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Tommy Mainland (biography)
Tommy Mainland from Orkney, began fiddle lessons in 1944 aged six with Mr Wood and then had tuition from Claire Spence who was the Orkney County Music Organiser. He went on to have lessons from Bill Sinclair who was an official violin teacher in Orkney.
Tommy’s influences were mainly Jim Craigie and Hugh Inkster who were both relations of his and he learned many of his tunes from local players and recordings. Tommy was at one point leader of the Orkney Strathspey and Reel Society and was very involved with the Orkney Traditional Music Project teaching pupils of all ages.