Albie Tedham
Albert "Albie" Tedham (9 February 1926 – 16 November 1980) was a well known fiddler and pianist.
Albert was born Albert Thomas Tedham in Langholm, Scotland on 9 February 1926 at 35 Kirk Wynd, Langholm.
He was educated in Langholm Academy, in the original academy building which became the Langholm Primary building after the new Langholm Academy[1] was built. He later worked at Arthur Bell's Mill.
Albert had considerable musical talent from a young age. He was deaf, however was able to play through feeling and recognising each of the unique vibrations of the strings or keys of the instruments he played. Despite his disability, he managed to win over 300 trophies for his efforts.
Albert was known to have performed on Border Television and played annually at the traditional Common Riding Concert and at some of the ride outs. In 1979 he and the Stewart Sneedon band together released a record named The Border Dance band at Gretna Hall. On a number of occasions he played with the great Jimmy Shand. He became one of Scotland's most renowned fiddlers of the time.
Albert also had a love for his local community and was well liked and well known by many of the people of Langholm and its surrounding areas. He would often go to entertain the elderly at the Erkinholme House and would play 'Pop Goes the Weasel' to entertain local children.
In 1958 he married Sarah Bell. Together they had 5 sons and 1 daughter.
His children loved him greatly. He would often perform 'magic' tricks to entertain them in their younger years. One of their favourite tricks involved making sweets appear. He would do this by wrapping a towel around his hand in which the sweets were concealed and ask them to say the magic words before revealing them for his children to enjoy.
Sadly, on 16 November 1980, aged 54, Albert Tedham died at home, surrounded by his family. He had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer however, actual cause of death was coronary thrombosis. He was then buried in the Langholm Cemetery.
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