Box and Fiddle
Year 18 No 05
February 1995
Introducing the Clubs
No 25 – Biggar
by Charlie Todd
Biggar Accordion and Fiddle Club opened its doors in October 1974, in the Clydesdale Hotel, biggar, which had been taken over the previous month by Alex and Evelyn MacArthur. The nearest Club at that time was located at Carlops where present Club Chairman, John Anderson, happened to meet ‘The General’. In the course of the conversation John said he was from Biggar and Alex explained that he would be moving there shortly and that they would start their own Club.
As anyone who visited the Clydesdale could vouch, the room where the Club met was far too small, lined with chairs but with no room for tables and with a ‘stage’ which consisted of an old section of flooring sitting on empty beer crates – in other words it had atmosphere, lots of it. Players will remember that there was a clear space of fully a foot between the front of the stage and the first row of the audience and consequently it was a great training ground – if your nerves could stand playing at Biggar you could play anywhere. Alex’s personality as player and compere ensured that there was no shortage of either players or listeners.
Alex and John had settled the meeting date as the second Monday of the month for reasons long forgotten and Jim Johnstone did the honours as first guest artiste. Ian Powrie, on holiday from Australia, and numerous other well-known musicians arrived to make it a night to remember. Initially, Alex did almost everything himself but soon John and other willing helpers came to his assistance.
Since Alex knew everyone on the scene, it was he who usually suggested guest artistes with John making the arrangements. It was on a visit to a competition in Ireland that Alex first heard a young man called Paddy Neary whom he arranged to bring over on a short tour leading to a playing career in Scotland that hasn’t looked back since.
As is to be hoped with all Clubs, Biggar helped to bring to the fore a number of well-known names on today’s broadcasting scene – Alan Gardiner, Peter Wood, Keith Dickson, Dorothy Lawson and Jennifer Forrest. It would be nice to see more youngsters coming along to take their places.
After many successful years it was with a certain amount of trepidation that regulars learned that due to the tying nature of the residential side of the Clydesdale, Alex and Evelyn had decided to sell up and take over ‘The Farmers Arms’ at Thornhill. Sadly, Alex untimely death in 1989 denied him the opportunity to retire to Biggar and resume his activities with the Club. A great loss to us all. The scene had changed over the years however, with far more Clubs vying for a limited audience and it was decided to follow several other Clubs by introducing dancing to try to draw a bigger crowd. Since this was not possible at the Clydesdale it was reluctantly decided to move the venue, briefly to the Toftcombs Hotel, and then to its present venue, the Municipal Hall, in December 1988. At the same time, the night was changed to the second Sunday with the guest artiste opening the evening at 7.30 pm in an attempt to get everyone in on time.
Things have never looked back. The Club Committee today consists of John Anderson (Chairman), Joy Anderson (Treasurer) and Tom and Ray Hope, aided by a band of young and willing helpers on Club nights. Dancing has indeed proved an attraction, drawing larger attendances and enabling the Club to book good guest artiste bands. Long may the success continue.
No 25 – Biggar
by Charlie Todd
Biggar Accordion and Fiddle Club opened its doors in October 1974, in the Clydesdale Hotel, biggar, which had been taken over the previous month by Alex and Evelyn MacArthur. The nearest Club at that time was located at Carlops where present Club Chairman, John Anderson, happened to meet ‘The General’. In the course of the conversation John said he was from Biggar and Alex explained that he would be moving there shortly and that they would start their own Club.
As anyone who visited the Clydesdale could vouch, the room where the Club met was far too small, lined with chairs but with no room for tables and with a ‘stage’ which consisted of an old section of flooring sitting on empty beer crates – in other words it had atmosphere, lots of it. Players will remember that there was a clear space of fully a foot between the front of the stage and the first row of the audience and consequently it was a great training ground – if your nerves could stand playing at Biggar you could play anywhere. Alex’s personality as player and compere ensured that there was no shortage of either players or listeners.
Alex and John had settled the meeting date as the second Monday of the month for reasons long forgotten and Jim Johnstone did the honours as first guest artiste. Ian Powrie, on holiday from Australia, and numerous other well-known musicians arrived to make it a night to remember. Initially, Alex did almost everything himself but soon John and other willing helpers came to his assistance.
Since Alex knew everyone on the scene, it was he who usually suggested guest artistes with John making the arrangements. It was on a visit to a competition in Ireland that Alex first heard a young man called Paddy Neary whom he arranged to bring over on a short tour leading to a playing career in Scotland that hasn’t looked back since.
As is to be hoped with all Clubs, Biggar helped to bring to the fore a number of well-known names on today’s broadcasting scene – Alan Gardiner, Peter Wood, Keith Dickson, Dorothy Lawson and Jennifer Forrest. It would be nice to see more youngsters coming along to take their places.
After many successful years it was with a certain amount of trepidation that regulars learned that due to the tying nature of the residential side of the Clydesdale, Alex and Evelyn had decided to sell up and take over ‘The Farmers Arms’ at Thornhill. Sadly, Alex untimely death in 1989 denied him the opportunity to retire to Biggar and resume his activities with the Club. A great loss to us all. The scene had changed over the years however, with far more Clubs vying for a limited audience and it was decided to follow several other Clubs by introducing dancing to try to draw a bigger crowd. Since this was not possible at the Clydesdale it was reluctantly decided to move the venue, briefly to the Toftcombs Hotel, and then to its present venue, the Municipal Hall, in December 1988. At the same time, the night was changed to the second Sunday with the guest artiste opening the evening at 7.30 pm in an attempt to get everyone in on time.
Things have never looked back. The Club Committee today consists of John Anderson (Chairman), Joy Anderson (Treasurer) and Tom and Ray Hope, aided by a band of young and willing helpers on Club nights. Dancing has indeed proved an attraction, drawing larger attendances and enabling the Club to book good guest artiste bands. Long may the success continue.