Box and Fiddle
Year 39 No 09
May 2016
Price £2.70
44 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £32.40 + p&p £15.75 (UK)
Editor – Pia Walker, Cupar
B&F Treasurer – Willie Johnstone, Inverurie
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
The end of the season is near and………….
Pia Walker
Dumfries Music Festival Accordion & Fiddle Festival Results
by Gavin Foster
“WOW! What a great day of music” ………….
Neil Sinclair – Guest of Honour
by Charlie Kirkpatrick
In November last year I had the honour of being guest artiste at the 40th birthday celebrations of Oban Accordion and Fiddle club and while there I met up with one of the founder members, an old friend of mine from schooldays namely Neil Sinclair from Connel. During the interval, I had a chat with Neil surely one of the unsung heroes of our music scene.
Neil was born in 1948 in Connel, 5 miles outside Oban, the youngest of four children to Peter and Peggy Sinclair. Neil’s father had a croft and some of Neil’s earliest memories are of having to milk the cows and then deliver milk round the village before setting off for school. In the byre was an old piano and after church on Sundays, Neil used to sit at the piano trying to play the hymns which he had just heard. When he was about 10 years old Neil was given an accordion by his uncle and he seems to have practised non- stop because the story goes that Neil’s father used to complain that he couldn’t get to eat his breakfast in peace because of the incessant sound of the accordion. Around this time Willie Lowe, the bass player with Bobby MacLeod’s band, came to live in the village and he was a great inspiration to Neil assisting him with chords and all different types of music.
On leaving school, while working as a postman and also with the Forestry Commission, Neil joined Colin Campbell’s band and at that time bought his next accordion, an Excelsior Multi Musette, from J D Forbes’ music shop in Dundee. This was an exciting time for the band and they got their big break when Alasdair Gillies asked them to tour with him. Gigs all over Scotland and even as far afield as the Royal Albert Hall in London followed. They made over 60 appearances on the Alasdair Sings programme for STV and also made several LPs.
One experience in particular sticks in Neil’s mind. On the island of Lewis it was normal to do a two house concert followed by a dance. However on this occasion the dance seemed to be finishing early at midnight, but the band’s hopes of an early night were dashed when they found that they had to go a few miles further down the road set up the gear and play for another dance which then finished at about 5am.
After a few years on tour with Colin Campbell, Neil gave up touring to concentrate on post office work in the Oban area and around this time he met Sheila who had come to teach at Oban High School. They were married the next year and subsequently their three children Isla, Sileas and Craig were born. By this time Neil had taken over the running of Connel Post Office and, because the space permitted, he started giving accordion lessons in the rear of the Post Office. Over the years many of his pupils have gone on to become very well known in the music scene among them Ross McPherson, Hector McFadyen, Donald Shaw, Gary Innes, Megan Henderson and Andrew Macdonald. Many of his pupils will remember helping to wheel mail bags up to Connel station to put them on the Glasgow train after their lessons
Teaching accordion also took Neil to Islay once a month, Fort William once a week and he also taught in Fergie Macdonald’s hotel for a spell. There was one memorable trip when he was asked by Father Colin MacInnes to go out to Barra to teach. The trip out from Oban was in a force 10 gale and lasted 15 hours. The trip back home was easy – only force 8
Neil played many gigs around Oban with the late Billy Ford and in fact they ran the Highlands Restaurant at the local Corran Halls for a few years. While there, they promoted and provided the musical backing for many shows at the Corran Halls featuring Kenneth McKellar and also Norman MacLean. Neil says of Kenneth, “He was a lovely man, I learnt a lot from him”. There are many stories about gigging with Norman but Neil recalls one gig in Ardnamurchan and as they set off for home, a journey normally taking three hours, Norman said “Oh, did I not tell you we are playing in London tomorrow night?” So they set off overnight for London arriving about mid-day, did the gig, and drove straight home after the show.
In 1980 Calum MacPhail, the well-known fiddler from Dalmally, phoned Neil up and asked if he could do a gig in Manila. Thinking that Manila was somewhere down in Kintyre Neil said “Yes” only to discover that Manila was 6,500 miles away in the Philippines. That was his first of many trips abroad - to Egypt with Colin Campbell where he was nicknamed Tutankhampbell, Brazil with Alasdair Hunter and India with Ryan McGlynn.
With Neil teaching accordion and Sheila running a successful Highland dance school, thoughts turned to a possible Festival in the area. As a result of a few friends gathered round the Sinclair kitchen table, the Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival was born in 1983. It has gone from strength to strength, attracting over 1,000 competitors, and the fringe events continue to thrive. One of the highlights for Neil is the Invitational Accordion and Fiddle competition held on the Friday at the start of the Festival.
Neil has also had a long association with Oban Gaelic Choir, singing in the bass section and then conducting the choir from 1979 until 1986. Incidentally his mother, who spoke no English until she went to school, had a great knowledge of Gaelic songs and music which she was happy to pass on to her family. Unfortunately speaking the language wasn’t passed on to the family as speaking Gaelic at school and in the playground was frowned upon. Neil was particularly proud when the choir, presently conducted by his daughter Sileas, won the Lovat and Tullibardine competition at the Royal National Mod in Oban last October.
Neil currently plays as The Neil Sinclair Sound, with his wife Sheila on piano and Don McAllister on fiddle. His present accordion is a Borsini with the option of free bass - this came about after he became friendly with Oleg Sharov, professor of music at the St Petersburg Conservatoire, who played a Bayan free bass accordion. Learning the free bass is Neil’s plan for retirement – watch this space!!!
Over the years Neil has composed many tunes and in the last few years has used the Sibelius programme to put them on computer. Sheila tells me that Neil and computers don’t exactly see eye to eye and it is just as well that the family are able to rally round to act as his help line. One of his compositions came about as he was waiting for the weather to improve to go to Lismore. As he had been asked many times to play Leaving Lismore, Neil thought that Going to Lismore would make a good title for a tune – the tune was composed and played at the dance that night. Who knows, perhaps Neil will get round to publishing a book of his compositions one day.
That then is Neil Sinclair who has done much to foster our music through his playing, his organisation of the Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival and by his teaching. We are pleased to welcome him to our Celebrity Luncheon as one of our Guests of Honour.
Happy 50th Birthday Gretna A&F Club (1966-2016)
by
Gretna marked their 50th Anniversary on 3rd April at The Gables Hotel. The room was decorated accordingly with balloons and banners and a special cake was baked for the occasion by Freda Heslop.
Besides the usual accordion and fiddle players, other members volunteered to perform.
This resulted in an enjoyable and very varied evening’s entertainment and a lot of hidden talent was revealed! John Salton, our chairman and MC, carried in the cake led by pipers Kerry and Kath, daughters of David and Irene Bell. The cake was duly cut by David Bell and Donald Ridley, two of the founder members of the Club.
Flowers were presented to Irene Bell and pianist Rosalind and vouchers were given to David Bell and Donald Ridley for long service to the Club, following which the delicious cake was shared by everyone.
Memories of Bob McMath of Silverburn
by various
Andrew Stoddart (Penicuik)
I met Bob in the 1960's but didn't get to know him very well at that time. In 1975, having had a successful musical career, I returned to take over the family business when my father retired. I still continued to do the odd gig in clubs using the Cordavox and for repairs I had to go to Clinkscale in Melrose. A friend suggested I try Bob to see if he could help. Bob said he might if I could provide him with the circuit diagrams. This was the start of a close friendship. He was able to keep the Cordavox going for the next 6 or 7 years but it was an instrument that was cumbersome to carry and set up so I bought an Elkavox that had just been produced. I asked Bob to adapt it to take Midi expanders which opened up a new experience with this instrument.
By this time I visited him at least once a week and he would stop working at the bench and put down his tools, get a bottle out, and we would sit in the conservatory and have a dram.
He was a very learned person and could converse on nearly every topic you can think of. At that time he was going to Italy with his friend, George MacIntosh, to the accordion championships and he asked me if I would like to go. I jumped at the chance. This became an annual event. We also visited accordion factories and met a lot of manufacturers. He was well known in Castelfidardo and was known there as Roberto! We also used to go to Blackpool where accordion enthusiasts met at Pontins holiday camp. We did this for several years and made a lot of friends. We met some great players like Frank Morrocco and Art Van Damme who were world champion jazz players.
Bob had long conversations with them at times which resulted in a crowd of us going to Blackpool later one year to get jazz tips from Harry Hussey. It was difficult for me to take it in but Bob, with the brain he had, was able to absorb it and later on to pass it on to us. I suggested we get together on a Sunday night to try out these things and it became a regular session down on the farm.
I think of the times that I travelled with Bob to hear him play with Sandy Nixon and Dick Black. Great memories. He will be sadly missed by many. A true gentleman in every sense of the word.
Tom Cowing (Hexham)
It is a privilege to pay tribute to my friend Bob McMath.
I first met Bob over forty years ago when he travelled down to Hexham to play a dance with me deputising for Bill Stoddart.
From then we became firm friends as we shared many common interests in engineering and music.
Bob came down play on several occasions with me in The Tyne Valley, then in more recent years with the more famous bands lead by Andrew Stoddart, Sandy Nixon and Dick Black.
Bob was a man of great personal kindness, wisdom, knowledge and dexterity.
I will treasure his memory.
Iain Torquil MacPhail (Balerno)
Bob McMath was one of life’s gentlemen and a man I am privileged to have called a friend.
With Bob, I shared the passion for traditional music in all its forms, as well as the theories and constructs of other genres of music and this would be the focus of many long discussions in his workroom – surrounded by instruments and equipment in various stages of repair as he worked, tirelessly, to meet the needs of so many.
It was through Bob’s skill at repairing instruments that I got to know him and Nan. Being a working musician, there were occasional emergencies when an instrument malfunction occurred. In every instance, Bob put aside other pressures to repair the problem, ensuring that I could perform that evening. I know that similar situations were experienced by others and I often met anxious musicians at the workshop. We all owe Bob a huge debt of gratitude.
Bob was painstaking and reassuringly punctilious in approaching tasks. When he identified the problem it was carefully rectified. His attention to detail was infinite. He generated trust and his workmanship was impeccable e.g. he spent a considerable time putting a MIDI system in my son’s free-bass accordion and this was probably the first in the UK at that time.
Bob was a man o’ pairts: multi-talented, a skilled technician, generous with his time and always helpful, conversant about music and dance with eclectic interests in both, and like myself, deeply interested in the works of Robert Burns and wider Scottish culture.
I will miss Bob for many reasons but am grateful to have shared so much with him.
He will be sadly missed.
Callum Wilson (Biggar)
I first met Bob back in the late 60’s early 70’s through a mutual friend, fiddler Alec Baptie from Penicuik. At that time we were playing at small local functions, Bob joined us on second box many times and his playing was a great enhancement to our sound. A highlight in the diary was attending the Perth Festival in October each year and I remember enjoying Bob’s company on many of these occasions, at the competitions throughout the day and at the evening concerts in Perth City Hall at that time.
I will remember Bob as a good musician, particularly his second box playing, for his excellent work on accordions and electronics, for his pleasantly laid back personality never getting flustered about anything and for being made so welcome by Bob and his wife Nan at their home at Silverburn.
Keith Dickson (Dolphinton)
Bob was a quietly spoken, intelligent and trustworthy gentleman who offered many people helpful advice, information and support regarding technical and musical matters. Sometimes you had to wait a wee while for this advice to be delivered, but it was always well worth the wait.
If you had a musical instrument or electronic equipment requiring emergency attention Bob would always be there to help you out. He was extremely knowledgeable about accordion construction and was well respected by many top Scottish musicians and well known to the premier Italian accordion manufacturers in Castelfidardo.
Although his hallway got narrower each year, with the increasing number of repair jobs waiting to be completed, he always appeared patient and calm and was very encouraging, particularly towards the younger musicians – with many of them “jumping the queue” to get their instrument repaired.
Interesting conversations in his workplace could include him looking at you through a giant magnifying glass or pointing a soldering iron in your direction when making his point, but continuing with the repair job at the same time.
Away from repairing accordions Bob enjoyed playing the accordion and he appeared to have a particular interest regarding musical harmony – playing second accordion with several bands over many years. He appreciated listening to virtuoso accordionists and he attended musical events at home and abroad to experience them at first hand.
Silverburn has lost one of its finest citizens – and I, along with many others, will miss him.
Sandy Nixon
I met Bob in late 1975. Max Ketchin introduced me to him. Max & I were playing at that time with the late Bobby More from Kirkcaldy. Bob knew Bobby too! I don’t know too much about Bob’s playing career prior to 1975 but on enquiring it seems that he played regularly at the Alan Ramsay Hotel at Carlops with Jim Martin (“Chuckles”) and Davy Kemp. The trio was very popular, with music and comedy to the fore. I began playing with Bob (McMath) in 1976---we played at a few gigs while Bobby (More) was recuperating after his car accident. I started to play more gigs of my own after that and Bob started playing 2nd box regularly with me. Our first BBC broadcast went out in January 1984. Bob played regularly with me for the next ten years or so and we became good friends as well as band colleagues. He had to stop playing for a while due to carpal tunnel syndrome. He had “sair hands & couldn’t feel his fingers!” He stopped playing regularly then but did join us occasionally after that once he had had surgery for the carpal tunnel problem. I asked him to join us to do a few tracks on our “Morino Magic” CD in 1999. He duly obliged, after some persuasion! (Hamish Smith was the regular 2nd box player by then as he had been since Bob “retired.”) I kept in touch with Bob after that. I considered him to be a genius. I don’t know anyone else who could turn his hand to anything and make a first class job of it, whether it be taking an engine out of a car or van, tuning/repairing accordions, fitting midi systems, etc., etc. Not only was he good with his hands, including playing an accordion, he was also very well-read and had a phenomenal wealth of knowledge. I have been very fortunate in respect of Bob passing on some of his knowledge to me regarding accordion tuning, repairs, etc.---“I won’t be around forever so it is just as well someone else learns how to do it!” Sadly, I did not realise then how little time Bob would have with us. I still have a LOT to learn and feel I am only scratching the surface, but am grateful for the knowledge and skills passed on to me by the “master.” I will miss him as a good friend, former band colleague and as the genius that he was!
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Gallop to Callop – Iain MacFarlane – Independent
Wick to wickham – Gordon Gunn – Greentrax Recordings – CDTRAX381
Scottish Pleasures – Pat Gray – Independent
Rant – Reverie – Independent MBR6CD
Book Review
Russian Fiddle Tunes – Schott World Music Series
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
7th May 2016 – Gordon Shand SDB
14th May 2016 – Colin Donaldson SDB
21st May 2016 – Neil Copland SDB
28th May 2016 – Compilation Programme
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 31st May 2016 – Burns Brothers C.B.
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 11th May 2016 – Kyles Innes Trio
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 15th May 2016 – Steven Carcary Trio
Arbroath (Artisan Golf Club) - 1st May 2016 – Burns Brothers 8th May – Burns Brothers Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 30th May 2016 – Joyce Ramsay SDB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 25th May 2016 – Seamus O’Sullivan
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) –
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) –
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 10th May 2016 – Steven Carcary SDB
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 12th May 2016 – Cork Buttons and Bows 15th May – Shand Morino Gathering
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 3rd May 2016 – Wayne Robertson & Malcolm Ross
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 6th May 2016 – Dance to Frank Morrison SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) -
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 5th May 2016 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 4th May 2016 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 18th May 2016 – Fegie MacDonald C.B.
Dunfermline (Civil Service Sports Assoc, Rosyth) – 10th May 2016 - AGM
Duns (Masonic Lodge) 16th May 2016 – AGM + Club Night
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 24th May 2016 – Raymond Chuchuk SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) –
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 29th May 2016 – John Stuart SDB
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 11th May 2016 – The Occasionals
Fort William (Railway Club) - 3rd May 2016 – Club Night
Galashiels (Clovenfords Hotel) –
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) -
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 4th May 2016 – Iain Cathcart Trio
Gretna (The Gables Hotel) -
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 16th May 2016 – Jimmy Cassidy
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 5th May 2016 – Jock Fraser SDB
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) –
Kelso (Cross Rugby Club) – 25th May 2016 – Johnny Duncan
Langholm (British Legion) –
Lewis & Harris (Sea Angling Club) - 5th May 2016 – Club Night
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 17th May 2016 – Scott Band Trio
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) -
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 4th May 2016 – Callum Wallace & Jimmy Cassidy
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) -
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Buccleugh Bowling Club)
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 3rd & 10th May 2016 – Gavin Piper
Oban (The Royal Hotel) –
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 4th 11th 18th 25th May 2016 – Club Night
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 17th May 2016 – James Coutts SDB
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 5th May 2016 – Seamus O’Sullivan Duo
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 3rd 10th 17th 24th 31st May 2016 – Club Night
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 2nd May 2016 – Jim MacKay SDB
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 5th May 2016 – Brandon McPhee Trio
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 19th May 2016 – Andy Kain Trio
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn)
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 17th May 2016 – Nicol McLaren SDB
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Annan
2. Arbroath
3. Banff
4. Biggar
5. Button Key
6. Castle Douglas
7. Coalburn
8. Crieff
9. Dingwall
10. Dunblane
11. Dunfermline
12. Duns
13. Fintry
14. Forfar
15. Forres
16. Glendale
17. Gretna
18. Kelso
19. Livingston
20. Mauchline
21. Montrose
22. Newburgh
23. Orkney
24. Peebles
25. Shetland
26. Stonehouse
27. Tynedale
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2015
(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. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
14. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
15. Coalburn A&F Club (
16. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
17. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
18. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
19. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
20. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
21. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
22. Ellon A&F Club (
23. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
24. Forfar A&F Club (
25. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
26. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
27. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
28. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
29. 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)
30. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
31. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
32. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
33. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
34. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
35. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
36. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
37. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
38 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
39. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
40 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
41 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
42 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
43 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
44. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
45. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
46. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
47. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
48. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
49. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
50. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
51. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
52 Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
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 West Barnes ( - present)
58 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?)
59. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
60. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
61. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
62. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
63. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
64. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
65. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
66. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
67. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
68. Buchan A&F Club
69. Callander A&F Club (
70. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
71. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
72. Club Accord
73. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
74 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
75. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
76. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
77. Cults A & F Club (
78. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
79. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
80. Derwentside A&F Club
81. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
82. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
83. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
84. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
85. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
86. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
87. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
88. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
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. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
92. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
93. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
94. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
95. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
96. Kintore A&F Club (
97. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
98. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
99. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
100. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
101. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Maine Valley A&F Club (
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
107. Mull A&F Club
108. Newcastleton Accordion Club
109. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
110. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
111. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
112. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
113. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
114. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
115. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
116. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
117. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
118. Selkirk A&F Club (
119. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
120. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
121. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
122 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
123 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
124. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
125. Tranent A&F Club
126. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
127. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
128. Wellbank A&F Club
129. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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B&F Treasurer – Willie Johnstone, Inverurie
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
The end of the season is near and………….
Pia Walker
Dumfries Music Festival Accordion & Fiddle Festival Results
by Gavin Foster
“WOW! What a great day of music” ………….
Neil Sinclair – Guest of Honour
by Charlie Kirkpatrick
In November last year I had the honour of being guest artiste at the 40th birthday celebrations of Oban Accordion and Fiddle club and while there I met up with one of the founder members, an old friend of mine from schooldays namely Neil Sinclair from Connel. During the interval, I had a chat with Neil surely one of the unsung heroes of our music scene.
Neil was born in 1948 in Connel, 5 miles outside Oban, the youngest of four children to Peter and Peggy Sinclair. Neil’s father had a croft and some of Neil’s earliest memories are of having to milk the cows and then deliver milk round the village before setting off for school. In the byre was an old piano and after church on Sundays, Neil used to sit at the piano trying to play the hymns which he had just heard. When he was about 10 years old Neil was given an accordion by his uncle and he seems to have practised non- stop because the story goes that Neil’s father used to complain that he couldn’t get to eat his breakfast in peace because of the incessant sound of the accordion. Around this time Willie Lowe, the bass player with Bobby MacLeod’s band, came to live in the village and he was a great inspiration to Neil assisting him with chords and all different types of music.
On leaving school, while working as a postman and also with the Forestry Commission, Neil joined Colin Campbell’s band and at that time bought his next accordion, an Excelsior Multi Musette, from J D Forbes’ music shop in Dundee. This was an exciting time for the band and they got their big break when Alasdair Gillies asked them to tour with him. Gigs all over Scotland and even as far afield as the Royal Albert Hall in London followed. They made over 60 appearances on the Alasdair Sings programme for STV and also made several LPs.
One experience in particular sticks in Neil’s mind. On the island of Lewis it was normal to do a two house concert followed by a dance. However on this occasion the dance seemed to be finishing early at midnight, but the band’s hopes of an early night were dashed when they found that they had to go a few miles further down the road set up the gear and play for another dance which then finished at about 5am.
After a few years on tour with Colin Campbell, Neil gave up touring to concentrate on post office work in the Oban area and around this time he met Sheila who had come to teach at Oban High School. They were married the next year and subsequently their three children Isla, Sileas and Craig were born. By this time Neil had taken over the running of Connel Post Office and, because the space permitted, he started giving accordion lessons in the rear of the Post Office. Over the years many of his pupils have gone on to become very well known in the music scene among them Ross McPherson, Hector McFadyen, Donald Shaw, Gary Innes, Megan Henderson and Andrew Macdonald. Many of his pupils will remember helping to wheel mail bags up to Connel station to put them on the Glasgow train after their lessons
Teaching accordion also took Neil to Islay once a month, Fort William once a week and he also taught in Fergie Macdonald’s hotel for a spell. There was one memorable trip when he was asked by Father Colin MacInnes to go out to Barra to teach. The trip out from Oban was in a force 10 gale and lasted 15 hours. The trip back home was easy – only force 8
Neil played many gigs around Oban with the late Billy Ford and in fact they ran the Highlands Restaurant at the local Corran Halls for a few years. While there, they promoted and provided the musical backing for many shows at the Corran Halls featuring Kenneth McKellar and also Norman MacLean. Neil says of Kenneth, “He was a lovely man, I learnt a lot from him”. There are many stories about gigging with Norman but Neil recalls one gig in Ardnamurchan and as they set off for home, a journey normally taking three hours, Norman said “Oh, did I not tell you we are playing in London tomorrow night?” So they set off overnight for London arriving about mid-day, did the gig, and drove straight home after the show.
In 1980 Calum MacPhail, the well-known fiddler from Dalmally, phoned Neil up and asked if he could do a gig in Manila. Thinking that Manila was somewhere down in Kintyre Neil said “Yes” only to discover that Manila was 6,500 miles away in the Philippines. That was his first of many trips abroad - to Egypt with Colin Campbell where he was nicknamed Tutankhampbell, Brazil with Alasdair Hunter and India with Ryan McGlynn.
With Neil teaching accordion and Sheila running a successful Highland dance school, thoughts turned to a possible Festival in the area. As a result of a few friends gathered round the Sinclair kitchen table, the Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival was born in 1983. It has gone from strength to strength, attracting over 1,000 competitors, and the fringe events continue to thrive. One of the highlights for Neil is the Invitational Accordion and Fiddle competition held on the Friday at the start of the Festival.
Neil has also had a long association with Oban Gaelic Choir, singing in the bass section and then conducting the choir from 1979 until 1986. Incidentally his mother, who spoke no English until she went to school, had a great knowledge of Gaelic songs and music which she was happy to pass on to her family. Unfortunately speaking the language wasn’t passed on to the family as speaking Gaelic at school and in the playground was frowned upon. Neil was particularly proud when the choir, presently conducted by his daughter Sileas, won the Lovat and Tullibardine competition at the Royal National Mod in Oban last October.
Neil currently plays as The Neil Sinclair Sound, with his wife Sheila on piano and Don McAllister on fiddle. His present accordion is a Borsini with the option of free bass - this came about after he became friendly with Oleg Sharov, professor of music at the St Petersburg Conservatoire, who played a Bayan free bass accordion. Learning the free bass is Neil’s plan for retirement – watch this space!!!
Over the years Neil has composed many tunes and in the last few years has used the Sibelius programme to put them on computer. Sheila tells me that Neil and computers don’t exactly see eye to eye and it is just as well that the family are able to rally round to act as his help line. One of his compositions came about as he was waiting for the weather to improve to go to Lismore. As he had been asked many times to play Leaving Lismore, Neil thought that Going to Lismore would make a good title for a tune – the tune was composed and played at the dance that night. Who knows, perhaps Neil will get round to publishing a book of his compositions one day.
That then is Neil Sinclair who has done much to foster our music through his playing, his organisation of the Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival and by his teaching. We are pleased to welcome him to our Celebrity Luncheon as one of our Guests of Honour.
Happy 50th Birthday Gretna A&F Club (1966-2016)
by
Gretna marked their 50th Anniversary on 3rd April at The Gables Hotel. The room was decorated accordingly with balloons and banners and a special cake was baked for the occasion by Freda Heslop.
Besides the usual accordion and fiddle players, other members volunteered to perform.
This resulted in an enjoyable and very varied evening’s entertainment and a lot of hidden talent was revealed! John Salton, our chairman and MC, carried in the cake led by pipers Kerry and Kath, daughters of David and Irene Bell. The cake was duly cut by David Bell and Donald Ridley, two of the founder members of the Club.
Flowers were presented to Irene Bell and pianist Rosalind and vouchers were given to David Bell and Donald Ridley for long service to the Club, following which the delicious cake was shared by everyone.
Memories of Bob McMath of Silverburn
by various
Andrew Stoddart (Penicuik)
I met Bob in the 1960's but didn't get to know him very well at that time. In 1975, having had a successful musical career, I returned to take over the family business when my father retired. I still continued to do the odd gig in clubs using the Cordavox and for repairs I had to go to Clinkscale in Melrose. A friend suggested I try Bob to see if he could help. Bob said he might if I could provide him with the circuit diagrams. This was the start of a close friendship. He was able to keep the Cordavox going for the next 6 or 7 years but it was an instrument that was cumbersome to carry and set up so I bought an Elkavox that had just been produced. I asked Bob to adapt it to take Midi expanders which opened up a new experience with this instrument.
By this time I visited him at least once a week and he would stop working at the bench and put down his tools, get a bottle out, and we would sit in the conservatory and have a dram.
He was a very learned person and could converse on nearly every topic you can think of. At that time he was going to Italy with his friend, George MacIntosh, to the accordion championships and he asked me if I would like to go. I jumped at the chance. This became an annual event. We also visited accordion factories and met a lot of manufacturers. He was well known in Castelfidardo and was known there as Roberto! We also used to go to Blackpool where accordion enthusiasts met at Pontins holiday camp. We did this for several years and made a lot of friends. We met some great players like Frank Morrocco and Art Van Damme who were world champion jazz players.
Bob had long conversations with them at times which resulted in a crowd of us going to Blackpool later one year to get jazz tips from Harry Hussey. It was difficult for me to take it in but Bob, with the brain he had, was able to absorb it and later on to pass it on to us. I suggested we get together on a Sunday night to try out these things and it became a regular session down on the farm.
I think of the times that I travelled with Bob to hear him play with Sandy Nixon and Dick Black. Great memories. He will be sadly missed by many. A true gentleman in every sense of the word.
Tom Cowing (Hexham)
It is a privilege to pay tribute to my friend Bob McMath.
I first met Bob over forty years ago when he travelled down to Hexham to play a dance with me deputising for Bill Stoddart.
From then we became firm friends as we shared many common interests in engineering and music.
Bob came down play on several occasions with me in The Tyne Valley, then in more recent years with the more famous bands lead by Andrew Stoddart, Sandy Nixon and Dick Black.
Bob was a man of great personal kindness, wisdom, knowledge and dexterity.
I will treasure his memory.
Iain Torquil MacPhail (Balerno)
Bob McMath was one of life’s gentlemen and a man I am privileged to have called a friend.
With Bob, I shared the passion for traditional music in all its forms, as well as the theories and constructs of other genres of music and this would be the focus of many long discussions in his workroom – surrounded by instruments and equipment in various stages of repair as he worked, tirelessly, to meet the needs of so many.
It was through Bob’s skill at repairing instruments that I got to know him and Nan. Being a working musician, there were occasional emergencies when an instrument malfunction occurred. In every instance, Bob put aside other pressures to repair the problem, ensuring that I could perform that evening. I know that similar situations were experienced by others and I often met anxious musicians at the workshop. We all owe Bob a huge debt of gratitude.
Bob was painstaking and reassuringly punctilious in approaching tasks. When he identified the problem it was carefully rectified. His attention to detail was infinite. He generated trust and his workmanship was impeccable e.g. he spent a considerable time putting a MIDI system in my son’s free-bass accordion and this was probably the first in the UK at that time.
Bob was a man o’ pairts: multi-talented, a skilled technician, generous with his time and always helpful, conversant about music and dance with eclectic interests in both, and like myself, deeply interested in the works of Robert Burns and wider Scottish culture.
I will miss Bob for many reasons but am grateful to have shared so much with him.
He will be sadly missed.
Callum Wilson (Biggar)
I first met Bob back in the late 60’s early 70’s through a mutual friend, fiddler Alec Baptie from Penicuik. At that time we were playing at small local functions, Bob joined us on second box many times and his playing was a great enhancement to our sound. A highlight in the diary was attending the Perth Festival in October each year and I remember enjoying Bob’s company on many of these occasions, at the competitions throughout the day and at the evening concerts in Perth City Hall at that time.
I will remember Bob as a good musician, particularly his second box playing, for his excellent work on accordions and electronics, for his pleasantly laid back personality never getting flustered about anything and for being made so welcome by Bob and his wife Nan at their home at Silverburn.
Keith Dickson (Dolphinton)
Bob was a quietly spoken, intelligent and trustworthy gentleman who offered many people helpful advice, information and support regarding technical and musical matters. Sometimes you had to wait a wee while for this advice to be delivered, but it was always well worth the wait.
If you had a musical instrument or electronic equipment requiring emergency attention Bob would always be there to help you out. He was extremely knowledgeable about accordion construction and was well respected by many top Scottish musicians and well known to the premier Italian accordion manufacturers in Castelfidardo.
Although his hallway got narrower each year, with the increasing number of repair jobs waiting to be completed, he always appeared patient and calm and was very encouraging, particularly towards the younger musicians – with many of them “jumping the queue” to get their instrument repaired.
Interesting conversations in his workplace could include him looking at you through a giant magnifying glass or pointing a soldering iron in your direction when making his point, but continuing with the repair job at the same time.
Away from repairing accordions Bob enjoyed playing the accordion and he appeared to have a particular interest regarding musical harmony – playing second accordion with several bands over many years. He appreciated listening to virtuoso accordionists and he attended musical events at home and abroad to experience them at first hand.
Silverburn has lost one of its finest citizens – and I, along with many others, will miss him.
Sandy Nixon
I met Bob in late 1975. Max Ketchin introduced me to him. Max & I were playing at that time with the late Bobby More from Kirkcaldy. Bob knew Bobby too! I don’t know too much about Bob’s playing career prior to 1975 but on enquiring it seems that he played regularly at the Alan Ramsay Hotel at Carlops with Jim Martin (“Chuckles”) and Davy Kemp. The trio was very popular, with music and comedy to the fore. I began playing with Bob (McMath) in 1976---we played at a few gigs while Bobby (More) was recuperating after his car accident. I started to play more gigs of my own after that and Bob started playing 2nd box regularly with me. Our first BBC broadcast went out in January 1984. Bob played regularly with me for the next ten years or so and we became good friends as well as band colleagues. He had to stop playing for a while due to carpal tunnel syndrome. He had “sair hands & couldn’t feel his fingers!” He stopped playing regularly then but did join us occasionally after that once he had had surgery for the carpal tunnel problem. I asked him to join us to do a few tracks on our “Morino Magic” CD in 1999. He duly obliged, after some persuasion! (Hamish Smith was the regular 2nd box player by then as he had been since Bob “retired.”) I kept in touch with Bob after that. I considered him to be a genius. I don’t know anyone else who could turn his hand to anything and make a first class job of it, whether it be taking an engine out of a car or van, tuning/repairing accordions, fitting midi systems, etc., etc. Not only was he good with his hands, including playing an accordion, he was also very well-read and had a phenomenal wealth of knowledge. I have been very fortunate in respect of Bob passing on some of his knowledge to me regarding accordion tuning, repairs, etc.---“I won’t be around forever so it is just as well someone else learns how to do it!” Sadly, I did not realise then how little time Bob would have with us. I still have a LOT to learn and feel I am only scratching the surface, but am grateful for the knowledge and skills passed on to me by the “master.” I will miss him as a good friend, former band colleague and as the genius that he was!
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Gallop to Callop – Iain MacFarlane – Independent
Wick to wickham – Gordon Gunn – Greentrax Recordings – CDTRAX381
Scottish Pleasures – Pat Gray – Independent
Rant – Reverie – Independent MBR6CD
Book Review
Russian Fiddle Tunes – Schott World Music Series
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
7th May 2016 – Gordon Shand SDB
14th May 2016 – Colin Donaldson SDB
21st May 2016 – Neil Copland SDB
28th May 2016 – Compilation Programme
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 31st May 2016 – Burns Brothers C.B.
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 11th May 2016 – Kyles Innes Trio
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 15th May 2016 – Steven Carcary Trio
Arbroath (Artisan Golf Club) - 1st May 2016 – Burns Brothers 8th May – Burns Brothers Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 30th May 2016 – Joyce Ramsay SDB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 25th May 2016 – Seamus O’Sullivan
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) –
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) –
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 10th May 2016 – Steven Carcary SDB
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 12th May 2016 – Cork Buttons and Bows 15th May – Shand Morino Gathering
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 3rd May 2016 – Wayne Robertson & Malcolm Ross
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 6th May 2016 – Dance to Frank Morrison SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) -
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 5th May 2016 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 4th May 2016 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 18th May 2016 – Fegie MacDonald C.B.
Dunfermline (Civil Service Sports Assoc, Rosyth) – 10th May 2016 - AGM
Duns (Masonic Lodge) 16th May 2016 – AGM + Club Night
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 24th May 2016 – Raymond Chuchuk SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) –
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 29th May 2016 – John Stuart SDB
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 11th May 2016 – The Occasionals
Fort William (Railway Club) - 3rd May 2016 – Club Night
Galashiels (Clovenfords Hotel) –
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) -
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 4th May 2016 – Iain Cathcart Trio
Gretna (The Gables Hotel) -
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 16th May 2016 – Jimmy Cassidy
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 5th May 2016 – Jock Fraser SDB
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) –
Kelso (Cross Rugby Club) – 25th May 2016 – Johnny Duncan
Langholm (British Legion) –
Lewis & Harris (Sea Angling Club) - 5th May 2016 – Club Night
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 17th May 2016 – Scott Band Trio
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) -
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 4th May 2016 – Callum Wallace & Jimmy Cassidy
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) -
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Buccleugh Bowling Club)
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 3rd & 10th May 2016 – Gavin Piper
Oban (The Royal Hotel) –
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 4th 11th 18th 25th May 2016 – Club Night
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 17th May 2016 – James Coutts SDB
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 5th May 2016 – Seamus O’Sullivan Duo
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 3rd 10th 17th 24th 31st May 2016 – Club Night
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 2nd May 2016 – Jim MacKay SDB
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 5th May 2016 – Brandon McPhee Trio
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 19th May 2016 – Andy Kain Trio
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn)
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 17th May 2016 – Nicol McLaren SDB
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Annan
2. Arbroath
3. Banff
4. Biggar
5. Button Key
6. Castle Douglas
7. Coalburn
8. Crieff
9. Dingwall
10. Dunblane
11. Dunfermline
12. Duns
13. Fintry
14. Forfar
15. Forres
16. Glendale
17. Gretna
18. Kelso
19. Livingston
20. Mauchline
21. Montrose
22. Newburgh
23. Orkney
24. Peebles
25. Shetland
26. Stonehouse
27. Tynedale
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2015
(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. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
14. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
15. Coalburn A&F Club (
16. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
17. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
18. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
19. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
20. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
21. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
22. Ellon A&F Club (
23. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
24. Forfar A&F Club (
25. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
26. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
27. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
28. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
29. 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)
30. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
31. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
32. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
33. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
34. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
35. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
36. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
37. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
38 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
39. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
40 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
41 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
42 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
43 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
44. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
45. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
46. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
47. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
48. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
49. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
50. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
51. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
52 Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
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 West Barnes ( - present)
58 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?)
59. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
60. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
61. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
62. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
63. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
64. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
65. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
66. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
67. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
68. Buchan A&F Club
69. Callander A&F Club (
70. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
71. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
72. Club Accord
73. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
74 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
75. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
76. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
77. Cults A & F Club (
78. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
79. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
80. Derwentside A&F Club
81. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
82. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
83. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
84. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
85. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
86. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
87. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
88. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
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. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
92. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
93. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
94. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
95. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
96. Kintore A&F Club (
97. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
98. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
99. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
100. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
101. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Maine Valley A&F Club (
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
107. Mull A&F Club
108. Newcastleton Accordion Club
109. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
110. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
111. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
112. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
113. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
114. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
115. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
116. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
117. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
118. Selkirk A&F Club (
119. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
120. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
121. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
122 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
123 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
124. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
125. Tranent A&F Club
126. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
127. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
128. Wellbank A&F Club
129. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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