For almost three decades I have run slow sessions in various locations. The Wednesday Slow Session was my first session, and it existed in five or six bars in Edinburgh over the years. During lockdown I created Gatherer's Inn, an imaginary bar in which I conducted an online session and, four years later, we're still there.

I'm taking a couple of weeks off from the session while I recover from a minor ailment. Back soon.

Sarah

For many years, one of the mainstays of my Wednesday Slow Session was fiddler Sarah Nelson. She returned to the fiddle in retirement and, to boost her confidence, I would ask her to play a solo fiddle piece. She often thanked me for encouraging her, and it became a regular feature of the sessions, even when they transferred online.

Recently, Sarah had been getting treatment for cancer, and a few days ago she lost her battle. I'll miss her presence at the session, and the delightful tunes she chose and prepared for her weekly spot. I wrote a tune for Sarah in the style of the Strathspeys she loved: Sarah Nelson OBE.