Member Update
Birthday reunion strikes a chord for Glenisla resident
24 September 2026 • Sarah Medcraf
A chance meeting at a local music night saw a Keith musician reunited with a former pupil more than a decade after teaching her to play the accordion.
Jimmy Petrie, a resident at Glenisla Care Home in Keith, celebrated his 90th birthday by performing an accordion duet with Rachel Low, whom he taught to play around 11 years ago.
Pictured: Jimmy Petrie with former pupil Rachel Low.
The pair met again by chance when Jimmy attended a recent event at the North East Fiddlers and Accordion Club at Keith British Legion.
As Rachel performed that night, Jimmy recognised her and told staff: “I taught her when she was a wee girl.”
The pair began chatting and, when Rachel discovered that her former teacher was about to celebrate his 90th birthday, she offered to visit Glenisla and perform with him again.
Jimmy has a long association with traditional music in Keith and originally founded the Keith Fiddlers and Accordion Club.
Jimmy said: “I was so pleased to perform again with Rachel. It brought back a lot of good memories. I really enjoyed it.”
Glenisla manager Brenda Harper added: “It was wonderful to see Jimmy reunited with someone he had taught all those years ago. Having them perform together again for his 90th birthday was a very special occasion and a lovely way to celebrate Jimmy’s lifelong love of music.“