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Malcolm
Nicholas Gee, a pharmacist by profession, first developed his
interest in the accordion whilst touring Australia and New Zealand
in the mid 1970's. On his return to England he founded Club Accord,
the first of many clubs of its kind, and became its Chairman and
later President. Here he made long lasting friendships.
Malcolm's
interest in the accordion was reflected by his many innovative
enterprises. The club became affiliated to the National Accordion
Organisation and hence focused him to the work of the C.I.A. He
supported the U.K. competitor in New Zealand, and was a British
delegate in Kansas City, U.S.A. Malcolm successfully organised
the Coupe Mondiale in Great Britain, on behalf of the N.A.O.,
in Folkestone 1984.
It was while
Malcolm was in New Zealand, (1980 - 1981), that he sensed the
"camaraderie" the accordion could inspire, and already in 1982,
the first accordion camp began. Since then the Annual Accordion
Festival at Caister has become, in Malcolm's own words, "THE undisputed
leader of such festivals". At these weekends Malcolm brought to
his accordion public, the memorable performances of stars such
as Toralf Tollefson, Lars Ek, Danielle Pauly and many more.
The Accordion
Record Club, the only one of its kind, started because Malcolm
loved the music he heard and the friends he'd made at Club Accord.
Using local artists, he recorded the first of the "Accordion for
All Series". He went on to import and mail records and tapes all
around the world.
The Club
newsletter grew to be such a vital form of monthly communication
that Malcolm seized the opportunity to issue the Accordion Monthly
News, published regularly ever since. He was proud of its regularity
and a "What's On ?" column that was news and not history. Through
his magazine he supported other clubs, other festivals and a wide
variety of other initiatives; assisting in bids for the Guinness
Book of Records, organising British tours of European, New Zealand
and American artists and introducing the accordion to audiences
of various musical tastes.
Inspired
by Malcolm, Club Accord organised annual festivals, the Team Challenge
Trophy, club day trips, the club band, Concord, and all these
made our lives, and his, full of accordion music and friendships.
Malcolm
Gee will be sorely missed by the accordion world, and all his
friends from the Rose Theatre, The Bewdley Motorcycle Club, The
Mountaineering club, and all at Pound Green, yet he has given
us all many special memories to treasure.
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