| Robbie Shepherd

Doric, Compère, Manager Entertainer, clivver cheil

Blythe an couthie, kind tae aa Weirs the Heilan costume weel

KENSPECKLE CHEIL: ROBERT LOVIE – SHEENA BACKHALL

It’s been a fairish fortnicht. Fairish? mair like birslin an brunt wi t he sun gin ye gyang aboot athoot yer sombrero an sark wide tae the wa– as I hae been supportin an celebratin honours tae three o the maist genuine freens it his ivver been my pleesur tae fa in wi an aften reezin oot in es column their eident darg in keepin an fosterin aa we loo dear in oor ain rich culture.

Dammit they deserve a column apiece the day bit nae time tae ging ower the same grun as I gie credit tae aa three, as fit a lowe in the hairt it wis tae see them get their rich rewards.

Lat’s yoke wi Sheena Blackhall fa penn’t at twa three lines o the day’s quote. A wikk by Tuesday I wis seatit as pairt o the procession at Aiberdeen University tae see Sheena steppin up, nae for the first time in front o the vice-chancellor, as she wis awardit the honorary degree o Master o the University. Born in the Granite city o country fowk, her inspiration sparkit aff fae her Tarland grannie in hannin doon aal sangs an stories. Sheena’s maistery o the Doric wird is ayont equal be it spoken tongue, in poem, sang or story an the highlicht o’t aa, I tak fae her speech at the ceremony:

Thanks to the University I visited Washington to perform as a guest of the Smithsonian Institute and at home I was given the job of widely promoting the Doric language I cherish dearly.

That she dis brawly weel an mang her lesser-kent protticks is gyan roon the skweels tae encourage the bairns tae spikk an sing in their mither tongue.

Syne tae the lad Sheena wis reezin oot, Robert Lovie, an it says it aa. I hae kent Robert fae a bairn at’s fowk’s fairm an New Aiberdour an oor paths wis tae gyang the same early roadies followin in my fitsteps as commentator at the Heilan Games an compère wi the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, bit he’s lang oot-stridit me noo. A founder member o the Buchan Heritage Society fin still a young loon we’re baith Honorary Presidents o the Society an on tap o aathing Sheena screiv’t, we mauna forget his fundraisin throwe the time he wis wi the National Trust for Scotland. Noo on leavin the Trust an Fyvie castle ahin he’s teen on an even bigger challenge wirkin for Prince charles in an executive capacity wi the Prince’s Foundation. Ay, still the same loon I ken bit foo he packs in aathing is ayont me. Again I wis back at the Uni tae see him get his honorary doctorate degree.

The hinmaist o the three is Graeme Mitchell an Esma an I were fair trickit tae be twa o’s guests as he wis tae be honour’t for his great contribution tae Scottish Dance Music bi the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle clubs an a gran efterneen we aa spent in the Huntingtower Hotel jist ootside Perth last Sunday. Myn ye gettin ere, nivver again daur ye menchin Broxden Roonaboot tae me. I wisna for spikkin till kennin we wid be late for the Do. Aathing turn’t oot hunkie-dorie an we were sae prood o the young lad we kent fae cairnie, es maist unassumin accordion band leader gettin’s award for ootstanding services tae Scottish Dance music. I first clappit een o him at an Accordion club meetin in Keith syne, comin in tae Aiberdeen in’s student days, wis tae jyn oor concert pairty for a feow gigs. Tae think at he wis tae get at award as did his mentor Jim Johnstone, must o meant sic a lot tae him.

I look back wi sic pride on ilka een an, croose in the craa, foo in their ain wye they hae helpit keep the North-East neuk tae the fore on the warl stage.

See ye neist wikkeyn.