Box and Fiddle - December 2018

Fiddle

42nd Year No. 04 Dec 2018

£3.00

BOX& The magazine for Scottish music enthusiasts

S

d n a l het 018 2 l a v Festi PLUS

2018 PERTH ACCORDION & FIDDLE FESTIVAL MUSICAL MEMORIES DOUGIE WATSON IS CENTRE STAGE

NEWS, CLUB & DANCE DIARIES AND MUCH MORE...

Welcome

B&F • EDITORIAL

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...to the December issue of Box & Fiddle The magazine for Scottish music enthusiasts

Editor • Pia Walker 7 Tarvit Gardens Cupar, Fife, KY15 5BT Tel: 01334 657 850 Mob: 07715 115 489 editor@boxandfiddle.com Designer • Marie Martin mamidesigns@hotmail.com Front cover Selfie by Liam John Brannan Section icons by: FlatIcon

Printer • Ivanhoe Caledonian Printing Company Ltd Eskmills, Musselburgh, EH21 7PE

NAAFC Chairman Nicol McLaren The Shian, Woodlands Road Blairgowrie, PH10 6LD Tel: 01250 874 526 nicol@boxandfiddle.com Vice Chairman Iain Cathcart Tel: 01555 661 017 iain@boxandfiddle.com Secretary Shona MacFadyen secretary@boxandfiddle.com Executive Committee: Scott Band Charlie Kirkpatrick Susan MacFadyen Tom Orr Richard Ross Liam Stewart

It has been all systems go to get everything in order for December. Resubscriptions have been falling in through the letterbox like a snow storm (thank you), my in-box has been groaning with the news and views coming too, and I’m now well on the way working on January’s issue. Do remember that information arriving after 5th December won’t Pia Walker, Editor be published until February. This month (and any others) I need all the help I can get from you.

Please, reporters, can you limit your club news to no more than 300 words. Can I ask you to ensure that you save your files in Doc or Docx-format and not the ODT-format so I can open them. A little hint: if you cut down on the capitals such as Jigs, Reels, Accordion, you save a lot of time when writing (and I save a lot of time by not having to change them back into jigs, reels and accordion ☺). Some of you believe that I have ESP with regard to dates. I haven’t! I have to believe that what I receive is correct until I hear differently. If it is a late change and we can’t add it to the magazine, we can still change it on the website and highlight it on Facebook. Can I have your dates for 2019 please, so we can add them to the website and to the magazine.

In this issue, you can read about the Shetland and Perth festivals. They are very different from each other, yet both hugely enjoyable, and this should get you in the mood for our own festival in March. Take the first steps now: book that B&B or hotel and prepare your club band for entry. Oh! And polish your dancing shoes for the dance in the evening!

Dear Reader, this time of year is a time of mixed feelings for many. I do hope that our music will lift your spirits when necessary - it does for me. I hope that the many Christmas club nights will be successful and that the weather behaves. Please be careful when driving: we want you whole and hearty now and in the future.

Christmas greetings from us all in the B&F Team

Keep up with the latest news at

www.boxandfiddle.com Box & Fiddle (NAAFC)

Pia

The editorial team reserves the right to refuse or edit all copy. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the editor. Use of material and advertising from this publication is strictly prohibited without permission in writing from the editor.

While every care has been taken in compiling Box & Fiddle to ensure that it is correct at the time of going to press, Box & Fiddle assume no responsibility for any effects from errors or omissions.

Contents

12 6 10 12

News & Letters

16 39

Musical Memories Festivals

2018 Shetland Festival

19

Club News The latest news from our clubs

38

Centre Stage Dougie Watson

Deadlines:

Club Diary You are never too old

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In Memory

46

Dance Diary

Davy Pollock; Hugh Ferguson

Find the nearest dances and ceilidhs

50

Reviews From Scots Borderer to Ulster Scot

50

5

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to go clubbing!

2018 Perth Accordion and Fiddle Festival;

B&F • CONTENTS

Take the Floor

All articles, adverts, club reports and text for the magazine must be e-mailed to the editor by the 5th of every month at the latest. Copy received after this date cannot be guaranteed to feature in the next issue.

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B&F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM

NEWS

News

Send in your story. If you have a photo that tells a story, send it in with an explanation.

Arbroath Accordion & Fiddle Club Raises £700 for Kaela

Fiddle Club Committee Arbroath Accordion and for £700 to Claire Thould Members present a cheque

Early in October Arbroath Accordion & Fiddle Club held the very successful Charity Open Day. The event, the fifth organised by the club, was held at the town’s Meadowbank Inn and comprised two sessions: a music session in the afternoon and a dance in the evening.

The afternoon session was very well attended with nearly one hundred people coming along to listen, to play or to do both. It was a very busy programme with a large number of musicians. On fiddle we had Dave Smith, Tommy Truesdale, Jim Milne and Liz Arthur. On accordion were Arthur Wood, Robert Howat, Cora Wilson, Margaret Smith (also playing banjo), Tony Simpson, John Davidson, Barbara Archibald, Eric Davidson, Albert Cull and Mac Kinnear. On drums was Avril Abbott and on piano were Bill Ford, Rhoda Legge and Tony Simpson while Ian Ramsay played guitar.

Around sixty guests attended the dance and enjoyed a mixed programme of Scottish country, ceilidh and old time music played by Steven Carcary on lead accordion with Graham Bell on 2nd accordion and Graham Sheritt on drums.

Club Chairman Tony Simpson said: “This was

another great open day and we thank everyone who contributed to the day and made it the success it was. Thanks go the club and visiting musicians, to Steven Carcary and his fellow musicians, to the Meadowbank Inn, to the local businesses who provided raffle prizes etc and of course to our club’s members, guests and committee members who supported the day.”

Tony continued: “The chosen charity this year was the Kaela Thould Trust Fund. Kaela Thould is a very special young girl who unfortunately has severe quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy, grand mal epilepsy and other severe conditions.

Requiring constant support, Kaela, who is also blind, needs to be fed orally. It is hoped that the proceeds from the open day will improve Kaela’s quality of life. It was a pleasure to present a cheque for £700 to Kaela’s mother Claire at the club meeting on 4th November.“ Claire said: “I enjoyed coming along to the open day. Kaela really enjoyed the music and I am delighted to receive this money which will greatly help Kaela. I thank Arbroath Accordion and Fiddle Club for their support and for putting this wonderful open day together.” l

Kaela with mum Cla ire family and friends

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B&F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM

l a c i s u M emories M

PART THREE

By Denis Shepherd

Sandy Rennie The

I

Gordon

n the previous issue of the B&F my school friend Bill Clark and I visited Jimmy Hay, in Kemnay, to record sessions in the format of Take the Floor.

Jimmy, at the age of 83, was still an expert player; not so the other two members of the ‘James Hay Trio.’ These amateur recordings provided much amusement for certain professional musicians.

John Crossman, a family friend, used to promote country dances with the Michael McKay Band often providing the music and myself helping on the door.

The photo shows the band when it was the Curly McKay Band, but in the few years between then and the Crossman dances Michael’s father Curly had passed away and Michael had taken over the band which included his sister Elizabeth and Tommy McDonald.

The band members used to look forward to the ‘fly’ cup at the end of the dance, when I would play my ‘James Hay Trio’ tapes to them as they admired Jimmy’s fiddle playing and killed themselves laughing at the extras.

One day Bill’s mum, Anne, was scanning the entertainment pages of the People’s Journal when

she spotted a dance advertised in the hall at Kildrummy Inn and said, “Hey Bill, there really is a band called the James Hay Trio!” However, on closer inspection it appeared the dance was not only on a Tuesday, but on 1st April. Apparently, a party who had hired a car to attend the dance, stomped out of the bar, never to return, on discovering it was a hoax. I wasn’t the proprietor’s favourite person for some time after this!

About this same era, I briefly met another wouldbe musician – the local poultry dealer, known as ‘Feathery.’ One day I dropped in with a business message and he insisted I witness his new musical skills: “I go the piano ye ken!” The sheet music was in place and so eventually were all his fingers, which he manoeuvred perfectly until grinding to a halt on the second bar. I certainly believed him when he said he needed a bit more practice.

Turning again to real musicians, one of the dances John Crossman promoted in the early 70s, at Muggarthaugh Hotel near Alford, featured the Lindsay Ross Trio. Mr Ross, who sadly passed away a few years later, was one of Scotland’s leading dance-band leaders and played the cordovox, backed by his son Malcolm, now described as a legendary dance band drummer, who was barely out

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B&F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM

Festivals Peter Bruce inducted to the Hall of Fame

Saturday Night Dance

A tune

2018 Perth Accordion and Fiddle Festival

By Pia Walker

S

aturday 27th October saw many people from club land and beyond descending on Perth and the Salutation Hotel in this Fair City to take part in the annual pilgrimage that is called Perth and Scotland Accordion and Fiddle Festival.

But first the traditional start of the weekend – the Friday dance. This year it was to the Craig McCallum SDB and what a dance! Brilliant tempo, well-balanced and upbeat sound and tempo - the floor was never empty. All through the evening, as more and more people arrived, you could hear welcoming greetings between friends who had not seen each other for some time. My own weekend highlight was dancing Posties Jig with young accordionist Finn Hope – at both dances! Thank you, Finn: you are a trouper, keep dancing.

Saturday was a hive of activity with competitors and audiences moving between the three halls.

As Robert Whitehead said, after having judged

the junior accordion championship: “All who get up on the stage are champions in their own right.”

How right he was. Congratulations to all winners, indeed congratulations to all who participated.

Hope to see you all at the NAAFC festival. Enjoy the photos taken by Nicol McLaren and find the many winners listed here.

Even though the championship winners had been declared, the day wasn’t over. We had a fantastic concert with Lynne Christie and her Scottish Dance Band, Gordon Gunn and Margaret Robertson and Matthew Maclennan and Friends, followed by yet another dance. This time the band was Iain Cathcart SDB, and yet another brilliant evening ensued. The atmosphere was joyous, as competitors now relaxed and let their hair down (which they duly did!). The music was superb, and pitched just right for the dancers. Thank you to both bands from this auld dancer. l

B&F • CLUB NEWS

Club News Just remember to seek permission to publish the photos and tell us the name of the photographers.

To ensure a more readable section, please only send in max 250-300 words. A photo tells a better story, so add one or two of those too. Why not of your audience? Information in Club News helps attract visitors to your club, so make sure your club sounds like the place we want to go to.

ABERDEEN Stanley Flett welcomed everyone to our October meeting and explained that our chairman and secretary Scott and Susan Gordon were off on a musical trip to Oman - lucky things! Stanley as MC then welcomed back Esma Shepherd for the first time since her very long spell in hospital and recovery from hip problems. It was great to see her back at the piano.

We started with local musicians Frank Burnett, Brian Stanger and Sandy McAllan on accordion, all accompanied by Stanley Flett or Esma Shepherd on piano and Dennis Constable on drums. There was only one fiddler, Calum Johnston who is working in Aberdeen for 6 months. He played some beautiful tunes and it was good to see him back here yet again.

Our guests, the Scott Band Trio, with Scott on piano and button-accordion, Dennis Morrison on piano and Graham Sherrit on drums, gave us lots of variations as Scott changed boxes to give us very different sounds. Some of the tunes he played were John Crawford of Freuchie, Bonskeid House, The Directors and Eileen’s Waltz.

After the raffle, we had Denis

Scott Band Trio, Aberdeen

Shepherd on moothie and Keith Duncan and Lynne Mciver on accordion all with some super tunes.

The guests came back for a wonderful second half. Once again, Scott swapped boxes back and forth for the Ollaberry Two-Step, The Auld Hip Joint and a beautiful waltz, Bryce and Margaret Currie’s Silver Wedding by Ian Holmes. All too soon we were on the last set which was a fantastic set of reels starting with Billy Thom’s Reel and finishing with my favourite, Miss Jane of Violetbank.

Many thanks, Scott, Dennis and Graham, for a superb evening, and we hope to see everyone back soon.

Sheila Bain

ANNAN ST ANDREWS The October meeting took place in Newington Social Club and saw the return of the ever popular guest band Garioch Blend, who had been playing at other functions over the last few days. The large number of people in the hall proved their popularity. The band comprised Willie Kelman on fiddle and vocals, Charles Esson on accordion and his son, also Charles, on drums.

The dancers were soon on the floor and Willie sang for a Lomond Waltz to the tune Down by the Riverside followed by a Mayfair Quickstep, Saunter Together and a Gay Gordons Two Step. The Lass fae Cornhill and Skye is my Home were the

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Centre Stage

Dougie Watson Dougie is a staunch and well-known supporter of music as well as dance both in Lewis and Harris and on the mainland. On club nights he can be seen with his trusted camera and accordion as well as helping wherever a hand is needed.

When was the first time you performed in public?

Playing at The Caladh Inn, Stornoway with David Bowen in 2012.

What are the best places in the world you have visited?

East Calder, Keith, Arbroath and South Queensferry.

All great in their own way.

What do you appreciate most in life?

Probably that I have more than I realise I have.

What is your favourite musical venue?

Caladh Inn, Stornoway (our club’s home).

What is your most cherished childhood memory?

Spending time with my grandparents.

How would you like to be remembered?

For being part of the Scottish music and dancing family.

Who was a big influence in your life and /or your music?

I wouldn’t really say any one person was an influence. There are many great people out there that I have looked up to.

The Angus Accordion & Fiddle Festival has been a help.

What was your first job?

Port operative at Stornoway harbour.

What is your greatest indulgence?

Chocolate.

What is your abiding musical memory?

Dancing to Iain Macphail’s Luckenbooth Brooch live at The British Legion, Stornoway in 2009.

What are your worst fears?

Lifts.

What makes you angry, annoyed or short-tempered?

Swearing, and people who don’t pay attention to instructions.

What is your favourite location in Scotland?

Perthshire - it’s a bonnie place.

If you had to leave, what would you be glad to see the back of?

Stornoway - my ceilidh dancers. Scotland - probably the lot, but I wouldn’t miss the wind.

If your house was on fire what item would save?

My accordion.

Who are your heroes and why?

The dancers and musicians I have met over the years.

The Scottish dance music scene – your thoughts and hopes?

I feel that it is losing popularity and it’s not getting support from anywhere. I want this to change so that future generations can take part.

I know the dancing/A&F clubs are separate, but sometimes I feel they may at times need to come together.

What 5 people would you invite to your dream dinner party?

What 5 people would you invite to your dream dinner party? I’d break that rule and invite ‘The Super Six’ (Sheila & Billy, John & Isobel, Peggy & Les).

Your favourite 1, 2, 3 of favourite tunes/songs?

1. Callum’s Road 2. Jim Kerr’s Birthday Bash 3. Jessie Stuart’s Welcome in Dufftown.

Today I will Eat: Dinner Drink: Cuppa-soup Read: The Bible.

Visit: Gran & Shen’s Watch: River City.

DECEMBER BB&& FF• •CLUB DIARY 2018

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Club Diary December 2018 DATE

CLUB

GUEST ARTIST

VENUE

TIME

CONTACT

2

Arbroath

Leonard Brown Duo

Arbroath Artisan Golf Club, Elliot,

By Arbroath DD11 2PE

7.30 pm

Tony Simpson 01241 875 326

2

Clydesdale

Janet Graham Band

St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark ML11 7JS

2.00 pm

Shirley Cathcart 01555 661 017

2

Gretna

Freeland Barbour & The Occasionals

Richard Greenhow Centre, Gretna DG16 5AQ

7.00 pm

Robin Waitt 01387 371 423

3

Thurso

Daniel McPhee

Pentland Hotel, Thurso KW14 7AA

7.30 pm

Ian Wright 01847 892 050

4

Campsie

The Seamus O’Sullivan Experience

Glazert Country House Hotel, Lennoxtown G66 7DJ

7.30 pm

Billy Hutton 07889 021 972

4

Fort William

Richard Ross Trio

Railway Club, Inverlochy, Fort William PH33 6LY

7.30 pm

Alisdair MacDonald 01397 701 505

4

Islesteps

Gordon Pattullo & Malcolm Ross

Locharbriggs Social Club, Locharbriggs DG1 1XS

7.30 pm

John M Caskie MBE 01387 710 975 07711 573 071

4

North East

Club night (Visitors welcome)

Royal British Legion, Keith AB55 5EN

7.30 pm

Rory Smith 07769 801 996

4

Seghill

Club night (Visitors welcome)

Seghill Comrades Club, Cramlington NE23 7TQ

7.00 pm

James Youngson 01670 356 410

5

Dingwall

Sandy & Jimmy Lindsay

National Hotel, Dingwall IV15 9HA

7.30 pm

Elspeth Weir 01349 877 675

5

Glenfarg

Gary Sutherland Band

Glenfarg Village Hall, Glenfarg PH2 9NU

7.30 pm

Stewart Smith 01577 830 296

5

Montrose

Callum Cruickshank Band

Park Hotel, Montrose DD10 8RJ

7.30 pm

Ron Ramsay 01241 879 487

5

Orkney

Club night (Visitors welcome)

The Reel, Kirkwall KW15 1KD

7.30 pm

Jim Marwick 01856 874 474

6

Crieff

Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross

The British Legion, Crieff PH7 3EB

7.30 pm

Irene Anderson 01764 654 298

6

Galashiels

Cadjers Ceilidh Band

Gala YM RFC, 4 Roxburgh Street, Galashiels, TD1 1PF

7.30 pm

Robert Cleland 01896 754 463

6

Isle of Skye

Archie & Alec MacAllister

The Royal Hotel, Portree IV51 9BU

7.30 pm

Linda Shaw 01478 611 122

6

Lewis and Harris

Elizabeth Mackenzie Trio

Caladh Inn, Stornoway HS1 2QN

8.00 pm

Janette MacIver 01851 704 870

6

Turriff

Garioch Blend

Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown AB53 5WJ

7.30 pm

Pat Steele 01888 562 486

6

Oban

Callum McColl

Royal Hotel, Argyll Square, Oban, Argyll and Bute PA34 4BE

7.30 pm

Anne McFadyen 01631 562077

7

Ellon

Garioch Blend (Dinner Dance)

Station Hotel, Ellon AB41 9BD

7.30 pm

Tom Jamieson 07864 824583

8

Uist & Benbecula

Club night (Visitors welcome)

Griminish Church of Scotland Hall, Benbecula

8.00 pm

Theona Morrison 01870 603 180

9

Biggar

Club afternoon (Visitors welcome)

Biggar Bowling Club, Biggar ML12 6AX

2.00 pm

Charlie Todd 01899 308 327

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B&F • DECEMBER 2018

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In Memory Davy Pollock D

avy passed away in early August. He had always stated that he was going to have a living wake, but sadly it was not to be. He did not want any service when he was cremated or at the scattering of his ashes and this was adhered to.

David was a regular attendee at the majority of clubs in the south-east entertaining with his legendary stories, his upside-down 5-row box and in earlier years with his bagpipes. He also had a band at one time playing for dancing. He played outside the Help The Aged charity store in Peebles and used to say he was raising money for people younger than he was. Many therefore felt that they would like to remember him with an event.

Representatives from his work at the Moredun Institute, close friends and neighbours and Bruce Lindsay’s Windygates Buttons and Bows got together to arrange a gathering of all who had stories, poetry, music and songs that had a Davy connection. This took place at Windygates Hall on 21st.October. 35 players appeared and the hall was soon full of both players and audience.

Bruce Lindsay, accompanied by Andy Greig on Shand Morino and Jack McLeish on drums, took centre stage. Players and singers had to be restricted to one tune each because of the demand.

Chriss, his long-term musical travelling companion, stated how much he would miss his old friend who phoned him at least twice a day. Attendees from as

far afield as Pitlochry, Kelso, Dumfries, Fort William and everywhere in between attended. The honour of playing the tune Davie Pollock of Roslin by Ian Cruickshanks went to Ian MaCallum accompanied

by Bruce Lindsay (junior), but was played again during the final stramash. A large and much appreciated buffet was provided during the interval.

A warm welcome was extended to his long-term friends Elizabeth and Alistair and to the relatives who sat with David every day whilst he was in hospital.

Phone calls from his many friends in Ireland and elsewhere apologising for not being able to attend were many.

David was a one-off. His knowledge knew no bounds. His university was the university of life.

He was a master of music, comedy, showmanship, politics and farming and a self-trained artist.

Everyone agreed it was a tremendous tribute to David who will be fondly and greatly missed. l TWAE

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