Box and Fiddle
Year 33 No 01
September 2009
Price £2.50
44 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £27.50 + p&p £9.90 (UK)
Editor – Karin Ingram, Hawick
B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time-consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
This has been an amazingly quick year – I don’t know where the time has gone! Welcome back to the 33rd year of the B&F magazine.
As usual in September we carry a report on our NAAFC AGM and Celebrity Luncheon, which was held in June. I took plenty of photographs, but they were all of performers, Guests of Honour and BAFFI winners. If anyone has good, clear photos of other ceilidh attendees we’d like to include them next month if you send them to us.
A storm is brewing on Page 30! I can’t believe that the BBC intends to axe The Reel Blend. Hopefully they will be inundated with letters of complaint!
Karin Ingram
Huntingtower 2009
by Robin Ellis
The last Sunday in June is traditionally that of the NAAFC AGM and, as is often the case, it was one of the none too plentiful good days of summer.
The AGM passed off quickly and without incident, giving time to renew old acquaintances and admire the wonderful collection of photographs on show. Seeing some of today’s famous names in days gone by, many with the then fashionable vast quantities of hair, was a real treat. It just shows the staying power of most Scottish dance musicians.
At 1.00pm we sat down to a lunch of leek and potato soup, chicken with a timbale of haggis, neeps and tatties, and a delightful desert of raspberries, pineapple and mango sorbet.
At 3.00pm after much animated conversation, our Chairman, Nicol McLaren called the assembled company to order so that we might start the serious business of the afternoon – the Winners of the BAFFIs. This was organised by Charlie Todd and Susan MacFadyen and the worthy winners were as follows :-
CD of the Year – Tom Orr for Tomorrow’s World
Club Supporter of the Year – Sheena Kelman
Club of the Year – Button Key (Windygates)
Guest Artist of the Year – Archie MacPhee & the Bogroy Band
Nicol then introduced our Compere for most of the afternoon, John Carmichael. A well-known personality in the Scottish music world and someone with an inexhaustible fund of stories delivered in a manner rather like a machine gun. If you don’t concentrate you may miss one! John then strapped on his accordion and was joined by Dennis Morrison on keyboard, Marie Fielding on fiddle and Charlie Todd on drums to set the tone for the musical part of the afternoon.
At intervals we had a break from music to honour our three guests. The first was Rory MacLeod, a man of many talents – Highland Club’s ex-Chairman, organiser and compere, 3-row player and presenter on local radio in the Inverness area. Many areas of Scotland have excellent local and community radio stations, something that seems to be sadly lacking in the South of England, more’s the pity.
Our second guest was Tom Alexander MBE. I first remember Tom when he and brother Jack came to entertain us at the ‘Festival of Scotland’ concert in London’s Albert Hall some 45 years ago and he hasn’t changed a bit. You name it, he’s been there and done it. A real professional with obvious staying power. My only regret is that we didn’t manage to get him to play for us – maybe one day.
The third guest was Andrew Knight. Andrew, who during the day is a piano tuner, is another who seems to have had a varied and fascinating musical career. A fiddler much in demand. I also get the feeling that he frequents the same barber and tailor as Billy Connolly, but that’s show business for you.
The rest of the afternoon was made up of bands comprising :
Accordionists – Susan MacFadyen, Morag Robertson, Matthew MacLennan, Hector MacFadyen, Alastair Currie, Alan Roy, James Coutts, Iain Cathcart, Michael Philip, Richard Ross, Graeme Munro, Frank Thomson, John Carmichael and our own Nicol McLaren.
Fiddle – Marie Fielding, Stella Wilkie, Shona MacFadyen, Andrew Knight and Raemond Jappy.
Keyboard – Shauna Flockhart, Joan Blue, Mo Rutherford and Pam Wilkie
Drums – Charlie Todd, George MacLeod, Dennis Morrison (versatile chap is Dennis) and George Brown.
Unfortunately for the first time in many years there were no bass players, so we had none of the usual 6-piece bands. In fact it was most noticeable that many of the bands were only four, three or two-piece or even soloists this year. The stramash comprised only seven players, whereas in past years there have been 15 or more. So have the cuts really reached the Scottish band world? I do hope not.
One other interesting point was that many of the accordionists seemed to have moved on from the beloved Morinos and are now sporting Golas. So there must be money in Scottish dance music after all, I thought – until I realised that they were in many cases playing the same Gola! It seems that the cuts are now so severe that the players no longer bring an instrument, they just borrow one! Oh dear, times are hard!
One further thought: playing for dancing used to be an almost entirely male preserve, but these days there are many excellent lady musicians. How long before we see an ‘All Girl Band’? It may be something for Take the Floor – how about it Jennifer?
Finally we must thank Jim Balneaves for his usual superb organisation of the afternoon. Quiet efficiency is the name of the game and I know we all appreciate it. And also thanks to Bobby Harvey for taking over as Compere for the last part of the proceedings – another great story teller incidentally!
Well that is it all over for another year and I look forward to meeting up again in 2010, but for me it is not quite the end. Margaret and I are off on holiday to an area that I have always wanted to visit and at last we can – the Western Isles. I see Lewis & Harris A&F Club continue throughout the summer. Maybe we shall be able to drop in and see how they do things 850 miles from our end of the country.
Till next year then……………..
AGM 2009 Minutes
by
Chairman Nicol McLaren……………..
Gary Blair – Back in the USA
by Gary Blair
Gary Blair’s United States Tour 2009……………..
Goodbye Reel Blend
by
BBC announce that as from 19th September 2009 they will have only one programme running from 7.05pm till 9.00pm on a Saturday evening and this will be repeated on a Sunday ………………
Perth Diamond Jubilee
Diamond Jubilee of The Perth All Scotland Accordion & Fiddle Festival
by Bill Wilkie
The Perth All Scotland Accordion & Fiddle Festival, as we know it now, was derived from my stage shows. When I returned to Perth following the war years I produced a show called ’The Gay Gilliards’. Please understand that the word ‘gay’ had a very different meaning in those days from what it does now!
The show was a fast-moving revue with scenery and comedy sketches as well as solo acts. I soon found that the more accordion and fiddle I introduced, the greater the audience we attracted. I called this form of entertainment ‘Accordion Variety’.
We packed The Perth Theatre (capacity 960) and The Alhambra Cinema (capacity 1,450). We had to turn hundreds away, so I moved to The City Hall, which held about 2,000, and we packed that as well.
The National Accordion Organisation of Great Britain then approached me to run their North East Scotland Contests, which I did, but this was for classical and light classical music. Being a London-based organisation they weren’t interested in catering for the traditional Scottish musician. I decided to remedy that. I introduced Scottish sections, including ‘The Senior Scottish’ which developed into ‘The Open Solo All Scotland Championship’.
I went to see Jimmy Shand to seek his advice. He suggested a march, strathspey and reel for test pieces. He also gave me tremendous encouragement by saying, “Go and get a good trophy and I will pay for it.” Hence The Jimmy Shand Shield.
Accordionists came in droves from every part of Scotland, from the towns and cities and from tiny, remote villages. It was like Hogmanay! Friends meeting friends, the exciting atmosphere of joy and friendship was fantastic. Because of the Festival, Perth was known to many as the accordion capital of Scotland.
My late wife, Ena, was the heart and soul of the Festival. Her kind, warm personality put everyone at ease and resolved many problems. We had dozens of willing helpers but Ena compiled the concert programme – an almost impossible task! Just imagine, as in 1973, when we had a total of 486 entries and five halls running all day long. A competitor could be in several sections; perhaps in the Junior Scottish in The City Hall and in the Under 14s in The Salutation Hotel, which was running at the same time. If you switched him you created a problem for some other player. Sometimes we had to rely on the ingenuity of the Stage Manager to get us out of difficulties. Kind people donated a galaxy of handsome challenge trophies, which are still competed for every year.
I was careful to engage the very best adjudicators money could buy, bringing musicians like Graham Romani and Jack Emblow all the way from London.
I will always be so grateful to our own friends and colleagues who gave so generously of their time and energy as stage managers, secretaries, front of house staff etc. To name them all would take pages and I would be sure to miss out someone causing disappointment and offence. I would like to mention however Carol Davidson, who has been General Secretary for many years, and her assistant, Rhoda Wallace, and of course Mickie Ainsworth, who has stage managed the Scottish sections in The City Hall for longer than I can remember, and his assistant Vic Wallace.
Another name that springs to mind is Mo Rutherford, who has helped in so many ways, not only in the contests but also on stage in the show with her many musical talents. I must mention john Cruickshank, who has served longer than most in the front of house in many halls including The City Hall.
To get back to the phenomenal entries….on one occasion we had 66 in The Senior Scottish, and on another occasion this section over-ran to such an extent that we were only half way through it in The City Hall when the show was due to start! We marched the remaining contestants down to the YMCA Hall and continued the contest, meantime the show went on! When we had the finalists, we marched them back to the City Hall to compete for the Championship.
At one time the accordion came under unfair adverse criticism from some classical musicians who didn’t take the trouble to understand it. They declared it wasn’t a musical instrument, which maddened me, so I started being to my shows the greatest exponents from all over the world to prove the incredible potential of the instrument: Toralf Tollefsen from Norway, Jorgan Sundquist from Sweden, Oleg Sharof and Roman Ibanov from Russia, Marcel Azzola, Danielle Pauly and Dominique Emorine from France, Marcosignori, Wolmer Beltrami and Angelo Cardinaly from Italy and others.
This didn’t please some of the purely Scottish audience, but it was necessary to uphold the status of our instrument and these virtuoso players were just out of this world – and so was the music.
I featured in my shows all the top Scottish bands of that time – Jimmy Shand, Ian Powrie, Jim Cameron, Bobby MacLeod, Angus Fitchet, Jim MacLeod and all the other great bands too numerous to mention.
I also brought Scotland’s greatest names in variety, Dave Willis, Jack Milroy, Chic Murray, Johnny Beattie, Robert Wilson, Calum Kennedy, Will Starr and dozens of other artistes not so well known who were terrific entertainment.
At one time The All Britain NAO Championships were held in different parts of the UK each year and, in 1973, I was asked to organize The All Britain Contests in Perth. I pulled out all the stops with a civic reception on Friday for officials, adjudicators, artistes etc, and a special dinner in The George Hotel on Sunday where our Lord Provost presided. Of course it gave me the opportunity of presenting one of my most spectacular shows on Saturday evening with Marcosignori, Jack Emblow, etc, etc. Another great highlight in the Festival history was our 40th Anniversary. I thought that after forty years this would probably be my last, so I decided to put on a week of events, the climax of which would be a gigantic parade through the City of Perth.
Led by the Pipe Band, followed by majorettes and by the Festival Queen and her attendants in a pony and trap, we had floats with Scottish bands and dancers, bothy night scenes, jazz bands, you name it we had it!!
Because of an article in The Scots Magazine, we had reporters from Switzerland, journalists from London and many parts of Scotland.
It was a memorable event and here we are at our Diamond Jubilee, which I am sure will be exciting and equally memorable. The two shows are already well on their way to being sold out. I would like to pay tribute here to Billy Coburn, my son-in-law and manager, who now handles all the contest side of the Festival. He was also in charge of the sound system and much of the stage management in The City Hall and now in The Concert Hall. Of course he and by daughter Di have been partners in the business of Wilkie’s Music House for some years now.
Perthshire Amber
With less than three months to the Festival, …………….
Beltrami Accordion Festival 2009
Norman English is again privileged to present…….
Pam Wilkie
by Frank Thomson
It was a freezing cold night on 19th November 1947 as Pam perched on the pillion seat of Ian Powrie’s two-stroke motorbike chugging along to the village of Forgandenny. Pam had taken the seven-pence bus journey out the Glasgow Road from Perth to meet Ian on his motorbike at the Forteviot road end for the short journey to play at the re-opening of the newly refurbished Forgandenny Hall. This is Pam’s earliest recollection of playing with the celebrated Ian Powrie Band, and the start of her love affair with Scottish music. Now aged 82, Pam was born and brought up in Perth, where she still lives in Bridgend. From her lounge window you can see one of the finest views of Perth overlooking the old River Tay Bridge up to the North Inch, and onwards towards the hills of the Sma’ Glen. Idyllic stuff, and I wonder if Pam’s innovative harmonies and sympathetic accompanying skills have been inspired by living amid such harmonious surroundings.
What makes Pam so special and revered among musicians in Scotland? It all seems to come so naturally to Pam, but her innate talent to suss out the best harmonies, passing notes/suspensions, progressions and modulations, along with her amazingly sympathetic accompaniment skills certainly singles her out. I find this a little bit surprising, bearing in mind when Pam was young and moving in music circles, the accent was on simplicity of harmonies, particularly with Scottish dance bands. However, Pam with her early basic musical teaching, transcended the practice of simple and sparse harmonies to become nothing short of a legend in the Scottish music scene.
Pam was taught to play piano by a Miss Pratt in Perth back in the 1930s. In these early years, she no doubt revealed outstanding potential, but she was taught only the basics of the piano and theory by her music teacher. With her natural talent, similar to the many brilliant self-taught musicians in Shetland, Pam very soon discovered a whole new world of harmony on the keyboard.
Pam’s first foray into the male-dominated world of the band scene happened immediately after the war, when she joined a small dance band which gigged in and around Perth. This arrangement only lasted a couple of years and the band was led by Bob MacKay. Pam reflects cheerfully on one particular member of the band who shall remain nameless, but with nicknames being the order of these days, the trumpeter was affectionately known as ‘Spittie Pate’! No need to wonder why!
At barely twenty years of age, Pam joined The Ian Powrie Band and, along with Dave Barclay on double bass and Arthur Easson on drums, formed one of the finest rhythm sections of any Scottish dance band. When Ian emigrated to Australia in 1966, Jimmy Blue assumed control of the band and Pam continued with the rhythm section which by then had become the trademark of the Powrie/Blue sound. Her era with Ian Powrie covered many trips abroad, and many television appearances, particularly with The White Heather Show in the late 50s and into the 60s along with show host Andy Stewart and so many other well-known celebrities.
Later in 1968 and into the 70s Pam played with other top bands such as Jim Johnstone and The John Ellis Highland Country Band, and there are countless recordings still available with Pam’s familiar sound in the rhythm sections of these bands. Pam’s husband Ally, who played drums, also joined Pam and together they played for some seven years with The John Ellis Band until 1982.
Despite the advancing years, Pam’s keyboard skills remain undiminished, and she is still playing with a small group at Crieff Hydro. Her skills over the years have been somewhat hidden within rhythm sections of bands, along with her accompanying of vocalists and instrumentalists, and many people are unaware of her talents as a solo performer. I thought it important that Pam should leave a legacy of her extraordinary talent, and a CD has just been released which does just that. Playing such favourites as A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, Autumn Leaves and Embraceable You, along with her lovely accompaniments to several tracks including slow airs on fiddle, this recording will be enjoyed and thoroughly appreciated by lovers of good music and exquisite harmony.
As mentioned earlier, Pam’s musical skills remain unabridged with age, and neither has her sense of humour! She humorously recalls that she was never recompensed to the tune of seven-pence for the bus journey to Forteviot road end in November 1947. Pam has been playing for a staggering seventy years, although she will admit to having a stagger only over the past couple of years or so!
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Pam on Piano – Pam Wilkie’s Musical Memories - Independent
Coming Home to Scotland – George Mack & Jimmy Cassidy – MM109CD
Book Review
The Lochnagar Collection – Paul Anderson – Highland Music Trust
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 20.30 with Robbie Shepherd
Repeats
5th Sept 09 – Colin Dewar SDB from Alva
12th Sept 09 – Tom Orr SDB
19th Sept 09 – David Halcrow SDB
26th Sept 09 – Debut of Michael Philip SDB
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 20th Sept 09 – Dick Black Band
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 6th Sept 09 – Ian Holmes SDB
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 3rd Sept 09 – Jim Cleland SDB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 20th Sept 09 – Mhairi Coutts Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 28th Sept 09 – Alan Small & Karen Hannah
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) –
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 21st Sept 09 – Bill Black SDB
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 13th Sept 09 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 8th Sept 09 – Craigowl SDB
Britannia (Arden House Hotel) -
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 10th Sept 09 – Dave Husband Trio
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 1st Sept 09 – Gary Donaldson SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 3rd Sept 09 – Karyn McCulloch
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) –
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 17th Sept 09 – Dick Black SDB
Coldingham (Village Hall) - 7th Sept 09 – Marian Anderson Trio
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 3rd Sept 09 – Gary Sutherland SDB
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club)
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 2nd Sept 09 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 16th Sept 09 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 8th Sept 09 – Ray Carse
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate) 21st Sept 09 – Andy Kain Trio
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 22nd Sept 09 – Wayne Robertson & Malcolm Ross
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – Sept 09 -
Forfar (The Royal Hotel) - 27th Sept 09 – Ian Thomson SDB
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 9th Sept 09 – Lynne christie SDB
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) – Sept 09 -
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 24th Sept 09 – Wullie Scott
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 2nd Sept 09 – Willie McFarlane Band
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 29th Sept 09 – Gary Sutherland SDB
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) -
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 20th Sept 09 – Liam Stewart SDB
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 21st Sept 09 – Nicky McMichan SDB
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 1st Sept 09 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 30th Sept 09 – Gordon Clark SDB
Kintore (Torryburn Arms Hotel) –
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 17th Sept 09 – John Crawford & Friends
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) -
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) – 9th Sept 09 – Charlei Kirkpatrick Trio
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 3rd Sept 09 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 15th Sept 09 – Michael Philip SDB
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 29th Sept 09 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 2nd Sept 09 – Robert Menzies Trio 20th Sept 09 – Ian McCallum Duo
Newburgh (The Ship Hotel) - 24th Sept 09 – James Coutts Trio
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Thorterdykes Roadhouse) 13th Sept 09 – Open Day from 2pm
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 28th Sept 09 – Colin Dewar Duo
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 1st Sept 09 – Craig Paton SDB
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 6th Sept 09 – Open Day 24th Sept 09 – Andy Kain Trio
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 15th Sept 09 – Gordon shand SDB
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) -
Reading Scottish Fiddlers (Willowbank Infant School, Woodley) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) -
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) -
Selkirk (Angus O’Malley’s) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 8th Sept 09 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 3rd Sept 09 – Graham Geddes SDB
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 17th Sept 09 – Robert Whitehead SDB
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn)
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 15th Sept 09 – Archie MacPhee & the Bogroy SDB
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Annan
2. Arbroath
3. Banchory
4. Blairgowrie
5. Button-key
6. Campsie
7. Forfar
8. Glendale
9. Glenrothes
10. Livingston
11. Montrose
12. Orkney
13. Thornhill
14. Turriff
15. Tynedale
16. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2008
(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. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed early 08-09
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
14. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
15. Button Key A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 -
21. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
22. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
23. Cults A & F Club (
24. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
25. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
26. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
27. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
28. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
29. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
30. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
31. Ellon A&F Club (
32. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
33. Forfar A&F Club (
34. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
35. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
36. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
37. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
38. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
39. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
40. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
41. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
42. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
43. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
44. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
45. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
46. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
47. Kintore A&F Club (
48. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
49. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
50. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
51. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
52. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
53 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
54 Maine Valley A&F Club (
55 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
56 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
57 Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
58 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
59 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
60North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
61 Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
62 Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
63 Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
64 Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
65 Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
66 Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
67 Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
68 Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
69 Selkirk A&F Club (
70Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
71 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
72 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
73 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
74 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
75 Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
76 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
77 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
78 West Barnes ( - present)
79 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?)
80. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
81. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
82. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
83. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
84. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
85. Buchan A&F Club
86 Callander A&F Club (
87 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
88 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
89 Club Accord
90 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
91. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
92. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
93. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
94. Derwentside A&F Club
95. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
96. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
97. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
98. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
99. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
100. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
101. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
102. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
103. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
104. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
105. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
106. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
107. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
108. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
109. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
110. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
111. Mull A&F Club
112. Newcastleton Accordion Club
113. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
114. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
115. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
116. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
117. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
118. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
119. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
120. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
121. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
122. Tranent A&F Club
123. Vancouver
124. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
125. Wellbank A&F Club
126. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time-consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
This has been an amazingly quick year – I don’t know where the time has gone! Welcome back to the 33rd year of the B&F magazine.
As usual in September we carry a report on our NAAFC AGM and Celebrity Luncheon, which was held in June. I took plenty of photographs, but they were all of performers, Guests of Honour and BAFFI winners. If anyone has good, clear photos of other ceilidh attendees we’d like to include them next month if you send them to us.
A storm is brewing on Page 30! I can’t believe that the BBC intends to axe The Reel Blend. Hopefully they will be inundated with letters of complaint!
Karin Ingram
Huntingtower 2009
by Robin Ellis
The last Sunday in June is traditionally that of the NAAFC AGM and, as is often the case, it was one of the none too plentiful good days of summer.
The AGM passed off quickly and without incident, giving time to renew old acquaintances and admire the wonderful collection of photographs on show. Seeing some of today’s famous names in days gone by, many with the then fashionable vast quantities of hair, was a real treat. It just shows the staying power of most Scottish dance musicians.
At 1.00pm we sat down to a lunch of leek and potato soup, chicken with a timbale of haggis, neeps and tatties, and a delightful desert of raspberries, pineapple and mango sorbet.
At 3.00pm after much animated conversation, our Chairman, Nicol McLaren called the assembled company to order so that we might start the serious business of the afternoon – the Winners of the BAFFIs. This was organised by Charlie Todd and Susan MacFadyen and the worthy winners were as follows :-
CD of the Year – Tom Orr for Tomorrow’s World
Club Supporter of the Year – Sheena Kelman
Club of the Year – Button Key (Windygates)
Guest Artist of the Year – Archie MacPhee & the Bogroy Band
Nicol then introduced our Compere for most of the afternoon, John Carmichael. A well-known personality in the Scottish music world and someone with an inexhaustible fund of stories delivered in a manner rather like a machine gun. If you don’t concentrate you may miss one! John then strapped on his accordion and was joined by Dennis Morrison on keyboard, Marie Fielding on fiddle and Charlie Todd on drums to set the tone for the musical part of the afternoon.
At intervals we had a break from music to honour our three guests. The first was Rory MacLeod, a man of many talents – Highland Club’s ex-Chairman, organiser and compere, 3-row player and presenter on local radio in the Inverness area. Many areas of Scotland have excellent local and community radio stations, something that seems to be sadly lacking in the South of England, more’s the pity.
Our second guest was Tom Alexander MBE. I first remember Tom when he and brother Jack came to entertain us at the ‘Festival of Scotland’ concert in London’s Albert Hall some 45 years ago and he hasn’t changed a bit. You name it, he’s been there and done it. A real professional with obvious staying power. My only regret is that we didn’t manage to get him to play for us – maybe one day.
The third guest was Andrew Knight. Andrew, who during the day is a piano tuner, is another who seems to have had a varied and fascinating musical career. A fiddler much in demand. I also get the feeling that he frequents the same barber and tailor as Billy Connolly, but that’s show business for you.
The rest of the afternoon was made up of bands comprising :
Accordionists – Susan MacFadyen, Morag Robertson, Matthew MacLennan, Hector MacFadyen, Alastair Currie, Alan Roy, James Coutts, Iain Cathcart, Michael Philip, Richard Ross, Graeme Munro, Frank Thomson, John Carmichael and our own Nicol McLaren.
Fiddle – Marie Fielding, Stella Wilkie, Shona MacFadyen, Andrew Knight and Raemond Jappy.
Keyboard – Shauna Flockhart, Joan Blue, Mo Rutherford and Pam Wilkie
Drums – Charlie Todd, George MacLeod, Dennis Morrison (versatile chap is Dennis) and George Brown.
Unfortunately for the first time in many years there were no bass players, so we had none of the usual 6-piece bands. In fact it was most noticeable that many of the bands were only four, three or two-piece or even soloists this year. The stramash comprised only seven players, whereas in past years there have been 15 or more. So have the cuts really reached the Scottish band world? I do hope not.
One other interesting point was that many of the accordionists seemed to have moved on from the beloved Morinos and are now sporting Golas. So there must be money in Scottish dance music after all, I thought – until I realised that they were in many cases playing the same Gola! It seems that the cuts are now so severe that the players no longer bring an instrument, they just borrow one! Oh dear, times are hard!
One further thought: playing for dancing used to be an almost entirely male preserve, but these days there are many excellent lady musicians. How long before we see an ‘All Girl Band’? It may be something for Take the Floor – how about it Jennifer?
Finally we must thank Jim Balneaves for his usual superb organisation of the afternoon. Quiet efficiency is the name of the game and I know we all appreciate it. And also thanks to Bobby Harvey for taking over as Compere for the last part of the proceedings – another great story teller incidentally!
Well that is it all over for another year and I look forward to meeting up again in 2010, but for me it is not quite the end. Margaret and I are off on holiday to an area that I have always wanted to visit and at last we can – the Western Isles. I see Lewis & Harris A&F Club continue throughout the summer. Maybe we shall be able to drop in and see how they do things 850 miles from our end of the country.
Till next year then……………..
AGM 2009 Minutes
by
Chairman Nicol McLaren……………..
Gary Blair – Back in the USA
by Gary Blair
Gary Blair’s United States Tour 2009……………..
Goodbye Reel Blend
by
BBC announce that as from 19th September 2009 they will have only one programme running from 7.05pm till 9.00pm on a Saturday evening and this will be repeated on a Sunday ………………
Perth Diamond Jubilee
Diamond Jubilee of The Perth All Scotland Accordion & Fiddle Festival
by Bill Wilkie
The Perth All Scotland Accordion & Fiddle Festival, as we know it now, was derived from my stage shows. When I returned to Perth following the war years I produced a show called ’The Gay Gilliards’. Please understand that the word ‘gay’ had a very different meaning in those days from what it does now!
The show was a fast-moving revue with scenery and comedy sketches as well as solo acts. I soon found that the more accordion and fiddle I introduced, the greater the audience we attracted. I called this form of entertainment ‘Accordion Variety’.
We packed The Perth Theatre (capacity 960) and The Alhambra Cinema (capacity 1,450). We had to turn hundreds away, so I moved to The City Hall, which held about 2,000, and we packed that as well.
The National Accordion Organisation of Great Britain then approached me to run their North East Scotland Contests, which I did, but this was for classical and light classical music. Being a London-based organisation they weren’t interested in catering for the traditional Scottish musician. I decided to remedy that. I introduced Scottish sections, including ‘The Senior Scottish’ which developed into ‘The Open Solo All Scotland Championship’.
I went to see Jimmy Shand to seek his advice. He suggested a march, strathspey and reel for test pieces. He also gave me tremendous encouragement by saying, “Go and get a good trophy and I will pay for it.” Hence The Jimmy Shand Shield.
Accordionists came in droves from every part of Scotland, from the towns and cities and from tiny, remote villages. It was like Hogmanay! Friends meeting friends, the exciting atmosphere of joy and friendship was fantastic. Because of the Festival, Perth was known to many as the accordion capital of Scotland.
My late wife, Ena, was the heart and soul of the Festival. Her kind, warm personality put everyone at ease and resolved many problems. We had dozens of willing helpers but Ena compiled the concert programme – an almost impossible task! Just imagine, as in 1973, when we had a total of 486 entries and five halls running all day long. A competitor could be in several sections; perhaps in the Junior Scottish in The City Hall and in the Under 14s in The Salutation Hotel, which was running at the same time. If you switched him you created a problem for some other player. Sometimes we had to rely on the ingenuity of the Stage Manager to get us out of difficulties. Kind people donated a galaxy of handsome challenge trophies, which are still competed for every year.
I was careful to engage the very best adjudicators money could buy, bringing musicians like Graham Romani and Jack Emblow all the way from London.
I will always be so grateful to our own friends and colleagues who gave so generously of their time and energy as stage managers, secretaries, front of house staff etc. To name them all would take pages and I would be sure to miss out someone causing disappointment and offence. I would like to mention however Carol Davidson, who has been General Secretary for many years, and her assistant, Rhoda Wallace, and of course Mickie Ainsworth, who has stage managed the Scottish sections in The City Hall for longer than I can remember, and his assistant Vic Wallace.
Another name that springs to mind is Mo Rutherford, who has helped in so many ways, not only in the contests but also on stage in the show with her many musical talents. I must mention john Cruickshank, who has served longer than most in the front of house in many halls including The City Hall.
To get back to the phenomenal entries….on one occasion we had 66 in The Senior Scottish, and on another occasion this section over-ran to such an extent that we were only half way through it in The City Hall when the show was due to start! We marched the remaining contestants down to the YMCA Hall and continued the contest, meantime the show went on! When we had the finalists, we marched them back to the City Hall to compete for the Championship.
At one time the accordion came under unfair adverse criticism from some classical musicians who didn’t take the trouble to understand it. They declared it wasn’t a musical instrument, which maddened me, so I started being to my shows the greatest exponents from all over the world to prove the incredible potential of the instrument: Toralf Tollefsen from Norway, Jorgan Sundquist from Sweden, Oleg Sharof and Roman Ibanov from Russia, Marcel Azzola, Danielle Pauly and Dominique Emorine from France, Marcosignori, Wolmer Beltrami and Angelo Cardinaly from Italy and others.
This didn’t please some of the purely Scottish audience, but it was necessary to uphold the status of our instrument and these virtuoso players were just out of this world – and so was the music.
I featured in my shows all the top Scottish bands of that time – Jimmy Shand, Ian Powrie, Jim Cameron, Bobby MacLeod, Angus Fitchet, Jim MacLeod and all the other great bands too numerous to mention.
I also brought Scotland’s greatest names in variety, Dave Willis, Jack Milroy, Chic Murray, Johnny Beattie, Robert Wilson, Calum Kennedy, Will Starr and dozens of other artistes not so well known who were terrific entertainment.
At one time The All Britain NAO Championships were held in different parts of the UK each year and, in 1973, I was asked to organize The All Britain Contests in Perth. I pulled out all the stops with a civic reception on Friday for officials, adjudicators, artistes etc, and a special dinner in The George Hotel on Sunday where our Lord Provost presided. Of course it gave me the opportunity of presenting one of my most spectacular shows on Saturday evening with Marcosignori, Jack Emblow, etc, etc. Another great highlight in the Festival history was our 40th Anniversary. I thought that after forty years this would probably be my last, so I decided to put on a week of events, the climax of which would be a gigantic parade through the City of Perth.
Led by the Pipe Band, followed by majorettes and by the Festival Queen and her attendants in a pony and trap, we had floats with Scottish bands and dancers, bothy night scenes, jazz bands, you name it we had it!!
Because of an article in The Scots Magazine, we had reporters from Switzerland, journalists from London and many parts of Scotland.
It was a memorable event and here we are at our Diamond Jubilee, which I am sure will be exciting and equally memorable. The two shows are already well on their way to being sold out. I would like to pay tribute here to Billy Coburn, my son-in-law and manager, who now handles all the contest side of the Festival. He was also in charge of the sound system and much of the stage management in The City Hall and now in The Concert Hall. Of course he and by daughter Di have been partners in the business of Wilkie’s Music House for some years now.
Perthshire Amber
With less than three months to the Festival, …………….
Beltrami Accordion Festival 2009
Norman English is again privileged to present…….
Pam Wilkie
by Frank Thomson
It was a freezing cold night on 19th November 1947 as Pam perched on the pillion seat of Ian Powrie’s two-stroke motorbike chugging along to the village of Forgandenny. Pam had taken the seven-pence bus journey out the Glasgow Road from Perth to meet Ian on his motorbike at the Forteviot road end for the short journey to play at the re-opening of the newly refurbished Forgandenny Hall. This is Pam’s earliest recollection of playing with the celebrated Ian Powrie Band, and the start of her love affair with Scottish music. Now aged 82, Pam was born and brought up in Perth, where she still lives in Bridgend. From her lounge window you can see one of the finest views of Perth overlooking the old River Tay Bridge up to the North Inch, and onwards towards the hills of the Sma’ Glen. Idyllic stuff, and I wonder if Pam’s innovative harmonies and sympathetic accompanying skills have been inspired by living amid such harmonious surroundings.
What makes Pam so special and revered among musicians in Scotland? It all seems to come so naturally to Pam, but her innate talent to suss out the best harmonies, passing notes/suspensions, progressions and modulations, along with her amazingly sympathetic accompaniment skills certainly singles her out. I find this a little bit surprising, bearing in mind when Pam was young and moving in music circles, the accent was on simplicity of harmonies, particularly with Scottish dance bands. However, Pam with her early basic musical teaching, transcended the practice of simple and sparse harmonies to become nothing short of a legend in the Scottish music scene.
Pam was taught to play piano by a Miss Pratt in Perth back in the 1930s. In these early years, she no doubt revealed outstanding potential, but she was taught only the basics of the piano and theory by her music teacher. With her natural talent, similar to the many brilliant self-taught musicians in Shetland, Pam very soon discovered a whole new world of harmony on the keyboard.
Pam’s first foray into the male-dominated world of the band scene happened immediately after the war, when she joined a small dance band which gigged in and around Perth. This arrangement only lasted a couple of years and the band was led by Bob MacKay. Pam reflects cheerfully on one particular member of the band who shall remain nameless, but with nicknames being the order of these days, the trumpeter was affectionately known as ‘Spittie Pate’! No need to wonder why!
At barely twenty years of age, Pam joined The Ian Powrie Band and, along with Dave Barclay on double bass and Arthur Easson on drums, formed one of the finest rhythm sections of any Scottish dance band. When Ian emigrated to Australia in 1966, Jimmy Blue assumed control of the band and Pam continued with the rhythm section which by then had become the trademark of the Powrie/Blue sound. Her era with Ian Powrie covered many trips abroad, and many television appearances, particularly with The White Heather Show in the late 50s and into the 60s along with show host Andy Stewart and so many other well-known celebrities.
Later in 1968 and into the 70s Pam played with other top bands such as Jim Johnstone and The John Ellis Highland Country Band, and there are countless recordings still available with Pam’s familiar sound in the rhythm sections of these bands. Pam’s husband Ally, who played drums, also joined Pam and together they played for some seven years with The John Ellis Band until 1982.
Despite the advancing years, Pam’s keyboard skills remain undiminished, and she is still playing with a small group at Crieff Hydro. Her skills over the years have been somewhat hidden within rhythm sections of bands, along with her accompanying of vocalists and instrumentalists, and many people are unaware of her talents as a solo performer. I thought it important that Pam should leave a legacy of her extraordinary talent, and a CD has just been released which does just that. Playing such favourites as A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, Autumn Leaves and Embraceable You, along with her lovely accompaniments to several tracks including slow airs on fiddle, this recording will be enjoyed and thoroughly appreciated by lovers of good music and exquisite harmony.
As mentioned earlier, Pam’s musical skills remain unabridged with age, and neither has her sense of humour! She humorously recalls that she was never recompensed to the tune of seven-pence for the bus journey to Forteviot road end in November 1947. Pam has been playing for a staggering seventy years, although she will admit to having a stagger only over the past couple of years or so!
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Pam on Piano – Pam Wilkie’s Musical Memories - Independent
Coming Home to Scotland – George Mack & Jimmy Cassidy – MM109CD
Book Review
The Lochnagar Collection – Paul Anderson – Highland Music Trust
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 20.30 with Robbie Shepherd
Repeats
5th Sept 09 – Colin Dewar SDB from Alva
12th Sept 09 – Tom Orr SDB
19th Sept 09 – David Halcrow SDB
26th Sept 09 – Debut of Michael Philip SDB
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 20th Sept 09 – Dick Black Band
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 6th Sept 09 – Ian Holmes SDB
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 3rd Sept 09 – Jim Cleland SDB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 20th Sept 09 – Mhairi Coutts Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 28th Sept 09 – Alan Small & Karen Hannah
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) –
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 21st Sept 09 – Bill Black SDB
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 13th Sept 09 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 8th Sept 09 – Craigowl SDB
Britannia (Arden House Hotel) -
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 10th Sept 09 – Dave Husband Trio
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 1st Sept 09 – Gary Donaldson SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 3rd Sept 09 – Karyn McCulloch
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) –
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 17th Sept 09 – Dick Black SDB
Coldingham (Village Hall) - 7th Sept 09 – Marian Anderson Trio
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 3rd Sept 09 – Gary Sutherland SDB
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club)
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 2nd Sept 09 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 16th Sept 09 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 8th Sept 09 – Ray Carse
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate) 21st Sept 09 – Andy Kain Trio
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 22nd Sept 09 – Wayne Robertson & Malcolm Ross
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – Sept 09 -
Forfar (The Royal Hotel) - 27th Sept 09 – Ian Thomson SDB
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 9th Sept 09 – Lynne christie SDB
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) – Sept 09 -
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 24th Sept 09 – Wullie Scott
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 2nd Sept 09 – Willie McFarlane Band
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 29th Sept 09 – Gary Sutherland SDB
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) -
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 20th Sept 09 – Liam Stewart SDB
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 21st Sept 09 – Nicky McMichan SDB
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 1st Sept 09 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 30th Sept 09 – Gordon Clark SDB
Kintore (Torryburn Arms Hotel) –
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 17th Sept 09 – John Crawford & Friends
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) -
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) – 9th Sept 09 – Charlei Kirkpatrick Trio
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 3rd Sept 09 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 15th Sept 09 – Michael Philip SDB
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 29th Sept 09 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 2nd Sept 09 – Robert Menzies Trio 20th Sept 09 – Ian McCallum Duo
Newburgh (The Ship Hotel) - 24th Sept 09 – James Coutts Trio
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Thorterdykes Roadhouse) 13th Sept 09 – Open Day from 2pm
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 28th Sept 09 – Colin Dewar Duo
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 1st Sept 09 – Craig Paton SDB
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 6th Sept 09 – Open Day 24th Sept 09 – Andy Kain Trio
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 15th Sept 09 – Gordon shand SDB
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) -
Reading Scottish Fiddlers (Willowbank Infant School, Woodley) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) -
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) -
Selkirk (Angus O’Malley’s) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 8th Sept 09 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 3rd Sept 09 – Graham Geddes SDB
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 17th Sept 09 – Robert Whitehead SDB
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn)
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 15th Sept 09 – Archie MacPhee & the Bogroy SDB
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Annan
2. Arbroath
3. Banchory
4. Blairgowrie
5. Button-key
6. Campsie
7. Forfar
8. Glendale
9. Glenrothes
10. Livingston
11. Montrose
12. Orkney
13. Thornhill
14. Turriff
15. Tynedale
16. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2008
(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. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed early 08-09
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
14. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
15. Button Key A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 -
21. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
22. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
23. Cults A & F Club (
24. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
25. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
26. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
27. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
28. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
29. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
30. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
31. Ellon A&F Club (
32. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
33. Forfar A&F Club (
34. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
35. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
36. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
37. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
38. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
39. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
40. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
41. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
42. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
43. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
44. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
45. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
46. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
47. Kintore A&F Club (
48. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
49. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
50. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
51. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
52. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
53 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
54 Maine Valley A&F Club (
55 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
56 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
57 Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
58 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
59 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
60North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
61 Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
62 Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
63 Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
64 Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
65 Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
66 Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
67 Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
68 Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
69 Selkirk A&F Club (
70Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
71 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
72 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
73 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
74 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
75 Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
76 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
77 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
78 West Barnes ( - present)
79 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?)
80. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
81. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
82. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
83. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
84. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
85. Buchan A&F Club
86 Callander A&F Club (
87 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
88 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
89 Club Accord
90 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
91. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
92. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
93. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
94. Derwentside A&F Club
95. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
96. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
97. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
98. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
99. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
100. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
101. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
102. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
103. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
104. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
105. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
106. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
107. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
108. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
109. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
110. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
111. Mull A&F Club
112. Newcastleton Accordion Club
113. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
114. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
115. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
116. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
117. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
118. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
119. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
120. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
121. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
122. Tranent A&F Club
123. Vancouver
124. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
125. Wellbank A&F Club
126. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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