Robert Paterson

b. 1889    d. 1959

Born at Kirknewton, this player of piano accordion lived at Blackridge, West Lothian. He recorded with button accordionist Duncan McMillan for Beltona in the 1930s and played with William Hannah’s band including an engagement every week at Falkirk Ice Rink for eighteen years. He had links with accordionist Jimmy Shand and may have operated as a demonstrater/agent for instruments from Forbes of Dundee’s music shop where Shand worked. Paterson was blind. He often played with fiddle Willie Strain from Armadale. He broadcast on BBC in thr 1930s and after 1945 he busked in Edinburgh with singer Tommy Ure of Armadale. [information from notes by Roddy Simpson, grandson, in West Lothian Libraries]

Do you have any of Robert Paterson and Duncan McMillan’s Beltona recordings to share on raretunes? Recordings have now been received and will be added in due course.

Photograph c. 1917 courtesy of Mrs Margaret Paterson.