In March 1975, the Fife Strathpey and Reel Society was created from a group of about twenty players who answered an advertisement in the local press and got together in the Wayfarers Inn, Markinch. The story that can be told is one of frienship, a love of the fiddle and of Scottish music.

The Fife society quickly became acknowledged as one of the top orchestras in Scotland, renowned for the unique quality of its sound. It is extraordinary that even today the famous "Scottish Lift" is still apparent in the orchestra albeit that many players have come and gone. In 1980 a group from the Society won the prestigious Golden Fiddle award, as the best in Scotland, in a never to be forgotten evening at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh.

There is, however, a remarkable core of original players who have not wavered in their dedication to the Society and to each other. These are the folk who have maintained the standards. A library of tunes and musical arrangements made by members such as Bill Grubb, Bobby Crease and Jim Laing has been assembled over time. They perfected the playing at practices and performed at concerts all over Fife, in many parts of Scotland and even further afield. That dedication to perfection is the reason why the characteristic sound is till apparent today. Evelyn Ostrowska, Bunty Rowlands, Jim Laing and Bob Willox are original members still playing today.

I first heard the orchestra at a concert at The Centre in Leven. I remember the exciting music but my outstanding memory is of the Compere, Andrew Nairn - that perfect mixture of the couthy farmer with a keen wit and whose relaxed demeanour and perfect timing in telling a joke gave him the right to have been a professional. The glamourous Vina Forsyth and handsome George Budd from Ansthuther were the artists. I had to join and I'm sure many others will have a similar story to tell.

I was asked, in spite of being a novice fiddler, to take on the role as Secretary/Chairman and I have had invaluable advice from everyone. Bob Willox, who has done every job in the Society, gave me a hand-written note itemising the essentials for a successful Rally - I could not have managed without it. Invaluable advice came from Evelyn: "We must finish the concerts on time so the guest artistes must not go on too long". Jim Laing encouraged me once at a practice, watching my music, he said "The notes will come". These are the important things that keep this Society functioning as a group and this is our strength - long may it continue.

The Society is fortunate to have the support of our Sponsors and as a result we are able to subsidise concerts, keeping the costs to a minimum. We have raised thousands of pounds over the years for many organisations and charities, while at the same time allowing us to fulfil our objectives of playing and carrying on the tradition of Scottish fiddle music. Many, many thanks to our sponsors.

Our patron Lord Elgin, a descendant of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, is without doubt unique. He is willing to act, recite, sing and speak and always has done with grace and good humour with a twinkle in the eye. Best wishes and thanks to our much revered Patron.

I visited Bob Willox recently and he offered to write a bit of history of the Society. Here are his recollections:

"I attended a concert organised by Bill Grubb in Dunbog Hall and at the end I had a conversation with Bruce Turnbull who spoke about his idea of forming a Strathpey and Reel society. Everyone was interested, especially Bruce, who took his fiddle everywhere, taking an opportunity to play - he had been playing since childhood and could play for hours whithout a note of music. They agreed to go ahead with the idea and the Fife Strathpey and Reel Society was formed with Bruce Turnbull as its first conductor. He had played in several Scottish Dance bands and knew Andrew Nairn and soon had him acting as compere for all the concerts. Andrew knew Lord Elgin very well - hence Lord Elgin's association with the Society, which all reinforces the old saying: "It's not what you know but whom you know".

The Society was formed in 1975 with a strong backbone of men and women who had been musicians for most of their lives in some cases upwards of 40 years. Most of the players were married men - and I only mention this because the Society was also supported by their wives. Not only did they attend local concerts but they also travelled with their husbands to rallies all over Scotland. They were a tower of strength when we started our first rally in 1976 - selling raffle tickets and programs and supplying the tremendous amounts of food for the ceilidh after the concert. They were often so busy they did not hear the concert and it could be as late as midnight before we were finished. The hospitality we gave visitors during the rally and the excellent meal we supplied at one or other of the hotels in Dunfermline gave the Fife Society a great reputation for entertaining our fiddler visitors.

Word soon got round about the Society and we played at concerts in Fife almost every week. We began to receive invitations from other societies to attend their annual concerts and this led to the formation of a fiddle group to play in competitions. The first one was at the 1975 Mod in East Kilbride. I remember that the fiddlers were Bruce Turnbull, Bob Forbes, Bob Flemming and of course, myself. Our pianist was Brunce Lindsay Snr and I seem to remember that John Crawford was on the accordion."

Many thanks to Bob Willox for his contributions and many thanks once more to our patron, sponsors and to my colleagues in the orchestra for the enthusiasm and support given. We are looking forward to many more years of playing Scottish music to the communities of Fife and in other areas where we can represent Fife and its traditions.

Bob Watt, Events Organiser