Box and Fiddle
Year 39 No 01
September 2015
Price £2.70
44 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £32.40 + p&p £15.75 (UK)
Editor – Pia Walker, Cupar
B&F Treasurer – Willie Johnstone, Inverurie
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time-consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
A new season, and as many of you probably have experienced………………….
2015 BAFFI Award Winners
Club Supporter of the Year – Davie Graham.
CD of the Year – Matthew MacLennan
Guest Artiste of the Year – Jack Delaney SDB
Club of the Year - Haddington
Pia Walker
The Jimmy Shand Connection
by Sheena Wellington
“Going once! Going Twice!!” The auctioneer’s voice echoed down the phone. “We can go higher,” I shouted frantically. “Please we can stop this bid!” “Mrs Wellington,” came the patient tones of Bonham’s telephone bidder, “this is your bid!” “Sold!”
And so the Friends of Wighton had bought 23 volumes of Sir Jimmy Shand’s personal collection of old music books for Dundee’s Wighton Heritage Centre, home of the famous Wighton collection. It was a very special moment!
Of course, the collection is precious because these were Jimmy’s books. One or two gifted to him, but most purchased by the Maestro himself. His discerning and eclectic taste, though, led him to choose books that have both musical and historic interest, from Niel Gow and Ignace Pleyel, through the handwritten manuscript books of young Angus Genrty – and the Southesk Orchestral Band – to ‘The Gesto Collection of Highland Music’ and ‘Ancient Orkney Melodies’.
Many of the books need conservation work before they can go on public display to be made available for the use of musicians, singers and scholars. To bring the music off the page and into life and to celebrate the works being made available a series of concerts, ceilidhs and workshops under the title The Sir Jimmy Shand Connection will be run in Dundee, Angus and Fife.
Our initial crowd-funding target is £5,000 and when youi contribute through our crowd-funding page – www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-sir-jimmy-shand-connection - your name will be entered on a role of honour. There are also some wonderful musical treats available depending on the amount donated!
We would like to thank Jimmy Shand Jnr and all the Shand Family for their support of this project.
Angus Accordion & Fiddle Festival
by Graham Bell (Secretary)
The 13th Angus Accordion………………………
NAAFC Chairman’s Report 2015
by Nicol McLaren
This year’s Chairman’s Report……….
Treasurer retires…………
A Tribute to Jim Halcrow
by Ian Holmes
Mickie Ainsworth first told me about the fantastic accordionist he’d heard when the Powrie Band first visited Shetland in the early 1960’s. Mickie said he was literally knocked out by the playing of Jim Halcrow.
I first met Jim when my own band played at a dance at Moniaive around 1973. During our playing of the beautiful waltz, Doreen, I managed to fumble the bass jump from B minor to B flat and a fellow called up from the floor: “Aye, that’s an awffy big jump.” Later, I was formally introduced to him and to my great embarrassment I discovered it was none other than the composer of the tune, Jim Halcrow. Of my apologies, he just said, “Dinna worry, for I gey often get it wrang masel.”
Over the years we became good friends and we often laughed about our first meeting. His phone calls would always begin with “Is that you, Maastro?” He and Doreen were close friends of Jimmy and Dorothy Norman from Gretna and in fact, the couple named their new business venture, The Halcrow Stadium, after him. We had some great nights playing there and somewhere there is a photograph of the two Jims and myself.
Jim and I both had a passion for Scandinavian music (He’s refer to it as Norska music) and both had the Norwegian accordionist Arnstein Johansen as a pen-friend. In one of his letters Arnstein told me he was very impressed with Jim’s playing. Quite an accolade, for they didn’t come any bigger or better than Arnstein.
I found Jim to be an extremely modest, friendly, family loving man with a great gift for music. Purely self-taught, he did not read or write music, yet he had acquired the rare ability to produce, among other things, exciting three-accordion arrangements of Scandinavian music.
In his couthy way he’d say, “Oor music’s a’ done wi’ the lug.” You’ve either got it, or you haven’t, and Jim Halcrow had it in bundles.
To many of us, his playing of Scottish Dance Music was strong, accurate and natural, completely devoid of any gimmickry and of a very high standard, seldom heard nowadays.
Friends and musicians, like Jim, are irreplaceable and he’ll therefore be missed so much by so many people. I greatly valued his friendship.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
An Seisiun – Marie Fielding – Independent Rumford CD03
The High Level – Leonard Brown SDB – Independent LBCD006
Letters to the Editor
A Letter from Sanquhar
Just to let you know how much I enjoyed the BAFFI Luncheon and awards day at Perth. I thought that there had been some mistake when I first heard that I had been nominated for The Club Supporter of the Year Award. I mean, how can you be nominated for such an accolade for simply going out 3 or 4 nights a week enjoying yourself?
I have always had an interest in Scottish Dance Music since I started taking fiddle lessons from Purtie Jackson, the barber in Kirkconnel, when I was a wee boy 6 or 7 years old. Purtie had a dance band of his own and he was a gie crabbit old devil, who wasn’t slow to give you a crack across the knuckles with the back of his bow if you made a mistake. I am sorry to say that I never reached the standard where I was asked to play in Purtie’s band, but despite the sore knuckles he gave me a love of music that I have retained all my days.
When I retired 23 years ago I started going to Box and Fiddle Clubs. The first one I went to was Coalburn and I couldn’t have picked a better one. That was me hooked, so much so that I now go to 13 different Clubs every month.
As well as enjoying the music, there are two other things that I love about the Box and Fiddle Clubs. The first is the number of talented youngsters who keep coming through and the other is the number of friendly folk that you meet no matter what Club you go to.
Back in March I had a surprise Box and Fiddle Club held in The Deerhunter Club in Sanquhar to celebrate my 85th birthday. There were 120 folk there and about two-thirds of them were friends that I have made since I started going to Box and Fiddle Clubs.
As I said at the beginning, when I was nominated for the Club Supporter of the Year Award my first reaction was disbelief, but now that I have won it, I am over the moon, cock-a-hoop, so a great big thank you to all the people who voted for me.
A Delighted Club Supporter of the Year, Davie Graham
PS - After we left Perth we couldn’t come home before we visited the Club at Forfar (where we got a great welcome) and landed back at Sanquhar at twenty to three in the morning.
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
Not shown
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 29th Sept 2015 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 9th Sept 2015 – Colin Donaldson Trio
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 20th Sept 2015 – Bon Accords
Arbroath (Artisan Golf Club) - 6th Sept 2015 – Gold Brothers Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 20th Sept 2015 – Gary Forrest Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 28th Sept 2015 – Susie Simpson’s Highland D.B.
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 23rd Sept 2015 – Dave & Diane Morrice Duo
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) – 21st Sept 2015 – Jack Delaney SDB
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) – 13th Sept 2015 – David Kennedy SDB
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 8th Sept 2015 – David Oswald SDB
Britannia (Arden House Hotel ) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 10th Sept 2015 – Sandy Lindsay & Eddie Rose
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 1st Sept 2015 – Jack Delaney SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 15th Sept 2015 – Ray Carse
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 17th Sept 2015 – Callum Wilson SDB
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 2nd Sept 2015 – Leonard Broan SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 16th Sept 2015 – Fergie MacDonald
Dunfermline (Civil Service Sports Assoc, Rosyth) – 8th Sept 2015 – Ewan Dowie SDB
Duns (Masonic Lodge)
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 22nd Sept 2015 – Gary Sutherland SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 28th Sept 2015 – Nicky McMichan & Andy Philip
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 27th Sept 2015 – Judith Linton Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 9th Sept 2015 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Fort William (Railway Club) -
Galashiels (Clovenfords Hotel) –
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 24th Sept 2015 – Billy Anderson Trio
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 2nd Sept 2015 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Gretna (The Gables Hotel) - 6th Sept 2015 – Robert Whitehead Trio
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 13th Sept 2015 – Gemma Donald
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 21st Sept 2015 – Roy Hendrie & Dave Morrice
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) – 1st Sept 2015 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Kelso (Cross Rugby Club) – 30th Sept 2015 – Eric Goodfellow SDB
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) -
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) -
Langholm (British Legion) – 9th Sept 2015 – Gavin Piper
Lewis & Harris (Sea Angling Club) - 3rd Sept 2015 – Local Players
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 15th Sept 2015 – Pentland Ceilidh Band
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 29th Sept 2015 – Liam Stewart Duo
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 2nd Sept 2015 – Leonard Broan
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) - 24th Sept 2015 - tbc
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Buccleugh Bowling Club)
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 1st Sept 2015 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Northern (Hilton Hotel & Country Club , Templepatrick, N.I.) -
Oban (The Royal Hotel) –
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 30th Sept 2015 – Local Concert
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 15th Sept 2015 – Brandon McPhee Trio
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 3rd Sept 2015 – Gold Brothers Trio
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 1st 8th 15th Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross 23rd 30th Sept 2015 – Club Nights
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 24th Sept 2015 – Local Night
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 3rd Sept 2015 – James Alexander & Friends
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 17th Sept 2015 – Calchou Ceilidh Band
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn)
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 15th Sept 2015 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Arbroath
2. Blairgowrie
3. Button Key
4. Campsie
5. Dunblane
6. Forfar
7. Livingston
8. Rothbury
9. Seghill
10. Tynedale
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2014
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
10. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
11. Button Key A&F Club (
12. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
13. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
14. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
15. Coalburn A&F Club (
16. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
17. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
18. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
19. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
20. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
21. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
22. Ellon A&F Club (
23. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
24. Forfar A&F Club (
25. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
26. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
27. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
28. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
29. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
30. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
31. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
32. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
33. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
34. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
35. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
36. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
37. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
38. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
39. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
40. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
41 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
42 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
43 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
44 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
45 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
46. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
47. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
48. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
49. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
50. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
51. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
52. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
53. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
54. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
55 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
56 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
57 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
58 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
58 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
60 West Barnes ( - present)
61 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?)
62. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
63. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
64. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
65. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
66. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
67. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
68. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
69. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
70. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
71. Buchan A&F Club
72. Callander A&F Club (
73. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
74. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
75. Club Accord
76. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
77 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
78. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
79. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
80. Cults A & F Club (
81. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
82. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
83. Derwentside A&F Club
84. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
85. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
86. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
87. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
88. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
89. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
90. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
91. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
92. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
93. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
94. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
95. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
96. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
97. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
98. Kintore A&F Club (
99. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
100. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
101. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Maine Valley A&F Club (
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
107. Mull A&F Club
108. Newcastleton Accordion Club
109. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
110. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
111. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
112. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
113. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
114. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
115. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
116. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
117. Selkirk A&F Club (
118. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
119. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
120. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
121 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
122 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
123. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
124. Tranent A&F Club
125. Vancouver
126. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
127. Wellbank A&F Club
128. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
Advertising rates
Back Page (colour) - £300
Full Page (colour) - £220
Full Page (b&w) - £140
Half Page (colour) - £110
Half Page (b&w) - £70
Quarter Page (colour) - £55
Quarter Page (b&w) - £35
Eighth Page - £18
Small Boxed £12
B&F Treasurer – Willie Johnstone, Inverurie
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time-consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
A new season, and as many of you probably have experienced………………….
2015 BAFFI Award Winners
Club Supporter of the Year – Davie Graham.
CD of the Year – Matthew MacLennan
Guest Artiste of the Year – Jack Delaney SDB
Club of the Year - Haddington
Pia Walker
The Jimmy Shand Connection
by Sheena Wellington
“Going once! Going Twice!!” The auctioneer’s voice echoed down the phone. “We can go higher,” I shouted frantically. “Please we can stop this bid!” “Mrs Wellington,” came the patient tones of Bonham’s telephone bidder, “this is your bid!” “Sold!”
And so the Friends of Wighton had bought 23 volumes of Sir Jimmy Shand’s personal collection of old music books for Dundee’s Wighton Heritage Centre, home of the famous Wighton collection. It was a very special moment!
Of course, the collection is precious because these were Jimmy’s books. One or two gifted to him, but most purchased by the Maestro himself. His discerning and eclectic taste, though, led him to choose books that have both musical and historic interest, from Niel Gow and Ignace Pleyel, through the handwritten manuscript books of young Angus Genrty – and the Southesk Orchestral Band – to ‘The Gesto Collection of Highland Music’ and ‘Ancient Orkney Melodies’.
Many of the books need conservation work before they can go on public display to be made available for the use of musicians, singers and scholars. To bring the music off the page and into life and to celebrate the works being made available a series of concerts, ceilidhs and workshops under the title The Sir Jimmy Shand Connection will be run in Dundee, Angus and Fife.
Our initial crowd-funding target is £5,000 and when youi contribute through our crowd-funding page – www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-sir-jimmy-shand-connection - your name will be entered on a role of honour. There are also some wonderful musical treats available depending on the amount donated!
We would like to thank Jimmy Shand Jnr and all the Shand Family for their support of this project.
Angus Accordion & Fiddle Festival
by Graham Bell (Secretary)
The 13th Angus Accordion………………………
NAAFC Chairman’s Report 2015
by Nicol McLaren
This year’s Chairman’s Report……….
Treasurer retires…………
A Tribute to Jim Halcrow
by Ian Holmes
Mickie Ainsworth first told me about the fantastic accordionist he’d heard when the Powrie Band first visited Shetland in the early 1960’s. Mickie said he was literally knocked out by the playing of Jim Halcrow.
I first met Jim when my own band played at a dance at Moniaive around 1973. During our playing of the beautiful waltz, Doreen, I managed to fumble the bass jump from B minor to B flat and a fellow called up from the floor: “Aye, that’s an awffy big jump.” Later, I was formally introduced to him and to my great embarrassment I discovered it was none other than the composer of the tune, Jim Halcrow. Of my apologies, he just said, “Dinna worry, for I gey often get it wrang masel.”
Over the years we became good friends and we often laughed about our first meeting. His phone calls would always begin with “Is that you, Maastro?” He and Doreen were close friends of Jimmy and Dorothy Norman from Gretna and in fact, the couple named their new business venture, The Halcrow Stadium, after him. We had some great nights playing there and somewhere there is a photograph of the two Jims and myself.
Jim and I both had a passion for Scandinavian music (He’s refer to it as Norska music) and both had the Norwegian accordionist Arnstein Johansen as a pen-friend. In one of his letters Arnstein told me he was very impressed with Jim’s playing. Quite an accolade, for they didn’t come any bigger or better than Arnstein.
I found Jim to be an extremely modest, friendly, family loving man with a great gift for music. Purely self-taught, he did not read or write music, yet he had acquired the rare ability to produce, among other things, exciting three-accordion arrangements of Scandinavian music.
In his couthy way he’d say, “Oor music’s a’ done wi’ the lug.” You’ve either got it, or you haven’t, and Jim Halcrow had it in bundles.
To many of us, his playing of Scottish Dance Music was strong, accurate and natural, completely devoid of any gimmickry and of a very high standard, seldom heard nowadays.
Friends and musicians, like Jim, are irreplaceable and he’ll therefore be missed so much by so many people. I greatly valued his friendship.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
An Seisiun – Marie Fielding – Independent Rumford CD03
The High Level – Leonard Brown SDB – Independent LBCD006
Letters to the Editor
A Letter from Sanquhar
Just to let you know how much I enjoyed the BAFFI Luncheon and awards day at Perth. I thought that there had been some mistake when I first heard that I had been nominated for The Club Supporter of the Year Award. I mean, how can you be nominated for such an accolade for simply going out 3 or 4 nights a week enjoying yourself?
I have always had an interest in Scottish Dance Music since I started taking fiddle lessons from Purtie Jackson, the barber in Kirkconnel, when I was a wee boy 6 or 7 years old. Purtie had a dance band of his own and he was a gie crabbit old devil, who wasn’t slow to give you a crack across the knuckles with the back of his bow if you made a mistake. I am sorry to say that I never reached the standard where I was asked to play in Purtie’s band, but despite the sore knuckles he gave me a love of music that I have retained all my days.
When I retired 23 years ago I started going to Box and Fiddle Clubs. The first one I went to was Coalburn and I couldn’t have picked a better one. That was me hooked, so much so that I now go to 13 different Clubs every month.
As well as enjoying the music, there are two other things that I love about the Box and Fiddle Clubs. The first is the number of talented youngsters who keep coming through and the other is the number of friendly folk that you meet no matter what Club you go to.
Back in March I had a surprise Box and Fiddle Club held in The Deerhunter Club in Sanquhar to celebrate my 85th birthday. There were 120 folk there and about two-thirds of them were friends that I have made since I started going to Box and Fiddle Clubs.
As I said at the beginning, when I was nominated for the Club Supporter of the Year Award my first reaction was disbelief, but now that I have won it, I am over the moon, cock-a-hoop, so a great big thank you to all the people who voted for me.
A Delighted Club Supporter of the Year, Davie Graham
PS - After we left Perth we couldn’t come home before we visited the Club at Forfar (where we got a great welcome) and landed back at Sanquhar at twenty to three in the morning.
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
Not shown
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 29th Sept 2015 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 9th Sept 2015 – Colin Donaldson Trio
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 20th Sept 2015 – Bon Accords
Arbroath (Artisan Golf Club) - 6th Sept 2015 – Gold Brothers Trio
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 20th Sept 2015 – Gary Forrest Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 28th Sept 2015 – Susie Simpson’s Highland D.B.
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 23rd Sept 2015 – Dave & Diane Morrice Duo
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) – 21st Sept 2015 – Jack Delaney SDB
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) – 13th Sept 2015 – David Kennedy SDB
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 8th Sept 2015 – David Oswald SDB
Britannia (Arden House Hotel ) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 10th Sept 2015 – Sandy Lindsay & Eddie Rose
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 1st Sept 2015 – Jack Delaney SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 15th Sept 2015 – Ray Carse
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 17th Sept 2015 – Callum Wilson SDB
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 2nd Sept 2015 – Leonard Broan SDB
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 16th Sept 2015 – Fergie MacDonald
Dunfermline (Civil Service Sports Assoc, Rosyth) – 8th Sept 2015 – Ewan Dowie SDB
Duns (Masonic Lodge)
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 22nd Sept 2015 – Gary Sutherland SDB
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 28th Sept 2015 – Nicky McMichan & Andy Philip
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 27th Sept 2015 – Judith Linton Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 9th Sept 2015 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Fort William (Railway Club) -
Galashiels (Clovenfords Hotel) –
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 24th Sept 2015 – Billy Anderson Trio
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 2nd Sept 2015 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Gretna (The Gables Hotel) - 6th Sept 2015 – Robert Whitehead Trio
Haddington (Railway Inn) - 13th Sept 2015 – Gemma Donald
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 21st Sept 2015 – Roy Hendrie & Dave Morrice
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) – 1st Sept 2015 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Kelso (Cross Rugby Club) – 30th Sept 2015 – Eric Goodfellow SDB
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) -
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) -
Langholm (British Legion) – 9th Sept 2015 – Gavin Piper
Lewis & Harris (Sea Angling Club) - 3rd Sept 2015 – Local Players
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 15th Sept 2015 – Pentland Ceilidh Band
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 29th Sept 2015 – Liam Stewart Duo
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 2nd Sept 2015 – Leonard Broan
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) - 24th Sept 2015 - tbc
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Buccleugh Bowling Club)
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 1st Sept 2015 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Northern (Hilton Hotel & Country Club , Templepatrick, N.I.) -
Oban (The Royal Hotel) –
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 30th Sept 2015 – Local Concert
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 15th Sept 2015 – Brandon McPhee Trio
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 3rd Sept 2015 – Gold Brothers Trio
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 1st 8th 15th Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross 23rd 30th Sept 2015 – Club Nights
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 24th Sept 2015 – Local Night
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 3rd Sept 2015 – James Alexander & Friends
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 17th Sept 2015 – Calchou Ceilidh Band
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn)
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 15th Sept 2015 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Arbroath
2. Blairgowrie
3. Button Key
4. Campsie
5. Dunblane
6. Forfar
7. Livingston
8. Rothbury
9. Seghill
10. Tynedale
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2014
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
10. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
11. Button Key A&F Club (
12. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
13. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
14. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
15. Coalburn A&F Club (
16. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
17. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
18. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
19. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
20. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
21. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
22. Ellon A&F Club (
23. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
24. Forfar A&F Club (
25. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
26. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
27. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
28. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
29. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
30. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
31. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
32. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
33. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
34. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
35. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
36. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
37. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
38. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
39. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
40. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
41 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
42 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
43 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
44 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
45 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
46. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
47. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
48. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
49. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
50. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
51. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
52. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
53. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
54. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
55 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
56 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
57 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
58 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
58 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
60 West Barnes ( - present)
61 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?)
62. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
63. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
64. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
65. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
66. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
67. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
68. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
69. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
70. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
71. Buchan A&F Club
72. Callander A&F Club (
73. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
74. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
75. Club Accord
76. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
77 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
78. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
79. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
80. Cults A & F Club (
81. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
82. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
83. Derwentside A&F Club
84. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
85. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
86. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
87. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
88. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
89. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
90. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
91. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
92. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
93. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
94. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
95. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
96. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
97. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
98. Kintore A&F Club (
99. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
100. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
101. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Maine Valley A&F Club (
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
107. Mull A&F Club
108. Newcastleton Accordion Club
109. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
110. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
111. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
112. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
113. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
114. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
115. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
116. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
117. Selkirk A&F Club (
118. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
119. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
120. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
121 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
122 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
123. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
124. Tranent A&F Club
125. Vancouver
126. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
127. Wellbank A&F Club
128. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
Advertising rates
Back Page (colour) - £300
Full Page (colour) - £220
Full Page (b&w) - £140
Half Page (colour) - £110
Half Page (b&w) - £70
Quarter Page (colour) - £55
Quarter Page (b&w) - £35
Eighth Page - £18
Small Boxed £12