Published by the LONDON BRANCH of the ROYAL SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE SOCIETY www. rscdslondon.org.uk Registered Charity number 1067690 No 272 MAY to AUGUST 2010 MAJOR SUCCESS at NEWCASTLE FESTIVAL David Cordes Cordes David The Demonstration Team have been regular participants at the annual Newcastle Festival for nearly 20 years. This year, their crowning success has been winning the Mabel Ellison Trophy for the Display Section of the Festival on 13 February. In addition the mixed team won their section. More about it inside London Branch takes Olympia by storm MOVEIT is one of the UK’s largest annual Dance exhibitions attracting over 20,000 people to Olympia. The opportunity arose in February for London Branch to exhibit at the 11-14 March show and with some financial support from RSCDS HQ we set about designing our stand, materials and a rota to cover all four days. It was a hugely vibrant exhibition with performances, workshops and activities taking place all the time and ranging from street dance, to salsa, ballroom, ballet and many other forms of dance. Our small stand (Number 111) attracted many people who were pleased to see Scottish Country Dancing represented, and many said that more traditional folk dancing should have been there too. From a networking point of view and from simply flying the flag for SCD it was a real success. But given our late entry on the Where to find: scene it was not possible to provide any Page dance performance and this is what folks 2 ........................... AGM really wanted to see. Everyone who was 3 ... Anniversary Events involved in the exhibition worked very 4 ..................... Classes hard at meeting and greeting the public and 7,8,13,16 ... Past Events my thanks go to all concerned for another 9 John Mitchell’s Column first for the London Branch. The photo 10,11,18,20 ....... Photos (left) shows the Strictly Come Dancing 12… ................... Letters professionals Matthew and Nicole Cutler 14,15 ................. Events with us on the RSCDS Stand at MOVEIT. 19 ................. Jim Cook Michael Nolan Issue No 273 will be with UK based members by 28 August 2010 unless delayed in the post. Contributions for that issue should be sent preferably by email to [email protected]. Postal contributions should be sent to Wilson Nicol, 14 Great Woodcote Park, Purley, Surrey CR8 3QS to arrive by 31 July 2010. (Issue No 274 will arrive by 27 November 2010). The opinions expressed by contributors in The Reel do not necessarilyPage 1 reflect the official position of the RSCDS, nor of the Branch. CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS ANNIVERSARY FUND ROYAL As we progress through our 80th Anniversary APPEAL SCOTTISH year there is an opportunity to reflect on recent COUNTRY Enclosed with your copy of The Reel you will events. find a page explaining the Branch Anniversary DANCE SOCIETY Although a bit of a departure, there was a good Fund Appeal. Members and supporters of the turn out for our first mid-week Winter Dance. Patron - H.M. The Queen Branch are asked to consider seriously making a President – Dr Alastair MacFadyen We enjoyed the music of the Strathallan Band contribution to the funding of additional youth Chairman – Alex Gray and the line up included our multi-talented Vice- projects. Chairman Angela Young on keyboard. MC HEADQUARTERS: Simon Wales kept us under control and sincere 12 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 7AF thanks to the many helpers who contributed to Tel: 0131 225 3854; Fax: 0131 225 7783, the success of the evening. ANNUAL GENERAL email: [email protected]. An early start was needed for our March MEETING www.rscds.org. Family Day with a BBC interview at 7.00am. The AGM of the London Branch of the Royal Following the children’s class we were blessed LONDON BRANCH Scottish Country Dance Society will be held at St with a visit from the Mayor of RBKC and the Columba’s Church (Upper Hall), Pont Street, Hon. President: Pearly King of Thornton Heath who brought a London, SW1 on Friday 11 June 2010. Tea will Mary Stoker sense of occasion to the afternoon session. Our be served, by courtesy of the Vice-Presidents, at Hon. Vice-Presidents: thanks to the members of the demonstration team 6.30 pm and the meeting will commence at Mary Barker, Stella Booth, who contributed a faultless version of The 7.30pm. There will be dancing after the meeting. Jenny Greene, Marie Jamieson, Merrick and it was nice to see the trophies won All Members and friends are welcome to attend John Laurie, Owen Meyer, Rosemary Tilden. at the Newcastle Festival on display. and there is no need to register in advance. Chairman: The evening Combined Societies Dance, Naturally, only Members are entitled to vote. Jeff Robertson, hosted by the Branch this year, was well attended 31 Alinora Avenue, Goring-by-Sea, with a range of MCs guiding us through the AGENDA West Sussex BN12 4NA programme. Our thanks to the home team MCs, 1 Apologies for Absence Tel: 01903 245718. Dave Hall and Angela Young and also to our 2 Approval of minutes of the 2009 AGM email: [email protected] band Green Ginger. 3 Matters arising from the minutes We give our on-going thanks to the Vice-Chairman: Angela Young, Anniversary Sub-Committee led by Angela 4 Report on the Branch Activities during the past year 75 Studland Road, Hanwell, Young, for the imaginative programme of events London, W7 3QU 5 Treasurer’s Report and Statement of over the year. We are also greatly indebted to email: [email protected] Margaret Catchick for all her work arranging the Accounts Branch Weekend School and to Rachel Wilton 6 Appointment of Honorary President and Hon. Secretary: Stewart Murray, for the Ball in October. Honorary Vice-Presidents 139 Cottenham Park Road, Once more our AGM is upon us and members 7 Appointment of Officers and Committee of will find the Branch Annual Report enclosed London, SW20 0DW Management Tel: 020 8946 3150. with this copy of The Reel. Please take time to 8 Appointment of Auditors email: [email protected] look at the Annual Report and tell us what you think. Even if you are not able to attend the 9 Election of Branch Delegates to the Society Hon. Treasurer: AGM in person we would still value your AGM Simon Wales, contribution. 10 Any other business Flat 6, 86 Worcester Rd, Sutton, Surrey SM2 6QQ. Unfortunately, two of our Convenors are stepping down at the AGM. My sincere thanks Tel: 020 8643 0952. Note: Nominations for the appointments at items email: [email protected] go to James Fairbairn, Dem Class Convenor and 6, 8 and 9 above will be taken from the floor at to Michael Nolan who is leaving the Committee the meeting. SUB-COMMITTEES after an unprecedented spell as Publicity Convenor. Youth: .......................... Angela Young, Elaine Davies. My thanks go to the hard working members of Classes: ....... Margaret Catchick, Gillian Bloomfield, SOCIETY AGM 2010 George Potts, Lena Robinson*, Margaret Shaw. the Committee who do so much to keep the The AGM of the Society will be held in Perth on Branch flourishing. There will be some new Dances: ............... Jeff Robertson, Margaret Catchick, 6 November 2010 during the Conference George Potts, Marjory Reid, Lena Robinson*, faces on the Committee next season and with weekend of 5-7 November. their hard work and your support the Branch can Margaret Shaw, Angela Young,. The London Branch will elect its delegates at Demonstrations: ...... James Fairbairn, Angela Young continue to thrive and build on its past success. the Branch AGM on 11 June. Please advise the Enjoy your dancing and I hope to see you at the Publicity: ......... Michael Nolan, Wilson Nicol (Reel), Secretary, Stewart Murray, if you would be Rita Marlow* (Reel Distribution), AGM. willing to be present at the Society AGM as a Jeff Robertson Meryl Thomson*(website) Branch delegate. Delegates are required to vote Open-air & Picnic Dances: ............. James Fairbairn, as directed by the Branch Committee. There will Jeff Robertson, Jerry Reinstein be a small contribution towards the travel 80th Anniversary Events: ................. Angela Young, EDITORIAL expenses but all other arrangements are the The Branch is run by a Margaret Catchick, Andrew Kellett*, responsibility of the delegate. Application forms Michael Nolan, Rachel Wilton*, Simon Wales dedicated band of volunteers for function tickets during the Conference trying both to meet the Membership: ...................................... Gaynor Curtis* weekend should be available on the Society Bookstall: ............................................. Ian Anderson* objectives of the Branch and website by the end of April. This is a great CCPR: ..................... Marie Jamieson*, Simon Wales. to provide members an opportunity to meet dancers from all over the interesting programme of world, to attend two wonderful dances and to see Hon Archivist: ..................................... Iris Anderson* events throughout the year. the Society at work. In addition to the formal SE Branches: ..................................... Rachel Wilton * These volunteers are elected business of the AGM itself, a Members’ Forum Combined Societies: ............................ Jeff Robertson at the Annual General will be held on the morning of Sunday 7 *Indicates a non-Executive Committee member. Meeting held in June each year. We hope that November. you will take advantage of this opportunity to Website: www.rscdslondon.org.uk express your appreciation or otherwise with the way the Branch is being run – and even to End of Year Branch Accounts Objects of London Branch volunteer to participate in its running. Things just To advance the education of the public in the By the end of May, the Annual Accounts of the don’t happen – a lot of hard work goes into London area in traditional Scottish Country Branch should have been approved by the organising each event.