Box and Fiddle
Year 15 No 01
September 1991
Price 50p
12 pages
8 month subscription £6.00
Editor – Interim Editor – Doug Adamson, 22 Westfield Drive, Forfar, Angus, DD8 1EQ
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Margaret Smith, Smeaton Farm Cottage, Dalkeith, Midlothian.
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
It doesn’t seem four months since I wrote my last Editorial when I appealed for support to keep the ‘Box and Fiddle’ alive.
Although I must not allow myself to become over-optimistic, I have been extremely happy and gratified with the response over the summer months. I thank all those who have written or phoned with helpful comments.
As you will see from this issue, there are a number of new, shorter features and I intend continuing with this policy. The club Reports, the main purpose of this newspaper will obviously remain, but will generally be of a shorter nature.
Sadly, during the summer months, Willie Wilson, a great stalwart of the Accordion and fiddle Club movement, died. I leave the tributes to those who knew him best – David Ross and Jimmy Blue.
Due to engagements in September prior to me being Editor, I could struggle to have the October issue completed by 1st October. Although I will obviously make every effort to have it completed in time, please bear with me if it is a couple of days late.
Hope you enjoy this issue.
Doug Adamson
Take a Bow
Jimmy Edwards and Shand Morino No.1
by Charlie Todd
The beautiful border town of Moffat, nestling below the Lowther Hills, is home to elder statesmen of Scottish Dance music, a veteran in every sense of the word, namely 82 year old Jimmy Edwards, Jimmy’s abiding interests in life are evident in and around his home – forestry, his lifetime’s work is never far from his mind with his sawmill located just behind the house, and music is even closer at hand with two framed photographs reminding his of playing days gone by and a dark red button box sitting ready to be lifted and played at any time the notion takes him.
Jimmy was born in the village of Dalswinton, half way between Thornhill and Dumfries, on 26th April 1909. The eldest of four children, brothers William and David being born in 1911 and 1917 respectively, and sister Jean in 1926, his father was a timber feller working at the time for the Aberdeenshire firm of A & J Paterson. It was forestry that would take Jimmy and the rest of the family all over Scotland before he finally returned to settle a score of miles away at Moffat at the end of the Second World War.
Moving to where the forests needed clearing took the Edwards family firstly to Newmilns in Ayrshire in 1912, Inchinnan in Renfrewshire in 1915 and finally to Invergloy in Inverness-shire, five miles from Spean Bridge, in 1920. It was in the hutted encampment where his father and other fellers, sawmillers and horsemen lived during the week that young Jimmy first became aware of “Bothy” music. The dozen or so huts, each sleeping four men, came alive at night after the men returned, fed and washed themselves, and settled down for an evening of self entertainment. Jimmy recalls that the camp was filled with Skyemen and Irishmen and that all of them were musical, so that evenings were filled with the sound of fiddles, melodeons, penny whistles and pipes.
Young Jimmy soon arrived at a mutually beneficial arrangement with one of the foresters. School finished at four o’clock, so on his way back home he called in at one of the huts to kindle the fire and put the kettle on to boil. His reward was then to be allowed to sit and practice on one of the occupiers 19 key “International” melodeon. Good business sense for an 11 year old because, as Jimmy put it with a smile, “Oh aye, the fire would never have been lit had it not been for the melodeon.” Back at home Dad, who was a piper incidentally, kept a 10 key melodeon. Too small to have much scope but better than nothing, so every Saturday when his parents went to Fort William on the motorbike and sidecar, Jimmy retrieved it from the top of the wardrobe and started to practice.
Jimmy left school in March 1923, a month before his fourteenth birthday. His first job was as a ‘peeler’ – to peel the bark from the pine trees which were then hand sawn into lengths to use as pit props. Next he was responsible for stoking the boiler of the steam engine which powered the circular saw.
By the age of 17, Jimmy was regularly attending dances in Spean Bridge and Roybridge. It was an eight mile walk to Roybridge with the dancing starting at 8 o’clock and finishing in the wee sma’ hours – exactly when depended on how well it was going. “Why walk?” I asked. “Well” Jimmy explained, “not all six of our group had pushbikes, and anyway your forgetting that there were no tarred roads in that area in those days.” On the way back from a dance Jimmy stopped in at the mill to stoke the boiler, then home for a wash, change into working clothes, breakfast and out to work. Sometimes I thought I “burned the candle at both ends” but not after speaking to Jimmy.
In 1926, the year of the General Strike, Jimmy bought his first melodeon - a second hand “Empress” 19 key model, made in Antwerp. It was on display in the window of a Fort William Shop run by a Mr McIntyre. By now Jimmy and his father were working for another timber merchant , James Kennedy and Co of 69 Buchanan St, Glasgow. It was with this firm that he moved to Torthorwold, near Dumfries in 1929, and it was here that Jimmy’s band career got under way. Prior to that he had learned a great deal from two excellent melodeon players at Acnacarry, brothers Jock and Davy Hutchison. Both had 19 key “Peter Wyper International” models, but Jock decided to invest £10 in one of the 21 key extended scale models. Jimmy bought Jock’s old box for £5, his “first decent box” and the one which accompanied him south.
Dad and the rest of the family followed him in due course to Dumfriesshire. Contracts were still scarce during these years of the “Great Depression” and by 1933 Kennedy was forced to pay them off. After a year of taking felling work wherever they could find it they were taken on by an English timber merchant, Thubron Son and Kirkhope. With things now settling down a bit, Jimmy formed his first melodeon dance band, the first in Dumfriesshire he reckons, with brother Davy on drums and Charlie Ray from Dalmakether Farm on fiddle. Most of the work was 50/50 dancing at the time, but the group rapidly became popular and two bus loads followed them everywhere, so dance organisers had no trouble selling tickets. The trio themselves travelled in a car that Jimmy hired from a friend for £1 a night which left the band with 15/- each.
Wedding bells were ringing in January, 1939 when Jimmy married Mary Muir, a local lass from Lockerbie.
The declaration of war on Germany and the introduction of strict petrol rationing posed immediate problems for the band, but in the event things worked out fairly well.
The following year Jimmy was put in charge of three sawmills at Laurieston (near Castle Douglas), Orchardton and Shawhead and his two brothers joined him. Bill was also a melodeon player, therefore, with Davy still on drums, a new trio was born. There were plenty of engagements available since most musicians were, of course, away in the Forces for the duration. A taxi hirer from Laurieston solved the transport problem even allowing Jimmy to borrow the car when he himself wasn’t available to drive.
“Any amplification in those days?” I asked. “Aye” Jimmy replied, a combo I bought from “Chippy Jock” in Lockerbie, who had a chip van and used it to amplify the music like ice cream vans do nowadays. It worked fine, but as the night wore on and it heated up there was always a strong smell of ships from it.” At the end of the war, Jimmy and lots of his cronies celebrated by lighting a bonfire on the main street at Brydekirk, old rubber tyres, the lot, and succeeded in burning a big hole in the middle of the road. The less said about that the better!
That same year, Jimmy uprooted himself and Mary one last time and moved to Craigieburn Estate at Moffat to work. The following year he took the plunge and started his own business with his sawmill located just south of Moffat. It’s still in operation, although it is now run by his son-in-law, and Jimmy has cut down his involvement to working 3 or 4 hours on weekday afternoons!! It keeps me fit” he explained “and I eat like a horse and sleep like a log.” Long may that continue.
Jimmy’s playing career took a new twist one cold winter’s evening in November, 1948. Pianist Andy Stevenson, received a phone call from his friend Jimmy Shand, who explained that due to the atrocious weather conditions, the police would not allow the band bus beyond Auchterarder and he was booked to play at the Highland Ball in Lockerbie. Andy explained that they had never played for Country Dancing, but Jimmy exhorted, “Och, go and get Jimmy and you’ll manage fine.” At such short notice they could only must a quartet, but manage they did, although Jimmy admits that he’s never played “The Laird o’ Drumblair” so many times before or since. One of the dancers, Tom Moffat, gave up his evening to join the band on stage and keep them right.
Like most musicians, if Jimmy has no job on himself he likes to go to local dances. By this time Jimmy Shand was playing regularly in the area and it was during the interval in a dance at Langholm in 1950 that Jimmy, who was playing a 3 row Frontilini by this time, asked him where he could get a really good accordion – something like the great man himself was playing. Jimmy Shand explained that Hohner’s manufacturing facilities had still not recovered from Allied bombing during the war, but that they had opened premises in London and he had ordered 4 accordions made to his own specifications. Since this was one of the first enquiries he had received, he would let Jimmy have one when they arrived.
The four new “Shand Morino’s” arrived in Dundee in due course. By coincidence, Jimmy Shand was booked to play in Moffat Town Hall the following Wednesday anyway, so it was while he was down with the band that he left word that he would bring the boxes down personally the following weekend.
And so it was that on Sunday, 8th October, 1950 that they met at Andy Stevenson’s house and Jimmy got his pick of the four. How did he decide? “Well” says Jimmy “I just took the nearest one.” It was years later before Jimmy learned that Hohner number all their accordions internally on the reed bars, and that by co-incidence he had picked No 1 – the first Shand Morino ever made. “The cost was £200” Jimmy recalls “but got a fiver back which I spent on records at 2/6 a time to learn new tunes.”
To emphasise the point that this was a box made in an era of hand craftsmanship, Jimmy strapped it on and gave me a few tunes. Even after a lifetime’s service, the tone and power still shine through. Over the years, it’s the Shands, father and son, who have maintained the box.
Meanwhile, the band went from strength to strength. From 1947 to 1958, many of the engagements were with a five piece. The line-up was Jimmy on lead accordion, Willie McRobert on fiddle, Davy Edwards on drums, Andy Stevenson on piano and Bert Stevenson (no relation) on second box. Bert incidentally, had bought his curved keyboard Organetta III from George McKelvey of the Shand band.
By 1958, Bert, who worked for the G.P.O. had taken a job in Tanzania and two other extremely talented accordionists had appeared on the local scene whom Jimmy felt were better qualified to play for Country Dancing than he was – Messrs Holmes and Houliston, of course.
His playing career was by no means over however, because for the next 15 or so years, he teamed up with a local 5 row accordionist, Willie Draeger with Willie’s son on drums. Willie, interestingly, had come to Moffat as a German P.O.W. during the war. After hostilities ceased, he married a local girl and settled down in the town. “At work or in music” Jimmy remembers “he was good at everything he tried.”
This partnership lasted until the early seventies when Jimmy decided to retire from paid engagements altogether. Thereafter, the odd charity function and increasingly Accordion and Fiddle Clubs provided outlets for his musical talents.
Jimmy’s hands bear testimony to a lifetime of hard physical work and progressively failing hearing has dogged him for the last few years, yet it is impossible to speak to him without realising the enthusiasm that he still retains for dance music.
He regularly attends Accordion Clubs all over the area, frequently travelling with friends Tom and Margaret Porteous from Moffat, and still enjoys learning a new tune or having a dance at the Annan Club.
He takes evident delight in seeing young players receiving young players receiving proper tuition and learning to read music. By coincidence, my visit to Moffat was the morning after a surprise birthday party arranged in the Town Hall to celebrate the 60th Birthday of local lady Mrs Margaret Moffat. Present as guests for the evening were none other than Jimmy, Anne and David Shand. “What a grand blether we had about the old days” says Jimmy. Memories indeed, but long may the health and playing continue.
Post Script
Jimmy developed Alzheimer’s and spent his last years in a Home. He died in November 2005 aged 96.
He sold his accordion some years previously to collector Ken Hopkins from Comber, Belfast.
Willie Wilson of Beith
Obituary
I first met Willie Wilson when I was playing with the Powrie Band at a Farmers’ Dance in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, and even then, as a young man of 19, he impressed me with his helpfulness and his interest in Scottish music.
Willie was born on 28th April, 1934, and at the age of 4 started memorizing car numbers as a hobby – this was something he kept up, and he could reel out various people’s car numbers even up to 50 years back.
At 7, he wanted to play the accordion but his parents could not afford one. However, as his grandfather played the violin. Willie took up this instrument, and soon became very proficient, passing the various grade examinations, and playing at concerts in his teens. Willie was also a Sunday School and Bible Class teacher, and enjoyed taking the Sunday School for their trips with his beautifully decorated horse and box cart.
When Willie was 15 his mother died, and he had to give up, his dreams of being either a minister or a musician, and take over the farm. Willie’s first tractor was a second-hand Farmall International which he bought at Lockerbie. No trucks or transporters in those days! Willie drove it from Lockerbie to Dalry at 10 miles per hour! It took two days and he was frozen to the marrow!
Willie joined the Beith and District Young Farmers’ Club, and also became a member of the Vintage Tractor Club – another interest which he sustained throughout the years. When the Accordion and Fiddle Club movement began, Willie was tremendously enthusiastic. As well as founding the Beith Club, he took a great interest in the welfare of other Clubs, and in fact, he and his wife Elma, set out to visit every Club in the Association.
In the early days, distance was no object to Willie. He would drive from Dalry to Keith, Banffshire, for an A.G.M., and many guest artistes who were asked to appear at Beith Club, on asking directions, were told that Willie would meet them North, South, East or West of Glasgow, or at any appointed place, and would guide them there.
When Alex Little became Musselburgh Festival organiser, he invited Willie Wilson to join his Committee, and although there have been various changes in the personnel, Willie was still on the Committee and as enthusiastic as ever in 1991, the only original member. Willie was genuinely interested in the music of Scotland, and was on the team who started the Ayrshire Scottish Music Association, of which he became Chairman.
I am so pleased that I was invited to join the Executive Committee of the N.A.A.F.C. because it gave me the opportunity to get to know Willie and to appreciate his many gifts. Willie was always first to arrive at Committee meetings, and nothing was ever any trouble to him. If we needed raffle tickets, retiral gifts, wreaths, flowers, we turned to Willie – if he didn’t know someone who could supply the necessary, he always ‘knew a man who did’ – and always at a special discount for Willie!
Elma and Willie constituted the link between the N.A.A.F.C. and Frank Martin, the photographer who did the special technique transferring his photographs to canvas and producing the magnificent portraits with which a few, myself included, were honoured by the Association. Willie got the greatest delight in arranging the photographic sessions, helping ‘the victim’ in every way possible – and none of us who were involved will ever forget his pride and pleasure when we were given the private viewing of the finished portrait.
Willie Wilson was a lovely man – a quiet, warm man who, when asked for an opinion, always had one to give, carefully thought out and logically explained. The love and respect in which he was held in all the varied aspects of his life was shown by the large number of people who attended his funeral in Dalry, and by the depth of emotion evident on that sad occasion.
Jimmy Blue
Born at Buckreddon, Kilwinning, brought up and stayed at Todhill Farm, Dalry, Ayrshire, Willie Wilson was a very respected gentleman in all the circles he was associated with.
I first met Willie when he was a ‘Roadie’ for Jim Gilbert’s Band in 1957 and our friendship developed over the years becoming stronger when Beith Accordion Club was formed in 1972, the Committee being then Willie and Elma Wilson and Margaret and Tommy Irvine. Scottish Dance music was in his blood from a very early age and in his young days Willie played the fiddle at local concerts. His favourite bands at the time were Adam Rennie, Jimmy Shand, Ian Powrie, Jim Cameron and Jimmy Blue, when he took over the Powrie Band. Although music was one of his main interests Willie and I had several things in common and many a good yarn him and I had over the years. Always willing to help, advise, assist, he was a worthy friend to many. I could write many lines about Willie – it was great to know him – he was a gentleman.
David Ross, Kilmarnock
One Note or Forty Seven
by Norrie Williams
In recent years the task of competitors, teachers and adjudicators with regard to the Senior Scottish Accordion Class (March, Strathspey and Reel) at the major accordion and fiddle festivals has become increasingly difficult because of the complexity of some modern compositions.
Following representations by a number of individuals and in particular on receipt of a letter from A.S.M.A. (Ayrshire Scottish Music Association) the N.A.A.F.C. convened a meeting in Perth Station Hotel on the afternoon of Saturday, 22nd June to discuss the problem.
Shortage of space precludes a detailed minute of the meeting but the following notes should give the ‘gist’ of the discussion and conclusion.
In alphabetical order, those attending were : Messrs Jimmy Blue, Tom Clark (Dundee), John Crawford (Freuchie), Bobby Crowe, Peter Farnan (Aberdeen), Derek Hamilton (A.S.M.A.), Jim Johnstone, Jimmy Lindsay (Glenalmond) and Willie Wilson (A.S.M.A.). Apologies and contributions were received from Messrs Ivor Britton, David Ross (A.S.M.A.), Bert Shorthouse and Bill Wilkie.
Four other adjudicators who had been invited were not present.
The Minute Secretaries were Mr Andrew Nairn (N.A.A.F.C. Executive Committee) and Mrs Sheila Williams (Musselburgh Festival Committee) and the Chairman, Mr Norrie Williams.
Suggested points for discussion circulated before the meeting were (abridged version below)
1) Should there be two separate competitive classes (a) Tunes in the accepted Traditional style (b) Modern compositions of a semi-classical and highly technical nature.
2) If Yes to (1) what criterion should be used to separate (a) and (b).
3) Should lists of tunes appropriate to (a) and (b) be drawn up.
4) For (b) should adjudicator have a copy of the music, and classical training, or should there be two adjudicators, one with a classical background to monitor accuracy and a second to evaluate interpretation.
5) If two classes who would be Senior Scottish champion – winner of (a) or (b) or the player with the highest aggregate from both classes.
The discussion, which lasted for more than 2 hours, kicked off with everyone in turn expressing their own views on the subject and despite some differences in detail there was almost total agreement on the answers to the points set out above.
1) There should NOT be two separate classes.
2) There should NOT be lists of tunes drawn up under categories (a) and (b).
3) There should NOT be a classical adjudicator.
4) These modern technical tunes of today will become the traditional tunes of tomorrow.
5) Interpretation is the all important factor.
Last to speak was Peter Farnan who has composed quite a number of these difficult tunes, many of which are used in competition. His remarks were a most welcome revelation and his contribution gave all present great encouragement and reassurance. Take this for example : “There is nothing more embarrassing than to hear my own music being played as a technical exercise, I don’t mind people criticising my tunes, but they must be articulated and expressed in the Scottish idiom. The interpretation is what matters.”
Peter also stressed the point that competitors should only select tunes which are within their capabilities, i.e. which they can express properly. He assists his own pupils with the choice of competition material and if appropriate, and if appropriate will steer them clear of the waspies’ bykes’.”
This final contribution certainly crystallised everyone’s thoughts and there was unanimous agreement that the following suggested guidelines be passed on to Festival Organisers, teachers, and other interested bodies.
That there should not be separate classes for the two types of tunes.
That the adjudication sheets for the Scottish accordion classes should have a marks allocation along the following lines :
Content – 25%
Accuracy – 25%
Interpretation – 50%
Up to now, although judges have been allowed to use their discretion, normally only 25% has been put against interpretation.
Although this emotive issue has by no means been resolved, and it is probable that a future meeting or meetings open to all will be required, (with the wide variety of views they could last for days) this preliminary get-together clarified the situation and pointed the way to a reasonable solution.
A.G.M. Weekend
by Norrie Williams
Over a considerable period it has become apparent that quite a number of folk consider ‘yours truly’s’ write-ups to be far too long. Point taken – N.Y.W. turns over a new leaf – so try this for size.
Dates : Satyurday / Sunday 22nd and 23rd June.
Location : Station Hotel, Perth
Weather : No’ bad
Saturday 13.00 hrs – Buffet lunch – excellent.
17.00 hrs – ceilidhs. Several howfs available but everyone crowds into a single room.
As the King Pin of the proceedings is none other than that senior statesman , 83 year old Jimmy Shand, the place is soon bursting at the seams and overflows into the main function suite. Playing as well as he ever has done and without any apparent effort our veteran keeps the marathon session going for an incredible 2 to 3 hours.
19.00 hrs – Dinner – again excellent.
20.00 – 01.00 hrs – Dancing to Jim Johnstone’s Band.
Half time relief band is basic J.J. group led by Jimmy Shand Snr., who immediately stamps his unmistakable authority on the ensemble and serves up delightful dance music without even opening his bellows.
The dance over and as the programme sheet states it’s into ceilidhs, hooleys, etc.
Sunday : 07.30. Breakfast. Bright-eyed and bushy tailed. Tom Clark of Dundee first in. First class spread as always i.e. the breakfast not Tom Clark.
11.00 hrs : A.G.M. One of the biggest audiences yet. Once Peebles and Newtongrange have got seated there is still room for one or two reps. from other Clubs! Meeting report elsewhere in this issue. As always one or two souls arrive compete with large spoons but luckily others have saws.
14.00 hrs – Luncheon – yet again the Station Hotel does us proud, service and purvey excellent. There is no presentation this year so the Celebrity Ceilidh, compered by chairman Jimmy Blue, follows immediately featuring (in alphabetical order) The Clark Family, Bobby Crowe, Willie McGuire (British Chromatic 3-row and diminutive Chinese melodeon), Ian Powrie, Morag Robertson (5 row), Jimmy Shand (Snr & Jnr), and last but not least, Andy Stewart, making a most welcome return visit, although with another operation pending. He entertained with his classic ‘Tobermory Treasure’.
As has become the norm, the Jim Johnstone Band wind up the proceedings with their accustomed professionalism and with Bobby Colgan in cracking form.
Another great weekend and once again a very sincere thank you from Jimmy Blue on behalf of all present, to the staff of the Station Hotel and especially to Jack Cooper, who puts in a phenomenal amount of really hard graft to get these gatherings off the ground and running like clockwork. We certainly owe him a great debt.
See you next year.
Introducing the Clubs
No 1 Livingston
by Murdo MacLeod
The Club met for the first time in Rab’s Bar in September 1973. Bert Shorthouse, the well known entertainer was the guest soloist who was paid the princely sum of £12! Guest fees are slightly more than this nowadays.
Reflecting back to that evening one remembers how highly charged the atmosphere was, as the not too large venue quickly filled up with expectant punters. It is possible that people were wanting something different from ‘canned’ entertainment and also recapturing a form of entertainment which brought people together to participate. In any event, the evening took off in great style. And for this we must, I think, be grateful to Bobby Jack who brought along the full band, comprising Bobby himself on chromatic, Brian Forrest (2nd accordion), Jim Barrie (fiddle), Vic Laidlaw (drums) and the incomparable Derek Lawrence on piano.
From the first chord the appreciative audience wondered what had hit Livingston. The Club owes Bobby a debt of gratitude for lifting the Club off the ground all those years ago.
Derek Lawrence was so enthusiastic that he wrote a tune, ‘The Livingston Accordion and Fiddle Club’ which Ronnie Easton included in his first broadcast.
Reminding one’s self of these early days, certain pictures come to mind. There was a young lad almost completely hidden behind a rather large accordion spiritedly rendering his piece. His name – Graham Edwardson. He is a bit bigger now and certainly better known.
The Club was nursed along at that time by a group of enthusiastic musicians and a splendid Committee. Names that come to mind include Jock and Dorothy Glen, Tom Hay, Alex Grant, John Morrison, Celia McIntyre, Jack Stalker, Arthur Brown and his daughter Jackie.
We would like to mention the late Gordon Jamieson from Pumpherston who was the popular compere for some time. Gordon’s knowledge of Scottish music was quite phenomenal and it was through him that a great many of the younger generation of players were attracted to the Club.
There is no doubt that the location of the Club between two established accordion schools, namely Chrissie Leatham and Wilson Wood, helped to give us the reputation for talented youngsters. Soon the punters were beginning to realise that an awful lot of highly talented young players were on hand to entertain for the sheer love of playing. Some names come to mind – David Wilson, Ian Horsburgh, Karen Higgins, Michael Wynn, Ian Skinner from Longridge, and locally we had Marie and Owen Fielding, the aforementioned Graham Edwardson and Derek Rae, Alan Laidlaw, Bobby Darling, Graham Edwardson (drummer) and many others dutifully brought along by proud parents.
This plethora of young talent seemed to give the Club a certain aura and helped a lot to establish the Club as a sort of family entertainment venue which continues to this day.
If one or two names are mentioned as being especially fondly recalled, readers will forgive us if we mention Sandy Coghill and Freeland Barbour – they really got the punters coming back for more. I think we can fairly say that we heard the Wallochmore before most people did!
One of the undoubted highlights of those early days was the appearance of a fantastic character called Fintan Stanley, from Sligo in Ireland. This was at the Cameron Iron Works Social Club. What a night of music and even yet one hears mention of this fabulous player who unfortunately is probably all but unknown to the present generation of players. Nobody ever played ‘The High Level’ quite like Fintan, He is now resident in New York.
From these early days, the Club had to move venue several times. This infortunately, as organizers well know, changes the character of the Club as well! From Rab’s Bar, the Club enjoyed a period at the Meadow Head Hotel, West Calder, then it moved to the Cameron Iron Works Social Club which readers will remember with some pleasure.
After the demise of that venue, the Club moved to the British Legion Club in Livingston, then to the Golden Hind, Blackburn, and eventually settled in its present venue, the Golden Circle Hotel, Bathgate, which seems to have all the facilities that the public expect. However, it is difficult to compare the atmosphere with that of the early days without thinking that things have changed in some way. Perhaps we take too much for granted, whereas away back all those years ago, Clubs were something new and exciting. Perhaps we have gone too ‘showbusinessy’.
Today, the Club meets on every third Tuesday of the month. Its location near to the M8 makes it easily accessible to a wide area and it continues to attract a large following of both audience and players.
In passing, we may be forgiven for ‘blowing a trumpet or two!’ The Club, over the years, has been associated with the emergence of several well known artistes and bands. These include The Oakbank Sound, Graham Ross and the Strathalmond Band, Karen Higgins, Ian Horsburgh, Willie McFarlane, Marie Fielding, Arthur Brown.
It is hoped that young musicians will still be attracted to the Club because it is on them really that the next 18 years depends for its existence.
It is difficult in a short article to include much more, but if readers have memories of special occasions, why not drop a few lines to the B&F.
It is now more than a quarter of a century since the establishment of the first Accordion Club in Scotland and there must be a goodly number now which have been on the go for almost as long. Why not let us hear about them. There is nothing wrong with a bit of nostalgia now and again.
Slainte
P.S. It is pleasant to record an interesting co-incidence. The guest spot at the September meeting of the Club is Jim MacLeod’s Band which includes Jim Cleland. A founder member of the Club. Jim, we recall, was one of the players to do ‘a turn’ at the first Club meeting in September, 1973.
Record Review
The Bill Sharp Accordion Orchestra – ‘Sharp Shooters’ – Sharp Recordings S102
The Hawthorn Scottish Showband – ‘Scottish and continental Favourites’ – Steblin Recording Music Co TC 1021
Music Book Review
The Strathardle Collection – a second collection of original compositions for fiddle and accordion by Ian Powrie. Available from Deeay Music.
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Dee Motel) –
Alnwick (Golden Fleece) – members only
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 1st Sept 91 Bobby Crowe
Armadale (Masonic Lodge) –
Ayr (Gartferry Hotel) –
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Hall) – 15th Sept 91 Fraser McGlynn Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Knowes Hotel, Macduff) –
Beith & District (Hotel de Croft, Dalry) –
Belford (Community Club) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 8th Sept 91 John Renton SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 10th Sept 91 Jimmy Lindsay’s Band
Bridge of Allan (Walmer Hotel) -
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) –
Button Key (Windygates Institute) –
Callander (Glengarry Hotel) –
Campbeltown (Royal Hotel) –
Castle Douglas (Ernespie Hotel) –
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 19th Sept 91 Colin Dewar SDB
Crieff & District (Drummond Arms Hotel)
Dalriada (Royal Hotel, Lochgilphead) –
Derwentside (Working Men’s Club, Consett) –
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 4th Sept 91 Fraser McGlynn Trio 21st Dance to Neil MacEachern
Dunblane (Westlands Hotel) –
Dundee (The Marquee Function Suite) – 5th Sept 91 Muirhead Orchestra
Dunfermline (Northern Roadhouse) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (Sweepers, Cambuslang) –
Ellon (Ladbroke Hotel) –
Ettrick & Yarrow (The Gordon Arms) -
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) –
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 29th Sept 91 Jim Johnstone SDB
Forres (Brig Motel) – 11th Sept 91 Bobby Crowe SDB
Fort William (Alexandra Hotel) –
Galashiels (Maxwell Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) –
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 16th Sept 91 Alastair MacDonald & Gordon Gunn
Isle of Skye -
Islesteps (Mabie House Hotel) –
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) –
Kinlochshiel (Tingle Creek Hotel) -
Kintore (Crown Hotel) – 4th Sept 91 Deirdre Adamson
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 12th Sept 91 James Lindsay Trio
Livingston (Golden Circle Hotel, Bathgate) 17th Sept 91 Jim MacLeod and his Band
Lockerbie (Bluebell Hotel) -
Mauchline (The Jean Armour Restaurant) 17th Sept 91 Coalburn Ceilidh Band
M.A.F.I.A. (Masonic Hall, Milngavie) –
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 4th Sept 91 Moyra Fraser Trio
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North Cumbria (Golden Fleece, Ruleholme) (prev called Gretna Club) –
North East (Seafield Hotel, Keith) –
Oban (Highlander Restaurant) –
Orkney ( venue?) –
Ormiston (Miners’ Welfare Social Club) – 19th Sept 91 Billy Anderson & Albany
Peebles (Greentree Hotel) – 26th Sept 91 Jim Johnstone SDB
Perth (Station Hotel) – 17th Sept 91 Alan McIntosh SDB
Premier NI (Camlin function Rooms) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 10th Sept 91 Club night
Rothbury (Jubilee Hall) -
Shetland (venue?) -
Thornhill (?)
Thurso (McKay’s Hotel) –
Turriff (Royal Oak Hotel) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 10th Sept 91 Deirdre Adamson
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) –
Wooler ( ) -
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Arbroath
2. Biggar
3. Blairgowrie
4. Button Key
5. Coalburn
6. Dingwall
7. Dunblane
8. Dundee
9. East Kilbride
10. Ettrick & Yarrow
11. Forres
12. Highland
13. Kelso
14. Kintore
15. Lesmahagow
16. Livingston
17. Mauchline
18. Newtongrange
19. Ormiston
20. Peebles
21. Rothbury
22. Tynedale
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1990 (Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Sept 1976)
3. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months)
4. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition)
5. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition)
9. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
10. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974)
11. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
12. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990
13. Button Key A&F Club (
14. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980)
15. Coalburn A&F Club
16. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
17. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
18. Derwentside A&F Club
19. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
20. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971)
21. Dundee & District A&F Club
22. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
23. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
24. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
25. Ellon A&F Club (
26. Etterick & Yarrow (Jan 1989 -
27. Fintry A&F Club
28. Forfar A&F Club
29. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
30. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
31. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
32. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
33. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
34. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
35. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981)
36. Isle of Skye A&F Club (
37. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976)
38. Kintore A&F Club
39. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967)
40. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
41. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – per first edition)
42. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973)
43. M.A.F.I.A. (early)
44. Mauchline A&F Club (first mention 1986?)
45. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
46. Mull A&F Club
47. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1979)
48. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
49. North Cumbria A&F Club (originally Gretna started June 1966 – had to move to a venue in the North of England and changed name – eventually changed back when they returned to the Halcrow Stadium. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
50. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971)
51. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975)
52. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978)
53. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
54. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981)
55. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970)
56. Premier A&F Club NI (cNov 1980)
57. Rothbury Accordion Club (1987??)
58. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978)
59. Sutherland A&F Club (
60. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition)
61. Thurso A&F Club (cSept 1981)
62. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982)
63. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980)
64. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
65. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
66. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
67. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
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. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2?)
74. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
75. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
76. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
77. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
78. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
79. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
80. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
81. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
82. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
83. Gretna A&F Club (June 1966)
84. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
85. Kinlochsheil A&F Club (
86. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
87. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
88. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
89. Newcastleton Accordion Club
90. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
91. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
92. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
93. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
94. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
95. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
96. Wellbank A&F Club
Advertising rates
Full Page - £92
Half Page - £46
Quarter Page - £23
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Margaret Smith, Smeaton Farm Cottage, Dalkeith, Midlothian.
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
It doesn’t seem four months since I wrote my last Editorial when I appealed for support to keep the ‘Box and Fiddle’ alive.
Although I must not allow myself to become over-optimistic, I have been extremely happy and gratified with the response over the summer months. I thank all those who have written or phoned with helpful comments.
As you will see from this issue, there are a number of new, shorter features and I intend continuing with this policy. The club Reports, the main purpose of this newspaper will obviously remain, but will generally be of a shorter nature.
Sadly, during the summer months, Willie Wilson, a great stalwart of the Accordion and fiddle Club movement, died. I leave the tributes to those who knew him best – David Ross and Jimmy Blue.
Due to engagements in September prior to me being Editor, I could struggle to have the October issue completed by 1st October. Although I will obviously make every effort to have it completed in time, please bear with me if it is a couple of days late.
Hope you enjoy this issue.
Doug Adamson
Take a Bow
Jimmy Edwards and Shand Morino No.1
by Charlie Todd
The beautiful border town of Moffat, nestling below the Lowther Hills, is home to elder statesmen of Scottish Dance music, a veteran in every sense of the word, namely 82 year old Jimmy Edwards, Jimmy’s abiding interests in life are evident in and around his home – forestry, his lifetime’s work is never far from his mind with his sawmill located just behind the house, and music is even closer at hand with two framed photographs reminding his of playing days gone by and a dark red button box sitting ready to be lifted and played at any time the notion takes him.
Jimmy was born in the village of Dalswinton, half way between Thornhill and Dumfries, on 26th April 1909. The eldest of four children, brothers William and David being born in 1911 and 1917 respectively, and sister Jean in 1926, his father was a timber feller working at the time for the Aberdeenshire firm of A & J Paterson. It was forestry that would take Jimmy and the rest of the family all over Scotland before he finally returned to settle a score of miles away at Moffat at the end of the Second World War.
Moving to where the forests needed clearing took the Edwards family firstly to Newmilns in Ayrshire in 1912, Inchinnan in Renfrewshire in 1915 and finally to Invergloy in Inverness-shire, five miles from Spean Bridge, in 1920. It was in the hutted encampment where his father and other fellers, sawmillers and horsemen lived during the week that young Jimmy first became aware of “Bothy” music. The dozen or so huts, each sleeping four men, came alive at night after the men returned, fed and washed themselves, and settled down for an evening of self entertainment. Jimmy recalls that the camp was filled with Skyemen and Irishmen and that all of them were musical, so that evenings were filled with the sound of fiddles, melodeons, penny whistles and pipes.
Young Jimmy soon arrived at a mutually beneficial arrangement with one of the foresters. School finished at four o’clock, so on his way back home he called in at one of the huts to kindle the fire and put the kettle on to boil. His reward was then to be allowed to sit and practice on one of the occupiers 19 key “International” melodeon. Good business sense for an 11 year old because, as Jimmy put it with a smile, “Oh aye, the fire would never have been lit had it not been for the melodeon.” Back at home Dad, who was a piper incidentally, kept a 10 key melodeon. Too small to have much scope but better than nothing, so every Saturday when his parents went to Fort William on the motorbike and sidecar, Jimmy retrieved it from the top of the wardrobe and started to practice.
Jimmy left school in March 1923, a month before his fourteenth birthday. His first job was as a ‘peeler’ – to peel the bark from the pine trees which were then hand sawn into lengths to use as pit props. Next he was responsible for stoking the boiler of the steam engine which powered the circular saw.
By the age of 17, Jimmy was regularly attending dances in Spean Bridge and Roybridge. It was an eight mile walk to Roybridge with the dancing starting at 8 o’clock and finishing in the wee sma’ hours – exactly when depended on how well it was going. “Why walk?” I asked. “Well” Jimmy explained, “not all six of our group had pushbikes, and anyway your forgetting that there were no tarred roads in that area in those days.” On the way back from a dance Jimmy stopped in at the mill to stoke the boiler, then home for a wash, change into working clothes, breakfast and out to work. Sometimes I thought I “burned the candle at both ends” but not after speaking to Jimmy.
In 1926, the year of the General Strike, Jimmy bought his first melodeon - a second hand “Empress” 19 key model, made in Antwerp. It was on display in the window of a Fort William Shop run by a Mr McIntyre. By now Jimmy and his father were working for another timber merchant , James Kennedy and Co of 69 Buchanan St, Glasgow. It was with this firm that he moved to Torthorwold, near Dumfries in 1929, and it was here that Jimmy’s band career got under way. Prior to that he had learned a great deal from two excellent melodeon players at Acnacarry, brothers Jock and Davy Hutchison. Both had 19 key “Peter Wyper International” models, but Jock decided to invest £10 in one of the 21 key extended scale models. Jimmy bought Jock’s old box for £5, his “first decent box” and the one which accompanied him south.
Dad and the rest of the family followed him in due course to Dumfriesshire. Contracts were still scarce during these years of the “Great Depression” and by 1933 Kennedy was forced to pay them off. After a year of taking felling work wherever they could find it they were taken on by an English timber merchant, Thubron Son and Kirkhope. With things now settling down a bit, Jimmy formed his first melodeon dance band, the first in Dumfriesshire he reckons, with brother Davy on drums and Charlie Ray from Dalmakether Farm on fiddle. Most of the work was 50/50 dancing at the time, but the group rapidly became popular and two bus loads followed them everywhere, so dance organisers had no trouble selling tickets. The trio themselves travelled in a car that Jimmy hired from a friend for £1 a night which left the band with 15/- each.
Wedding bells were ringing in January, 1939 when Jimmy married Mary Muir, a local lass from Lockerbie.
The declaration of war on Germany and the introduction of strict petrol rationing posed immediate problems for the band, but in the event things worked out fairly well.
The following year Jimmy was put in charge of three sawmills at Laurieston (near Castle Douglas), Orchardton and Shawhead and his two brothers joined him. Bill was also a melodeon player, therefore, with Davy still on drums, a new trio was born. There were plenty of engagements available since most musicians were, of course, away in the Forces for the duration. A taxi hirer from Laurieston solved the transport problem even allowing Jimmy to borrow the car when he himself wasn’t available to drive.
“Any amplification in those days?” I asked. “Aye” Jimmy replied, a combo I bought from “Chippy Jock” in Lockerbie, who had a chip van and used it to amplify the music like ice cream vans do nowadays. It worked fine, but as the night wore on and it heated up there was always a strong smell of ships from it.” At the end of the war, Jimmy and lots of his cronies celebrated by lighting a bonfire on the main street at Brydekirk, old rubber tyres, the lot, and succeeded in burning a big hole in the middle of the road. The less said about that the better!
That same year, Jimmy uprooted himself and Mary one last time and moved to Craigieburn Estate at Moffat to work. The following year he took the plunge and started his own business with his sawmill located just south of Moffat. It’s still in operation, although it is now run by his son-in-law, and Jimmy has cut down his involvement to working 3 or 4 hours on weekday afternoons!! It keeps me fit” he explained “and I eat like a horse and sleep like a log.” Long may that continue.
Jimmy’s playing career took a new twist one cold winter’s evening in November, 1948. Pianist Andy Stevenson, received a phone call from his friend Jimmy Shand, who explained that due to the atrocious weather conditions, the police would not allow the band bus beyond Auchterarder and he was booked to play at the Highland Ball in Lockerbie. Andy explained that they had never played for Country Dancing, but Jimmy exhorted, “Och, go and get Jimmy and you’ll manage fine.” At such short notice they could only must a quartet, but manage they did, although Jimmy admits that he’s never played “The Laird o’ Drumblair” so many times before or since. One of the dancers, Tom Moffat, gave up his evening to join the band on stage and keep them right.
Like most musicians, if Jimmy has no job on himself he likes to go to local dances. By this time Jimmy Shand was playing regularly in the area and it was during the interval in a dance at Langholm in 1950 that Jimmy, who was playing a 3 row Frontilini by this time, asked him where he could get a really good accordion – something like the great man himself was playing. Jimmy Shand explained that Hohner’s manufacturing facilities had still not recovered from Allied bombing during the war, but that they had opened premises in London and he had ordered 4 accordions made to his own specifications. Since this was one of the first enquiries he had received, he would let Jimmy have one when they arrived.
The four new “Shand Morino’s” arrived in Dundee in due course. By coincidence, Jimmy Shand was booked to play in Moffat Town Hall the following Wednesday anyway, so it was while he was down with the band that he left word that he would bring the boxes down personally the following weekend.
And so it was that on Sunday, 8th October, 1950 that they met at Andy Stevenson’s house and Jimmy got his pick of the four. How did he decide? “Well” says Jimmy “I just took the nearest one.” It was years later before Jimmy learned that Hohner number all their accordions internally on the reed bars, and that by co-incidence he had picked No 1 – the first Shand Morino ever made. “The cost was £200” Jimmy recalls “but got a fiver back which I spent on records at 2/6 a time to learn new tunes.”
To emphasise the point that this was a box made in an era of hand craftsmanship, Jimmy strapped it on and gave me a few tunes. Even after a lifetime’s service, the tone and power still shine through. Over the years, it’s the Shands, father and son, who have maintained the box.
Meanwhile, the band went from strength to strength. From 1947 to 1958, many of the engagements were with a five piece. The line-up was Jimmy on lead accordion, Willie McRobert on fiddle, Davy Edwards on drums, Andy Stevenson on piano and Bert Stevenson (no relation) on second box. Bert incidentally, had bought his curved keyboard Organetta III from George McKelvey of the Shand band.
By 1958, Bert, who worked for the G.P.O. had taken a job in Tanzania and two other extremely talented accordionists had appeared on the local scene whom Jimmy felt were better qualified to play for Country Dancing than he was – Messrs Holmes and Houliston, of course.
His playing career was by no means over however, because for the next 15 or so years, he teamed up with a local 5 row accordionist, Willie Draeger with Willie’s son on drums. Willie, interestingly, had come to Moffat as a German P.O.W. during the war. After hostilities ceased, he married a local girl and settled down in the town. “At work or in music” Jimmy remembers “he was good at everything he tried.”
This partnership lasted until the early seventies when Jimmy decided to retire from paid engagements altogether. Thereafter, the odd charity function and increasingly Accordion and Fiddle Clubs provided outlets for his musical talents.
Jimmy’s hands bear testimony to a lifetime of hard physical work and progressively failing hearing has dogged him for the last few years, yet it is impossible to speak to him without realising the enthusiasm that he still retains for dance music.
He regularly attends Accordion Clubs all over the area, frequently travelling with friends Tom and Margaret Porteous from Moffat, and still enjoys learning a new tune or having a dance at the Annan Club.
He takes evident delight in seeing young players receiving young players receiving proper tuition and learning to read music. By coincidence, my visit to Moffat was the morning after a surprise birthday party arranged in the Town Hall to celebrate the 60th Birthday of local lady Mrs Margaret Moffat. Present as guests for the evening were none other than Jimmy, Anne and David Shand. “What a grand blether we had about the old days” says Jimmy. Memories indeed, but long may the health and playing continue.
Post Script
Jimmy developed Alzheimer’s and spent his last years in a Home. He died in November 2005 aged 96.
He sold his accordion some years previously to collector Ken Hopkins from Comber, Belfast.
Willie Wilson of Beith
Obituary
I first met Willie Wilson when I was playing with the Powrie Band at a Farmers’ Dance in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, and even then, as a young man of 19, he impressed me with his helpfulness and his interest in Scottish music.
Willie was born on 28th April, 1934, and at the age of 4 started memorizing car numbers as a hobby – this was something he kept up, and he could reel out various people’s car numbers even up to 50 years back.
At 7, he wanted to play the accordion but his parents could not afford one. However, as his grandfather played the violin. Willie took up this instrument, and soon became very proficient, passing the various grade examinations, and playing at concerts in his teens. Willie was also a Sunday School and Bible Class teacher, and enjoyed taking the Sunday School for their trips with his beautifully decorated horse and box cart.
When Willie was 15 his mother died, and he had to give up, his dreams of being either a minister or a musician, and take over the farm. Willie’s first tractor was a second-hand Farmall International which he bought at Lockerbie. No trucks or transporters in those days! Willie drove it from Lockerbie to Dalry at 10 miles per hour! It took two days and he was frozen to the marrow!
Willie joined the Beith and District Young Farmers’ Club, and also became a member of the Vintage Tractor Club – another interest which he sustained throughout the years. When the Accordion and Fiddle Club movement began, Willie was tremendously enthusiastic. As well as founding the Beith Club, he took a great interest in the welfare of other Clubs, and in fact, he and his wife Elma, set out to visit every Club in the Association.
In the early days, distance was no object to Willie. He would drive from Dalry to Keith, Banffshire, for an A.G.M., and many guest artistes who were asked to appear at Beith Club, on asking directions, were told that Willie would meet them North, South, East or West of Glasgow, or at any appointed place, and would guide them there.
When Alex Little became Musselburgh Festival organiser, he invited Willie Wilson to join his Committee, and although there have been various changes in the personnel, Willie was still on the Committee and as enthusiastic as ever in 1991, the only original member. Willie was genuinely interested in the music of Scotland, and was on the team who started the Ayrshire Scottish Music Association, of which he became Chairman.
I am so pleased that I was invited to join the Executive Committee of the N.A.A.F.C. because it gave me the opportunity to get to know Willie and to appreciate his many gifts. Willie was always first to arrive at Committee meetings, and nothing was ever any trouble to him. If we needed raffle tickets, retiral gifts, wreaths, flowers, we turned to Willie – if he didn’t know someone who could supply the necessary, he always ‘knew a man who did’ – and always at a special discount for Willie!
Elma and Willie constituted the link between the N.A.A.F.C. and Frank Martin, the photographer who did the special technique transferring his photographs to canvas and producing the magnificent portraits with which a few, myself included, were honoured by the Association. Willie got the greatest delight in arranging the photographic sessions, helping ‘the victim’ in every way possible – and none of us who were involved will ever forget his pride and pleasure when we were given the private viewing of the finished portrait.
Willie Wilson was a lovely man – a quiet, warm man who, when asked for an opinion, always had one to give, carefully thought out and logically explained. The love and respect in which he was held in all the varied aspects of his life was shown by the large number of people who attended his funeral in Dalry, and by the depth of emotion evident on that sad occasion.
Jimmy Blue
Born at Buckreddon, Kilwinning, brought up and stayed at Todhill Farm, Dalry, Ayrshire, Willie Wilson was a very respected gentleman in all the circles he was associated with.
I first met Willie when he was a ‘Roadie’ for Jim Gilbert’s Band in 1957 and our friendship developed over the years becoming stronger when Beith Accordion Club was formed in 1972, the Committee being then Willie and Elma Wilson and Margaret and Tommy Irvine. Scottish Dance music was in his blood from a very early age and in his young days Willie played the fiddle at local concerts. His favourite bands at the time were Adam Rennie, Jimmy Shand, Ian Powrie, Jim Cameron and Jimmy Blue, when he took over the Powrie Band. Although music was one of his main interests Willie and I had several things in common and many a good yarn him and I had over the years. Always willing to help, advise, assist, he was a worthy friend to many. I could write many lines about Willie – it was great to know him – he was a gentleman.
David Ross, Kilmarnock
One Note or Forty Seven
by Norrie Williams
In recent years the task of competitors, teachers and adjudicators with regard to the Senior Scottish Accordion Class (March, Strathspey and Reel) at the major accordion and fiddle festivals has become increasingly difficult because of the complexity of some modern compositions.
Following representations by a number of individuals and in particular on receipt of a letter from A.S.M.A. (Ayrshire Scottish Music Association) the N.A.A.F.C. convened a meeting in Perth Station Hotel on the afternoon of Saturday, 22nd June to discuss the problem.
Shortage of space precludes a detailed minute of the meeting but the following notes should give the ‘gist’ of the discussion and conclusion.
In alphabetical order, those attending were : Messrs Jimmy Blue, Tom Clark (Dundee), John Crawford (Freuchie), Bobby Crowe, Peter Farnan (Aberdeen), Derek Hamilton (A.S.M.A.), Jim Johnstone, Jimmy Lindsay (Glenalmond) and Willie Wilson (A.S.M.A.). Apologies and contributions were received from Messrs Ivor Britton, David Ross (A.S.M.A.), Bert Shorthouse and Bill Wilkie.
Four other adjudicators who had been invited were not present.
The Minute Secretaries were Mr Andrew Nairn (N.A.A.F.C. Executive Committee) and Mrs Sheila Williams (Musselburgh Festival Committee) and the Chairman, Mr Norrie Williams.
Suggested points for discussion circulated before the meeting were (abridged version below)
1) Should there be two separate competitive classes (a) Tunes in the accepted Traditional style (b) Modern compositions of a semi-classical and highly technical nature.
2) If Yes to (1) what criterion should be used to separate (a) and (b).
3) Should lists of tunes appropriate to (a) and (b) be drawn up.
4) For (b) should adjudicator have a copy of the music, and classical training, or should there be two adjudicators, one with a classical background to monitor accuracy and a second to evaluate interpretation.
5) If two classes who would be Senior Scottish champion – winner of (a) or (b) or the player with the highest aggregate from both classes.
The discussion, which lasted for more than 2 hours, kicked off with everyone in turn expressing their own views on the subject and despite some differences in detail there was almost total agreement on the answers to the points set out above.
1) There should NOT be two separate classes.
2) There should NOT be lists of tunes drawn up under categories (a) and (b).
3) There should NOT be a classical adjudicator.
4) These modern technical tunes of today will become the traditional tunes of tomorrow.
5) Interpretation is the all important factor.
Last to speak was Peter Farnan who has composed quite a number of these difficult tunes, many of which are used in competition. His remarks were a most welcome revelation and his contribution gave all present great encouragement and reassurance. Take this for example : “There is nothing more embarrassing than to hear my own music being played as a technical exercise, I don’t mind people criticising my tunes, but they must be articulated and expressed in the Scottish idiom. The interpretation is what matters.”
Peter also stressed the point that competitors should only select tunes which are within their capabilities, i.e. which they can express properly. He assists his own pupils with the choice of competition material and if appropriate, and if appropriate will steer them clear of the waspies’ bykes’.”
This final contribution certainly crystallised everyone’s thoughts and there was unanimous agreement that the following suggested guidelines be passed on to Festival Organisers, teachers, and other interested bodies.
That there should not be separate classes for the two types of tunes.
That the adjudication sheets for the Scottish accordion classes should have a marks allocation along the following lines :
Content – 25%
Accuracy – 25%
Interpretation – 50%
Up to now, although judges have been allowed to use their discretion, normally only 25% has been put against interpretation.
Although this emotive issue has by no means been resolved, and it is probable that a future meeting or meetings open to all will be required, (with the wide variety of views they could last for days) this preliminary get-together clarified the situation and pointed the way to a reasonable solution.
A.G.M. Weekend
by Norrie Williams
Over a considerable period it has become apparent that quite a number of folk consider ‘yours truly’s’ write-ups to be far too long. Point taken – N.Y.W. turns over a new leaf – so try this for size.
Dates : Satyurday / Sunday 22nd and 23rd June.
Location : Station Hotel, Perth
Weather : No’ bad
Saturday 13.00 hrs – Buffet lunch – excellent.
17.00 hrs – ceilidhs. Several howfs available but everyone crowds into a single room.
As the King Pin of the proceedings is none other than that senior statesman , 83 year old Jimmy Shand, the place is soon bursting at the seams and overflows into the main function suite. Playing as well as he ever has done and without any apparent effort our veteran keeps the marathon session going for an incredible 2 to 3 hours.
19.00 hrs – Dinner – again excellent.
20.00 – 01.00 hrs – Dancing to Jim Johnstone’s Band.
Half time relief band is basic J.J. group led by Jimmy Shand Snr., who immediately stamps his unmistakable authority on the ensemble and serves up delightful dance music without even opening his bellows.
The dance over and as the programme sheet states it’s into ceilidhs, hooleys, etc.
Sunday : 07.30. Breakfast. Bright-eyed and bushy tailed. Tom Clark of Dundee first in. First class spread as always i.e. the breakfast not Tom Clark.
11.00 hrs : A.G.M. One of the biggest audiences yet. Once Peebles and Newtongrange have got seated there is still room for one or two reps. from other Clubs! Meeting report elsewhere in this issue. As always one or two souls arrive compete with large spoons but luckily others have saws.
14.00 hrs – Luncheon – yet again the Station Hotel does us proud, service and purvey excellent. There is no presentation this year so the Celebrity Ceilidh, compered by chairman Jimmy Blue, follows immediately featuring (in alphabetical order) The Clark Family, Bobby Crowe, Willie McGuire (British Chromatic 3-row and diminutive Chinese melodeon), Ian Powrie, Morag Robertson (5 row), Jimmy Shand (Snr & Jnr), and last but not least, Andy Stewart, making a most welcome return visit, although with another operation pending. He entertained with his classic ‘Tobermory Treasure’.
As has become the norm, the Jim Johnstone Band wind up the proceedings with their accustomed professionalism and with Bobby Colgan in cracking form.
Another great weekend and once again a very sincere thank you from Jimmy Blue on behalf of all present, to the staff of the Station Hotel and especially to Jack Cooper, who puts in a phenomenal amount of really hard graft to get these gatherings off the ground and running like clockwork. We certainly owe him a great debt.
See you next year.
Introducing the Clubs
No 1 Livingston
by Murdo MacLeod
The Club met for the first time in Rab’s Bar in September 1973. Bert Shorthouse, the well known entertainer was the guest soloist who was paid the princely sum of £12! Guest fees are slightly more than this nowadays.
Reflecting back to that evening one remembers how highly charged the atmosphere was, as the not too large venue quickly filled up with expectant punters. It is possible that people were wanting something different from ‘canned’ entertainment and also recapturing a form of entertainment which brought people together to participate. In any event, the evening took off in great style. And for this we must, I think, be grateful to Bobby Jack who brought along the full band, comprising Bobby himself on chromatic, Brian Forrest (2nd accordion), Jim Barrie (fiddle), Vic Laidlaw (drums) and the incomparable Derek Lawrence on piano.
From the first chord the appreciative audience wondered what had hit Livingston. The Club owes Bobby a debt of gratitude for lifting the Club off the ground all those years ago.
Derek Lawrence was so enthusiastic that he wrote a tune, ‘The Livingston Accordion and Fiddle Club’ which Ronnie Easton included in his first broadcast.
Reminding one’s self of these early days, certain pictures come to mind. There was a young lad almost completely hidden behind a rather large accordion spiritedly rendering his piece. His name – Graham Edwardson. He is a bit bigger now and certainly better known.
The Club was nursed along at that time by a group of enthusiastic musicians and a splendid Committee. Names that come to mind include Jock and Dorothy Glen, Tom Hay, Alex Grant, John Morrison, Celia McIntyre, Jack Stalker, Arthur Brown and his daughter Jackie.
We would like to mention the late Gordon Jamieson from Pumpherston who was the popular compere for some time. Gordon’s knowledge of Scottish music was quite phenomenal and it was through him that a great many of the younger generation of players were attracted to the Club.
There is no doubt that the location of the Club between two established accordion schools, namely Chrissie Leatham and Wilson Wood, helped to give us the reputation for talented youngsters. Soon the punters were beginning to realise that an awful lot of highly talented young players were on hand to entertain for the sheer love of playing. Some names come to mind – David Wilson, Ian Horsburgh, Karen Higgins, Michael Wynn, Ian Skinner from Longridge, and locally we had Marie and Owen Fielding, the aforementioned Graham Edwardson and Derek Rae, Alan Laidlaw, Bobby Darling, Graham Edwardson (drummer) and many others dutifully brought along by proud parents.
This plethora of young talent seemed to give the Club a certain aura and helped a lot to establish the Club as a sort of family entertainment venue which continues to this day.
If one or two names are mentioned as being especially fondly recalled, readers will forgive us if we mention Sandy Coghill and Freeland Barbour – they really got the punters coming back for more. I think we can fairly say that we heard the Wallochmore before most people did!
One of the undoubted highlights of those early days was the appearance of a fantastic character called Fintan Stanley, from Sligo in Ireland. This was at the Cameron Iron Works Social Club. What a night of music and even yet one hears mention of this fabulous player who unfortunately is probably all but unknown to the present generation of players. Nobody ever played ‘The High Level’ quite like Fintan, He is now resident in New York.
From these early days, the Club had to move venue several times. This infortunately, as organizers well know, changes the character of the Club as well! From Rab’s Bar, the Club enjoyed a period at the Meadow Head Hotel, West Calder, then it moved to the Cameron Iron Works Social Club which readers will remember with some pleasure.
After the demise of that venue, the Club moved to the British Legion Club in Livingston, then to the Golden Hind, Blackburn, and eventually settled in its present venue, the Golden Circle Hotel, Bathgate, which seems to have all the facilities that the public expect. However, it is difficult to compare the atmosphere with that of the early days without thinking that things have changed in some way. Perhaps we take too much for granted, whereas away back all those years ago, Clubs were something new and exciting. Perhaps we have gone too ‘showbusinessy’.
Today, the Club meets on every third Tuesday of the month. Its location near to the M8 makes it easily accessible to a wide area and it continues to attract a large following of both audience and players.
In passing, we may be forgiven for ‘blowing a trumpet or two!’ The Club, over the years, has been associated with the emergence of several well known artistes and bands. These include The Oakbank Sound, Graham Ross and the Strathalmond Band, Karen Higgins, Ian Horsburgh, Willie McFarlane, Marie Fielding, Arthur Brown.
It is hoped that young musicians will still be attracted to the Club because it is on them really that the next 18 years depends for its existence.
It is difficult in a short article to include much more, but if readers have memories of special occasions, why not drop a few lines to the B&F.
It is now more than a quarter of a century since the establishment of the first Accordion Club in Scotland and there must be a goodly number now which have been on the go for almost as long. Why not let us hear about them. There is nothing wrong with a bit of nostalgia now and again.
Slainte
P.S. It is pleasant to record an interesting co-incidence. The guest spot at the September meeting of the Club is Jim MacLeod’s Band which includes Jim Cleland. A founder member of the Club. Jim, we recall, was one of the players to do ‘a turn’ at the first Club meeting in September, 1973.
Record Review
The Bill Sharp Accordion Orchestra – ‘Sharp Shooters’ – Sharp Recordings S102
The Hawthorn Scottish Showband – ‘Scottish and continental Favourites’ – Steblin Recording Music Co TC 1021
Music Book Review
The Strathardle Collection – a second collection of original compositions for fiddle and accordion by Ian Powrie. Available from Deeay Music.
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Dee Motel) –
Alnwick (Golden Fleece) – members only
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 1st Sept 91 Bobby Crowe
Armadale (Masonic Lodge) –
Ayr (Gartferry Hotel) –
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Hall) – 15th Sept 91 Fraser McGlynn Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Knowes Hotel, Macduff) –
Beith & District (Hotel de Croft, Dalry) –
Belford (Community Club) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 8th Sept 91 John Renton SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 10th Sept 91 Jimmy Lindsay’s Band
Bridge of Allan (Walmer Hotel) -
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) –
Button Key (Windygates Institute) –
Callander (Glengarry Hotel) –
Campbeltown (Royal Hotel) –
Castle Douglas (Ernespie Hotel) –
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 19th Sept 91 Colin Dewar SDB
Crieff & District (Drummond Arms Hotel)
Dalriada (Royal Hotel, Lochgilphead) –
Derwentside (Working Men’s Club, Consett) –
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 4th Sept 91 Fraser McGlynn Trio 21st Dance to Neil MacEachern
Dunblane (Westlands Hotel) –
Dundee (The Marquee Function Suite) – 5th Sept 91 Muirhead Orchestra
Dunfermline (Northern Roadhouse) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (Sweepers, Cambuslang) –
Ellon (Ladbroke Hotel) –
Ettrick & Yarrow (The Gordon Arms) -
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) –
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 29th Sept 91 Jim Johnstone SDB
Forres (Brig Motel) – 11th Sept 91 Bobby Crowe SDB
Fort William (Alexandra Hotel) –
Galashiels (Maxwell Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) –
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 16th Sept 91 Alastair MacDonald & Gordon Gunn
Isle of Skye -
Islesteps (Mabie House Hotel) –
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) –
Kinlochshiel (Tingle Creek Hotel) -
Kintore (Crown Hotel) – 4th Sept 91 Deirdre Adamson
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 12th Sept 91 James Lindsay Trio
Livingston (Golden Circle Hotel, Bathgate) 17th Sept 91 Jim MacLeod and his Band
Lockerbie (Bluebell Hotel) -
Mauchline (The Jean Armour Restaurant) 17th Sept 91 Coalburn Ceilidh Band
M.A.F.I.A. (Masonic Hall, Milngavie) –
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 4th Sept 91 Moyra Fraser Trio
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North Cumbria (Golden Fleece, Ruleholme) (prev called Gretna Club) –
North East (Seafield Hotel, Keith) –
Oban (Highlander Restaurant) –
Orkney ( venue?) –
Ormiston (Miners’ Welfare Social Club) – 19th Sept 91 Billy Anderson & Albany
Peebles (Greentree Hotel) – 26th Sept 91 Jim Johnstone SDB
Perth (Station Hotel) – 17th Sept 91 Alan McIntosh SDB
Premier NI (Camlin function Rooms) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 10th Sept 91 Club night
Rothbury (Jubilee Hall) -
Shetland (venue?) -
Thornhill (?)
Thurso (McKay’s Hotel) –
Turriff (Royal Oak Hotel) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 10th Sept 91 Deirdre Adamson
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) –
Wooler ( ) -
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Arbroath
2. Biggar
3. Blairgowrie
4. Button Key
5. Coalburn
6. Dingwall
7. Dunblane
8. Dundee
9. East Kilbride
10. Ettrick & Yarrow
11. Forres
12. Highland
13. Kelso
14. Kintore
15. Lesmahagow
16. Livingston
17. Mauchline
18. Newtongrange
19. Ormiston
20. Peebles
21. Rothbury
22. Tynedale
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1990 (Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Sept 1976)
3. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months)
4. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition)
5. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition)
9. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
10. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974)
11. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
12. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990
13. Button Key A&F Club (
14. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980)
15. Coalburn A&F Club
16. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
17. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
18. Derwentside A&F Club
19. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
20. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971)
21. Dundee & District A&F Club
22. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
23. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
24. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
25. Ellon A&F Club (
26. Etterick & Yarrow (Jan 1989 -
27. Fintry A&F Club
28. Forfar A&F Club
29. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
30. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
31. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
32. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
33. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
34. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
35. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981)
36. Isle of Skye A&F Club (
37. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976)
38. Kintore A&F Club
39. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967)
40. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
41. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – per first edition)
42. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973)
43. M.A.F.I.A. (early)
44. Mauchline A&F Club (first mention 1986?)
45. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
46. Mull A&F Club
47. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1979)
48. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
49. North Cumbria A&F Club (originally Gretna started June 1966 – had to move to a venue in the North of England and changed name – eventually changed back when they returned to the Halcrow Stadium. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
50. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971)
51. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975)
52. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978)
53. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
54. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981)
55. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970)
56. Premier A&F Club NI (cNov 1980)
57. Rothbury Accordion Club (1987??)
58. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978)
59. Sutherland A&F Club (
60. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition)
61. Thurso A&F Club (cSept 1981)
62. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982)
63. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980)
64. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
65. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
66. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
67. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
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. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2?)
74. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
75. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
76. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
77. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
78. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
79. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
80. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
81. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
82. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
83. Gretna A&F Club (June 1966)
84. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
85. Kinlochsheil A&F Club (
86. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
87. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
88. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
89. Newcastleton Accordion Club
90. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
91. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
92. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
93. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
94. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
95. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
96. Wellbank A&F Club
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