Duncan McIntosh, whose Duncan McIntosh Dance Band provided the soundtrack for many a Saturday night, has died aged 91.
By day he was an agent for Refuge Assurance but at weekends he took his band to halls, dances and weddings all over the north-east.
The band also travelled to Orkney, were regulars at the Lonach Gathering and were even invited to tour Zambia in 1975.
Duncan learned to play the accordion by ear at a young age and was still playing as recently as last Christmas for residents and staff of Badenscoth care home, Inverurie.
Beginnings
He was born in April 1931, one of 10 children of Robert and Mary McIntosh and began life at Mains of Craighall, Kennethmont.
Duncan went to school at O’Neil Corse, Craigievar, and although he had ambitions to be a banker, he left school early to work on the family farm.
After teaching himself to play accordion, he joined the Mitchell Dance Band and it was there he met fellow player and his future wife, Margaret, known as Madge.
Marriage
The couple married at Lumphanan Church in December 1955 and had four of a family; Duncan, Ian, Lorraine and Diane.
In 1957 the family moved to farm at Bandeen, Craigievar, where they enjoyed many musical nights with friends.
By 1975 the family had moved to Kemnay where Duncan tried several jobs including working for the Hydro-Board, driving a lorry and as a storeman.
He was not settled in his career until he started with Refuge Assurance and made visits all over Donside and Deeside until he retired.
During his time with the firm he received many awards and won trips to places such as Istanbul, Marbella and Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United.
Travels
Family holidays were spent in Duncan’s camper van at locations as varied as the Black Isle, Butlins and John o’ Groats.
It was through Madge that the Duncan McIntosh Dance Band was invited to tour Zambia in 1975.
Her sister, Winnie MacRae, lived in the country and when she heard the British Caledonian Society was looking for a band to play to homesick Scots, she suggested Duncan’s group.
The band of Mr McIntosh, Bella McLaren, Rob Adam, Albert Calder and Eric Duguid, set out by train from Aberdeen to join their flight for Africa. Although Mrs McIntosh did not play in the band she travelled with the party.
For Mrs McLaren, a farmer’s wife of Alford, it was was her first time on either a train or an aircraft. The band toured Zambia for three weeks.
In retirement, Duncan kept himself busy gardening and had a part-time job as a school transport driver.
Skills
He loved spending time with his grandchildren and passing on the many skills he had acquired during his long lifetime.
When Madge died in 2004 he missed her terribly but continued to live in Kemnay where he followed football and darts on television, mastered YouTube and Spotify and enjoyed walking with his dog, Brandy.
Duncan lived by himself until two years ago when he went to live at Badenscoth care home following a stroke.
Conversation