Leyland Accordion Club – June 2025
Our last meeting started with Michael playing Skye Boat Song, Michael Row The Boat Ashore, Off To Californian Boys From Blue Hill, Welcome To Skye, Loch Rannoch and Unchained Melody. Our next player to take to the stage was Rebecca who gave us Waltz D’Ameile, Edelweiss and Moon River. Ann Parker was up next, Ann played Chopsticks, The Harry Lime Theme, Memories Are Made Of This, Frog Chorus, and Romanze. It was time for Bernard Bamber to shine, he started with You Are My Sunshine, then continued with Rambling Rose, She’s a Lassie From Lancashire, It’s a Long Way to Tipperary, Pack Up Your Troubles, Don’t Dilly Dally, Daisy Bell, She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain, The Lambeth Walk, Maggie, I’ll Be Your Sweetheart and Bobby Shaftoe. I (David) was up next, playing a medley of I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles, Cruising Down The River, Down At The Old Bull and Bush, She’s A Lassie From Lancashire, My Girls A Yorkshire Girl, I Belong To Glasgow, Keep Right On To The End Of The Road. After the medley I played The Old Rugged Cross, Bless This House, The Cuckoo Waltz, Now Is The Hour, Scotland The Brave, and for Andrew I finished with Twinkle Twinkle and The Wheels On The Bus. Sara Daly Was up next, she played La Cumparsita and another tune I didn’t get the title of. To end the stage part of the night Colin Ensor got up and played Alexanders Ragtime Band, McNamara’s Band, Dancing With Tears in my Eyes, The Gentle Light That Wakes Me, Getting Sentimental Over You, Blue Kentucky Girl, Red Roses For a Blue Lady and Goodnight Irene.
After the stage performances were over we then moved on to the informal part of the night, with people playing in various locations and groups around the room, chatting, drinking tea and coffee, swapping stories and tips, and generally having a good time.
The night ended at the usual 11pm. Thanks go to all who attended and to those who entertained us.
David Batty
Our Next Meeting
We look forward to seeing you all this Tuesday the 17th June. As usual we will give players chance to play on the stage before opening the floor up to playing anywhere around the room, chatting, catching up with each other, learning new tunes etc.
Don’t forget to bring your accordion. As usual there will be Tea and Coffee on the go.
If you know someone who might be interested in attending the club then please let them know about us. I am sure that are a lot of people who would attend if only they knew we existed and how laid back and friendly the club is.
See you at 8pm this Tuesday 17th June. Please try and make it if you can. Doors open at 8pm, see you there.
David.
Our Forthcoming Dates
Our dates till the end of the year are: 3rd Tuesdays of the month 8pm – 11pm
Our nights up to the end of the year:
17th June 2025
15th July 2025
19th August 2025
16th September 2025
21st October 2025
18th November 2025
16th December 2025
Carnforth 1940’s Weekend
Join Carthforth’s first ever 1940s weekend. A free two day event for all the family. The Carnforth Heritage Centre celebrates the 80th anniversary of iconic film Brief Encounter, which was filmed at Carnforth station in 1945.
‘Brief Encounter’ is one of the all-time classic love story films, and starred Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard, and was directed by David Lean.
The event, based in and around the centre at the railway station on Warton Road, is set to feature live music, jive classes, military vehicles, best dressed competitions children’s entertainment, a 1940s fairground, stalls, bar and much more.
Highlights include:
Live music, Vintage cars and tractors, Military vehicles, Model railways, Funfair, Best dressed competitions, Mr and Mrs Churchill impersonators, Jive class, Food and bar concessions, Vintage catwalk, Vintages stalls, 40s railway broadcast, Miniature children’s rail ride.
Celebrations of 80 years of the Brief Encounter motion picture.
This is all taking place on the 28th & 29th June at Carnforth Railway Station.
For more information visit their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/people/Carnforth-1940s-Weekend/61570214763403/
Carnforth Railway Station, Warton Road, Carnforth, United Kingdom
Telephone 07799 108360 or email Carnforth1940s@gmail.com
Accordion Player receives BEM in Kings Birthday Honours
This appeared in the Press and Journal…
Accordionist Frank Thomson, 85, has received a British Empire Medal in recognition of his decades of service to traditional Scottish music.
When Frank Thomson first picked up an accordion at the age of 10, little did he know he would go on to become one of The Queen’s favourite players.
Frank’s years on the squeezebox took him around dance halls all over Scotland, playing to countless dances spanning decades.
He has even played the instrument before audiences in America, Canada and the Middle East – as well as all over Europe.
But as he receives a British Empire Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours, it’s his royal connections we ask about when we visit him at his Kingswells home.
And taking in the sun in his garden, Frank even treats us to a few tunes as he regales us with the story of “amazing musical journey”.
How did Frank Thomson get into the accordion?
After treating us to a selection of tunes, Frank, who has three daughters, recalls how he first fell in love with the accordion 75 years ago.
Frank, who was born and brought up in Perth but moved to Aberdeen in 1995, remembers when he started to show an interest in music.
He recalls his father playing the fiddle and bringing home an old wind organ.
But this was all while spending his working week in the banking industry.
And it was only when he took early retirement in 1995, that he began to really devote himself to his life-long passion.
“I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life on the golf course, like all my colleagues,” he chuckles.
“But I got a call from the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society inviting me to play for classes and dances in Aberdeen.”
As this new career took off, he became a regular on Robbie Shepherd’s Radio Scotland show Take The Floor.
And soon enough, he found himself bagging quite a prestigious booking…
For 35-years, Frank played with Jack Sinclair’s Scottish Band at more than 200 royal events, including the Ghillies Ball at Balmoral Castle and the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday party at neighbouring Birkhall.
“We have lots of happy memories of the royal family,” Frank tells me.
“We became almost friends of the royal family, and it was quite special.”
The Ghillies Ball was one of Her Majesty’s annual highlights during her beloved summer residences at her Highlands hideaway.
This tradition dating back to the days of Queen Victoria has even been immortalised in The Crown.
It was arranged as a thank you to staff, and the first tune would usually be the Dashing White Sergeant.
The Queen inspects the Balaklava Company, 5 Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland at the gates at Balmoral when she arrives for her summer break.
Experts say the event is private so no photographs or video are typically released – and it’s only eye-witnesses like Frank who know what it was really like.
It’s said The Queen “did every dance and would stay up late into the night to just enjoy it”.
Why was Charles late for judging fancy dress competition?
It’s an event most of us would love a peek at, and Frank doesn’t mind sharing some of his recollections of the annual tartan-clad extravaganza – and other special events.
Including one where the serving monarch, back when he was a prince, offered up an unexpected excuse for turning up late…
“I remember one night it was a fancy dress party, which took place every summer the family was staying there. We were sat there ready to play,” he recalls.
“It was always judged by Prince Charles then, and the fancy dress parade was always at half past seven.
“But this evening Prince Charles did not arrive at half past seven to judge the fancy dress parade. And about 10-15 minutes later we started to get worried as everyone was waiting for the music to start.
“Turns out he was wanting to finish an episode of Coronation Street!”
The King does appear to be a fan of the Manchester soap – having visited to mark its 40th anniversary in 2000, and even filming a small cameo.
Frank Thomson on memories of The Queen at Balmoral
On the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday, Frank remembers her rolling back the years by dancing the St. Bernard Waltz and the Gay Gordons.
Frank adds: “She was very gracious, very communicative, she loved meeting people and she was just a very kindly hospitable lady.”
And he is just as effusive in his praise for her daughter – the woman who would go on to become the UK’s longest-serving monarch until her death in 2022.
The late Queen knew each of the musicians by name and Frank treasures the little interactions he was lucky enough to have with the historic figure.
“It was undoubtedly a huge honour and it was quite special because we were treated like royalty by the royalty,” he tells me.
“It is difficult to put into words. It’s a period of my life I will never forget.”
Frank Thomson reflects on worldwide popularity of accordion
Over the years, Frank has won many awards, and his music has taken him all across the globe.
“The amazing thing is how the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society has become popular worldwide,” he adds with pride.
Every summer he still attends the St Andrews Summer School – a major convention of dancers and musicians from all over the world which goes on for four weeks.
So is he slowing down, now that he’s in his mid-80s?
Frank chuckles as he explains he still maintains a busy diary as he “doesn’t like to say no” to people.
And it’s recently been packed with events at Haddo House, with a snow ball he has performed at for 54 years on the trot, a performance with Fiona Kennedy and plenty more.
“It is about getting out there and enjoying yourself,” he explains.
“There is no better activity to do than Scottish Country Dancing, it keeps the mind active and keeps the body fit… That’s what Scottish Country Dancing is all about.
“When dancers need hips and joints replaced like anyone else, they recover more quickly because they are fit – they’re up and about in the ward before anyone else!”
How does Frank feel about royal recognition?
Ever humble, Frank “thought there had been a mistake” when he was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to music and culture.
“It was unreal, I just thought there had been a mistake,” the twinkle-eyed gentleman tells me, still a bit surprised.
“I had to sit down and really nip myself. It makes me feel very very special.
“I’m quite humbled, but highly honoured without a doubt…
“There are nights in my sleep where I wake up and start thinking about the things I have done, and I wonder ‘did I really do that!’”
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/6779549/frank-thomson-accordion/