Alan Ross - 9th December 2024 - Obituary -
from RSCDS Ribble Valley Newsletter - Jan 2024 - by Sandra Horne
We were incredibly saddened to hear of the death of Alan Ross on the 9th of December after his health deteriorated. As many of you know, Alan went through treatment for cancer in 2021 and as he recovered, he was able to get back to playing, and he and Lesley were able to resume their travels.
He will be greatly missed by the whole music and dancing community both here, in Scotland and abroad where he was highly respected, and valued as a musician, and lovely kind and gentle man. Many people will be mourning his loss and we are particularly sad for Lesley and his very close family at this difficult time. We were incredibly honoured that he shared his musical life story with us so recently, and this is a short report of our discussions.
The Ribble Valley ‘An Audience with’ lockdown programme finally ended on the 7th November with a fascinating conversation with Alan Ross. It was particularly appropriate that Alan should join us: he was the first professional musician to take the plunge and join our embryo ‘Lock down’ activities. He helped the development of the monthly ceilidhs which became such a wonderful support for many people in those difficult times. That was not his only ‘first’ for Lancashire. He was the first musician to come to Lancashire since the days of Jimmy Shand, coming for Tom Smith’s father when he came with the Lothian band when booked by Chris Bell for Preston Caledonian in 1982.
Alan’s musical story was fascinating, and I am only able to share a tiny glimpse of all he shared with us. Having been surrounded by music as a child and young man, he told us he never actually ‘practised’, but came home from school every day and played his accordion till bedtime! He told us about his first performance and how he was picked up by the Lothian Band when very young. He played with them all over the world for 20 years before embarking with his own band. He spoke about the different genres of Scottish music and the people who influenced him across his career, and told us about the 4 accordions he owned. Finally he shared some of the challenges of managing a professional career and his musical activities, and he shared some of the hobbies he enjoys. It was a pleasure to listen to him, and from the feedback from all the people who attended, it was greatly appreciated and was a very fitting end to the Ribble Valley Lockdown activities.
He will be greatly missed by the whole music and dancing community both here, in Scotland and abroad where he was highly respected, and valued as a musician, and lovely kind and gentle man. Many people will be mourning his loss and we are particularly sad for Lesley and his very close family at this difficult time. We were incredibly honoured that he shared his musical life story with us so recently, and this is a short report of our discussions.
The Ribble Valley ‘An Audience with’ lockdown programme finally ended on the 7th November with a fascinating conversation with Alan Ross. It was particularly appropriate that Alan should join us: he was the first professional musician to take the plunge and join our embryo ‘Lock down’ activities. He helped the development of the monthly ceilidhs which became such a wonderful support for many people in those difficult times. That was not his only ‘first’ for Lancashire. He was the first musician to come to Lancashire since the days of Jimmy Shand, coming for Tom Smith’s father when he came with the Lothian band when booked by Chris Bell for Preston Caledonian in 1982.
Alan’s musical story was fascinating, and I am only able to share a tiny glimpse of all he shared with us. Having been surrounded by music as a child and young man, he told us he never actually ‘practised’, but came home from school every day and played his accordion till bedtime! He told us about his first performance and how he was picked up by the Lothian Band when very young. He played with them all over the world for 20 years before embarking with his own band. He spoke about the different genres of Scottish music and the people who influenced him across his career, and told us about the 4 accordions he owned. Finally he shared some of the challenges of managing a professional career and his musical activities, and he shared some of the hobbies he enjoys. It was a pleasure to listen to him, and from the feedback from all the people who attended, it was greatly appreciated and was a very fitting end to the Ribble Valley Lockdown activities.