Alex Little
by Max Houliston
A respected and familiar figure in Scottish music circles will be sadly missed when Alex Little passed away peacefully at Dumfries Infirmary on 16th August, 2001, aged 73 years.
Alex was a valued Committee member of the N.A.A.F.C. and, indeed, he was “instrumental in co-founding the totally new concept of an Accordion Club and introduced the first ever Club Night of its kind at The Hole I’ the Wa’, Dumfries in 1965. He served on the Committee and as MC at the Musselburgh Accordion and Fiddle Festival for over 20 years, visited the Shetland Isle competitions on numerous occasions to act as compere, regularly attended the Clubs at Langholm, Gretna, Lockerbie and Islesteps and formed his own Club in the village of Torthorwald (near Dumfries) for a time, encouraging local players and those from farther afield to come along and entertain.
‘Distance no object!’ could have been his motto – during the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh he made the round trip from Dumfries on 14 nights in a row to take part in the ceilidhs arranged for the competitors and visitors from around the world. He was always in great demand and also took part in BBC programmes along with Robbie Shepherd at various music festivals across the country.
In his hometown of Dumfries, Alex was a popular ‘weel-kent’ face and willingly gave of his time and talent on a regular basis to bring a bit of cheer and goodwill to residential homes and also at many local events. An all-round entertainer – singer, raconteur and compere – in 1994 he was honoured by Dumfries Regional Council with an award to mark his substantial contribution to entertainment in the area and beyond.
St Mary’s Church in Dumfries was filled to capacity when his family and many friends from both far and near gathered to bid farewell to this larger than life character! Alex Little’s unique personality will be much missed by all who knew him, and our sympathy is extended to his daughter, Margo, son-in-law, John, and his grand-children Hazel and David.
Box and Fiddle
October 2001
Alex was a valued Committee member of the N.A.A.F.C. and, indeed, he was “instrumental in co-founding the totally new concept of an Accordion Club and introduced the first ever Club Night of its kind at The Hole I’ the Wa’, Dumfries in 1965. He served on the Committee and as MC at the Musselburgh Accordion and Fiddle Festival for over 20 years, visited the Shetland Isle competitions on numerous occasions to act as compere, regularly attended the Clubs at Langholm, Gretna, Lockerbie and Islesteps and formed his own Club in the village of Torthorwald (near Dumfries) for a time, encouraging local players and those from farther afield to come along and entertain.
‘Distance no object!’ could have been his motto – during the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh he made the round trip from Dumfries on 14 nights in a row to take part in the ceilidhs arranged for the competitors and visitors from around the world. He was always in great demand and also took part in BBC programmes along with Robbie Shepherd at various music festivals across the country.
In his hometown of Dumfries, Alex was a popular ‘weel-kent’ face and willingly gave of his time and talent on a regular basis to bring a bit of cheer and goodwill to residential homes and also at many local events. An all-round entertainer – singer, raconteur and compere – in 1994 he was honoured by Dumfries Regional Council with an award to mark his substantial contribution to entertainment in the area and beyond.
St Mary’s Church in Dumfries was filled to capacity when his family and many friends from both far and near gathered to bid farewell to this larger than life character! Alex Little’s unique personality will be much missed by all who knew him, and our sympathy is extended to his daughter, Margo, son-in-law, John, and his grand-children Hazel and David.
Box and Fiddle
October 2001