Interviews

I have restricted myself to interviewing a small random section of the community, whilst aware that there are many more who could have given equally as interesting interviews (but this would have taken me a lifetime to bring together!) The archive is ongoing and awaiting more interviewers, interviewees, lyrics, music, old posters etc. yet to be discovered in old files and attics in the area!

In talking to people about their musical experiences from early years the key influences appear to have been their primary school, the home environment, the church, the radio and, in this area, Stow pipe band. Those who were lucky enough to own gramophones and pianos made good use of these also. The many music teachers working in the Gala Water area over the years are well mentioned in the musical life stories that come through the interviews.

There were key figures in the Galawater area who were able to pass on their expertise and entertain locally. Geordie Easton was one such figure; a rabbit and mole trapper with a wooden leg, who enjoyed playing the fiddle and is mentioned by several people as having entertained drinkers, and children listening from outside, in the Springbank Inn and the Royal Hotel (both of which have now closed down). We are lucky enough to have an interview of Geordie Easton and Wull Renwick, recorded by the renowned Hamish Henderson (courtesy of the school of Scottish Studies.) This is the only interview that hasn’t been transcribed as it is quite long and rambling. However both Wull and Geordie can be heard playing the fiddle.

Ruth Flavin

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  Archie Anderson

  Archie followed Jimmy McAskill as pipe sergeant of Stow Pipe Band and later replaced Bob Milne as Pipe Major.

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  Sandy Aitchison (councillor)

  Sandy was born and raised in Stow and after a period away at sea, returned to raise his own family in the village. He played the bass drum in the Stow Pipe band for over thirty years.

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  Sheila and Mike Bennet

  As the children of Mr. Bennet the Stow village school headteacher and Mrs. Bennet who also taught at the school, Sheila and Mike have many memories of growing up in a village full of musical occasions.

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  Tom Bonnar

  Tom set up and ran a folk club in Stow in the late 1980s. He worked as an art teacher in an Edinburgh secondary school.

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  Alan Buchan

  Alan, husband of Stow’s first lady minister from 2002-2009 Catherine Buchan, is an organist and ran the church choir. He is also an expert in repairing organs and maintains both Stow and Heriot church organs.

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  Rory Campbell

  Rory plays pipes and whistles and has been an active member of many traditional music bands including Old Blind Dogs. He also works as a music therapist.

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  Margaret Chisholm

  Margaret, who is in her nineties, has lived in Stow since the age of 12. Her father ran the Springbank Inn, where there were music sessions every Saturday night.

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  Margaret Dick

  Margaret, who lived in Fountainhall for many years, was a teacher and later in life taught the piano and played the local church organs for services.

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  Archie Fisher

  Archie is a singer, guitarist, songwriter, and broadcaster. He has several solo albums and tours extensively. He ran the Travelling Folk radio program for BBC Scotland for over 25 years.

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  Nick Flavin

  Nick grew up in Ireland, before moving to Africa as a young missionary priest. He moved to Stow to raise a family in 1988. He was director of charity, The Edinburgh University Settlement for 25 years; and finds his relaxation in playing the melodeon and whistles.

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  Ruth Flavin

  Ruth has taught at both Fountainhall and Stow schools. She gives private music tuition in piano and harp. She was a founder member of Junior Accoutic Music and now runs monthly folk sessions in Cloudhouse café.

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  Alasdair and Pat Jack

  Alastair has entertained many at Burns’ night celebrations in the area with his fine tenor voice. His son Cameron plays in several bands and granddaughter Rachel is a singer and songwriter.

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  Meg Jude (nee Aitchison)

  Meg was a teacher for many years. A keen natural piano player, she entertained with friends from the village, singing and putting on small concerts.

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  Kathy Stewart Kennedy

  Kathy recounts her first husband Andy M. Stewart’s life story and rise to fame with Silly Wizard; as well as her own musical journey from down town Manhattan to the village of Stow and beyond.

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  Joanna Llewellin

  Joanna worked as school secretary at Fountainhall and taught recorder there. Her sons played with local band, The Deaf Heights Cajun Band and also with Orchestra del Sol which were sponsored by the British Council to link with musicians abroad.

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  Katharine McQuillin

  Katherine worked as headteacher of Heriot school for many years. She grew up in Newtongrange with a strong musical influence from both home and school.

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  Helen Otton

  Helen plays the organ for Heriot church. As a member of Heriot Ceilidh Band she plays both keyboard and clarsach and has accompanied the Gala Water Singers on occasion also.

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  Fiona Riddel

  Fiona has lived in Stow all her life. She went to the local school and has been working at Stow primary school as a classroom assistant for nearly 20 years.

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  Mick Riddel

  Mick grew up in Stow winning competitions for his singing from a young age. He works as a fencer, but has played with bands several nights a week over many years, passing his musical talent on to son, Ewan who is a singer/songwriter.

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  Stuart Robinson

  Stuart joined Stow Pipe Band and took over as pipe major when Archie Anderson retired roughly 30 years ago.

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  Nettie Simm

  Nettie grew up in Traquair and Innerleithen. She danced and sang with Innerleithen opera chorus, sang in the church choir and, on moving to Stow, sang with the choir here, initiating the transformation of this choir into the community choir, Galawater Singers.

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  Chris Wemyss

  Chris is one of the founder members and the driving force of the Stowed Out music festival which takes place in Stow in August. He also works for Mac Arts in Galashiels as venue manager and events organizer. He moved to Stow in 1999 and lives in the School house.

• Geordie Easton and Wull Renwick

  These local colourful characters were interviewed by Hamish Henderson more than 40 years ago. We have their interview by kind permission from the School of Scottish Studies. Both played the fiddle and entertained in the local Stow pubs. Geordie is mentioned by both Sandy Aitchison and Margaret Chisholme in their interviews. He was a local shepherd and mole and rabbit catcher. He lost a leg in an accident in the hills. He fashioned his own wooden leg from a tree stump as the ones he was given by the local hospital kept breaking.