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On this day in 2000, the legendary band leader and accordionist, Jimmy Shand, died.

Born in the Fife mining village of East Wemyss, he worked the pit as a youngster, but his outstanding musical talent, evident at mining dances and busking trips to Dundee, soon allowed him to become a professional musician. Shand's recordings are famous throughout the world due to his distinctive playing style on the button accordion, which inspired a generation of younger players. His band gained great notoriety as the house band first on Â鶹Éç radio, and later, with the advent of television, on . Jimmy died in Auchtermuchty where they erected a statue in his honour.

Today in 1682 James Gibbs, the Scottish architect, was born. Famous commissions included the London churches of St.Martin-in-the-Fields, and St.Mary-le-Strand. He was the author of 'A Book of Architecture', which in the 18th century was the most widely used reference and pattern book in Britain and its colonies.

Today's recipe: enjoy a traditional taste of Christmas with these .