View source for Annotation:Alston Flower Show

The tune is attributed to Robert Whinham (1814-1893), a musician, teacher, composer, dancing master and fiddler originally from Morpeth, Northumberland. Dixon (1995) says there is no direct evidence linking the tune to Whinham, but older Northumbrian musicians maintain that it is Whinham's work.  Supposedly Whinham composed it while staying at the farm of a man named Armstrong, at Slaggyford, south of Alston, when the annual Flower Show was in progress, says Dixon. 

Source for notated version: editor, fiddler and Lowland piper Matt Seattle (Northumberland) [Dixon]. Dixon ('''Remember Me'''), 1995; pg. 64 (variations by Matt Seattle). '''Northumbrian Pipers' Second Tune Book''', 1981; pg. 31. 

Recorded sources: Black Crow CRO210, Kathryn Tickell - "Borderlands." BoK15, Billy Pigg - "The Legendary Billy Pigg." NPS1, Jane & Tristram Robson (et al) - "New Horizon." Topic 12TS227, Joe Hutton (et al) - "Wild Hills o' Wannies." Topic 12TS297, High Level Ranters - "Ranting Lads."