compositions. Accordionists Jim Gray and John King played prior to the guests artistes return.
The Trio entertained us with terrific varied selections. A final stramash brought a brilliant night’s entertainment to an end.
Kenny Wilson – The Leadhills Fiddler
by Pat Saulnier & Charlie Todd
Kenny Wilson was born in June 1930 to a sheep farmer and his wife living near Leadhills in South Lanarkshire. A younger brother, Ian, was born five years later. The spark that led Kenny to become a fiddle player was lit when Ian was given a fiddle and Kenny, the older brother was a little envious. Ian did not show much interest in the fiddle, so when he was occupied with something else Kenny would have a go at the fiddle and soon managed to scrape a tune out of it.
It was when a certain Willie Todd called one day at the farm to buy some milk or butter and heard these scrapes, that things took a new turn. He took the fiddle and played a tune on it, and when Kenny heard this the spark grew into a flame – “this is how I want to play”. Then Willie Todd spoke to Alex Brown, a postman living in Abington, about this young man’s potential and Alex Brown, when up in Leadhills delivering letters spoke to Kenny’s mother. Seeing Kenny’s keenness Alex Brown offered to give Kenny lessons at £2 a time for several years, teaching him how to hold the fiddle and bow properly and how to read music. So Kenny cycled from Leadhills to Abington, a distance of seven miles, in all weathers with his fiddle on his back.
Kenny progressed so well that Alex introduced him to play with the Lanark amateur Orchestra conducted by William McGeechan. This Kenny did for about three years. About the same time, a certain Andrew Coke, an accordion player in a family band where the other accordionists were his cousin Davy Coke and Jim Watson appeared on the scene. At one point this group came to play in Leadhills Village Hall and Andrew, who had heard about Kenny’s fiddle playing from Johnny Wilson at the Post Office in Elvanfoot, invited Kenny to come to the Hall and listen to the band and to go after the concert with the band to Agnes Gracie’s house for tea. Agnes had a drapers shop in Leadhills and it was while they were having tea that Andrew Coke invited Kenny to join his band. For Kenny this offer killed two birds with one stone – joy at playing his beloved fiddle and the satisfaction of getting paid for it – money to indulge his other passion – motor-bikes.
When Andrew Coke’s father retired from the band, Kenny’s brother Ian, by now a talented pianist, joined the band also. Andrew’s parents owned a garage in Crawford which meant that the band were never short of transport. There was always something which could be borrowed
Kenny played with Andrew Coke’s band for some 12 years, often playing two or three times a week after a days work, mostly in the Clydesdale district, the Borders and down into the North of England. In 1955 there was a break for a year when Andrew was called to do his National Service, and Kenny was head-hunted to join Jim Anderson’s band from Broughton. It was understood, however, that when Andrew Coke’s National Service ended, both Kenny and his brother Ian would rejoin Andrew’s band – and this they did.
Andrew’s band finally broke up in 1961 when he moved to Onich near Fort William to run a guest house. Kenny’s talents were snapped up by Tony Woodage from Kirkfieldbank who asked him to join his band – the Carlton Quintet – where he played for about a year with Tony and Jack Gray on accordions and a youthful Ena Wilson (no relation) from the Post Office at Elvanfoot on piano.
Next Ian Holmes from Dumfries approached Kenny and asked him to join his band. The Holmes band did an audition for the B.B.C. and passed first time, and Kenny went on to play with Ian Holmes for over thirty years. The band went on air frequently and became very well known. Then Max Houliston from The Hole in the Wa’ in Dumfries asked Kenny to go with his band for an audition at the B.B.C. and they also passed. Max Houliston’s band made broadcasts and recordings mainly, while the Ian Holmes band played for dances.
Max Houliston’s claim to fame was that he started up the Accordion club movement we know today. The Houliston band was the first to play at an Accordion Club and went on to play regularly at Accordion Clubs throughout the country. The band also did T.V. work (the Christmas and Hogmanay Shows) and latterly Max and Kenny did T.V. and Accordion Club work as a recognised duo. Ian Holmes and Kenny also did work at Accordion clubs.
During this time, Kenny also guested with many other bands – the White Heather club in theatre with Bobby MacLeod and one White Heather Club Show in Lanark with Jimmy Shand. He also played with Andrew Rankine and Iain MacPhail. There was a one night stand replacing Iain Powrie who was ill. Other bands Kenny guested with were Callum Wilson, Bill Black, Jimmy Shand on trips to England and Ronnie Easton’s band. But Kenny was never a full-time player with any of them. He did, however, do recordings and Accordion Club work with Allan McIntosh as well as a T.V. show with Ronnie Hodgson and another with Ken Dodd.
During the 1970’s the Border Strathspey and Reels Society was formed with Kenny as a founder member, and he went on to conduct the orchestra for 12 years. They played many concerts throughout the Borders and the North of England and also produced 2 L.P. Records.
Now in his 82nd year and staying in Biggar Kenny still plays with Allan McIntosh, Bill Richardson and John Renton’s bands.
Fiddles
Kenny and brother Ian were part of a large extended family and had 56 full cousins, but strangely only the two of them were musical. Kenny’s first fiddle had belonged to his grandfather, a Strad copy made in Prague in 1719 which he still has. The fiddle he plays regularly for band work though, he bought for £10 in 1957 from an elderly gentleman, a Mr McKenzie, who approached Kenny after he had played at a dance in Lockerbie Town Hall with Andrew Coke’s Band. Kenny had done a solo spot during the evening and the 85 year old Mr McKenzie was sufficiently impressed to offer Kenny the fiddle which he was now too elderly to play.
It was a beautiful Jean Werro made in Berne, Switzerland in 1926 and numbered 104. Kenny was later told by an Elgin violin maker and valuer that it had won first prize in a violin makers competition in 1931. Jean Werro was therefore obviously a talented violin maker but in his strive for perfection he put himself on the wrong side of the law. He bought a genuine Stradivarius and took it to pieces, studying and recording its exact dimensions and construction. He then made 26 violins, each of which contained one piece of the original Strad, but marketed them as the genuine article. However his fraud was detected and he was caught and imprisoned in 1937 for five years but served only two before being released at the start of the war.
However by that time his violins, although not the genuine article, were recognised as being excellent instruments in their own right. A few years later when Kenny was doing a recording with Ian Holmes Band, the Record Producer Cyril Stapleton, himself an accomplished violinist, tried the fiddle and immediately offered Kenny £500 for it. Kenny refused but immediately realised he had by good fortune acquired a highly regarded instrument from a renowned, if slightly misguided, maker.
One unfortunate incident occurred in the early 1960s when Kenny was still with the Andrew Coke Band. The band were playing on two consecutive evenings and rather than unpack everything Andrew took the car home and parked it up. It was scorching hot June day and when Kenny opened his fiddle case that evening he discovered to his horror that much of the fiddle’s varnish had melted. He took advice from violin expert John Beare in Manchester and also from Stephan Grapelli when he appeared locally once at the Tinto Hotel in Symington and both advised him not to try to have the varnish reinstated or the beautiful tone of the instrument would be lost forever. It bears the scars of that incident to this day.
Kenny’s other pride and joy is a Norwegian style hardanger fiddle with 8 strings. This exquisitely crafted instrument was made for Kenny by David Eunson of Orkney in 1980 as a gift after David had heard him do a fiddle solo on one of Max Houliston’s broadcasts. The scroll ends in the type of dragon’s head which appeared on Viking long-ships complete with lemmings teeth and the body of the fiddle is beautifully decorated with inlaid mother-of-pearl and fine engraving work. It takes a full year to make a hardanger – six months for the manufacture and six months for the engraving and varnishing. Once tuned this fiddle holds its tuning beautifully regardless of changing conditions unlike the 9 string one owned by Aly Bain which was so temperamental on stage that he was forced to stop performing on it.
Another interesting incident along the way was when Kenny was asked by Roy Lane, a talent scout for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, to join and train with the Orchestra in London under its conductor Sir Thomas Beecham. Roy told him that his training would be intensive and last two years after which he would he a full-time member of the orchestra and would travel the world. For those two years a part time job and a flat would be found for him. But as we shall shortly see Kenny was used to an outdoor life and to exchange that for one which would consist only of rehearsal rooms, concert platforms and travel really didn’t appeal, so Kenny turned down the offer.
Although not a composer himself over the years Kenny has had four tunes written for him – a jig by Ian Holmes, reels by Donald Ridley and John Renton and a pipe tune by the late Ian Crichton.
The Hopetoun Estate
Although raised on a sheep farm Kenny had no particular inclination to follow in his father’s footsteps and accordingly although he worked on the farm for a few months after leaving school at 14 he then became a ‘kennel boy’ on the local Leadhills Estate which was part of the Marquis of Linlithgow’s Hopetoun Estate. A kennel boy was an apprentice gamekeeper and for the next 5 years Kenny gradually increased his skills as he progressed from simply looking after the dogs, and during the shooting season the horses which in the days before 4 wheel drives were used to carry the shooters out to the butts in the hills, to setting vermin traps, cleaning guns, acting as a loader, shooting and learning all the skills associated with rearing and caring for all types of gamebirds.
In 1950, apprenticeship over, Kenny was offered a post as a ‘beat’ keeper (an under-keeper) and continued to learn his trade until in 1964 the head keepers job became available. He was successful in his application for the job and started immediately to repair some of the damage which had been done to grouse stocks by a disease the previous year. He was able to build stocks up to such an extent that in the 1974 and 1978 seasons the ‘guns’ shot just short of 5,000 brace of grouse each year and his average over the 28 years of his head keepership was 3,150 brace per year.
In the early days there were still 16 shepherds working on the Leadhills Estate and Kenny worked closely with them to their mutual benefit. Kenny made the interesting point that although there are a great many shepherds who played the fiddle there are relatively few, in fact very few, gamekeepers who play the instrument. Where possible he used local tradesman when work was needing done, used the local Post Office to distribute birds in the shooting season, bought vehicles and petrol locally and generally tried to inject as much money back into the local economy as possible.
Initially all the shooting was done by the Marquis and his family, friends and guests but gradually over the years it became more commercial. Kenny formed lasting friendships with many of those who leased the shooting including US Senator Bill Flowers who on two occasions invited Kenny to his Ranch in the States to shoot quail on horseback (Kenny, not the quail, before you ask). Thankfully his early experience looking after the horses as a kennel boy and at the same time learning to ride them stood him in good stead here.
For 10 years from 1965 to 1975 Kenny accompanied the Marquis to Balmoral to act as his loader. As well as getting to know all the members of the Royal Family over that time he also came into contact with many of the other guests. He was the only gamekeeper who was actually allocated a room (and a valet) in the Castle itself. He was usually allocated an apprentice valet and told strictly to do ‘nothing for himself’ since the valet had to learn. Amongst other things this involved taking two baths a day!!
Two of the great characters at Balmoral were two of the Estate stalkers who were also world renowned solo pipers – the ‘Bobs of Balmoral’ as they were known in the piping world – Bob Brown and Bob Nicol. Even after a wet day out on the hills they were expected to change into kilts and play at the dinner table in the evening.
Near the end of Kenny’s trips he was offered the head keepers job on the Balmoral Estate. It was a tempting offer but there were a string of things he would no longer be able to do so reluctantly he declined. Instead of being offended the Queen opened another door for Kenny when she recommended that he become a Justice of the Peace and a local Magistrate. Apparently the seniority of the person making such a recommendation has a large bearing on whether it is acted upon hence in this case there was no doubt and after 3 years of part time training Kenny sat on the Bench at Lanark Sheriff Court for the next 23 years.
He had already been a Special Constable for 25 years but had to relinquish that role before becoming a J.P. Although in reality he had no authority outwith the courtroom, local folk were unaware of that, and he became Licence Holder to the local Hopetoun Arms Hotel which at that time was owned by the Estate. If things looked like getting out of hand near the end of the evening the Manager phoned Kenny, who by his prompt appearance was able to nip any potential trouble in the bud without raising a finger.
In 1992 after 28 years as Head Keeper, Kenny decided to call it a day when he was asked by Saville’s of Edinburgh to become a part time estate agent and game advisor. The Game Conservancy Council got wind of the offer and made a similar one, both of which he accepted. Since he lived in a tied house he also took the opportunity to move to Biggar, where he still stays. As mentioned above Kenny is now in his 82nd year and now in a freelance capacity still travels the length and breadth of Scotland and beyond as one of Scotland’s foremost experts on grouse management and conservation.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Home To Me – Eriskay Lilt – ELR06CD
All fingers and Thumbs – Burns Brothers Ceilidh Band – BURCD01
Letters to the Editor
Dear Charlie
It’s great how things happen. E-mails do wonderful things don’t they?
David Coke, my cousin, whom you know, started me playing the box when I was about 8 years old, in a hayshed at Boghead Farm in Crawford. I seemed to get on quite well (in a sort of way, no lessons in those days!) and at 13 I was playing with David and a button-box player named Jim Watson at dances around Crawford.
I kinf of took over the band after David got married and Jim left. I heard of a fiddle player in Leadhills called Kenny Wilson and he came to visit me and we got on well. We soon got a drummer and then Ian, Kenny’s brother, joined us on piano and soon a double bass player named Andrew Hogg. With this band we played all over the South of Scotland, the Borders and into North of England for about 15 years. Great fun – happy nights.
However I had to give up the band – something I will always regret – because of business pressures. While I was playing at dances my father was out at accidents and breakdowns, at 70 years old! I later sold the garage and moved to Onich to renovate an old house and open it as a guest house. I’d always been good at cooking and fancied giving it a try. It worked out well !!
The Hohner Morino Domino V was sold before I left Crawford. I was told if I didn’t sell it I would never stop playing! Bad advice – because after about a year I bought a Morino IV. Now I have a Bugari 96 bass and play with Lochaber S&R Society in Fort William and at any function I am asked to play at. I’m now 78 and very fit.
I enjoy playing now more than ever!!
Hope this fills in a gap in history and lovely to hear from you.
Best wishes
Andrew Coke (Onich, Fort William)
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s
1st Oct 11 – Alexander Lindsay SDB (Jamie MacDougal)
8th Oct 11 – Colin Dewar & Friends (Peter Leask)
15th Oct 11 – Ian Thomson SDB (Keith Dickson)
21st Oct 11 – James Leask SDB (OB from Lerwick Town Hall with guests Hannah Adamson & Birls Aloud
29th Oct 11 – Archive with John Ellis and His Highland Country Dance Band (Maggie Adamson)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 9th Oct 11 – Garioch Blend
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 2nd Oct 11 – Andy Kain Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 16th Oct 11 – Ross MacPherson Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 26th Oct 11 – Brandon McPhee Trio
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) –
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 11th Oct 11 – Davie Stewart SDB
Britannia (Arden House Hotel) - 26th Oct 11 – Dance to John Douglas
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 13th Oct 11 – Durris A&F Group
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 4th Oct 11 – Bon Accords
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 18th Oct 11 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 14th Oct 11 – Dance to Willie McFarlane SDB 20th Oct 11 – Maggie Adamson Duo
Coldingham (Village Hall) - 3rd Oct 11 – Robin Hamilton SDB
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club)
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) - 18th Oct 11 – Ross MacPherson SDB
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 5th Oct 11 – Dochie McCallum & Friends
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 19th Oct 11 – Judith Linton SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 11th Oct 11 – Alexander Lindsay
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate) 9th Oct 11 – Leonard Brown & Friends (CD launch) 17th Oct 11 – Wayne Robertson & Davie Stewart
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 18th Oct 11 – John bone & Robert Lovie
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 24th Oct 11 – David Qswald SDB
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 30th Oct 11 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 12th Oct 11 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) -
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 16th Oct 11 – Leonard Brown & Friends (CD launch) 27th Oct 11 – Andy Kain Trio
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 5th Oct 11 – Cameron Kellow SDB
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) -
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) - 2nd Oct 11 – Deirdre Adamson
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 23rd Oct 11 – Craig Paton SDB
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 17th Oct 11 – Brandon McPhee Trio
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 12th Oct 11 – Alastair MacLeod Trio
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 6th Oct 11 – Plockton School of Music Pupils
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 4th Oct 11 – Ewan Galloway Quartet
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) –
Kintore (Torryburn Arms Hotel) – 26th Oct 11 – Steven Carcary Trio
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 20th Oct 11 – Alan Small & Yvonne MacLeod
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 24th Oct 11 – Alan Gardiner Trio
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) – 12th Oct 11 – Ewan Galloway SDB
Lauder (Black Bull Hotel) - 2nd Oct 11 – Wayne Robertson
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 6th Oct 11 - tbc
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 18th Oct 11 – Marie Fielding & Duncan Black
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 25th Oct 11 – Nicky McMichan SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 18th Oct 11 - Alan Helm
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th Oct 11 – Lomond Ceilidh Band 21st Oct 11 – Dance to Steven Carcary duo
Newburgh (The Ship Inn) -
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Thorterdykes Roadhouse) 19th Oct 11 – Nicky McMichan SDB
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 31st Oct 11 – The Occasionals
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 4th Oct 11 - tbc
Northern (Lylehill Suite, Templepatrick, N.I.) - 5th Oct 11 – John Morgan
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) – 5th Oct 11 – Donald MacLeod Trio
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 27th Oct 11 – John Morgan
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 18th Oct 11 – Robert Nairn SDB 29th Oct 11 – After-the-Festival-Dance with Neil Hardie SDB
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) -
Reading Scottish Fiddlers (Willowbank Infant School, Woodley) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 11th Oct 11 – Matthew MacLennan Trio
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 6th Oct 11 – Neil Caul SDB
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) -
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 18th Oct 11 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Selkirk (Angus O’Malley’s) - 13th Oct 11 – Ian MacKenzie
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 6th – 8th Oct 11 – Shetland Festival 27th Oct 11 – Brian Griffin & George Darling
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) - 5th Oct 11 – Willie McFarlane Band
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) - 22nd Oct 11 – Archie MacPhee & the Bogroy SDB
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 11th Oct 11 – Steven Todd SDB
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 3rd Oct 11 – Roya MacLean Trio
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 6th Oct 11 – Alan Smeaton Band
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 20th Oct 11 – Ian Holmes Trio
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) - 8th & 29th Oct 11 – Local Players
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 13th Oct 11 – Michael Philip SDB
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 18th Oct 11 – Graeme MacKay & Duncan Farquhar
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Annan
2. Arbroath
3. Banchory
4. Biggar
5. Blairgowrie
6. Button-key
7. Campsie
8. Dingwall
9. Forfar
10. Forres
11. Gretna
12. Islesteps
13. Ladybank
14. Langholm
15. Lauder
16. Lewis & Harris
17. Montrose
18. North East
19. Northern
20. Renfrew
21. Selkirk
22. Teviotdale
23. Thornhill
24. Thurso
25. Turriff
26. Tynedale
27. Uist & Benbecula
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2011
(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. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
10. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
11. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
12. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
13. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
16. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
17. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
18. Coalburn A&F Club (
19. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 -
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. Fort William A&F Club (2009 -
35. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
36. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
37. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
38. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
39. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
40. 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)
41. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
42. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
43. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
44. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
45. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
46. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
47. Kintore A&F Club (
48. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
49. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
50. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
51. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
52. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
53. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
54 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
55 Maine Valley A&F Club (
56 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
57 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
58 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
59 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
60. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
61. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
62. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
63. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
64. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
65. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
66. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
67. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
68. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
69. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
70. Selkirk A&F Club (
71. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
72 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
73 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
74 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
75 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
76 Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
77 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
78 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
79 West Barnes ( - present)
80 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?)
81. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
82. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
83. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
84. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
85. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
86. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
87. Buchan A&F Club
88 Callander A&F Club (
89 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
90 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
91 Club Accord
92 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
93. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
94. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
95. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
96. Derwentside A&F Club
97. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
98. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
99. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
100. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
101. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
102. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
103. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
104. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
105. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
106. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
107. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
108. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
109. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
110. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
111. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
112. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
113. Mull A&F Club
114. Newcastleton Accordion Club
115. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
116. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
117. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
118. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
119. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
120. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
121. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
122. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
123. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
124. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
125. Tranent A&F Club
126. Vancouver
127. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
128. Wellbank A&F Club
129. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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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
Firstly we’d like to wish a warm welcome to our newest Member Club, the Northern Club in Templepatrick, Northern Ireland. We hope to meet up with some of you at our NAAFC events throughout the year.
Newburgh Club has had to shut its doors very suddenly, when its venue ceased trading. Hopefully this will just be a temporary setback and it will be all systems go again very soon.
Another packed issue for you this month. Thank you for all the positive comments regarding the ‘new look’. Keith Dickson has done an amazing amount of work in redesigning not only the Website, but also the magazine It is very much appreciated.
If any Guest artistes need their details to be changed or added please let me know in good time for the December issue.
Karin Ingram
Button-Box Gathering - Eden Court Theatre, Inverness
Thursday, 8th September 2011
by Margo MacLennan
A full house was welcomed by compere ……..
Shetland A&F Festival 2011 Preview
by
The 24th Shetland A&F Festival takes place this month……………
A Ceilidh in Kippen
by
A great way to end my summer holidays………
Happy 40th North East
by Frank Farquharson
Chairman Jim Petrie welcomed a good turnout for the 40th Anniversary meeting of the Club and led the opening stramash. Fiddlers Rachel Stuart and Holly Strathdee remained on stage and gave a great performance. Accordionist Lesley Nicoll played ‘The Dark Island’ and a march. Lorna Edwards on fiddle, accompanied by Jane Farquharson on piano, played a set of jigs, a slow air and a march, strathspey and reel with great confidence. Accordionist John King gave a polished performance of waltzes and reels. Compere Doug Stewart kept events running smoothly.
The guest artistes were The Davie Stewart Trio with Davie on accordion, Bill Ewan on keyboard and Malcolm Ross on drums and what a great programme they produced, excellent content and style. Their Gaelic waltzes were particularly poignant. Jim Petrie surprised two of the founder members of the Club namely George Anderson and Ally Gray, by presenting each of them with a scroll of the Minutes of the First Meeting held in 1971, and an inscribed silver quaich. There was a special Anniversary Cake paraded through the hall and then distributed to the company along with a ‘free’ drink.
The second half was opened by father and son Doug and Iain Stewart from Muir of Ord. Doug had an excellent tenor voice and Iain was an exceptional accordionist and keyboard player. George Anderson, a lifelong friend, paid a warm tribute to the late Ian Duncan, also a founder member who was a talented musician and composer and a loyal supporter of the club. George played ‘The Hayfield Two Step’, one of Ian’s many compositions. Accordionists Jim Gray and John King played prior to the guests artistes return.
The Trio entertained us with terrific varied selections. A final stramash brought a brilliant night’s entertainment to an end.
Kenny Wilson – The Leadhills Fiddler
by Pat Saulnier & Charlie Todd
Kenny Wilson was born in June 1930 to a sheep farmer and his wife living near Leadhills in South Lanarkshire. A younger brother, Ian, was born five years later. The spark that led Kenny to become a fiddle player was lit when Ian was given a fiddle and Kenny, the older brother was a little envious. Ian did not show much interest in the fiddle, so when he was occupied with something else Kenny would have a go at the fiddle and soon managed to scrape a tune out of it.
It was when a certain Willie Todd called one day at the farm to buy some milk or butter and heard these scrapes, that things took a new turn. He took the fiddle and played a tune on it, and when Kenny heard this the spark grew into a flame – “this is how I want to play”. Then Willie Todd spoke to Alex Brown, a postman living in Abington, about this young man’s potential and Alex Brown, when up in Leadhills delivering letters spoke to Kenny’s mother. Seeing Kenny’s keenness Alex Brown offered to give Kenny lessons at £2 a time for several years, teaching him how to hold the fiddle and bow properly and how to read music. So Kenny cycled from Leadhills to Abington, a distance of seven miles, in all weathers with his fiddle on his back.
Kenny progressed so well that Alex introduced him to play with the Lanark amateur Orchestra conducted by William McGeechan. This Kenny did for about three years. About the same time, a certain Andrew Coke, an accordion player in a family band where the other accordionists were his cousin Davy Coke and Jim Watson appeared on the scene. At one point this group came to play in Leadhills Village Hall and Andrew, who had heard about Kenny’s fiddle playing from Johnny Wilson at the Post Office in Elvanfoot, invited Kenny to come to the Hall and listen to the band and to go after the concert with the band to Agnes Gracie’s house for tea. Agnes had a drapers shop in Leadhills and it was while they were having tea that Andrew Coke invited Kenny to join his band. For Kenny this offer killed two birds with one stone – joy at playing his beloved fiddle and the satisfaction of getting paid for it – money to indulge his other passion – motor-bikes.
When Andrew Coke’s father retired from the band, Kenny’s brother Ian, by now a talented pianist, joined the band also. Andrew’s parents owned a garage in Crawford which meant that the band were never short of transport. There was always something which could be borrowed
Kenny played with Andrew Coke’s band for some 12 years, often playing two or three times a week after a days work, mostly in the Clydesdale district, the Borders and down into the North of England. In 1955 there was a break for a year when Andrew was called to do his National Service, and Kenny was head-hunted to join Jim Anderson’s band from Broughton. It was understood, however, that when Andrew Coke’s National Service ended, both Kenny and his brother Ian would rejoin Andrew’s band – and this they did.
Andrew’s band finally broke up in 1961 when he moved to Onich near Fort William to run a guest house. Kenny’s talents were snapped up by Tony Woodage from Kirkfieldbank who asked him to join his band – the Carlton Quintet – where he played for about a year with Tony and Jack Gray on accordions and a youthful Ena Wilson (no relation) from the Post Office at Elvanfoot on piano.
Next Ian Holmes from Dumfries approached Kenny and asked him to join his band. The Holmes band did an audition for the B.B.C. and passed first time, and Kenny went on to play with Ian Holmes for over thirty years. The band went on air frequently and became very well known. Then Max Houliston from The Hole in the Wa’ in Dumfries asked Kenny to go with his band for an audition at the B.B.C. and they also passed. Max Houliston’s band made broadcasts and recordings mainly, while the Ian Holmes band played for dances.
Max Houliston’s claim to fame was that he started up the Accordion club movement we know today. The Houliston band was the first to play at an Accordion Club and went on to play regularly at Accordion Clubs throughout the country. The band also did T.V. work (the Christmas and Hogmanay Shows) and latterly Max and Kenny did T.V. and Accordion Club work as a recognised duo. Ian Holmes and Kenny also did work at Accordion clubs.
During this time, Kenny also guested with many other bands – the White Heather club in theatre with Bobby MacLeod and one White Heather Club Show in Lanark with Jimmy Shand. He also played with Andrew Rankine and Iain MacPhail. There was a one night stand replacing Iain Powrie who was ill. Other bands Kenny guested with were Callum Wilson, Bill Black, Jimmy Shand on trips to England and Ronnie Easton’s band. But Kenny was never a full-time player with any of them. He did, however, do recordings and Accordion Club work with Allan McIntosh as well as a T.V. show with Ronnie Hodgson and another with Ken Dodd.
During the 1970’s the Border Strathspey and Reels Society was formed with Kenny as a founder member, and he went on to conduct the orchestra for 12 years. They played many concerts throughout the Borders and the North of England and also produced 2 L.P. Records.
Now in his 82nd year and staying in Biggar Kenny still plays with Allan McIntosh, Bill Richardson and John Renton’s bands.
Fiddles
Kenny and brother Ian were part of a large extended family and had 56 full cousins, but strangely only the two of them were musical. Kenny’s first fiddle had belonged to his grandfather, a Strad copy made in Prague in 1719 which he still has. The fiddle he plays regularly for band work though, he bought for £10 in 1957 from an elderly gentleman, a Mr McKenzie, who approached Kenny after he had played at a dance in Lockerbie Town Hall with Andrew Coke’s Band. Kenny had done a solo spot during the evening and the 85 year old Mr McKenzie was sufficiently impressed to offer Kenny the fiddle which he was now too elderly to play.
It was a beautiful Jean Werro made in Berne, Switzerland in 1926 and numbered 104. Kenny was later told by an Elgin violin maker and valuer that it had won first prize in a violin makers competition in 1931. Jean Werro was therefore obviously a talented violin maker but in his strive for perfection he put himself on the wrong side of the law. He bought a genuine Stradivarius and took it to pieces, studying and recording its exact dimensions and construction. He then made 26 violins, each of which contained one piece of the original Strad, but marketed them as the genuine article. However his fraud was detected and he was caught and imprisoned in 1937 for five years but served only two before being released at the start of the war.
However by that time his violins, although not the genuine article, were recognised as being excellent instruments in their own right. A few years later when Kenny was doing a recording with Ian Holmes Band, the Record Producer Cyril Stapleton, himself an accomplished violinist, tried the fiddle and immediately offered Kenny £500 for it. Kenny refused but immediately realised he had by good fortune acquired a highly regarded instrument from a renowned, if slightly misguided, maker.
One unfortunate incident occurred in the early 1960s when Kenny was still with the Andrew Coke Band. The band were playing on two consecutive evenings and rather than unpack everything Andrew took the car home and parked it up. It was scorching hot June day and when Kenny opened his fiddle case that evening he discovered to his horror that much of the fiddle’s varnish had melted. He took advice from violin expert John Beare in Manchester and also from Stephan Grapelli when he appeared locally once at the Tinto Hotel in Symington and both advised him not to try to have the varnish reinstated or the beautiful tone of the instrument would be lost forever. It bears the scars of that incident to this day.
Kenny’s other pride and joy is a Norwegian style hardanger fiddle with 8 strings. This exquisitely crafted instrument was made for Kenny by David Eunson of Orkney in 1980 as a gift after David had heard him do a fiddle solo on one of Max Houliston’s broadcasts. The scroll ends in the type of dragon’s head which appeared on Viking long-ships complete with lemmings teeth and the body of the fiddle is beautifully decorated with inlaid mother-of-pearl and fine engraving work. It takes a full year to make a hardanger – six months for the manufacture and six months for the engraving and varnishing. Once tuned this fiddle holds its tuning beautifully regardless of changing conditions unlike the 9 string one owned by Aly Bain which was so temperamental on stage that he was forced to stop performing on it.
Another interesting incident along the way was when Kenny was asked by Roy Lane, a talent scout for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, to join and train with the Orchestra in London under its conductor Sir Thomas Beecham. Roy told him that his training would be intensive and last two years after which he would he a full-time member of the orchestra and would travel the world. For those two years a part time job and a flat would be found for him. But as we shall shortly see Kenny was used to an outdoor life and to exchange that for one which would consist only of rehearsal rooms, concert platforms and travel really didn’t appeal, so Kenny turned down the offer.
Although not a composer himself over the years Kenny has had four tunes written for him – a jig by Ian Holmes, reels by Donald Ridley and John Renton and a pipe tune by the late Ian Crichton.
The Hopetoun Estate
Although raised on a sheep farm Kenny had no particular inclination to follow in his father’s footsteps and accordingly although he worked on the farm for a few months after leaving school at 14 he then became a ‘kennel boy’ on the local Leadhills Estate which was part of the Marquis of Linlithgow’s Hopetoun Estate. A kennel boy was an apprentice gamekeeper and for the next 5 years Kenny gradually increased his skills as he progressed from simply looking after the dogs, and during the shooting season the horses which in the days before 4 wheel drives were used to carry the shooters out to the butts in the hills, to setting vermin traps, cleaning guns, acting as a loader, shooting and learning all the skills associated with rearing and caring for all types of gamebirds.
In 1950, apprenticeship over, Kenny was offered a post as a ‘beat’ keeper (an under-keeper) and continued to learn his trade until in 1964 the head keepers job became available. He was successful in his application for the job and started immediately to repair some of the damage which had been done to grouse stocks by a disease the previous year. He was able to build stocks up to such an extent that in the 1974 and 1978 seasons the ‘guns’ shot just short of 5,000 brace of grouse each year and his average over the 28 years of his head keepership was 3,150 brace per year.
In the early days there were still 16 shepherds working on the Leadhills Estate and Kenny worked closely with them to their mutual benefit. Kenny made the interesting point that although there are a great many shepherds who played the fiddle there are relatively few, in fact very few, gamekeepers who play the instrument. Where possible he used local tradesman when work was needing done, used the local Post Office to distribute birds in the shooting season, bought vehicles and petrol locally and generally tried to inject as much money back into the local economy as possible.
Initially all the shooting was done by the Marquis and his family, friends and guests but gradually over the years it became more commercial. Kenny formed lasting friendships with many of those who leased the shooting including US Senator Bill Flowers who on two occasions invited Kenny to his Ranch in the States to shoot quail on horseback (Kenny, not the quail, before you ask). Thankfully his early experience looking after the horses as a kennel boy and at the same time learning to ride them stood him in good stead here.
For 10 years from 1965 to 1975 Kenny accompanied the Marquis to Balmoral to act as his loader. As well as getting to know all the members of the Royal Family over that time he also came into contact with many of the other guests. He was the only gamekeeper who was actually allocated a room (and a valet) in the Castle itself. He was usually allocated an apprentice valet and told strictly to do ‘nothing for himself’ since the valet had to learn. Amongst other things this involved taking two baths a day!!
Two of the great characters at Balmoral were two of the Estate stalkers who were also world renowned solo pipers – the ‘Bobs of Balmoral’ as they were known in the piping world – Bob Brown and Bob Nicol. Even after a wet day out on the hills they were expected to change into kilts and play at the dinner table in the evening.
Near the end of Kenny’s trips he was offered the head keepers job on the Balmoral Estate. It was a tempting offer but there were a string of things he would no longer be able to do so reluctantly he declined. Instead of being offended the Queen opened another door for Kenny when she recommended that he become a Justice of the Peace and a local Magistrate. Apparently the seniority of the person making such a recommendation has a large bearing on whether it is acted upon hence in this case there was no doubt and after 3 years of part time training Kenny sat on the Bench at Lanark Sheriff Court for the next 23 years.
He had already been a Special Constable for 25 years but had to relinquish that role before becoming a J.P. Although in reality he had no authority outwith the courtroom, local folk were unaware of that, and he became Licence Holder to the local Hopetoun Arms Hotel which at that time was owned by the Estate. If things looked like getting out of hand near the end of the evening the Manager phoned Kenny, who by his prompt appearance was able to nip any potential trouble in the bud without raising a finger.
In 1992 after 28 years as Head Keeper, Kenny decided to call it a day when he was asked by Saville’s of Edinburgh to become a part time estate agent and game advisor. The Game Conservancy Council got wind of the offer and made a similar one, both of which he accepted. Since he lived in a tied house he also took the opportunity to move to Biggar, where he still stays. As mentioned above Kenny is now in his 82nd year and now in a freelance capacity still travels the length and breadth of Scotland and beyond as one of Scotland’s foremost experts on grouse management and conservation.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Home To Me – Eriskay Lilt – ELR06CD
All fingers and Thumbs – Burns Brothers Ceilidh Band – BURCD01
Letters to the Editor
Dear Charlie
It’s great how things happen. E-mails do wonderful things don’t they?
David Coke, my cousin, whom you know, started me playing the box when I was about 8 years old, in a hayshed at Boghead Farm in Crawford. I seemed to get on quite well (in a sort of way, no lessons in those days!) and at 13 I was playing with David and a button-box player named Jim Watson at dances around Crawford.
I kinf of took over the band after David got married and Jim left. I heard of a fiddle player in Leadhills called Kenny Wilson and he came to visit me and we got on well. We soon got a drummer and then Ian, Kenny’s brother, joined us on piano and soon a double bass player named Andrew Hogg. With this band we played all over the South of Scotland, the Borders and into North of England for about 15 years. Great fun – happy nights.
However I had to give up the band – something I will always regret – because of business pressures. While I was playing at dances my father was out at accidents and breakdowns, at 70 years old! I later sold the garage and moved to Onich to renovate an old house and open it as a guest house. I’d always been good at cooking and fancied giving it a try. It worked out well !!
The Hohner Morino Domino V was sold before I left Crawford. I was told if I didn’t sell it I would never stop playing! Bad advice – because after about a year I bought a Morino IV. Now I have a Bugari 96 bass and play with Lochaber S&R Society in Fort William and at any function I am asked to play at. I’m now 78 and very fit.
I enjoy playing now more than ever!!
Hope this fills in a gap in history and lovely to hear from you.
Best wishes
Andrew Coke (Onich, Fort William)
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s
1st Oct 11 – Alexander Lindsay SDB (Jamie MacDougal)
8th Oct 11 – Colin Dewar & Friends (Peter Leask)
15th Oct 11 – Ian Thomson SDB (Keith Dickson)
21st Oct 11 – James Leask SDB (OB from Lerwick Town Hall with guests Hannah Adamson & Birls Aloud
29th Oct 11 – Archive with John Ellis and His Highland Country Dance Band (Maggie Adamson)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 9th Oct 11 – Garioch Blend
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 2nd Oct 11 – Andy Kain Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 16th Oct 11 – Ross MacPherson Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 26th Oct 11 – Brandon McPhee Trio
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) –
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 11th Oct 11 – Davie Stewart SDB
Britannia (Arden House Hotel) - 26th Oct 11 – Dance to John Douglas
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 13th Oct 11 – Durris A&F Group
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 4th Oct 11 – Bon Accords
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 18th Oct 11 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 14th Oct 11 – Dance to Willie McFarlane SDB 20th Oct 11 – Maggie Adamson Duo
Coldingham (Village Hall) - 3rd Oct 11 – Robin Hamilton SDB
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club)
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) - 18th Oct 11 – Ross MacPherson SDB
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 5th Oct 11 – Dochie McCallum & Friends
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 19th Oct 11 – Judith Linton SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 11th Oct 11 – Alexander Lindsay
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate) 9th Oct 11 – Leonard Brown & Friends (CD launch) 17th Oct 11 – Wayne Robertson & Davie Stewart
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 18th Oct 11 – John bone & Robert Lovie
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 24th Oct 11 – David Qswald SDB
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 30th Oct 11 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 12th Oct 11 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) -
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 16th Oct 11 – Leonard Brown & Friends (CD launch) 27th Oct 11 – Andy Kain Trio
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 5th Oct 11 – Cameron Kellow SDB
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) -
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) - 2nd Oct 11 – Deirdre Adamson
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 23rd Oct 11 – Craig Paton SDB
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 17th Oct 11 – Brandon McPhee Trio
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 12th Oct 11 – Alastair MacLeod Trio
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 6th Oct 11 – Plockton School of Music Pupils
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 4th Oct 11 – Ewan Galloway Quartet
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) –
Kintore (Torryburn Arms Hotel) – 26th Oct 11 – Steven Carcary Trio
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 20th Oct 11 – Alan Small & Yvonne MacLeod
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 24th Oct 11 – Alan Gardiner Trio
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) – 12th Oct 11 – Ewan Galloway SDB
Lauder (Black Bull Hotel) - 2nd Oct 11 – Wayne Robertson
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 6th Oct 11 - tbc
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 18th Oct 11 – Marie Fielding & Duncan Black
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 25th Oct 11 – Nicky McMichan SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 18th Oct 11 - Alan Helm
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th Oct 11 – Lomond Ceilidh Band 21st Oct 11 – Dance to Steven Carcary duo
Newburgh (The Ship Inn) -
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Thorterdykes Roadhouse) 19th Oct 11 – Nicky McMichan SDB
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 31st Oct 11 – The Occasionals
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 4th Oct 11 - tbc
Northern (Lylehill Suite, Templepatrick, N.I.) - 5th Oct 11 – John Morgan
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) – 5th Oct 11 – Donald MacLeod Trio
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 27th Oct 11 – John Morgan
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 18th Oct 11 – Robert Nairn SDB 29th Oct 11 – After-the-Festival-Dance with Neil Hardie SDB
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) -
Reading Scottish Fiddlers (Willowbank Infant School, Woodley) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 11th Oct 11 – Matthew MacLennan Trio
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 6th Oct 11 – Neil Caul SDB
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) -
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 18th Oct 11 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Selkirk (Angus O’Malley’s) - 13th Oct 11 – Ian MacKenzie
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 6th – 8th Oct 11 – Shetland Festival 27th Oct 11 – Brian Griffin & George Darling
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) - 5th Oct 11 – Willie McFarlane Band
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) - 22nd Oct 11 – Archie MacPhee & the Bogroy SDB
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 11th Oct 11 – Steven Todd SDB
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 3rd Oct 11 – Roya MacLean Trio
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 6th Oct 11 – Alan Smeaton Band
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 20th Oct 11 – Ian Holmes Trio
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) - 8th & 29th Oct 11 – Local Players
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 13th Oct 11 – Michael Philip SDB
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 18th Oct 11 – Graeme MacKay & Duncan Farquhar
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Annan
2. Arbroath
3. Banchory
4. Biggar
5. Blairgowrie
6. Button-key
7. Campsie
8. Dingwall
9. Forfar
10. Forres
11. Gretna
12. Islesteps
13. Ladybank
14. Langholm
15. Lauder
16. Lewis & Harris
17. Montrose
18. North East
19. Northern
20. Renfrew
21. Selkirk
22. Teviotdale
23. Thornhill
24. Thurso
25. Turriff
26. Tynedale
27. Uist & Benbecula
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2011
(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. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
10. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
11. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
12. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
13. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
16. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
17. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
18. Coalburn A&F Club (
19. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 -
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. Fort William A&F Club (2009 -
35. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
36. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
37. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
38. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
39. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
40. 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)
41. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
42. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
43. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
44. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
45. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
46. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
47. Kintore A&F Club (
48. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
49. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
50. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
51. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
52. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
53. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
54 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
55 Maine Valley A&F Club (
56 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
57 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
58 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
59 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
60. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
61. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
62. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
63. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
64. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
65. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
66. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
67. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
68. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
69. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
70. Selkirk A&F Club (
71. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
72 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
73 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
74 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
75 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
76 Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
77 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
78 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
79 West Barnes ( - present)
80 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?)
81. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
82. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
83. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
84. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
85. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
86. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
87. Buchan A&F Club
88 Callander A&F Club (
89 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
90 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
91 Club Accord
92 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
93. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
94. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
95. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
96. Derwentside A&F Club
97. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
98. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
99. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
100. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
101. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
102. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
103. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
104. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
105. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
106. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
107. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
108. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
109. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
110. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
111. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
112. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
113. Mull A&F Club
114. Newcastleton Accordion Club
115. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
116. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
117. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
118. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
119. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
120. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
121. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
122. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
123. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
124. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
125. Tranent A&F Club
126. Vancouver
127. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
128. Wellbank A&F Club
129. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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