Sad Passing of Andy McKinlay
Buckhaven and Methil Miners Band pay tribute to a "Super Man"
Andy McKinlay 44 years (1st Feb 1967 - 9th Jan 2012).
It is with great sadness that the Band announces the unexpected death of long-serving Bb Bass player Andy McKinlay after a short and sudden illness. Our thoughts are with Andy's family and loved ones at this time.
Big Andy joined the band in 1980. As a young lad he was both big for his age and he unfortunately wore the standard issue NHS (Clark Kent) glasses. He was immediately given the nicknames of Big Andy and Superman.
Superman was a nickname that only the brave (or the quick) would use in his early years. In Adulthood, He may not have been able to "leap tall buildings in a single bound". But as a Bass player and as a man he was truly worthy of the "Super" tag.
For years he played (single handed) the Bb Bass in the Band. Various conductors such as Alan Fernie & Bob McDonald would ask him to play down a bit and give the rest of the Band a chance!! Not only a big sound, but tone and technique to match.
He was a Super man who had a passion for Brass Bands and as well as his beloved East Fife. Big Andy was the Band oracle. He was the one who once we had played would be straight back into the hall to listen to the other bands. He could name any piece, year, contest location, who conducted, who adjudicated and where the Band were placed. Not only that, he could hum the tune......
It was Andy's life long dream to become a Scottish Champion with the Band. This dream was realised in 2007, under the baton of Bob McDonald, when the Band won the 4th Section Scottish Championship at Dundee's Caird Hall. There could have been no happier man alive that day than Andy.
He had many friends in the Brass Band world as his friendly nature and passion for brass bands gained him respect of whoever had the pleasure of his company.
Many of the Band grew up with Big Andy, and held him as a brother/ son. He will be sorely missed.
