James Scott Skinner was one of the most accomplished and influential fiddle players of the late nineteenth century. Born in Banchory, he took after his father, who played at country dances, and by the age of eight James was already playing the cello as well as the violin. As his fame grew, he even performed for Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace, as part of a touring orchestra, but his roots were in the North-East and he didn’t stray too far from the country dance circuit, both playing and teaching at dance classes.
He was known to like a drink (something not unknown in folk music circles) and the story goes that he was playing at a hall in North Silver Street, Aberdeen, when his eyes caught sight of a servant girl called Whilhelmina Bell.
In his memoirs, James recalled: “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.
“I was both interested and surprised and my surprise was heightened when the floor was cleared for dancing, for Whilhelmina proved herself a splendid ‘tripper of the light fantastic toe.”
It transpired that she was working as a servant because her father had got into debt. At the dance, she introduced herself to James and told him that her father had once played double bass for his late father.
Skinner was so moved by her story, he told her, “Never mind, my lassie. I’ll mak a tune that’ll maybe keep ye in min’ when we’re baith deid.”
He wrote the tune and played it for his friend Alexander Dinnie. At that time, he didn’t have a title, but the legend has it that as James and Alexander walked out of the latter’s house, ‘Mina just happened to walk by on the other side of the road.
Inspired, Alexander exclaimed: “I’ve got it, ca it The Bonnie Lass O’ Bon Accord.”
Many years later, Wilhelmina was a guest at James’ funeral in Allanvale Cemetery. His gravestone pays due regard to his most famous tune, as shown in the photo here. As for the tune itself, it’s still played today in Doric folk music.
Julie Skinner, Resourcing and Benefits Specialist, RGU (no relation, as far as I know!)
Photo: James’ grave in Allanvale Cemetery is decorated with a fiddle and the Bonnie Lass O’ Bon Accord (Image: Flickr Creative Commons)