THE BONNIE LASS 0' BON-ACCORD

James Lees tells the touching story of the servant girl who inspired an immortal tune. Taken from an article in the Aberdeen Leopard to whom copyright is acknowledged.

One of the most famous tunes composed by the 'Strathspey King', James Scott Skinner, was The Bonnie Lass o' Bon-Accord. It was Aberdeen's very own song long before The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen took over that position. But who was the 'Bonnie Lass o' Bon-Accord'? Not many people know but a visit to Fetteresso Cemetery, Stonehaven, will give the answer.

Few visitors to the cemetery which overlooks the Stonehaven by-pass have probably spotted the gravestone erected in her memory. The inscription reads: "In loving memory of Mina Bell, who died 8th June, 1938, aged 72 years, immortalised in James Scott Skinner's masterpiece The Bonnie Lass o' Bon-Accord. Also David Bell, who died 20th March, 1948."

My inquiries led me to the man who was responsible for getting the stone erected. He also arranges for it to be kept clean and for fresh flowers to be placed on the grave periodically. He is Douglas Bell of Hilton Drive, Aberdeen, nephew of Mina Bell. Mina looked after him and his three sisters for five years after their mother died when the family were quite young. David Bell was his father.

Douglas Bell is a mine of information, not only on his Aunt Mina, one of a family of 11, but on the works of Scott Skinner. A copious file on Scott Skinner includes his life story which was serialised in the People's Journal in the early 1920s. And it is in that life story that Skinner, who died in 1927, aged 84, tells the unusual tale of how Mina Bell became his inspiration for The Bonnie Lass o' Bon-Accord.

In December 1884, Skinner was holding dancing classes in the Silver Street Hall, Aberdeen, and one evening he and some friends were invited to a house in nearby Union Terrace. Skinner wrote: "There I found a girl performing the menial task of a servant, who it was plainly to be seen was a 'cut' above the ordinary servant lass of those days. 1 was both interested and surprised and my surprise was heightened when the floor was cleared for dancing for Wilhelmina proved herself a splendid 'tripper of the light fantastic toe'."

At the first opportunity Skinner spoke to her and she told him that her father used to play bass fiddle for Skinner's father. Skinner said she was a splendid dancer and asked: "Hoo comes it that you are a servant lass here?" The girl's eyes filled with tears and replied, "My father was a farmer at Cockley, Maryculter, but he's living oot at Newtonhill now."

"How's that?" asked Skinner, sensing tragedy. "Oh", sobbed Mina, "my father signed a bill for a freen and got it a' tae pey. That was his ruin. He is now glad of a day's work and that is why I am here."

"Never mind, my lassie", said Skinner, slapping her on the shoulder "I'll mak' a tune that'll keep ye in min' when were baith deid." Next morning Skinner composed The Bonnie Lass o' Bon-Accord.

"I've got it", exclaimed Dinnie "Ca' it The Bonnie Lass o' Bon-Accord". And he did, as every fiddle player and lover of fiddle music knows. When the memorial to Scott Skinner was unveiled at Allenvale Cemetery in Aberdeen, on November 28, 1931, Mina Bell was an honoured guest. The tribute to the Strathspey King was paid by Sir Harry Lauder.

Older Aberdonians will recall the names of yesteryear on some of the programmes Mr Bell has kept - Violet Davidson of the Beach Pavilion, Willie Kemp, the 'Cornkister King', Alec Sim of the Aberdeen Strathspey and Reel Society, Donald Davidson and William Johnston.

 

Mina Bell's name never appeared on a musical programme but she inspired a great tune. Her headstone at Fetteresso Cemetery faces north to the farm of Clayfolds Newtonhill, where she was born on May 27,1866.