Drinking and fighting after a funeral at Duffdefiance, the s...

Original Track ID

SA1953.191.8

Original Tape ID

SA1953.191

Summary

Drinking and fighting after a funeral at Duffdefiance, the shebeen.

[John Thain] was the last tenant of Duffdefiance, then it was used by a shepherd.

When Donald Grant was buried, the Strathdon folk had to carry him over to Banffshire and deliver him to the local men. They all went back to Duffdefiance and they drank and fought all afternoon. Sonny Simpson, a local man renowned as a fighter, was tackled by three men. Jock McKay wanted to go and give him a hand, but Johnny Milne said, "I think he’s managin nae ill." There were always two down, and sometimes the third one was down before the first one was up. There was a squad over the burn, and one man stood swinging a stick and inviting them to come his way and see what he could do, but they avoided him. Jock McKay claimed to have drunk a whole bottle some days up at Auld Lauchie’s [Duffdefiance] and been none the worse for it. It was gweed [good] stuff. Mention of another local boxer, known as Half Loaf, is followed by laughter.

Item Subject/Person

Simpson, Sonny

Recording Location

Item Location

Language

Scots

Genre

Story Information

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good