Robbie Shepherd - I'll Be Looking for You

This is essential for a Highland Games.

OK.

Now.

Specs off.

In behind the ears.

And excuse me.

HE CHORTLES

Round the kilt socks, because that's where the midges gather.

They're not nice people.

And then my make-up.

WOMAN LAUGHS

Now, I'm ready for the fray.

Before every games...

Have a nice day, Robbie.

Meldrum, here we come!

I'm ready!

This man has been on our radios for years.

It's nice to put a face to the voice.

Hello! How are you? You're fine?

Are you Robbie Shepherd?

-Aye, Robbie Shepherd, aye.

-Pleased to meet you.

INDISTINCT CONVERSATION

Robbie has provided commentary here since 1968.

45 summers, in rain or shine.

This is probably tempting fate but it is a sunshine sport.

Yes, the dapper Mr Shepherd now.

Where is the nearest sawmill?

Oldmeldrum holds a special place for Robbie.

It was here he made his debut after being spotted,

or rather heard, commentating at a local stock car race.

With no hesitation, he threw himself into the task

and has been the voice of the games ever since.

What an effort from Elgin!

His enthusiasm and love of the Highland Games has never waned.

As the season progresses

he builds his knowledge of the regular competitors.

Robbie is meticulous with his preparation for each games,

and he needs to be, as in just three months' time,

he'll be in the company of royalty at the Braemar Gathering.

I like to familiarise myself with any newcomer

and, before I'm ready for Braemar, I know them all.

And I don't have to be beside, excuse me...

Gentlemen, that was a good effort there!

That was young Greg Walker again, Greg Walker.

By jings, he's having a good day, two firsts

and he's had a great event, attempt there, on the caber.

Every year, Oldmeldrum Sports

are formally opened by a guest of honour.

This year, it falls to ex-Aberdeen and Scotland manager, Craig Brown.

He's got an infectious enthusiasm, first and foremost.

You know, you think, without having met him you think you know him,

and I think that's a wonderful quality.

There was no airs and graces, he was down to earth,

he was friendly-sounding,

and when I did eventually meet him,

I thought, the guy is just as you would expect.

When I started on radio, they just heard my voice and they said,

"Ah, here's one of those athletes from the north-east of Scotland.

"Six foot seven, red beard, red hair, kilt and raring to go."

And when they discovered who I was, "Oh, is that the wee drochle?"

This year, Robbie was asked to undertake other formal games duties,

but politely declined, preferring to keep his focus on commentating.

My job is to commentate.

And they say, "Oh, but it'll help."

And I say, "Well, I don't care who it helps. I'm not doing it!"

I've had a long day.

And I don't want to spoil the day by saying or doing something wrong,

making the wrong posture and not...

I hear the pipes a-calling!

He combines his busy games commitments

with hosting his popular Scottish dance music programme,

Take The Floor, on BBC Radio Scotland.

In over 40 years of broadcasting, Robbie Shepherd's name has become

synonymous with Scottish music and song,

along with his mother tongue, the Doric.

It was through his love of music that he met his wife, Esma,

both members of folk group the Garlogie Four, so named

as they regularly met in the Garlogie Inn near Aberdeen in the late '50s.

Robbie played the moothie and Esma played piano.

Well, he claims to be the second moothie player.

Ronnie Massie was the first moothie player.

Robbie played second, as he says, because he only played every second note.

Which is nearly true!

He was OK.

I don't see anything up here, memorabilia of my mouth organ.

No, no, but he sang lots, and he was very popular.

But you can't put my voice up there, you could've put my moothie!

Robbie and Esma married in 1961.

They moved to Bridge of Don, where son Gordon came into their lives.

Gordon now lives in London,

which means the Shepherds can play their music as loud as they want.

One of Robbie's favourite tracks is

Shetland air, Margaret Ann Robertson,

played by the legendary Ian Powrie.

Recorded in 1967.

The way he attacks it, the way he drives into it.

Och, it just lifts it up.

-Been played a lot, that one.

-Eh?

-Been played a lot, that one.

-It certainly has!

Take The Floor is the longest- running programme on Scottish Radio,

dating back to the '30s, when it was called Scottish Dance Music.

Right, Jennifer.

Robbie's been presenter since 1981

and today he's in BBC Aberdeen with his producer, Jennifer Cruickshank,

to plan content for this week's show.

Take The Floor runs 52 weeks a year.

Every week we feature a band,

and three or four of them in the month are studio-based sessions

where the band come into the studio and record a session for us,

and once a month, we take the programme on the road and we visit

places from right in the north of Scotland, right down to the Borders.

Coming up, then.

Ha-ha, hello there!

Robbie Shepherd bidding you welcome once again

to Take The Floor with us here on BBC Radio Scotland.

His voice is so distinct,

which is a huge selling point for Take The Floor.

How many situations have I been in with Robbie

that someone's comes up and said, "You're the man that does the Scottish dance music programme!"

His voice is instantly known.

He is very meticulous.

He never goes to the studio without being prepared.

He's always got a script, he's always got a running order

and he's got a great awareness of time.

I've known him for many years,

because I worked for the BBC in Aberdeen in the '70s

early '70s, when he first started broadcasting in local radio.

There's quite a good story about that, actually.

Arthur Argo was producing his local radio programme

and Robbie, of course, had never broadcast before.

On his very first programme, he had it all scripted,

everything written down

and, of course, they had to opt back into the main channel, main network.

I can't remember if it was even Radio Scotland back then,

must've been even the Home Service. I can't remember now.

But Robbie had it all scripted

and he had to come out at a certain time,

but Robbie had his eyes down on the script

and at two minutes past two,

Arthur comes in and goes, "What you haverin' aboot, laddie?", he says. "We're aff the air!"

Robbie was born in 1936 and raised in Dunecht.

The middle child of three, his childhood was happy.

His father was the estate's cobbler, or souter,

and his mother played piano.

But it was his father's monthly visits to Aberdeen to buy

the latest 78s from Jimmy Shand, Kenneth McKellar and Adam Rennie

that fuelled the young Robbie's enthusiasm and love of music.

His love of music remains, but other things have changed.

Ah, that's new, that's different, really.

Wisnae there.

That there, it is...

..the bathroom and the kitchen.

It's that kitchen window I'm sure that I was looking out at

and listening to the sound of Jim Cameron...

..from the window of the hall. A fine summer's night, it'd be open,

and there is the music wafting out,

and, me, a young lad, about 10-12 years old.

Yeah.

Majestic.

Village Hall.

My jings. Proud of this place.

All the panelling and what have you.

Ah. Ha-ha! Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Dunecht Hall!

ACCORDION FLOURISH

Showing academic promise, Robbie was encouraged to apply

for a scholarship to Robert Gordon's College in Aberdeen,

with a bursary provided by local Aberdeenshire farmers.

Despite initial reservations, he sat the entrance exams.

I passed and went into Robert Gordon's College,

which was fine, but after a month there, I was reading something.

Geography or History. Shows my knowledge now!

But the teacher asked me,

asked each of the pupils to read out a wee bit of a book

on roads, buildings and railways in South Africa.

So, it come to me.

And I say, "Cee-cil Rhodes".

And the teacher tapped his desk and said "CEH-CIL, my dear boy!"

And I said, I couldn't speak to him, but I thought to myself,

the butcher next door to my dad at Dunecht was called Cecil

and why the hell your name should change

from Dunecht to Aberdeen, I don't know!

I sensed that that gave me the first,

I'd say chip on my shoulder.

It's long since gone, cos I couldn't care now.

INDISTINCT CONVERSATION

Robbie and Esma are both keen gardeners.

Their speciality is growing sweet peas.

It's a hobby once again influenced by Robbie's father.

My dad was a very keen amateur gardener.

And he used to show at the big one in Aberdeen,

the Aberdeen show, and I took it off him.

That's why I'm so fussy in the garden, and Esma says,

"Och, I cannae rake, but you're too fussy with your raking!"

And I say, "Well, my dad taught me."

Esma has developed a novel way of protecting the young shoots from garden pests.

They're really very reflective in the sun.

All the different colours are reflected

And we think, we read that it scares the birds,

and the doos,

doves, had been eating the leaves.

And you took that black marker pen

and just in case it spoiled my reputation

as which discs I played on radio,

-you've scored out all the names!

-I know!

This one says black, black, black, "Black Rose Ceilidh Band".

Oh, cannae be the Black Rose Ceilidh Band! Oh, no, it cannae, no!

Broadcasting, to me, is all to do with preparation.

I spend...

Folk say to me, "Hi, Robbie, you only do a weekend programme.

"Do you just go in on the Saturday?"

I say, "I'm there every day!"

You know the wide spectrum that I cover. I cover the song,

I cover music hall, Scottish dance music, the soul of it.

If you are prepared and then walk into that studio,

well, you've got to spout it - spout what you've prepared.

That's it!

Robbie has attended the Keith Festival,

held every June for the last 35 years.

The three-day event celebrates artists from the North-East

alongside invited musicians from further afield.

He regularly comperes at concerts and ceilidhs

but this evening, he's just going along to enjoy the music.

How you doing there?

What a man you are!

Well, I hope I'm a man, ha-ha!

-So, I'm told, then!

-ROBBIE CHUCKLES

# Oh, oh, the rattling bog

# Rattling in the valley, oh

# There goes the rattling bog

# The bog down in the valley, oh! #

Encouraging the next generation to keep up the music

is an important aspect of the festival.

# The bog doon in the valley, oh! #

APPLAUSE

# Busk, busk, bonnie lassie

# And come awa' wi' me

# And I'll tak ye tae Glen Isla

# Near bonnie Glenshee. #

After you.

Robbie met up with his old friend Lona Thompson, who co-founded

the festival back in 1975, along with the late singer Jim Reid.

It's flourished and become a mainstay

in the Aberdeenshire folk festival circuit.

It's a real community event

with many of the local pubs buzzing with music and chat.

For Robbie, an important aspect of his trips to Keith

was dropping in to local care homes.

Lona reminds Robbie of one such visit.

Now, Robbie, I must tell you this.

One year, and it was in Weston House,

and there was this really old lady

and she really didn't speak.

Oh, I've been thinking about it.

You went down on your knees beside her.

And you were singing.

And suddenly...

I said to one of the committee,

- I can't remember - said, "She's singing!"

She was singing. She sung the whole song

and she'd hardly spoken a word for... Oh, years!

The enjoyment I got...

As I said that night, that was my Robbie,

-that's just what it did for her.

-Aye, enjoyment...

She actually sang, and there wasn't one person that wasn't...

Aye. It took her back, just for that moment, back to her youth.

That's what it's a' aboot!

Robbie has come along to enjoy the dance

and the sounds of The Graeme Mitchell Scottish Dance Band,

who he first heard as young lad in Keith many years ago,

and as he did to so many others, Robbie provided great encouragement.

Supposing I had been somebody at a concert, singing.

The same encouragement would've been given because you were young

and you were doing that sort of thing.

The encouragement was always there, always there.

After leaving school and completing his National Service,

Robbie embarked on a career in accountancy.

However, in his early 20s, he started to compere

and eventually produce variety shows in Aberdeen, with such luminaries

as Callum Kennedy, Andy Stewart and many other stars of the time.

Throughout the '60s and '70s, he juggled the day job

with theatre shows and the games circuit

and also presented music and request shows on BBC Aberdeen.

It was this that led him to the attention

of the BBC's Scottish Dance Music Programme.

He was offered a small part in the show.

How about you come in and do feature in the middle of what was

effectively Take The Floor. Then, it wasn't called Take The Floor.

Scottish Dance Music. David Findlay was the presenter.

And I came in, and did maybe a memory on an old-time band,

maybe something to do with accordion fiddle clubs,

I had a feature every week.

Lord McConnell...

When presenter David Findlay was tragically killed in 1981,

the producers tried out a number of band leaders as presenters, but

it was Robbie they asked to present the programme on a permanent basis.

I was no competition to any of the musicians,

because there was no hope of me leading a band on the programme

but I was enthusiastic on it,

and they let me try it.

And there you are. 1981. And here I am still today.

They haven't found me out yet!

Take The Floor finds itself on its monthly trip around the country.

Robbie and the team are in St Andrew's in the Square -

one of Glasgow's most popular dancing venues.

Robbie has a surprise visitor.

An old friend and retired producer, Ben Lyons,

has popped in to see him before the show.

-Hello, young man!

-Hello, Dad!

Hey, Ben! Great to see you!

Robbie, it's my delight, I'm so pleased to see you.

It's been a long time.

-It has indeed, since we worked together.

-Yes, it is.

Here, have a seat. I'm just preparing here. Are you coming tonight?

Yes, please!

'He really goes for it hammer and tongs'

and I think that, were he not doing that,

it could be the demise of Scottish Dance Music

because there isn't another outlet.

St Andrew's in the Square in Glasgow, hello there.

Robbie Shepherd bidding you welcome.

This week's band is Iain Muir and his Scottish Dance Band,

who first played on Take The Floor back in 1982.

Good afternoon, all!

Good afternoon, Robbie!

You're a' fine?

'He always puts you at ease, he always has a blether. It's lovely.'

And he's never changed. Never changed in these years.

And he's still got that energy and just, love for the music,

and that transfers to the bands that are playing,

the guest artists, and, obviously, the audience as well.

It's nearly showtime, and Robbie has adorned his trademark tartan jacket.

Have you spoken to Mr Lyon?

I have indeed, I was just having a news with him down the stairs.

What you doing?

I always think it's important to dress so that you are in command,

that you are on stage, in front of your audience.

Whether it be dancers, or whether it just be a listening crowd.

I think that is important.

So, I'll just check to see if everything's ready.

As well as his weel-kent jacket,

there's something else that's very familiar to the thousands of listeners -

the theme tune that kicks off every show.

It's a traditional reel and it's been going for years.

In fact, I do remember at a point, I would've been in my teens,

that the producer of the time changed the signature tune

to, I think it was called The De'il Among The Tailors,

and there was an absolute uproar.

People got petitions going round accordion fiddle clubs

and I remember signing it, when I was so young,

to take back Kate Dalrymple.

And, each week, it's the band that's in session that records it.

It's not one particular person that plays it.

It's the band that's in session.

So, every band out there plays Kate Dalrymple, I can assure you.

To hear Robbie's Doric tongue on the radio was refreshing,

in a time of more clipped and refined accents.

There were, however, a few complaints when he first came on air.

Sadly, we now come to the second-last dance on the programme,

so, let me remind you of the band sharing the stage with me

here at St Andrew's in The Square...

Probably had difficulty in getting over the North-East accent,

some of the words I was using, I don't know.

I don't think it was the words.

It was maybe my delivery at that time, you know?

There was one crit in a paper to do with accordion and fiddle music

that just blasted, that there's no way that my voice should be heard

on a great programme like this.

So, I've outlived that, and I couldnae care now!

# Fen I was only ten year old I left the parish squeel... #

An important tradition barer of his native bothy ballad culture,

he released an album,

The Best of the Cornkisters, in the late '70s.

The songs, sometimes melancholy, often humorous

reflected the life of farm workers across Scotland.

# ..She five and forty, and I'm but seventeen

# She clocks a muckle piece tae me with every kinds of jam

# And she tells me ilkie nicht that she admires me Nicky Tams

# I started oot fae Sunday, the kirkie for tae gang

# My collar it was unco ticht, my breeks were nane ower lang

# I had ma Bible in ma pooch, likewise my book o' Psalms

# Fen Annie roart, "Ye muckle gype! Tak aff yer Nicky Tams!"... #

Robbie has called in on old pal and bothy ballad singer Joe Aitken,

who is in Tarland for a concert.

# It was inside of Huntly toon

# 'Twas there I did agree

# Wi' auld Bogieside, the fairmer,

# A sachsmans for to see

# Auld Bogie was a silly cow

# And this I knew fu' well

# But he had a lovely daughter

# And her name was Isabel. #

My father was on the land all his days.

He started on the farms when he was 14.

That's where I got a puckle of the bothies, ken, like

The Dying Ploughboy, and Nicky Tams

and songs like that, ballads like that.

Eh, as I say, he, maybe after he had a dram or twa at the New Year

you would get him to sing in the hoose,

although there was a puckle folk there, like,

but you would never have got him up on a stage,

like what I do the nicht, like, ken?

Robbie's heading to the local hall

for a night of music and song

where the Doric language will be very much to the fore.

Robbie has brought the Doric to the national airways

and his influence on its preservation cannot be understated.

The whole of our culture in the North-East of Scotland

and everything that goes with it has been promoted along

for the last 40, 50 years, for what Robbie Shepherd has done for it,

and, really, we owe so much to him for that.

He has co-written two books on Doric humour,

has a weekly Doric column in the Press and Journal

and his expertise in his mother tongue resulted in him being awarded

a Masters from Aberdeen University for services to Scottish culture.

Yes, indeed.

We got here eventually!

-Where are you sitting down?

-We're sitting down there. What are you?

Take that bottle with you and give them dram from me

and tak a drop, please.

Robbie knows the importance of nights like this

in preserving the local language and culture.

A language like the Doric has been watered down over the years,

so every effort needs to be put in there to keep it alive,

and Robbie has been a key factor to keeping it alive.

An accent like mine's probably quite difficult to shift

but, I think, you're better to be yourself

because you could try and lose it

for the sake o' trying to get on in the world

which, I think folk from the North-East

have been very guilty o', themselves.

-You looking at me?

-Yeah, yeah, I'm looking at you!

Speaking properly is perceived as a way of getting on

and if you speak in your native tongue,

that it's kind of a bit too rustic and parochial,

and provincial, and that you're nae getting away from the shams

and dubs of the fairm close, so for me, that's nae been an issue.

I think that it's an important part o'...

You've never felt it an issue?

Absolutely nae. Personally, it's never been a problem

but, I think, folk see you through you if you're being fake.

Three cheers again, Aberwell,

Will, Norman, Alec and the Dominie,

please, take the floor!

CHEERING

Comedy performers Scotland The What?

took the Doric language to a much wider audience.

# The midnight bells have rung

# And New Year dawns another east

# And hope it springs eternal... #

On one occasion, Robbie appeared, not only as compere,

but in a different role.

And I did a programme for Grampian TV

and I got starring role.

I was an actor.

What's this queue for?

For drink, eh?

Quite right, too.

-You want to get in, you got a bottle on ye?

-Naw!

HE SPEAKS DORIC

If you havnae got a bottle, you're no' getting in!

Why they never followed me up, I don't know at all!

Ah, get your pass oot, lads!

Oh, if you're coming back in, you'll need your pass oot.

# Oh, faloora-li-do... #

Back at the concert, Joe Aitken, Geordie Murison

and Jim Taylor are in full swing.

# I'm happy as a lark, fae dawn tae dark,

# Singin' a' the day

# Oh, lotta faloora-li-do

# Toora-loora-lay! #

# Twelve and a tanner a bottle

# At a pound I'm sellin' tae you...

# Twelve and a tanner a bottle... #

Come on in.

# Man, it taks a' your pleasure away

# And afore ye can get a wee drappie

# Ye have to spend alL that you've got

# Oh, how can a fella be happy

# When happiness costs such a lot? #

THEY LAUGH

It's the fourth Saturday in August and it's the Lonach gathering.

I look like a laird here!

ROBBIE LAUGHS

The event features the unique march of the Lonach Highlanders,

and Robbie took part in the annual tradition for many years.

Once you hear a pipe band striking up and you see them striking up,

it still gives me the same, straight back and, aw, it's great.

This is my day, my busman's holiday.

On the field, Robert Lovie is in charge of proceedings.

The march ensures the men are ready for the long day

and they're in good spirits for their entry onto the games field.

Aided by several stops, for a spot of Highland refreshment.

The Lonach Highland and Friendly Society was founded in 1823,

and today, the society continues to fulfil

its original mission of preserving Highland Dress, the Gaelic tongue

and supporting loyal, peaceful and manly conduct.

In the last few years, Robert Lovie has shown himself

to be a very capable commentator,

and is more than ready to pick up the mantle.

Robbie feels confident for the future.

Robert is excellent, a safe pair of hands, and I've tried to be the same.

Oh, no. I've no fears at all.

My time will probably come very shortly, I don't know.

But Robert is the man, he's excellent.

We get on great together.

We often do dual commentaries, as we will be at Braemar

but, as a young lad, he'll do all the running about

and I'll just sit there like Lord Muck!

HE LAUGHS

Robbie has long had an association

with the music of the Shetland Isles.

The late, great fiddler, Willie Hunter,

is one of his all-time favourites.

He was a true master of the slow air.

Now, I'm supposed to be an expert at this, Esma. It's my job, you see.

Just forward one, just want to go to track two. There it is.

Och, away! Thank you very much for that.

Yeah, Leaving Lerwick.

I can do all this now, you can do the playing.

Powerful playing.

To think Willie recorded that

just a matter of weeks before he died.

He was determined to do this session with Violet.

Willie Hunter and Violet Tulloch.

Every time I listen to it I think of Willie - really lovely.

It's been a good summer so far.

They've been very successful.

Yeah, but you'd better boast

about your entry. SHE TUTS

I opened the 80th anniversary flower show at Echt

a fortnight ago

and I used to show there a lot.

My dad showed there before me, and Esma said "Why don't we put in

"an entry for old time's sake, just to show we still have the interest?"

I said, "Well, it's got to be in your name,"

because this year, I must admit, you've done all the work.

-Mmm-hmm.

-So - da-da-da-da-daa..!

Two prizes!

Got a third for three vases,

that's three separate varieties,

and a first for a mixed bunch.

Which was a bonny blend of red and white, wasn't it?

Aye.

Now, to another notable garden in Aberdeenshire,

as Robbie drops in his old friend, Jim McColl,

who has been involved with Beechgrove Garden since 1978.

Ever the gardener,

Robbie's attention is drawn to the sweet peas.

Checking out the competition.

-They'll last a year or two if you look after them.

-They do well.

But we're no' here to talk about gardening.

Aye, when did we first meet?

I've got it about '74, '75

when I first started going about the BBC,

but I've often thought we were dained to be pals

because your first love, shall we say -

you spend a lot of time in Scottish music

and in your pastime, it's gardening.

My job is gardening

and my pastime is music,

Scottish music in particular.

When we first met through television, it was the Beechgrove,

and George Barron was as broad as you like.

Indeed. Another early influence on me,

as far as the Doric was concerned,

and we had a whale of time, didn't we, in the Barron days?

Because we were let out now and again

to go in a community garden somewhere.

You're away.

-Best of luck, lad.

-Cheerio!

-Cheers!

That's him off to have a look at a typical garden

in this part of the world.

I don't know if he's going to pop in and see Cameron of Locheil or not,

but you never know what he'll get up to once he's on that bike.

The style of it was that he would look at one garden,

I would look at another garden,

then we'd meet up for a question session in the hall,

and who was the master of ceremonies?

-Yes.

-Mr Shepherd.

APPLAUSE

Hello, and welcome to the first

of this season's Beechgrove Gardeners' Roadshows.

We're here in the Memorial Hall at Ardgour, North Corran,

and I think it's probably the smallest hall

that we've been in with the Roadshows,

but nice and comfy. It's full up here.

There may be a lot of gardening problems,

but certainly none with the decor tonight.

Beautiful layout in the wee hall.

'We did three or four in a season each year,'

and we had some great times, great places,

and, of course, wherever we went, as soon as he started to speak,

they knew who he was from his radio.

It's all complementary, isn't it?

It all works and it hangs together so beautifully.

And we come to our first question tonight

and it's from a young girl of 12.

Would you mind standing up and just letting the panel know your query?

Your name, for a start.

-Lorna Baldwin.

-And, what's your query?

Well, I've got an Easter cactus,

and I'm wondering why it's flowering now and not at Easter.

An Easter cactus flowering now and not at Easter...

Robbie is making his way to the West Coast for a surprise visit

on a long-time musical friend.

TRADITIONAL MUSIC

The first time I met Fergie, he was on a tour of our area.

I compered the concerts and I must have been in my 20s.

Is there anyone at home?

Is there anyone at home?

Hello! Hello!

-Is there anyone at.. Hi, Maureen!

-Hello! How are you?

-Fine, how's yourself?

-Grand, yes.

-Fine to see you.

-It's nice to see you.

-Aye.

What a day to come and visit.

-Oh!

-Ah, ken.

-There's a man here.

Impromptu visit.

How are you, sir?

-Well!

-How are you, Fergie?

I can't believe it!

Robbie, what an Earth are you doing in this part of the world?

Especially in this weather.

Wait till I get up and say hello to you.

-I can't believe it.

-Aye, but I'm here.

What an Earth are you doing here?

Well, we had a wee moment to spare

and I says, I must go and see you.

This is my version of your Beechgrove Garden.

Fergie's Beechgrove!

I think that cabbage is as good as McColl's any time, eh?

'He's a history-maker. He'll go down in history'

for decades, yes,

maybe centuries.

He's a unique character.

Totally unique.

Where's Robbie there, can you see him?

Yes.

Where was that taken, Robbie?

-Oh, my God.

-What's it say on there?

In his own Scottish dance music sphere,

you are looking at his command

in Border music, East Coast music, as we say, West Coast,

Orcadian, Shetland.

He's got a broad, broad spectrum of the whole scene.

Here, look. Look, Kintore.

-What's that?

-Kintore Public Hall. The one we're speaking about.

-Never!

-Look, concert and dance, 1964. There we are!

-'64...

You should read your own bills.

I can't believe that!

-60 years.

-Aye, yes.

Can't believe that, Robbie.

You can't believe that's happening.

-My goodness me.

-50 years.

-50, you said.

-Take a ten off.

On a particularly wet West Coast day,

Robbie arrives in Mallaig,

A place he often visited in his days

as an accountant in the fish industry.

He catches up with Jimmy and Jessie Hepburn

to reflect on those early days.

It'd be the '50s.

When did you two meet?

Because you're an East Coaster and you're a West Coaster.

Therein lies a tale, because here we met.

Not to be told truthfully.

I was west, and they say, "East is east, west is west."

Neither shall the twain meet, but we did,

for good or for bad, I'm not sure.

My specific job was managing the Walkers' office...

..but quite frankly, I wasn't an awful good figure man

but I preferred to be auctioning on the pier and that.

Now, you're asking me, my friend, the questions.

What was your job?

Well, I was Francis Clark's accountant and, as such,

he put me in charge of the sale offices

and it's the best job he could have given me,

because I able to go round all the different offices.

East, as you know, down by you, George McKay at Lochember,

Sandy Duffy at Ullapool, and then, to you at Mallaig.

As soon as I heard your voice the first time I came across,

I says, "This is my type of mannie."

"I'll get on fine with him."

SHE SINGS

-And that's after eating!

-You've still got it!

The Gaelic to the Doric.

# In me they see a funny lookin' chap

# Some folks think I dinna care a rap

# Some folks think they're awfa clever

# But they're mair need o' their mither

# A' day a chap came up to me and said

# Man, you've a fine rid heid

# I says, "Hey, you've muckle hair yersel'

# "Would you like some of mine for shade?"

# I'm nae sae green as I may seem

# Dae ye think I'm saft as candy? #

I'm nae singing any mair, I'm oot a' pech.

There's the Gaelic and the Doric side by side.

Thank you, Robbie Shepherd!

APPLAUSE

Robbie's another old haunt - The Glenfinnan House Hotel,

a regular stop-off point in the old days on his way back to Aberdeen.

It's a fine evening of West Coast music and song.

Listening to Robbie on the radio

is like sitting next to a lovely warm fire

full of peats and a nice dram beside you.

It's that kind of voice he's got,

I think everyone in the nation warms to that voice.

Old Hector's side was winning

The fact was plain to see

This night is the beginning of victory at sea.

It's Charlie MacFarlane's turn to take the floor

and entertain the room with his own inimitable Highland blas.

..for Churchill, his name I proudly call

But the burgh politician is the grandest of them all.

LAUGHTER

WOMAN SINGS: "Soraidh Leis An Ait'"

In the 2001 New Year's honours list,

Robbie was appointed MBE

for his services to Scottish music and culture.

Greatly deserved because these people saw that what Robbie had

been giving his whole life needed to be recognised.

Today is a very important day for Robbie and Esma

as they attend the annual prize-giving ceremony

at the charity he supports - Easter Anguston Farm.

Hey, Leslie, look who's here to see you!

Hello, my laddie!

-How are you doing?

-Fine.

Today is about the achievements of our service users throughout the year.

They are all in different groups.

So, each year they learn new skills,

so today is the day they get their certificates for that.

Robbie is such an integral part of that, frankly, most of the guys

would want their certificates in the post if he wasn't coming,

because they are so excited to see him, do you know what I mean?

They are excited cos their family are here,

and their friends and whoever they wanted to invite,

but the main thing that they speak about is "Robbie's coming"!

He just means so much to them.

I'll see what you get today, I'll be looking out for your certificate.

Hi, Russell, how you doing?

-How are you doing?

-Fine.

-Fine? How's it going?

-Fine.

..Back up what you were saying.

Because there is a mass of certificates here,

but it's all hard work and there's As and Bs here galore -

so, Russell, for a start.

Russell.

APPLAUSE

Easter Anguston offers vocational training

and the charity makes a real difference to people's lives.

It's a great day for everyone concerned

and holds a special place for Robbie.

Early September and the pinnacle of Robbie's games calendar

is upon him - the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering.

It's a big day with members of the royal family in attendance.

In the meantime, there's the small matter of commentating

on the actual events on the field.

Commentating duties are shared by Robbie and Robert.

Robert has done this now...

He's been my assistant now for about six years.

We get to know each other.

I get excited about something over there, a record being broken

and Robert gets excited about something in the tug-of-war.

If we hear each other we go "Oh, sorry!" and on we go again.

A round of applause, ladies and gentlemen. Well done, Invercauld.

The runners up. Balmoral...

As the crowd waits in anticipation for the arrival of the royal party,

another well-known face is in attendance.

I've been trying to do some pieces to camera

but there is this continual noise in the background

which is someone on the Tannoy and I did ask, "Who is that?"

And they said, "Have you never heard of Robbie Shepherd? That's him!"

And I said, "Does he ever stop?"

And they said, "No, there will be no gaps!"

And a woman behind me said, "He is much more famous than you are."

So, now I know.

I've been a fan of yours for years.

Hello, there. It's very nice to meet you.

I'm sorry I was trying to talk over you!

Well, I thought you were here to take the mickey out of me...

-No, sadly.

-..for over-speaking.

-That would be pretty rich coming from me.

-I just wondered.

THEY LAUGH

-You do the presentation to the Queen, don't you?

-Yes.

They told me that and I'm making a programme about Queen Victoria

and I thought, "I wonder if he did that for her?"

Thank you very much.

This is typical you coming back now, I thought I wouldn't get off easy.

And then I thought, "No, that's just stupid."

Robbie and Esma's son Gordon has travelled home for the games.

Despite perhaps being a reluctant attendee in his youth,

he now appreciates what a day like Braemar means.

I know. I thought Mum said bring the wellies but don't need them.

Oh, no. Wellies at Braemar?!

-Sun cream.

-Where's your upbringing, man?

'Most years from about age three or four, I would get dragged along

'to the Highland shows'

and all the rest of it.

I got to my teenage years and I guess you grow out of it a little,

start to listen to a strange kind of music

and the Highland scene isn't so trendy. But now,

I'm older and wiser, hopefully,

and I enjoy it a lot more and tend to come every year.

Especially to Braemar.

There is a pressure, I will say, that's unlike the rest

and that pressure is the build-up to the royalty coming in.

This will see my commentator Robert Lovie take on a different role

very shortly as he will be singing the national anthem.

I'm there to acknowledge the presence of the royal family

and I don't know until the morning of the gathering

as to who is coming.

-Do you think, Robert, we have a good view?

-A grand view(!)

This year, Her Majesty The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh

and Prince Charles are present.

HE HUMS A NOTE

Robbie, I see him.

# God save our gracious Queen

# Long live our noble Queen

# God save the Queen

# Send her victorious

# Happy and glorious

# Long to reign over us

# God save the Queen. #

APPLAUSE

'Then I start. That's it.'

I mean, I'm not the tallest of guys, but if I can do my speech

jumping up and down, then I might make a better job of it.

Your Majesty, your Royal Highnesses, my lords, ladies and gentlemen,

once again on behalf of the Braemar Royal Highland Society,

it is our privilege to welcome you to the gathering here,

in the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park.

We are delighted this year to extend congratulations on another role -

that of a doting great-grandmother.

I'm sure you wouldn't agree with...

APPLAUSE

I'm sure you wouldn't agree with the father's comments - albeit

with a wide grin - describing the young prince as

"a wee bit of a rascal"

or as we would say here in the north-east of Scotland,

a wee el trickit nickim.

That is the one moment,

that I do this when I'm finished.

"Thank goodness that is over and I haven't blundered!" You know?

With royal duties complete, it's back to commentating.

I'm proud today, I must say,

I'm very proud to have been asked,

to be privileged to have done it for 40 years.

INDISTINCT

..And goodbye, thanks again.

I think that went really well, it was great! I think I sang OK.

Robbie's speech was wonderful - a wee bit of Doric humour in there.

The crowd was with it, so it was fine, was great. Loved it!

ROBBIE SPEAKS IN BACKGROUND

It's mid-November and another games season has come and gone.

Robert and Robbie reflect on a successful year

where their traditions and culture seem as strong as ever.

A lot of people said to me, years ago, when you were a young lad watching me,

"Doric's dead. Doric's dead - just dinnae bother, Robbie. You're wasting your time."

I never felt I was wasting my time.

Someone would ask, "What is Doric, anyway?"

It's the tongue my father used, my grandfather used and that before,

and you follow that same kind of principle as me.

Definitely. What I learned growing up as you come up from a little loon,

entertaining and singing cornkisters and bothy ballads.

When I was learning, I was always listening to what other folk were doing,

what I learned quickly was all the people I looked up to -

you included so much, Robbie -

one of the greatest assets was that all people

I tuned into were speaking the Doric, they were speaking the language.

And I thought, "This is going to be a great asset to use."

And I learnt it, I didn't hide it, didn't put it behind.

Use it to your own benefit, and it has been one of the greatest assets.

Because wherever I've gone in the world to entertain,

I've used my tongue and it has always been greatly appreciated.

Because folk love to hear a dialect and an accent.

It's so very distinguishable.

People love it and you've found that. It's been a great part of your job as well.

Meanwhile in Lonach Hall, there is a special evening of music

arranged for Robbie.

He knows something's afoot, but is not quite sure what.

-Well, should we be moving up the road, Robbie?

-Aye, you're taking me to Lonach.

-Aye, we're heading up to Lonach.

-You know what's happening?

-I'll come with you because it's getting chilly here.

-Come on, let's go!

MAN: One, two...

PIPERS BEGIN

How are you?

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God!

CHEERING

Robbie Shepherd MBE.

It is testament to the regard in which Robbie is held

that the room tonight is filled with family, friends, musicians,

and even a special guard of honour by the men of Lonach.

Robbie Shepherd, we will always be looking for you.

Come on, join in.

# When the horse are in the stable

# And the kye are in the byre

# And the hard day's work is over

# And the auld folks roond the fire

# I go slipping through the heather

# Tae the fairm ahint the hill

# Jist tae see ma bonnie lassie

# By the auld meal mill. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING