Jimmy Shand, 1966

Only a small fragment of Shand’s New Year’s Day appearance in 1966 remains in the archives.

Fresh from his 21st Hogmanay broadcast in a row, he told Roy Promley: “I never had any ambitions to be anybody. I never thought I’d be an artist on television, recording or anything like that.”

Shand described how he started playing music, picking up his father’s melodeon. He chatted about his early working life in the mines before his involvement in benefit gigs for striking workers meant he had to look for employment elsewhere.

“I used to visit Dundee at weekends and look into music shop windows, admiring the accordions,” he recalled.

“I happened to be with a friend one day and he said, ‘It disnae cost you money to try them’, so we went in and tried the accordion.

“The proprietor Mr Forbes was taken with the way we were playing and invited me in any time I was in Dundee.”

Shand became a demonstrator and salesman for the shop, and played shows and concerts in his spare time. After the war, he became a full-time musician and his career took off.

The conversation touched on Shand’s punishing schedule on the road. He said: “I once travelled from Auchtermuchty down to Southsea, played the dance and then motored back home again. 1,100 miles.” Shand also revealed his fascination for motorbikes.

“I have three good racing bikes now. You get a good thrill with the motorbike, fresh air, it’s a very healthy thing.”

One Disc: Jimmy Shand And His Band - Welcome Christmas Morning One Book: The Second World War by Sir Winston Churchill One Luxury: Tin whistle