Box and Fiddle
Year 19 No 01
September 1995
Price 70p
12 pages
7 month subscription £8.00
Editor – Editor – Ron Ramsay, 48 Hospitalfield Road, Arbroath, Angus, DD11 2LS
B&F Treasurer – Mrs Margaret Smith, Smeaton Farm Cottage, Dalkeith, Midlothian, EH22 2NL
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
Welcome back after the summer break. I hope you all had an enjoyable time in the glorious weather. I certainly had, with visits to Blackpool Accordion Festival, Rothbury Festival, Perth, Kingussie, and various other places.
During my first year as Editor, I have met many interesting people in the Scottish Dance music scene and friendships formed, a ‘perk’ of the job.
I take this opportunity to thank all the Club reporters, advertisers and authors of articles for the support they have given me – keep the reports coming in.
Should any reader have any constructive ideas to improve the content of the paper, please let me know.
Ron Ramsay
Great Response from Islanders
by George McLeod
In August of last year a group of musicians and friends called a meeting in the Royal British Legion Club in Stornoway with a view to forming a Lewis and Harris Accordion and Fiddle Club.
So enthusiastic was the response that we not only formed a Committee that evening but ended up with a playing session as well, our first player being nine-year-old Alasdair White on fiddle. Alasdair is a nephew of accordionist Charlie Kirkpatrick of Glasgow.
Our membership now stands at 100 with juniors and OAPs getting free membership. The Club meets on the first Monday of each month in the Royal British Legion, at 8 p.m.
The Committee consists of players and non-players alike, the chairman being George McLeod from Point; Secretary, Mrs Chrissie Gordon and Treasurer, John Angus Smith who is also Manager of the Legion in Stornoway.
When the Club was formed it was decided that tuition was not going to be part of it as this was already catered for on the island.
We would like to stress that the Club was not just for the more experienced players to be heard, but also for everyone in Lewis and Harris who enjoyed playing or listening to our kind of music to come along and participate.
As a new Club we also visit rural locations throughout the islands, with visits to MacLeod’s Motel in Harris and the Claitair Hotel in Lochs already under our belts. These visits are not only for the enjoyment of the local communities but also to help our fund-raising which to date has enabled us to buy our own P.A. system.
This system is for Club use and also avoids the necessity for visiting guests and bands to haul bulky equipment to the island.
Our first A.G.M. is almost upon us and the year ended with our first mainland guests : Colin Dewar and friends, featuring Ian Thomson and his band, an evening that was thoroughly enjoyed by all those who attended. Colin presented local composer, Ian Crichton, with an inscribed tankard, on behalf of the Club. This was for Ian’s contribution to Scottish music and putting Stornoway on the international music map. Anyway, some of Ian’s escapades throughout his musical career deserve recognition. A truly great character.
The island has just been provided with a new ferry, the ‘Isle of Lewis’ and the Club was invited to play on its inaugural cruise to Ullapool for invited guests. The trip was enjoyed by all concerned and many thanks to Cal Mac for the opportunity. We hope to see its captain, Murdo Kennedy, himself a fine box player, as a regular visitor to our Club over the coming winter.
Our next major event is our Christmas Dance when we hope to be entertained by Iain MacPhail and his band, an evening we are all looking forward to.
Finally, our invitation to all your readers far and wide, should you ever visit our island, you are more than welcome to attend our club nights and any of our functions.
George Muir (Arbroath) - Obituary
by ?
Mr George Muir, 18 St Ninian’s road, Arbroath, a well-known Scottish fiddler, died on June 27th at Arbroath Infirmary after a short illness. A former member of Jimmy Shand’s Band, until recently George played regularly at the Foundry Bar, Arbroath.
A native of the town, he was educated at Abbey and Parkhouse Primary Schools and Keptie School. At the age of 12, George started playing the fiddle and a year later he was playing at dances in The Good Templar Hall, later the Sea Cadets’ Hall in Arrot Street ; Forester’s Hall, Green Street, now Lodge St Vigean 101 ; and the Café Moderne, now premises above the Mandarin Palace in High Street. He also played at many weddings.
When he left school he had a number of jobs, starting with William Ross, jeweler, Hamilton Green; and then to J.H. Herron’s music shop, where he stayed for two years with duties which included making special polish for pianos. He was there until the age of 18, when he went to Douglas Fraser and Sons Ltd, as a tool boy.
In 1928 he became a drummer with the Arbroath Highland Pipe Band, which rehearsed in the old Hill School. He kept up his membership until the early 60’s. He was also drummer with the British Legion Pipe Band, which then used premises in Guthrie Port.
He decided to set up his own band and in the early 1930’s with two accordions, drummer and piano in addition to his own fiddle, the George Muir Band was formed.
Call-up came in 1940, and he became a member of the Pipes and Drums of the Black Watch and in 1943, he was posted to India where he remained for two years, with the 12th Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters. He played in the Battalion Pipe Band, and was a violinist in the Battalion big band.
Back in civilian life, he spend nine months working a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift with Alexander Shanks and Co. Ltd, and then three years on the day shift.
In the late 1940’s George played for three years with Jimmy Shand, and during that time toured the Shetlands, where Messrs Shand and Muir would go round houses where housebound folk lived, and play them a few tunes. After he stopped being a full-time member of the band, George was sometimes asked to play as a guest musician.
For two years George worked in Jimmy Shand’s accordion repair business in Guthrie Port, before joining Francis Webster & Sons Ltd, as a canvas inspector. He remained with that firm for 25½ years, until he retired in 1978.
George appeared three times on that grand programme ‘Bothy Nichts’, which many people would like Grampian Television to revive. He was a member of the ‘St Tammers’, which included Arnold and Sadie Masson and Alec Wood.
Music was his life and George turned his hand not only to playing but also to composing. His tunes can be heard regularly at the Foundry Bar.
George was a stalwart member of Arbroath A&F Club and a regular player.
Predeceased by his wife, Anne, George is survived by his four children, George Jnr, Frank, Chrissie (Mrs Brimmer) and Patricia (Mrs Burnett).
Robin Ellis and his Scottish Dance Band
30 Years of Music
by Robin Ellis
Some 40 years ago, whilst still at school, I was introduced to Scottish Country Dancing and soon became an enthusiast of both the music and dance. Two years later the local Scottish Association decided to form a dancing class, they needed a pianist. I volunteered, and that was the start of my playing career.
In 1959 whilst at a Ball in London, I was introduced to Jimmy Shand and after a brief conversation I found myself being allowed to ‘sit in’ as pianist for a number of dances. This was a wonderful experience and then and there I decided that my ambition was to play this kind of music. In those days there were hardly any Scottish dance musicians in the South East of England so it seemed that the only solution was to somehow form my own band and to do that I had to teach myself to play the accordion. So this I did.
After some five years of playing solo I wondered just how to form a band. I met Philip bowman, an accordionist from Dundee, who had just moved into the area. This seemed to be the opportunity that I had been waiting for, so having persuaded two other friends of mine, Margaret Wall and Tom Furlong, to play piano and drums, the band was born. By then I had collected a modest repertoire of suitable music and so we were all set. Due to the almost complete absence of other bands the engagements came very quickly. However, after a couple of years both Margaret and Philip left the area and the band seemed doomed. But all was not lost, replacements were found and we were soon re-launched with Eric Eunson, an old school friend of mine, on piano and a young Frank Reid on second box. This continued for about 5 years, after which Frank left to form his own band but Eric remains as pianist to this day.
Despite the apparent lack of players, being so far from Scotland, fate seems to take a hand and we have always found musicians, when necessary, and have managed to keep the band going without a break.
Today, the band usually consists of myself, Catherine Lowe and John Stevens on accordions, Eric Eunson on piano and Tom Furlong on drums. Catherine had just learned to play the accordion when we met and was looking to put it to some use, so I introduced her to Scottish dance music. She has now become a great enthusiast, is an expert on second box playing and devises some excellent harmonies. Fortunately she can also play lead accordion and piano if needs be and so has become a great asset to the band. John Stevens hails from Australia where he played in Melbourne for some time. He has been with us now for some 13 years and is our authority on pipe marches. Tom and Eric have been with the band for 30 and 27 years respectively. As you can see things don’t change very much – than goodness!!
Most of our playing is for Scottish Country Dancing and it is indeed this style which is the most popular, there being hardly any ceilidh or old time dancing in the South East. There are numerous groups and societies so we seldom have to travel more than 25 miles to a function. Over the years we have also played in cities such as Paris, Brussels, Delft, Berlin and also in Spain, Belgium, Malta, Tunisia, Austria, Crete and Cyprus as well as the USA. These foreign trips are often quite hard work but do add a certain amount of excitement to the list of bookings.
This year the band celebrated its 30th Anniversary and so to mark the occasion a dance was held to which we invited some 150 guests representing the societies and groups for whom we regularly provide the music, together with many of the musicians who have played in the band over the years. This resulted in an 11 piece band, with 6 accordions, 2 fiddlers, piano, bass and drums – quite a handful!!
During those 30 years we have made two L.P.s and a cassette and hope to record some more one day soon but when I do not know. Like most bands the problem is finding the time to actually get down and do it. From the very early days I started composing, as is often the case simply to complete a set of tunes for a given dance, and to date have some 90 pieces of music almost all unpublished. Ah well, something else to do ‘one day’.
Scottish country Dancing seems to be as popular as ever and now that we have sufficient musicians in our area the future seems secure, so on to the 40th. Maybe I should start an Accordion & fiddle Club – now there’s a thought!!
Flying Ceilidh to Tenerife!
by Jim & Sheila Collie (Wick)
Sunday, 5th March, was an early morning for a great many people in the Highlands, for that was the day that back late in 1994 seemed a long time away, the departure date for the trip to Tenerife.
Coaches were leaving Thurso at 3 a.m., Buckie at 4.30 a.m. to link up at Inverness at 7 a.m. There was a buzz of excitement as we waited at the Mercury Hotel for the last minute instructions of what coach we were to go on. Everything went like clockwork. We were on the Hay’s of Huntly coach with a very capable young driver called Steven at the wheel and a very jolly courier ‘Granny Jean’ as she is affectionately known. Not far down the A9 we met with wintry conditions but not so serious as cause any delay. First stop was at the Ballinluig Motor Grill for a snack, and then on our way to Glasgow Airport arriving about 11 a.m.
This was no ordinary holiday trip we had embarked on, but more of a flying ceilidh. The whole package had been arranged by Catherine MacKay, wife of bandleader Jim MacKay. The Jim MacKay line-up was himself on button box, brother Nichol on piano, son Thomas on drums, grandson Stephen on fiddle and Werner Schroeder on guitar and vocals. The Ian Anderson line-up was Ian himself on accordion, Ian Jnr on drums, and Eileen Ross on piano. Apart from the two bands about 130 of us were away to the sun including two members of the Thurso Pipe Band, Billy Gunn and Jimmy Findlay, also Ian Simpson of Moral Firth Radio fame, who was the compere for part of the time.
Less than 12 hours after leaving Inverness we were settling in at the Hotel Oasis Paraiso, Tenerife. With the suitcases unpacked, everyone changed into shirts and shorts ready to enjoy the sun and fun, and of course a most welcome evening meal.
We certainly put a lot into the week with casual or organised day trips and swimming or just relaxing by the pool. Then we danced the nights away to the music of both bands playing alternate nights. It was good to see and learn new dances and see variations of some dances from different areas. New acquaintances were made and nice to meet up with those of years gone past, sometimes over a generous dram or two.
A great selection of music for dancing was given by both bands and also Jim’s three grandsons, Alan on piano, Graeme on button box and Stephen on fiddle (who played every night next to his granddad. We also had three young Highland dancers whose performances charmed other visitors to the hotel as well as us. Several turns were done by our pipers, both in and out of the dance hall. There was also a cabaret spot by a group more local to Tenerife than Caithness.
On the final night, Saturday, many wore the kilt or something tartan to have a real good finale, with both bands and our pipers. After Ian’s band had played for the first half, Ian remained on stage to play second box with Jim. It was also good to see other residents from the hotel joining in the dancing many of whom were keen to learn. All too soon it was the last waltz and Auld Lang Syne with all our entertainers on stage. After about two or three hours sleep we were up and ready to leave at 4.30 a.m. on the coach back to the airport. Billy and Jimmy played a farewell to the airport staff and we were on our way to Glasgow. During the flight I looked at the cabin monitor which was giving a regular update on our journey, also a ‘sobering thought’ that this big bird which had carried us to the sunshine was rushing us back to a much colder Scotland at 500 m.p.h.
All-in-all we had an excellent week and I say if any band and their followers are contemplating such a trip – go for it – we really enjoyed it.
Finally we would like to thank everyone for their company and friendship and hope our paths cross again on some other jolly occasion.
Tommy Lees
In response to the recent article about Tommy in the ‘B&F’, he phoned to say that he is now residing at 32 Mulberry Close, Beaufort Street, Chelsea, SW3 5AB, telephone 0171 351 7736, and would like to hear from friends and ex-musical colleagues in Scotland.
A Profile of……The Border Reiver
John Laidlaw
by John Mackie
The Border Reiver is a sobriquet which I attached to the bandleader whose effervescent bouncy handling of his old Crucianelli is well known not only in his native Borders, but also from Shetland to Cumbria, and from Tiree to the East Neuk o’ Fife, and greatly appreciated in a’ these airts.
He was born in Berwickshire, in a place called Gordon, to John and Maureen Laidlaw. He has an elder sister Sarah, and music was part of the family scene, as both his father and uncle played the accordion.
By this stage, I am sure that the discerning reader will have guessed that the subject of this article is John Laidlaw of Peebles.
The family moved from Berwickshire to the Moffat area where John Snr ‘took a herding’ (as they say) and from there to Fasteugh in the Yarrow Valley, another hill farm.
John’s initiation to the accordion occurred at a dance at Yarrowford where he was listening to Ian Wilkie’s Band. Ian gave young John a ‘shot’ of his box and he immediately proceeded top pick out the ‘Dashing white Sergeant’. Soon after that incident, his father bought him a 48 bass Pietro for £10, and John never looked back from that moment.
When John was 18, the family moved to Peebles, and he formed his own dance band – himself on lead accordion, Tommy Pringle of Selkirk on second accordion, Adam Anderson of Broughton on keyboard and Alan Baird on drums. They were in great demand at church socials and such events, and by now the complement of the band had changed, with John on electronic Crucianelli, Ian Graham from Carluke on second accordion (Morino V) and John Pottinger from Biggar on drums.
The bookings were now coming in thick and fast, and John himself had ventured into doing vocals. He had taken a few music lessons, but had taught himself to read previous to this, and found that he had acquired sufficient knowledge for his requirements. He had also gained a considerable feel for the art of playing to dancers, such as the intricacies of the more complicated dances, no mean feat for a youngster, especially as the band had attracted the attention of that most prestigious of bodies, the R.S.C.D.S.
A new addition to the band, when available, was up-and-coming young fiddler Jo Slater, a young lass with great promise, who is now one of the finest young musicians the Borders has produced.
Ian Lowthian on second accordion, was a former pupil of that famous teacher of the accordion, the great Chrissie Leatham, after which he moved on to the royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Chrissie’s son, the well known Professor Owen Murray. Ian’s experience with John’s band must have been of benefit as he now has own extremely successful dance band in London, though he still pursues his free bass studies, and has acquired as many letters after his name as the Mac section of the Glasgow telephone directory.
After Ian departed to London and the Royal Academy, Owen Wright, from Broughton, sometimes known as the Mad Cumbrian, joined John’s band on second accordion. It was during that period that the band made its first tape recording which was followed later by a second. By now, the band’s drummer was Alex Dunnet, originally from Perthshire. This brings us to an amusing, although what could have been an expensive incident for Alec – en route from a gig, their trailer shed a wheel, luckily all the instruments were in the back of the car, all except Alec’s drums, which were recovered from the grass verge none the worse for their ordeal.
Sadly, a rather more discordant note has been added to this wee biographical score of John’s. In November of last year, following a bout of measles, he was diagnosed as having leukemia, possibly triggered off by the measles. He was immediately admitted to the Borders General Hospital and not a whit too soon as the margin was less than one week or as he himself admits the Crucanelli would have been replaced by a stringed instrument!
During his sojourn in hospital, another misfortune befell him. He contracted chickenpox and also developed an allergy to one of the drugs in his medication. Consequently, he was obliged to suffer a spell in an isolation ward, which, in his own words was ‘gie wee’ and of course communications had to be by intercom.
Another result of his stay in hospital, was a considerable collection of get-well cards, which he keeps in a polythene bag, four hundred and thirty nine in all, including one from Runrig which he greatly treasures.
About the same time that Alec Dunnet joined the band, so did John Mitchell on second accordion. John, an ardent Hearts supporter – an affliction which I also suffered in my youth – was a very consistent visitor to the Borders General. At Easter the Reiver remarried. His new bride was Vicky Sproule. Vicky is a Highland and a Country dancer. Their reception was held at the Osbourne Hotel in Edinburgh, than a second reception occurred in their chalet in Tobermory during the Mull Festival.
Vicky and both families have been completely supportive during John’s illness as have been the band and his many friends, for which John wishes to extend his heartfelt gratitude, not least of all to his consultant, his GP, and the staff of the Borders General Hospital.
Fortunately, John has adopted a philosophical attitude towards his illness, he is very cognisant of the fact that he has a fight on his hands. His condition he says he accepts, but finds as all victims of cancer related diseases do, that some aspects of the treatment are quite traumatic. However, John is a strong minded individual, as well as having been a physically fit person at the outset, and is endowed with sufficient determination and willpower to survive – all highly desirable assets in his situation.
I am therefore convinced, that the Border Reiver, the man who would have been dead within two months had his condition not been correctly diagnosed and promptly treated, will go on cuddling that old Crucie of his for a long time to come and cause the appreciative dancing fraternity to skip around the floor to his provocative rendering of some of his own favourite bandleader’s composition – (Iain MacPhail).
John has at least one valuable asset going for him, his youth, which I am sure he will exploit to the full. So long as John can play his old Crucanelli it will be as beneficial a therapy as he can obtain.
Editor’s Note – Since receiving this report, John Mackie has suffered a stroke and is hospitalized. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Portrait of Jimmy Shand
By The Earl of Elgin and Kincardine
To mark the wonderful contribution made to the music of Scotland in a lifetime of work, we (the Jimmy Shand Snr. MBE Portrait Trust), feel that the portrait of Jimmy Shand should be painted, ultimately to hand in the National Gallery of Scotland to compliment the picture of Niel Gow in the 18th century.
Jimmy has agreed to sit for George Bruce, President of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. While the Councils of the Region and Districts of Fife, together with several others, will join in the commission, it is felt that many people, as well, may like to contribute so that the gesture may truly be one of a myriad of grateful hearts.
Contributions may be made at branches of the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Dunfermline Building Society or sent to me here at Broomhall.
Livingston Accordion and Fiddle Club
21st Birthday Tune Competition
To help celebrate the Club’s 21st year, we organized a tune competition within the membership. The response was a healthy 14 tune entry including reels, jigs, marches, waltzes, 2 steps and polkas.
To judge the competition we were delighted to have the services of John Leslie L.B.C.A. the well-known music teacher and accordion orchestra leader, from Dunbar. Archie Brown from Armadale is known throughout West Lothian for his Country Dance tuition. Archie carried out this task playing with one hand, having the other arm in a sling following a shoulder operation.
The third judge was John McGregor, the Edinburgh bandleader. John has broadcast and played at dances the length and breadth of Britain. He is also the composer of several well-known tunes.
From the collective scoring :
First place trophy went to David McLeod of Harthill for a catch 4/4 march entitled ‘Loch Coulter’ which I believe is near Bannockburn.
Second place trophy also went to David McLeod for a bouncy two step ‘Rona’s Two Step’.
Third place trophy went to Matt Carlyle for a well thought out and tuneful waltz ‘Layna’s Waltz’.
The Committee would like to thank the judges for giving up their free time to carry out this difficult task, and their efforts are much appreciated. Also the other Club members for their entries which made such a worthwhile competition.
Your Letters
Some month’s ago you reported the death of Rob Gordon in the ‘B&F’.
1) Has the band carried on playing under another name?
2) Have the band members split up?
3) Did the band have many engagements to fulfill at the time of his death?
4) Rob had a special accordion made by Hohner. Has this instrument been sold or is it still with the Gordon family?
Alex Thomson (Kirkcaldy)
Reply to Alex
Rob’s band carried on under my name. Rob only really worked with a four-piece band augmented by fiddle, double bass and third accordion for records and broadcasts. The band as such still plays down south for Country Dances with myself on button box, plus keyboard and drums. The last job we actually did under Rob’s name was in Birmingham, December 1994, some seven months after his death.
With two exceptions, all the Scottish Societies stayed loyal to the band and re-booked us annually.
The special accordion referred to could apply to two of Rob’s boxes. The first one was a small (40 key) Shand Morino 3-row button box which Rob acquired in the 60’s and took the Diatonic Reeds out of (and later sold them to Jimmy Blue and I believe Jimmy had them put in his last Morino which was one of the modern one’s built in the 70’s) and Hohner put reeds in from a Hohner Atlantic Piano box to Rob’s specification, i.e. coupling the reeds to a pattern on the keyboard devised by Rob, producing a unique 3-row Continental chromatic which only Rob could play. He recorded four or five tracks with this box, waltzes and marches, but it still didn’t sound like a Shand Morino!
The second box was of course his beloved pre-war (1938) Morino piano accordion which was just sold recently to an old friend of Rob’s on Merseyside. Rob bought one of these in about 1970 and then bought this one just after and sold the other one, keeping the better of the two. The first time I ever saw Rob, he was playing a Morino V in Angus Fitchet’s Band with the David Webster Show down south. Having only ever heard a button box before (played by Jimmy Shand in the same show in previous years) I wasn’t impressed by the Morino V. However, the following year I saw the same show, this time with Rob’s own band and he was playing the pre-war Morino, and that impressed me! Over the years that I knew Rob he had the tuning changed on that box several times, always in search of some elusive sound, happy with it for a while and then he would hear one of the old Shand Morino’s at a Club and he would be after that sound on his box. A lovely box though, far better than most of the modern ones.
Ian Cruickshanks (Kirriemuir)
Record Review
Mainly MacLean – Calum MacLean – Deeay Music – DACS9512
The Sound of Scottish Music From Stars Past and Present – Gordon Pattullo and his All Start Scottish Dance Band – Ross Records CDGR149
Take the Floor – Repeat Broadcasts
2nd Sept 95 – Jim Lindsay SDB (repeat)
9th Sept 95 – Fergie MacDonald Band (repeat)
16th Sept 95 – Lindsay Weir SDB (repeat)
23rd Sept 95 – David Cunningham Jnr SDB (repeat)
30th Sept 95 – OB from Princes Street Gardens Iain MacPhail SDB
7th Oct 95 – Debut of David Oswald SDB
14th Oct 95 – Alan McIntosh and the Heather SDB
21st Oct 95 – Neil Barron SDB
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Dee Motel) – 26th Sept 95 – Wayne Robertson Duo
Alnwick (Golden Fleece) – members only
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 3rd Sept 95 – Craig McCallum SDB
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 7th Sept 95 – Mary Young SDB
Ayr (Gartferry Hotel) –
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 27th Sept 95 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Beith & District (Hotel de Croft, Dalry) – 18th Sept 95 – Ian Muir Trio
Belford (Community Club) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 10th Sept 95 – Fraser McGlynn Duo
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 12th Sept 95 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Brigmill (Guardbridge Sports & Social Club)
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) –
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 14th Sept 95 – Robert Ross and the Conundrum
Callander (Glengarry Hotel) –
Campbeltown (Royal Hotel) –
Carlisle (Border Regiment Club, Carlisle Castle) - 7th Sept 95 – Dougie Gemmell
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Hotel) –
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 21st Sept 95 – Pentland Ceilidh Band
Crieff & District (Arduthie Hotel)
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead) 19th Sept 95 – Andrew Gordon
Derwentside (Working Men’s Club, Consett) –
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 6th Sept 95 – Carol Cook (fiddle)
Dunblane (Westlands Hotel) –
Dundee (Park Hotel) – 7th Sept 95 – Gordon Pattullo
Dunfermline (Roadhouse) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (Sweepers, Cambuslang) –
Ellon (Ladbroke Hotel) – 19th Sept 95 – Bill Black SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 25th Sept 95 – Strathnore Sound
Forfar (Plough Inn) -
Forres (Brig Motel) – 13th Sept 95 – Neil MacEachern SDB
Fort William (Alexandra Hotel) –
Galashiels (Maxwell Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) – 21st Sept 95 – Ian Thomson SDB
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) -
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) -
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) -
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) –
Inveraray (Loch Fyne Hotel) -
Islay (White Hart Hotel) -
Isle of Skye -
Islesteps (Waterhole, Lochfoot) –
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 27th Sept 95 – Gordon Pattullo
Kinlochshiel (Islander Function Room) -
Kintore (Crown Hotel) – 6th Sept 95 – Dochie McCallum & Friends
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 14th Sept 95 – Burns Brothers Duo
Livingston (Deans Community Centre) 19th Sept 95 – Jim MacLeod Band
Lockerbie (Bluebell Hotel) -
Mauchline (Sorn Village Hall)
M.A.F.I.A. (Masonic Hall, Milngavie) –
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 6th Sept 95 – Dick Black Band
Muirhead (Belmont Arms, Meigle) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 25th Sept 95 – Lindsay Weir Trio
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Oban (Caledonian Hotel) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Ormiston (Miners’ Welfare Social Club) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 19th Sept 95 – James Coutts SDB
Premier NI (Camlin Function Rooms) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) -
Shetland (venue?) -
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) -
Thornhill (?)
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Tranent (East Lothian Labour Club)
Turriff (Royal Oak Hotel) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 5th Sept 95 – Deirdre Adamson
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) –
Yarrow (Gordon Arms) -
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Arbroath
2. Banff
3. Beith
4. Biggar
5. Castle Douglas
6. Coalburn
7. Dingwall
8. Dunblane
9. Dundee
10. East Kilbride
11. Forres
12. Glendale
13. Gretna
14. Highland
15. Kelso
16. Kinlochshiel
17. Kintore
18. Lesmahagow
19. Livingston
20. Montrose
21. Newtongrange
22. Peebles
23. Perth
24. Renfrew
25. Thurso
26. Wick
27. Yarrow
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1994 (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 (Sept 1976 – present)
3. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
4. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed
5. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campbeltown A&F Club (
16. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
17. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
18. Coalburn A&F Club (
19. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
20. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
21. Derwentside A&F Club
22. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
23. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
24. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? -
25. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
26. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
27. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
28. Ellon A&F Club (
29. Etterick & Yarrow (Jan 1989 -
30. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
31. Forfar A&F Club (
32. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
33. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
34. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
35. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
36. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
37. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
38. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
39. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Grena 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)
40. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
41. Inveraray A&F Club (Oct 1991 - present)
42. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
43. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
44. Isle of Skye A&F Club (
45. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
46. Kintore A&F Club (
47. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
48. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
49. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
52. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
53. Mauchline A&F Club (first mention 1986? - present)
54. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
55. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
56. Mull A&F Club
57. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
58. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
59. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
60. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
61. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
62. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
63. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
64. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
65. Renfrew A&F Club (
66. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
67. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
68. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
69. Sutherland A&F Club (
70. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
71. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
72. Tranent A&F Club
73. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
74. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
75. 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?)
76. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
77 Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
78 Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
79 Buchan A&F Club
80. Callander A&F Club (
81. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
82. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
83. Club Accord
84. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
85. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
86. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
87. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
88. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
89. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
90. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
91. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
92. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
93. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
94. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
95. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
96. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
97. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
98. Newcastleton Accordion Club
99. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
100. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
101. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
102. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
103. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
104. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
105. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
106. Wellbank A&F Club
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B&F Treasurer – Mrs Margaret Smith, Smeaton Farm Cottage, Dalkeith, Midlothian, EH22 2NL
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
Welcome back after the summer break. I hope you all had an enjoyable time in the glorious weather. I certainly had, with visits to Blackpool Accordion Festival, Rothbury Festival, Perth, Kingussie, and various other places.
During my first year as Editor, I have met many interesting people in the Scottish Dance music scene and friendships formed, a ‘perk’ of the job.
I take this opportunity to thank all the Club reporters, advertisers and authors of articles for the support they have given me – keep the reports coming in.
Should any reader have any constructive ideas to improve the content of the paper, please let me know.
Ron Ramsay
Great Response from Islanders
by George McLeod
In August of last year a group of musicians and friends called a meeting in the Royal British Legion Club in Stornoway with a view to forming a Lewis and Harris Accordion and Fiddle Club.
So enthusiastic was the response that we not only formed a Committee that evening but ended up with a playing session as well, our first player being nine-year-old Alasdair White on fiddle. Alasdair is a nephew of accordionist Charlie Kirkpatrick of Glasgow.
Our membership now stands at 100 with juniors and OAPs getting free membership. The Club meets on the first Monday of each month in the Royal British Legion, at 8 p.m.
The Committee consists of players and non-players alike, the chairman being George McLeod from Point; Secretary, Mrs Chrissie Gordon and Treasurer, John Angus Smith who is also Manager of the Legion in Stornoway.
When the Club was formed it was decided that tuition was not going to be part of it as this was already catered for on the island.
We would like to stress that the Club was not just for the more experienced players to be heard, but also for everyone in Lewis and Harris who enjoyed playing or listening to our kind of music to come along and participate.
As a new Club we also visit rural locations throughout the islands, with visits to MacLeod’s Motel in Harris and the Claitair Hotel in Lochs already under our belts. These visits are not only for the enjoyment of the local communities but also to help our fund-raising which to date has enabled us to buy our own P.A. system.
This system is for Club use and also avoids the necessity for visiting guests and bands to haul bulky equipment to the island.
Our first A.G.M. is almost upon us and the year ended with our first mainland guests : Colin Dewar and friends, featuring Ian Thomson and his band, an evening that was thoroughly enjoyed by all those who attended. Colin presented local composer, Ian Crichton, with an inscribed tankard, on behalf of the Club. This was for Ian’s contribution to Scottish music and putting Stornoway on the international music map. Anyway, some of Ian’s escapades throughout his musical career deserve recognition. A truly great character.
The island has just been provided with a new ferry, the ‘Isle of Lewis’ and the Club was invited to play on its inaugural cruise to Ullapool for invited guests. The trip was enjoyed by all concerned and many thanks to Cal Mac for the opportunity. We hope to see its captain, Murdo Kennedy, himself a fine box player, as a regular visitor to our Club over the coming winter.
Our next major event is our Christmas Dance when we hope to be entertained by Iain MacPhail and his band, an evening we are all looking forward to.
Finally, our invitation to all your readers far and wide, should you ever visit our island, you are more than welcome to attend our club nights and any of our functions.
George Muir (Arbroath) - Obituary
by ?
Mr George Muir, 18 St Ninian’s road, Arbroath, a well-known Scottish fiddler, died on June 27th at Arbroath Infirmary after a short illness. A former member of Jimmy Shand’s Band, until recently George played regularly at the Foundry Bar, Arbroath.
A native of the town, he was educated at Abbey and Parkhouse Primary Schools and Keptie School. At the age of 12, George started playing the fiddle and a year later he was playing at dances in The Good Templar Hall, later the Sea Cadets’ Hall in Arrot Street ; Forester’s Hall, Green Street, now Lodge St Vigean 101 ; and the Café Moderne, now premises above the Mandarin Palace in High Street. He also played at many weddings.
When he left school he had a number of jobs, starting with William Ross, jeweler, Hamilton Green; and then to J.H. Herron’s music shop, where he stayed for two years with duties which included making special polish for pianos. He was there until the age of 18, when he went to Douglas Fraser and Sons Ltd, as a tool boy.
In 1928 he became a drummer with the Arbroath Highland Pipe Band, which rehearsed in the old Hill School. He kept up his membership until the early 60’s. He was also drummer with the British Legion Pipe Band, which then used premises in Guthrie Port.
He decided to set up his own band and in the early 1930’s with two accordions, drummer and piano in addition to his own fiddle, the George Muir Band was formed.
Call-up came in 1940, and he became a member of the Pipes and Drums of the Black Watch and in 1943, he was posted to India where he remained for two years, with the 12th Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters. He played in the Battalion Pipe Band, and was a violinist in the Battalion big band.
Back in civilian life, he spend nine months working a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift with Alexander Shanks and Co. Ltd, and then three years on the day shift.
In the late 1940’s George played for three years with Jimmy Shand, and during that time toured the Shetlands, where Messrs Shand and Muir would go round houses where housebound folk lived, and play them a few tunes. After he stopped being a full-time member of the band, George was sometimes asked to play as a guest musician.
For two years George worked in Jimmy Shand’s accordion repair business in Guthrie Port, before joining Francis Webster & Sons Ltd, as a canvas inspector. He remained with that firm for 25½ years, until he retired in 1978.
George appeared three times on that grand programme ‘Bothy Nichts’, which many people would like Grampian Television to revive. He was a member of the ‘St Tammers’, which included Arnold and Sadie Masson and Alec Wood.
Music was his life and George turned his hand not only to playing but also to composing. His tunes can be heard regularly at the Foundry Bar.
George was a stalwart member of Arbroath A&F Club and a regular player.
Predeceased by his wife, Anne, George is survived by his four children, George Jnr, Frank, Chrissie (Mrs Brimmer) and Patricia (Mrs Burnett).
Robin Ellis and his Scottish Dance Band
30 Years of Music
by Robin Ellis
Some 40 years ago, whilst still at school, I was introduced to Scottish Country Dancing and soon became an enthusiast of both the music and dance. Two years later the local Scottish Association decided to form a dancing class, they needed a pianist. I volunteered, and that was the start of my playing career.
In 1959 whilst at a Ball in London, I was introduced to Jimmy Shand and after a brief conversation I found myself being allowed to ‘sit in’ as pianist for a number of dances. This was a wonderful experience and then and there I decided that my ambition was to play this kind of music. In those days there were hardly any Scottish dance musicians in the South East of England so it seemed that the only solution was to somehow form my own band and to do that I had to teach myself to play the accordion. So this I did.
After some five years of playing solo I wondered just how to form a band. I met Philip bowman, an accordionist from Dundee, who had just moved into the area. This seemed to be the opportunity that I had been waiting for, so having persuaded two other friends of mine, Margaret Wall and Tom Furlong, to play piano and drums, the band was born. By then I had collected a modest repertoire of suitable music and so we were all set. Due to the almost complete absence of other bands the engagements came very quickly. However, after a couple of years both Margaret and Philip left the area and the band seemed doomed. But all was not lost, replacements were found and we were soon re-launched with Eric Eunson, an old school friend of mine, on piano and a young Frank Reid on second box. This continued for about 5 years, after which Frank left to form his own band but Eric remains as pianist to this day.
Despite the apparent lack of players, being so far from Scotland, fate seems to take a hand and we have always found musicians, when necessary, and have managed to keep the band going without a break.
Today, the band usually consists of myself, Catherine Lowe and John Stevens on accordions, Eric Eunson on piano and Tom Furlong on drums. Catherine had just learned to play the accordion when we met and was looking to put it to some use, so I introduced her to Scottish dance music. She has now become a great enthusiast, is an expert on second box playing and devises some excellent harmonies. Fortunately she can also play lead accordion and piano if needs be and so has become a great asset to the band. John Stevens hails from Australia where he played in Melbourne for some time. He has been with us now for some 13 years and is our authority on pipe marches. Tom and Eric have been with the band for 30 and 27 years respectively. As you can see things don’t change very much – than goodness!!
Most of our playing is for Scottish Country Dancing and it is indeed this style which is the most popular, there being hardly any ceilidh or old time dancing in the South East. There are numerous groups and societies so we seldom have to travel more than 25 miles to a function. Over the years we have also played in cities such as Paris, Brussels, Delft, Berlin and also in Spain, Belgium, Malta, Tunisia, Austria, Crete and Cyprus as well as the USA. These foreign trips are often quite hard work but do add a certain amount of excitement to the list of bookings.
This year the band celebrated its 30th Anniversary and so to mark the occasion a dance was held to which we invited some 150 guests representing the societies and groups for whom we regularly provide the music, together with many of the musicians who have played in the band over the years. This resulted in an 11 piece band, with 6 accordions, 2 fiddlers, piano, bass and drums – quite a handful!!
During those 30 years we have made two L.P.s and a cassette and hope to record some more one day soon but when I do not know. Like most bands the problem is finding the time to actually get down and do it. From the very early days I started composing, as is often the case simply to complete a set of tunes for a given dance, and to date have some 90 pieces of music almost all unpublished. Ah well, something else to do ‘one day’.
Scottish country Dancing seems to be as popular as ever and now that we have sufficient musicians in our area the future seems secure, so on to the 40th. Maybe I should start an Accordion & fiddle Club – now there’s a thought!!
Flying Ceilidh to Tenerife!
by Jim & Sheila Collie (Wick)
Sunday, 5th March, was an early morning for a great many people in the Highlands, for that was the day that back late in 1994 seemed a long time away, the departure date for the trip to Tenerife.
Coaches were leaving Thurso at 3 a.m., Buckie at 4.30 a.m. to link up at Inverness at 7 a.m. There was a buzz of excitement as we waited at the Mercury Hotel for the last minute instructions of what coach we were to go on. Everything went like clockwork. We were on the Hay’s of Huntly coach with a very capable young driver called Steven at the wheel and a very jolly courier ‘Granny Jean’ as she is affectionately known. Not far down the A9 we met with wintry conditions but not so serious as cause any delay. First stop was at the Ballinluig Motor Grill for a snack, and then on our way to Glasgow Airport arriving about 11 a.m.
This was no ordinary holiday trip we had embarked on, but more of a flying ceilidh. The whole package had been arranged by Catherine MacKay, wife of bandleader Jim MacKay. The Jim MacKay line-up was himself on button box, brother Nichol on piano, son Thomas on drums, grandson Stephen on fiddle and Werner Schroeder on guitar and vocals. The Ian Anderson line-up was Ian himself on accordion, Ian Jnr on drums, and Eileen Ross on piano. Apart from the two bands about 130 of us were away to the sun including two members of the Thurso Pipe Band, Billy Gunn and Jimmy Findlay, also Ian Simpson of Moral Firth Radio fame, who was the compere for part of the time.
Less than 12 hours after leaving Inverness we were settling in at the Hotel Oasis Paraiso, Tenerife. With the suitcases unpacked, everyone changed into shirts and shorts ready to enjoy the sun and fun, and of course a most welcome evening meal.
We certainly put a lot into the week with casual or organised day trips and swimming or just relaxing by the pool. Then we danced the nights away to the music of both bands playing alternate nights. It was good to see and learn new dances and see variations of some dances from different areas. New acquaintances were made and nice to meet up with those of years gone past, sometimes over a generous dram or two.
A great selection of music for dancing was given by both bands and also Jim’s three grandsons, Alan on piano, Graeme on button box and Stephen on fiddle (who played every night next to his granddad. We also had three young Highland dancers whose performances charmed other visitors to the hotel as well as us. Several turns were done by our pipers, both in and out of the dance hall. There was also a cabaret spot by a group more local to Tenerife than Caithness.
On the final night, Saturday, many wore the kilt or something tartan to have a real good finale, with both bands and our pipers. After Ian’s band had played for the first half, Ian remained on stage to play second box with Jim. It was also good to see other residents from the hotel joining in the dancing many of whom were keen to learn. All too soon it was the last waltz and Auld Lang Syne with all our entertainers on stage. After about two or three hours sleep we were up and ready to leave at 4.30 a.m. on the coach back to the airport. Billy and Jimmy played a farewell to the airport staff and we were on our way to Glasgow. During the flight I looked at the cabin monitor which was giving a regular update on our journey, also a ‘sobering thought’ that this big bird which had carried us to the sunshine was rushing us back to a much colder Scotland at 500 m.p.h.
All-in-all we had an excellent week and I say if any band and their followers are contemplating such a trip – go for it – we really enjoyed it.
Finally we would like to thank everyone for their company and friendship and hope our paths cross again on some other jolly occasion.
Tommy Lees
In response to the recent article about Tommy in the ‘B&F’, he phoned to say that he is now residing at 32 Mulberry Close, Beaufort Street, Chelsea, SW3 5AB, telephone 0171 351 7736, and would like to hear from friends and ex-musical colleagues in Scotland.
A Profile of……The Border Reiver
John Laidlaw
by John Mackie
The Border Reiver is a sobriquet which I attached to the bandleader whose effervescent bouncy handling of his old Crucianelli is well known not only in his native Borders, but also from Shetland to Cumbria, and from Tiree to the East Neuk o’ Fife, and greatly appreciated in a’ these airts.
He was born in Berwickshire, in a place called Gordon, to John and Maureen Laidlaw. He has an elder sister Sarah, and music was part of the family scene, as both his father and uncle played the accordion.
By this stage, I am sure that the discerning reader will have guessed that the subject of this article is John Laidlaw of Peebles.
The family moved from Berwickshire to the Moffat area where John Snr ‘took a herding’ (as they say) and from there to Fasteugh in the Yarrow Valley, another hill farm.
John’s initiation to the accordion occurred at a dance at Yarrowford where he was listening to Ian Wilkie’s Band. Ian gave young John a ‘shot’ of his box and he immediately proceeded top pick out the ‘Dashing white Sergeant’. Soon after that incident, his father bought him a 48 bass Pietro for £10, and John never looked back from that moment.
When John was 18, the family moved to Peebles, and he formed his own dance band – himself on lead accordion, Tommy Pringle of Selkirk on second accordion, Adam Anderson of Broughton on keyboard and Alan Baird on drums. They were in great demand at church socials and such events, and by now the complement of the band had changed, with John on electronic Crucianelli, Ian Graham from Carluke on second accordion (Morino V) and John Pottinger from Biggar on drums.
The bookings were now coming in thick and fast, and John himself had ventured into doing vocals. He had taken a few music lessons, but had taught himself to read previous to this, and found that he had acquired sufficient knowledge for his requirements. He had also gained a considerable feel for the art of playing to dancers, such as the intricacies of the more complicated dances, no mean feat for a youngster, especially as the band had attracted the attention of that most prestigious of bodies, the R.S.C.D.S.
A new addition to the band, when available, was up-and-coming young fiddler Jo Slater, a young lass with great promise, who is now one of the finest young musicians the Borders has produced.
Ian Lowthian on second accordion, was a former pupil of that famous teacher of the accordion, the great Chrissie Leatham, after which he moved on to the royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Chrissie’s son, the well known Professor Owen Murray. Ian’s experience with John’s band must have been of benefit as he now has own extremely successful dance band in London, though he still pursues his free bass studies, and has acquired as many letters after his name as the Mac section of the Glasgow telephone directory.
After Ian departed to London and the Royal Academy, Owen Wright, from Broughton, sometimes known as the Mad Cumbrian, joined John’s band on second accordion. It was during that period that the band made its first tape recording which was followed later by a second. By now, the band’s drummer was Alex Dunnet, originally from Perthshire. This brings us to an amusing, although what could have been an expensive incident for Alec – en route from a gig, their trailer shed a wheel, luckily all the instruments were in the back of the car, all except Alec’s drums, which were recovered from the grass verge none the worse for their ordeal.
Sadly, a rather more discordant note has been added to this wee biographical score of John’s. In November of last year, following a bout of measles, he was diagnosed as having leukemia, possibly triggered off by the measles. He was immediately admitted to the Borders General Hospital and not a whit too soon as the margin was less than one week or as he himself admits the Crucanelli would have been replaced by a stringed instrument!
During his sojourn in hospital, another misfortune befell him. He contracted chickenpox and also developed an allergy to one of the drugs in his medication. Consequently, he was obliged to suffer a spell in an isolation ward, which, in his own words was ‘gie wee’ and of course communications had to be by intercom.
Another result of his stay in hospital, was a considerable collection of get-well cards, which he keeps in a polythene bag, four hundred and thirty nine in all, including one from Runrig which he greatly treasures.
About the same time that Alec Dunnet joined the band, so did John Mitchell on second accordion. John, an ardent Hearts supporter – an affliction which I also suffered in my youth – was a very consistent visitor to the Borders General. At Easter the Reiver remarried. His new bride was Vicky Sproule. Vicky is a Highland and a Country dancer. Their reception was held at the Osbourne Hotel in Edinburgh, than a second reception occurred in their chalet in Tobermory during the Mull Festival.
Vicky and both families have been completely supportive during John’s illness as have been the band and his many friends, for which John wishes to extend his heartfelt gratitude, not least of all to his consultant, his GP, and the staff of the Borders General Hospital.
Fortunately, John has adopted a philosophical attitude towards his illness, he is very cognisant of the fact that he has a fight on his hands. His condition he says he accepts, but finds as all victims of cancer related diseases do, that some aspects of the treatment are quite traumatic. However, John is a strong minded individual, as well as having been a physically fit person at the outset, and is endowed with sufficient determination and willpower to survive – all highly desirable assets in his situation.
I am therefore convinced, that the Border Reiver, the man who would have been dead within two months had his condition not been correctly diagnosed and promptly treated, will go on cuddling that old Crucie of his for a long time to come and cause the appreciative dancing fraternity to skip around the floor to his provocative rendering of some of his own favourite bandleader’s composition – (Iain MacPhail).
John has at least one valuable asset going for him, his youth, which I am sure he will exploit to the full. So long as John can play his old Crucanelli it will be as beneficial a therapy as he can obtain.
Editor’s Note – Since receiving this report, John Mackie has suffered a stroke and is hospitalized. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Portrait of Jimmy Shand
By The Earl of Elgin and Kincardine
To mark the wonderful contribution made to the music of Scotland in a lifetime of work, we (the Jimmy Shand Snr. MBE Portrait Trust), feel that the portrait of Jimmy Shand should be painted, ultimately to hand in the National Gallery of Scotland to compliment the picture of Niel Gow in the 18th century.
Jimmy has agreed to sit for George Bruce, President of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. While the Councils of the Region and Districts of Fife, together with several others, will join in the commission, it is felt that many people, as well, may like to contribute so that the gesture may truly be one of a myriad of grateful hearts.
Contributions may be made at branches of the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Dunfermline Building Society or sent to me here at Broomhall.
Livingston Accordion and Fiddle Club
21st Birthday Tune Competition
To help celebrate the Club’s 21st year, we organized a tune competition within the membership. The response was a healthy 14 tune entry including reels, jigs, marches, waltzes, 2 steps and polkas.
To judge the competition we were delighted to have the services of John Leslie L.B.C.A. the well-known music teacher and accordion orchestra leader, from Dunbar. Archie Brown from Armadale is known throughout West Lothian for his Country Dance tuition. Archie carried out this task playing with one hand, having the other arm in a sling following a shoulder operation.
The third judge was John McGregor, the Edinburgh bandleader. John has broadcast and played at dances the length and breadth of Britain. He is also the composer of several well-known tunes.
From the collective scoring :
First place trophy went to David McLeod of Harthill for a catch 4/4 march entitled ‘Loch Coulter’ which I believe is near Bannockburn.
Second place trophy also went to David McLeod for a bouncy two step ‘Rona’s Two Step’.
Third place trophy went to Matt Carlyle for a well thought out and tuneful waltz ‘Layna’s Waltz’.
The Committee would like to thank the judges for giving up their free time to carry out this difficult task, and their efforts are much appreciated. Also the other Club members for their entries which made such a worthwhile competition.
Your Letters
Some month’s ago you reported the death of Rob Gordon in the ‘B&F’.
1) Has the band carried on playing under another name?
2) Have the band members split up?
3) Did the band have many engagements to fulfill at the time of his death?
4) Rob had a special accordion made by Hohner. Has this instrument been sold or is it still with the Gordon family?
Alex Thomson (Kirkcaldy)
Reply to Alex
Rob’s band carried on under my name. Rob only really worked with a four-piece band augmented by fiddle, double bass and third accordion for records and broadcasts. The band as such still plays down south for Country Dances with myself on button box, plus keyboard and drums. The last job we actually did under Rob’s name was in Birmingham, December 1994, some seven months after his death.
With two exceptions, all the Scottish Societies stayed loyal to the band and re-booked us annually.
The special accordion referred to could apply to two of Rob’s boxes. The first one was a small (40 key) Shand Morino 3-row button box which Rob acquired in the 60’s and took the Diatonic Reeds out of (and later sold them to Jimmy Blue and I believe Jimmy had them put in his last Morino which was one of the modern one’s built in the 70’s) and Hohner put reeds in from a Hohner Atlantic Piano box to Rob’s specification, i.e. coupling the reeds to a pattern on the keyboard devised by Rob, producing a unique 3-row Continental chromatic which only Rob could play. He recorded four or five tracks with this box, waltzes and marches, but it still didn’t sound like a Shand Morino!
The second box was of course his beloved pre-war (1938) Morino piano accordion which was just sold recently to an old friend of Rob’s on Merseyside. Rob bought one of these in about 1970 and then bought this one just after and sold the other one, keeping the better of the two. The first time I ever saw Rob, he was playing a Morino V in Angus Fitchet’s Band with the David Webster Show down south. Having only ever heard a button box before (played by Jimmy Shand in the same show in previous years) I wasn’t impressed by the Morino V. However, the following year I saw the same show, this time with Rob’s own band and he was playing the pre-war Morino, and that impressed me! Over the years that I knew Rob he had the tuning changed on that box several times, always in search of some elusive sound, happy with it for a while and then he would hear one of the old Shand Morino’s at a Club and he would be after that sound on his box. A lovely box though, far better than most of the modern ones.
Ian Cruickshanks (Kirriemuir)
Record Review
Mainly MacLean – Calum MacLean – Deeay Music – DACS9512
The Sound of Scottish Music From Stars Past and Present – Gordon Pattullo and his All Start Scottish Dance Band – Ross Records CDGR149
Take the Floor – Repeat Broadcasts
2nd Sept 95 – Jim Lindsay SDB (repeat)
9th Sept 95 – Fergie MacDonald Band (repeat)
16th Sept 95 – Lindsay Weir SDB (repeat)
23rd Sept 95 – David Cunningham Jnr SDB (repeat)
30th Sept 95 – OB from Princes Street Gardens Iain MacPhail SDB
7th Oct 95 – Debut of David Oswald SDB
14th Oct 95 – Alan McIntosh and the Heather SDB
21st Oct 95 – Neil Barron SDB
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Dee Motel) – 26th Sept 95 – Wayne Robertson Duo
Alnwick (Golden Fleece) – members only
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 3rd Sept 95 – Craig McCallum SDB
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 7th Sept 95 – Mary Young SDB
Ayr (Gartferry Hotel) –
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 27th Sept 95 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Beith & District (Hotel de Croft, Dalry) – 18th Sept 95 – Ian Muir Trio
Belford (Community Club) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 10th Sept 95 – Fraser McGlynn Duo
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 12th Sept 95 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Brigmill (Guardbridge Sports & Social Club)
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) –
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 14th Sept 95 – Robert Ross and the Conundrum
Callander (Glengarry Hotel) –
Campbeltown (Royal Hotel) –
Carlisle (Border Regiment Club, Carlisle Castle) - 7th Sept 95 – Dougie Gemmell
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Hotel) –
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 21st Sept 95 – Pentland Ceilidh Band
Crieff & District (Arduthie Hotel)
Dalriada (Argyll Arms Hotel, Lochgilphead) 19th Sept 95 – Andrew Gordon
Derwentside (Working Men’s Club, Consett) –
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 6th Sept 95 – Carol Cook (fiddle)
Dunblane (Westlands Hotel) –
Dundee (Park Hotel) – 7th Sept 95 – Gordon Pattullo
Dunfermline (Roadhouse) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
East Kilbride (Sweepers, Cambuslang) –
Ellon (Ladbroke Hotel) – 19th Sept 95 – Bill Black SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 25th Sept 95 – Strathnore Sound
Forfar (Plough Inn) -
Forres (Brig Motel) – 13th Sept 95 – Neil MacEachern SDB
Fort William (Alexandra Hotel) –
Galashiels (Maxwell Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) – 21st Sept 95 – Ian Thomson SDB
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) -
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) -
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) -
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) –
Inveraray (Loch Fyne Hotel) -
Islay (White Hart Hotel) -
Isle of Skye -
Islesteps (Waterhole, Lochfoot) –
Kelso (Ednam House Hotel) – 27th Sept 95 – Gordon Pattullo
Kinlochshiel (Islander Function Room) -
Kintore (Crown Hotel) – 6th Sept 95 – Dochie McCallum & Friends
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 14th Sept 95 – Burns Brothers Duo
Livingston (Deans Community Centre) 19th Sept 95 – Jim MacLeod Band
Lockerbie (Bluebell Hotel) -
Mauchline (Sorn Village Hall)
M.A.F.I.A. (Masonic Hall, Milngavie) –
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 6th Sept 95 – Dick Black Band
Muirhead (Belmont Arms, Meigle) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 25th Sept 95 – Lindsay Weir Trio
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Oban (Caledonian Hotel) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Ormiston (Miners’ Welfare Social Club) –
Peebles (Green Tree Hotel) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 19th Sept 95 – James Coutts SDB
Premier NI (Camlin Function Rooms) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) -
Shetland (venue?) -
Stirling (Terraces Hotel) -
Thornhill (?)
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Tranent (East Lothian Labour Club)
Turriff (Royal Oak Hotel) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 5th Sept 95 – Deirdre Adamson
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) –
Yarrow (Gordon Arms) -
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Arbroath
2. Banff
3. Beith
4. Biggar
5. Castle Douglas
6. Coalburn
7. Dingwall
8. Dunblane
9. Dundee
10. East Kilbride
11. Forres
12. Glendale
13. Gretna
14. Highland
15. Kelso
16. Kinlochshiel
17. Kintore
18. Lesmahagow
19. Livingston
20. Montrose
21. Newtongrange
22. Peebles
23. Perth
24. Renfrew
25. Thurso
26. Wick
27. Yarrow
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT SEPT 1994 (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 (Sept 1976 – present)
3. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
4. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed
5. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campbeltown A&F Club (
16. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
17. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
18. Coalburn A&F Club (
19. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
20. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
21. Derwentside A&F Club
22. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
23. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
24. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? -
25. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
26. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
27. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980)
28. Ellon A&F Club (
29. Etterick & Yarrow (Jan 1989 -
30. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
31. Forfar A&F Club (
32. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
33. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
34. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
35. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
36. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
37. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
38. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
39. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Grena 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)
40. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
41. Inveraray A&F Club (Oct 1991 - present)
42. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
43. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
44. Isle of Skye A&F Club (
45. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
46. Kintore A&F Club (
47. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
48. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
49. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
52. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
53. Mauchline A&F Club (first mention 1986? - present)
54. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
55. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
56. Mull A&F Club
57. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
58. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
59. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
60. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
61. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
62. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
63. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
64. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
65. Renfrew A&F Club (
66. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
67. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
68. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 - )
69. Sutherland A&F Club (
70. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
71. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
72. Tranent A&F Club
73. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
74. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
75. 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?)
76. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
77 Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
78 Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
79 Buchan A&F Club
80. Callander A&F Club (
81. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
82. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
83. Club Accord
84. Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
85. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
86. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
87. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
88. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
89. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
90. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
91. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
92. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
93. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
94. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
95. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
96. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
97. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
98. Newcastleton Accordion Club
99. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
100. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
101. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
102. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
103. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
104. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
105. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
106. Wellbank A&F Club
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