Auld Broon Fae Foggie Toon – Ross Records Recordings 1985
The recording got under way at our house in Johnston Park, Turriff. Simon relaxed on the couch with a dram in his hand. Jim Hunter, the sound engineer, was in the next room, twiddling a few knobs and checking the sound levels. “Ready to go when you are Simon” shouts Jim and from that moment poem after poem was rendered with perfection with only the occasional pause for some more lubrication of the vocal chords…..
Listen to Aul’ Broon below.
The Bonnie Howes O' Marnoch
Aberchirder lies within the Parish of Marnoch.
This poem was written for Ian Stephen, whose life it portrays.
“The New Inn’s jist across the road fae my hoose, an’ I go over there quite a lot an’ a meet a’ the personalities, an’ some o’ them’s mentioned here.”
Across the Road
Robbie Shepherd
Robbie Shepherd MBE – a well known Scottish broadcaster, compere, writer and commentator at Highland Games. Also a good friend to Aul’ Broon.
Aul’ Broon’s Poem about “The greatest Floo’er Show in the North-East” Aberchirder’s annual Horticultural Show and Sports held in the McRobert Park.
The Foggie Show
Skeibies
This is another cornkister that Simon sang.
Aul’ Broon worked at Skeibhill Farm close to Aberchirder.
Aul’ Broon’s tale of a typical Women’s Rural Institute (WRI) night at Netherdale.
Rural Night At Netherdale
Hector Hosie and Auld Broon
This is a cornkister – a farmworker’s song. Aul’ Broon’s meeting with another well known Foggie character, Hector Hosie when they went on a drinking bash or spree one of many.
“There’s this two men in Foggieloan that boasted about catchin’ the Loch Ness Monster – John McGregor an’ Bertie Tait, better known in my story as Tait an’ Mac.” Simon has a slip of the tongue here when he refers to John McGregor – it should be John McMillan (owner of the New Inn at the time).
The Monster
Stephen Cowie
Stephen Cowie, Veterinary Surgeon, Keith, asked Aul’ Broon to compose a poem to mark his retirement.
“So I made up this story in three days.”
“We got in a new sewer in Foggieloan,this is jist aboot the folks that worked at the sewer”.
The Foggie Sewer
To hear ‘The Last O’ Broon’ – Aul’ Broon’s most famous poem where he writes about his own funeral – visit Aul’ Broon’s main page.
Aberchirder & District Community Association
