Box and Fiddle
Year 18 No 01
September 1994
Introducing the Clubs
No 22 Orkney
by Dave Linklater
Orkney A&F Club was formed on 8th March, 1978, having met informally since October 1977 following a notice in ‘The Orcadian’ local newspaper to ascertain local interest. The fact that 13 potential members were present at the inaugural general meeting has not, to date, caused any great misfortune to affect the Club but there’s still time.
That Jim Marwick, at that time proprietor of the Albert Hotel, Kirkwall, where meetings were held was the Club’s first elected Chairman may not have been pure co-incidence, since the Club continued in the Albert under two subsequent owners but are now established in the Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall. Jim is still a Club member as is Alfie Eunson, present Vice chairman and another founder member. Enthusiasm became such that it was decided to hold weekly meetings and members pay a levy of 50p per meeting in addition to their £1 membership fee in order to raise funds, which, by May 1980, were sufficient to allow the club to ‘go public’ for the first time with the Addie Harper Trio as guests at a buffet dance.
The first Open Night was held on 3rd December, 1980 with Bobby Coghill as guest and was well supported, however, it was felt that a winter season could lead to problems with getting guests to Orkney and persuading a large enough audience to make Open Nights viable due to weather conditions, so it was decided to hold Open Nights on the last Wednesday of each month, April to September, and this, give or take the odd stutter, has been Club policy since 1981. We find this system works well since holidaymakers add to our loyal local followers and we discover box and fiddle players among the visitors who are willing to give us a tune or two, which is most welcome in an island community where, although talent is by no means limited, it is often necessary ti ‘perm’ what is available, so a fresh face is a great bonus. The only snag is that some of the guests we would like to invite are already booked for their own summer seasons but we usually manage to get a fairly good response.
Appearances at charity concerts, old people’s homes and entertaining the disabled keep the Club occupied during the winter and there are no lack of volunteers to perform on these occasions. Having passed our sixteenth birthday we are looking forward to our 21st but, with an increasing number of grey hairs in the line-up, a transfusion of young blood would be as acceptable as a dram.
No 22 Orkney
by Dave Linklater
Orkney A&F Club was formed on 8th March, 1978, having met informally since October 1977 following a notice in ‘The Orcadian’ local newspaper to ascertain local interest. The fact that 13 potential members were present at the inaugural general meeting has not, to date, caused any great misfortune to affect the Club but there’s still time.
That Jim Marwick, at that time proprietor of the Albert Hotel, Kirkwall, where meetings were held was the Club’s first elected Chairman may not have been pure co-incidence, since the Club continued in the Albert under two subsequent owners but are now established in the Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall. Jim is still a Club member as is Alfie Eunson, present Vice chairman and another founder member. Enthusiasm became such that it was decided to hold weekly meetings and members pay a levy of 50p per meeting in addition to their £1 membership fee in order to raise funds, which, by May 1980, were sufficient to allow the club to ‘go public’ for the first time with the Addie Harper Trio as guests at a buffet dance.
The first Open Night was held on 3rd December, 1980 with Bobby Coghill as guest and was well supported, however, it was felt that a winter season could lead to problems with getting guests to Orkney and persuading a large enough audience to make Open Nights viable due to weather conditions, so it was decided to hold Open Nights on the last Wednesday of each month, April to September, and this, give or take the odd stutter, has been Club policy since 1981. We find this system works well since holidaymakers add to our loyal local followers and we discover box and fiddle players among the visitors who are willing to give us a tune or two, which is most welcome in an island community where, although talent is by no means limited, it is often necessary ti ‘perm’ what is available, so a fresh face is a great bonus. The only snag is that some of the guests we would like to invite are already booked for their own summer seasons but we usually manage to get a fairly good response.
Appearances at charity concerts, old people’s homes and entertaining the disabled keep the Club occupied during the winter and there are no lack of volunteers to perform on these occasions. Having passed our sixteenth birthday we are looking forward to our 21st but, with an increasing number of grey hairs in the line-up, a transfusion of young blood would be as acceptable as a dram.