Box and Fiddle
Year 43 No 07
March 2020
Price £3.00
56 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £33.60 + p&p £15.85 (UK)
Editor – Pia Walker, Cupar
B&F Treasurer –
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time-consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
In this issue we are remembering two well-respected musicians: Tom Alexander and button- box player Jimmy Lindsay. And while working on this issue, we were notified that a previous Editor of this magazine, Tom Clark, had also passed away. I hope to bring his story in a later issue. .………
Pia Walker
2020 Celtic Connections
by Pia Walker
January means Glasgow and Celtic Connections and it seems that………….
Musical Memories – Part 12
by Denis Shepherd
TO CONTINUE my account of my time as a dance caller with Airs & Graces (led by Alex Green and Madeline Miller), I must tell you about one ceilidh which was memorable for the wrong reasons! We had been booked at short notice to entertain a touring party of Turkish holidaymakers visiting the Craigendarroch Holiday Centre in Ballater. Only on arrival did we discover the reason: the booked band, who had played for them the previous year, had found out at the last minute that this would be the same party and refused point blank to perform!
On making our second equipment-carrying trip from the car to the function room, we discovered Madeline, still in her coat and holding the equipment from her first trip, being lectured by the woman in charge who had her index finger in full flow. "You will play La Cumparsita after we finish our meal . . ."
After setting up the band members, as was usual, retired to the lounge for sandwiches as we waited (supposedly) until the company was ready to begin the dance. The visitors, however, had other ideas. We were literally taking the first bite of our sandwiches when an urgent call came that the band must play during the whole meal! And when they said the whole meal, they meant the whole meal. Playing our sets of music one by one was not enough – it seemed they wanted us to play one long set and only stop when they ordered us to do so. Every time a pause came, the leader exclaimed, "Why have they stopped playing? We are paying them to play the whole time!"
The Gay Gordons is the dance that needs little or no explanation. In this instance, however, I called, explained, instructed and demonstrated the dance for two sets of tunes, after which they still had not a clue what they were doing! The remainder of the dance was no more successful: for instance, I managed to persuade just enough couples to form a small circle for the Friendly Waltz but, once it began, they all obviously forgot even the name of the dance and left the floor, couple by couple.
Alex later displayed his unbounded knowledge of musical culture by partly explaining their attitude: "In Turkey the musicians are regarded on a par with the lowest echelons of society." On discussing the evening with the staff afterwards, we were told: "You’re lucky, you've only had them for one evening. We've had to put up with them for three days!"
Most hiccups, admittedly, were not the fault of the punters. At one ceilidh in Ellon Alex had brought his standby keyboard for Esma Shepherd, who was standing in that night. When Alex discovered that a vital cable had been left in his cupboard in Aberdeen he uttered his infamous catch-phrase, “Ach, Madeline!” and promptly handed Esma his house and car keys to dash back to Aberdeen to get it (the reasoning being that this way the ceilidh could begin with only one instrument missing). Esma must have found the 30-mile round journey hair raising, driving at maximum speed an estate car which she had never driven before!
This reminds me of the time Fittefolk, my latter-day band, played as a trio at a private Hogmanay party at Inglismaldie near Laurencekirk. My “Menace” partner Harry Williamson, who usually stood in on keyboard on Hogmanay, was all set to drive us there but his car had a puncture, just after all the garages had closed for New Year. His car only had an emergency spare, to be used to get to a garage, but he decided to risk it – and fortune certainly favoured the brave. Not only did we have to drive miles along a rough private road, but we covered extra distance on the return journey, having lost our bearings as we left the venue. When Harry eventually went to a garage the mechanic said, “I hope you haven’t gone far on that tyre!”
“I just said I’d been here and there – I didn’t like to tell him I’d been to Inglismaldie!” Harry later told me.
Centre Stage
Malcolm Ross
In Memory
Tom Alexander MBE (25th June 1934 – 9th January 2020)
by Bill Brown
The passing of Thomas Armit Alexander MBE on Thursday 9th January 2020, at the age of 85, saw Scotland lose one of its finest exponents of the piano accordion. Not only was Tom a highly talented and gifted player of exceptional technical ability, he was also a prolific composer writing a number of outstanding contemporary tunes, many with a continental flavour, during a long and distinguished musical career. Without doubt Tom’s early classical training hugely shaped his virtuosic style of playing, while such a good musical education, clearly provided Tom with significant inspiration, insight and influence when putting pen to manuscript. As aspiring accordionists will soon discover, many of Tom’s own compositions are not easy to play which summed up the genius of the man. Tom was born on Monday the 25th June 1934 in Cambusnethan just outside Wishaw in Lanarkshire. Dad Jimmy worked in Clyde Alloy, Motherwell, while mum Helen ran a very tight ship in an era when money and resource were not in great supply. Tom was the eldest of a family of three, growing up in a happy family home with brother Jack and sister Betty. It was apparent early on that Tom and his younger brother Jack had inherited a great love for music and at nights the family would often sit round the piano singing and playing the popular songs of the day. Mum Helen, who was a gifted pianist and singer in her own right, invariably led those impromptu music sessions. The young Tom had a very difficult and unfortunate start to life having to endure major surgery for a mastoid in the ear, which was a big operation at the time. For the first ten weeks of his young life Tom was a regular resident in Glasgow Royal Infirmary, which placed a lot of stress and worry on his young parents, especially mum Helen. This childhood health scare left Tom with an acute hearing problem which he had to endure, manage and carry with him throughout his entire life which made his outstanding musical achievements all the more remarkable. Tom began his academic education at Newmains Junior Secondary School in Wishaw as it was known then, and by the age of nine, the fledgling Tom had acquired his first accordion beginning formal lessons with a succession of local teachers in Lanarkshire. After a short period of time, his musical progression and competency on the accordion came to the attention of Bill Brown who invited Tom to continue his musical studies at his Accordion School. Tom’s dedication, discipline and commitment to the accordion continued to drive him forward and in 1952 he was entered into the Classical Section of the NAO Championships at the Christian Institute in Glasgow. At the time, Tom had an old clapped out Hohner but Bill suggested on the day of the competition, Tom played his Frattelli Crosio accordion, which Tom duly did and the rest they say is history. Tom went on to win the Championship playing Bats at Sunset by the American/Italian composer Frosini and Spanish Holiday by Eugene Ettore. Tom’s first accordion hero was world-class accordionist Toralf Tollefson from Fredrikstad in Norway. Toralf, like Tom, came from a musical family and was renowned throughout the world for his technical ability and manual dexterity on the 5 Row button accordion. I know Tom always regretted not learning to play the 5 Row as he felt it would have opened up a wider range of musical possibilities. Tom often credited Will Starr and Jimmy Shand as other key musical influences and few would be brave enough to argue with that as the profile those two greats gave the instrument is possibly why many of us are playing the accordion today. During his life Tom was a great supporter of the National Association and made guest appearances at Accordion Clubs in such diverse locations as Jersey, Carlisle, Derry, Hexham, Drogheda, Thurso, Kirkwall, Biggar, Leyland, Derwentside, Castle Douglas, Lockerbie, Banchory, Kelso and Lesmahagow. Although classically trained, Tom was as much at home performing light classics and continental and Irish music as he was at playing traditional Scottish music as the eclectic range of material included on his solo CD releases would testify to. Being the humble man he was, Tom would often claim that players such as Gordon Pattullo and John Carmichael were much better at playing the Scottish repertoire than he was. By his own admission he would also be the first to tell you that he didn’t regard himself good enough to be included on the list of top Scottish accordion players but I know many who would be willing to challenge that extremely harsh selfassessment. In his latter years, despite his own outstanding musical talent, Tom often commented to me that he felt rather apprehensive playing at accordion clubs where audiences could be quite critical and where emerging young players were perceived to be better than him, but while that maybe true, not every young player has, or will have, the ability to entertain and play an audience the way Tom Alexander could, so again, I think the man was being overtly self critical and rather hard on himself. As mentioned earlier, Tom was a prolific composer throughout his life writing a collection of fine tunes such as Le Menege, Alpine Express, The Oil Rigger, Helen Armit (named after Tom’s mum) Isle of My Heart, Kenmore Gardens, Bowie’s Boat, Pat McCann MD and Kilwaughter House, all of which, were published by Greyfriars Music, the music publishing company Tom jointly owned with his brother Jack and long-time Musical Associate Tom Walsh. It’s clear Tom’s musical tastes were both varied and diverse and if you were to dig deeper you would discover a man who had a real love and passion for Jazz music, which he would love to have been able to play. You will therefore not be surprised to learn that Tom was a great admirer of fellow accordionist Jack Emblow, who not only specialises in Jazz improvisation, but whose contribution to the accordion world across many decades has also been exemplary. Another passion that Tom would love to have made more of during his highly successful life was his strong interest in painting. I’m sure you have already detected I don’t mean painting of the variety Tom indulged in all those years ago at the start of his working life with Torrance the Painters in Motherwell. No I’m referring to the much more creative art of oil and watercolour painting that Tom dabbled in from time to time. Tom quite rightly picked up numerous awards and accolades during his long distinguished career but I know he was particularly thrilled when the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs recognised his amazing contribution to Scottish music with a Lifetime Achievement Award which was presented to Tom at the Association’s Annual AGM held at the Huntingtower Hotel, Perth on Sunday 28th June 2009, and more recently, when fellow accordionist and lifelong admirer Leonard Brown staged a wonderful tribute to Tom at the Salutation Hotel, Perth on Sunday 28th August 2016. Unfortunately I wasn’t there that day but I believe it was quite an afternoon! However, the ultimate accolade and more formal recognition of Tom’s outstanding musical career came in 2005 when he and brother Jack were awarded MBEs in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List. Tom and Jack received their well-deserved Awards for Services to the Entertainment Industry from The Queen at an Investiture held at Holyrood House, Edinburgh in July 2005. The boy’s were absolutely thrilled and pleased as punch at the award of their richly deserved MBEs, but there again, who wouldn’t be! A retrospective of Tom’s amazing life of course wouldn’t be complete without making reference to the highly successful career Tom enjoyed with his late brother Jack. The Alexander Brother’s easy listening brand of Scottish music charmed and delighted audiences the world over for more than five decades. Due to Jack’s increasingly poor health, Tom and Jack sadly announced their retirement from professional Show Business on the 30th May 2012 after 54 years on the international stage. Jack sadly left us on Saturday 2nd November 2013 after a short illness, and with Tom’s passing, the curtain has finally, once and for all, come down on one of the most enduring and best loved acts to ever grace Scottish show business. Not only was Tom a devoted husband to wife Betty and a loving father to his late son Tom, who tragically died in 2006, he was also immensely proud of his three beautiful grand daughters. Tom was a very loyal and dear friend to all who had the privilege to know him, he was a gentleman off the highest standing with a kind warm nature, as well as being an exceptional Scotsman who was fiercely proud of his working class background and rich Scottish heritage. So as the sun sets on a life well lived and the evocative sound of the Flying Scotsman fades into the distance for the final time, words alone will never seem adequate enough to describe how much Tom will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him, not least by his beloved wife Betty, daughter-in-law Angela and his three beautiful grand-daughters, Holly, Skye and Tamsin. Tom’s passing is undoubtedly an event filled with immense sorrow and sadness, and I know more than a few tears have been shed at his passing, but it’s also a time to reflect and celebrate with sincere gratitude the life of an inspirational Scot who enriched so many people’s lives and whose unquestionable talent made such an outstanding contribution to our kind of music. Rest in peace Tom, like so many others, I was exceptionally proud, privileged and honoured to call you my friend. You will never be forgotten!
From Leonard Brown
On 9th January this year, our music scene lost one of the most well-respected and decorated musicians we have ever had the privilege of knowing and listening to, Mr Tom Alexander MBE. For the best part of 60 years Tom, along with brother Jack, graced the stage as the Alexander Brothers, a partnership that would see them travel the world delighting audiences with their songs, music and charisma, recording a multitude of best-selling records, amassing a huge fan base and becoming two of Scotland’s most recognised ambassadors. For me, Tom was always the consummate professional when playing solo. As a 14-year-old I had the pleasure of watching Tom perform at my local accordion club, Seghill, and from that moment, I learnt so much from Tom’s playing ability and stage craft. Tom inevitably enabled me and others to further our own musical careers using the tips and techniques that he showcased at each of his performances. Tom possessed a depth of quality not just in his playing of the piano accordion, but in his ability to connect with his audience. I witnessed him at our accordion club sitting and listening to all of the local artists before retiring to his dressing room to change into his kilt ready for his first performance. He was always immaculately dressed and beautifully presented on stage, with an endearing smile, and his playing to top it off was something to behold. He always offered a kind word to each of the players who had supported the evening. There were no airs or graces. He was a genuine, kind individual who had such a wonderful talent. He can only be described as a very humble gentleman. His playing was of outstanding quality as he tackled pieces that others could only dream of playing. He was classically trained and this set the grounding for Tom to play pieces such as The Carnival of Venice, Lady of Spain, Pistonette and Poet and Peasant Overture with total ease. He was such a controlled player with an ability to choose material that suited his audiences. He would start his performances usually with something devilishly difficult like Lady of Spain featuring a bass solo, going into Happy Hours and a set of Shetland Reels. He would continue with favourites such as The Cuckoo Waltz, The Mad March Hare and Spanish Gypsy Dance. He would then slow the tempo down with The Dark Island or Highland Cathedral and finish his first set with The Typewriter and The Savoy American Medley. Which such a diverse repertoire, it is no wonder Tom became my idol and my hero. In 2005, Tom and Jack were awarded a well-deserved MBE for their services to light entertainment. They both were hugely proud of this honour and they continued performing until 2012. After Jack’s passing in 2013, Tom continued to perform solo for a couple of years but with his health declining in the latter years he decided to retire in early 2016. When I heard about Tom’s retirement I wanted to mark his legacy with an afternoon for him to remember. In August 2016 I organised a Lifetime Achievement Concert in The Salutation Hotel, Perth, a day that will live long in the memory for many as The All Star Band and myself performed his greatest hits in front of Tom’s 300 plus fans who had travelled huge distances to be there. Upon accepting the invitation, he was overwhelmed that someone would do such a thing for him, showing again his humble attitude. On the day Tom was presented with a bottle of malt whisky and a pocket watch with The Flying Scotsman inscribed on it. He received three voluntary standing ovations over the course of the afternoon and Tom contacted me the very next morning to thank me for the hospitality he received. Tom was admitted to a care home in 2018. On a visit I brought my accordion and played most of Tom’s compositions and favourite tunes for him and the residents. It was such an experience to see his face light up as each new piece was played. Betty, who couldn’t be at the tribute, heard about this and phoned me later to thank me for the pleasure it had given Tom. It is fair to say that we have lost a legend of our time. He will be greatly missed and fondly thought of for many years to come. His music and legacy lives on in others and we can now be rest assured that Tom and Jack, The Alexander Brothers, are now back together again in the theatre in the sky.
In Memory – Jimmy Lindsay (1940 – 2020)
by Jean & Willie Simpson and Frank Thomson
Jimmy Lindsay was born in Hamilton where his father’s family had farmed the nearby Castle Brocket Farm and were well-known dairy farmers.
In 1944 the family moved to Perthshire and took over East Campsie farm and Jimmy began school at Logiealmond Primary School. Scottish Dance Music was always in Jimmy’s life; his mother was a piano player and his father keen on the mouth organ. Jimmy was lucky to have a neighbour at Picston farm, Davey Taylor, who played the melodeon and this got Jimmy interested in the accordion.
He began playing at an early age. He played by ear and later took lessons from Bill Wilkie. Jimmy was involved in the school band at Methven Secondary School where the line-up was Jimmy on button-key accordion, Frank Thomson on piano accordion, Arthur Baxter on fiddle, Rita Robertson on piano and Willie Simpson on drums. Their first gig was at Almondbank Flower Show where they shared the stage with The Joe Gordon Folk Four.
After having seen him in Perth Theatre, Will Starr was Jimmy’s absolute influence, and this led to Jimmy forming his own band and playing at various functions up and down the country. He was also heavily involved in playing for Scottish country Dance classes. He had a tremendous ear for harmony and a left hand that worded as hard as the right. He also loved the Continental idiom as well as being a prolific composer. His competition, Willie Atkinson, became a classic competition march.
Jimmy and Norma farmed East Campsie for many years and in 1991 they moved to Amulree as their children, Sandy and Fiona, were about to begin their secondary education at Breadalbane Academy. The family were much missed in the glen and Jimmy was a kindly gentleman who will be sadly missed.
Malcolm Ross writes :
The first time I met Jimmy was behind the scenes at the Perth Festival in the late 1970s, when I had tagged along with my father who had been asked by Bill Wilkie to judge a class, as Jimmy had. Two decades later. Jimmy appeared with a very young Sandy Lindsay to play at the mid-section of an annual ball, held at the prestigious Blair Castle Ballroom. The join in the music was seamless, as Jimmy and Sandy kept the 350+ revellers happy with their perfect tempos and energy. This was a difficult task, as they had followed bobby Crowe’s 6-piece band.
Over the years, I played with Jimmy many times. His sense of humour and professionalism along with his command of continental music, and especially his idea of how dance music should be, could have come only from the experience of doing thousands of different engagements. These skills proved valuable when he recorded for the RSCDS especially. Personally, I was amazed at Jimmy’s ability to play ‘modern’ on the button-box, and quite often, when at many functions playing background music, he would play a complicated jazz swing ‘chorus’ full of harmonies, chords, etc. on an instrument that’s suited to a usually more linear style of music.
We are fortunate that Jimmy’s son Sandy carries on his musical legacy. Our thoughts have been with the family over the last few weeks.
Joan Blue writes :
I played with Jimmy for many years, and our kids loved going to our band practices at Logiealmond. Jimmy Lindsay’s mum used to make a fantastic spread, and while we were playing my girls had the time of their lives helping her to bake, decorate cakes and make sandwiches etc. The only cross word between us was when he ran out of petrol – which happened more than once! On the third occasion I told him if it happened again I would leave the band. The next time he picked me up, the fumes from three cans of petrol in the boot nearly knocked me over!
Jimmy was always a delight to play along with – a great button key player with a real gentle way. We were in the Kinnoull Band for many years with different personnel on piano accordion. When I first joined in, I think 1963, David Forsyth filled this spot, followed by Frank Thomson, Ian Henderson and then Ian Anderson from Birnam. Bob Doig from Newburgh was on drums and, of course, our bandleader was fiddler Jimmy McFarlane from Scone, a most excellent and good-natured bandleader and we all had some happy times together travelling all over Scotland and very often Northumberland to play at dances.
I am so glad that Jimmy’s gentle manner as well as his musical talents have been passed to his son, Sandy. The two of them were guest artistes at Crieff A&F Club not so very long ago, and it was a delight to see them working together.
My sincere condolences to Norma, Sandy and Fiona.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
90th Anniversary Dances – Frank Thomson SDB – RSCDS Dunfermline Branch – DBCD01
30 Popular Dances – Volume 2 – James Coutts SDB – RSCDS CD086
Book Review
RSCDS Dunfermline Branch – 90th Anniversary Book
CLUB DIARY – NB from mid-March the following were cancelled due to the Covid19 pandemic
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 31st March 2020 – Marian Anderson SDB
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 11th March 2020 – Burns Brothers Trio
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 15th March 2020 – Scott Leslie Band
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 1st March 2020 – James Coutts SDB + AGM
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 15th March 2020 – Kyle Rowan Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 30th March 2020 – Leonard Brown Duo
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 25th March 2020 – Scott Leslie Trio
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) –
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) – 8th March 2020 – Alan Crookston SDB
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 10th March 2020 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) – 12th March 2020 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 3rd March 2020 – The Occasionals
Canderside (Stonehouse Bowling Club) - 12th March 2020 – Andy Philip Duo
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Threave Rovers Football Club) – 17th March 2020 – Judith Linton Trio
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) - 1st March 2020 – Lindsay Weir SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 19th March 2020 – West Telferton C.B.
Crieff & District (British Legion) 5th March 2020 – Ross McPherson Trio
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 4th March 2020 – Daniel McPhee Trio
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 18th March 2020 – Billy Anderson Band
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) – 20th March 2020 – Willie McFarlane Band
Duns (Masonic Lodge) 16th March 2020 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 24th March 2020 – Julie MacRitchie Trio
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 29th March 2020 – Adin Graham Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 11th March 2020 – Kirkjuvagr Ceilidh Band
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) - 3rd March 2020 – Alan Gardiner Trio
Galashiels (Gala YM RFC) - 5th March 2020 – Club Night
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 19th March 2020 – Stuart Anderson SDB
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 4th March 2020 – Kyle Innes
Gretna (The Richard Greenhow Centre) - 1st March 2020 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 16th March 2020 – Sandy Lindsay Duo
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) - 11th March 2020 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 5th March 2020 – Scott Band SDB
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) – 3rd March 2020 – Craig McFadyen SDB
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 25th March 2020 – Bon Accords
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) – 29th March 2020 – Marian Anderson SDB
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) - 7th March 2020 – Club Night
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 17th March 2020 – Scott Leslie CB
Lockerbie (Mid Annandale Comrades Club) 31st March 2020 – David Vernon
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) - 22nd March 2020 – Gordon Shand SDB & Family
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 17th March 2020 – Leonard Brown
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 4th March 2020 – George Rennie Duo
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 30th March 2020 – The Occasionals
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 3rd March 2020 – Gillian Stephenson
Oban (The Royal Hotel) – 5th March 2020 – Duncan McKinnon
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 4th 11th 18th 25th March 2020 – Club Nights
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 26th March 2020 – Jack Delaney SDB
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) – 17th March 2020 – Kevin Clark & the Craigowl SDB
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 11th March 2020 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 12th March 2020 – Graeme Mitchell SDB supported by The Carlisle All Stars Band
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 3rd 10th 17th 31st March 2020 – Club Nights 24th Missing Time Ceilidh Band
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 12th March 2020 – Club Night 26th March – Roy Hendrie Trio
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) - 21st March 2020 – Alan Small Trio
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 2nd March 2020 – Jim MacKay SDB
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 12th March 2020 - Kirkjuvagr Ceilidh Band
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 19th March 2020 – Paul Chamberlain & Michael Haywood
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 17th March 2020 – Matthew MacLennan
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Annan
2. Arbroath
3. Biggar
4. Buttonkey
5. Campsie
6. Canderside
7. Castle Douglas
8. Coalburn
9. Dingwall
10. Dunblane
11. Dunfermline
12. Duns
13. Forfar
14. Forres
15. Glendale
16. Gretna
17. Highland
18. Inveraray
19. Isle of Skye
20. Islesteps
21. Kelso
22. Livingston
23. Lockerbie
24. Macmerry
25. Mauchline & District
26. Peebles
27. Perth
28. Renfrew
29. Seghill
30. Shetland
31. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2019
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
10. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
11. Button Key A&F Club (
12. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
13. Canderside A&F Club (Stonehouse) (Feb 2019 – present)
14. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
15. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
16. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
17. Coalburn A&F Club (
18. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
19. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
20. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
21. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
22. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
23. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
24. Ellon A&F Club (
25. Forfar A&F Club (
26. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
27. Fort William A&F Club ( )
28. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
29. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
30. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
31. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
32. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
33. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
34. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
35. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
36. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
37. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
38. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
39. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – March 2020)
40 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
41. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
42 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
43 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
44 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
45. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
46. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
47. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
48. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
49. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
50. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
51. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
52. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
53 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
54 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
55 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
56 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
57 Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
58. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
59. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
60. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
61. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
62. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
63. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
64. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
65. Britannia B&F Club (joined 07-08 but much older
66. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
67. Buchan A&F Club
68. Callander A&F Club (
69. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
70. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
71. Club Accord
72. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
73 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
74. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
75. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
76. Cults A & F Club (
77. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
78. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
79. Derwentside A&F Club
80. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
81. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
82. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
83. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
84. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
85. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
86. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
87. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
88. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
89. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
90. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
91. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 – March 2018)
92. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
93. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
94. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
95. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
96. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
97. Kintore A&F Club (
98. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
99. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
100. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
101. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
102. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
103. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
104. Maine Valley A&F Club (
105. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
106. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
107. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
108. Mull A&F Club
109. Newcastleton Accordion Club
110. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
111. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
112. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
113. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
114. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
115. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
116. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
117. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
118. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
119. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
120. Selkirk A&F Club (
121. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
122. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
123. Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
124. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
125 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
126 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
127. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
128. Tranent A&F Club
129. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
130. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
131. Wellbank A&F Club
132. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
133. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time-consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
In this issue we are remembering two well-respected musicians: Tom Alexander and button- box player Jimmy Lindsay. And while working on this issue, we were notified that a previous Editor of this magazine, Tom Clark, had also passed away. I hope to bring his story in a later issue. .………
Pia Walker
2020 Celtic Connections
by Pia Walker
January means Glasgow and Celtic Connections and it seems that………….
Musical Memories – Part 12
by Denis Shepherd
TO CONTINUE my account of my time as a dance caller with Airs & Graces (led by Alex Green and Madeline Miller), I must tell you about one ceilidh which was memorable for the wrong reasons! We had been booked at short notice to entertain a touring party of Turkish holidaymakers visiting the Craigendarroch Holiday Centre in Ballater. Only on arrival did we discover the reason: the booked band, who had played for them the previous year, had found out at the last minute that this would be the same party and refused point blank to perform!
On making our second equipment-carrying trip from the car to the function room, we discovered Madeline, still in her coat and holding the equipment from her first trip, being lectured by the woman in charge who had her index finger in full flow. "You will play La Cumparsita after we finish our meal . . ."
After setting up the band members, as was usual, retired to the lounge for sandwiches as we waited (supposedly) until the company was ready to begin the dance. The visitors, however, had other ideas. We were literally taking the first bite of our sandwiches when an urgent call came that the band must play during the whole meal! And when they said the whole meal, they meant the whole meal. Playing our sets of music one by one was not enough – it seemed they wanted us to play one long set and only stop when they ordered us to do so. Every time a pause came, the leader exclaimed, "Why have they stopped playing? We are paying them to play the whole time!"
The Gay Gordons is the dance that needs little or no explanation. In this instance, however, I called, explained, instructed and demonstrated the dance for two sets of tunes, after which they still had not a clue what they were doing! The remainder of the dance was no more successful: for instance, I managed to persuade just enough couples to form a small circle for the Friendly Waltz but, once it began, they all obviously forgot even the name of the dance and left the floor, couple by couple.
Alex later displayed his unbounded knowledge of musical culture by partly explaining their attitude: "In Turkey the musicians are regarded on a par with the lowest echelons of society." On discussing the evening with the staff afterwards, we were told: "You’re lucky, you've only had them for one evening. We've had to put up with them for three days!"
Most hiccups, admittedly, were not the fault of the punters. At one ceilidh in Ellon Alex had brought his standby keyboard for Esma Shepherd, who was standing in that night. When Alex discovered that a vital cable had been left in his cupboard in Aberdeen he uttered his infamous catch-phrase, “Ach, Madeline!” and promptly handed Esma his house and car keys to dash back to Aberdeen to get it (the reasoning being that this way the ceilidh could begin with only one instrument missing). Esma must have found the 30-mile round journey hair raising, driving at maximum speed an estate car which she had never driven before!
This reminds me of the time Fittefolk, my latter-day band, played as a trio at a private Hogmanay party at Inglismaldie near Laurencekirk. My “Menace” partner Harry Williamson, who usually stood in on keyboard on Hogmanay, was all set to drive us there but his car had a puncture, just after all the garages had closed for New Year. His car only had an emergency spare, to be used to get to a garage, but he decided to risk it – and fortune certainly favoured the brave. Not only did we have to drive miles along a rough private road, but we covered extra distance on the return journey, having lost our bearings as we left the venue. When Harry eventually went to a garage the mechanic said, “I hope you haven’t gone far on that tyre!”
“I just said I’d been here and there – I didn’t like to tell him I’d been to Inglismaldie!” Harry later told me.
Centre Stage
Malcolm Ross
In Memory
Tom Alexander MBE (25th June 1934 – 9th January 2020)
by Bill Brown
The passing of Thomas Armit Alexander MBE on Thursday 9th January 2020, at the age of 85, saw Scotland lose one of its finest exponents of the piano accordion. Not only was Tom a highly talented and gifted player of exceptional technical ability, he was also a prolific composer writing a number of outstanding contemporary tunes, many with a continental flavour, during a long and distinguished musical career. Without doubt Tom’s early classical training hugely shaped his virtuosic style of playing, while such a good musical education, clearly provided Tom with significant inspiration, insight and influence when putting pen to manuscript. As aspiring accordionists will soon discover, many of Tom’s own compositions are not easy to play which summed up the genius of the man. Tom was born on Monday the 25th June 1934 in Cambusnethan just outside Wishaw in Lanarkshire. Dad Jimmy worked in Clyde Alloy, Motherwell, while mum Helen ran a very tight ship in an era when money and resource were not in great supply. Tom was the eldest of a family of three, growing up in a happy family home with brother Jack and sister Betty. It was apparent early on that Tom and his younger brother Jack had inherited a great love for music and at nights the family would often sit round the piano singing and playing the popular songs of the day. Mum Helen, who was a gifted pianist and singer in her own right, invariably led those impromptu music sessions. The young Tom had a very difficult and unfortunate start to life having to endure major surgery for a mastoid in the ear, which was a big operation at the time. For the first ten weeks of his young life Tom was a regular resident in Glasgow Royal Infirmary, which placed a lot of stress and worry on his young parents, especially mum Helen. This childhood health scare left Tom with an acute hearing problem which he had to endure, manage and carry with him throughout his entire life which made his outstanding musical achievements all the more remarkable. Tom began his academic education at Newmains Junior Secondary School in Wishaw as it was known then, and by the age of nine, the fledgling Tom had acquired his first accordion beginning formal lessons with a succession of local teachers in Lanarkshire. After a short period of time, his musical progression and competency on the accordion came to the attention of Bill Brown who invited Tom to continue his musical studies at his Accordion School. Tom’s dedication, discipline and commitment to the accordion continued to drive him forward and in 1952 he was entered into the Classical Section of the NAO Championships at the Christian Institute in Glasgow. At the time, Tom had an old clapped out Hohner but Bill suggested on the day of the competition, Tom played his Frattelli Crosio accordion, which Tom duly did and the rest they say is history. Tom went on to win the Championship playing Bats at Sunset by the American/Italian composer Frosini and Spanish Holiday by Eugene Ettore. Tom’s first accordion hero was world-class accordionist Toralf Tollefson from Fredrikstad in Norway. Toralf, like Tom, came from a musical family and was renowned throughout the world for his technical ability and manual dexterity on the 5 Row button accordion. I know Tom always regretted not learning to play the 5 Row as he felt it would have opened up a wider range of musical possibilities. Tom often credited Will Starr and Jimmy Shand as other key musical influences and few would be brave enough to argue with that as the profile those two greats gave the instrument is possibly why many of us are playing the accordion today. During his life Tom was a great supporter of the National Association and made guest appearances at Accordion Clubs in such diverse locations as Jersey, Carlisle, Derry, Hexham, Drogheda, Thurso, Kirkwall, Biggar, Leyland, Derwentside, Castle Douglas, Lockerbie, Banchory, Kelso and Lesmahagow. Although classically trained, Tom was as much at home performing light classics and continental and Irish music as he was at playing traditional Scottish music as the eclectic range of material included on his solo CD releases would testify to. Being the humble man he was, Tom would often claim that players such as Gordon Pattullo and John Carmichael were much better at playing the Scottish repertoire than he was. By his own admission he would also be the first to tell you that he didn’t regard himself good enough to be included on the list of top Scottish accordion players but I know many who would be willing to challenge that extremely harsh selfassessment. In his latter years, despite his own outstanding musical talent, Tom often commented to me that he felt rather apprehensive playing at accordion clubs where audiences could be quite critical and where emerging young players were perceived to be better than him, but while that maybe true, not every young player has, or will have, the ability to entertain and play an audience the way Tom Alexander could, so again, I think the man was being overtly self critical and rather hard on himself. As mentioned earlier, Tom was a prolific composer throughout his life writing a collection of fine tunes such as Le Menege, Alpine Express, The Oil Rigger, Helen Armit (named after Tom’s mum) Isle of My Heart, Kenmore Gardens, Bowie’s Boat, Pat McCann MD and Kilwaughter House, all of which, were published by Greyfriars Music, the music publishing company Tom jointly owned with his brother Jack and long-time Musical Associate Tom Walsh. It’s clear Tom’s musical tastes were both varied and diverse and if you were to dig deeper you would discover a man who had a real love and passion for Jazz music, which he would love to have been able to play. You will therefore not be surprised to learn that Tom was a great admirer of fellow accordionist Jack Emblow, who not only specialises in Jazz improvisation, but whose contribution to the accordion world across many decades has also been exemplary. Another passion that Tom would love to have made more of during his highly successful life was his strong interest in painting. I’m sure you have already detected I don’t mean painting of the variety Tom indulged in all those years ago at the start of his working life with Torrance the Painters in Motherwell. No I’m referring to the much more creative art of oil and watercolour painting that Tom dabbled in from time to time. Tom quite rightly picked up numerous awards and accolades during his long distinguished career but I know he was particularly thrilled when the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs recognised his amazing contribution to Scottish music with a Lifetime Achievement Award which was presented to Tom at the Association’s Annual AGM held at the Huntingtower Hotel, Perth on Sunday 28th June 2009, and more recently, when fellow accordionist and lifelong admirer Leonard Brown staged a wonderful tribute to Tom at the Salutation Hotel, Perth on Sunday 28th August 2016. Unfortunately I wasn’t there that day but I believe it was quite an afternoon! However, the ultimate accolade and more formal recognition of Tom’s outstanding musical career came in 2005 when he and brother Jack were awarded MBEs in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List. Tom and Jack received their well-deserved Awards for Services to the Entertainment Industry from The Queen at an Investiture held at Holyrood House, Edinburgh in July 2005. The boy’s were absolutely thrilled and pleased as punch at the award of their richly deserved MBEs, but there again, who wouldn’t be! A retrospective of Tom’s amazing life of course wouldn’t be complete without making reference to the highly successful career Tom enjoyed with his late brother Jack. The Alexander Brother’s easy listening brand of Scottish music charmed and delighted audiences the world over for more than five decades. Due to Jack’s increasingly poor health, Tom and Jack sadly announced their retirement from professional Show Business on the 30th May 2012 after 54 years on the international stage. Jack sadly left us on Saturday 2nd November 2013 after a short illness, and with Tom’s passing, the curtain has finally, once and for all, come down on one of the most enduring and best loved acts to ever grace Scottish show business. Not only was Tom a devoted husband to wife Betty and a loving father to his late son Tom, who tragically died in 2006, he was also immensely proud of his three beautiful grand daughters. Tom was a very loyal and dear friend to all who had the privilege to know him, he was a gentleman off the highest standing with a kind warm nature, as well as being an exceptional Scotsman who was fiercely proud of his working class background and rich Scottish heritage. So as the sun sets on a life well lived and the evocative sound of the Flying Scotsman fades into the distance for the final time, words alone will never seem adequate enough to describe how much Tom will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him, not least by his beloved wife Betty, daughter-in-law Angela and his three beautiful grand-daughters, Holly, Skye and Tamsin. Tom’s passing is undoubtedly an event filled with immense sorrow and sadness, and I know more than a few tears have been shed at his passing, but it’s also a time to reflect and celebrate with sincere gratitude the life of an inspirational Scot who enriched so many people’s lives and whose unquestionable talent made such an outstanding contribution to our kind of music. Rest in peace Tom, like so many others, I was exceptionally proud, privileged and honoured to call you my friend. You will never be forgotten!
From Leonard Brown
On 9th January this year, our music scene lost one of the most well-respected and decorated musicians we have ever had the privilege of knowing and listening to, Mr Tom Alexander MBE. For the best part of 60 years Tom, along with brother Jack, graced the stage as the Alexander Brothers, a partnership that would see them travel the world delighting audiences with their songs, music and charisma, recording a multitude of best-selling records, amassing a huge fan base and becoming two of Scotland’s most recognised ambassadors. For me, Tom was always the consummate professional when playing solo. As a 14-year-old I had the pleasure of watching Tom perform at my local accordion club, Seghill, and from that moment, I learnt so much from Tom’s playing ability and stage craft. Tom inevitably enabled me and others to further our own musical careers using the tips and techniques that he showcased at each of his performances. Tom possessed a depth of quality not just in his playing of the piano accordion, but in his ability to connect with his audience. I witnessed him at our accordion club sitting and listening to all of the local artists before retiring to his dressing room to change into his kilt ready for his first performance. He was always immaculately dressed and beautifully presented on stage, with an endearing smile, and his playing to top it off was something to behold. He always offered a kind word to each of the players who had supported the evening. There were no airs or graces. He was a genuine, kind individual who had such a wonderful talent. He can only be described as a very humble gentleman. His playing was of outstanding quality as he tackled pieces that others could only dream of playing. He was classically trained and this set the grounding for Tom to play pieces such as The Carnival of Venice, Lady of Spain, Pistonette and Poet and Peasant Overture with total ease. He was such a controlled player with an ability to choose material that suited his audiences. He would start his performances usually with something devilishly difficult like Lady of Spain featuring a bass solo, going into Happy Hours and a set of Shetland Reels. He would continue with favourites such as The Cuckoo Waltz, The Mad March Hare and Spanish Gypsy Dance. He would then slow the tempo down with The Dark Island or Highland Cathedral and finish his first set with The Typewriter and The Savoy American Medley. Which such a diverse repertoire, it is no wonder Tom became my idol and my hero. In 2005, Tom and Jack were awarded a well-deserved MBE for their services to light entertainment. They both were hugely proud of this honour and they continued performing until 2012. After Jack’s passing in 2013, Tom continued to perform solo for a couple of years but with his health declining in the latter years he decided to retire in early 2016. When I heard about Tom’s retirement I wanted to mark his legacy with an afternoon for him to remember. In August 2016 I organised a Lifetime Achievement Concert in The Salutation Hotel, Perth, a day that will live long in the memory for many as The All Star Band and myself performed his greatest hits in front of Tom’s 300 plus fans who had travelled huge distances to be there. Upon accepting the invitation, he was overwhelmed that someone would do such a thing for him, showing again his humble attitude. On the day Tom was presented with a bottle of malt whisky and a pocket watch with The Flying Scotsman inscribed on it. He received three voluntary standing ovations over the course of the afternoon and Tom contacted me the very next morning to thank me for the hospitality he received. Tom was admitted to a care home in 2018. On a visit I brought my accordion and played most of Tom’s compositions and favourite tunes for him and the residents. It was such an experience to see his face light up as each new piece was played. Betty, who couldn’t be at the tribute, heard about this and phoned me later to thank me for the pleasure it had given Tom. It is fair to say that we have lost a legend of our time. He will be greatly missed and fondly thought of for many years to come. His music and legacy lives on in others and we can now be rest assured that Tom and Jack, The Alexander Brothers, are now back together again in the theatre in the sky.
In Memory – Jimmy Lindsay (1940 – 2020)
by Jean & Willie Simpson and Frank Thomson
Jimmy Lindsay was born in Hamilton where his father’s family had farmed the nearby Castle Brocket Farm and were well-known dairy farmers.
In 1944 the family moved to Perthshire and took over East Campsie farm and Jimmy began school at Logiealmond Primary School. Scottish Dance Music was always in Jimmy’s life; his mother was a piano player and his father keen on the mouth organ. Jimmy was lucky to have a neighbour at Picston farm, Davey Taylor, who played the melodeon and this got Jimmy interested in the accordion.
He began playing at an early age. He played by ear and later took lessons from Bill Wilkie. Jimmy was involved in the school band at Methven Secondary School where the line-up was Jimmy on button-key accordion, Frank Thomson on piano accordion, Arthur Baxter on fiddle, Rita Robertson on piano and Willie Simpson on drums. Their first gig was at Almondbank Flower Show where they shared the stage with The Joe Gordon Folk Four.
After having seen him in Perth Theatre, Will Starr was Jimmy’s absolute influence, and this led to Jimmy forming his own band and playing at various functions up and down the country. He was also heavily involved in playing for Scottish country Dance classes. He had a tremendous ear for harmony and a left hand that worded as hard as the right. He also loved the Continental idiom as well as being a prolific composer. His competition, Willie Atkinson, became a classic competition march.
Jimmy and Norma farmed East Campsie for many years and in 1991 they moved to Amulree as their children, Sandy and Fiona, were about to begin their secondary education at Breadalbane Academy. The family were much missed in the glen and Jimmy was a kindly gentleman who will be sadly missed.
Malcolm Ross writes :
The first time I met Jimmy was behind the scenes at the Perth Festival in the late 1970s, when I had tagged along with my father who had been asked by Bill Wilkie to judge a class, as Jimmy had. Two decades later. Jimmy appeared with a very young Sandy Lindsay to play at the mid-section of an annual ball, held at the prestigious Blair Castle Ballroom. The join in the music was seamless, as Jimmy and Sandy kept the 350+ revellers happy with their perfect tempos and energy. This was a difficult task, as they had followed bobby Crowe’s 6-piece band.
Over the years, I played with Jimmy many times. His sense of humour and professionalism along with his command of continental music, and especially his idea of how dance music should be, could have come only from the experience of doing thousands of different engagements. These skills proved valuable when he recorded for the RSCDS especially. Personally, I was amazed at Jimmy’s ability to play ‘modern’ on the button-box, and quite often, when at many functions playing background music, he would play a complicated jazz swing ‘chorus’ full of harmonies, chords, etc. on an instrument that’s suited to a usually more linear style of music.
We are fortunate that Jimmy’s son Sandy carries on his musical legacy. Our thoughts have been with the family over the last few weeks.
Joan Blue writes :
I played with Jimmy for many years, and our kids loved going to our band practices at Logiealmond. Jimmy Lindsay’s mum used to make a fantastic spread, and while we were playing my girls had the time of their lives helping her to bake, decorate cakes and make sandwiches etc. The only cross word between us was when he ran out of petrol – which happened more than once! On the third occasion I told him if it happened again I would leave the band. The next time he picked me up, the fumes from three cans of petrol in the boot nearly knocked me over!
Jimmy was always a delight to play along with – a great button key player with a real gentle way. We were in the Kinnoull Band for many years with different personnel on piano accordion. When I first joined in, I think 1963, David Forsyth filled this spot, followed by Frank Thomson, Ian Henderson and then Ian Anderson from Birnam. Bob Doig from Newburgh was on drums and, of course, our bandleader was fiddler Jimmy McFarlane from Scone, a most excellent and good-natured bandleader and we all had some happy times together travelling all over Scotland and very often Northumberland to play at dances.
I am so glad that Jimmy’s gentle manner as well as his musical talents have been passed to his son, Sandy. The two of them were guest artistes at Crieff A&F Club not so very long ago, and it was a delight to see them working together.
My sincere condolences to Norma, Sandy and Fiona.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
90th Anniversary Dances – Frank Thomson SDB – RSCDS Dunfermline Branch – DBCD01
30 Popular Dances – Volume 2 – James Coutts SDB – RSCDS CD086
Book Review
RSCDS Dunfermline Branch – 90th Anniversary Book
CLUB DIARY – NB from mid-March the following were cancelled due to the Covid19 pandemic
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 31st March 2020 – Marian Anderson SDB
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 11th March 2020 – Burns Brothers Trio
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 15th March 2020 – Scott Leslie Band
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 1st March 2020 – James Coutts SDB + AGM
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 15th March 2020 – Kyle Rowan Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 30th March 2020 – Leonard Brown Duo
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 25th March 2020 – Scott Leslie Trio
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) –
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) – 8th March 2020 – Alan Crookston SDB
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 10th March 2020 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) – 12th March 2020 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 3rd March 2020 – The Occasionals
Canderside (Stonehouse Bowling Club) - 12th March 2020 – Andy Philip Duo
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Threave Rovers Football Club) – 17th March 2020 – Judith Linton Trio
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) - 1st March 2020 – Lindsay Weir SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 19th March 2020 – West Telferton C.B.
Crieff & District (British Legion) 5th March 2020 – Ross McPherson Trio
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 4th March 2020 – Daniel McPhee Trio
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 18th March 2020 – Billy Anderson Band
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) – 20th March 2020 – Willie McFarlane Band
Duns (Masonic Lodge) 16th March 2020 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 24th March 2020 – Julie MacRitchie Trio
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 29th March 2020 – Adin Graham Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 11th March 2020 – Kirkjuvagr Ceilidh Band
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) - 3rd March 2020 – Alan Gardiner Trio
Galashiels (Gala YM RFC) - 5th March 2020 – Club Night
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 19th March 2020 – Stuart Anderson SDB
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 4th March 2020 – Kyle Innes
Gretna (The Richard Greenhow Centre) - 1st March 2020 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 16th March 2020 – Sandy Lindsay Duo
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) - 11th March 2020 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 5th March 2020 – Scott Band SDB
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) – 3rd March 2020 – Craig McFadyen SDB
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 25th March 2020 – Bon Accords
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) – 29th March 2020 – Marian Anderson SDB
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) - 7th March 2020 – Club Night
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 17th March 2020 – Scott Leslie CB
Lockerbie (Mid Annandale Comrades Club) 31st March 2020 – David Vernon
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) - 22nd March 2020 – Gordon Shand SDB & Family
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 17th March 2020 – Leonard Brown
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 4th March 2020 – George Rennie Duo
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 30th March 2020 – The Occasionals
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 3rd March 2020 – Gillian Stephenson
Oban (The Royal Hotel) – 5th March 2020 – Duncan McKinnon
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 4th 11th 18th 25th March 2020 – Club Nights
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 26th March 2020 – Jack Delaney SDB
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) – 17th March 2020 – Kevin Clark & the Craigowl SDB
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 11th March 2020 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 12th March 2020 – Graeme Mitchell SDB supported by The Carlisle All Stars Band
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 3rd 10th 17th 31st March 2020 – Club Nights 24th Missing Time Ceilidh Band
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 12th March 2020 – Club Night 26th March – Roy Hendrie Trio
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) - 21st March 2020 – Alan Small Trio
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 2nd March 2020 – Jim MacKay SDB
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 12th March 2020 - Kirkjuvagr Ceilidh Band
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 19th March 2020 – Paul Chamberlain & Michael Haywood
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 17th March 2020 – Matthew MacLennan
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Annan
2. Arbroath
3. Biggar
4. Buttonkey
5. Campsie
6. Canderside
7. Castle Douglas
8. Coalburn
9. Dingwall
10. Dunblane
11. Dunfermline
12. Duns
13. Forfar
14. Forres
15. Glendale
16. Gretna
17. Highland
18. Inveraray
19. Isle of Skye
20. Islesteps
21. Kelso
22. Livingston
23. Lockerbie
24. Macmerry
25. Mauchline & District
26. Peebles
27. Perth
28. Renfrew
29. Seghill
30. Shetland
31. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2019
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
10. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
11. Button Key A&F Club (
12. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
13. Canderside A&F Club (Stonehouse) (Feb 2019 – present)
14. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
15. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
16. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
17. Coalburn A&F Club (
18. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
19. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
20. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
21. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
22. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
23. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
24. Ellon A&F Club (
25. Forfar A&F Club (
26. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
27. Fort William A&F Club ( )
28. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
29. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
30. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
31. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
32. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
33. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
34. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
35. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
36. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
37. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
38. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
39. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – March 2020)
40 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
41. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
42 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
43 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
44 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
45. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
46. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
47. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
48. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
49. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
50. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
51. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
52. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
53 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
54 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
55 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
56 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
57 Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
58. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
59. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
60. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
61. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
62. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
63. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
64. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
65. Britannia B&F Club (joined 07-08 but much older
66. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
67. Buchan A&F Club
68. Callander A&F Club (
69. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
70. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
71. Club Accord
72. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
73 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
74. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
75. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
76. Cults A & F Club (
77. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
78. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
79. Derwentside A&F Club
80. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
81. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
82. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
83. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
84. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
85. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
86. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
87. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
88. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
89. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
90. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
91. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 – March 2018)
92. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
93. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
94. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
95. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
96. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
97. Kintore A&F Club (
98. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
99. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
100. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
101. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
102. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
103. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
104. Maine Valley A&F Club (
105. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
106. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
107. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
108. Mull A&F Club
109. Newcastleton Accordion Club
110. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
111. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
112. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
113. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
114. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
115. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
116. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
117. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
118. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
119. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
120. Selkirk A&F Club (
121. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
122. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
123. Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
124. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
125 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
126 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
127. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
128. Tranent A&F Club
129. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
130. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
131. Wellbank A&F Club
132. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
133. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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