Music legend’s collection goes on public show

Rare musical manuscripts by accordion player Sir Jimmy Shand

Newly restored rare musical manuscripts collected by Fife-born world-renowned accordion player Sir Jimmy Shand have been unveiled to the public in Dundee.

The collection, some of which dates back to the 18th Century, was professionally conserved thanks to a fundraising campaign and a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

It will be available for use by musicians, students, teachers, folklorists, historians and other interested parties at Dundee’s Wighton Heritage Centre.

The collection was unveiled at an event on Saturday, attended by Jimmy Shand Jr and his wife Margaret.

Others in attendance were MSP Shona Robison, Leisure and Culture trustee George Laidlaw, Councillor Fraser MacPherson, former Citizen of the Year Norman Robertson, City Centre and Harbour Community Council chairman Bill Newcombe and Box and Fiddle editor Pia Walker, as well as Friends of Wighton.

Singer Sheena Wellington, of the Friends of Wighton, said: “We were very pleased with the turnout for the event.

“There were around 40 people, mostly invited guests and some of our students.

“We have some really interesting things in the collection, around 23 volumes. Some of them date back to 1795 and include workbooks of young people learning to play instruments.

“Jimmy also presented us with two volumes of his father’s compositions.”

Jimmy Shand was born in East Wemyss in Fife in 1908 and played traditional Scottish dance music on the accordion. His signature tune was The Bluebell Polka.

Music at Saturday’s event was provided by students of the Friends of Wighton fiddle and whistle classes with their tutors Morag Anne Elder and Helen Forbes.

Pictures: Kim Cessford. Fiddle and whistle class students played at the event to unveil the collection by Sir Jimmy, left.