The Banff and Buchan Collection

Bert Gow and Robert MacRobbie (Strichen), 1984 (age 88 and 86), recorded by Jock Duncan.

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NEFA 1994.070.01   Transcription
P: Bert Gow and Robert Macrobbie
T:
Bert Gow and Robert Boothby
S:
BG had a run in with Boothby, MP. He composed a song about him, 'Boothby on ma Back'. He used to mimic females on the stage. Once he did that with Boothby standing by. Recites several verses of song, pauses and continues. Boothby liked that.

NEFA 1994.070.02   Transcription
P: Bert Gow and Robert Macrobbie
T:
More on Boothby
S:
Boothby is 84 now, still in the House of Lords. RM says we will never see the like again. The next MP threw away the majority. BG went as a washerwife and as Teenie Rhubarb, a farm girl. BG starts to recite 'I'm just a common washerwife', a chorus and another verse.

NEFA 1994.070.03   Transcription
P: Bert Gow and Robert Macrobbie
T:
Talk about songs from the War
S:
JD asks for songs from the War. Jock Russell, Macduff knows War songs.

NEFA 1994.070.04    Transcription
P: Bert Gow and Robert Macrobbie
T:
Bert Gow's boxing and songmaking
S:
BG used to box and made a song about boxing that begins with a reference to Dr. Crippen. Recites many verses.

NEFA 1994.070.05    Transcription
P: Bert Gow and Robert Macrobbie
T:
Feeing at Aberdour
S:
RM used to fee at Aberdour. You would get 25 pounds for a bull. Bonnyton Hill was a hard farm to work, but they had good horses. Baron o Bucklavie[?] was a common breed, but there were not too many hairy legged breeds.

NEFA 1994.070.06    Transcription
P: Bert Gow and Robert Macrobbie
T:
Sgt. Crystal
S:
JD has heard of Sgt. Crystal. RM has not heard of him. He did not fee with the Philorths, though his father did. He cleaned the harness well. Charlie MacRobbie, his uncle, was a great harness cleaner as well. Discussion of various local folks/names who cleaned harness and ploughed. Sheepie Geordie was married to Mrs. Gourlay.

NEFA 1994.070.07    Transcription
P: Bert Gow and Robert Macrobbie
T:
Family backgrounds
S:
RM had 8 sons and a daughter. They came down to "here" in 1937. He was on big ferm toons mostly. He did go to some feein markets, esp. Turra. You would get a fee and then you would get drunk. It was a good holiday, because there were no others. Sometimes you had to work a night to get a day off for some games.

NEFA 1994.070.08    Transcription
P: Bert Gow and Robert Macrobbie
T:
Feeing markets
S:
JD: Feeing markets were great. RM: Strichen mart

NEFA 1994.070.09    Transcription
P:
Bert Gow and Robert Macrobbie
T:
Heard of Jimmy Macbeath and Davie Stewart
S:
RM heard of Jimmy Macbeath, but never met him. Davie Stewart played the melodeon while he sung.

NEFA 1994.070.10    Transcription
P: Bert Gow and Robert Macrobbie
T:
In New Pitsligo District
FL: In New Pistligo district there is a ferm toon
S:
RM sings four or five verses of a bothy song [left channel cuts out for a while] to the tune of 'Nicky Tams'. The song is about farming and emigration to Canada. He is not sure that's all of it. JD complements his singing.

NEFA 1994.070.11    Transcription
P: Bert Gow and Robert Macrobbie
T:
More on previous song
S:
The song was made up in 1913 or 14, when RM came from Pitsligo to Backhill o Bonnykelly. The maker of the song was fee'd at Carnie's, New Hame o Pitnetherton. JD talks of a man frightening off a night visitor with a gun. [Tape rec. moves.] JD explains where Pitlochry is. [End of Side A.]

NEFA 1994.070.12    Transcription
P: Bert Gow and Robert Macrobbie
T:
Robert Macrobbie's singing
S:
RM knows a lot of songs. He used to sing Barnyards o Delgaty and others. RM sings, 'The Road an the Miles Tae Dundee'.

NEFA 1994.070.13    Transcription
P: Bert Gow and Robert Macrobbie
T:
The Road and the Miles tae Dundee
S:
RM tries the song again with a little prompting from JD.

NEFA 1994.070.14    Transcription
P: Bert Gow and Robert Macrobbie
T:
Life
S:
RM grateful for his long life. RM knew Gavin Greig when he was at school in Whitehill, New Deer. He was a great lad. RM's father fee'd at Schivadie. GG let you see the strap, but did not beat you with it.

 

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