Box and Fiddle
Year 42 No 02
October 2018
Price £3.00
40 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
It is a packed magazine this month. I am so glad………
Pia Walker
Congratulations to Glenfarg
by
Congratulations to Glenfarg who celebrated their 30th Anniversary in September. Chairman Nicol McLaren was present and is seen here with the current committee. Stewart Smith, who has been involved since the start of the Club, and Pam Warren cut the cake.
Wighton Heritage Centre’s Jimmy Shand Collection
by
A couple of years ago, we ran a small article about a crowd-funding venture set up to preserve the Jimmy Shand Collection for posterity after the Friends of Wighton had managed to buy it at an auction of Jimmy Shand memorabilia. At the beginning of September, the newly restored and archived collection was unveiled at an event in Dundee. It contains around 23 volumes of music, some dating back to 1795, and a few of the books were on show in the room. Students from the Friends of Wighton’s fiddle and whistle classes provided the entertainment with music selected from these volumes for the invited people attending.
Iain Sword, past chairman, opened proceedings with a speech on the background to the acquisition of the collection and told how funding for restoration was secured through a Heritage Lottery grant, a host of concerts and donations where an exclusive limited edition CD was available to all who donated £30 and over – a CD of which there were only a few left.
Our very own chairman Nicol McLaren followed Ian and spoke on how important Sir Jimmy Shand was to the modern dance band construction; his speech was interspersed with some amusing anecdotes that had the assembled audience chuckling. Nicol also mentioned Jimmy shand’s stage-craft and sense of humour. Councillor Lynne Short continued after Nicol, speaking from the heart when pointing out how proud Dundee was that this collection had come back to Dundee, and how important Scottish culture was worldwide.
Among the attendees were Jimmy Shand Jnr and his wife Margaret. In his speech, Jimmy Shand Jnr, reminisced on the many famous musicians that used to visit the family both in Lochee and later in Auchtermuchty in Fife.
The afternoon event finished with a lovely bit of cake and a wee glass of something. The collection is available to view by interested parties. Please visit http://friendsofwighton.com The collection was further increased on this day by two volumes presented to The Friends of Wighton by Jimmy Shand Jnr and his wife. This added further to the volumes already donated by Jimmy, all these being over and above what was purchased at auction by Wighton Heritage Centre.
Bon Accords Ceilidh Weekend – February 2018
by Deryn Waitt (She!)
The atmosphere at our Ceilidh weekend in The Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries was brilliant – warm and so friendly. The staff were ever helpful, and…….
Musical Memories – Part 1
by Denis Shepherd
Back in the middle of the last century, a man dropped dead during a whist drive and social in Cairncoullie School in upper Donside. The whist had already finished and the company were enjoying the dancing to a local amateur dance band – or most of it, because for that particular dance the accordionist had excused himself from the stage to ask his wife on to the floor. At the moment the unfortunate gentleman died, he was on the dance floor passing close by the aforementioned couple. The accordionist’s wife got quite a shock because she had dreamed a few night’s earlier that whilst she was dancing at the social, a coffin was carried through the company. In fact it had needed all of her husband’s persuasion not to change her mind about attending the event because of ‘a silly dream’, especially considering they had already arranged for a baby-sitter for their infant daughter – my older sister.
This story is true and is still talked about in my family – because the accordionist was Jimmy Shepherd, my late dad, who played at local dances in a band which included his brother Donald, a fiddler, and Donald’s wife Helen who was a pianist and (I am told) the ‘musical director’.
Shortly after this, I appeared on the scene and set out on a varied life in which music and entertainment played a significant and hugely varied role, culminating of course in my appointment as honorary proofreader of the Box and Fiddle.
It would seem dad passed on not only his feeling for music, but also his feeling for mischief. When he was young and living on a farm called Pitprone, his family sometimes organised barn dances. He could recall one occasion when a wind-up gramophone was used to provide the dance music. Older reader will recall that with these gramophones, one could regulate the speed of the turntable by adjusting a lever. He would sometimes amuse himself by moving this lever ever so gradually, and watch as the dancers, without knowing it, slowed down to a painfully slow speed before eventually speeding up to their maximum potential. Of course, he was eventually caught in the act!
His other memories of these dances included the time two young farm-workers took time out to challenge each other to a wrestling match. The music came to an abrupt halt when one got the better of the other and swung him over backwards – his feet scoring a perfect hit on the turntable.
In those days, of course, Sunday entertainment was strictly forbidden. At a barn dance one Saturday evening, the dancers enjoyed live music. Jimmy Hay, a local farmer in Kildrummy and a renowned fiddler, was one of the musicians playing in a dark corner and, as the clock passed midnight without anyone admitting to having noticed, he kept looking anxiously to the door and saying to people, “Mind an’ tell me if the minister comes in! I canna let him see me playin’ on a Sunday!”
In my early days, the dance band still played occasionally, but the only time I remember seeing them play was at my cousin’s wedding held in the Cults Hotel near Aberdeen. They started off the evening reception but my sister explained that “they will have to get off when the real band gets here”.
However, my father still used to ‘have a tune’ at home after the band had wound up and he was usually forced by my sister to play the Joe Loss tune In The Mood. And, in common with many other families at the time, we used to listen to the radio programme Scottish Dance Music (re-names Take the Floor many years later).
Before I was old enough to go to school I became an expert disc jockey, using a wind up gramophone and a box of ‘78’ records. My aunt, visiting from Canada, was amazed that I could pick any record from the box, name the tune and play it – and this before I was old enough to read. I knew each record from the combination of the label colour, the scratches and the shape of the ‘bite’ which was on the outside of most 78s!
Eventually the spring broke in the gramophone – but this did not stop me. I added to my skills manual propulsion of the turntable but ended up with a huge blister on the tip of my index finger for my efforts.
Falkland Traditional Music Festival 2018
by Erika Cragg
Another Festival has come and gone and what a great weekend…………
The 14th Flourishing Festival – Skye Accordion & Fiddle Festival – May 2018
by John Grundy
If the old adage: “The sun shines on the righteous”, was anything to go by…………
Centre Stage
Alan Gifford
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
not shown
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 30th Oct 2018 – Scott Band Trio
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 10th Oct 2018 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 14th Oct 2018 – Garioch Blend
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 7th Oct 2018 – Club Open Day & Evening Dance to Steven Carcary Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 17th Oct 2018 – Leonard Brown & his All Star Band
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) – 22nd Oct 2018 - tbc
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) –
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 2nd Oct 2018 – Alasdair Salter Duo
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) – 11th Oct 2018 – Callum McColl
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 2nd Oct 2018 – Richard Ross SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 11th Oct 2018 – Club Night
Castle Douglas (Springholm Memorial Hall) – 16th Oct 2018 – Lindsay Weir & Colin Garvin
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) -
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 5th Oct 2018 – Dance to Willie McFarlane Band 18th Oct 2018 – Neil Hardie SDB
Crieff & District (British Legion) 4th Oct 2018 – Ray Carse
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) - 16th Oct 2018 – Claire Gullan Trio
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 3rd Oct 2018 – Gordon Pattullo & Malcolm Ross
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 17th Oct 2018 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) – 9th Oct 2018 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Duns (Masonic Lodge) 15th Oct 2018 – Alan Small & Gemma Donald
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 23rd Oct 2018 – Gordon Pattullo
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 28th Oct 2018 – Colin Dewar Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 10th Oct 2018 – Addie Harper Band
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) - 2nd Oct 2018 – Sileas Sinclair Band
Galashiels (Gala YM RFC) - 4th Oct 2018 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Glasgow (Scotstounhill Bowling Club) - Oct 2018 -
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 25th Oct 2018 - Fjanna
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 3rd Oct 2018 – Marian Anderson Trio
Gretna (The Solway Lodge Hotel) - 7th Oct 2018 – Seamus O’Sullivan Trio
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 15th Oct 2018 – Ian Cruickshanks
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) - 10th Oct 2018 – Luke Brady Trio
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 4th Oct 2018 – Roy Hendrie Duo
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) – 2nd Oct 2018 – Jim Cleland Band
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 31st Oct 2018 – Steven Carcary Duo
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) – 28th Oct 2018 – The Illustrious Club Band
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) - 4th Oct 2018 – Club Night
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 16th Oct 2018 – Steven Carcary & Graham Sherrit
Lockerbie (Mid Annandale Comrades Club) 30th Oct 2018 – Ewan Galloway Trio
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) - 21st Oct 2018 – John Morgan
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 16th Oct 2018 – Jim Gold Trio
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 3rd Oct 2018 – Graeme Mitchell Band 19th Oct 2018 – Garioch Blen (Stovie Dance)
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) - 25th Oct 2018 – Billy Anderson
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 29th Oct 2018 – Lindsay Weir SDB
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 2nd Oct 2018 – Neil Dawson
Oban (The Royal Hotel) –
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 3rd 10th 17th 24th 31st Oct 2018 – Club Night
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 25th Oct 2018 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) – 16th Oct 2018 – Ewan Galloway SDB 27th Oct 2018 – Iain Cathcart SDB (After the Festival Dance)
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 10th Oct 2018 – Cameronian SDB
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 4th Oct 2018 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 2nd 9th 23rd Oct 2018 – Club Night 16th Oct 2018 – Alan Small & Gemma Donald
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 11th – 15th Oct 2018 – Various Bands
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Bowling Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 1st Oct 2018 – Steven Carcary
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 4th Oct 2018 – Gordon Pattullo Duo
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 18th Oct 2018 – Alistair K. MacPherson (Skye)
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 16th Oct 2018 – Ian Cruickshanks Duo
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Arbroath
2. Blairgowrie
3. Campsie
4. Crieff
5. Ellon
6. Forfar
7. Glenfarg
8. Islesteps
9. Montrose
10. Orkney
11. Peebles
12. Renfrew
13. Seghill
14. Turriff
15. Tynedale
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 Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
53 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
54 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
55 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
56 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
57 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?)
58. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
59. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
60. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
61. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
62. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
63. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
64. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
65. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
66. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
67. Buchan A&F Club
68. Callander A&F Club (
69. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
70. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
71. Club Accord
72. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
73 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
74. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
75. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
76. Cults A & F Club (
77. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
78. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
79. Derwentside A&F Club
80. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
81. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
82. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
83. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
84. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
85. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
86. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
87. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
88. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
89. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
90. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
91. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
92. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
93. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
94. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
95. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
96. Kintore A&F Club (
97. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
98. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
99. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
100. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
101. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Maine Valley A&F Club (
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
107. Mull A&F Club
108. Newcastleton Accordion Club
109. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
110. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
111. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
112. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
113. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
114. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
115. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
116. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
117. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
118. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
119. Selkirk A&F Club (
120. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
121. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
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)
Advertising rates
Back Page (colour) - £320
Full Page (colour) - £256
Full Page (b&w) - £160
Half Page (colour) - £128
Half Page (b&w) - £80
Quarter Page (colour) - £64
Quarter Page (b&w) - £40
Eighth Page - £30
Small Boxed £20
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
It is a packed magazine this month. I am so glad………
Pia Walker
Congratulations to Glenfarg
by
Congratulations to Glenfarg who celebrated their 30th Anniversary in September. Chairman Nicol McLaren was present and is seen here with the current committee. Stewart Smith, who has been involved since the start of the Club, and Pam Warren cut the cake.
Wighton Heritage Centre’s Jimmy Shand Collection
by
A couple of years ago, we ran a small article about a crowd-funding venture set up to preserve the Jimmy Shand Collection for posterity after the Friends of Wighton had managed to buy it at an auction of Jimmy Shand memorabilia. At the beginning of September, the newly restored and archived collection was unveiled at an event in Dundee. It contains around 23 volumes of music, some dating back to 1795, and a few of the books were on show in the room. Students from the Friends of Wighton’s fiddle and whistle classes provided the entertainment with music selected from these volumes for the invited people attending.
Iain Sword, past chairman, opened proceedings with a speech on the background to the acquisition of the collection and told how funding for restoration was secured through a Heritage Lottery grant, a host of concerts and donations where an exclusive limited edition CD was available to all who donated £30 and over – a CD of which there were only a few left.
Our very own chairman Nicol McLaren followed Ian and spoke on how important Sir Jimmy Shand was to the modern dance band construction; his speech was interspersed with some amusing anecdotes that had the assembled audience chuckling. Nicol also mentioned Jimmy shand’s stage-craft and sense of humour. Councillor Lynne Short continued after Nicol, speaking from the heart when pointing out how proud Dundee was that this collection had come back to Dundee, and how important Scottish culture was worldwide.
Among the attendees were Jimmy Shand Jnr and his wife Margaret. In his speech, Jimmy Shand Jnr, reminisced on the many famous musicians that used to visit the family both in Lochee and later in Auchtermuchty in Fife.
The afternoon event finished with a lovely bit of cake and a wee glass of something. The collection is available to view by interested parties. Please visit http://friendsofwighton.com The collection was further increased on this day by two volumes presented to The Friends of Wighton by Jimmy Shand Jnr and his wife. This added further to the volumes already donated by Jimmy, all these being over and above what was purchased at auction by Wighton Heritage Centre.
Bon Accords Ceilidh Weekend – February 2018
by Deryn Waitt (She!)
The atmosphere at our Ceilidh weekend in The Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries was brilliant – warm and so friendly. The staff were ever helpful, and…….
Musical Memories – Part 1
by Denis Shepherd
Back in the middle of the last century, a man dropped dead during a whist drive and social in Cairncoullie School in upper Donside. The whist had already finished and the company were enjoying the dancing to a local amateur dance band – or most of it, because for that particular dance the accordionist had excused himself from the stage to ask his wife on to the floor. At the moment the unfortunate gentleman died, he was on the dance floor passing close by the aforementioned couple. The accordionist’s wife got quite a shock because she had dreamed a few night’s earlier that whilst she was dancing at the social, a coffin was carried through the company. In fact it had needed all of her husband’s persuasion not to change her mind about attending the event because of ‘a silly dream’, especially considering they had already arranged for a baby-sitter for their infant daughter – my older sister.
This story is true and is still talked about in my family – because the accordionist was Jimmy Shepherd, my late dad, who played at local dances in a band which included his brother Donald, a fiddler, and Donald’s wife Helen who was a pianist and (I am told) the ‘musical director’.
Shortly after this, I appeared on the scene and set out on a varied life in which music and entertainment played a significant and hugely varied role, culminating of course in my appointment as honorary proofreader of the Box and Fiddle.
It would seem dad passed on not only his feeling for music, but also his feeling for mischief. When he was young and living on a farm called Pitprone, his family sometimes organised barn dances. He could recall one occasion when a wind-up gramophone was used to provide the dance music. Older reader will recall that with these gramophones, one could regulate the speed of the turntable by adjusting a lever. He would sometimes amuse himself by moving this lever ever so gradually, and watch as the dancers, without knowing it, slowed down to a painfully slow speed before eventually speeding up to their maximum potential. Of course, he was eventually caught in the act!
His other memories of these dances included the time two young farm-workers took time out to challenge each other to a wrestling match. The music came to an abrupt halt when one got the better of the other and swung him over backwards – his feet scoring a perfect hit on the turntable.
In those days, of course, Sunday entertainment was strictly forbidden. At a barn dance one Saturday evening, the dancers enjoyed live music. Jimmy Hay, a local farmer in Kildrummy and a renowned fiddler, was one of the musicians playing in a dark corner and, as the clock passed midnight without anyone admitting to having noticed, he kept looking anxiously to the door and saying to people, “Mind an’ tell me if the minister comes in! I canna let him see me playin’ on a Sunday!”
In my early days, the dance band still played occasionally, but the only time I remember seeing them play was at my cousin’s wedding held in the Cults Hotel near Aberdeen. They started off the evening reception but my sister explained that “they will have to get off when the real band gets here”.
However, my father still used to ‘have a tune’ at home after the band had wound up and he was usually forced by my sister to play the Joe Loss tune In The Mood. And, in common with many other families at the time, we used to listen to the radio programme Scottish Dance Music (re-names Take the Floor many years later).
Before I was old enough to go to school I became an expert disc jockey, using a wind up gramophone and a box of ‘78’ records. My aunt, visiting from Canada, was amazed that I could pick any record from the box, name the tune and play it – and this before I was old enough to read. I knew each record from the combination of the label colour, the scratches and the shape of the ‘bite’ which was on the outside of most 78s!
Eventually the spring broke in the gramophone – but this did not stop me. I added to my skills manual propulsion of the turntable but ended up with a huge blister on the tip of my index finger for my efforts.
Falkland Traditional Music Festival 2018
by Erika Cragg
Another Festival has come and gone and what a great weekend…………
The 14th Flourishing Festival – Skye Accordion & Fiddle Festival – May 2018
by John Grundy
If the old adage: “The sun shines on the righteous”, was anything to go by…………
Centre Stage
Alan Gifford
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
not shown
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 30th Oct 2018 – Scott Band Trio
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 10th Oct 2018 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 14th Oct 2018 – Garioch Blend
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 7th Oct 2018 – Club Open Day & Evening Dance to Steven Carcary Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 17th Oct 2018 – Leonard Brown & his All Star Band
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) – 22nd Oct 2018 - tbc
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) –
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 2nd Oct 2018 – Alasdair Salter Duo
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) – 11th Oct 2018 – Callum McColl
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 2nd Oct 2018 – Richard Ross SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 11th Oct 2018 – Club Night
Castle Douglas (Springholm Memorial Hall) – 16th Oct 2018 – Lindsay Weir & Colin Garvin
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) -
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 5th Oct 2018 – Dance to Willie McFarlane Band 18th Oct 2018 – Neil Hardie SDB
Crieff & District (British Legion) 4th Oct 2018 – Ray Carse
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) - 16th Oct 2018 – Claire Gullan Trio
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 3rd Oct 2018 – Gordon Pattullo & Malcolm Ross
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 17th Oct 2018 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) – 9th Oct 2018 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Duns (Masonic Lodge) 15th Oct 2018 – Alan Small & Gemma Donald
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 23rd Oct 2018 – Gordon Pattullo
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 28th Oct 2018 – Colin Dewar Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 10th Oct 2018 – Addie Harper Band
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) - 2nd Oct 2018 – Sileas Sinclair Band
Galashiels (Gala YM RFC) - 4th Oct 2018 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Glasgow (Scotstounhill Bowling Club) - Oct 2018 -
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 25th Oct 2018 - Fjanna
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 3rd Oct 2018 – Marian Anderson Trio
Gretna (The Solway Lodge Hotel) - 7th Oct 2018 – Seamus O’Sullivan Trio
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 15th Oct 2018 – Ian Cruickshanks
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) - 10th Oct 2018 – Luke Brady Trio
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 4th Oct 2018 – Roy Hendrie Duo
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) – 2nd Oct 2018 – Jim Cleland Band
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 31st Oct 2018 – Steven Carcary Duo
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) – 28th Oct 2018 – The Illustrious Club Band
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) - 4th Oct 2018 – Club Night
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 16th Oct 2018 – Steven Carcary & Graham Sherrit
Lockerbie (Mid Annandale Comrades Club) 30th Oct 2018 – Ewan Galloway Trio
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) - 21st Oct 2018 – John Morgan
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 16th Oct 2018 – Jim Gold Trio
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 3rd Oct 2018 – Graeme Mitchell Band 19th Oct 2018 – Garioch Blen (Stovie Dance)
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) - 25th Oct 2018 – Billy Anderson
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 29th Oct 2018 – Lindsay Weir SDB
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 2nd Oct 2018 – Neil Dawson
Oban (The Royal Hotel) –
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 3rd 10th 17th 24th 31st Oct 2018 – Club Night
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 25th Oct 2018 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) – 16th Oct 2018 – Ewan Galloway SDB 27th Oct 2018 – Iain Cathcart SDB (After the Festival Dance)
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 10th Oct 2018 – Cameronian SDB
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 4th Oct 2018 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 2nd 9th 23rd Oct 2018 – Club Night 16th Oct 2018 – Alan Small & Gemma Donald
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 11th – 15th Oct 2018 – Various Bands
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Bowling Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 1st Oct 2018 – Steven Carcary
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 4th Oct 2018 – Gordon Pattullo Duo
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 18th Oct 2018 – Alistair K. MacPherson (Skye)
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 16th Oct 2018 – Ian Cruickshanks Duo
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Arbroath
2. Blairgowrie
3. Campsie
4. Crieff
5. Ellon
6. Forfar
7. Glenfarg
8. Islesteps
9. Montrose
10. Orkney
11. Peebles
12. Renfrew
13. Seghill
14. Turriff
15. Tynedale
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 Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
53 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
54 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
55 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
56 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
57 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?)
58. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
59. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
60. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
61. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
62. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
63. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
64. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
65. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
66. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
67. Buchan A&F Club
68. Callander A&F Club (
69. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
70. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
71. Club Accord
72. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
73 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
74. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
75. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
76. Cults A & F Club (
77. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
78. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
79. Derwentside A&F Club
80. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
81. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
82. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
83. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
84. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
85. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
86. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
87. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
88. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
89. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
90. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
91. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
92. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
93. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
94. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
95. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
96. Kintore A&F Club (
97. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
98. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
99. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
100. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
101. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Maine Valley A&F Club (
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
107. Mull A&F Club
108. Newcastleton Accordion Club
109. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
110. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
111. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
112. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
113. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
114. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
115. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
116. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
117. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
118. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
119. Selkirk A&F Club (
120. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
121. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
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)
Advertising rates
Back Page (colour) - £320
Full Page (colour) - £256
Full Page (b&w) - £160
Half Page (colour) - £128
Half Page (b&w) - £80
Quarter Page (colour) - £64
Quarter Page (b&w) - £40
Eighth Page - £30
Small Boxed £20