SSCCOO TTTTIISSHH country dancer

The Members’ Magazine of the RSCDS No 5 October 2007

News from Coates Crescent

From around the world

The Archive

Interview with Lord Mansfield

From the Chair

Management Committees

The Society on camera

Trip to Lorient

Spring Fling

A branch and a club

Overheard on the web

Reviews

In my opinion

Day School diary

Obituaries The Official RSCDS tartan Supplied exclusively by Tartankilts.com

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8 West Moulin Road, Pitlochry PH16 5AD email: [email protected] Tel: 01796 473787 web: www.scotscores.com Editorial Contents

Thank you Jimmie! Sadly Jimmie Hill has stepped down as 4 News from Coates Crescent editor of Scottish Country Dancer after successfully piloting the Changes and developments at Headquarters magazine through its first four issues. We are all grateful to 6 From around the world him. Looking back it’s amazing that for so many years we Reports from our regional correspondents thought we could manage without a publication such as this. 9 The RSCDS Archive In a very short time Scottish Country Dancer has become part of The Peel Index the RSCDS landscape. 10 Interview with Lord Mansfield No one could replace Jimmie and no one has. A whole team is Reflections and comment from our retiring President now in place to continue his good work. The new editor has 13 From the Chair seven years’ experience with The Reel, there is a new face and Irene Bennett writes about the Chairman’s Chain some familiar names on the Editorial Board, we have engaged 14 Management Committees the professional design services of Dougie Gibson and the Membership Services, General Purposes and Finance, Chairman, Chairman Elect, Secretary and Convenors will act Education and Training collectively as publisher overseeing everything. The new team 16 The Society on camera will continue to rely on the expertise of our Headquarters staff, Dancers from nine to ninety years but above all it will be you, the members, who determine the 18 Francis Peacock content of the magazine. Without your contribution Scottish The second instalment on this great teacher Country Dancer will be nothing. Please let the editorial team 20 Trip to Lorient know what you think, and send us your ideas, comments and The RSCDS team at the Festival Interceltique news. We will certainly read and be influenced by everything 21 Spring Fling you submit, even if we cannot print it all. Young dancers in the RSCDS We are determined to publish the magazine at designated 22 A branch and a club times of the year. This issue should reach you in October, in Toronto Branch and Dunedin Dancers time for the Society’s AGM. There will be another issue in April. 23 Dancing Matters To achieve these regular publication dates we shall set Observations on the allemande and Technique Doctor deadlines for contributions, so material for the next issue 25 Overheard on the Web should be with the editor by 1 February. That’s a long lead-in Recent postings on the internet time, but we hope to reduce that with experience. However a 26 Reviews twice yearly magazine with a worldwide distribution is not the New recordings and books place for hot off the press news; check the website for that. 27 In my opinion Our publication schedule means that we cannot report on Fiona Grant (Bristol Branch) gives her views Dance Scottish Week in September, which we are sure has been 28 Day School Diary a great success. Do let us know what your branch or club did Schools from October 2007 to September 2008 during the week, and in the next issue we will share everyone’s 29 Obituaries ideas so we can make the next Dance Scottish Week even Tributes to dedicated RSCDS supporters better. Turning to this issue we mark the retirement of Lord Cover picture: Scone Palace, Perthshire Mansfield as Honorary President of the Society, we look again by kind permission of the Earl of Mansfield. at the life and times of Francis Peacock and, with an eye to the Editor Contact future, we celebrate the continuing success of Spring Fling, our Andrew Kellett [email protected] annual event for young dancers, and the first performances of Editorial Board Advertising the new, youthful RSCDS demonstration team. Elspeth Gray, Jimmie Hill, Linda Gaul Pat Houghton, Jean Martin [email protected] Happy dancing! Publisher The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society 12 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 7AF Website Telephone E mail REMEMBER www.rscds.org 0131 225 3854 [email protected] The next issue of Scottish Country Dancer will be published in Graphic Designer Its All Good April 2008. Please send your news, photographs, letters The Haughs, Cromdale, Grantown on Spey, PH26 3PQ [email protected] and comments, especially about Dance Scottish Week, to Printer the editor by 1 February 2008. Buccleuch Printers, Tweed Horizons, Newtown St Boswells, Melrose TD6 0SG. 3 News from Coates Crescent

Elspeth Gray brings you up-to-date with highlights of what has been happening at Headquarters. Elsewhere in the magazine you will find news from the Chairman and the Committee Convenors.

Hon. President House Style Update 2008, at the Cluny Centre in Morningside, As notified in the last issue, the Earl of Edinburgh, and we will be writing to Mansfield is standing down after thirty Branches shortly to confirm this and to years as President of the Society – there is take arrangements forward. Whereas the an interview with Lord Mansfield on page Society met the cost of holding the initial 10 which we hope you will enjoy reading. conference in 2006, with the exception of Lord Mansfield has been a wonderful travel expenses, Branches will be asked to supporter of Scottish country dancing and meet the costs of the 2008 conference. the RSCDS, and has made a great contribution to the Society over the years. In June, we sent out to all Branches a disk Communication with His wisdom and guidance will be very containing the new logo in a variety of Headquarters much missed. Following lengthy styles and formats, together with I suspect it will be no surprise to many consideration, the Management Board guidelines for their use. Hopefully of you that communication with has invited Dr Alastair MacFadyen to take Branches will by now have begun to Headquarters – whether by letter, email or on the role of President, and we are incorporate the new logo into their own phone – has increased greatly in recent delighted to say he has accepted. His materials. If any Branch has not received appointment will be proposed to the AGM the disk, or if you have any queries that years. We receive around 30 emails per in November. Dr MacFadyen has held a are not covered in the guidelines, please day to [email protected], and in addition number of roles within the Society over just let us know. most of the staff team receive between 20- the years – examiner, archivist, chairman – 40 emails directly. Of course, we also and we look forward to hearing more from Members’ Database receive correspondence by mail; this him in the next issue. varies hugely, and can be anything from 3- In the last issue, we said that the facility 30 letters per day (in addition to the for Branches to access and update their Members’ Room at “regular” mail items such as orders, own members’ data online would be subscription and affiliation payments, Headquarters ready by June 2007 – unfortunately, that invoices, application forms, etc). We are has not been possible, as there have been aware that, at times, it has taken longer several glitches that we are determined to than we would like to respond to iron out completely before turning the communications. Where an urgent system over to Branches. We are hopeful response is requested, we will of course that all will be finalised very shortly, continue to do our best to meet that however, and that details will be sent out expectation. If an immediate response to Branch secretaries by the time this is not made, we will at least issue a magazine is distributed. standard response to communications, so that correspondents know that their Life Members letter/email has been received. That Several Life members have contacted response will outline to which individual/s Headquarters to request copies of the or committee the communication has magazine, as they were apparently not on been passed. If it is a general query that the distribution list. We sent a letter to will be dealt with at Headquarters, a Life members with the first edition of response will be made within six weeks. If Scottish Country Dancer , asking if they it is a query that needs to be dealt with by wished to continue to receive the a committee, the date of the next meeting magazine or not, and we subsequently of the relevant committee will be given annotated our database accordingly. and a full response may not be provided However, when Branches take on the until after that date, although the online maintenance of their members’ Convenor of the committee may choose details (see above), Branch secretaries to respond more quickly. I should add that will be able to do that themselves. We we are always pleased to hear from would therefore urge Branch secretaries 12 Coates Crescent has once again seen members! We are simply trying to be more to check with their own Life members if a lot of activity in terms of maintenance systematic in responding. they wish to receive the magazine. and upgrading of facilities. Central Branch Awards Update heating has been installed throughout, Scottish Branches which will be much more efficient and Branch Awards were introduced in 2005, cost-effective than the old (in some Conference as a way of recognising Branch members cases, ancient and out of order!) storage At the very successful conference for who had given outstanding service, and heaters that were previously in place. In Scottish Branches that was held in have proved a great success. If Branches addition, refurbishment of the large February 2006, delegates indicated that decide to make an award, they complete room, known in recent years as the Board they would be interested in the event the appropriate form and send it to Room, has now been completed to make being repeated, with more focus on Headquarters, and a certificate is issued it look less like a meeting room and to particular issues that had been identified. for the Branch to present to the create a more attractive space to greet We contacted Scottish Branches earlier individual/s concerned at an appropriate members and visitors. If you are in this year to identify the preferred format time. Unlike the Scroll of Honour, there is Edinburgh any time, please come in and for the next conference, and the no “approval” process, Branches simply see it for yourself! Our opening hours are conclusion was that it should be a one- need to tell us they wish to make an Award 10.00am – 4.00pm, Monday to Friday, or day event, in Edinburgh. We can now and why, and the certificate is provided. In other times by arrangement. confirm that the date will be 9 February Scottish Country Dancer No. 3 we listed all

4 recipients to date; below are the names of 60th Belfast, Dumfries, Dunfermline, the examination system. As John all those who have received an Award Peterhead mentions in his article, the School was since issue 3 and up to the end of August 50th Nairobi, Roxburgh Selkirk & not in its customary venue this year, as 2007 – congratulations to all! Peebles, Toronto refurbishment work is being carried out, Name/s Branch 25th Isle of Islay, Pretoria, Sutton but instead was based at St Salvator’s Irene Bennett St Andrews Coldfield Hall, with a number of attendees also staying at New Hall or David Jenny Bradley Nottingham Spring Fling 2008 Russell Hall. This was not ideal, but Major Olly Davidson Birmingham those of us based at St Salvator’s June Dey Detroit Are you between 16-35? Get the dates for were certainly made very welcome. June & John Dey Windsor (Ontario) next year’s Spring Fling in your diary In addition to members from all corners now! It will be held in Glasgow, from Jean Dyson Leeds of the UK, we were very happy to Friday 28 to Sunday 30 March 2008. welcome members from the following David & Molly Farmer London Canada Application forms are now available from Rene Gibson Stonehaven countries this year: Argentina, Headquarters or can be downloaded Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, John & Anne King London from our website. China, France, Germany, Hungary, Joe & Judy McDougall Seattle India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Lilian Meiklejohn Inverness & District Looking back at Summer Norway, Portugal, Russia, South Jimmy Mitchell Duns and District School 2007 Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Ukraine, USA. Ross & Kay Morrison Seattle John Wilkinson, Schools Director, has John Reeve London written on page 15 about his experience Robert Rushton North West Craven of directing Summer School for the first And looking forward to David & Bessie Smith Kingston (Ontario) time, but here is a brief summary. Summer School 2008 Walter Sutherland Aberdeen Numbers attending each week were: Week 1 starts 20 July Yvonne Tredgett Leeds Week 1 203 Week 2 starts 27 July Viv Vedat Gatehouse of Fleet Week 3 starts 3 August Week 2 171 Eileen Watson Aberdeen Week 4 starts 10 August Week 3 186 Peter Wright Bristol Application forms will be available from Week 4 226 Headquarters or the website in Branch anniversaries 74 people came for two weeks, and the December 2007. It is very much hoped remainder attended for one week only. that we will be able to return to our usual Congratulations to the following The Musicians’ courses were well “home” of University Hall, but that will Branches, who all celebrated significant attended, with 15 people in week 2, and not be confirmed until after this anniversaries this year. Well done, and 10 in week 4. This year we also had an magazine has gone to press. Watch the here’s to many more years of happy Examiners’ Seminar running during week website for confirmation! dancing for you and your members! 1; this was an opportunity for our 80th Clackmannanshire, Stirling examiners from all over the world to get 75th Falkirk together to discuss matters relating to The RSCDS Examiners at their seminar in St Andrews during the first week of Summer School

Back Row: Bruce Frazer; Lesley Martin; Ian Hall; Morag Napier; Brenda Burnell; Ann Dix; Noeline O'Connor; Helen Russell (Interim Convenor of Education and Training) and Peter Clark. Front Row: Elinor Vandegrift; Johan MacLean; Frances Gray; Christine Mair; Marilyn Watson (Provisional Examiner); Elma McCausland; Geoffrey Selling; Margo Priestley; Helen Frame; Jean Martin; Craig Jackson (RSCDS Examinations Officer) Inset: Mary Murray (who could not attend the seminar).

5 From around the world

Once again we have reports from our correspondents around the globe. We welcome Christiane Orgeret as our new Europe correspondent and we are grateful to Eilean Yates for temporarily filling the North America - East Coast berth

Africa that little was lost in translation. This well welcome to join us, perhaps as part of a received, high-impact event was the holiday. See http://www.rscds.org.au/ for Correspondent: Terry Lynne Harris result of six months’ liaison by dance more information. [email protected] secretary, Joseph Schembri, with the Europe Pretoria Branch’s 35th anniversary ball Hong Kong Cultural Centre. takes place on Saturday, 6 October 2007 Meanwhile in Indonesia, the 30th Jakarta Correspondent: Christiane Orgeret at the Wingate Park Country Club in Highland Gathering took place, an event [email protected] Pretoria, with live music provided by which claims to be the largest of its kind Muriel Johnstone and Keith Smith. in the southern hemisphere. The Johannesburg Branch has been helping to Gathering has a separate section for raise the necessary funds to bring these Scottish country dancing and the RSCDS two excellent musicians out to South usually sends a judge to guarantee fair Africa. Thank you Jo’burg! Bill and Atsuko play. Unfortunately, the recent terrorist Clement will also be attending the ball attacks in Jakarta and Bali have made it and Bill will play his bagpipes - another increasingly difficult for the organizers. treat! Live SCD music is a rare occurrence This year, dancing was included, but only in South Africa and the ball promises to dancers from Indonesia took part. It is be a great event. Pretoria Branch’s 35th hoped that more teams from around the Dancing in Lyon anniversary book of dances is due out in region will participate in the coming years. October to coincide with the ball. Enquiries should be addressed to Susan EUROPE? How can one deal with such a In March the SCD group in Grahamstown Whistler ([email protected]). wide-ranging topic without disappointing demonstrated at a cultural evening in a the great majority of European readers? private home - one with a very large Australia I don’t know, so please help me. If you lounge! The dancing was very well Correspondent: Sam Heron would like a comment about a past received and the dem team managed to [email protected] or future event organized by your entice spectators into two sets of six for group/branch to be published in this the Cumberland Reel, which was enjoyed The annual Winter School of Scottish column, do let me know… Country Dancing (Canberra 30 September most enthusiastically by some Ugandans This brings me to a question which SCD to 7 October 2007) continues to be a must attending the event. The Grahamstown dancers are often asked in my part of the for dancers. The dance chatter at the group is very small, so they were world: “Why do you choose to practise a moment in Australia is about the delighted to have six dancers good form of dance which bears no resemblance Canberra WS and important things like enough to do a demo, the first time in to your own?” In St Andrews, I tried to get which ceilidh item to perform.It is the many years. some of the French, Swiss, German, Italian highlight of the year for many and has and Hungarian pilgrims to tell me what it Asia almost a cult following. “Schools” are is in SCD that attracts them. Some were where friendships are renewed annually Correspondent: Arthur McNeill able also to share their experience of what and where new friends are met and there [email protected] usually draws their compatriots to it. is an excitement about this annual Early summer appears to be the season pilgrimage to "wherever" to see old First impressions are that every person for large-scale celebrations. In Hong friends. It is a time when dancers enjoy has his or her own reason(s) for starting Kong, the local dancers teamed up with dancing in classes with others at a level SCD: people will come because they other groups to put on a public consistent with their own abilities while prefer dance to yoga or tennis; because performance of Scottish music and dance being taught by selected teachers. It also the SCD club is nearer home than the at the invitation of the Hong Kong enables the eight Australian Branches to Irish one; because they know or would Cultural Centre. Although Hong Kong has meet to discuss issues of national interest like to know somebody who dances; a large international community, over with mutual agenda items able to be because they need exercise and the day 95% of the local population are native reconciled and ATA, the Australian and time suit them; because they read an speakers of Cantonese. How can Scottish Teachers’ Alliance, does likewise. The first article in a local paper or have fun at a country dancing be made accessible and Winter School in Australia was held in ceilidh. Many, however, will give up quite attractive to them? On this occasion, a Hunter Valley in NSW and since then it quickly. Some stay, though: why? bilingual approach was adopted, with has developed into a must have, must go, They may have a personal or cultural link texts carefully prepared by Jean Young must enjoy event. Dancers from all over with Britain: teachers of English, and translated by Anne Lee, who Australia enjoy the companionship of descendants of Scots, Brits who have discovered that her English-Chinese likeminded people. In 2008 it is lived locally for years, people with dictionary was of limited use when trying Queensland’s turn for a week of dancing experience of life outside their own to explain the significance of The White to be held at a venue on the beach on the country are more likely to become steady Cockade and The Reel of the 51st! Long famous Gold Coast. In 2009 Adelaide, members but, except in groups founded hours were spent trying to capture the South Australia will host the “School”. or run by English-speaking expats, they spirit of the dance in Chinese, ensuring Dancers from around the world are are a minority. 6 Dancers and musicians in Hong Kong Of course these ingredients are often core of its influence there is the Summer by Fred Moyes. 80 people enjoyed three combined: a number of folk dancers School. Every single person I have met on days of dancing. Tokai also had Simon become interested in Scottish dancing a dance floor in Europe said the same Scott teaching their Weekend in and form a group, bringing their network thing: involvement with the RSCDS September at Yufuin, famous hot springs of friends into it; several French groups begins in St Andrews, where you discover in Kyuushuu region. 100 participants had started this way. Their reasons “You can another dimension of SCD altogether. great fun dancing, relaxing in the hot join without bringing a partner”; “the springs and sightseeing. Next January music is so lively!”; “it’s a mental South America Tokyo and Saitama Branches will each challenge as well!” Correspondent: Marcella Galve hold a New Year Dance. Tokyo is to have their Weekend in February with teachers Indeed, learning Scottish dancing is an [email protected] Robert and Barbara McOwen. An abstract activity for a European: these are BASC Dancers have welcomed a few new International SCD Festival, organised by not people’s national dances, they have members in the last six months, due Atsuko Clement and friends, will be held no childhood memories, early emotions probably to the wise decision not to stop in early April at Hakone, another well- or habits attached to them. The Duke of dancing lessons during the Southern known hot-spring resort, with Bill Zobel, Perth has to be memorized, just like any Hemisphere Summer break. This period Muriel Johnstone and Keith Smith. other series of figures. When SCD was also enriched by the presence of Details from [email protected] becomes part of one’s heritage, it is by visitors from abroad, which definitely Come and enjoy Hakone! mutual adoption, not birth… It becomes proved an interesting experience for an acquired skill through hard mental and the group. MCs at events in Japan usually have a physical work and the reward is a sense of walk-through for all dances, even a achievement. This is especially true of In May, following last year’s custom, we simple one such as Rakes of Glasgow. It is young people, who make up a large had a Walking and Dancing Day on an only a short time since SCD became proportion of dancers in Europe. island located in Tigre, on the Delta of the widespread in Japan and most group river Paraná. BASCDancers learnt a few leaders like a walk-through to remind The social aspects of SCD are highly more dances on that occasion and dancers of the patterns and formations. rated, be it dancing technique or the had the chance to polish certain figures On the other hand some programme friendly atmosphere. All those as well. planners think that, since there is to be a questioned said how important it had walk-through of each dance, they can been to feel accepted and made As usual, in July, our teacher attended introduce non-popular dances such as welcome when they were beginners. A the Summer School at St Andrews. This The Lanes of Au and other way-out major concern for those who were allows for a continuous updating of the dances. This can lead to situations where, teachers was to balance demanding group, which strengthens the bonds because there is a mixture of technique and mutual acceptance with Scotland and SCD despite the inexperienced and experienced dancers, between dancers of mixed ability - long distance! chaos can ensue! The organisers may tensions may arise between over- We would like to take this opportunity to boast of the success of an event because achievers and social dancers! remind prospective visitors to Buenos of the number of dancers. If there had Aires that BACSDancers meet every Allegedly, many members only attend the been only re-capping the numbers Friday from 7.30 to 10.00 pm. Those events of their local groups. Overcoming attending may well have been halved. the language barrier means a double interested in joining us please do not challenge but once dancers have hesitate to contact us. New Zealand experienced being taught SCD in English Japan Correspondent: Marjorie M Crawford by visiting teachers, they become [email protected] interested in brushing up their school Correspondent: Tom Toriyama English, in attending events organized by [email protected] Warmest greetings once again to RSCDS other groups, in going to Summer School. members world-wide from a very cold Japanese dancers were shocked by the Alice Murphy was our special RSCDS New Zealand (perhaps this has sudden death of Fusako Oi, Tokyo Branch missionary: she inspired many dancers something to do with our proximity to Chairman, in early April. She had been Antarctica?) It’s winter here at the who would never have stepped out of conducting a vigorous class only the their little groups without her. moment, of course, but we also extend previous day. Her talents and original our support to our fellow country dancers The exam system is another opportunity ideas had been of significant help in around the world who have been to enlarge one’s life, build new projects… advancing Branch activities. Her family, to experiencing the most unexpected and Thanks to it, there are now many whom our sympathy is extended, and harsh weather - at a time when things excellent European teachers but Tokyo Branch, have lost a great lady. She should be better! I am pleased to advise unfortunately the cost of attending will be missed by all! members of the Society that the New Summer School can be prohibitive Tokai Branch celebrated its 10th Zealand Branch has taken a leap forward for many. Anniversary at their Weekend in May. The - in what is considered to be a ‘world first’ The international scope of the RSCDS is teachers were Masako O Naito (Marchan) - in the training of Scottish country dance certainly its best asset in Europe. The and Yoshiki Oyama, with music provided teachers. We have launched a web-based 7 learning environment to prepare Thistle School of Scottish Country Dance at held a weekend dance and music candidates for the RSCDS teaching Banner Elk in the North Carolina workshop for its 25th anniversary on certificate examinations and aim to mountains celebrated its 27th year in July. April 13-15, 2007. Among the 104 people provide access to teaching certificate This school provides an important at the ball were dancers from five courses for candidates in all parts of the opportunity for dancers and teachers to get Canadian provinces, one Territory, and country. Since we ceased holding together to share ideas and enjoy meeting three US States. The past and current residential courses at the annual Summer and dancing with those from other areas. members of the Lethbridge Scottish School, we have struggled to solve the Many lasting friendships have been made Country Dance club in attendance issues of distance and isolation. at Thistle! Bobby Brown and his band once included nine people from the first class again provided the music for the Ball. His held in the Fall of 1981: seven retired With the introduction of a new modular special brand of music is such a treat for dancers, one current dancer, and one of structure for RSCDS examinations, it was dancers in the south east and his the Club's original teachers, Fiona decided to implement a new training attendance is much enjoyed each year. No Miller, who has taught continuously at course structure that combines both on- matter how tired are the feet, all are revived the Club for 25 years. line learning and face-to-face courses. and raring to go when his music starts. He The Unit 1 course will be conducted fully TAC Summer School is one of the most brings out the best in all dancers. on-line - enabling candidates to interact hallowed institutions in the Canadian with each other and their course tutor, (We are very grateful to Eilean for world of Scottish country dancing. whilst still meeting the demands of their providing this report. Sadly, John Traditionally held in Ontario, the busy working lives. Middleton, our usual correspondent, was Summer School has now moved to the unable to write a report for this issue Courses for units 2, 3 and 5 will prepare West Coast three times, most recently in because of a family bereavement. Our candidates on-line prior to the July 2007. The School was fully enrolled sympathy goes to him and to J’ina on the examination taking place. This will give by January, and 225 fortunate people loss of J’ina’s mother, who, until relatively candidates the opportunity to make the from Japan, Australia, New Zealand, recently, was still dancing.) most of the face-to-face course time. Europe and North America converged for a memorable week of dancing and The Branch has elected to offer courses North America – West Coast music at Shawnigan Lake School on via a virtual learning environment (VLE) Correspondent: Rosemary Coupe Vancouver Island. The dining hall at because it can be accessed from [email protected] Shawnigan with its soaring timbers anywhere with an Internet connection. could have been made for Harry Potter, The Branch now has 19 candidates Scottish country dancers must flourish in so we were not surprised to be greeted enrolled in a mix of all five units, with harsh Canadian winters, as the province by a huge “Welcome to Hogwarts” candidates coming from throughout New of Alberta now has three RSCDS banner. Inevitably, Harry Potter provided Zealand and from Australia. branches, one more than neighbouring the theme for the costume night, and BC. In September 2006 the Edmonton The VLE utilises the Moodle open-source Septimus Snape made a chilling Caledonian Country Dance Society visitation to capture first prize. course management system used by became the Edmonton Caledonian more than 2,000 universities, community Branch. The group was first formed in TAC, or Teachers’ Association (Canada), colleges, schools and other educational 1969 as the University of Alberta Scottish will celebrate 50 years of existence in organisations around the world. Country Dance Society, and changed its 2008. It provides many services to The New Zealand Branch enjoyed another name in 1982 when it expanded beyond teachers and dancers, including the highly “first” this year - and was delighted that the university. efficient ordering services, TACBooks and Brownyn Corps (aged 18) was awarded a TACSound, and the quarterly bulletin Another long-lived Alberta group has TACTalk. Congratulations, TAC! Scholarship to attend Summer School at celebrated a quarter-century of dancing. St Andrews. Bronwyn thoroughly enjoyed The Lethbridge Scottish Country Dance Dancers from Europe at the her week at St Andrews and she hopes to Club, linked to the Medicine Hat Branch Newcastle Festival return there sometime to renew the many friendships she made. North America - East Coast Correspondent: Eilean D Yates [email protected] Greetings from a sweltering North Carolina where temperatures have been record breaking highs - 104 degrees Fahrenheit - for several days. Most of the groups have been resting for the summer and are now gearing up for the fall. The recently formed Carolinas Branch completed its first successful year with the AGM at the Loch Norman Games weekend in April. Since the branch covers a geographical area 450 miles east to west and 350 miles north to south it is logistically difficult to meet monthly. The management committee meetings are set up to coincide with established dances at Charleston, Greensboro, Raleigh, Loch Norman near Charlotte and Banner Elk. This way attendance is easier. 8 The Archive Programmes Branches usually hold formal dances or By Marilyn Healy balls to mark special anniversaries. Here is the programme for Pretoria’s 35th Anniversary Ball (10 years as a club and 25 years as a branch) at the Wingate Club The Peel Index locations. Eventually Mrs Stewart’s copy on 6 October 2007. of the book turned up in Coates Crescent! The Peel Index is an important resource Good Hearted Glasgow, The Button Boy, During the 1980s Barbara researched a in the Society’s Archive. It is a card index The Braes of Breadalbane, Knotwork, system with approximately 2-3,000 monograph: Dancing and Social The Barmkin, The Gentleman, Joe references to the location in libraries and Assemblies in York in the Eighteenth and MacDiarmid’s Jig, Jean Martin of archives of old books and manuscripts of Nineteenth Centuries, published by the Aberdeen, Pelorus Jack, The Reel of the country dances, music, teachers, National Resource Centre for Dance at musicians and newspaper articles. It was the University of Surrey in 1986. Most of 51st Division, EH3 7AF, The Saltire compiled by Barbara Peel. her research centred around York, a major Society Reel, The Dream Catcher, social centre during the 18th century, Gothenburg’s Welcome, Miss Johnstone using both the public reference library of Ardrossan, A City in Bloom*, The and the city archives. It was during this Robertson Rant, James Gray, The Wind on work that she began to catalogue the Loch Fyne, The Reel of the Royal Scots. books and resources she had used. That (*Devised especially for the Ball by Irene was how the index began but it continued, and continues, to grow. van Maarseveen with music composed by Wouter Joubert.) A major source of information was the British Union Catalogue of Early Sutton Coldfield celebrated 25 years with Music printed before the year 1801, in a dance on 16th December 2006 at the two volumes by Edith B Schnapper, Arthur Terry School, Four Oaks. Music published in 1957. This catalogues the was provided by the David Anderson music publications held in over one Band and the programme was:- hundred libraries throughout the British Isles but is now, regrettably, out of print. The Wild Geese, Inverneill House, Silver Other sources, apart from the known Tassie, The Cooper’s Wife, Swiss Lassie, St. major collections in the National Columba's Strathspey, The Chequered Library of Scotland, the British Library Court, The Outer Circle, Sands of Morar, and the Mitchell Library in Glasgow, Spiffin, Cherrybank Gardens, The Saltire included Leeds, Manchester and Cardiff Society Reel, The Grumpy Gentleman, The Public Libraries and she unearthed Flower o’ the Quern, Anniversary Tensome, items in less likely places such as the Its Just for Fun, Kinfauns Castle, Major Ian The Boulogne Book. The book has 48 pages and includes instructions for 212 dances. It was one of libraries of Durham Cathedral and York Stewart, The Cashmere Shawl, Ian Powrie's 1 the earliest "pocket editions" and measures 2 ⁄2 Georgian Society. Farewell to Auchterarder. inches by 3 1⁄ inches. 2 Barbara would be first to agree that the When Alastair MacFadyen was first index is not comprehensive and there are appointed as the Society’s Honorary many more sources of dances and music Archivist in 1979 he wrote in The Bulletin to be identified. The index is currently that ‘a very important section of the being transferred to an electronic version Archives will include the sources of and, when complete, will be available on traditional Scottish country dances, and the Society web-site for access by here again I am seeking the assistance of members and researchers but this is a interested members’. Barbara had always long-term plan. It is hoped that, been interested in history but her specific eventually, members will be able to meet interest in the history of country dancing Alastair’s request for information by began in the mid 1970s, shortly after adding further details of sources relating moving to Boston Spa in Yorkshire where to publications, newspaper and the British Library has a lending library periodicals as well as information about and reading room. Alastair asked her if teachers and musicians. she could trace a copy of ‘the Boulogne book’, referred to in JP & TM Flett’s As we continue to revise the books of Traditional Dancing in Scotland, Hugh dances, information from the Index has Thurston’s Scotland’s Dances and also by enabled us to up-date and expand the George Emmerson. It was clear that this sources given in the recently revised Miss book was the source for a large number of Milligan’s Miscellany from three to twenty- dances in the early books including eight dances. Since it was issued we have Petronella, Duke of Perth, Merry Lads of already been told of the source for The Ayr, The Triumph, Flowers of Edinburgh, Lads of Saltcoats. With a total of seventy- Mrs McLeod and Circassian Circle among seven dances in the volume, that still others. The book’s full title is The Ball- leaves nearly fifty dances for which we do Room, or the Juvenile Pupil’s Assistant. not know the source and any information members can provide will be welcomed. As it happened the library did not have a Seen at St. Andrews during the summer. copy but Barbara, having ‘got the bug’, Any information can be sent to the This is surely unfair. Our older members continued to search for it in alternative Archivist at HQ. are much more sprightly.

9 the members’ magazine of the RSCDS Interview with Lord Mansfield

On 21 August Linda Gaul and Jean Martin interviewed Lord Mansfield at Scone Palace. He is to retire as Honorary President of the RSCDS at the Annual General Meeting in November, having served in that capacity for 30 years. Throughout, Lord Mansfield has been a staunch supporter of the Society and a constant source of advice and assistance. Apart from his family, his estate and his business, his other interests include travel and cultivating orchids.

Did you dance from an early age? So, did all your family dance? were battle-hardened and I was in charge. I started to dance in the middle ‘30s and Yes, and the whole of Perthshire was very Oh, dear! It was very good for me I dare my first dancing class was composed of keen. That, of course, was why my mother say, but I think they thought that they’d children who came from all over the was so keen for me to be in Dancie Reid’s seen much more of life than I had, which county. I think the parents took it in turns class. We had bills for the dancing classes was quite true. to have the dancing class and give them but we’ve a new archivist and so I haven’t Did you have a long period in the tea. Our teacher was Dancie Reid who been able to put my hands on them. I had army? came over from Forfar. thought you might like to see them. No, I was very lucky. Until 1 January 1949 Do you remember what he looked Did you continue dancing in the everybody who was called up was there like? army? at His Majesty’s pleasure so you got no Yes, I don’t know if he was short or tall Oh, before that. I went to Eton College. inkling how long you would be in the but then I was a boy of 4 or 5. He had a The Scottish boys were very keen on army. But in 1948 Parliament had passed very kind face which was something that doing Scottish country dancing on an act saying that conscripts could be endeared itself to the children and he Sunday nights when we were allowed to. retained in the army for 18 months and used to arrive and say, “How do you We’d a gramophone and we used to go then they had to be released. Our batch do?” to the parents and then he’d call and dance in one of the halls. Because I’d of 6 officers was the very first to be us all up, the children that is, and get us had this very good grounding and I knew affected by this ruling and so I was in a long line. He’d then say, all the dances I was the president of the released on 7 July 1950, which was my “Gentlemen, make a ‘boe’ to the ladies.” organisation for two years. It was great birthday. To get us back from Malaya to For some time we didn’t understand fun. Eton is a marvellous place because London they hired one of those Liberator what he meant but eventually we did they don’t oversee everything you do. bombers. They were huge and more and we had to do our little bows and They let you get on with it and as long as especially they had a very long range. It the girls were supposed to do little it’s respectable and you seem to know trundled westwards and it took 5 days curtseys but I don’t think they did what you’re doing they don’t interfere. and nights! We went to somewhere in somehow. I don’t know why but it might Anyway, I was asked if we would do a India called Moripoor. I’ve never known have been more difficult for them. Then series of demonstrations for the Workers’ where it is. They chose bases, you see, as we got on with the lesson. He used to Educational Association. Goodness it was quite safe to land there and then explain what he was doing and then knows what Scottish country dancing had the second night we stayed at teach us the pas de basque or whatever to do with the WEA in Slough! They have Habbaniyah, a huge military base to the it was. I remember that he had a fiddle a dance now on St Andrew’s Night at west of Baghdad. Then the third was in which he used to play at the same time Eton. But when I was there it was just the Canal Zone, the fourth was Malta and as he danced and taught. He did the after the war and the headmaster was a the fifth night we landed at Lyneham. The three things beautifully too. It was very dour sort of man. I went to see him Liberator had no pressurisation; it didn’t amazing wasn’t it? and asked him if we could resuscitate the even have sprung seats, just canvas ones. ball on St Andrew’s Night and he was I thought I was going to be deaf for the What sort of dances did you learn? outraged. He wouldn’t let me and he rest of my life. It was marvellous to get He taught us dances but some of them said, “English dancing is immoral and back and we came up to London and I’ve never done much since. The Scottish dancing is unnecessary!” were de-mobbed. That happened at the Cumberland Reel, for instance. He was Goodge Street underground station, So dancing didn’t feature during your very keen on The Cumberland Reel and a which was tremendously deep. The lift stint in the army. sort of a jig. I think really what he was wasn’t working and there weren’t any doing was teaching us a little something No, not really. You see, I was in Malaya at escalators either so one thought one had of each tempo so that we could carry it on the time of the emergency but we didn’t earned one’s de-mob after all that! So as we wanted to. We did the real basic have any proper headquarters - just a that was that. Not very Scottish, I’m stuff – a pas de basque, and an easy sort farm or a rubber plantation, so you afraid, except that I was pleased to be in of Highland Fling and something a little couldn’t have the formal functions with the Scots Guards. bit more ornate for the boys when we got dancing. We were there fairly early - about into the middle of the Foursome. I can’t 1949. I took out a detachment of What made you choose a legal remember doing the Eightsome. I’m not guardsmen from the 2nd Battalion Scots career? going to say it didn’t happen. It probably Guards, about 40 or 50 of them. I was Immediately after the army I went to did but it may not have been in the class aged 18 and very youthful and all these Oxford – to Christ Church. Well, I had for the very youngest. chaps had fought in the last war and they thought that I would follow in my father’s 10 footsteps and do a little light farming. thing that happened was that they were all lined up to have a little chat with And so when I was going up to Oxford my wanted to shoe in Sir Alec Douglas him - he did have good information on father asked what I was going to read. And Home. My father suggested I put my everybody and asked the right questions. I said I hadn’t really thought – perhaps a name forward and I said I didn’t really When it came to my turn he said, “Why little bit of economics and some think I wanted to but I would see. have you, a Scot, come to the English agriculture and all those sort of nice Eventually I did, really to provide a bit of bar?” I thought that was absolute cheek things. Well, he was very cross at this and opposition and there were two or three so I said, “Because the money’s better!” I said, “No you’re not. You have got to other people including George Younger. well remember that. He was furious! become qualified at something and be We all had to go to Crieff and were However, not long after - it was a weekend able to earn your living at it because interviewed one by one. They were very and I was in Scotland - his private Europe is full of landowners who have suspicious of the fact that I was living in secretary made contact and he said, been dispossessed. If it happens to us London so somebody said, “Would you “Stand by for a call from the Prime how are you going to keep a wife and undertake to come up to the constituency Minister.” I thought it was a joke and we children or do anything?” So I every weekend and nurse it?” And were all having lunch – a shooting lunch – acknowledged the worth of his advice thinking of the fact that I was a young and suddenly somebody shouted “The though I wasn’t very pleased. I did want to father and had a good legal practice in Prime Minister for William,” and be my own boss, though, and so I went to London, I said “Well I won’t come up everybody howled with laughter. It was the bar. You’ve nobody to rely on or every weekend but I certainly would come most unlikely that the call was from him. depend on other than yourself. I’ve never up when anything dire has happened or I went and picked up the receiver and regretted it either. needs me.” The selection panel didn’t like Heath answered it. There was no doubt it that much. George Younger was given Ayr Was becoming involved politically an was him: he had a quite unmistakeable and Sir Alec got Perthshire. I never tried automatic step after that? voice. He wanted to put my name forward again. I had liked the idea of it because it Yes. That’s quite true. I didn’t actually to Her Majesty to be a member of the was Perthshire. Anyway that was my only want to be involved in politics until it sort European Parliament. I said I wasn’t attempt at the House of Commons. Then of happened. going to answer him in the middle of a my father died very soon after. It came about because I was working away shooting lunch, and it was agreed that I at the bar and not doing anything to do So the Commons was out, anyway? would ring his private secretary on the with politics, just getting on with what Yes and I went to the House of Lords. I Monday. He, Edward Heath, said it would was very enjoyable work and I was earning didn’t think I was going to have very much take up something like 15 days in the year quite a lot of money. I could do all sorts of a career there but I thought I would go and that didn’t sound too bad. In fact the of interesting things like becoming a and make a little speech and it would be first year I was there it took 63 days and private pilot. I got my private pilot’s rather amusing because of my legal the second year it was over 80. I thought licence and Scone aerodrome isn’t far experience. Anyway it went very well and that it was unfair on my wife and my from here. I can’t remember the name of the next thing that happened was that I children and my legal work was almost the sitting MP, but I think he died was summoned by Edward Heath, whom non-existent. I had really to sever my unexpectedly and the question of who I did not particularly like. He invited me connection with my colleagues and by was going to succeed him arose. The next and my wife to 10 Downing Street. We that time I had quite a large practice and Lord Mansfield with some of his Chairmen. Back row (left to right) Alastair Aitkenhead (1988-91), Stewart Adam (2004-06), Alan Mair (2000-02), George Lawson (1994-96), Bill Clement (1996-98), Alastair MacFadyen (1985-88).Front row: Linda Gaul (1998-2000), Jean Martin (2002-04).

11 they didn’t particularly want me to go the July of that year. I understand that she rather guilty that I’m not in a kilt and that because the more work you have in a was an amazing 90 year-old, still teaching I’m not able to dance, though. barristers’ chambers the more you get. almost right up to the end. So I was a bit worried about that and I The RSCDS has celebrated several Tell us about your involvement with said to Lord Carrington, who was the anniversaries now. Is there an event the RSCDS. leader of the Conservative peers in the you remember in particular? House of Lords, that I wasn’t sure that I Well, in my first year of the presidency There was the day that we had the there was a change proposed to the wanted to go on much longer because I celebration in Edinburgh in the City constitution. It was a very long and thought it was too much all round. And Chambers when the Queen came. That difficult meeting and I was chairing it! I he said, “Do come back on to the was quite a highlight. Well, I was very thought, ‘Goodness me, what have I let Opposition front bench.” I replied, myself in for?’ The meeting took place at keen to let as many people as possible “Right, you’ve got your man.” Jordanhill College of Education, Glasgow. loose on the Queen and I think it But that wasn’t the end of your Of course there was the other very long worked very well. Some people said political career. one only a few years back but that was later, “Why didn’t you do this or get No, Mrs Thatcher asked me to join her here at the Bell’s Sports Centre when we that?” However, I thought it went off government and be George Younger’s were there until half past six! But by that very well and everybody had just the Number 2 in Scotland. I was Minister of time I knew about things and could take right part to play. We had people State at the Scottish Office, which was it in my stride. Jordanhill was more a divided into groups and people from the great. I thoroughly enjoyed that. I got on baptism of fire and there were some very various branches in the UK and around very well with George Younger and I had angry people at the meeting! But I’ve the world spoke and then the young my own little world to look after and it always enjoyed myself and I think in fact people danced extremely well. They to have somebody who is slightly was a very happy time until the next were very good. And most of the dances detached from the everyday goings on of General Election in 1983. were quite comprehensible. There are the Society can be a help when things get Is that when you were involved with tricky. It can be quite difficult at times some real ‘thunderers’ aren’t there? agriculture and fisheries? when you think that someone appears to The Earl of Mansfield is a very popular Yes, it was a very worthwhile time. And I have a relatively small role to play and dance though it’s quite tricky. was also Minister in charge of Tourism, suddenly you realise that they represent It appeared not long after I became which was marvellous because I could go hundreds of people on the other side of President and I understand it’s great fun anywhere and do anything. I’d never been the world. One has to be jolly careful. I to Orkney and Shetland so it was really have always thought that the RSCDS is a to dance. I think the tune is much older very pleasurable to go and work with the well-run organisation and people are very and I’m very fond of it. I’m slightly people there. It was great. And I did a bit particular about any changes to the saddened by the fact that, when I was a for the milk farmers and all was happy but constitution or whatever. The number of good deal younger, the tune was regarded after the 1983 General Election, Mrs T, to people who attend the meetings speaks by pipers as a very good warming-up tune my chagrin, asked if I would go to for itself. I was always very pleased to give to get the fingers going. The result of that Northern Ireland because they wanted any advice when I was asked to and to was if somebody said, “Is there a tune me to do the same thing with their milk attend meetings at Coates Crescent. you’d like the band to play?” one had no quotas that I had done in Scotland. That Do you have any dancing stories hesitation in saying The Earl of didn’t work out so well and then I took Mansfield’s March and they struck up but quite ill which was when my political connected with the Society? in the last few years it doesn’t seem to be career came to a rapid end. Well there may be a quite extraordinary link with one of my ancestors. I was the standard warming up march. I don’t And did you dance much during that sitting next to that very nice lady who was know why. period? the RSCDS archivist at a lunch before an Over the 30 years of your Presidency Not all that much. Of course, there was a Annual General Meeting. I think she had you must have met many RSCDS bit of social dancing and that was it. We retired and was reading History. In the people. continued to go to the Caledonian Balls course of her researches she had come and the Perth Ball or balls, because there across information about an ancestor of That’s true but it was the chairmen and were two in those days: the Tuesday and mine - Lord Stormont – who was the others who had official positions I had the Thursday in Perth Week. We went up Ambassador to Paris just before the most dealings with and I got on very well to Aberdeenshire to the Aboyne Ball French Revolution. He was a very keen with them all. I certainly can’t remember sometimes and to the Donside in dancer and Marie Antoinette got quarrelling with anybody! I think I’ve met Inverurie two or three times. And then, of interested in this, or so the story goes, you, Linda, on more occasions than course, Skye was a favourite. My wife and she requested that Lord Stormont almost anybody else. You’ve always been enjoys dancing too. She’s very good at it. come to the court to teach Scottish in positions of authority. She’s got a good sense of rhythm. country dancing. The French were not pleased; in fact they were furious! As you come to the end of your Were you invited to be our Hon. long tenure as President, is there President by Miss Milligan? Have your visits to Summer School in anything you’d like to say to RSCDS No. It would have been by the Secretary, St Andrews been a regular feature? members? Miss Gibson. I have to confess that I I’ve gone when I’ve been summoned! I’m never met Miss Milligan. I don’t think she invited regularly and indeed they usually Well, it has to be “Keep dancing!” It’s such was very well, although I do know that give me a choice of dates, which is very good exercise for the mind as well as the she proposed that I be appointed kind. I drive over and they are very good body and it’s great fun. The RSCDS is a Honorary President at the 1977 Annual and Elspeth knows that I’m keen on a marvellous organisation and I would like General Meeting. I attended my first AGM dram before anything very much to extend my very best wishes for the in Glasgow in 1978 and she had died in happens. We have a great jaw. I do feel future to dancers worldwide.

12 From the Chair Irene Bennett, Chairman

The chairman of the Branch from 1945 to 1951, the opening reception on the four Sunday Chairman’s Chain taught the Branch advanced class until evenings and some of the social dances 1956 and was a member of the Executive each week. I have been greatly heartened When I received the Council from 1949 – 1955. Alice Hutchison by the number of members who have chain of office in November 2006, I had been instrumental in keeping the approached me, eager to let me know how noticed that the badge was approaching enthusiasm of the Branch alive during the much Scottish country dancing means to its fiftieth anniversary. The inscription war years. The Branch minute which them and how enjoyable the Summer denoted that it had been gifted in 1957 in records her untimely death on 22 February, School experience is. During one of the memory of Alice Hutchison, Dundee. I 1957 states “Her sparkling personality evening receptions, I received, on behalf of thought it would be interesting to endeared her to all who knew her.” the Society, Maguy Paillet’s collage “The research its history. At the 40th AGM, held in Dumfries on 1 Blue Lady”, which Maguy has bequeathed The following information was found in November 1969, the Chairman, Mr J. L. to us, to be hung in the Chequered Court, Bulletin No. 36. At the AGM, held in Largs Lochhead, received a gift from Duns and University Hall, during Summer School. on 2 November 1957, a presentation was District Branch of a silver gilt chain, with Summer School was such an important made to the Executive Council of a alternating lozenges of saltire and thistle and enjoyable part of her life she could Chairman’s Badge of Office by Mr motifs on which to hang the Chairman’s think of no better home for her painting. Hutchison of Dundee in memory of his Badge. Until that time the badge had Maguy has also left a small legacy wife Alice. been suspended on a ribbon neckband. specifically to support young people. The Branch minute records that “ because We have also received a framed of the lack of hotels and suitable halls the photograph of May Yarker with the Queen Branch would never be able to act as Mother, taken in the Castle of Mey. This hosts of the Annual General Meeting and has been gifted to us by May’s family. I this would be a means of showing our was holidaying in Thurso in June and appreciation of the work done on our visited May’s daughter, Denise Imrie, who behalf by the Society.” presented me with the photograph. I am indebted to Helen Lawrenson (Dundee Denise and her husband, Mike, showed Branch) and Ruby Wilkinson (Duns and me round May’s studio. District Branch ) for allowing me access to New Members for Committees their Branch records. This demonstrates how important it is for Branches to record Every year there are vacancies on the significant events and how fascinating it is Management Board and all the for us to read these accounts. committees. In common with other organisations we are finding it is Summer School becoming increasingly difficult to fill vacant positions. The General Purposes Summer School 2007 has recently and Finance Committee have operated finished. Although there was an enforced without a full complement during the Alice Hutchison ( nee Crighton ) and her change of accommodation because of the current year. If you think you have the sister Helen were members of Dundee renovation work at University Hall, necessary expertise to serve on one of the Branch in the 1930s. In 1937 Helen became nevertheless it would seem that the school committees, but are uncertain what this Secretary, a post she held until the 1960s. has been as enjoyable as ever. I was might entail, please speak to someone Alice was a teacher of physical education, fortunate to have had the chance to attend already serving on the committee. In this way you would find out exactly what experience is required. I know there is a lot of expertise out there because of the number of well-organised, efficiently-run Branches there are. New Editor I am pleased to welcome the new editor of Scottish Country Dancer, Andrew Kellett. Andrew served on the Editorial Board of the first four editions and I wish him well in his new role.

On behalf of the Society, Irene receives Maguy Paillet’s collage “The Blue Lady” from Christiane Orgeret, secretary of “Groupe de Danses Ecossaises de Lyon - La Chanterelle” 13 Membership Services Committee

Jim Healy, Convenor editions of the Miscellanies have been Welcome to Aberdeen, to match the of Membership resolved. As a result of these two projects updated edition of the book and video, Services, describes some suggestions have been made for and, following a number of requests, an new books, CDs revisions to the Standard Terminology to encore of The Earl of Erroll’s Reel at a and other services allow a little more flexibility. This will be slightly faster tempo. The two additional produced by the looked at again in the coming year. tracks are by David Cunningham multi- RSCDS. Somewhat belatedly, but very welcome, is tracking on accordion, piano and bass. Muriel Johnstone’s A Guide to Music in Also available is The Macnab Dances in The most important development in the Teaching of Scottish Country Dancing. Diagrams by Angus Henry which uses an recent months has been the introduction This is intended more for musicians than extended Pilling-type notation. dancers but it contains a wealth of of a new web-based catalogue, which is New recordings also now available are:- the result of a considerable amount of information of considerable interest to work by William Whyte. There are a few any teacher fortunate enough to have a ● Book 13 (2 discs) played by Neil Barron teething problems, particularly in class musician. ● Book 34 plus 3 Dances 2006 played by updates, but these are being addressed Notes for Tutors by Lesley Martin is out Ian Muir and we are sure that the catalogue will of print and requires updating to reflect We are continuing to develop a make it easier for all members to see the new exam system. However, much of relationship with the tartan manufacturers what is available. the advice continues to be valid and to create a range of accessories in the The revised Standard Terminology has Membership Services has combined with Society’s tartan. Ladies’ sashes have been used in two completed projects led Education & Training to produce an already proved popular and more are on by Jean Martin. The first is Book 21, which interim document that can be order. In addition, new lines in fitted T downloaded from the website. has been revised in A4 format with the shirts for ladies and a T shirt and polo shirt music arrangements reset in a clearer The Macnab Dances have been reprinted for men with embroidered logo were style by George Meikle. The second is the in a single A4 volume. It is mainly a introduced at Summer School and sold publication of Miss Milligan’s Miscellany facsimile copy of the former two volume well. A large size shoe bag/CD carrier with in a single volume. This is not a revision version but with the addition of The embroidered logo is also available, and we as such but the wording has been Duke of Gordon’s Welcome to Aberdeen, are reviewing the range of items suitable updated to bring it in line with modern omitted from the original. To for younger dancers. There will be more practice and, with advice from the complement this volume a recording of news about RSCDS merchandise in the Technique Sub-Committee, some The Macnab Dances (2 discs) has been anomalies and inconsistencies in the made. This is a re-issue of the original next issue of Scottish Country Dancer . various editions of the original Muriel Johnstone Ensemble CDs plus two Reviews of Muriel Johnstone’s book and publications and the first and second new tracks, The Duke of Gordon’s the two new recordings are on page 26. General Purposes and Finance Committee

Lawrence Boyd, Increase in Subscriptions of costs, creating efficiencies and Convenor of The Management Board and the GP&FC maximising investments where possible. GP&FC, has have resolved to devote more resources The formal resolutions will be sent out in some important to ensure that future generations are due course for the Annual General announcements able to enjoy Scottish country dancing Meeting but it is important that in the way that we do now. Therefore, as members are aware that Trustees are convenor of the GP&FC and with the increasing their emphasis on the future support of the Management Board, I will well-being of Scottish Country Dancing. Trustees’ Report and Financial be proposing at the AGM an increase in Statements the basic subscription from £10 to £15. Gift Aid Copies of the Trustees’ Report and This is the first increase since 2002 and is The RSCDS is now registered under the Financial Statements together with the needed now to cover the rise in costs UK Gift Aid scheme. This means that the auditors’ report are sent to all Branch over the last five years. However our Society can reclaim 28p in every pound Treasurers and Branch Delegates in focus must be on the future, in a that it receives from donations October of each year, prior to the Annual worldwide context, encouraging and providing you pay an amount of UK General Meeting. The report and supporting local initiatives but also income tax or capital gains tax at least statements are then proposed for adoption providing the central, 21st century equal to the tax we reclaim. All you need at the AGM. Members who wish to framework for Scottish Country Dancing. to do is make out a very simple consult a copy should contact their While we appreciate that most members declaration, which you can obtain from Branch Treasurer or Branch Delegates. also have the costs of local branch Headquarters or download from the Headquarters members should contact the membership, £15 to support a worldwide website. If you pay higher rate tax you Society directly. The report and financial society is still modest in comparison can get tax relief at the higher rate by statements will be posted on the Society with other comparable organisations. including the donation on your tax website www.rscds.org within two weeks of The Management Board is actively return. So now the RSCDS can benefit their approval at the AGM in November. investigating the effective management even more from the UK taxman.

14 Education and Training Committee Helen Russell, Interim Convenor of E&T, reports on RSCDS courses and qualifications

Applicants for adjudicator training RSCDS Teacher Other local problems cropped up during Applications are invited for selection for a A dancer who has passed the RSCDS the four weeks, including unresponsive two day adjudicator training course to Teaching Certificates parts 1 and 2 piano keys, missing piano stools, take place in Dumfries in early 2008. This RSCDS Medal Test Assessor caretakers who were late and door keys course will be limited to eight A teacher who has been selected and that went astray. How did we cope before participants. If there are more than eight trained to assess the RSCDS Medal Tests mobile phones? suitable applicants, another course will be for Young Dancers I am very conscious of the cost involved in attending Summer School and I try hard run. Details about the application RSCDS Adjudicator to keep the fees at a reasonable level. procedure, the criteria for selection, the A teacher who has been selected and Classes with fewer than twelve dancers proposed outline of the course and the trained by the RSCDS to adjudicate at are not really viable, so some of the application form available from Craig competitive and non-competitive festivals Highland as well as some Ladies Step Jackson at HQ. Details below. The closing for both young people and adults. date for applications is 31st October 2007. classes had to be combined this year. I RSCDS Mentor Applicants for selection to become hope that won’t be the case in future, so I An experienced RSCDS teacher who do encourage you to enrol for these an examiner supports and advises candidates classes next year. Incidentally, I think it is Applications are invited from the UK, undertaking Unit 4 of the RSCDS Teaching time we came up with a more attractive Europe and especially from overseas for Certificates. and inclusive name for what we selection to become an examiner for the RSCDS Tutor commonly refer to as Ladies Step classes. RSCDS. Details about the application An RSCDS teacher of considerable Suggestions, please, to the Convenor of procedure, the criteria for selection and experience who tutors examination Education and Training. the application form are available from candidates for the award of the RSCDS Some members were unhappy with the Craig Jackson at HQ. Details below. The Teaching Certificates social dance programmes this year. I closing date for applications is 30th believe that at Summer School we should RSCDS Examiner November 2007. be dancing some of those dances that do An experienced RSCDS tutor who has been Applicants for tutor training. not appear frequently on branch selected and has undergone induction programmes, otherwise they will Applications are invited for a two day training in order to examine candidates for disappear from our repertoire altogether. tutor training course that will take place the RSCDS Teaching Certificates. in Reigate, Surrey on Saturday 13th & However I do listen to what you say and I shall include more popular dances on Sunday 14th April 2008. Details about John Wilkinson, Schools Director, Summer School programmes in future. the application procedure, the proposed shares his thoughts after experiencing We do need to find more teachers and outline of the course and the his first Summer School in charge application form are available from Craig musicians for Summer School. I appeal to Jackson at HQ. Details below. The Summer School is an immensely all readers of Scottish Country Dancer to put closing date for applications is 14th enjoyable experience for everyone forward the names of teachers and March 2008. involved, but for the Director it also brings musicians who could inspire and enthuse many challenges. With University Hall us. If you know of suitable candidates Craig Jackson, RSCDS Headquarters, unavailable because of refurbishment we please ask HQ for details of the 12 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 had to use more remote halls for nomination procedure. 7AF. Tel: 0131 225 3854. E mail: accommodation, and it also meant that Summer School is a considerable team [email protected] we were deprived of three good dancing effort involving Headquarters staff, Some readers may find the growing spaces. I am grateful to all the students committee members, teachers, musicians number of courses and qualifications and staff who attended Summer School and volunteers without whom it would be offered by the RSCDS a little confusing. for their patience and understanding in impossible to organise. I am most The following definitions may be helpful. coping with these difficulties with a smile. grateful to you all. It is the students, though, that give Summer School its special magic and it was particularly pleasing to welcome so many first timers this year. They comprised 25% of the overall attendance, and they will be very welcome back next year along with the regulars and members who have not been to Summer School for a while. It is well worth the journey to St Andrews. I have written mostly about the challenges, but the position of Schools Director is really an extremely rewarding experience, especially when so many of John at the head of the table with some of the staff from week 2 at Summer School. Left to you come to thank me personally for the right: Jim Rae, Lesley Martin, Fiona Turnbull, Geoffrey Selling, Sue Porter, Ruby Wilkinson, wonderful time. Thank you for making it Mervyn Short, Margo Priestley, Fred Moyes, George Meikle, Ann Dix, Jean Martin, Anne Smyth. so enjoyable for me. 15 The Society

Top: all action at the Dunoon Festival. Bottom, left to right: Kate Lawrie and Jill Henderson enjoying a break from duties at Summer School; Irene Bennett dancing at the Bristol Branch ball; whose hands?

16 On Camera

Top, left to right: Sophie and John in Lorient; Mary Wilson, a member since 1955 and still dancing three times a week, is presented with a bouquet on her 90th birthday by the Chairman of Dumfries Branch; a happy ending at Spring Fling. Centre: the team in Lorient. Bottom, left to right: a floral display to mark the 60th anniversary of Dumfries Branch; Nigel Carter, Life President, cuts a cake to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Herefordshire Branch; a banner designed by local school children in honour of the 25th anniversary of the Isle of Islay Branch.

17 Francis Peacock (part 2) by Dr Alastair MacFadyen

2007 marks the 200th anniversary of the death of one of country dancing's greatest teachers: Francis Peacock of Aberdeen. In the second of two articles, Dr Alastair Macfadyen describes the contribution that Peacock made to the social and cultural life of Scotland in the 18th century and the legacy he gave to Scottish country dancers of today.

Publication by Subscription of his teaching in July 1805, advised the the councillors agreed to the purchase of On 21st November 1805, Francis Peacock Aberdeen citizens, via The Aberdeen twenty copies. This was a decision which was at his George Street town residence Journal, that during his recent stay in seems to have caused some amusement in Aberdeen and it was there that he London he had had the benefit of in Aberdeen as the following few lines by inscribed a copy of his recently instruction from the most celebrated an anonymous versifier show: published Sketches Relative to the teachers ‘particularly Mr. Jenkins’ In God prosper long our Lord Provost, London in the late 18th and early 19th History, Theory and Practice of Dancing. Town Clerk an’ Bailies a’; This inscribed and dedicated copy was centuries, the success enjoyed by An grant that in their reelin’ fits, for his patroness and principal George Jenkins and his son as teachers subscriber, Jane Maxwell, Duchess of Doup-scud* they winna fa. Gordon, wife of Alexander, 4th Duke of * Fall heavily on the buttocks Gordon. Having completed the Sketches, the dancing master adopted the The Dancing Duchess customary practice of inviting subscribers to pledge themselves to a As already mentioned, the most eminent purchase prior to printing. There were of Mr Peacock’s subscribers was the 171 responses to his invitation and these Duchess of Gordon, a spirited and are alphabetically listed on the last few vivacious lady who retained her youthful pages of the book. exuberance until the end of her life. Admired for her beauty and wit, she

Aberdeen Journal, 1805

of ‘Scotch Dancing’ is an indication of the inroads which the Highland Reels, described by Francis Peacock in Sketch V of his book, were making into the ballrooms south of the border. A possible link with the RSCDS is provided by the name of subscriber John Cruickshank of Fyvie. Almost certainly, this is the teacher of dancing who was the grandfather of Flora Cruickshank of Peterhead. As the practitioners of Ladies Francis Peacock’s inscription, 1805 Step dancing will be aware, it was from Miss Cruickshank that the RSCDS Jane, Duchess of Gordon A Diverse Social Mix member and dedicated reviver of solo In addition to the Duchess of Gordon, step dancing for ladies, Mrs. Tibbie exercised considerable social, cultural there are other members of the titled Cramb of Aberdeen, acquired the solo and political influence in Edinburgh and and gentry classes represented in dance, Flora Macdonald’s Fancy. It will in London, which she visited frequently the subscribers’ list. Included also also be well known that the express wish and where she became a confidante of are academics, lawyers, physicians, of Miss Cruickshank was that Flora members of the royal family and of the clergymen, merchants, soldiers, should continue to be danced in the government. At her Edinburgh drawing- musicians, book sellers and teachers of style in which it had been communicated room parties, she entertained the dancing. This interesting and diverse to her by her father, the Peterhead capital’s literati and invited Robert social mix is a reflection of the dancing master, George Cruickshank. widespread respect and admiration for Burns to join them when he was in the the author as well as of the importance city. She was impressed and charmed by attached to dancing in the social life of Reelin’ Bailies the poet and once confessed that he was early 19th century Scotland. the only man ‘to set her off her feet’ with The most generous of the named his conversation. Amongst the teachers of dancing listed, subscribers was Aberdeen Town Council. there is Mr. Peacock’s assistant, James No doubt to demonstrate their support There are many stories about the more Douglas, who, at the recommencement and encouragement of a worthy citizen, unconventional episodes in the

18 colourful life of the Duchess. The most achievements of the celebrated Gow frequently recounted relates to her family and had particular praise for the efforts to assist her son, the Marquis of sons of Niel Gow senior. In her Huntly, with recruitment to his newly judgement, they had ‘softened the wild formed regiment, The Gordon vivacity of Highland music without Highlanders. Draped in tartan, she went materially deviating from its character’ about the countryside on horseback and, and she hoped that the same could be with the King’s shilling clenched done for dancing. The renowned fiddler between her teeth, invited volunteers to and composer William Marshall, retrieve the coin and be rewarded with a employed as the house steward at kiss. Although later denied by one of her Gordon Castle, also enjoyed the benefits daughters, this incident has now of ducal encouragement. In tribute to become so integral to the history of The their patrons, the names of the Duke and Gordon Highlanders that it would a pity Duchess and of their family are liberally to discredit it! scattered throughout the titles of the many reels, jigs and strathspeys It is as an enthusiastic and accomplished composed and published by the Gows dancer that the Duchess of Gordon is and by Marshall. best remembered. She was a familiar figure at the public assemblies in The thoughts of the Duchess about the Edinburgh and often organised her own benefits of dancing as a social private balls and dance parties. She is accomplishment – ‘for health, agility and credited with introducing Highland grace’ – were very much in harmony with Reels into the London ballrooms and at the hints ‘thrown out’ by her protégé one ball in the capital, she and her Francis Peacock in the Sketches. partners, including William Pitt, the Similarly, the style of teaching and Prime Minister, danced Reels until dancing favoured by George Jenkins, the three in the morning. A witness to London teacher of ‘Scotch Dancing,’ who The Kinrara grave and monument of the this event observed: ‘Amongst such has been mentioned already and whom Duchess of Gordon Scotch carousings what chance has an she also took under her wing, seems to Englishman of success!’ have matched her own style – ‘easy without negligence, exactness without known strathspey, The Marquis of stiffness, elegance and grace without Huntly’s Highland Fling. Protégés of the Duchess pomp or ostentation’. In his New Scotch The Duchess of Gordon died in April In view of her love of dancing, it is not Music c. 1793, a collection of his own 1812 and, in accordance with her wishes, surprising that the Duchess readily compositions , George Jenkins also gave was buried in a favourite spot close to offered her patronage to the teachers due acknowledgement to the Duchess the river Spey. Her Kinrara burial place, and musicians of her favourite and her family in the titles of his tunes marked by a granite monument, is in recreation. She admired the musical and amongst them is the now well Badenoch, an area in the vast Gordon estates noted for its scenic beauty. Depiction of the Duchess of Gordon recruiting for The Gordon Highlanders In Conclusion His precise origins and where he spent the twenty or so years before settling in Aberdeen, are aspects of the life and career of Francis Peacock which remain an unsolved mystery. Of course, there are hints and clues and these suggest time spent in London, possibly also in Edinburgh and that he may have had links with the north-east of England. However, lacking any firm evidence this can only be speculation. Having in mind the dancing master’s own advice about the necessity of avoiding ‘too great avidity’(see Part 1 of this article), I will refrain, on this occasion at any rate, from adding anything further to this speculative debate. In any case, the absence of any certain information about his early life does not in any way detract from the outstanding and memorable contribution which Francis Peacock made to the social and cultural life of 18th century Aberdeen or diminish the significance of the legacy which he has bequeathed to us as guardians and advocates of Scotland’s traditional dancing in the 21st century.

19 Trip to Lorient by Luke Brady

The RSCDS Team in Lorient. Back row (left to right) Luke Brady - musician (Dundee) Mike Innes (Bristol) Christian Lubac (Lorient) Alasdair Gray (Edinburgh) John McCann (Newcastle) Jim Healy - tour organiser (Perth). Front row (left to right) Katy Bromberg (Edinburgh) Helen Watt (Oban) Jenny Russell (Dumfries) Heather Carmichael (Edinburgh) Sophie Rickebush (Grenoble) Kirsten Ferguson (Newcastle) Rachel Shankland (Dumfries) On Friday, 3 August a team of dancers re- team found themselves helping the presenting the Society left from Scotland, others in some unusual situations, England and France to dance at the further improving team spirit. Over Festival Interceltique in Lorient, France. the weekend, music was composed, Despite a missed train and other dances devised and friendships hiccoughs, the team eventually met up in made. Perhaps at no point has the time to prepare together for the opening Society moniker For Fun, For of the Scottish Pavilion on the Saturday Fitness, For Friendship, been so evening. After an introduction by the appropriate. contemporary pipe group Red Hot Chili On the final day of our visit, the Proof that we were there Pipers, Scotland’s Minister for Culture, Minister returned and the team managed Linda Fabiani, formally declared the to encourage her Diary Secretary onto the Linda Fabiani opens the Scottish Pavilion at Pavilion open and the team danced the floor to join in the dancing. The Minister the festival first public performance of a specially herself needed no encouragement and commissioned dance, A Trip To Lorient very obviously enjoyed the break from devised by Ian Brockbank with newly other duties. composed music by George Meikle. The trip improved the Society’s links with For the rest of the weekend, at the the Scottish Executive and Visit Scotland, invitation of Visit Scotland, the team put and allowed a group of young and on afternoon workshops, demonstrating enthusiastic dancers from far and wide to some dances and bringing people on to gather together to represent the Society the floor for others. They also introduced and Scotland. another dance by Ian – Festival Thanks go to the organisers, particularly Interceltique – a social mixer which went Rhona Chalmers, who put so much time down well with all levels of dancer. and effort into the groundwork for the So enthusiastic were the team, that a trip, but in the end, because of work group got together at breakfast to suggest commitments was unable to join us and that they do more demonstrations, and Marilyn Healy who stepped in at the last more challenging ones at that. Many of us minute. Jim Healy (and Marilyn) ensured would say they had never seen that the team were where they needed to Membership Services Convenor Jim be all the time and did the worrying for all Healy, happier than then! of us. Aside from dancing, the team, many of A wonderful time was had by all, whom had never met beforehand, got to an experience that will always be know each other and socialise in the remembered and an event that members wonderful atmosphere of the Lorient of the Society were proud to have taken festival and the French speakers in the part in.

20 the members’ magazine of the RSCDS

Spring Fling 2007 Participants at Spring Fling 2007, reproduced by kind permission of The Reel

RSCDS Youth Director, Jayne them to join the advanced dancers for the supported by the Oxford Branch. The Brown, reports on the Society’s combined choreography workshop on the weekend concluded with a farewell lunch work with young dancers final morning. The dancers were divided and time to exchange contact details into teams and, after some coaching, along with a promise to meet up again at Spring Fling is an annual RSCDS event for each was given the task of putting the next Spring Fling. young dancers organised by young together a Scottish Dance display. The dancers. It is held at a different venue tutors, Angela Young (Advanced, Ladies’ Youth Demonstration Team each year and in March 2007 it went Step and Choreography) Ilona Velichko further south than ever before, to Oxford. (Beginners and Intermediate) Jeremy Hill A series of workshops is being Dancing was held at Cheney School with (Intermediate, also playing for Ladies organised for young dancers (16 - 35) to accommodation in the local Youth Hostel. Step) Sara Latto (Highland) and Ellis and give them the opportunity to be considered for a national demon- The event was most successful with Christine Rogers (Quadrilles) all gave stration team, along the lines of the approximately 65 - 70 dancers attending excellent classes with positive feedback. group that performed in Lorient. A the various workshops. Classes were Superb music from Karl Sandeman, Chris workshop is being held in Aberdeen in geared for beginners, intermediate and Oxtoby and Green Ginger (Ian and Meryl October, another is being organised in advanced dancers offering technique and Thomson and Cas Sloan) accompanied Bournemouth in November and there social dancing skills in Scottish country the dancers throughout the weekend, are plans for one in the Leeds area early dancing, Ladies Step, Highland, also playing for the Ceilidh and the in 2008. Quadrilles and choreography. Throughout Saturday evening dance. Alice Stainer the weekend the beginners and and her team did a wonderful job For more details contact Headquarters. intermediate classes progressed enabling organising the event, which was Medal Tests for Young Dancers

Since their introduction in 2004, the RSCDS medal test assessments for young dancers have been growing in popularity. The purpose and aim of the assessments is to help teachers to provide structured and progressive learning for pupils and to encourage young people to maintain and develop their interest in Scottish Dance and to improve their standard of dancing. In 2004 there were 55 successful candidates, this increased in 2005 to 358, and continued to develop in 2006 to 558. So far this year there have been 413 successful candidates. Tests have taken place in London, South Argyll, Chatham, Ayr, Aberdeen, Falkirk, Edinburgh, Stonehaven, Dundee, Leeds, Darwin, Castle Douglas, Lochaber, Wigan, Perth, Newcastle, Irvine and Dumfries. A panel of assessors is in place. They all enjoy watching young people dancing their best and having fun at the same time. They certainly try to ensure that the tests are not an ordeal for the candidates or for their teachers and parents. Teachers wanting a copy of the syllabus or wishing to enter candidates for the tests should get in touch Successful candidates from Duns and District Branch were presented with their certificates at a with Headquarters. family ceilidh in August 2007

21 A Branch and A Club

the Anniversary year (September 2007 to August 2008). We would like to encourage any of you who are travelling this way to come and help us celebrate. Details of events are on our website, www.rscdstoronto.org or you can contact Jane Robinson at 416-463-5016 or [email protected]. We would love to have you join us. What will the next 50 years bring? We have a wonderful group of young people who are beginning to attend adult events as well as their own. Four went to St. Andrew’s Summer School this year, one on scholarship. As we promote SCD more widely we are attracting keen older people. The future looks bright as we Toronto Branch more formal function, a practice continue to spread the word of the joys introduced over 30 years ago by teachers From the late 1940’s there had been and benefits of Scottish country dancing. of several West Toronto groups. It is Scottish dancing in Toronto, but the first Jane Robinson always very well attended. group to follow RSCDS teaching was Dunedin Dancers formed in 1950. There were no We try both to enlarge our presence and certificated teachers at that time, a to give some community service by prerequisite for Branch status, and performing demonstrations at various Toronto therefore was granted affiliated city festivals, Tartan Day, and many status. In 1957 Miss Milligan visited retirement homes and care facilities. June Toronto and conducted Teacher brings Dancing in the Park to live music examinations, resulting in the awarding provided by Bobby Brown and the of several full certificates. Miss Milligan Scottish Accent, which combines the joy immediately granted Branch status, and of dancing in a lovely outdoor setting (the Toronto has flourished ever since. grass is not so lovely!) and entertainment Toronto is structured differently from to the general public. A number of most branches, likely because it started retirement homes bring their residents to with a number of independent groups. enjoy the evening. Presently there are 27 of these social This year we are getting involved with the groups plus six groups for children and Burns Society and are trying to form young people. These are run by either the alliances with the other Scottish groups teacher or a committee. As a result, in in the area. We hope we can work addition to Branch events, dancers are together for our mutual benefit. also invited to support special events In September we had a Gala to open our organized by specific social groups; e.g., 50th Anniversary celebrations. One room Christmas and end of season dances. was full of memorabilia, display boards The Branch offers seven classes at various and videos. The afternoon was a drop-in levels, including three Beginners’ classes to encourage our former members who Scottish country dancing (SCD) is in different areas of the city, accessible by no longer dance to come and celebrate generally believed to be an amalgam of public transit and providing instruction with us, to see scenes from the past and several styles of dancing, including folk relatively “near home” for our new renew acquaintances. The evening dance dancing. Indeed, many argue that SCD is dancers. Once “hooked” they are usually followed, with music by Bobby Brown and folk dancing, and several SCD groups eager to travel to other classes and events the Scottish Accent. Our signature dance attend International Folk Dance Festivals outside their own area. for the 50th, with a new tune specially throughout Europe and beyond. However, Toronto has an annual workshop in composed by Bobby, was unveiled there, not many SCD groups were formed November with teachers from near, mid- demonstrated by a set of our young specifically to organise their own distance and far away. We also have people. This dance resulted from a International Folk Dance Festival, which monthly dances from October to April competition for which nineteen dances is why Dunedin Dancers was started in where all the social groups can were submitted; these have been Edinburgh in 1970. intermingle. The highlight of the year is published in a book entitled “Golden Members of the Edinburgh University the formal Tartan Ball, held at the Ghillies”. A 50th Anniversary book was New Scotland Country Dance Society Fairmont Royal York in mid-February, at also produced, reflecting on Branch attended several folk dance festivals which Irene Bennett will be the Guest of history, its special events and abroad in the 1960s, and they wanted to Honour this anniversary year. In addition outstanding participants. repay the hospitality that they had a May Ball provides an opportunity for Other events and special additions to received at those festivals. So they less experienced dancers to attend a annual events will be featured throughout organised their own Festival in Edinburgh 22 in 1971, attended by folk dance groups from Belgium and Germany. The members Dancing Matters (1) soon discovered that organising a folk dance festival, providing accommodation Observations on the RSCDS Allemande by Dr Alastair MacFadyen. and food for about 100 foreign dancers, was hard work and expensive! Nevertheless, it must have been worth it, because Dunedin Dancers has organised a Festival every second year since then, hosting dancers from 19 European countries in that time, including seven Eastern European countries, as well as groups from England and Wales. Folk dance groups from Austria, the Czech Republic and Lithuania participated in the most recent Festival, the 19th, in July 2007. During this Festival, all four groups presented performances of their dances outdoors at Falkland Palace in Fife, at Peebles in the Scottish Borders, and in Stirling Castle, as well as on the Mound and outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. The highlight of the Festival was the indoor performance in the Church Hill Theatre in Edinburgh; this was almost sold out, as usual. Dunedin Dancers’ performances included Highland and Scottish Step Dancing, as These few observations have been prompted by the reprint, in the previous issue of this well as Scottish country dancing. For magazine, of the description of the allemande included in the Foreword to SCDS Book 2 formal performances, the ladies wear an (1925). With arms crossed behind their backs, the couples were required to accomplish elegant long dress which was designed by the figure with eight pas de basque steps. The only dance in the book with an allemande members of the group but based on a was Delvine Side, a strathspey dated c.1790. 19th century Scottish costume. Following on from the successful publication of Book 1 in 1924, our pioneering Between Festivals, about 40 or 50 of the 200 members of Dunedin Dancers meet predecessors set about preparing for a second book of country dances. Having almost every week in Edinburgh for social exhausted the supply of known and orally collected dances, they resorted to dances which Scottish country dancing, led by a had survived only in manuscript or printed book form. I have always assumed that it was different member of the group each week. at this point they encountered, for the first time, the term, allemande, with which, Here members try out little known dances evidently, they were unfamiliar. It is not amongst the formations described by Jean and dances from other areas, as well as Milligan in her Festival Booklet: The Scottish Country Dance (1924), the Society’s first their own favourites. The group also manual until replaced in 1951 by Won’t You Join the Dance. Miss Milligan often told us organises an annual Assembly (a that it was her mother (an elderly lady by the 1920s) who enlightened her about the traditional Scottish name for a Ball or allemande but it is not certain if Book 2’s description of it was based exactly on Mrs. formal gathering) and two informal Milligan’s recollection of the dancing experiences of her early life in rural Roxburghshire dances each year. or not. What is certain is that it did not endure long. The dancers dance regularly at The reconstruction of dances and their figures from the written or printed word is a complex conferences and weddings, usually and difficult exercise especially when the reconstructors have a limited knowledge of the encouraging the participants to join in, context in which the dance was originally danced and a limited acquaintance with the both to promote the fun of Scottish historic terminology used to describe the dance. So a dance or figure revived in this manner country dancing but also to raise money can lack credibility when introduced into a modern context and a process of to help pay for the Festival. experimentation and adjustment is often required to make it more acceptable Dunedin Dancers also meet socially Book 2’s allemande method was repeated again in Book 3 (1926) but in the following year, throughout the year, with occasional it was supplanted in Book 4 by the now very familiar version of the formation. The change walks, theatre visits, archery for came about as a result of a Conference in Edinburgh on 22nd October, 1926. It was attended beginners, skittles evenings, and dining by delegates from the six branches then formed and the purpose of their meeting was to out at local restaurants. While the discuss and clarify a number of points raised by Books 1 – 3. For example, it was decided original members all came from that in future ‘the setting in slow time should not be the pas de basque, but should be a Edinburgh University, membership is step suitable to “Strathspey” music – the “Common Schottische” step’. With regard to the now open to everyone who can dance. allemande, the present positioning of the arms replaced the previously used method and Many members retain their membership instead of the pas de basque eight ‘one, two, three, hop’ steps were to be used. Whilst the even when they move away from brief report of the Conference did not spell out the reasons for the recommended changes, Edinburgh, and now live in England and the raising of the arms over the lady’s head in the allemande is reminiscent of the elaborate Wales, with some in Germany, New interlacing of the arms of the 18th century allemande couple dance. Zealand and America! The early history of the RSCDS allemande is further evidence of the fact that there are few For more information about Dunedin absolutes in dance and that, like all aspects of dance, our particular type and style of Dancers, visit their website at social dancing is the product of a continuously evolving process. It would be advisable www.dunedindancers.org.uk. to keep this fact in mind always as we continue with our determined efforts to guarantee a secure and lasting future for Scottish country dancing Peter Edwards 23 Dancing Matters (2)

Technique Doctor by Geoffrey Selling. Geoffrey is a well known North American guest teacher, tutor and RSCDS examiner, as well as being co-author of the Handbook for Scottish Country Dance Teachers.

At a recent Summer School the partner actually feels led. Avoid the separate, we usually give inner hands. dance, having just opposite tendency to “stare” at your Frequently, as the dancers separate, they completed a classic but partner for all eight bars. That feels and push away from each other with those simple strathspey with an appears unnatural. Additionally, if the nearer hands, and the hands go well energetic young partner, leading hand is fully extended, it draws above the shoulders in what almost she asked me, “Can we do a the dancers forward so that the appears like a “throwing” movement: not “fun” dance next time?” I knew that by movement gains a kind of “urgency” that pretty! Strive to keep the hands at “fun dance” she meant one with a new makes the formation more fun and shoulder height throughout these formation, or a challenging transition or energizing. A similar awareness of partner partings and the movement looks social something more unusual than the plain also enhances the allemande and knot and gracious. vanilla strathspey we’d just done. With where people often dance with no real Stepping up or down: All too often, this is more than 13,000 published dances social contact between them, save the either forgotten or resembles a kind of (according to Keith Napier) and more obligatory hands. shuffling movement to get out of the way in coming every day, increasingly many Hands around and back: So many the nick of time. Make stepping up part of people want to learn that next new dancers let the hands fall well below the dance! Catch your partner’s eye just formation or clever bit of choreography, shoulder height and sometimes as low as before the movement, then rise to the balls rather than focus on dance fundamentals. the waist. This formation is so exciting in of the feet and step up right on the beats of To some extent, that’s understandable; all tempos when the hands are really the music. Keep your body parallel to your novelty has always been attractive. lifted and kept at shoulder height partner’s rather than facing diagonally up. Yet when danced with good technique and (compromising between those of Suddenly, stepping up becomes social and attention to the nuances of the formation, different heights). Shoulder height hands elegant, even in quick time. even a simple movement like set and lift the posture and give the circle energy Balance in line: When dancers actually cross over can become the occasion for and unity. Also, dancers are less likely to make a line, they can’t see each other. beautiful and fun dancing. In our thirst to slip because the higher hands require Instead, stand slightly back of the line, learn the next clever dance, many of the better grips and more strength. forming a kind of W. This allows dancers simpler movements get neglected and are Hands across and back: Many dancers to see and greet each other with just a simply used as fillers or set-ups for the “stick” their hands in the middle and slight turn of the head, rather than an more challenging movements. Here are make a messy pile of fingers, which feels awkward turning and leaning. some technique tips to make those so unsatisfying. Try always to take the Summing up: In looking over these points, simple movements just as exciting as that diagonally opposite hand in a “shake- I am struck that none of these technique new formation or intriguing dance. hands” grip. This unifies the movement, points is about footwork, but rather about Advance and Retire: All too often, the gives everyone someone to hold onto and phrasing, handing and upper body control. lines are wavy and the hands joined makes the formation look like a “hands Even the less athletic and the newer erratically, with the dancing couple almost across.” After all, that’s its name! dancers can learn these nuances that so dragging their neighbors forward. The Turn and cast: Since the twos are usually improve their dancing. By paying attention dancing couple should aim to stand just required to step up during the cast, it’s to the frequently danced and more behind the supporting dancers rather necessary for the first couple to complete ordinary movements, our beloved Scottish than in a straight line. With arms very fully their turn and be back out to the sides, country dancing can be even more joyous extended and palms upward, they can heading into their cast at the end of the and social (and fun!). “lead” the others in and out. This makes second bar. This is both challenging and the supporting dancers feel attended to fun, and more importantly, leaves first and gives purpose and structure to the place open for the dancers stepping up. Clear out your attic! formation. It looks very grand! Set and cast: When casting off, the man Set and cross: Instead of phrasing this must anticipate slightly to prepare his evenly, dancers should aim to do most of right foot for the cast. The woman must their crossing on bar one, using the anticipate similarly when casting up. All second bar to turn into place, and begin too often, dancers “over-anticipate” by joining hands for the next setting. This setting for one bar and whipping the body can make set and cross look very dynamic. around on the next. The movement gains Otherwise, everyone arrives at different elegance and social spirit if one maintains times and there is much groping for eye contact with a partner for the whole hands, sometimes too late for the setting. two bars, even as the lower body begins a Lead down the middle and up: I often slight turn to anticipate the cast. It’s more notice that dancers “attach” themselves fun that way! The same is true of setting to In the last issue we asked if anyone could to their partner by the right hand, and corners. Even if the first couple must identify the people in this photogroph head down the middle, side by side, as if begin their movement towards their taken at Summer School in the 1960s. their partner was merely a prop. As the second corners on bar two, maintain that Scottish Country Dancer readers went one dancers curve in to join hands, make eye eye contact with the first corner for both better and even recalled the name of contact at the start and from time to time bars. It will make your corner feel danced Bobby Watson's poodle! For the record during this entire movement. The leading with, instead of “abandoned.” we have: Bob Blackie, Maxime, Bobby dancer (usually the man) should attend ‘Dancing’ down or up the set: In shorter Watson, Joan Dorrian, Cathy MacLaren, to his partner with eyes and head, so that movements when the dancers will Georgina Finlay and Marie Dillon.

24 Overheard on the web

Chris Ronald of New York, our web-watcher, has been scanning the debates on the Strathspey List. Eyes, smiles and beginners have caught his attention. If you want to subscribe to the Strathspey yourself go to www.strathspey.org

going through the motions and doesn't put through that sort of warm up. really mean it." One teacher said he asks Another teacher said "such things are his class to "twinkle" as they pass: he banned around here. We try to get them defined that as an "aren't-we-having-fun" moving, mixing, even laughing. No, we type of smile. do not use RSCDS Book 1; my The question then came up as to inspiration is English country dancing, whether a smile or laugh is part and round dances, ceilidh dances." He How much eye contact? parcel of eye contact. Evidently not. explained that his approach was The teacher in Scotland (again) said he initially to give the dancers an idea of RSCDS-style dancing may be quite did not smile a lot, and sometimes got the spirit of social dancing, with the standardized, but one area in which one told off for not smiling enough. He details to be added later. Another can see great differences is in the matter pointed out that he didn't like "the teacher said "shoot me for treason" but of eye contact. A teacher in Scotland synchronized swimming kind of smile we're in a competitive market place and commented that "older, RSCDS-like stuck on your face at all costs" and need to put more emphasis on moving people" in Scotland seem to dislike added that some dances - for him - and less on standing around. Several much eye contact. He had attributed this simply weren't smiley dances: for other teachers advocated very simple to British reserve until he took part in an example, Gang the Same Gate. dances for the warm-up. One advocated English country dancing workshop. Here The Dhoon (Children's Book) as the first he found that the women had no dance, as people invariably get their problems at all in making eye contact. right and left mixed up and all end up He concluded that his assumption that having a good laugh. "If they laugh, British people don't look because it isn't they're enjoying themselves and they're polite was not correct. He felt perhaps more likely to come back" she said. there had been little emphasis on There were also differences of opinion looking at your partner in the RSCDS on when beginners should start going to teaching of 30 to 40 years ago. weekly or monthly social dances. One Most contributors to this discussion contributor thought the presence of agreed that the amount of eye contact beginners on the dance floor could spoil was due mostly to the way dancing was the fun of the experienced dancers who learned, rather than something innate or like to be able to "dance with their cultural. A teacher in Canada said that peers". Others disagreed. They felt that eye contact seemed to vary from one SCD anything that looks like exclusion would group to another, even within the same put newcomers off. A dancer in the USA town. He didn't think the age of the said she liked "going to monthly dance dancers was as much of a factor as the parties after only a month or so - sure we Another point of view was that smiling is style of the group and their particular could only dance two or three dances, a natural facial expression if you are teachers. He felt that the dancers who and those clumsily, but everyone was enjoying yourself. This contributor said: gave more eye contact tended to have a having so much fun it was infectious and "I look at my partner, because he's the better awareness of their partners and to a great incentive". Another suggested one I'm dancing with (and with the rest become better dancers. that beginners be offered a discount to of course too). I smile or laugh, because A teacher in France added "there's a big take account of the fact that they would I'm enjoying dancing and being alive. I difference between a quick and friendly only be getting into a few dances. smile to my partner because I want him smile as you turn or pass someone in the or her to share something." Moreover, as another contributor said, dance, and the expressionless stare of many of the 'experienced' dancers So… are you a smiler or a twinkler? people who've been taught, in some (however defined) may soon be glad of dance class or other, that they have to Is dancing fun for the tolerance of the current new dancers, have eye contact." He stressed that a if they stick at it. He pointed out: "as we smile had to be spontaneous, but agreed beginners? try to enjoy the dancing beyond our that "it can be disappointing in some This reminds me of another discussion. respective sell-by dates, so it behooves dance groups when you feel your partner While debating what attracts beginners, us to invest some time and effort and would be as happy dancing with a one dancer commented on how boring tolerance in encouraging them now, broomstick, for all the attention they pay and tedious SCD can be at first, with 15 rather than regarding them as some you." minutes of a class "wasted" on lower form of life." Looking at other dancers in a overdone warm-ups like "rolling your Amen to that! spontaneous, natural way seems to head" and "shrugging your shoulders". come easily to some people and not Replies came from many parts of the easily to others. As the teacher from world to say that it doesn't have to be Scotland said "sometimes you just know like that. A teacher in England was that the person looking at you is just surprised to hear that newcomers were

25 Reviews

CD for Book 13 CD for Book 34 No need to RSCDS CD062 £10 RSCDS CD 063 £10 worry, as this guide, Neil Barron & his Scottish Ian Muir & his Band amounting to Dance Band Ian Muir and his five piece approximately It is a pleasure to welcome the new Scottish Country Dance 30 very full recording of the Book 13 dances by Neil Band provide the music for this CD which pages, is full Barron and his Scottish Dance Band. consists of eight Scottish Country Dances of useful Book 13 is a long book, with twelve dances, plus three dances published in 2006. information four of which (two strathspeys and two Overall an excellent CD and a must for which I am jigs) are 8x48. No wonder that the original every teacher. Good tempo and sure will 1989 recording by Bobby Crowe filled one straightforward playing with a very good prove of interest to musicians, and a half LPs. We now have two CDs in a beat. Sticking very much to tried and dancers and teachers alike and will be an single case, with all dances complete. tested tunes. A good sound and a well essential read for those preparing for made up band all playing well together. certificate examinations. The six-piece band produces a full, deep and well balanced sound throughout. Neil This CD has some lively jig and reel tunes The two main chapters cover:- Barron is accompanied on second which will make everyone want to dance. “Historical Information”, comprising accordion by Alastair Wood but these two C’est L’amour has a jaunty tune which three sections covering “instruments”, masters seem almost self-effacing in their suits the dance and encourages dancers “publishing” and “musicians & desire for tight ensemble. Marie Fielding, in the mood of the name. I like the composers” and:- on fiddle, is well to the fore throughout original tune which has a definite beat “The Use of Music in Teaching” which has and plenty is heard from the piano, played and adds to the liveliness of the dance. sections covering “Types of Tunes used by Pam Wilkie. Bass and drums, too, can Glasgow Lasses, with many favourite for Dancing”, “Musical elements affecting be clearly identified but are never tunes and a strong beat, would be good the dance”, “Music for Step Practice” and obtrusive. The whole effect is of excellent for use in class. A fine selection of tunes “Available Music Collections”. balance and great team-work. for Royal Albert Country Dance and Niel The Historical Information chapter makes Gow’s Farewell to Whisky make you want There is a good mixture of traditional and a fascinating read with a lot of useful to dance, though they are not danced modern tunes in the reels and jigs, six of background information as to the very often in my area. Tunes for the New the newer tunes being Neil Barron’s own instruments and the various early Scotia Quadrille take you back in time to compositions. For all the strathspey sets collections of music. The section I found when the Quadrille was originally danced he sticks to the originals and other old or most fascinating in this chapter is the one and the bright tunes give you the feel of traditional tunes. All these are strathspeys giving a great deal of useful background the dance. I would like to see the Encore with a real urge on the downbeat to information on the musicians from early follow track 6. Open the Door to Three encourage a strong travelling step. days up to the 20th century. has a good tempo and a nice set of tunes It would be so easy for this guide to have Neil’s choice of tempi will probably please with good changes in the music and fits become a boring read, but it is to Muriel’s most dancers. The reels and jigs range in well with the figures in the dance. Jean credit that she has managed to maintain between 4mins 38secs and 4mins 41secs Martin of Aberdeen changes the tempo the reader’s interest throughout. Rather for 8x32, which is comfortable for dancers to strathspey and features the fiddle and than putting it down, I found myself aiming at good footwork but not a drag for some unfamiliar tunes which grow on reading on looking for the next little those less preoccupied with their feet. For you the more you listen to them and snippet of useful information. It is my personal taste his strathspey tempi are seem to suit the dance as it flows from amazing what you don’t know even after a little on the brisk side, but classes tell one figure to the next. The final dance on nearly 40 years in the business! me that brisk is better because it is far less the CD, The Inimitable Derek, is fast tiring, so I should think that the speeds on moving and fun to dance, although the Hopefully this publication will make these tracks will be welcomed by most. A original tune by Donald Ridley is dancers realise that there is a lot more to striking feature of all Neil’s tempi, both unfamiliar it suits the dance. being a musician than sitting churning fast and slow, is that they are rock-steady out tune after tune. The only problem is There is something for everyone in this from beginning to end on each track. that there is now absolutely no excuse for CD whether for listening to or for use with getting it wrong! Not all dances in Book 13 are popularly your class. With the music, Ready…..And! ….. go performed but the tracks for The Duran Irene Whyte Ranger, Barley Bree, Ladies’ Fancy and The and buy a copy, you will enjoy it! Reel of the 51st will have strong appeal, the A Guide to Music in the George Meikle last named including two of Neil’s own Teaching of Scottish Willie Macpherson - The Elgin tunes which go with a splendid swing. Country Dancing Fiddler If I have one mild criticism of this by Muriel Johnstone £5 Available from musicscotland.com collection it is that it perhaps lacks light I know that the author of this new Whereas most fiddlers will know the name and shade, but this is a quibble. These publication, Muriel Johnstone, will need Willie Macpherson, the only real discs are loaded with eminently absolutely no introduction to the vast connection with Scottish Country Dancer is danceable music, full of lift and drive, with majority of the readership as she served that of his composition “Brumley Brae” a full, balanced sound and beautifully the Society as musical director for many the original tune for “Swiss Lassie.” The played. Most dancers and teachers will, I years. Having been asked to carry out a dance, devised by Rosie Betsche, arrived am sure, love it. review, I thought I would find it to be a without a tune, and on submitting Dennis Tucker somewhat daunting task. “Brumley Brae” to the music committee, I

26 In my opinion By Fiona Grant was delighted when it was chosen for the Fiona Grant of Bristol Branch longs to get her feet tapping and birl in dance, as I hope Willie would have been, the middle of a favourite old dance. especially at the prospect of it being danced to around the world. It is instantly recognised, a real must for a dance to A remarkable feature of Scottish newcomers to join in. The rules and become popular. country dancing is that it is one of the regimentation developed over the few activities in this day and age that is second half of the 20th century has, I It was thanks to Willie in 1973 that I was cross-generational. Everyone nowadays think, taken away the spontaneity and introduced to Strathspey & Reel Society does things with their peer groups, from improvisation which used to playing, opening a whole new world of the time we take our babies to toddler characterise Scottish dances earlier in Scottish music other than the strict tempo groups to arranging bus tours for the the century, and can still be glimpsed in music I played for dancing. It was a retired. Scottish country dancing can Shetland reels, Cape Breton sets and at privilege to have witnessed the bridge these generational gaps, and ceilidh dances where dancers can inspiration and above all, the passion Granny can teach wee Jimmy to join the develop an individual style within the Willie had for our traditional music, drawing out the best in everyone, young dance, while Mum and Dad actually broad outline of the dance and the or old, fortunate enough to have been have some time together, even if it is cadence of the music, by introducing taught by him. only to dance a poussette! I wonder if their own preferred ways of stepping those of us on organising committees and birling. Maybe we should have His untimely death just a year later should take more note of this and make "workshops" interpreting the music with robbed the music world of a very fine sure we run a dance where we bring our birls, twirls and stepping! musician, composer and dedicated neighbours, their children, Uncle Tom teacher. It goes without saying how and all to the dance? The current fashion for devising ever pleased and enthusiastic I was on hearing increasing numbers of dances which are about the book in its early stages. What else can we do to attract more full of complex figures and half figures, Published by Willie’s son, Fraser, who participants? Scottish country dancing with every member of the set doing originally envisaged a booklet, the project has been decreasing in popularity over interlinked travelling formations grew, due to the enthusiasm of so many the last couple of decades, and it would (meanwhile bits) has its place, but I find friends & musicians, resulting in a unique be sad if we lost what has been these "pattern" dances only need and beautifully presented book on the developed over the last 80 or so years. rhythm, not music for performance. I fascinating life of Willie Macpherson, Since Mrs Stewart and Miss Milligan miss having the freedom to step out or complete with interesting graphics and founded the RSCDS, Scottish country have fun devising a twiddly bit with a beautiful photographs to accompany the dancing has not just been preserved but partner, all of which is possible with origins of his twenty compositions. has evolved and developed, but I older, "simpler" dances, but out of order The music is geared to the fiddle player wonder if it has become an exclusive in pattern dances where there is no and not easy! Apart from the “Brumley preserve of aficionados, and we are in space for interpretation of the music. At Brae” I feel as a pianist, I can only do danger of losing many of the aspects the same time, I can understand and justice to the strathspeys “Effie Glasgow which once made it so popular. The appreciate what dancers mean when of Longmorn” and my personal favourite RSCDS and the Highland dance they say they like the dance to flow, but “Mrs Fraser Macpherson’s Strathspey” organisations have had a huge I often long for the excitement of some which I hope will be used by the Society as influence on the development of dance unexpected change of direction, an original should a tune be required. in Scotland over recent decades, and I transition, or even better, an un- After a little persuasion, Fraser agreed to admire how these organisations have choreographed adjustment to the a recording to accompany the book. The promoted, preserved and developed expected pattern. I genuinely like it Elgin Strathspey & Reel Society is to be particular dance forms. At the same when the dancing couple either by congratulated on rising to the challenge time I regret the division into design or mistake enter a reel of such a demanding programme with specialism which has meant that unconventionally, and then the whole some fine ensemble playing, culminating nowadays you go to a country dance, or set laughs and adjusts to get back into in tracks from the archives by the a ceilidh dance or an old time dance, the swing of the dance. Sometimes maestro himself. but rarely to a dance which brings during an evening's programme of Whether musician or dancer, this book/CD together an opportunity to dance all taxing modern dances, I can't help but are well worth purchasing with full credit these forms, as used to be the case at notice a robotic seriousness on the to all involved for producing such a fitting the beginning of the 20th century. In my faces of the dancers as they concentrate tribute to this talented man. Granny's teenage dancing days before on the performance of a memorised the First World War, the Saturday dance pattern of movements. So different Who knows what other gems we could be programme would have on it old Scotch from when the sets get carried away dancing to had he been given a little Reels (Reel of 4), country dances during a very familiar old dance when longer. Joy is more joyful given a tune. (Petronella, Flowers of Edinburgh), we have brain space to listen to a set of Jennifer Wilson quadrilles (eg: Caledonians, Lancers) tunes that just won't let the feet stand and circle dances (Highland Scottishe, still. Let’s put more dances from Books Barn dance, waltz). 1 to 15 on our dance programmes!

Not only was there plenty of variety in Nuff for now….on with the dance. the programme, but there was less emphasis on doing things exactly uniformly and it was easier for

27 Day school diary

All branch and club secretaries are invited to send in details of schools and workshops direct to [email protected]. Include date, event and teachers. Issue 6 will cover day schools from April 08 - July 09. Please submit your forward dates even if you have not finalised who is teaching. You can add details in the following issue. Compiled by John Sturrock. For contact details regarding these events please refer to branch or club websites. Oct 07 22 – 23 Clivis SCD Society, Weekend School, 27 - 30 Schluchtern, Germany, Weekend School Torino, Italy. Jim Cook (Highland). Janet Johnston 5 – 7 Argyll Scottish Country Dancing Group, Weekend School, Ilminster. Mary Murray 24 - 25 Zurich SCD Club Weekend Course, 28 – 30 RSCDS Spring Fling, Glasgow Alasdair Brown, Craig Houston, Margo Priestley 6 Swilcan SCD Group, Day School, Geroldswil, Switzerland. Atsuko Clement Utrecht, Netherlands 24 – 25 Scottish Country Dance Group of 29 – 30 International Weekend School, Kyoto, Margaret Lambourne Monaco, Weekend, La Turbie, Monaco Japan Muriel Johnstone, Keith Smith, Bill Zobel 6 York & North Humberside Branch, Ken Martlew Day School. Stewart Adam 25 The Hague Branch, Advanced Day Apr 08 6 – 7 Houston & District Branch, Weekend, School, Den Haag, Netherlands Patrick Chamoin 4 – 6 Helensburgh & District Branch, Houston, TX. Marianna Harvey Weekend School. Janet Johnston 7 The Hague Branch, Day School, Dec 07 4 – 6 International Weekend School, Hakone, Den Haag, Netherlands Japan 13 London Branch, Day School 15 Scottish Chanterelle, Day School, Lyon, Muriel Johnstone, Keith Smith, Bill Zobel France. Patrick Chamoin & Musicians School. Linda Gaul, Graham 4 – 6 Leeds Branch, Weekend School, Donald, Irene Edgar, Keith Smith 28- 6/01 New Zealand Branch, Summer School, Scarborough. Ann Dix Wellington. Helen Frame, Noeline 13 Ribble Valley Branch, Day School 5 St Andrews Branch, Day School, O’Connor, Doug Mills, Romaine Butterfield, Pat Houghton St Andrews, Fife. Pat Houghton Pam Perkins, Yvonne Gray, George Meikle 13 Scottish Chanterelle, Day School, 5 Swilcan SCD Group, Day School, Lyon, France. Patrick Chamoin Jan 08 Utrecht, Netherlands 13 Thistle Club, Eindhoven, Day and Sjoerd van Leersum Music School, Netherlands 12 Scottish Chanterelle, Day School, Lyon, 19 NW Craven Branch Day School, Ingleton Kate Gentles, James Gray France. Patrick Chamoin 13 Kamloops SCD Club, Fall Workshop, 12 - 13 Weekend School, Essen, Germany May 08 Kamloops, BC. Barbara Johnston Eric Finley 2 - 4 Toronto Branch, Youth Weekend East, 13 - 14 Ottawa Valley Weekend, Almonte, Peterborough, Ontario Ontario Feb 08 Cathy Bertics, Rebecca Roman, Colin Philip Ron Wallace, Fiona Miller, Keith Bark 2 Carlisle and Border Branch, Day School 2 – 5 Far North Queensland SCD, Weekend 13 - 14 Weekend Workshop, Lvov, Western Ann Dix School, Cairns, Australia Ukraine. Eithne Noakes 9 Paris Branch, Day School and Ball, 16 – 18 New York Branch, Pawling Weekend 18 - 21 Schluchtern, Germany, Autumn Course Paris, France School, Hopewell Junction, NY Jean Martin, Ron Wallace, Bill Zobel Carola Fischer 9 – 10 Scottish Chanterelle, Weekend School, 19 - 22 New Zealand Branch, Weekend School, Lyon, France 16 – 18 Duns & District Branch, May Weekend Auckland Region, Takapuna Mervyn Short, James Fairbairn Margo Priestley, Les Lambert David Ayre, Damon Collin, Janet Flavel, 9 – 10 Swilcan SCD Group, Weekend School, 17 St Andrew’s Church, Day School, Doug Mills, Duncan Smith, Andrew Timmins Nunspeet, Netherlands Brussels, Belgium. Pat & Peter Clark 26 - 28 Rechberg International Weekend, 16 Oxfordshire Branch Day School, Oxford 24 Scottish Chanterelle, Advanced Day Schwabisch-Gmund, Germany Helen Russell, Andrew McConnell, Dennis Tucker School, Lyon, France. Patrick Chamoin Eric Finley 16 Freiburg Scottish Country Dancers, 31 Swilcan SCD Group, Day School & Ball, 27 Sheffield Branch, Day School Day School, Freiburg, Germany Utrecht, Netherlands. Jaap Hellinghuizer Janet Johnston Carola Fischer Jun 08 Nov 07 21 – 26 RSCDS Winter School, Pitlochry, 12 – 15 Central Germany Branch, Weekend 2 - 4 Kingston Ontario Branch Weekend Perthshire School, Schluchtern, Germany Workshop, Kingston, Ontario Mar 08 Sue Porter 2 - 4 San Francisco Branch, Weekend Workshop, Asilomar, California 1 Birmingham Branch, Day School, July 08 Emily Evans, Fiona Grant, Eileen Hsu, Birminghan, England 06 – 13 Queensland Branch, 33rd Australian Duncan MacKenzie, Marjorie McLaughlin, 1 NW Craven Branch Day School, Winter School, North Palm Beach Shenna MacQueen Whittington Summer School runs from 20 July to 17 August 9 - 11 Croydon Branch, Weekend School, 6 – 9 Schluchtern, Germany, Weekend School RSCDS Summer School, St Andrews, Fife Carola Fischer, Sjoerd van Leersum Eastbourne. Wendy Mumford Sept 08 9 – 11 North Virginia Branch, Weekend, 8 Somerset Branch, Day & Musicians Arlington, VA. Jessie Stuart, Ellie Briscoe School, Keinton Mandeville, Somerset 13 Lochaber Branch Day School, Fort William 10 Toronto Branch, Workshop David Hall, Neil Copland 20 Ayr Branch, Day School, Troon Stewart Adam, Ruth Jappy, Keith Bark 8 Berks, Hants, Surrey Border Branch, 20 NW Craven Branch Day School, 10 – 11 Scottish Chanterelle, Weekend School, Day & Musicians School Whittington Lyon, France. Avril & David Quarrie Linda Gaul, Allison Russell, Alan Davis, Ian Muir, Keith Anderson Oct 08 17 Bristol Branch, Day School. David Hall 1 8 Swilcan SCD Group, Day School, 24 – 26 Rechberg International Weekend, 17 Norwich Branch, ⁄2 Day Workshop, Wymondham, Norfolk Utrecht, Netherlands. Jaap Hellinghuizer Schwabisch-Gmund, Germany Eric Finley, Jean Martin 14 – 15 Lorn (Argyll) Branch Weekend School, Pat Houghton 17 Swilcan SCD Group, Day School, Oban. Janet Johnston Nov 08 Utrecht, Netherlands. Baz Broekhuizen 15 Royal Tunbridge Wells Branch, Day 1 15 Norwich Branch, ⁄2 Day Workshop, 17 – 18 Scotia Shores, Weekend School & School. Mervyn Short, Marilyn Watson, Wymondham, Norfolk Musicians School, Vicenza, Italy Eric Finley Helen Russell, James Gray 20 – 24 Schluchtern, Germany, Easter Course Dec 08 21 - 25 Schluchtern, Germany, November 22 – 24 Paris Branch, International Weekend, 28-05/01 New Zealand Branch, Summer School, Course. Jenny Greene Reims, France. Mary Murray Christchurch 28 Obituaries

George Lawson Maguy Paillet George Lawson’s passing on 17th April 2007 Maguy would have been at Summer School this has brought great sadness not only to year, as she had been for the last fifteen years, had members of Glasgow Branch but also to the cancer not got the better of her in four short very many Society members who knew him. months. She remained her smiling, elegant self George was a much respected and committed until the very end, enthusiastically taking part in figure in the Scottish country dancing world. balls, classes and day schools as late as June. As Even in his early days in Fife, after qualifying convenor of the Lyon demonstration group in as a teacher, he never missed an opportunity France she set up a successful show and spoke to to establish a Scottish country dance class a large audience the day before she was taken into where one was not already available. That palliative care. Brave, beautiful and tenacious, she enthusiasm extended throughout his entire showed us what the “spirit of the dance” can truly mean. life. He taught a wide range of classes in Glasgow, and his ‘Paisley Maguy was a professional artist, and her collage The Blue Lady was Mondays’ were enjoyed by many for over 40 years. Teaching apart, presented to the RSCDS on her behalf on 30 July 2007. She also left George gave much to Glasgow and to the Society worldwide. In the funds to the Society to help young dancers. Branch he was both Chairman and Treasurer twice and danced with Christiane Orgeret the Demonstration Group. He served until his death as Honorary President. In that role he was not a passive figure, and despite ill- Miss Fusako Oi health he took an active interest in ongoing activities. He was also Tokyo Branch Chairman, Miss Fusako Oi, passed away very Society Chairman, a position he felt deeply honoured to hold, an suddenly on 5 April 2007. Miss Oi was a devoted Chairman, adjudicator, an examiner, and a loyal envoy of the Society wherever working tirelessly for the branch and its members. She attended his expertise and presence were requested. As a teacher of the Summer School on a number of occasions, embodying the spirit Certificate class in Glasgow he ensured, through his students, that of Miss Milligan’s “international family”. Miss Oi was a talented country dancing reached as many people as possible. and enthusiastic teacher, designer, embroiderer, dressmaker and As well as looking forward George was deeply committed to musician. She will be greatly missed. maintaining historical records for both Branch and Society. He Atsuko Clement insisted that significant events should be recorded, as well as the names of the committees which promoted them. He was also the May Yarker stimulus for most of the youth events which continue to flourish May Robertson Yarker in Glasgow today. Indeed he attended the Festival for children in was born in Greenock March this year shortly before his death. We are grateful for his and began Scottish genuine and enthusiastic support for any new projects he country dancing at the considered worthwhile. age of five. She George will be remembered for his dry humour, his tolerance, his continued to dance astute observations and his quiet dignity. He was a father figure until her 90th birthday who will be sorely missed. Throughout his life in all his country and loved everything dance activities, to which he gave his many gifts, he was always connected with it. She most graciously supported by his wife Nan. To Nan, Jennifer, joined the RSCDS in Stuart and his family we extend our sincere sympathy at this very 1958 and qualified as a sad time. teacher and examiner. She taught and examined at Summer School Ruth Beattie for many years, and she travelled abroad to teach in Kenya, Sweden, Denmark, USA and Canada. David Normand-Harris Examination work was her passion. At Ilkley College in Yorkshire The death of David Normand-Harris on 22 she introduced the RSCDS Teaching Certificate. When she moved June 2007 brought much sadness to our to the south coast she continued to train future RSCDS teachers. Society. David, at the time of his death, was In 1995 May was awarded the Society Scroll of Honour, and in the Convenor of the Education and Training Book 42 the RSCDS published the dance May Yarker’s Strathspey Committee. It was especially poignant that by Roy Goldring. David’s article on the tartan he designed for May trained at Glasgow College of Art and was an accomplished the Society appeared in the publication of enamelling artist. She had a working studio at her home in issue No 4 of the magazine, coinciding with Thurso. The Queen Mother saw some of her work at the annual his death. David and I were at school Caithness Artists’ Exhibition and later visited her studio. On together in St Andrews in the 1950s, but I did learning that May was a Scottish country dance teacher, the not meet up with him again until he Queen Mother invited her to the Castle of Mey for tea. When reappeared in the RSCDS within the last ten years. He was a talking about the Gay Gordons, May told the Queen Mother character one did not easily forget. David’s contribution to the about the progressive version of the dance. In no time at all, the work of the Education and Training Committee was impressive. Queen Mother and May were dancing round the drawing room to He was a meticulous man, with a dry wit, who enjoyed, equally, Her Majesty’s sung accompaniment. intellectual conversations and small talk. David was dedicated to May’s love of colours was reflected in her teaching of Scottish furthering the work of the RSCDS. He is remembered by those country dancing. She was always bright and encouraged a happy, who knew him with great fondness. This was demonstrated at the social spirit. Wherever she went, laughter and fun accompanied her. recent Summer School in St Andrews, when, on Sunday evenings, those who had known David personally were invited to gather and Bill Clement celebrate David’s life by sharing with each other their memories Readers will be saddened to learn that Roy Goldring (dance deviser) and Stan of him. Hamilton (band leader) died in September 2007. Obituaries will appear in Irene Bennett the next issue.

29 Forthcoming RSCDS Events

78th Annual General Meeting Winter School ● teachers will be Alasdair Brown, Craig Houston and Margo Priestley and Conference Weekend 21 – 26 February 2008 Further information and application forms are 2 – 4 November 2007 All places have been taken. now available from RSCDS Headquarters or on the website at www.rscds.org Location: Bell’s Sports Centre, Hay Street, Perth 26 February – 2 March 2009 (dates provisional) ● Friday night ball with David Cunningham Summer School Location: The Atholl Palace Hotel, Pitlochry and his Band 20 July – 17 August 2008 ● Saturday night dance with Marian Co-ordinator: to be confirmed Anderson and her Band Application forms will be available in June Location: University of St Andrews, (hall of residence to be confirmed) ● Saturday morning class with teacher 2008 – please check with RSCDS Mervyn Short and pianist Rodger Headquarters or on the website at Co-ordinator: John Wilkinson McAndrew www.rscds.org for exact dates of availability ● come for any one or two weeks of the and submission date. ● Members’ Forum on Saturday morning four, as resident or non-resident led by Bristol Branch ● morning classes for all levels including beginners ● Specially arranged bus trip to Scone Spring Fling ● Palace on Saturday morning 28 – 30 March 2008 optional afternoon classes ● Sunday morning workshop – “Are these ● social dancing every evening except the instructions?”, with teacher Peter Location: Glasgow Friday, when there is a ceilidh Clark and pianist Pat Clark Co-ordinators: Jayne Brown (Youth Director) ● two musicians’ courses will be held, dates ● Musicians’ Forum on Sunday morning led with a team of young people from Glasgow to be confirmed by Angela Young and members of Glasgow Branch Further information and application forms will ● Further information and application form for people between the ages of 16-35 be available from RSCDS Headquarters or on available from RSCDS Headquarters or on the ● classes from beginners through to the website at www.rscds.org in December website at www.rscds.org advanced level 2007.

30 Now on DVD Reel Scottish Dancing! Find steps, formations and dances quickly • Demonstrates 34 popular Scottish country dances • Steps walked through and demonstrated • Shows 40 Scottish country dancing formations • Helpful commentary by Dr Alastair MacFadyen

DVD £17.99 + £1 P&P (UK) or £3 P&P (non-UK) VHS Video £15.99 + £2 P&P (UK) All Set or £4 P&P (non-UK) (Cheques payable to IVP) A two-in-one, Multimedia CD In the In the Available from: CD player computer Anita Mackenzie Music for Dances, steps, Devonbank House 10 dances, formations. Fishcross, Alloa with or without Interactive learning FK10 3JE calling, plus with printable Tel: 01259 – 724169 Auld Lang Syne. instructions, video demonstrations and Email: [email protected] £15.99 animations. Free P & P Or order online at: www.scottishdancevideos.com

See, try and order on our website: www.scoteesh.co.uk All 6 IVP dance videos now on DVD Scoteesh Productions T: 01887 820197 E: [email protected]

RSCDS ● ST. ANDREWS ● BRANCH 70th ANNIVERSARY CD

Music by David Cunningham Snr (8 dances) David Cunningham Jnr (5 dances)

Contains a 20 page booklet with full instructions for all 13 dances £12.00 + £1 p&p (UK) or £2 p&p(non-UK) Includes the seven dances recorded for the Golden Jubilee in 1987, two dances devised to mark Prince William’s student days at St Andrews University, and three new dances devised to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The Golden Jubilee recording has been digitally re-mastered.

Available from: RSCDS St. Andrews, PO Box 29231, St. Andrews, KY16 8UK Tel: +44 (0) 01334 475 2744 or visit our website: www.rscdsstandrews.org

31 St Andrews Shoemakers Ltd (James Senior), Unit 3, Newark Industrial Estate, Glenrothes, Fife, KY7 4NS tel/fax: 01592 779000 tel: 0870 7542 104 fax: 0870 7542 105 email: [email protected] website: www.standrews–shoemakers.com