Box and Fiddle
Year 07 No 01
September 1983
Price 25p
12 pages
8 month subscription £3
Editor – Ian Smith, 50 Mount Vernon Road, Stranraer Tele 4098
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Mary Plunkett, 2 Dounan Road, Dunragit, Wigtownshire
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
As they say in football parlance – here we go, here we go, here we go. Off to another season of fun and games. After the summer break everyone seems to be refreshed, rested and ready to go. Our best wishes to you all.
Please welcome Thornhill Club to the Association and may we hear lots about them.
There will be no Record Review this month as the script has been lost in the post somewhere between Galston and Stranraer. No comments please!
I see that a new cassette by John Huband has, what I believe to be a first – a stramash on tape – interesting.
Congratulations to Murdo MacLeod and the Livingston Committee and Club. They are about to begin their 10th year. There must be other Clubs too in this fine state of affairs. To then too we wish another 10 years of success.
The Weekend Reel
The Weekend of the AGM and Presentation Dinner has now become the annual highlight of the season’s activities. Music, laughter and nostalgia intermingled with informality, affection and novelty. The novelty of being a part in the making of history.
The honoured guest this year was the world-famous Ian Powrie, who came all the way from Australia with his wife Leila and daughter. They came amang their ain folk, if even for a brief spell, to a reception that won’t be forgotten for a very long time. One man’s account says it all. Here is Norman Williams’ account of the Saturday’s events.
Dunblane Weekend – Saturday Evening
by Norrie Williams
The Reception Area, Dunblane Hydro, Saturday, 25th June, time 9.30pm. Sheila (my wife) and I have just come in from a wee walk round the grounds and are standing chatting to some friends (everyone is a friend on the N.A.A.F.C. Weekend) when I catch the wing of someone with graying wavy hair sloping past with a black five-row at the short trail, heading for one of the small lounges.
No second bidding required, I hastily excuse myself and shoot off in pursuit. When Bobby MacLeod passes carrying a box I don’t hang about. A blissful hour follows as the man from Tobermory plays through selections of the best standards in his own inimitable, relaxed style.
He has this knack of making well known tunes interesting and a bit special – a held note here and an unexpected grace note there. We all know that these unscheduled happenings are the occasions which produce the best in traditional music.
This is no exception. In no time at all the room is full and to add to everyone’s enjoyment Bobby is joined first by Angus Fitchet (brighter than ever and in great form) and then by Jimmy Brown, with his usual ‘rossity’ heap below the strings.
Despite this particular obstacle the music is just great. Soon these stalwarts are joined by Hamish Smith from Glenfarg who provides excellent backing harmonies on piano accordion.
At the end of this most therapeutic session we shoot through to the main ballroom to catch the end of the regular Jim MacLeod Band Saturday evening dance. We spend an energetic, but enjoyable 20 minutes or so on the floor as the band take us through a medley of request dances. Clean, professional dance music this – not a hair out of place.
But never a dull moment ; after the last waltz Jim welcomes the Association members and invites them to let their hair down and do their own thing into the small hours. At this point Chic Kirkwood of the Dunblane Club and Eddie MacDonald of the Perth and Dundee Clubs take over and we are launched straight into a ‘Strip the Willow’ to the first-rate music of the Dundee A&F Club Junior Band, under the leadership of young Kevin Clark and the ever watchful eyes of dads Tom Clark and Ken Scott.
I don’t need to comment on the band’s performance ; you’ve heard me on about this group before, I’m a fan for life.
Now we’re out in the foyer again for a breath of air and a visit to the ‘powder room,’ but we never get there, pulled up sharp by the sound of a most melodious fiddle and dozens of glorious greetin’ grace notes wafting out of the lounge we had so recently vacated. We push our way in through the crowd which is by now quite dense and there playing away in characteristic fashion with eyes closed is ‘himself,’ our guest for the weekend, Ian Powrie, surrounded by players all giving of their best. Ton Clark, accordion, and John Strachan (piano), both of the Invertay Band ; young Stella Clark, fiddle, and Hugh Gebbie od East Kilbride on drums. ‘Colonel Robertson’, ‘Locheil’s’ Welcome’, ‘Ballochyle’, ‘Highland Wedding’, Shetland Reels etc. What a sound. We’re all going about daft with emotion and enthusiasm by now.
There are only two problems – some folk make better doors than windows and Ian ‘wastes’ at least 20 seconds between selections discussing what to play with his colleagues!
I think we can excuse this after such a long absence. But in traditional music circles when one is wound up 20 seconds is a long time, long enough to play ten or 12 bars of a good 2/4!
Suddenly, the sound gets even better, if this is possible, and we wonder ‘what’s next?’ (can’t see for the aforementioned ‘doors’). Simple answer. Bobby Crowe is now on second box – on second box! The ensemble is now so good that I am almost beyond help, but Jack Cooper, the organiser of the whole affair, keeps me on the straight and narrow by talking, imagine, talking during a religious ceremony. In reality he is asking me to write this paragraph.
But, to be serious, all the Powrie magic, the unmistakable melodious playing almost liquid in quality is still there in full and Ian is obviously completely relaxed and in his element. The supporting players in the group change from time to time – Colin Lander and Bill Weir from Peebles doing shifts on drums and Hamish Smith back on second accordion for a spell.
Unbelievably the time is now 1.58am and we are treated to an excellent fiddle solo spot by Stella Clark with the ‘Marchioness of Cornwallis’ and ‘The Eclipse Hornpipe’ ; 2.03am – dash through to the main hall to hear the fine accordion duo of Jennifer Forrest from Airdrie and George (?) swinging easily through ‘P/M J.K. Cairns’, ‘The Braemar Gathering’ and ‘The Conundrum’.
Now another sprint back to the lounge for fear we are missing anything. We’re almost doing the splits trying to be in two places at once. No sooner there than someone shouts’ Robbie Shepherd’s going to give us a song’ (he’s been dancing earlier), so away again to hear the ‘Buchan Bobby’ and others. All great stuff 3.15am – reluctantly decide to try and get a wink of sleep, so off to bed, but blissfully content. What an evening – haven’t done so much running for years – that is what it’s all about.
Postscript : This will sound like name dropping, but it’s not meant to be. I had a brief chat with Ian Powrie and Leila on the Sunday morning, the first time since a dance in the Rosemount Rooms in Montrose in 1956. Ian told me he had been at a function in Ayr a few days previously when a tune written in his honour ‘Kenny Thomson’s Compliments to Ian Powrie’ had been played. He diddled it over to me there and then, all four measures and no music of fiddle, but what a lift. He was obviously over the moon about it.
We also reminisced about the late 40s and early 50s when the Scottish dance bands used to broadcast live from the Coldside Studios in Dundee on a Saturday evening and then dash off to a dance at some wee hall. The Powrie band car – a big sloping-back Morris – used to pass us peching up the Marykirk Brae on our bikes heading for the dance in the St Laurence Hall in Laurencekirk after we had heard the broadcast.
Roll on Dunblane 1984.
Reel of the 51st Division
by Michael Young
On 12th June, 1940, the 51st Highland Division, last remnants of the British Expeditionary Force in France, surrendered to superior German armoured forces surrounding them at St Valery-en-Caux. In this small fishing port, Major General Victor Fortune surrendered to Major General Erwin Rommel, who was to gain much fame later in the Western Desert campaign in North Africa.
Although part of the Division escaped by various means back to England, the great majority – some thousands of men, the pride of the Highlands – marched off into captivity, from which only the end of the war in 1945 released them.
Among the 51st Division prisoners was Lieutenant J.E.M. (Jimmy) Atkinson of the 7th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who had been captured a week before St Valery soon after the German breakthrough. He had done a little Country Dancing in his home town of Alloa before the war and as he was trudging along the dusty roads of Holland, he occupied his mind occasionally by thinking of Scottish Country Dancing.
Idea
The seed of an idea came to him and he formulated the basic outline of a dance, the centerpiece of which was balancing in line diagonally, this represented the St Andrew’s Cross, which members of the Division wore on their uniforms. The famous HD flash had been removed for security reasons before going to France to join the rest of the B.E.F. The diagonal movement was merely a variation of the opening bars of ‘Scottish Reform’ and the circle which followed it was straight out of ‘Hamilton House’.
After several weeks of weary travel through France and Belgium the prisoners arrived at Wesel, on the Rhine, and they were sorted and sent by train to a variety of Prisoner of War Camps in Bavaria, Poland and Germany. With a number of other POWs from the Highland Division, Jimmy Atkinson eventually arrived in Laufen in Bavaria, near the border at Salzburg. This was OFLAG VIIC, their home for some months.
Shortly after their arrival, Lieut. A.P.J. (Peter) Oliver of the 4th Seaforth (ex-London Scottish) started up a Highland Dancing class, which Jimmy Atkinson rather nervously joined and, although their detailed knowledge of Scottish Country Dancing was limited, they formed a Reel Club. They were well supported and the Club continued through the five years of captivity, even though the leading characters were moved between the different POW Camps.
Dancing
In Laufen, dancing took place on the top landing of the prison hospital block; this was the only decent area away from the overcrowded areas of the rest of the prison. Officers met after lunch, normally three times a week, and although the poor prison diet limited attendance at first, about 20 appeared regularly after the Red Cross food parcels started arriving.
All musical instruments had been captured or destroyed by the Germans, so the leader either called out the tempo of the dance, or whistled the tune, not always accurately. When they were at Posen in Poland, chanters came through the Red Cross, and at Biberach a squeeze-box appeared, which greatly improved the musical accompaniment.
In 1940 it was a major problem to remember the steps of all the different Country Dances, and although the more standard dances were well known, some improvisation used to take place. To obviate any possible criticism of inaccuracies, it seemed to the POWs that it would be a good idea to write their own dances. Later in the war, of course, SCDS books were sent by post and the problem was solved.
About November, 1940, Jimmy Atkinson put his ideas for the dance to Peter Oliver, and together they worked it out on paper. A trial run was carried out by the Club members, with some success, on the concrete floor of the prison block.
By chance Atkinson and Oliver discovered among senior prisoners was a Lieutenant Colonel Tom Harris Hunter who had been the Commander Royal Army Service Corps (CRASC) of the 51st Highland Division until the Division was captured. Before the war he had been Chairman of the Perth Branch of the Society, and during the war his wife, an enthusiastic dancer and organiser, was Secretary of the same Branch.
Lt Col Harris Hunter willingly joined the Club, but because the steps of the opening eight bars did not accord with SCDS custom he suggested casting off three couples (because of the five couple set) and leading up to corners, patterned after the first eight bars of ‘Lady susan Stewart’s Reel.’ This appeared to be the best start for the dance and it was written in.
Hector Ross (4th Seaforths) who was both a piper and leader of the camp mouth organ band, composed a 6/8 tune for the dance, but unfortunately this has been lost. Dugald Stewart (8th Argylls) also composed a tune for the dance at the end of 1944, but it arrived back in the UK in 1945, too late to be accepted.
Tuition
Just as the Reel Club was polishing up the dance, and learning quite a number of others under the knowledgeable tuition of Lt Col Harris Hunter, most of the junior officers in Laufen were sent to Stalag XXID at Posen in Poland, and later to Biberach in Bavaria. They eventually rejoined each other in the autumn of 1941 in OFLAG VIIB at Warburg in Westphalia.
At Halowe’en, the dance was demonstrated to Major General Victor Fortune in the No 2 dining hall. That was its first public performance, as a mark of esteem and affection felt by the Highland Division POWs for all the selfless work done by him on their behalf. The GOC approved the dance and its name ‘The 51st Country Dance (Laufen Reel)’.
Both Harris Hunter and Jimmy Atkinson sent details of the dance to Scotland, one to his wife in Perth and the other to his fiancée in Easter Ross. It was clear from the absence of comment in letter from home that the letters had not arrived and on investigation it was discovered that the German censor had delayed the, believing the hieroglyphics to be a cunningly coded message.
As Harris Hunter was ‘paymaster’ for the POWs he took advantage of his contacts and arranged for a demonstration of the dance to be given to the German security officer. Jimmy Atkinson’s letter never reached home, but Harris hunter’s reached Perth safely.
Printed
Mrs Harris Hunter, assisted by Miss M.M. Scrimgoeur, worked out the dance with their members in a small wartime club in Perth. Mrs Hunter had a number of copies printed and distributed and to her astonishment she began to receive requests for particulars from all over the country, even as far south as London. The sale of copies by Miss Milligan raised over £150 for the Red Cross, of which £60 went to Mrs Hunter who sent gramophones etc out to the prisoners.
It was about this time that the title of the dance was changed, and it now seems impossible to define details exactly. It is known that letters from Perth talked about ‘The St Valery Reel’ which probably sounded a more marketable name than the rather unwieldy original. For certain a wartime Blue Label record was produced which referred to the ‘St Valery Reel.’
It is equally known that the POWs did not wish a defeat to be recorded in the title of their dance, but they felt that the 51st Division, would never be forgotten. It is therefore likely that when Miss Milligan wrote to Harris Hunter to ask him what he wanted it called, the view was that it should be called the ‘Reel of the 51st Division’ . This was certainly a more proper name for a dance written by soldiers for soldiers.
To begin with, the SCDS would not accept the dance, but the dance received a lot of press publicity. It is commonly believed that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth now the Queen Mother, saw the reel danced and that, being interested in the reel and its stark but romantic origins, she expressed the hope that the Society would incorporate it in their next book. Unfortunately it is not now possible to confirm the authenticity of this belief any more that it is that the dance was demonstrated before Her Majesty in the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The Queen Mother was approached in 1980 on these matters but she cannot recall any personal involvement.
The Executive Committee felt that, in victory year it was most appropriate to include the dance in their book (the 13th). It was at this time that the decision was made to bring the dance into line with SCD custom, and it was adapted for a four couple set. No longer did the dancers cast off three places.
In the same way as the title changed several times, the tune also changed. As has been mentioned, Hector Ross composed the first tune and towards the end of the war Dugald Stewart composed another which has never really been used. For most of the time the POWs danced the reel to ‘My Love She’s but a Lassie Yet!’ The tune which has become associated with the dance, however, is ‘The Drunken Piper’ which almost certainly was the one used by the Perth Branch during the war, and is now the ‘recognised’ tune for the ‘Reel of the 51st Division’.
Address to Ian Powrie
On the occasion of his honouring by the N.A.A.F.C. – June 26th, 1983
by Andy Stewart
Gin great Niel Gow had lived these times
Seventeen year sin syne
To write a tune for his brither fiddler
Shair he’d been inclined
And what it’s name this sad refrain
Wad hae soughed thro’ the Carse o’ Gowrie
An’ owr the Shire’s Perth’s fair lea
But ‘Farewell Ian Porwie’!
Farewell twad hae sang in ‘66
By birken grove and shaw
Sae sad that ilka flow’r wad droop
Syne let the tears doon-fa’
Nae mair in Scotland’s hoose or ha’
Whaur did his genius grow
He’ll snug his sweetheart till his chin
An’ rosin up the bow
Nae mair in jig or reel will jilk
That elbow swift yet steady
Nae mair will thae four fingers fly
Wi’ rhythm at the ready
Nae mair we’ll hear ‘Bouaglais’ plaid
That mony a hairt’s cry earned
Nor yetagain that dear refrain
‘The Floo’r o’ the Quern.’
Pam, Mickie, Jimmy, Arthur, Dave
Read the wards but to believe them
They fin’ it unco hard tae thole
That Powrie’s gan tae leave them!
What happy days they a hae shared
But blitheness has nae measure –
There is nae scale tae weigh content
Nor what’s the breadth o’ pleasure?
The whisper gaithered like a win’
Sprung fresh some winter morn –
An’ cauldrife whirled aboot the lan’
Till fairly did it storm
“Powrie’s to gine frae this his land
The countra gied him birth
Yet tho it’s half a warl’ awa
It’s name’s the same – Ay! Perth!
‘But Perth’s nae faur’ a chiel he cried
‘I learned that at the school –
It’s but three leagues fornnent Dundee
By a hill they ca’ Kinnoul!’
“Na na you fool – it’s not our Perth!
“Such a thought wad make ye heady!
“He canna emigrate tae whaur
“He’s bidin’ now already!”
In mony a wee bit cottar hoose
An mony a braw bigged fairm –
They’ve taen the worn auld Atlas oot
This ither Perth tae learn!
Syne there it is – a wee roon dot
Ay – Perth! Ye maunna doubt it!
A lanely lookin’ wee black spot
Wi’ damn a’ roon aboot it!
Weel no’ quite that! Come let’s be fair
An’ nae gie fell fause notion –
On the ae side twa thoosan’ mile o’ sand
On the tither ten thoosan’ of ocean!
Now when I heard the news – at last
I was like a paittrick gunned –
An’ gin the shot not mortal was
God’s michty – I was stunned!
“Man Ian” quoth I tae his gills
“Are you the very same
“Wi me got fu in this same Perth
“An’ sat an’ grat for hame?
I min’ it was the witchin’ oor
As we gae’d doon the street
“There’s bugger a’ ye could dae here’
Says you ‘but drink and greet!’
Syne hoo we sat and grat for hame
Of Perth and Auchterarder
The mair we talked the mair we drank
The mair we grat the harder!
But privacy’s a privilege
And every man’s the right
To see what to him’s logic
Tho’ to others tisna quite!
Forgive me brother if my vein
Of humour seems some tiresome
The business of your heart and head’s
Your ain tho’ fowk enquire some!
You gaithered a’ your freens aroon
Great, humble – pound and penny –
An bade a handsome braw fareweel
Tae your freens an’ they were many!
I min’ th’ occasion weel mysel’
Tho’ Sheila here may doubt me –
For gin I’d tarried langer syne
I think she’s a hame without me!
Ay what a day and night we had
At the Moncrieff Arms Hotel –
Some that thocht theirsel’s in heaven that night
I’ the mornin’ felt like hell !
As dear departed Arthur said
At mony a dawnin’ licht –
“Ay Ay my lads, I’ll say again
“It was a cheery nicht!”
Syne ye were gaen – Leila the bairns
Gied a’ they loved a last long hug
Ye micht hae vanished wi’ nae trace
For ye even took the dug!
But och the warl’s a meikle place
When freenship circles round
The Cosa Macnostra never sleeps
But has ay ae lug tae the ground!
A letter tak’s as lang’s a jet
Tae wing across the world
Sae noo and than the news o’ ye
Gie’d Scotia’s ear a birl
Min’ you like only second hand
Bit scrap o’ information –
Alang wi’ miles and time and tide
It gathered distortation!
Ye werena biggin middens noo
As when you had the farm
But hooses big as the empire state
Great millionaires to charm!
An’ syne we heard, as shair as daith –
When ye tired o’ the Wimpey game
Ye flew tae Timbuctoo and back
In your ain huge airyplane
An’ syne ye bocht a fermin’ place
Fat down-under they ca’ a station
An unco muckle piece o’ land
Aboot the size of the whole French nation
Wi’ huge big dingoes rinnin’ loose
Great muckle beasts an’ coarse –
Less like ony doggie here
An’ mair like an unco horse!
An’ foxes large as dear me what!
Ay large as polar bears –
Ye’s mak ten fur coats frae ae pelt
An’ hae five owr for spares
Syne I took on a trio mysel’
Down to Australia fair
Tho’ I maun confess it wasna yersel’
But the money took me there!
But there we met an’ there we saw
Faith what a load of sharn!
There ye were snug, content and weel
Wi’ Leila and baith your bairns
A fine bit hoose in a bonnie street
I was warmed to see your faces -
An’ ken that Leila and yourself
Had earned nae airs and graces
The hale band came at your invite
‘Enjoy yersels’ the rule
An mony a fire frae the barleycorn
Was dowsed in your swimming pool
An’ there was Max and Norma tae
Freens were we althegither
Guid faith we micht hae been at hame
Exceptin’ ay the weather
The time flew roon – syne took ye doon
An’ caress it like a wean –
Your ither sweetheart – truth tae tell
Had sair neglectit lain!
Man man but ye were affa blate
Tae tune her up and sing her –
Ye’d hae thocht ye were some untutored bairn
That kenned na how tae string her
But syne the bow ye dearly drew
An’ a nice bit tear ye moppet –
But aince ye got yokit – michty on’s
We couldna get ye stoppit!!
Sae Niel Gow was hae penned again
A lively tune tae diddle –
Nae Powrie’s farewell tae his ain countree
But Ian’s welcome back to his fiddle!
Sin syne your music since again
Gin I believe his ward
Across the land across the sea –
Its dear sweet voice was heard
‘When auld freens met’ I mind it well
Yon was a notion grand
Tae twine the fiddle and the box
The Powrie and the Shand
And when ye landed hamewith syne
Auld Gow he wadna lack
In strathspey time his notes sublime
Say ‘Ian Powrie’s back’
Tho’ not for long your sojourn then –
For ye winged back o’er the main –
Auld Niel’s maist confused but - wadna refuse
But gies ‘Powrie’s awa again’
Now since that time fate’s been unkind -
But the world’s a byornar place –
Gin in a lifespan all is fine
Nor ill-health shows its face
That ill-got chiel comes in unbid
And moistly unexpec’it –
Tae tak’ a halesome body’s frame
An’ div his best tae wreck it!
We heard the news – in twa parts twas –
An’ written in ae letter –
Guid news for ye’d been stricken siar –
But the next lines – ye were better!
And I saw this truth for mysel’
Last year fan I gaed roamin?!
An’ brocht the tidings – Powrie’s grand
Tae your freens fan I cam homin’
We’ve spoken since on the phone ye mind
Fan ye gied me syne a warnin’
“Tak it easy wi’ me Andra did ye say –
For here it’s 4.15 i’ the mornin’ –
Now my reply was nippit but
Twas meant tae coin a jest –
For Ian says I – at 4.15 a.m.
I’ve seen you at your best!
But back tae Gow, since I began
Wi’ a thocht o’him and his fame –
He’d hae wrocht this June – yet anither tune
Cried “Powrie’s hame again!”
Sae noo at gigs the Powrie jigs
Grace mony a tent or ha’
An’ richtly dae ye tak your place
A leader ‘mang them a’
The gift of music is a joy
To the very few is given –
An wha wad hide this precious joy
That surely comes frae heaven?
But as with ony gist o’ worth
There’s ay a price tae pay –
For ye ne’er can hide I’ the shadows
The licht that shows the way
As music is God’s gift tae you
These hands he pits its care in –
Are worth nae mair than an orra pair
Unless their gift you’re sharin’ –
Ay – music’s a demandin’ bairn
An frae the hour he’s bornin’
He’ll mak demands o’ thay twa hands –
Ay baith by nicht an’ morning’ –
An faith tho’ it be an unco price
An you fine ken that’s the way o’t –
Your hairt’s fu’ glad – ilka ilka time its had
Tae reckon wi’ the pay o’t
Noo tae see ye here, wi’ your ladt fair
Maks ilka hairt fu canty –
Wi your gift – her grace – there’s nane wad blame
Gin this day yese be vauntie!
An’ gin auld Gow were here this day –
A thocht this verse begun it
An’ noo I’m at the end o’ the rhyme
Guid sakes I’ll nae so saun it!
Oh wad that Gow were here this day
The thocht aw mair time I’ll voice it –
To see you honoured by your peers
His heart wad fain rejoice it!
Then what an air he’d sweetly make
And what should be its name
Than this my fren’ an wi’t I’ll end
‘Ian Powrie – welcome hame.!
The Reel Radio
by Tom Handy
John Huband Collection
by Ian Smith
The John Huband Collection of Original Compositions, No 1, is a must for all aspiring musicians. It is full of catchy melodies, written in simple keys and, with practice, easy to play. There are lots of little variations in the tunes but it is these that make them interesting and different. This makes for melodies that linger on.
There are 25 in the book and each one is dedicated or has a short foreword and the music and the symbols are clear.
‘Basle o’ Kirriemuir’ is my favourite, a simple but effective Swiss Polka, followed by the Box and Fiddle Rag (what else?)
At £5 per book the quality of the paper is worth that alone. One of the buys of 1983.
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel) –
Alnwick (Nag’s Head) – members only
Armadale (Masonic Arms Hotel) –
Balloch (Griffin Hotel, Alexandria) – 16 Oct 83 Bill black and Family
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff (Royal Oak Hotel) – 22 Sept 83 Alan Roy
Beith (Anderson Hotel) –
Belford (Community Club) – 29 Sept 83 Robin Brock 21 Oct 83 Supper Dance Rob Gordon SDB
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) –
Bridge of Allan (Walmer Hotel) -
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) –
Campbeltown (Argyll Arms) – 8 Oct 83 Peter Bruce
Castle Douglas (Ernespie Hotel) –
Cleland (Dalrymple House) – 12 Oct 83 Archie Duncan
Coupar Angus (Royal Hotel) –
Crieff & District (Arduthie Hotel) – 6 Oct 83 Jack Delaney SDB with Jacqueline Dick
Dalriada (Royal Hotel, Lochgilphead) –
Derwentside (Working Men’s Club, Consett) –
Dingwall (venue? ) –
Dunblane (Hydro) –
Dundee (Queen’s Hotel, Nethergate) –
Dunfermline (Northern Roadhouse) –
East Kilbride (Stuart Hotel) – 28 Sept 83 Fraser McGlynn
Edinburgh (The Berry Suite, Abbey Hill) –
Falkirk (Park Hotel) –
Fintry (Clachan Hotel) – 27 Sept 83 George Bell SDB
Forres (Brig Motel) –
Fort William (Caol Community Club) – 10 Oct 83 Ian Horsburgh
Galashiels (Maxwell Hotel) –
Galston (Theo’s Restaurant, Galston) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) – members only
Gorebridge (Rangers FC Social Club) –
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel) – 19 Sept 83 Jacqueline Dick 17 Oct 83 J Edmundson
Islesteps (Cargenholm Hotel) –
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 28 Sept 83 George Bell SDB
Kintore (Crown Hotel) –
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 15 Oct 83 George Bell SDB 4 Nov 83 Dance John Laidlaw SDB
Livingston (Royal British Legion Social Club) –
Lockerbie (Bluebell Hotel) –
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull, Milngavie) –
Morecambe (Yorkshire Hotel, Lancaster) -
New Cumnock (Crown Hotel) –
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 26 Sept 83 Jim Johnstone & Jimmy Ritchie
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel) –
North Cumbria (Huntsman Inn – Penton) (formerly called Gretna Club) –
North East (Royal Hotel, Keith) – 4 Oct 83 Addie Harper Trio
Oban (Park Hotel) –
Orkney ( venue?) –
Ormiston (Miners’ Welfare Social Club) –
Peebles (Ex-Servicemen’s Club) – 29 Sept 83 John Huband & the Tayside Sound
Perth (Salutation Hotel) –
Premier NI (Wilson’s of Crumlin) -
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel) -
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Shetland (venue?) -
Stranraer (Buck’s Head Hotel) –
Thornhill (?)
Thurso (Royal Hotel) –
Turriff (Royal Oak Hotel) -
Tynedale (The Royal Hotel, Hexham) –
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Armadale
2. Balloch
3. Banff & District
4. Belford
5. Crieff & District
6. Dundee & District
7. Dunfermline & District
8. East Kilbride
9. Edinburgh
10. Fort William
11. Galashiels
12. Highland
13. Islesteps
14. Lesmahagow
15. Livingston
16. M.A.F.I.A.
17. Newtongrange
18. North East
19. Ormiston
20. Peebles
21. Premier
22. Shetland
23. Thurso
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1983 (Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Sept 1976)
3. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1980) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months)
4. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition)
5. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition)
9. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
10. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974)
11. Buchan A&F Club
12. Callander A&F Club (
13. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
14. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980)
15. Cleland (cNov 1981) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
16. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
17. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
18. Derwentside A&F Club
19. Dingwall & District (May 1979 – per first report)
20. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971)
21. Dundee & District A&F Club
22. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
23. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
24. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
25. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
26. Fintry A&F Club
27. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
28. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
29. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
30. Galston A&F Club (1969 – per first edition)
31. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
32. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
33. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
34. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981)
35. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976)
36. Kinlochsheil A&F Club (
37. Kintore A&F Club
38. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
39. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967)
40. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
41. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – per first edition)
42. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973)
43. M.A.F.I.A. (early)
44. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
45. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
46. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
47. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1979)
48. North Cumbria A&F Club (originally Gretna started July 1965 – had to move to a venue in the North of England and changed name – eventually changed back when they returned to the Halcrow Stadium. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
49. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971)
50. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975)
51. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978)
52. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
53. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981)
54. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970)
55. Premier A&F Club NI (cNov 1980)
56. Rothbury Accordion Club (aka Coquetdale Club - Feb 1974)
57. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978)
58. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
59. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition)
60. Thurso A&F Club (cSept 1981)
61. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982)
62. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980)
63. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
64. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
65. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
66. Club Accord
67. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
68. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
69. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
70. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
71. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
72. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
73. Gretna A&F Club (June 1966)
74. Newcastleton Accordion Club
75. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
76. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
77. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
78. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
79. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
80. Wellbank A&F Club
Advertising rates
Full Page - £70
Half Page - £35
Quarter Page - £17.50
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Mary Plunkett, 2 Dounan Road, Dunragit, Wigtownshire
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
As they say in football parlance – here we go, here we go, here we go. Off to another season of fun and games. After the summer break everyone seems to be refreshed, rested and ready to go. Our best wishes to you all.
Please welcome Thornhill Club to the Association and may we hear lots about them.
There will be no Record Review this month as the script has been lost in the post somewhere between Galston and Stranraer. No comments please!
I see that a new cassette by John Huband has, what I believe to be a first – a stramash on tape – interesting.
Congratulations to Murdo MacLeod and the Livingston Committee and Club. They are about to begin their 10th year. There must be other Clubs too in this fine state of affairs. To then too we wish another 10 years of success.
The Weekend Reel
The Weekend of the AGM and Presentation Dinner has now become the annual highlight of the season’s activities. Music, laughter and nostalgia intermingled with informality, affection and novelty. The novelty of being a part in the making of history.
The honoured guest this year was the world-famous Ian Powrie, who came all the way from Australia with his wife Leila and daughter. They came amang their ain folk, if even for a brief spell, to a reception that won’t be forgotten for a very long time. One man’s account says it all. Here is Norman Williams’ account of the Saturday’s events.
Dunblane Weekend – Saturday Evening
by Norrie Williams
The Reception Area, Dunblane Hydro, Saturday, 25th June, time 9.30pm. Sheila (my wife) and I have just come in from a wee walk round the grounds and are standing chatting to some friends (everyone is a friend on the N.A.A.F.C. Weekend) when I catch the wing of someone with graying wavy hair sloping past with a black five-row at the short trail, heading for one of the small lounges.
No second bidding required, I hastily excuse myself and shoot off in pursuit. When Bobby MacLeod passes carrying a box I don’t hang about. A blissful hour follows as the man from Tobermory plays through selections of the best standards in his own inimitable, relaxed style.
He has this knack of making well known tunes interesting and a bit special – a held note here and an unexpected grace note there. We all know that these unscheduled happenings are the occasions which produce the best in traditional music.
This is no exception. In no time at all the room is full and to add to everyone’s enjoyment Bobby is joined first by Angus Fitchet (brighter than ever and in great form) and then by Jimmy Brown, with his usual ‘rossity’ heap below the strings.
Despite this particular obstacle the music is just great. Soon these stalwarts are joined by Hamish Smith from Glenfarg who provides excellent backing harmonies on piano accordion.
At the end of this most therapeutic session we shoot through to the main ballroom to catch the end of the regular Jim MacLeod Band Saturday evening dance. We spend an energetic, but enjoyable 20 minutes or so on the floor as the band take us through a medley of request dances. Clean, professional dance music this – not a hair out of place.
But never a dull moment ; after the last waltz Jim welcomes the Association members and invites them to let their hair down and do their own thing into the small hours. At this point Chic Kirkwood of the Dunblane Club and Eddie MacDonald of the Perth and Dundee Clubs take over and we are launched straight into a ‘Strip the Willow’ to the first-rate music of the Dundee A&F Club Junior Band, under the leadership of young Kevin Clark and the ever watchful eyes of dads Tom Clark and Ken Scott.
I don’t need to comment on the band’s performance ; you’ve heard me on about this group before, I’m a fan for life.
Now we’re out in the foyer again for a breath of air and a visit to the ‘powder room,’ but we never get there, pulled up sharp by the sound of a most melodious fiddle and dozens of glorious greetin’ grace notes wafting out of the lounge we had so recently vacated. We push our way in through the crowd which is by now quite dense and there playing away in characteristic fashion with eyes closed is ‘himself,’ our guest for the weekend, Ian Powrie, surrounded by players all giving of their best. Ton Clark, accordion, and John Strachan (piano), both of the Invertay Band ; young Stella Clark, fiddle, and Hugh Gebbie od East Kilbride on drums. ‘Colonel Robertson’, ‘Locheil’s’ Welcome’, ‘Ballochyle’, ‘Highland Wedding’, Shetland Reels etc. What a sound. We’re all going about daft with emotion and enthusiasm by now.
There are only two problems – some folk make better doors than windows and Ian ‘wastes’ at least 20 seconds between selections discussing what to play with his colleagues!
I think we can excuse this after such a long absence. But in traditional music circles when one is wound up 20 seconds is a long time, long enough to play ten or 12 bars of a good 2/4!
Suddenly, the sound gets even better, if this is possible, and we wonder ‘what’s next?’ (can’t see for the aforementioned ‘doors’). Simple answer. Bobby Crowe is now on second box – on second box! The ensemble is now so good that I am almost beyond help, but Jack Cooper, the organiser of the whole affair, keeps me on the straight and narrow by talking, imagine, talking during a religious ceremony. In reality he is asking me to write this paragraph.
But, to be serious, all the Powrie magic, the unmistakable melodious playing almost liquid in quality is still there in full and Ian is obviously completely relaxed and in his element. The supporting players in the group change from time to time – Colin Lander and Bill Weir from Peebles doing shifts on drums and Hamish Smith back on second accordion for a spell.
Unbelievably the time is now 1.58am and we are treated to an excellent fiddle solo spot by Stella Clark with the ‘Marchioness of Cornwallis’ and ‘The Eclipse Hornpipe’ ; 2.03am – dash through to the main hall to hear the fine accordion duo of Jennifer Forrest from Airdrie and George (?) swinging easily through ‘P/M J.K. Cairns’, ‘The Braemar Gathering’ and ‘The Conundrum’.
Now another sprint back to the lounge for fear we are missing anything. We’re almost doing the splits trying to be in two places at once. No sooner there than someone shouts’ Robbie Shepherd’s going to give us a song’ (he’s been dancing earlier), so away again to hear the ‘Buchan Bobby’ and others. All great stuff 3.15am – reluctantly decide to try and get a wink of sleep, so off to bed, but blissfully content. What an evening – haven’t done so much running for years – that is what it’s all about.
Postscript : This will sound like name dropping, but it’s not meant to be. I had a brief chat with Ian Powrie and Leila on the Sunday morning, the first time since a dance in the Rosemount Rooms in Montrose in 1956. Ian told me he had been at a function in Ayr a few days previously when a tune written in his honour ‘Kenny Thomson’s Compliments to Ian Powrie’ had been played. He diddled it over to me there and then, all four measures and no music of fiddle, but what a lift. He was obviously over the moon about it.
We also reminisced about the late 40s and early 50s when the Scottish dance bands used to broadcast live from the Coldside Studios in Dundee on a Saturday evening and then dash off to a dance at some wee hall. The Powrie band car – a big sloping-back Morris – used to pass us peching up the Marykirk Brae on our bikes heading for the dance in the St Laurence Hall in Laurencekirk after we had heard the broadcast.
Roll on Dunblane 1984.
Reel of the 51st Division
by Michael Young
On 12th June, 1940, the 51st Highland Division, last remnants of the British Expeditionary Force in France, surrendered to superior German armoured forces surrounding them at St Valery-en-Caux. In this small fishing port, Major General Victor Fortune surrendered to Major General Erwin Rommel, who was to gain much fame later in the Western Desert campaign in North Africa.
Although part of the Division escaped by various means back to England, the great majority – some thousands of men, the pride of the Highlands – marched off into captivity, from which only the end of the war in 1945 released them.
Among the 51st Division prisoners was Lieutenant J.E.M. (Jimmy) Atkinson of the 7th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who had been captured a week before St Valery soon after the German breakthrough. He had done a little Country Dancing in his home town of Alloa before the war and as he was trudging along the dusty roads of Holland, he occupied his mind occasionally by thinking of Scottish Country Dancing.
Idea
The seed of an idea came to him and he formulated the basic outline of a dance, the centerpiece of which was balancing in line diagonally, this represented the St Andrew’s Cross, which members of the Division wore on their uniforms. The famous HD flash had been removed for security reasons before going to France to join the rest of the B.E.F. The diagonal movement was merely a variation of the opening bars of ‘Scottish Reform’ and the circle which followed it was straight out of ‘Hamilton House’.
After several weeks of weary travel through France and Belgium the prisoners arrived at Wesel, on the Rhine, and they were sorted and sent by train to a variety of Prisoner of War Camps in Bavaria, Poland and Germany. With a number of other POWs from the Highland Division, Jimmy Atkinson eventually arrived in Laufen in Bavaria, near the border at Salzburg. This was OFLAG VIIC, their home for some months.
Shortly after their arrival, Lieut. A.P.J. (Peter) Oliver of the 4th Seaforth (ex-London Scottish) started up a Highland Dancing class, which Jimmy Atkinson rather nervously joined and, although their detailed knowledge of Scottish Country Dancing was limited, they formed a Reel Club. They were well supported and the Club continued through the five years of captivity, even though the leading characters were moved between the different POW Camps.
Dancing
In Laufen, dancing took place on the top landing of the prison hospital block; this was the only decent area away from the overcrowded areas of the rest of the prison. Officers met after lunch, normally three times a week, and although the poor prison diet limited attendance at first, about 20 appeared regularly after the Red Cross food parcels started arriving.
All musical instruments had been captured or destroyed by the Germans, so the leader either called out the tempo of the dance, or whistled the tune, not always accurately. When they were at Posen in Poland, chanters came through the Red Cross, and at Biberach a squeeze-box appeared, which greatly improved the musical accompaniment.
In 1940 it was a major problem to remember the steps of all the different Country Dances, and although the more standard dances were well known, some improvisation used to take place. To obviate any possible criticism of inaccuracies, it seemed to the POWs that it would be a good idea to write their own dances. Later in the war, of course, SCDS books were sent by post and the problem was solved.
About November, 1940, Jimmy Atkinson put his ideas for the dance to Peter Oliver, and together they worked it out on paper. A trial run was carried out by the Club members, with some success, on the concrete floor of the prison block.
By chance Atkinson and Oliver discovered among senior prisoners was a Lieutenant Colonel Tom Harris Hunter who had been the Commander Royal Army Service Corps (CRASC) of the 51st Highland Division until the Division was captured. Before the war he had been Chairman of the Perth Branch of the Society, and during the war his wife, an enthusiastic dancer and organiser, was Secretary of the same Branch.
Lt Col Harris Hunter willingly joined the Club, but because the steps of the opening eight bars did not accord with SCDS custom he suggested casting off three couples (because of the five couple set) and leading up to corners, patterned after the first eight bars of ‘Lady susan Stewart’s Reel.’ This appeared to be the best start for the dance and it was written in.
Hector Ross (4th Seaforths) who was both a piper and leader of the camp mouth organ band, composed a 6/8 tune for the dance, but unfortunately this has been lost. Dugald Stewart (8th Argylls) also composed a tune for the dance at the end of 1944, but it arrived back in the UK in 1945, too late to be accepted.
Tuition
Just as the Reel Club was polishing up the dance, and learning quite a number of others under the knowledgeable tuition of Lt Col Harris Hunter, most of the junior officers in Laufen were sent to Stalag XXID at Posen in Poland, and later to Biberach in Bavaria. They eventually rejoined each other in the autumn of 1941 in OFLAG VIIB at Warburg in Westphalia.
At Halowe’en, the dance was demonstrated to Major General Victor Fortune in the No 2 dining hall. That was its first public performance, as a mark of esteem and affection felt by the Highland Division POWs for all the selfless work done by him on their behalf. The GOC approved the dance and its name ‘The 51st Country Dance (Laufen Reel)’.
Both Harris Hunter and Jimmy Atkinson sent details of the dance to Scotland, one to his wife in Perth and the other to his fiancée in Easter Ross. It was clear from the absence of comment in letter from home that the letters had not arrived and on investigation it was discovered that the German censor had delayed the, believing the hieroglyphics to be a cunningly coded message.
As Harris Hunter was ‘paymaster’ for the POWs he took advantage of his contacts and arranged for a demonstration of the dance to be given to the German security officer. Jimmy Atkinson’s letter never reached home, but Harris hunter’s reached Perth safely.
Printed
Mrs Harris Hunter, assisted by Miss M.M. Scrimgoeur, worked out the dance with their members in a small wartime club in Perth. Mrs Hunter had a number of copies printed and distributed and to her astonishment she began to receive requests for particulars from all over the country, even as far south as London. The sale of copies by Miss Milligan raised over £150 for the Red Cross, of which £60 went to Mrs Hunter who sent gramophones etc out to the prisoners.
It was about this time that the title of the dance was changed, and it now seems impossible to define details exactly. It is known that letters from Perth talked about ‘The St Valery Reel’ which probably sounded a more marketable name than the rather unwieldy original. For certain a wartime Blue Label record was produced which referred to the ‘St Valery Reel.’
It is equally known that the POWs did not wish a defeat to be recorded in the title of their dance, but they felt that the 51st Division, would never be forgotten. It is therefore likely that when Miss Milligan wrote to Harris Hunter to ask him what he wanted it called, the view was that it should be called the ‘Reel of the 51st Division’ . This was certainly a more proper name for a dance written by soldiers for soldiers.
To begin with, the SCDS would not accept the dance, but the dance received a lot of press publicity. It is commonly believed that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth now the Queen Mother, saw the reel danced and that, being interested in the reel and its stark but romantic origins, she expressed the hope that the Society would incorporate it in their next book. Unfortunately it is not now possible to confirm the authenticity of this belief any more that it is that the dance was demonstrated before Her Majesty in the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The Queen Mother was approached in 1980 on these matters but she cannot recall any personal involvement.
The Executive Committee felt that, in victory year it was most appropriate to include the dance in their book (the 13th). It was at this time that the decision was made to bring the dance into line with SCD custom, and it was adapted for a four couple set. No longer did the dancers cast off three places.
In the same way as the title changed several times, the tune also changed. As has been mentioned, Hector Ross composed the first tune and towards the end of the war Dugald Stewart composed another which has never really been used. For most of the time the POWs danced the reel to ‘My Love She’s but a Lassie Yet!’ The tune which has become associated with the dance, however, is ‘The Drunken Piper’ which almost certainly was the one used by the Perth Branch during the war, and is now the ‘recognised’ tune for the ‘Reel of the 51st Division’.
Address to Ian Powrie
On the occasion of his honouring by the N.A.A.F.C. – June 26th, 1983
by Andy Stewart
Gin great Niel Gow had lived these times
Seventeen year sin syne
To write a tune for his brither fiddler
Shair he’d been inclined
And what it’s name this sad refrain
Wad hae soughed thro’ the Carse o’ Gowrie
An’ owr the Shire’s Perth’s fair lea
But ‘Farewell Ian Porwie’!
Farewell twad hae sang in ‘66
By birken grove and shaw
Sae sad that ilka flow’r wad droop
Syne let the tears doon-fa’
Nae mair in Scotland’s hoose or ha’
Whaur did his genius grow
He’ll snug his sweetheart till his chin
An’ rosin up the bow
Nae mair in jig or reel will jilk
That elbow swift yet steady
Nae mair will thae four fingers fly
Wi’ rhythm at the ready
Nae mair we’ll hear ‘Bouaglais’ plaid
That mony a hairt’s cry earned
Nor yetagain that dear refrain
‘The Floo’r o’ the Quern.’
Pam, Mickie, Jimmy, Arthur, Dave
Read the wards but to believe them
They fin’ it unco hard tae thole
That Powrie’s gan tae leave them!
What happy days they a hae shared
But blitheness has nae measure –
There is nae scale tae weigh content
Nor what’s the breadth o’ pleasure?
The whisper gaithered like a win’
Sprung fresh some winter morn –
An’ cauldrife whirled aboot the lan’
Till fairly did it storm
“Powrie’s to gine frae this his land
The countra gied him birth
Yet tho it’s half a warl’ awa
It’s name’s the same – Ay! Perth!
‘But Perth’s nae faur’ a chiel he cried
‘I learned that at the school –
It’s but three leagues fornnent Dundee
By a hill they ca’ Kinnoul!’
“Na na you fool – it’s not our Perth!
“Such a thought wad make ye heady!
“He canna emigrate tae whaur
“He’s bidin’ now already!”
In mony a wee bit cottar hoose
An mony a braw bigged fairm –
They’ve taen the worn auld Atlas oot
This ither Perth tae learn!
Syne there it is – a wee roon dot
Ay – Perth! Ye maunna doubt it!
A lanely lookin’ wee black spot
Wi’ damn a’ roon aboot it!
Weel no’ quite that! Come let’s be fair
An’ nae gie fell fause notion –
On the ae side twa thoosan’ mile o’ sand
On the tither ten thoosan’ of ocean!
Now when I heard the news – at last
I was like a paittrick gunned –
An’ gin the shot not mortal was
God’s michty – I was stunned!
“Man Ian” quoth I tae his gills
“Are you the very same
“Wi me got fu in this same Perth
“An’ sat an’ grat for hame?
I min’ it was the witchin’ oor
As we gae’d doon the street
“There’s bugger a’ ye could dae here’
Says you ‘but drink and greet!’
Syne hoo we sat and grat for hame
Of Perth and Auchterarder
The mair we talked the mair we drank
The mair we grat the harder!
But privacy’s a privilege
And every man’s the right
To see what to him’s logic
Tho’ to others tisna quite!
Forgive me brother if my vein
Of humour seems some tiresome
The business of your heart and head’s
Your ain tho’ fowk enquire some!
You gaithered a’ your freens aroon
Great, humble – pound and penny –
An bade a handsome braw fareweel
Tae your freens an’ they were many!
I min’ th’ occasion weel mysel’
Tho’ Sheila here may doubt me –
For gin I’d tarried langer syne
I think she’s a hame without me!
Ay what a day and night we had
At the Moncrieff Arms Hotel –
Some that thocht theirsel’s in heaven that night
I’ the mornin’ felt like hell !
As dear departed Arthur said
At mony a dawnin’ licht –
“Ay Ay my lads, I’ll say again
“It was a cheery nicht!”
Syne ye were gaen – Leila the bairns
Gied a’ they loved a last long hug
Ye micht hae vanished wi’ nae trace
For ye even took the dug!
But och the warl’s a meikle place
When freenship circles round
The Cosa Macnostra never sleeps
But has ay ae lug tae the ground!
A letter tak’s as lang’s a jet
Tae wing across the world
Sae noo and than the news o’ ye
Gie’d Scotia’s ear a birl
Min’ you like only second hand
Bit scrap o’ information –
Alang wi’ miles and time and tide
It gathered distortation!
Ye werena biggin middens noo
As when you had the farm
But hooses big as the empire state
Great millionaires to charm!
An’ syne we heard, as shair as daith –
When ye tired o’ the Wimpey game
Ye flew tae Timbuctoo and back
In your ain huge airyplane
An’ syne ye bocht a fermin’ place
Fat down-under they ca’ a station
An unco muckle piece o’ land
Aboot the size of the whole French nation
Wi’ huge big dingoes rinnin’ loose
Great muckle beasts an’ coarse –
Less like ony doggie here
An’ mair like an unco horse!
An’ foxes large as dear me what!
Ay large as polar bears –
Ye’s mak ten fur coats frae ae pelt
An’ hae five owr for spares
Syne I took on a trio mysel’
Down to Australia fair
Tho’ I maun confess it wasna yersel’
But the money took me there!
But there we met an’ there we saw
Faith what a load of sharn!
There ye were snug, content and weel
Wi’ Leila and baith your bairns
A fine bit hoose in a bonnie street
I was warmed to see your faces -
An’ ken that Leila and yourself
Had earned nae airs and graces
The hale band came at your invite
‘Enjoy yersels’ the rule
An mony a fire frae the barleycorn
Was dowsed in your swimming pool
An’ there was Max and Norma tae
Freens were we althegither
Guid faith we micht hae been at hame
Exceptin’ ay the weather
The time flew roon – syne took ye doon
An’ caress it like a wean –
Your ither sweetheart – truth tae tell
Had sair neglectit lain!
Man man but ye were affa blate
Tae tune her up and sing her –
Ye’d hae thocht ye were some untutored bairn
That kenned na how tae string her
But syne the bow ye dearly drew
An’ a nice bit tear ye moppet –
But aince ye got yokit – michty on’s
We couldna get ye stoppit!!
Sae Niel Gow was hae penned again
A lively tune tae diddle –
Nae Powrie’s farewell tae his ain countree
But Ian’s welcome back to his fiddle!
Sin syne your music since again
Gin I believe his ward
Across the land across the sea –
Its dear sweet voice was heard
‘When auld freens met’ I mind it well
Yon was a notion grand
Tae twine the fiddle and the box
The Powrie and the Shand
And when ye landed hamewith syne
Auld Gow he wadna lack
In strathspey time his notes sublime
Say ‘Ian Powrie’s back’
Tho’ not for long your sojourn then –
For ye winged back o’er the main –
Auld Niel’s maist confused but - wadna refuse
But gies ‘Powrie’s awa again’
Now since that time fate’s been unkind -
But the world’s a byornar place –
Gin in a lifespan all is fine
Nor ill-health shows its face
That ill-got chiel comes in unbid
And moistly unexpec’it –
Tae tak’ a halesome body’s frame
An’ div his best tae wreck it!
We heard the news – in twa parts twas –
An’ written in ae letter –
Guid news for ye’d been stricken siar –
But the next lines – ye were better!
And I saw this truth for mysel’
Last year fan I gaed roamin?!
An’ brocht the tidings – Powrie’s grand
Tae your freens fan I cam homin’
We’ve spoken since on the phone ye mind
Fan ye gied me syne a warnin’
“Tak it easy wi’ me Andra did ye say –
For here it’s 4.15 i’ the mornin’ –
Now my reply was nippit but
Twas meant tae coin a jest –
For Ian says I – at 4.15 a.m.
I’ve seen you at your best!
But back tae Gow, since I began
Wi’ a thocht o’him and his fame –
He’d hae wrocht this June – yet anither tune
Cried “Powrie’s hame again!”
Sae noo at gigs the Powrie jigs
Grace mony a tent or ha’
An’ richtly dae ye tak your place
A leader ‘mang them a’
The gift of music is a joy
To the very few is given –
An wha wad hide this precious joy
That surely comes frae heaven?
But as with ony gist o’ worth
There’s ay a price tae pay –
For ye ne’er can hide I’ the shadows
The licht that shows the way
As music is God’s gift tae you
These hands he pits its care in –
Are worth nae mair than an orra pair
Unless their gift you’re sharin’ –
Ay – music’s a demandin’ bairn
An frae the hour he’s bornin’
He’ll mak demands o’ thay twa hands –
Ay baith by nicht an’ morning’ –
An faith tho’ it be an unco price
An you fine ken that’s the way o’t –
Your hairt’s fu’ glad – ilka ilka time its had
Tae reckon wi’ the pay o’t
Noo tae see ye here, wi’ your ladt fair
Maks ilka hairt fu canty –
Wi your gift – her grace – there’s nane wad blame
Gin this day yese be vauntie!
An’ gin auld Gow were here this day –
A thocht this verse begun it
An’ noo I’m at the end o’ the rhyme
Guid sakes I’ll nae so saun it!
Oh wad that Gow were here this day
The thocht aw mair time I’ll voice it –
To see you honoured by your peers
His heart wad fain rejoice it!
Then what an air he’d sweetly make
And what should be its name
Than this my fren’ an wi’t I’ll end
‘Ian Powrie – welcome hame.!
The Reel Radio
by Tom Handy
John Huband Collection
by Ian Smith
The John Huband Collection of Original Compositions, No 1, is a must for all aspiring musicians. It is full of catchy melodies, written in simple keys and, with practice, easy to play. There are lots of little variations in the tunes but it is these that make them interesting and different. This makes for melodies that linger on.
There are 25 in the book and each one is dedicated or has a short foreword and the music and the symbols are clear.
‘Basle o’ Kirriemuir’ is my favourite, a simple but effective Swiss Polka, followed by the Box and Fiddle Rag (what else?)
At £5 per book the quality of the paper is worth that alone. One of the buys of 1983.
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel) –
Alnwick (Nag’s Head) – members only
Armadale (Masonic Arms Hotel) –
Balloch (Griffin Hotel, Alexandria) – 16 Oct 83 Bill black and Family
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff (Royal Oak Hotel) – 22 Sept 83 Alan Roy
Beith (Anderson Hotel) –
Belford (Community Club) – 29 Sept 83 Robin Brock 21 Oct 83 Supper Dance Rob Gordon SDB
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) –
Bridge of Allan (Walmer Hotel) -
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) –
Campbeltown (Argyll Arms) – 8 Oct 83 Peter Bruce
Castle Douglas (Ernespie Hotel) –
Cleland (Dalrymple House) – 12 Oct 83 Archie Duncan
Coupar Angus (Royal Hotel) –
Crieff & District (Arduthie Hotel) – 6 Oct 83 Jack Delaney SDB with Jacqueline Dick
Dalriada (Royal Hotel, Lochgilphead) –
Derwentside (Working Men’s Club, Consett) –
Dingwall (venue? ) –
Dunblane (Hydro) –
Dundee (Queen’s Hotel, Nethergate) –
Dunfermline (Northern Roadhouse) –
East Kilbride (Stuart Hotel) – 28 Sept 83 Fraser McGlynn
Edinburgh (The Berry Suite, Abbey Hill) –
Falkirk (Park Hotel) –
Fintry (Clachan Hotel) – 27 Sept 83 George Bell SDB
Forres (Brig Motel) –
Fort William (Caol Community Club) – 10 Oct 83 Ian Horsburgh
Galashiels (Maxwell Hotel) –
Galston (Theo’s Restaurant, Galston) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) – members only
Gorebridge (Rangers FC Social Club) –
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel) – 19 Sept 83 Jacqueline Dick 17 Oct 83 J Edmundson
Islesteps (Cargenholm Hotel) –
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 28 Sept 83 George Bell SDB
Kintore (Crown Hotel) –
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 15 Oct 83 George Bell SDB 4 Nov 83 Dance John Laidlaw SDB
Livingston (Royal British Legion Social Club) –
Lockerbie (Bluebell Hotel) –
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull, Milngavie) –
Morecambe (Yorkshire Hotel, Lancaster) -
New Cumnock (Crown Hotel) –
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 26 Sept 83 Jim Johnstone & Jimmy Ritchie
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel) –
North Cumbria (Huntsman Inn – Penton) (formerly called Gretna Club) –
North East (Royal Hotel, Keith) – 4 Oct 83 Addie Harper Trio
Oban (Park Hotel) –
Orkney ( venue?) –
Ormiston (Miners’ Welfare Social Club) –
Peebles (Ex-Servicemen’s Club) – 29 Sept 83 John Huband & the Tayside Sound
Perth (Salutation Hotel) –
Premier NI (Wilson’s of Crumlin) -
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel) -
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Shetland (venue?) -
Stranraer (Buck’s Head Hotel) –
Thornhill (?)
Thurso (Royal Hotel) –
Turriff (Royal Oak Hotel) -
Tynedale (The Royal Hotel, Hexham) –
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Armadale
2. Balloch
3. Banff & District
4. Belford
5. Crieff & District
6. Dundee & District
7. Dunfermline & District
8. East Kilbride
9. Edinburgh
10. Fort William
11. Galashiels
12. Highland
13. Islesteps
14. Lesmahagow
15. Livingston
16. M.A.F.I.A.
17. Newtongrange
18. North East
19. Ormiston
20. Peebles
21. Premier
22. Shetland
23. Thurso
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1983 (Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Sept 1976)
3. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1980) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months)
4. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition)
5. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition)
9. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
10. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974)
11. Buchan A&F Club
12. Callander A&F Club (
13. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
14. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980)
15. Cleland (cNov 1981) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
16. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
17. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
18. Derwentside A&F Club
19. Dingwall & District (May 1979 – per first report)
20. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971)
21. Dundee & District A&F Club
22. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
23. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
24. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
25. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
26. Fintry A&F Club
27. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
28. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
29. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
30. Galston A&F Club (1969 – per first edition)
31. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
32. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
33. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
34. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981)
35. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976)
36. Kinlochsheil A&F Club (
37. Kintore A&F Club
38. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
39. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967)
40. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
41. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – per first edition)
42. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973)
43. M.A.F.I.A. (early)
44. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
45. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
46. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
47. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1979)
48. North Cumbria A&F Club (originally Gretna started July 1965 – had to move to a venue in the North of England and changed name – eventually changed back when they returned to the Halcrow Stadium. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
49. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971)
50. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975)
51. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978)
52. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
53. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981)
54. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970)
55. Premier A&F Club NI (cNov 1980)
56. Rothbury Accordion Club (aka Coquetdale Club - Feb 1974)
57. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978)
58. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
59. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition)
60. Thurso A&F Club (cSept 1981)
61. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982)
62. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980)
63. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
64. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
65. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
66. Club Accord
67. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
68. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
69. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
70. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
71. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
72. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
73. Gretna A&F Club (June 1966)
74. Newcastleton Accordion Club
75. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
76. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
77. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
78. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
79. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
80. Wellbank A&F Club
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