BIGGAR Accordion and Fiddle Club celebrated their 40th Anniversary at their meeting last Sunday in the company of Jennifer Cruickshank and Family from Lumphanan.

It was in October 1974 that the late Alex MacArthur started the club in the Clydesdale Hotel, Biggar and three changes of venue within the town later we’re still here.

Local players who turned out to support us were accordionists Samantha and Andrew Erskine, Fin Hope, Rose Cursiter, Kyle Rowan, Katie Todd, India Smith, Allan Smith, Fraser Hewitt, Marshall Harkness, Hannah Dickson, Newby Park, Adam Gibb, John Weaks, Jim Gold and Charlie Todd.

On fiddle were Gilbert Logan, Hannah Dickson and Tom Gold. David Corner played concertina and Willie Little his penny whistle. Keyboard players were Jim Gold, Alan Rowan, Emma Dickson, Keith Dickson and Alan Gardiner and drummers were Tom Hope, Geordie Shiels and James Dickson. The star turn amongst the locals though falls to 2-year-old Emily Gold who, accompanied by dad Jim, sang 'Ally Bally Bee’ and brought the house down.

In introducing our guest artistes chairman Alan Gardiner paid tribute to Alex and Evelyn MacArthur and John and Joy Anderson who between them ran the club from 1974 until the present committee took over. Our guest Jennifer Cruickshank’s musical career really started under Alex’s guiding hand hence it was appropriate that it was Jennifer (accordion), husband Brian (fiddle), son Callum (keyboard), daughter Iona (fiddle) and close family friend Duncan Christie (drums) who were with us on our 40th to entertain, particularly since Alex and John always encouraged the youngsters at the club. They treated us to two excellent sessions of music and banter.

At half time a magnificent cake, made by club regular Hannah Jamieson, was cut by Fiona Lawson from Newbigging, Alex and Evelyn’s daughter, and thereafter everyone enjoyed the usual excellent spread provided by the KODA mums and took the opportunity to look at a selection of Peter Rae’s old photographs put together by Keith and Sheena Dickson.

Thanks to everyone who worked hard to make the night a great success and we look forward to seeing you at the Biggar Bowling Club on the second Sunday of the month at 7pm prompt.