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 I will start with a bit of background. I was born in the Anderston District of Glasgow on the 25th of March 1947, where I started my schooling (notice I did not say education) at Kent Road School. After six months at my first school I moved to Plymouth, in Devonshire. After six months at my second school I moved to Gibraltar. After nine months at my third school I moved to Malta and while there I changed schools. I returned to my original school in Glasgow and after about another nine months there I moved to Kirkcaldy, in the Kingdom of Fife to finish my life of changing from one primary school to another. The next move was not so far as I then went to Kirkcaldy High School, which was my last of seven changes, at the ripe old age of 11 (I was born old). I managed to hang on there until they finally expelled me when I was fifteen. My final school report and job reference said that my time there had been “extremely disappointing - not due to lack of ability, but due to lack of aptitude”. What prospect of a job did I have with a reference like that – None! There was always a chance of military service as my father had done and was still doing. My life from then on became, and continues to be, my education. I ran away from home, which I was used to doing by then, and joined the Royal Air Force, 1963-1977, (yet anotherschool). I have been running away all of my life until now where I am living. My home is in a wooden cottage, under a large oak tree (which is as old as the house – over 70 years), at the edge of a forest on the island of Sealland, in Denmark, with Mette, my dearest friend and partner in life, for the last 19 years. I moved to Denmark in 1982 after over five years in Saudi Arabia which had been my longest stay in any one address. That is one change in my life I was ready for with no regrets. I have lived in the mountains, on the seas, Mediterranean islands, in deserts, by rivers, streams and lakes but none have quite matched the joy I receive from living in a forest. I now feel a deep sense of contentment for the first time in my life. Now I have more time on my hands I can concentrate my efforts on the hobbies that I love. I have many interests, and a few of them I pursue with a passion which would take a whole book to describe. The main ones are singing, playing music and calligraphy which you can read more about by clicking on the relevant buttons-
I naturally followed in family footsteps and took up drumming as my mother’s father and brother were both drummers. My Grandfather played and was Drum Major of the Phoenix Steel Works pipe band, and my Uncle in the Glasgow Police Concert and Dance band. My own father played the bones and “moothie”, as a youth, although I only found this out a few months before he died in 1998, which inspired me to adopt the name of "MacBones", in his memory, as he was affectionately known as “BigMac” (I wished he could have afforded to take MacDonalds to court for using his name in vain). I had been playing the bones and the moothie for about twenty years before finding out about my father’s secret musical talents. I had played drums in pipe bands before, during, and after my fourteen years with the Royal Air Force. I am still a passive member of The Heather Pipes and Drums, of Copenhagen, with whom I have played side, tenor and bass drums as well as acting as Drum Major for their Grade 4 band (www.heather.dk).
I have doubled as Father Christmas/Santa Claus or even "Julemand" as I have been affectionately referred to in Denmark where I have lived for the past 22 years. Since moving to Denmark, in 1982, I have performed in pubs, clubs, cabarets, concerts, festivals, radio and television, as well as playing with various Scottish/Irish/English/Danish/Swedish combinations of musicians and folk groups around Scandinavia. Winner of the World Champion Bones and Spoon Playing Contest at the National Old Time Traditional Country Music Festival 2002 in Iowa, USA. As well as my current band The "B" Band, with whom I recently recorded on our debut CD - MacBones and the "B" Band, I am also playing in a newly formed band called "BoneZone" which is basically traditional music, mostly Irish and Scottish, with a swing and a few added flavours. I have had the honour to make guest appearances at concerts and festivals with The Dubliners, Eleanor Shanley, Wolfstone, Phil Cunningham, Aly Bain and recently a group of four young Scottish sisters called Give Way and have probably jammed with those not mentioned.
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