Agnes Ledingham – a doric quine

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My grandmother Agnes Ledingham (1906 – 2002) was interviewed by Robbie Shepherd for the BBC back in 2000 at her home in the Smiddy, Keig.

She was a peripatetic music teacher in Donside, Aberdeenshire for many years.  She played the organ in two churches every Sunday until she was 94.  She was some woman!!

We came across the tape very recently. You can listen to the 20 minute interview here

 

 

 

 

 

7 thoughts on “Agnes Ledingham – a doric quine”

  3. Wonderful – this brought back some great memories of a larger than life character and a very fine lady. Thanks for sharing this.

    Donald

  4. Don

    I listened to the file of your grandmother being interviewed and had to laugh a few times: she had to walk to school [shock horror these days] and when he suggested walking to school in bad weather was …… she just laughed.

    It reminded me of my grandmother who rode her horse to school. Her father was the farm manager for a very well to do English family who lived in the manner house on the property in Werribee about 30 miles outside of Melbourne.

    My grandmother, Anne Hangan also lived to be 92 and would tell me stories of her youth and how the older boys on arrival to school would chop the wood for the fire in the school house. Her husband Bob died in WW 1 and she brought up my mother Carmel and uncle Ray by herself working as maid in a hotel during WW2. Lots of stories as no doubt your grandmother Anges had.

    Thanks for memories – hope your keeping well.

  5. Mark

    I’m surprised you managed to understand her. Sounds like your own grandmother was out of the same mould.

    The business about walking to school struck a chord with me as well. What an outcry we would face now if we expected children to do a similar thing.

    All well here. I’ll drop you note soon.

  6. I was intrigued to hear Agnes “spelling out” tunes. This is a practice I try to encourage in pupils as it urges them to decide more quickly which note they are going to play and to aim for it with more resolve. However, the speed at which she spelled out tunes was very impressive – regardless of age. Most people can’t spell words they know well at such speed.

    I sent the link to an Argentinean internet chess adversary/pal in Buenos Aires. He is interested in all things Scottish and I thought he’d enjoy the music of the Doric dialect – even although it would be difficult, or nearly impossible, to follow. I was correct in both predictions but he enjoyed “the atmosphere of the interview” and thought her “a lovely woman.”

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