Probus Club of Lomond Newsletter 23 August 2017 From the Chairman s I sit at my elderly Toshiba laptop computer recipe for healthy living even if you don’t go on the trying to remember how to steer myself walks. However I have noticed that my very able Aaround Microsoft Word 2007 and Windows predecessor, John Davidson Kelly used exactly the XP (and wondering if I am about to face a ransom same words in his article in last year’s Newsletter. I demand for Bitcoins) I realise how my life has was also about to pay tribute to Bill McLeod’s coffee changed from the days when I spent a great deal of and biscuits, Michael Boulton-Jones’ talks team and to my working time writing minutes, letters and articles. I praise the work and expertise provided by many club don’t miss it at all but the deadline for the Probus members including Peter Smith’s work with this Newsletter is fast approaching and I want to write newsletter. However, yet again, John has beaten me to something now, at the end of May, which will be it and I am forced to play Melania Trump to his relevant to our readers who will receive it in the post Michelle Obama! I have also done some belated in mid-August. So it is probably best to avoid saying research on the Chinese curse mentioned above. It anything about and the forthcoming General Election was used by Robert F Kennedy in a speech in Cape (on reflection the term ‘end of May’ might be a Town in 1966, but it was also used in a speech in 1936 hostage to fortune!). Similarly it is probably best not by Sir Austen Chamberlain (brother of Neville). to mention current world news such as Climate However there is no such curse in the Chinese Change, Middle East conflicts, North Korean missile language. So, as well as plagiarism I have also tests, the investigation of ties between associates of provided fake news – very modern! President Trump and Russia, or even President I hope that by the time you have read this you will Trump! The current volatility of national and have had a good summer and are looking forward to international politics seems exceptional. Which the next season of Probus. reminds me of the Chinese curse: ‘May you live in David Wright, Chairman 2017/18 interesting times’. (That word ‘May’ has cropped up again). We certainly live in interesting times and whether it is modern communications and the 24 hour news media which merely reports it or drives it is open to Subscription Increase question. Experience helps to put such things into t the AGM in April Chairman John Davidson- context and I believe Probus club members have Kelly explained that our speakers do not experience, not just in professional and business Areceive any expenses or payment but that it is affairs, but also in family life and citizenship which our custom to offer to make a donation to a charity of amounts to centuries of wisdom and common sense. I their choice. This donation has been fixed at £50 for would like to make particular mention of the Lilias several years but charities, particularly those associated Graham Trust and the Janet Chesney Trust which with welfare and health, have been facing pretty tough were the subject of talks in the past two years with times. The committee felt that £50 does not go very which individual Probus members are associated. All far at all these days and it was considered that it was this expertise, wisdom and experience is regularly time to increase the donations. available in Drymen Village Hall and the Clachan Pub £100 was felt to be a reasonable figure. To fund this around twice a month during the autumn, winter and larger donation a proposal to increase the 2017/18 spring. annual subscription by £10 was put forward at the I was also about to pay tribute to our Club, AGM and it met with the approval of the mentioning that our meetings are friendly, relaxed, membership. sociable, informative and entertaining and that is a John Carruthers 1 Probus reflections. Scottish Country Dancing thought I would like to conclude the Probus year “And now, Tam saw an unco sight! with a brief reflection on it When you look at all Warlocks and Witches in a dance Ithat has been going on in the world, both at home Nae Cotillion brent new frae France in the UK and worldwide, you are tempted to despair But hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys and reels” for mankind. When you look at the past Probus year hanks to the Royal Scottish Country Dance you are filled with hope and encouragement! We Society these “unco sights” are still readily meet congenially over coffee, listen courteously and visible not only in Scotland but throughout the with interest to talks on a wide range of topics from T world although “witches and warlocks” would hardly the scientific, the medical, the artistic, the historical, be an appropriate description of the modern Scottish the charitable - I could go on! We show our interest in country dancer. the speakers’ subject even when we barely understand But, let us look briefly at the history of the Country it, in our questions and then our conversation over Dance in Scotland and how it has evolved into a lunch. Our members put themselves out to world wide form of dance. contribute to the Club’s activities and of course we We know, for example, that Robert Burns was a depend on all those who are involved in the keen country dancer and that he attended dancing organisation of our activities, regular and occasional. Classes in his youth. Collections of dances already We are lucky that we have a group of people who it existed in his lifetime and it can be assumed that is a pleasure to spend time with and although we miss country dancing existed by the middle of the 17th greatly the company of those who have left us due to Century. death, ill health or whatever, we are very lucky that Unfortunately a great deal of Scottish folklore, there are always people willing and able to join us. We music and dance was not written down but handed are one of the few organisations in this age when the from generation to generation by word of mouth, thus younger generation seem to join nothing, that we still making it more difficult to collect and authenticate. have an expanding base of potential members. Long Although at this time the repertoire of country may that last! dancing was international it began to develop its own One last comment on our programme. Since the Scottishness and these were known as “Scotch AGM we have had our, as always, very enjoyable and dances”. successful trip to Pitlochry where we saw Mary Rose The very nature of Scottish society, in other words, by JM Barrie as well as enjoying lunch and tea. Thanks the Clan system, helped to maintain the inclusivity of to Angus for his as always excellent arrangements. dancing. For, as the Chief did, so did all his followers The play was a fascinating one, on one level a and family. Although John Knox banned dancing, it charming period piece, on another dealing with the was only in the strictest non-conformed circles that it same issues as his far more famous Peter Pan. This was adhered to. Clan Chiefs also had their own pipers time it is a girl who cannot grow up and who spends and when the bagpipes were banned after “the 45”, the time we see her in the real world not in Never they were replaced by fiddlers. Neil Gow, for Never Land. Certainly the acting and production were example, was fiddler to 3 Dukes of Atholl. Nathaniel tremendous and a good example of the Company’s Gow, his son, was also a prolific composer of dance skill. tunes as were Robert MacIntosh and William Marshall. “The Auld Alliance” with France cannot be ignored as the influence of the French Court has played a significant part in the development of Scottish Country Dance. The etiquette, manner and elegance as well as some of the steps & formations - pas de basque, allemande, poussette - all originate from there. However, by the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, the country dance was Members and friends at the Pitlochry Festival in decline due, in part, to the introduction of other Theatre outing in June forms of dance. It was at this time that the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society was formed and was In conclusion what an enjoyable year it was, well I able to save so much of the music and dances of the hope you all enjoyed it as I certainly did. I hope you past. (The title “Royal” was conferred on the Society have a good summer break and look forward to seeing by King George VI in 1951 and HM Queen Elizabeth you again, free from all responsibilities! Though I will became its Patron in 1952.) miss some of them! The two founders of the Society were Mrs. Isobel John Davidson Kelly Stewart of Fasnacloich and Miss Jean Milligan. Mrs. Stewart was a Girl Guide Commissioner for Argyll 2 who thought it was more appropriate for Girl Guides of dancers elsewhere who largely have to rely on in Scotland to learn Scottish country dances and recorded music. began teaching some dances that she had learned in People all over the world so want to be part of her youth.