Box and Fiddle
Year 35 No 01
September 2011
Price £2.60
44 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £28.60 + p&p £10.45 (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
Welcome to the ‘new-look’ Box and Fiddle. Our magazine is now entering its 35th year and you will notice there is no in cover price this season (although postage rates have gone up). We hope you will renew your subscription (if you haven’t already done so) and full details can be found on Page 5. Don’t forget the check out the new website at www.boxandfiddle.com.
Your continued support is very much appreciated.
Club Supporter of the Year – Ewan Galloway
Club of the Year – Inveraray
CD of the Year – Memories of Jim Johnstone by Ian Hutson SDB
Guest Artiste of the Year – Roya MacLean
Karin Ingram
40th NAAFC AGM 2011
by Jim Campbell (Isle of Skye A&F Club)
A three night break away from home to attend an AGM! Well, that’s what my wife Iris and I did……..
Ceilidh Trail
by Liz Quinn
The popular Sutherland Feis……………
Accordion Bay
by Norman English
Accordion Bay is happy to announce………
Memories of the late Stan Saunders
by Jack Delaney
I remember before I played with Andrew Rankine in the early fifties I was aware that the band’s rhythm section was special and this was due in no small way to the combined efforts of Stan Saunders on bass and Jim Scott on piano. They had a great rapport which was very obvious from the start and I loved becoming part of it. Stan played like a musical metronome and the band locked on to the beat and swung along with ease. He produced a lovely note in perfect pitch and just the right length for every musical mood. His timing was impeccable and he created a great drive and lift which inspired us all on every occasion.
When I was invited to write a tribute to Stan I realised that I had to include the views of some of my fellow bandsman friends as Stan was such a popular and revered musician. I started by inviting Jim Scott, who played with Stan for around 12 years, to have a chat to reminisce about old times and memories of our old friend. We talked about his early days in The Andrew Rankine Band when he and Andrew worked at DCL in the laboratories in Menstrie. Stan was involved in micro-biology and this meant traveling all over Scotland taking samples from the distilleries for analysis which meant we had our own ‘sat nav’ for traveling the same roads with the bands. Stan had little formal education in music and was mostly self-taught. Although right-handed he felt the need to pluck the bass with his left hand and originally strung the instrument the wrong way round. However, this meant he couldn’t use other people’s basses when the opportunity arose so he reverted to the standard stringing, but still played left-handed!
We remembered too that at this time he was courting a lovely nurse from Perth who was to become his wife Louie and, because he was a motor cyclist, he had to come to band practices on a double-decker bus with the bass standing upright in the back luggage compartment. In the early days with Andrew’s band we traveled to engagements in a six seated car and Stan’s precious bass was carried on the roof rack along with two accordions and a snare drum in a case, all carefully enclosed in a custom made cover.
Stan was a huge fan of Dave Barclay’s technique and style and never tired of watching him play. I remember at Froickheim The Rankine Band sharing the stage with Lindsay Ross’s Band because of a promoter’s mistake. Stan was engrossed watching Dave Barclay while Dave enthused over Stan’s big sound. They had great respect for each other. In addition, Jim recollects that he and Stan frequently, and in all weathers, traveled on his scooter to Perth to watch Dave Barclay playing bass with The Ian Powrie Band.
At the point when Andrew decided to make music his full-time career, Stan, Jim and I joined The Hamish Menzies Band where we had great fun and many happy memories, often playing at dances from 8pm until 2am and then driving home to be at work next day. Stan and Jim then joined the one and only Jimmy shand Band with whom they both played for many years. Jim reckons they recorded around 75 programmes for ‘Heather Mixture’ alone and did the whole od the ‘On Tour’ series together which was a weekly feature. This involved traveling to towns all over Scotland. They also did some of the ‘White Heather Club’ programmes and toured extensively with Jimmy including trips to New Zealand and Australia with Kenneth McKellar, Moira Anderson and Duncan McRae. Jim remembers that there was little or no music provided for these recordings and they just busked it all, which was easy for them since they understood each other’s playing so well. Some of the best records were made without written arrangements, such was their ability.
On the occasion when Jimmy received ‘The Carl Allen Award’, both Stan and Jim traveled with the band to The Strand Theatre in London where they met Cliff Richard. After doing the live television show they both had to travel back overnight by sleeper to be at their jobs the next day. So much for stardom! After the Shand days, Stan played and recorded with many other Scottish bands as diverse as Jimmy Shand Jnr, Angus Fitchet, Ian Holmes, Colin Finlayson, Iain MacPhail, Alex MacArthur, Robin Brock, Sandy Nixon and Jim MacLeod. The list goes on and on.
As well as having a chat with Jim I also contacted Sandy Nixon who e-mailed me his thoughts :
Sandy Nixon
“I first heard Stan playing with The Ian Holmes’ Band on BBC Scotland in the early 1970s. When I upgraded my hi-fi system and could really hear what the bass was doing, I was ‘knocked out’ by Stan’s playing!
I met Stan around 1980 when playing second box with David Cunningham Snr on a broadcast for Radio Forth’s ‘Folks Around Robin’ programme. I did a few broadcasts in the next couple of years with DC for that programme and got to know Stan.
I approached Stan about the possibility of playing with me on a BBC broadcast with my own band in 1983. To my delight he agreed. He did my first broadcast – recorded in late ’83 but not on the air until January ’84. He continued to play with me when he could at gigs as well as doing recordings until he ‘retired’ in 1996. Any time Stan joined us it just added another dimension to the sound. He produced such a wonderful, big, rich note that lifted everyone. He seemed to do this with the minimum of effort. At times he would hit the open (low) E-string and let it ring on a little longer than usual – you could feel the note coming up through the stage! At times he would give a little kick (like Will Starr!) in the middle of a set! We knew then that he was really enjoying the tune! He was a pleasure to play with and always seemed to enjoy playing with us. He was good company and a pleasure to be with. When rehearsing for recordings, we used to meet at Stan and Louie’s house. We were always made extremely welcome. The music and the social aspect were both equally important – band practices were never a chore!
I caught up with Stan last year, having not seen him for quite a few years. I was playing in Perth and had left early to avoid the rush hour traffic. I knew his address and simply arrived and rang his doorbell. He was in great form and, although he had not played for many years, he was interested to know what was going on in the Scottish dance band scene and how everyone was. I spent a most enjoyable hour with him.
I’ll remember him for his pawky humour, his good company but most of all for the unique, wonderful bass playing. As John (Delaney) said in an interview with Robbie, when it comes to bass players in Scottish dance bands, there is Stan Saunders, then there is everyone else!
That sums Stan up perfectly, and I count myself privileged to have known him and to have played with him.”
Gordon young was also a great friend of Stan’s and this is his contribution :
Gordon Young
“I first played with Stan over 40 years ago on a Scottish dance music broadcast with Ian Holmes. I did of course know of his standing having been involved in Scottish Country Dancing and seen him with such greats as Jimmy Shand and Andrew Rankine. So there I was, my first venture into the BBC, playing in a band I considered one of the best, part of a rhythm section with two absolute legends, namely Bill Hendry from Falkirk on piano and Stan Saunders from Dollar on bass. I was terrified! However that did not last long. The boys in the band, and Stan in particular, could obviously feel my apprehension and very quickly made me feel relaxed, making sure I could hear everybody; that I was comfortable and keeping me informed of what to expect as we went along. One of his words of advice always stayed with me. We had just finished having a run-through a set of great reels and Stan said, ‘Forget you are in a studio and just enjoy the tune as if you are playing at a dance.’ Sound advice from a man I have always considered the best bass player in the business – which in no way suggests we are not blessed with many first class musicians who play bass – Stan really was in a class of his own. I played with The Ian Holmes Band for a number of years and shared many great musical moments with Stan on stage, recording sessions and radio.
I played for 20 years or so with sandy Nixon and Sandy used Stan when he needed a double bass. On occasion I used to play with Jim MacLeod at Dunblane Hydro and Stan was on bass, however the band used to split up at the interval and Stan sat in on drums and he was no mean performer on the skins.
I consider myself very fortunate to have played drums so often in the same band as Stan Saunders and I am sure everyone who has shared a stage with Stan would be of the same opinion. He gave you this wonderful big sound to lean on and played with a swing, lift and drive that was truly unique.
I have great memories of a God-given talent, supremely handled by one of the good guys.”
Stan’s influence has extended into the next generation of bass players and I asked Suzanne Croy to share her memories:
Suzanne Croy
“When I reflect on what Stan meant to me, I now realise he has influenced me throughout my life. I was brought up to the strains of Andrew Rankine and Jimmy Shand at home and I was immediately drawn to the warm, round sound which Stan produced. This led me to taking up the bass.
My warmest memory of Stan is when I was learning bass at school; Jim Dawson asked me to play at a dance in The Cochrane Hall in Alva but when I arrived there was already a bass on stage – I thought he had doubled booked. However, it transpired that Stan, Jim and my mother had arranged for me to play alongside Stan in the hope that I might pick up some tips! I learned more in those few hours than I could have possibly imagined; the main thing being the famous ‘Stan note’ – the high D or E grace note played at just the right place to lift the whole band – fantastic!
I became an avid fan, following Stan around the countryside and taking over whenever the bans played Mhairi’s Wedding (Stan’s least favourite original). He was kind, patient and encouraging and my only regret is that the younger generation have become so accustomed to playing without a bass that they might miss out on the Stan Saunders sound.
Last year I sold my blonde bass (affectionately known as Stan) to a young musician from Mull called Ross Wilson, on the condition that he looked after it and continued to call it Stan. I note Stan is regularly referred to on Facebook! I explained to Ross about the ‘Magic of Stan Saunders’ and he is now taking lessons from Alasdair MacLeod. Hopefully through this, the younger musicians will continue to learn and be influenced by Stan’s unique sound.”
My final contributor is my son, John, who was also hugely influenced by Stan. His thoughts express his friendship and admiration for this great man;
John Delaney
“Stan was, and remains, unarguably Scottish dance music’s finest bass player. His sound was absolutely distinctive; perfectly balancing precision and feeling with the famous Saunders ’dunt’, enhancing any rhythm section and – consequently – band that he was a part of.
Stan has always been a tremendous inspiration to me as a bass player and, although I spent a long time watching and listening to him, I could never work out how he produced that sound; but then I don’t think he could analyse it either. He did however spend as lot of time when I started out playing helping and encouraging me.
When he worked with Distillers he would sometimes pop in to see me at lunch time and talk about playing in position and string instruments and damping and other ‘nuts and bolts’ bass stuff, always happy to illustrate the point and encourage someone else to enjoy playing as much as he did. This at a time when he was recognised to be at the top of his game, he was self effacing and without ego that I could detect – a thoroughly decent man.
When I started to have the opportunity to do some ‘Take the Floor’ work, Stan would always phone up the next day and tell me of some part of my playing that he had particularly enjoyed – a gesture that meant more to me and encouraged me more than I could ever describe.
When he retired from playing, the quality of his musicianship was undiminished and – while I can appreciate and respect his desire to retire while at the height of his playing – I genuinely feel he could have played on for a long time.
As a musician and an inspiration, Stan will be sorely missed but his legacy will remain with us both in his recorded work and in the memories and hearts of those of us lucky enough to have known him.”
Having read all of these contributions, I am sure you will agree that the admiration and respect we all feel for our old friend and the ‘Stan Saunders Sound’ is obvious. I think my dislike for accordion MIDI bass stems from my listening to Stan for such a long time and appreciating how a bass should really sound. You can’t copy that Stan Saunders sound electronically!
Stan’s bass is now owned by Robert (Andy) Anderson of The Dollarfield Band, who was also a great friend of his. Stan gave Andy a comprehensive list of all the bands this instrument has played with – too numerous to include – and it makes very interesting reading!
I was privileged to have played with him over many years – at dances, recordings and broadcasts – with many bands. It was always a great pleasure to be his friend and in his company. I am grateful to my friends for taking time to share with me their thoughts on Stan as a musician, an influence and a friend.
We also received this tribute from Ian Holmes:
Ian Holmes
I first met Stan in the late 1950s, when Andrew Rankine’s Band played a number of gigs in Dumfriesshire. He and pianist Jimmy Scott joined me on stage when I was asked to play at half time.
When I became a member of Andrew’s new band in 1960, Stan joined Hamish Menzies’ Band. By the time I formed my own band in 1962 Stan was playing with Jimmy Shand. Jimmy kindly allowed Stan time off for my broadcasts. He and ex-Bobby MacLeod pianist Davie Whitehead were a very good solid team and that partnership continued for around six years. When Davie was unable to continue, Stan was re-united with his old friend Jimmy Scott. In the late 1960s I brought in jazz pianist Bill Hendry from Falkirk, and that partnership lasted until 1995 when Bill decided to retire and I brought in Jim Clark from Annan.
Stan also decided to retire and his last appearance with my band was a broadcast for ‘Take the Floor’ when all the tunes were composed by Jimmy Shand. In a way he’d become a victim of his own success, for by that time he was much in demand by other bandleaders. He felt he was becoming too busy and that to be fair to everyone, he should retire. I fully understood, though his decision was a blow, for Stan had gigged, broadcast and recorded with my band for 35 years.
He has a great sense of humour and, when writing to me, his letters always began “Dear Sir Ian….”
Since his passing I have thought of the many laughs we had together. He related some funny things which happened whilst he was in Jimmy Shand’s Band, like the time Jimmy was named “Old Tyme Bandleader of the Year” in the Carl Allen Awards. These awards were to be presented in a London Theatre. The venue had a revolving stage and while Joe Loss and his Orchestra were out front entertaining the crowd, Jimmy and his band were assembling at the rear, ready to be whisked round.
Jimmy, feeling his hands were too dry, and seeing Stan’s neatly oiled hair, ran his fingers through it, exclaiming, “That’s better noo Son.” With the ‘Magic Roundaboput’ starting to move and imagining himself with spiked hair looking like ‘Oor Wullie’, Stan said he just managed to get it re-combed and start playing ‘Bonnie Dundee’.
I recall when my band was playing a live broadcast from the BBC Edinburgh studio. Included in the programme was a set of wild Irish jigs, which I had given an innocent sounding title. Whether by accident or deliberately, the continuity announcer in the Glasgow studio rearranged the letters and as a result the title sounded rather rude. Only Stan and I noticed this error and we really had a problem playing the remainder of the session. I could hear Stan’s stifled chortles, but dared not look at him until after we had played the final chord of the signature tune, when we both fell about laughing. The other members of the gang must have thought we’d gone mad!
On another occasion in the BBC Aberdeen studio, during rehearsals for a live mid-day broadcast, the announcer, who was also present, had somehow great problems pronouncing Stan’s surname, uttering “Sanders, Sinders, Sunders” etc. He finally got it right, but kept practicing until the programme began. Obviously the nerves took over, because when it came to naming the band, he got it wrong again, and again we struggled to finish the programme. With the poor man present and apologizing, we did manage to control our mirth until we left the building when we literally exploded. Oh the happy memories! Purely self-taught, Stan Saunders was a much admired musician and his contribution to the Scottish music scene over so many years was enormous. No doubt my life was greatly enriched by having him as a friend and musical colleague.
Ian Duncan (21/07/1927 – 23/06/2011) Obituary
by George Anderson (Keith)
Ian was born on 21st July 1927 in the Parish of Botriphnie (also home of the famous blacksmith!) some 5 miles outside Keith. The family moved to Keith in 1940 where Ian attended Keith Grammar School. It was during this time that Ian developed an interest in musicwhich led him to teaching himself to play the accordion. Very soon thereafter he joined the local dance band – ‘The Strathisla Melody Makers’.
Unfortunately, Ian developed severe back problems which resulted in him having to give up playing the accordion. However, he was unwilling to abandon his musical career and took up playing the double bass. In that capacity he went on to play with The Regency Quintet, my own band The Chordettes Dance Band (for 22 years), The Ian H. Cruickshank SDB and, for some 30 years, the Elgin S&R Society. It was during an evening engagement with The Chordettes in May 1971 that I approached Ian and the then keyboard player, Ally Gray to discuss the possibility of forming an Accordion and Fiddle Club in Keith. The rest, as they say, is history – on the first Tuesday of September 1971, the North East Accordion and Fiddle Club was officially launched. The enthusiasm shown by Ian resulted in him becoming the Secretary – a position he held for 7 years. Following this Ian remained a Committee member for many years and his numerous contacts in the music world were invaluable in bringing the very best of guest artistes to the Club. Ian was also renowned for his wealth of personal recordings of the monthly club nights and his music room at his home in Keith was an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ of personal and commercial recordings.
Ian was also very proud of his role and influence in encouraging the younger members of the North east Club o maintain their interest in Scottish music and indeed, a number of them are still to the fore in the Scottish music and Accordion and Fiddle Club scene today. Ian was a frequent visitor to Shetland in the late 60s / early 70s during which times he fostered great and lasting friendships with many of the weel kent names up there. He was subsequently involved in a project to publish a number of volumes of music composed by his great musician friend Ronnie Cooper. These have become ‘must have’ volumes of music for most of the great musicians since they were first published. Whether it be the Shetland influence or not, Ian was also a prolific composer himself – The Hayfield Two-Step written for Frank and Lillian Chadwick was recorded by Jimmy Blue, and Miss Alison Gray (a reel) was recorded by Max Houliston. In addition, a couple of Ian’s tunes have been published by the RSCDS as original tunes for new dances.
Happily, the North East Accordion and Fiddle Club is still going strong. Ian remained a very staunce and proud member of the Club and missed only the last two meetings due to his failing health. It is very sad that Ian won’t be around to help the Club celebrate its 40th Anniversary on 6th September, but he will certainly be in the thoughts of everyone present that night, and will be fondly remembered for all he did for the Accordion and Fiddle scene in the North East of Scotland over the last 40 years.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Och Aye The Noo! – Clappy Doo Ceilidh Band –Bryansroom Recordings – BRCD064
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s)
REPEATS
3rd Sept 11 – Ron Kerr SDB (Backline Boys – Alasdair MacLeod)
10th Sept 11 – Angus Fitchet SDB (Archive Recording) (BLB – Graham Berry)
17th Sept 11 – Compilation Programme (BLB – Billy Craib)
24th Sept 11 – The Reel Thing Ceilidh Band (OB from Celtic Connections with guests Darren MacLean and Alistair McCulloch)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle) 14th Sept 11 – Local night
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 18th Sept 11 – Scott Band Trio
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 4th Sept 11 – Roy Hendrie
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 26th Sept 11 – Craig Paton SDB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) –
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 19th Sept 11 – Ceol-Mor
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 11th Sept 11 – Pentlands Ceilidh Band
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 13th Sept 11 – John Renton SDB
Britannia (Arden House Hotel) - 28th Sept 11 – Marian Anderson Trio
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 8th Sept 11 – Eddie Donaldson & Gordon Suttie
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 6th Sept 11 – Burns Brothers
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 1st Sept 11 – Roy Hendrie
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 20th Sept 11 – Dochie McCallum & Friends
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 15th Sept 11 – Addie Harper Trio
Coldingham (Village Hall) - 5th Sept 11 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club)
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 7th Sept 11 - Archie MacPhee & the Bogroy Band
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 21st Sept 11 – Jimmy Lindsay SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 13th Sept 11 – Ewan Galloway Trio
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate) 19th Sept 11 – Judith Linton Trio
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 20th Sept 11 – Charlie Esson
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) –
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 25th Sept 11 – Marian Anderson SDB
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 14th Sept 11 – Brandon McPhee Trio
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) -
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 29th Sept 11 – Willie McFarland Band
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 7th Sept 11 – Craig Paton SDB
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) -
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) -
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 18th Sept 11 - tbc
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 19th Sept 11 – Graeme MacKay & Duncan Farquhar
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 6th Sept 11 – Ian Holmes Trio
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 28th Sept 11 – Wullie Scott
Kintore (Torryburn Arms Hotel) –
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 15th Sept 11 - tbc
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 26th Sept 11 – Richard Smith Trio
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) – 14th Sept 11 – Matthew MacLennan Trio
Lauder (Black Bull Hotel) - 4th Sept 11 – Wullie Scott 18th Sept 11 – Accordiana 3 featuring Leonard Brown, Paul Capaldi, Andrew Gibb, KODa, Kodetta & Nicky McMichan
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 1st Sept 11 – Donnie & Dianne
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 20th Sept 11 – Craigowl SDB
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 27th Sept 11 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 7th Sept 11 – Tommy Newcomen
Newburgh (The Ship Inn) -
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Thorterdykes Roadhouse) 11th Sept 11 – Open Day
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 26th Sept 11 – Ewan Galloway SDB
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 6th Sept 11 – Dave Stewart Trio
Northern (Lylehill Suite, Templepatrick, N.I.) - 7th Sept 11 – Seamus Shannon
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 20th Sept 11 – Alan Gardiner 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) - 20th Sept 11 – Golden Oldies at Old Meldrum
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) -
Selkirk (Angus O’Malley’s) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 22nd Sept 11 – Local Night
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 13th Sept 11 – Davie Ross Duo
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 1st Sept 11 – Nicky McMichan SDB
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 15th Sept 11 – Gordon Brown SDB
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn)
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 20th Sept 11 – Gary Sutherland Trio
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Alnwick
2. Annan
3. Arbroath
4. Blairgowrie
5. Button-key
6. Campsie
7. Dunblane
8. Glendale
9. Lewis & Harris
10. Montrose
11. Rothbury
12. Seghill
13. Turriff
14. Tynedale
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2010
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
10. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
11. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
12. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
13. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
16. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
17. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
18. Coalburn A&F Club (
19. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 -
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
32. Forfar A&F Club (
33. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
34. Fort William A&F Club (2009 -
35. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
36. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
37. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
38. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
39. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
40. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
41. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
42. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
43. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
44. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
45. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
46. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
47. Kintore A&F Club (
48. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
49. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
50. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
51. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
52. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
53. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
54 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
55 Maine Valley A&F Club (
56 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
57 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
58 Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
59 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
60 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
61. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
62. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
63. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
64. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
65. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
66. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
67. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
68. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
69. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
70. Selkirk A&F Club (
71. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
72 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
73 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
74 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
75 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
76 Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
77 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
78 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
79 West Barnes ( - present)
80 Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
81. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
82. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
83. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
84. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
85. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
86. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
87. Buchan A&F Club
88 Callander A&F Club (
89 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
90 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
91 Club Accord
92 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
93. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
94. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
95. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
96. Derwentside A&F Club
97. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
98. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
99. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
100. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
101. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
102. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
103. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
104. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
105. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
106. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
107. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
108. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
109. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
110. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
111. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
112. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
113. Mull A&F Club
114. Newcastleton Accordion Club
115. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
116. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
117. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
118. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
119. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
120. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
121. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
122. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
123. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
124. Tranent A&F Club
125. Vancouver
126. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
127. Wellbank A&F Club
128. 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
Welcome to the ‘new-look’ Box and Fiddle. Our magazine is now entering its 35th year and you will notice there is no in cover price this season (although postage rates have gone up). We hope you will renew your subscription (if you haven’t already done so) and full details can be found on Page 5. Don’t forget the check out the new website at www.boxandfiddle.com.
Your continued support is very much appreciated.
Club Supporter of the Year – Ewan Galloway
Club of the Year – Inveraray
CD of the Year – Memories of Jim Johnstone by Ian Hutson SDB
Guest Artiste of the Year – Roya MacLean
Karin Ingram
40th NAAFC AGM 2011
by Jim Campbell (Isle of Skye A&F Club)
A three night break away from home to attend an AGM! Well, that’s what my wife Iris and I did……..
Ceilidh Trail
by Liz Quinn
The popular Sutherland Feis……………
Accordion Bay
by Norman English
Accordion Bay is happy to announce………
Memories of the late Stan Saunders
by Jack Delaney
I remember before I played with Andrew Rankine in the early fifties I was aware that the band’s rhythm section was special and this was due in no small way to the combined efforts of Stan Saunders on bass and Jim Scott on piano. They had a great rapport which was very obvious from the start and I loved becoming part of it. Stan played like a musical metronome and the band locked on to the beat and swung along with ease. He produced a lovely note in perfect pitch and just the right length for every musical mood. His timing was impeccable and he created a great drive and lift which inspired us all on every occasion.
When I was invited to write a tribute to Stan I realised that I had to include the views of some of my fellow bandsman friends as Stan was such a popular and revered musician. I started by inviting Jim Scott, who played with Stan for around 12 years, to have a chat to reminisce about old times and memories of our old friend. We talked about his early days in The Andrew Rankine Band when he and Andrew worked at DCL in the laboratories in Menstrie. Stan was involved in micro-biology and this meant traveling all over Scotland taking samples from the distilleries for analysis which meant we had our own ‘sat nav’ for traveling the same roads with the bands. Stan had little formal education in music and was mostly self-taught. Although right-handed he felt the need to pluck the bass with his left hand and originally strung the instrument the wrong way round. However, this meant he couldn’t use other people’s basses when the opportunity arose so he reverted to the standard stringing, but still played left-handed!
We remembered too that at this time he was courting a lovely nurse from Perth who was to become his wife Louie and, because he was a motor cyclist, he had to come to band practices on a double-decker bus with the bass standing upright in the back luggage compartment. In the early days with Andrew’s band we traveled to engagements in a six seated car and Stan’s precious bass was carried on the roof rack along with two accordions and a snare drum in a case, all carefully enclosed in a custom made cover.
Stan was a huge fan of Dave Barclay’s technique and style and never tired of watching him play. I remember at Froickheim The Rankine Band sharing the stage with Lindsay Ross’s Band because of a promoter’s mistake. Stan was engrossed watching Dave Barclay while Dave enthused over Stan’s big sound. They had great respect for each other. In addition, Jim recollects that he and Stan frequently, and in all weathers, traveled on his scooter to Perth to watch Dave Barclay playing bass with The Ian Powrie Band.
At the point when Andrew decided to make music his full-time career, Stan, Jim and I joined The Hamish Menzies Band where we had great fun and many happy memories, often playing at dances from 8pm until 2am and then driving home to be at work next day. Stan and Jim then joined the one and only Jimmy shand Band with whom they both played for many years. Jim reckons they recorded around 75 programmes for ‘Heather Mixture’ alone and did the whole od the ‘On Tour’ series together which was a weekly feature. This involved traveling to towns all over Scotland. They also did some of the ‘White Heather Club’ programmes and toured extensively with Jimmy including trips to New Zealand and Australia with Kenneth McKellar, Moira Anderson and Duncan McRae. Jim remembers that there was little or no music provided for these recordings and they just busked it all, which was easy for them since they understood each other’s playing so well. Some of the best records were made without written arrangements, such was their ability.
On the occasion when Jimmy received ‘The Carl Allen Award’, both Stan and Jim traveled with the band to The Strand Theatre in London where they met Cliff Richard. After doing the live television show they both had to travel back overnight by sleeper to be at their jobs the next day. So much for stardom! After the Shand days, Stan played and recorded with many other Scottish bands as diverse as Jimmy Shand Jnr, Angus Fitchet, Ian Holmes, Colin Finlayson, Iain MacPhail, Alex MacArthur, Robin Brock, Sandy Nixon and Jim MacLeod. The list goes on and on.
As well as having a chat with Jim I also contacted Sandy Nixon who e-mailed me his thoughts :
Sandy Nixon
“I first heard Stan playing with The Ian Holmes’ Band on BBC Scotland in the early 1970s. When I upgraded my hi-fi system and could really hear what the bass was doing, I was ‘knocked out’ by Stan’s playing!
I met Stan around 1980 when playing second box with David Cunningham Snr on a broadcast for Radio Forth’s ‘Folks Around Robin’ programme. I did a few broadcasts in the next couple of years with DC for that programme and got to know Stan.
I approached Stan about the possibility of playing with me on a BBC broadcast with my own band in 1983. To my delight he agreed. He did my first broadcast – recorded in late ’83 but not on the air until January ’84. He continued to play with me when he could at gigs as well as doing recordings until he ‘retired’ in 1996. Any time Stan joined us it just added another dimension to the sound. He produced such a wonderful, big, rich note that lifted everyone. He seemed to do this with the minimum of effort. At times he would hit the open (low) E-string and let it ring on a little longer than usual – you could feel the note coming up through the stage! At times he would give a little kick (like Will Starr!) in the middle of a set! We knew then that he was really enjoying the tune! He was a pleasure to play with and always seemed to enjoy playing with us. He was good company and a pleasure to be with. When rehearsing for recordings, we used to meet at Stan and Louie’s house. We were always made extremely welcome. The music and the social aspect were both equally important – band practices were never a chore!
I caught up with Stan last year, having not seen him for quite a few years. I was playing in Perth and had left early to avoid the rush hour traffic. I knew his address and simply arrived and rang his doorbell. He was in great form and, although he had not played for many years, he was interested to know what was going on in the Scottish dance band scene and how everyone was. I spent a most enjoyable hour with him.
I’ll remember him for his pawky humour, his good company but most of all for the unique, wonderful bass playing. As John (Delaney) said in an interview with Robbie, when it comes to bass players in Scottish dance bands, there is Stan Saunders, then there is everyone else!
That sums Stan up perfectly, and I count myself privileged to have known him and to have played with him.”
Gordon young was also a great friend of Stan’s and this is his contribution :
Gordon Young
“I first played with Stan over 40 years ago on a Scottish dance music broadcast with Ian Holmes. I did of course know of his standing having been involved in Scottish Country Dancing and seen him with such greats as Jimmy Shand and Andrew Rankine. So there I was, my first venture into the BBC, playing in a band I considered one of the best, part of a rhythm section with two absolute legends, namely Bill Hendry from Falkirk on piano and Stan Saunders from Dollar on bass. I was terrified! However that did not last long. The boys in the band, and Stan in particular, could obviously feel my apprehension and very quickly made me feel relaxed, making sure I could hear everybody; that I was comfortable and keeping me informed of what to expect as we went along. One of his words of advice always stayed with me. We had just finished having a run-through a set of great reels and Stan said, ‘Forget you are in a studio and just enjoy the tune as if you are playing at a dance.’ Sound advice from a man I have always considered the best bass player in the business – which in no way suggests we are not blessed with many first class musicians who play bass – Stan really was in a class of his own. I played with The Ian Holmes Band for a number of years and shared many great musical moments with Stan on stage, recording sessions and radio.
I played for 20 years or so with sandy Nixon and Sandy used Stan when he needed a double bass. On occasion I used to play with Jim MacLeod at Dunblane Hydro and Stan was on bass, however the band used to split up at the interval and Stan sat in on drums and he was no mean performer on the skins.
I consider myself very fortunate to have played drums so often in the same band as Stan Saunders and I am sure everyone who has shared a stage with Stan would be of the same opinion. He gave you this wonderful big sound to lean on and played with a swing, lift and drive that was truly unique.
I have great memories of a God-given talent, supremely handled by one of the good guys.”
Stan’s influence has extended into the next generation of bass players and I asked Suzanne Croy to share her memories:
Suzanne Croy
“When I reflect on what Stan meant to me, I now realise he has influenced me throughout my life. I was brought up to the strains of Andrew Rankine and Jimmy Shand at home and I was immediately drawn to the warm, round sound which Stan produced. This led me to taking up the bass.
My warmest memory of Stan is when I was learning bass at school; Jim Dawson asked me to play at a dance in The Cochrane Hall in Alva but when I arrived there was already a bass on stage – I thought he had doubled booked. However, it transpired that Stan, Jim and my mother had arranged for me to play alongside Stan in the hope that I might pick up some tips! I learned more in those few hours than I could have possibly imagined; the main thing being the famous ‘Stan note’ – the high D or E grace note played at just the right place to lift the whole band – fantastic!
I became an avid fan, following Stan around the countryside and taking over whenever the bans played Mhairi’s Wedding (Stan’s least favourite original). He was kind, patient and encouraging and my only regret is that the younger generation have become so accustomed to playing without a bass that they might miss out on the Stan Saunders sound.
Last year I sold my blonde bass (affectionately known as Stan) to a young musician from Mull called Ross Wilson, on the condition that he looked after it and continued to call it Stan. I note Stan is regularly referred to on Facebook! I explained to Ross about the ‘Magic of Stan Saunders’ and he is now taking lessons from Alasdair MacLeod. Hopefully through this, the younger musicians will continue to learn and be influenced by Stan’s unique sound.”
My final contributor is my son, John, who was also hugely influenced by Stan. His thoughts express his friendship and admiration for this great man;
John Delaney
“Stan was, and remains, unarguably Scottish dance music’s finest bass player. His sound was absolutely distinctive; perfectly balancing precision and feeling with the famous Saunders ’dunt’, enhancing any rhythm section and – consequently – band that he was a part of.
Stan has always been a tremendous inspiration to me as a bass player and, although I spent a long time watching and listening to him, I could never work out how he produced that sound; but then I don’t think he could analyse it either. He did however spend as lot of time when I started out playing helping and encouraging me.
When he worked with Distillers he would sometimes pop in to see me at lunch time and talk about playing in position and string instruments and damping and other ‘nuts and bolts’ bass stuff, always happy to illustrate the point and encourage someone else to enjoy playing as much as he did. This at a time when he was recognised to be at the top of his game, he was self effacing and without ego that I could detect – a thoroughly decent man.
When I started to have the opportunity to do some ‘Take the Floor’ work, Stan would always phone up the next day and tell me of some part of my playing that he had particularly enjoyed – a gesture that meant more to me and encouraged me more than I could ever describe.
When he retired from playing, the quality of his musicianship was undiminished and – while I can appreciate and respect his desire to retire while at the height of his playing – I genuinely feel he could have played on for a long time.
As a musician and an inspiration, Stan will be sorely missed but his legacy will remain with us both in his recorded work and in the memories and hearts of those of us lucky enough to have known him.”
Having read all of these contributions, I am sure you will agree that the admiration and respect we all feel for our old friend and the ‘Stan Saunders Sound’ is obvious. I think my dislike for accordion MIDI bass stems from my listening to Stan for such a long time and appreciating how a bass should really sound. You can’t copy that Stan Saunders sound electronically!
Stan’s bass is now owned by Robert (Andy) Anderson of The Dollarfield Band, who was also a great friend of his. Stan gave Andy a comprehensive list of all the bands this instrument has played with – too numerous to include – and it makes very interesting reading!
I was privileged to have played with him over many years – at dances, recordings and broadcasts – with many bands. It was always a great pleasure to be his friend and in his company. I am grateful to my friends for taking time to share with me their thoughts on Stan as a musician, an influence and a friend.
We also received this tribute from Ian Holmes:
Ian Holmes
I first met Stan in the late 1950s, when Andrew Rankine’s Band played a number of gigs in Dumfriesshire. He and pianist Jimmy Scott joined me on stage when I was asked to play at half time.
When I became a member of Andrew’s new band in 1960, Stan joined Hamish Menzies’ Band. By the time I formed my own band in 1962 Stan was playing with Jimmy Shand. Jimmy kindly allowed Stan time off for my broadcasts. He and ex-Bobby MacLeod pianist Davie Whitehead were a very good solid team and that partnership continued for around six years. When Davie was unable to continue, Stan was re-united with his old friend Jimmy Scott. In the late 1960s I brought in jazz pianist Bill Hendry from Falkirk, and that partnership lasted until 1995 when Bill decided to retire and I brought in Jim Clark from Annan.
Stan also decided to retire and his last appearance with my band was a broadcast for ‘Take the Floor’ when all the tunes were composed by Jimmy Shand. In a way he’d become a victim of his own success, for by that time he was much in demand by other bandleaders. He felt he was becoming too busy and that to be fair to everyone, he should retire. I fully understood, though his decision was a blow, for Stan had gigged, broadcast and recorded with my band for 35 years.
He has a great sense of humour and, when writing to me, his letters always began “Dear Sir Ian….”
Since his passing I have thought of the many laughs we had together. He related some funny things which happened whilst he was in Jimmy Shand’s Band, like the time Jimmy was named “Old Tyme Bandleader of the Year” in the Carl Allen Awards. These awards were to be presented in a London Theatre. The venue had a revolving stage and while Joe Loss and his Orchestra were out front entertaining the crowd, Jimmy and his band were assembling at the rear, ready to be whisked round.
Jimmy, feeling his hands were too dry, and seeing Stan’s neatly oiled hair, ran his fingers through it, exclaiming, “That’s better noo Son.” With the ‘Magic Roundaboput’ starting to move and imagining himself with spiked hair looking like ‘Oor Wullie’, Stan said he just managed to get it re-combed and start playing ‘Bonnie Dundee’.
I recall when my band was playing a live broadcast from the BBC Edinburgh studio. Included in the programme was a set of wild Irish jigs, which I had given an innocent sounding title. Whether by accident or deliberately, the continuity announcer in the Glasgow studio rearranged the letters and as a result the title sounded rather rude. Only Stan and I noticed this error and we really had a problem playing the remainder of the session. I could hear Stan’s stifled chortles, but dared not look at him until after we had played the final chord of the signature tune, when we both fell about laughing. The other members of the gang must have thought we’d gone mad!
On another occasion in the BBC Aberdeen studio, during rehearsals for a live mid-day broadcast, the announcer, who was also present, had somehow great problems pronouncing Stan’s surname, uttering “Sanders, Sinders, Sunders” etc. He finally got it right, but kept practicing until the programme began. Obviously the nerves took over, because when it came to naming the band, he got it wrong again, and again we struggled to finish the programme. With the poor man present and apologizing, we did manage to control our mirth until we left the building when we literally exploded. Oh the happy memories! Purely self-taught, Stan Saunders was a much admired musician and his contribution to the Scottish music scene over so many years was enormous. No doubt my life was greatly enriched by having him as a friend and musical colleague.
Ian Duncan (21/07/1927 – 23/06/2011) Obituary
by George Anderson (Keith)
Ian was born on 21st July 1927 in the Parish of Botriphnie (also home of the famous blacksmith!) some 5 miles outside Keith. The family moved to Keith in 1940 where Ian attended Keith Grammar School. It was during this time that Ian developed an interest in musicwhich led him to teaching himself to play the accordion. Very soon thereafter he joined the local dance band – ‘The Strathisla Melody Makers’.
Unfortunately, Ian developed severe back problems which resulted in him having to give up playing the accordion. However, he was unwilling to abandon his musical career and took up playing the double bass. In that capacity he went on to play with The Regency Quintet, my own band The Chordettes Dance Band (for 22 years), The Ian H. Cruickshank SDB and, for some 30 years, the Elgin S&R Society. It was during an evening engagement with The Chordettes in May 1971 that I approached Ian and the then keyboard player, Ally Gray to discuss the possibility of forming an Accordion and Fiddle Club in Keith. The rest, as they say, is history – on the first Tuesday of September 1971, the North East Accordion and Fiddle Club was officially launched. The enthusiasm shown by Ian resulted in him becoming the Secretary – a position he held for 7 years. Following this Ian remained a Committee member for many years and his numerous contacts in the music world were invaluable in bringing the very best of guest artistes to the Club. Ian was also renowned for his wealth of personal recordings of the monthly club nights and his music room at his home in Keith was an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ of personal and commercial recordings.
Ian was also very proud of his role and influence in encouraging the younger members of the North east Club o maintain their interest in Scottish music and indeed, a number of them are still to the fore in the Scottish music and Accordion and Fiddle Club scene today. Ian was a frequent visitor to Shetland in the late 60s / early 70s during which times he fostered great and lasting friendships with many of the weel kent names up there. He was subsequently involved in a project to publish a number of volumes of music composed by his great musician friend Ronnie Cooper. These have become ‘must have’ volumes of music for most of the great musicians since they were first published. Whether it be the Shetland influence or not, Ian was also a prolific composer himself – The Hayfield Two-Step written for Frank and Lillian Chadwick was recorded by Jimmy Blue, and Miss Alison Gray (a reel) was recorded by Max Houliston. In addition, a couple of Ian’s tunes have been published by the RSCDS as original tunes for new dances.
Happily, the North East Accordion and Fiddle Club is still going strong. Ian remained a very staunce and proud member of the Club and missed only the last two meetings due to his failing health. It is very sad that Ian won’t be around to help the Club celebrate its 40th Anniversary on 6th September, but he will certainly be in the thoughts of everyone present that night, and will be fondly remembered for all he did for the Accordion and Fiddle scene in the North East of Scotland over the last 40 years.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Och Aye The Noo! – Clappy Doo Ceilidh Band –Bryansroom Recordings – BRCD064
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s)
REPEATS
3rd Sept 11 – Ron Kerr SDB (Backline Boys – Alasdair MacLeod)
10th Sept 11 – Angus Fitchet SDB (Archive Recording) (BLB – Graham Berry)
17th Sept 11 – Compilation Programme (BLB – Billy Craib)
24th Sept 11 – The Reel Thing Ceilidh Band (OB from Celtic Connections with guests Darren MacLean and Alistair McCulloch)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle) 14th Sept 11 – Local night
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 18th Sept 11 – Scott Band Trio
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 4th Sept 11 – Roy Hendrie
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 26th Sept 11 – Craig Paton SDB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) –
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 19th Sept 11 – Ceol-Mor
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 11th Sept 11 – Pentlands Ceilidh Band
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 13th Sept 11 – John Renton SDB
Britannia (Arden House Hotel) - 28th Sept 11 – Marian Anderson Trio
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 8th Sept 11 – Eddie Donaldson & Gordon Suttie
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 6th Sept 11 – Burns Brothers
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 1st Sept 11 – Roy Hendrie
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 20th Sept 11 – Dochie McCallum & Friends
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 15th Sept 11 – Addie Harper Trio
Coldingham (Village Hall) - 5th Sept 11 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club)
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 7th Sept 11 - Archie MacPhee & the Bogroy Band
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 21st Sept 11 – Jimmy Lindsay SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 13th Sept 11 – Ewan Galloway Trio
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate) 19th Sept 11 – Judith Linton Trio
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 20th Sept 11 – Charlie Esson
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) –
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 25th Sept 11 – Marian Anderson SDB
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 14th Sept 11 – Brandon McPhee Trio
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) -
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 29th Sept 11 – Willie McFarland Band
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 7th Sept 11 – Craig Paton SDB
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) -
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) -
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 18th Sept 11 - tbc
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 19th Sept 11 – Graeme MacKay & Duncan Farquhar
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 6th Sept 11 – Ian Holmes Trio
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 28th Sept 11 – Wullie Scott
Kintore (Torryburn Arms Hotel) –
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 15th Sept 11 - tbc
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 26th Sept 11 – Richard Smith Trio
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) – 14th Sept 11 – Matthew MacLennan Trio
Lauder (Black Bull Hotel) - 4th Sept 11 – Wullie Scott 18th Sept 11 – Accordiana 3 featuring Leonard Brown, Paul Capaldi, Andrew Gibb, KODa, Kodetta & Nicky McMichan
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 1st Sept 11 – Donnie & Dianne
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 20th Sept 11 – Craigowl SDB
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 27th Sept 11 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 7th Sept 11 – Tommy Newcomen
Newburgh (The Ship Inn) -
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Thorterdykes Roadhouse) 11th Sept 11 – Open Day
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 26th Sept 11 – Ewan Galloway SDB
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 6th Sept 11 – Dave Stewart Trio
Northern (Lylehill Suite, Templepatrick, N.I.) - 7th Sept 11 – Seamus Shannon
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 20th Sept 11 – Alan Gardiner 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) - 20th Sept 11 – Golden Oldies at Old Meldrum
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) -
Selkirk (Angus O’Malley’s) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 22nd Sept 11 – Local Night
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 13th Sept 11 – Davie Ross Duo
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 1st Sept 11 – Nicky McMichan SDB
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 15th Sept 11 – Gordon Brown SDB
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn)
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 20th Sept 11 – Gary Sutherland Trio
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Alnwick
2. Annan
3. Arbroath
4. Blairgowrie
5. Button-key
6. Campsie
7. Dunblane
8. Glendale
9. Lewis & Harris
10. Montrose
11. Rothbury
12. Seghill
13. Turriff
14. Tynedale
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2010
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
10. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
11. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
12. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
13. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
16. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
17. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
18. Coalburn A&F Club (
19. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 -
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
32. Forfar A&F Club (
33. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
34. Fort William A&F Club (2009 -
35. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
36. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
37. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
38. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
39. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
40. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
41. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
42. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
43. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
44. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
45. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
46. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
47. Kintore A&F Club (
48. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
49. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
50. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
51. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
52. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
53. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
54 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
55 Maine Valley A&F Club (
56 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
57 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
58 Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
59 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
60 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
61. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
62. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
63. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
64. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
65. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
66. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
67. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
68. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
69. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
70. Selkirk A&F Club (
71. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
72 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
73 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
74 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
75 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
76 Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
77 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
78 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
79 West Barnes ( - present)
80 Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
81. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
82. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
83. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
84. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
85. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
86. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
87. Buchan A&F Club
88 Callander A&F Club (
89 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
90 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
91 Club Accord
92 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
93. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
94. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
95. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
96. Derwentside A&F Club
97. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
98. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
99. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
100. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
101. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
102. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
103. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
104. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
105. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
106. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
107. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
108. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
109. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
110. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
111. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
112. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
113. Mull A&F Club
114. Newcastleton Accordion Club
115. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
116. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
117. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
118. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
119. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
120. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
121. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
122. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
123. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
124. Tranent A&F Club
125. Vancouver
126. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
127. Wellbank A&F Club
128. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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