Ian Sinclair was 'an excellent teacher' and had 'a great sense of humour,' says former pupil Karen Steven
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Caithness fiddler Karen Steven has described her former tutor, Ian Sinclair, who died earlier this month at the age of 83, as "an excellent teacher" and someone who made "the class so much fun."
Ian, who stayed at West Side, Dunnet with his wife, Margie, was a stalwart of the local music scene, a founding member of the acclaimed folk band, MIRK, a composer and a former leader of the Thurso and Dounreay Strathspey Society.
He was also one of the main organisers of the Thurso Folk Festival and a string instructor at Thurso High school for many years and formed the Caithness Junior Fiddlers.
The strathspey and reel society and the junior fiddlers played in various parts of Europe, including Brilon in Germany, Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Canada and in Turkey. The society also put on a very successful annual rally.
Other pupils who went on to have a successful career in music included Gordon Gunn and Addie Harper Jnr.
Karen, a talented and respected musician, knew Ian for many years and was saddened by his passing. She said: "Ian was an excellent teacher. I think what was key to the learning was that he made the class so much fun. There was always a story. The teaching environment was always warm and welcoming."
Ian encouraged her and others to join the strathspey and reel society. "That was a really encouraging place to bring on our learning, it was a great learning experience. Ian had a way of making us want to attend the society, from a social aspect as well as the music, in equal measures. He was enjoyable to be around and had a great sense of humour," recalled Karen.
She fondly remembered a trip to Cape Breton Island which Ian organised in 1986. "We embarked on a three-week tour, staying with host families in the townships of Sydney (where the famous Barra MacNeils hail from) and down in Port Hawkesbury which is quite close to the home of the late Buddy MacMaster. Ian arranged a fun tour which combined lots of performance opportunities in halls and at outdoor festivals, as well as fitting in some cultural tourist visits; Sydney Mines, Louisburg museum and a visit to Antigonish Highland Games are just three that spring to mind," said Karen.
"Ian devoted many years to leading the Thurso Dounreay Strathspey and Reel Society and the Caithness Junior Fiddlers and was very adept at putting together great sets of tunes, a mix of manageable and challenging. He ensured the groups were very disciplined when it came to the music. He always wanted the best from the group and would encourage repetition until the sound was tight.
"I was always very impressed by the vast number of years Ian dedicated to both teaching and leading music groups, in addition to maintaining a profile with his folk band, MIRK," added Karen.
MIRK was formed around 1970 and took their name from the first names of the four members – Ian's wife, Margie, Ian, Ray Crompton and Kevin MacLean.
They quickly gained a reputation for their vocals and instrumental arrangements. Their traditional material was augmented by Ian's compositions such as The King's Shilling and Tak A Dram Afore Ye Go – songs which were later recorded by many artists including Jean Redpath, James Taylor and The Battlefield Band.
MIRK were well-known throughout the north and all over Scotland, played on the BBC and for the late Queen Mother at the Castle of Mey and recorded albums. They were inducted into the Scottish Traditional Hall of Fame in 2016 along with such well-known names as Barbara Dickson, Andy Stewart, The Battlefield and Michael Marra.
In 1990, Ian was presented with an award by the Caithness Arts Association for his work with the region’s young musicians.
A service to celebrate his life is being held in Ormlie Lodge Service Rooms, Thurso, on Thursday afternoon while an evening of music – dedicated to Ian – is to take place at the Northern Sands Hotel in Dunnet in the evening.
