THE Evening Times writer Jack House made his way to Auchtermuchty one day in the summer of 1976. A police car arrived and showed him the rest of the way to his destination.

“You’ll find Jimmy there”, the driver told House, indicating a group of houses.

House’s quarry that day was Jimmy Shand, the virtuoso, world-famous accordion player, who had been out of the limelight for a year or two, following a serious operation. “He’s still as well-known and as much-loved as ever”, noted House. “A lady from New Zealand was just leaving as I arrived, and while I was in the Shand bungalow the phone never seemed to stop ringing”.

Now there was talk of Jimmy coming out of retirement to tour Australia and New Zealand with the Alexander Brothers. “Oh, it’s not fixed yet”, Jimmy said. “I haven’t made up my mind, though there’s a lot of folk in Australia and New Zealand I’d like to see”. He glanced out at his estate and across at the hills. “I never fancy leaving this”, he conceded.

One of the reasons for the House call was that Shand had written his first hymn, for Action Research, a national fund for research into crippling diseases.

It had been a while since Shand had appeared in front of a live audience, though he still took his accordion along to socials and small concerts in and around Auchtermuchty.

As House looked on, he took out his accordion. “It seemed to nestle in his arms like a loved one”, observed House. “Then away his fingers flew and I realised that age – he’s 69 – and illness have not affected his world-renowned ability one whit”.

Sir Jimmy Shand MBE died in December 2000, aged 92. Obituaries noted is distinguished career and many achievements, and to his immense contribution to the popularising of Scottish music.

Read more: Herald Diary