Musical era is over with the passing of Badenoch accordian player
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The sad passing of accordion playing Ally Menzies sees the last of a group of entertainers who spent over half a century entertaining folk throughout Badenoch and Strathspey and beyond.
The talented performers played the accordion, fiddle, mouth organs and even spoons.
The group included Bertie Cooper, Willie Cuthbert, Ally-John Campbell and many others who are now all gone.
As one long-standing enthusiast of their music said earlier this week: “All of them, after a hard day’s work, would for little or no reward spend nights in halls, hotels, clubs and pubs, attending birthday parties and most notably hospitals and homes for the elderly throughout the valley, to play.
“It was very much appreciated by all of us who knew Ally when Garry Innes visited The Wade Centre just lately and played for Ally and the other residents.
“Ally was able to join in on the spoons.
“All the residents thank Garry for that – they know Ally was delighted with such a gesture from him.”
Alistair George Menzies, of Laggan and Newtonmore – known by so many simply as Ally – died peacefully with his family by his side in the Wade Centre, Kingussie on Thursday, February 29.
The beloved husband of Isabel, dear dad of Caroline, Fiona, Susan and Alexander and a loving granda and great-granda, he will be sadly missed.
His funeral took place at St Bride’s Church in Newtonmore followed by his interment in Banchor Cemetery.
