Scottish Country Dance Bands 5
David Findlay and the Olympians have been broadcasting since May 1952.
The band was formed in 1950 and comprised two accordionists (pupils of the late Douglas Maxwell, Seggieden, Forgan), Mr Maxwell’s son on trumpet, a drummer and David on piano – all Fifers.
With David who lives in Wormit and is a clerical supervisor in the County Assessor’s office in Cupar, there are five in the present band –
John Huband (accordion) – at 18 is the youngest member. He works with an accordion firm in Dundee and lives there.
Jimmy Yeaman (fiddle) – is a carpet sales representative and lives in Dundee.
Douglas Maxwell (trumpet) – is a founder member. He lives at Blamerino and is Senior Cost Clerk with the County Council in Cupar.
Douglas Cargill (double bass) – is an Office Manager and lives in Dundee.
Angus MacDonald (drums) – is a printer and lives in Dundee.
The Olympians find it is an advantage having members on both sides of the Tay.
“When we play on the south side,” said David, “the Dundee boys sleep in fife, and the Fifers stay in Dundee when we’re north of the river. This saves a great deal of travelling round by Perth, but we’d still be very pleased to see a road bridge”.
Rochdale Date
Several of the members work on Saturday forenoons which rules out a great deal of travelling. “Despite this we have managed to get as far as Tain, Kilmarnock, Arran, Lochaline in Argyll and, of course, many places between those points.
“We have had to turn down offers from Skye, Ullapool, Campbeltown and English centres including London, Nottingham, Leeds, Derby and Birmingham. However, in March, we are going to Rochdale to the local branch of the R.S.C.D.S.’s Ball”.
David has composed several tunes. The most popular is the first he wrote, called ‘Forgan Bank’.
Lead On MacDuff
“About the time the band was formed we used to practice at Seggieden and from the window of the room we played in can be seen the part of the Cupar-Newport road called locally Forgan Bank.”
Three of David’s tunes have been published – ‘Jimmy Currie’, ‘Bill Bryce’ and ‘Archibald Campbell Burn’s Farewell to Dundee’. His other tunes include ‘Tynecastle Park’ – “I’m a Hearts fan”.
The band is resident at the R.S.C.D.S. (Dundee Branch) Club and also at the dances run in connection with the Summer School of the R.S.C.D.S. in St. Andrews.
The Olympians have two uniforms, kilts of MacDuff tartan, chosen because of the Fife connection (MacDuff being the Thane of Fife) and grey flannels and black blazers with a badge (an Olympic torch with a background of music and the motto ‘Beatha se Caol’ – Music is Life.
A Soaking
David has vivid memories of one Crieff Games. We were accompanying a team of dancers from the St Andrews Summer School. The weather didn’t look good, but we played the dancers onto the field, played a chord to start -and the sky opened up.
“Most of the band were able to withdraw (still playing)to a dry spot under the grandstand, but I was left outside , playing the piano in my raincoat and with and with the rain pouring off my cap…..
Kilts can be a trial. “While playing in Princes Street Gardens, on the final night of an Edinburgh Festival, with thousands watching, we had a hard time to keep from scratching. The midges seemed to be attracted to our legs…..”
The band have the distinction of having lost a bass drum. It happened on the night of Saturday, November 50, 1954. “At that time,” said David, “I had an old Humber for transport and several pieces of equipment had to be tied to the roof rack. We were returning from a dance at Callander in a high wind and lashing rain.
“At Auchterarder we stopped to make sure everything was still intact – but we were too late. The ropes had loosened and the drum had gone. We turned the car and retraced our routeas far as Dunblane, but the drum was never seen again.”
David Findlay and the Olympians have been broadcasting since May 1952.
The band was formed in 1950 and comprised two accordionists (pupils of the late Douglas Maxwell, Seggieden, Forgan), Mr Maxwell’s son on trumpet, a drummer and David on piano – all Fifers.
With David who lives in Wormit and is a clerical supervisor in the County Assessor’s office in Cupar, there are five in the present band –
John Huband (accordion) – at 18 is the youngest member. He works with an accordion firm in Dundee and lives there.
Jimmy Yeaman (fiddle) – is a carpet sales representative and lives in Dundee.
Douglas Maxwell (trumpet) – is a founder member. He lives at Blamerino and is Senior Cost Clerk with the County Council in Cupar.
Douglas Cargill (double bass) – is an Office Manager and lives in Dundee.
Angus MacDonald (drums) – is a printer and lives in Dundee.
The Olympians find it is an advantage having members on both sides of the Tay.
“When we play on the south side,” said David, “the Dundee boys sleep in fife, and the Fifers stay in Dundee when we’re north of the river. This saves a great deal of travelling round by Perth, but we’d still be very pleased to see a road bridge”.
Rochdale Date
Several of the members work on Saturday forenoons which rules out a great deal of travelling. “Despite this we have managed to get as far as Tain, Kilmarnock, Arran, Lochaline in Argyll and, of course, many places between those points.
“We have had to turn down offers from Skye, Ullapool, Campbeltown and English centres including London, Nottingham, Leeds, Derby and Birmingham. However, in March, we are going to Rochdale to the local branch of the R.S.C.D.S.’s Ball”.
David has composed several tunes. The most popular is the first he wrote, called ‘Forgan Bank’.
Lead On MacDuff
“About the time the band was formed we used to practice at Seggieden and from the window of the room we played in can be seen the part of the Cupar-Newport road called locally Forgan Bank.”
Three of David’s tunes have been published – ‘Jimmy Currie’, ‘Bill Bryce’ and ‘Archibald Campbell Burn’s Farewell to Dundee’. His other tunes include ‘Tynecastle Park’ – “I’m a Hearts fan”.
The band is resident at the R.S.C.D.S. (Dundee Branch) Club and also at the dances run in connection with the Summer School of the R.S.C.D.S. in St. Andrews.
The Olympians have two uniforms, kilts of MacDuff tartan, chosen because of the Fife connection (MacDuff being the Thane of Fife) and grey flannels and black blazers with a badge (an Olympic torch with a background of music and the motto ‘Beatha se Caol’ – Music is Life.
A Soaking
David has vivid memories of one Crieff Games. We were accompanying a team of dancers from the St Andrews Summer School. The weather didn’t look good, but we played the dancers onto the field, played a chord to start -and the sky opened up.
“Most of the band were able to withdraw (still playing)to a dry spot under the grandstand, but I was left outside , playing the piano in my raincoat and with and with the rain pouring off my cap…..
Kilts can be a trial. “While playing in Princes Street Gardens, on the final night of an Edinburgh Festival, with thousands watching, we had a hard time to keep from scratching. The midges seemed to be attracted to our legs…..”
The band have the distinction of having lost a bass drum. It happened on the night of Saturday, November 50, 1954. “At that time,” said David, “I had an old Humber for transport and several pieces of equipment had to be tied to the roof rack. We were returning from a dance at Callander in a high wind and lashing rain.
“At Auchterarder we stopped to make sure everything was still intact – but we were too late. The ropes had loosened and the drum had gone. We turned the car and retraced our routeas far as Dunblane, but the drum was never seen again.”