'ACCORDIONS GALORE'
GRAND VARIETY SHOW
IN TRIBUTE TO THE LATE WILL STARR
IN THE CIVIC CONCERT HALL MOTHERWELL
AT 7 PM SUNDAY 21ST OCTOBER 1979
IN AID OF THE CANCER RESEARCH CAMPAIGN
PRODUCED BY PETER PATERSON
FOR THE WILL STARR SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN
The Programme
A variety show; with emphasis on accordion music and a fitting setting to pay tribute to the late Will Starr.
Will Starr passed into immortality on 6th March 1976.
In his short span of years he filled his life with music, from his humble upbringing in the village of Croy.
His genius and talent as an accordionist transported him to many parts of the world.
Playing in his unique style the music of his homeland, proving himself a fine ambassador and a true Scottish Minstrel in every sense of the word.
Will was taken from us by cancer.
It is fitting that the proceeds of this show should go to help fight this scourge of mankind.
I would like to sum up with a poem I wrote when Will died. I think it says it all.
THE STARR HAS GONE
For over half a century over Croy it brightly shone,
A Starr whose ray shone o'er the world.
Now the magic aura's gone.
Never again to see him stride into the spotlight's glare,
Never again his accordion prove his talents oh so rare.
Fortunate were the many who saw him play first hand,
Squeezing out those jigs and reels in style that was so grand.
Prematurely cut away at the peak of his career,
Never fully honoured by the land he loved so dear.
On his many world tours he bore auld Scotia's name,
A truly fine ambassador entitled to his fame.
Epitaph
The flashing fingers now at rest
The hand that won his fame
His music is our inheritance
We will not see his like again
(Words by Peter Paterson - 1979)
THE WILL STARR MEMORIAL SHIELD CONTEST
Tonight three anxious accordionists will take the stage to compete for a new accordion trophy.
The Will Starr Memorial Shield was made in Canada by Andy Paterson from a design by Peter Paterson.
Andy, a one time prominent accordionist in Scotland in the late 50s, played many of the halls in Glasgow,
some of them now extinct, like the Empire and the Old Metropole.
Andy, now living in Winnipeg, carved the shield from Canadian Cedar.
It was gifted to the Will Starr Society of Great Britain by the Sons of Scotland of Canada.
THE WILL STARR SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN
Jim Gibson, a Scotsman now living in England, founded the society early in 1978 in appreciation of Will Starr and his music.
We hope the shield, when contested in future years, will fulfill the aim of the society; to keep alive the music and memory of Will Starr for future generations of accordionists.
ACCORDIONS GALORE 1979
Produced by Peter Paterson
Musical Adviser, James MacEwen
Assistant Organiser, Angeline O'Neil of Croy
We Present for your Entertainment
George Stirrat and his BBC Scottish Dance Band. - One of the finest bands ever to play on radio.
The Johnston Highland Dancers. - Young ladies whose style sets the beauty of Scottish Dance.
George Stirrat and his band - continue with their music.
Roy Dane - changes the mood a little as he sings country Style.
Janice Graham - A pupil of James MacEwen's School of Music.
The Croy Miners' Choir - sing their tribute from Will Starr's village.
Walter Perrie - Brilliant Piano Accordionist, Recording Star and Star of STV's 'Thingummyjig'.
INTERVAL
The Johnston Highland Dancers.
The Jays with Lyn MacIntyre - A terrific young accordion group with tremendous versatility.
Peter Paterson - with a few Scottish songs.
The Will Starr Memorial Shield final.
The Finalists
John Morgan from Slamannan
Bob Foster from England
Ian Horsburgh from Blackridge
Willie McGuire - Ace button accordionist and 1973 Scottish Junior Champion, playing the music of his idol, Will Starr.
The result of the contest and the presentation.
Walter Perrie - our star of the show.
The Finale.
OUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE
Under the direction of Mr. James MacEwen of the Accordion School of Music, Airdrie, we hope to form very shortly, the Strathclyde Accordion Orchestra.
This orchestra will be of a permanent standing in this area.
Mr. MacEwen is now busy orchestrating musical scores of all types of music for this venture.
We have a number of accordionists signed on for the orchestra, but we will welcome anyone interested, so come and join us.
See Mr. MacEwen's advertisement in the programme and get in touch.
THE WILL STARR SONG
'A star, a star, they called Will Starr', written by Peter Paterson.
Chorus
A star, a star, they called Will Starr.
His accordion music always made the bill.
A star, a star, they called Will Starr.
In the music of his life he's with us still.
Verse One
He played it, oh, so many times,
In the halls of home and far away.
Caledonian music aye sae braw,
When played in the Will Starr way.
Verse Two
The Bonnie Lass o' Bon Accord,
Kenmure's on and awa'.
The famous airs of his dear land,
He played them with a truly master hand.
Verse Three
As time goes on the memory lasts,
Of the Scottish minstrel now at rest.
We will play his records o'er and o'er,
This inheritance to us will stand the test.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Will Starr Society of Great Britain would like to thank; Jack McLaughlin and Jim McLeod of Radio Clyde;
Producers and presenters of the BBC for their coverage leading up to the show;
Gordon Irving of the Evening Times;
The Box and Fiddle;
The Motherwell Times and other newspapers who did articles on the show;
The Motherwell District Council for the free let of the hall;
Alisdair Bayne, theatre and concert hall manager and his ever willing staff;
all subscribers to the programme; local committees of the Cancer Research Campaign for help in selling tickets;
a special thanks to the Sons of Scotland of Canada;
and especially to all our talented artistes.
A hearty thanks to all you good people who paid to attend the show.
Many thanks to the Starr family who live in Croy.
Especially Rose and Theresa, Margaret and Peter who have shown members of the Society and myself great hospitality on our various visits.
Note:
* Tickets for the show were:- Adults = £1.50, Children & Senior citizens = £1.00.
There was standing room only at the show.
* After all expenses were paid, a cheque for £1025.00 was handed over to the Cancer Research Campaign.
* All material on this page was printed in the original programme of the memorial concert.
* A copy of the programme was very kindly contributed by John Currie of Kirkoswald, one of the founding members of the Society.
* The 'Will Starr Memorial Trophy' can be seen here.
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