Skiin' Doo (a pigeon (doo) on skis and a play on words with the gaelic name for the knife which is part of Highland Dress).  Pictured in the Path Tavern, Kirkcaldy, Fife, probably 1981.

I joined the Clydesiders on their "big gigs", when they needed a bass guitarist. Though never a regular member of the group, I was involved in a lot of radio and TV work and also many prestigious theatre performances.  Pictured in the dressing room of Barrfields Pavillion, Largs, Ayrshire on 8th September, 1982.

In the late 70s, I had been resident compere and committee member at Kirkcaldy Folk Club, in the legendary "Elbow Room" of the Royal Oak Hotel, Kirkcaldy. >From 1984, my schedule with the folk duo Beggars Mantle curtailed my involvement but it was always a pleasure to return as guests to perform there. Here I am at the Elbow Room with my partner Bill McArthur and our semi-regular bass player, Alan Kay on the 7th October 1984

While in preparation for the Beggars Mantle "Home That I Love" LP for the Lochshre label, we had a photo shoot with ace photographer (now novelist), George McLaren. The record company rejected our "golf" photos in favour of a one taken with the world famous Forth Bridge in the background. Maybe they were right but Bill and I always liked this shot. Taken in the summer of 1985 on the 18th fairway of the Old Course, St. Andrews, Fife.

1985 was an exciting time for us, we recorded the Home That I Love LP in August and the following month set out for our very first foreign gig in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, which is twinned with our home town of Kirkcaldy. Ingolstadt and the friends we made there are very special to me and were to Bill, until his untimely death in 2002.

Beggars Mantle in Inverness on the set for the Grampian Television series, Ceilidh On The Caledonian Canal . We recorded two shows on 14th October, 1986, with lighting that gave the impression of a warm summer evening, and goosebumps that let you know how cold it really was!