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For a number of years, Wallace Galbraith has been the resident
Fiddler at the Bachelors Club in Tarbolton where Scotland's
national poet, Robert Burns, attended ,learning the arts
of social intercourse including dancing. At that time, the
dancing master was William Gregg who , as well as instructing
his pupils in dance steps, would accompany on the fiddle.
Burns, a capable fiddler himself, would have undoubtedly
played on the Gregg Violin.
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The instrument was handed down through the generations
but, as no members of the immediate family were interested in playing,
the violin fell into disrepair and obscurity. In 1995, Wallace became
aware of the violin's existence at the farm near Mauchline of the
then Chairman of the Bachelors Club, Major John Weir. He gave the
instrument to Dr David Martin of Ayr, a retired lecturer at the
Scottish Agricultural College at Auchincruive and talented violin
restorer, who lovingly brought the violin back to its former glory.
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The Orchestra gave the violin to the National
Trust for Scotland who now keep it in safe custody at Culzean
Castle near Maybole. Wallace plays it at the Annual Burns
Supper at the Bachelors Club every January and the National
Trust graciously allows the Orchestra to take it with them
on their International Tours
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