Robbie Shepherd

wi a sma ‘n’ – fin it comes tae protectin an preservin wir prood heritage, speecially in wir North-east neuk, bit at disna mean I maun ging aneth the banner o the SNP.

Dippin ma big tae intae es carfuffle – a muckle guddle o a puddle – I hiv tae say I pit masel mang the 70% in at poll o the over saxties an lat’s see the ither side afore aathing his been redd up on the comin oot o the EU. Better the deil ye ken than the deil ye dinna. Only history will tell’s fa wis the wyte o’t aa tho the ‘Corbie’ on the Labour side hisna muckle tae craa sae crouse aboot.

Haudin awa fae politics bit still the prood Scotsman, at sang at the heid o the column brocht back tae me fin, in the late fifties/early sixties, the ‘Garlogie Four’ were invitit tae perform efter a Tivoli Show at the openin o the new lounge at the Commercial Hotel in Tarland an on arrivin, takkin centre stage wis Henry Littlejohn an his pal the “pheesic” Jimmy Forbes fa hid adaptit the wirds tae suit the occasion.

Noo I aften winner fa wrote at sang “Scotsmen Every One” The only recordin I hae come across wis jist the chorus in a medley aff an aal 78 o’ Harry Lauder. Onybody tell me mair?

Noo, on oor rich heritage wi music tae the fore, es Setterday sees the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra back wi’s again in the Beach Ballroom an at rolls back the eers tae me on first meetin the charismatic, conductor an musical director, the late John Mason, MBE, at the orchestra’s inaugural concert in the Music Hall in 1980. The compere wis the Rev James Currie an I wis interviewin John, winnerin if they were maybe pushin the boundaries o traditional music a thochtie ower far. Damn the lenth, the orchestra brocht sic a unique sound that has seen them aa ower the warl, great ambassadors o oor country an raisin thoosans o pouns for charity in the bygyan.

Little did I ken then that I wid tak ower fae James Currie a sivven eers later an een o ma proodest moments wis presentin the orchestra tae a packit Royal Albert Hall in London wi Scotsmen here, ere an aawye - the strains o the singin fiddles dirlin throwe the lichtit hall an the hairt strings tuggin sairly. Jist anither hint tae Nicola tae ca canny.

Myn the SFO the nicht, an I’ve a speecial message tae the chief flautist, a teacher at Bridge o Don Academy. Gordon wis up last wikkeyn wi twa skweel pals noo doon sooth, tae celebrate anither’s fortieth birthday. In fac the fower aa turn 40 es eer and aa taught bi the flautist, twa claimin tae be teacher’s pet. They got a fair stammagaster fin I said I got ma ticket for the concert fae her on her road hame fae the Academy, 39 eers an still ere. Sheena regards fae Gordon, Kish, Jeff an Bob.

See ye neist wikkeyn.