Tommy Ford (25/11/31 – 23/12/17)
by Margaret Ford
B&F February 2018
Tommy
was born in auld Toon, Stirling and went to St Ninians Primary and Riverside schools. After leaving school, he trained and worked
as a motor mechanic. He then did his National Service with the R.E.M.E. which
took him to Egypt (Tel-El-Kabir) where he put a band together and played for Scottish
Country Dances and Tea Dances in the Officers’ Mess. When the dances were
finished Tommy was known to put any leftover food and fruit in his accordion
case and carry the ‘box’ back to share with the others in the hut.
In April 1953 Jim MacLeod asked Tommy to join his band on demob, which he did in 1954, and he spent the next 50 years with Jim and his fellow members at Dunblane Hydro. On one trip in Jim’s newly acquired Austin Omni (minibus) the band were en route to an engagement in Oban one winter evening. Jim was at the wheel with Jimmy MacFarlane up front while the other three members of the band tried to get some sleep in the back with the dividing blind down. After some 60 miles Jim stopped and got out to remove his overcoat, climbed back in and drove off. Jim recalled having driven about five miles when he heard Chris shouting from the rear. On rolling up the blind, he discovered that his five-piece band had been reduced to a trio!
Jim tuned the minibus around and raced back to find two very cold musicians, Alex and Tommy, hiking a desolate stretch of Argyllshire. While Jin had been removing his overcoat they had slipped out the side door to stretch theit legs and found themselves doing a bit more than anticipated.
Although he loved touring, radio, television, stage, sailing on the Canberra cruise liner and playing for over 25 years for Her Majesty the Queen at Balmoral Castle, his heart was always in The Dunblane Hydro. He was unique in owning two Ranco Antonio 5 Voice piano accordions. Tommy admired John Crawford from Freuchie so much for helping to keep them in good working order.
His favoutite bands were Bobby MacLeod, Jimmy Blue, Angus Fitchet, Jimmy Shand, John Huband and, of course, John Ellis although Toralf Tollefson was tops! One night when having a tune with the great Jimmy Shand, Tommy asked, “What are we going to play now?” Jimmy’s reply was, “Just follow me son” and so Tommy did.
Tommy was a quiet, unassuming and loyal musician, and a member of the Musician’s Union for his entire playing career. He loved his music. Margaret, his wife of 46 years, and all of his family, will sorely miss him. “Keep music live” was his favourite saying.
In April 1953 Jim MacLeod asked Tommy to join his band on demob, which he did in 1954, and he spent the next 50 years with Jim and his fellow members at Dunblane Hydro. On one trip in Jim’s newly acquired Austin Omni (minibus) the band were en route to an engagement in Oban one winter evening. Jim was at the wheel with Jimmy MacFarlane up front while the other three members of the band tried to get some sleep in the back with the dividing blind down. After some 60 miles Jim stopped and got out to remove his overcoat, climbed back in and drove off. Jim recalled having driven about five miles when he heard Chris shouting from the rear. On rolling up the blind, he discovered that his five-piece band had been reduced to a trio!
Jim tuned the minibus around and raced back to find two very cold musicians, Alex and Tommy, hiking a desolate stretch of Argyllshire. While Jin had been removing his overcoat they had slipped out the side door to stretch theit legs and found themselves doing a bit more than anticipated.
Although he loved touring, radio, television, stage, sailing on the Canberra cruise liner and playing for over 25 years for Her Majesty the Queen at Balmoral Castle, his heart was always in The Dunblane Hydro. He was unique in owning two Ranco Antonio 5 Voice piano accordions. Tommy admired John Crawford from Freuchie so much for helping to keep them in good working order.
His favoutite bands were Bobby MacLeod, Jimmy Blue, Angus Fitchet, Jimmy Shand, John Huband and, of course, John Ellis although Toralf Tollefson was tops! One night when having a tune with the great Jimmy Shand, Tommy asked, “What are we going to play now?” Jimmy’s reply was, “Just follow me son” and so Tommy did.
Tommy was a quiet, unassuming and loyal musician, and a member of the Musician’s Union for his entire playing career. He loved his music. Margaret, his wife of 46 years, and all of his family, will sorely miss him. “Keep music live” was his favourite saying.