The Shetland Fiddlers' Society was formed in 1960 following a concert of massed fiddlers brought together to entertain an organised party of Shetland exiles from the colonies, known as da Hamefarin. At that time there were 40 members and the society was affectionately referred to as 'Da Forty Fiddlers', a name which persisted despite the fact that the society grew in numbers. Members ranged in age from "14 to the over 70s" and "came from all walks of life" . The president was L.W. Matthewson and the leader Tom Anderson

Tom Anderson (fiddler)

Dr. Tom Anderson MBE, was a renowned Shetland fiddler and teacher. He was affectionately known to his peers as "Muckle Tammie" .Dr...

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The stated aim of the society was "to further and preserve the art of fiddle playing and also to encourage the habit of listening to a type of music which is being threatened into oblivion by modern science". The great revival in traditional fiddle music in Shetland since surely demonstrates that those aims have been achieved.

The contents of the record shown here (their first?) was as follows:

Side A:

Reels (Trad.) The Teetotaler/The Carpenter

Reels (Trad.) Soldier's Joy/Flowers of Edinburgh

Flowers of Edinburgh

Flowers of Edinburgh is a traditional fiddle tune of Gaelic lineage, Irish and Scottish. It is also prominent in American fiddle, Canadian fiddle and wherever old time fiddle is cultivated.-History:...

Side B:

Polkas (Trad.) The Bonnie Polka/The Seven Step Polka/Sister Jean

Reels (Trad.) Da Peerie Hoose/Da Merry Boys o' Greenland/McDonald's Reel