Chairman's Blog

Welcome to the “Chairman’s Blog” page on the Branch website now available to you as an interactive newspage to show what’s new on a regular basis. This is a rare departure from tradition so please use it as an internet noticeboard.

Dance Scottish Week 12th to 20th September 2008

What a fantastic week of Scottish Country Dancing here in central London.

This year we took the decision to increase our Saturday afternoon open air dancing sessions at Kensington Gardens from two to four. This lead on to our Eight Eightsome’s event, on Sunday 14th September where members of the Branch Demonstration Team accompanied by piper Jim Mackay danced eight Eightsome Reels at prominent London landmark sites.


	Our Open House extravaganza on Wednesday 17th September at Pont Street with our piper Bob Harman and drink ensuring a warm welcome for all. The week culminated with our Start of Season dance on Saturday 20th September. There was also a Youth Workshop which was very successful (see photo - courtesy M Nolan - below). There will be full coverage in the next edition of the Reel and the website.




	Our Chairman Jeff about to dance The Canadian Barn Dance with London visitor Jing Ma from Beijing during Dance Scottish Week at RSCDS Open Air Dancing in Kensington Gardens in London. (photo courtesy Stephen Webb 2008)


	September Dance The Branch dancing season got off to a cracking start with our Start of Season dance at Pont Street on 20th September with Craigellachie gie’in it laldie!

	Our thanks to the demonstration class for the catering and to all those who helped. Once again, there will be full coverage in the next edition of the Reel and the website.

		The September Dance (photo courtesy Stephen Webb 2008)

Polesden Lacey Apple Day

The Branch has a long association with Polesden Lacey, having held our summer picnic dance there since the early 1980s.

Did you know that Polesden Lacey was restored and developed by William McEwan of McEwans Export fame?

Around the early 1800’s when the military had a presence in India, the soldiers were on the point of rebellion as they could not drink the water and the beer of the day did not travel well. McEwan, from his brewery in Edinburgh, devised India Pale Ale (IPA) and McEwans Export which did travel well and thus saved the day whilst making his fortune.

The Branch Demonstration Team danced two programmes on the lawn in front of the Apple Day marquee which were much appreciated by the audience of 60 or 70 each time who were eager for more.

Our thanks to the dancers for turning out at short notice:- James Fairbairn, Alvin Tann; Catriona Bennett, Samantha Fairbairn, Marian Morris and Catriona Stewart.

Thanks are also due to Roger Huth, our piper who provided the music for the dancers and also played two pipe solos to the delight of the audience.

Day School 2008

What more can I say about our Day School? A splendid day with three themed Dance Classes, a Musicians Workshop, a range of optional classes and to top it all, a ceilidh.

We were taught by Mary Murray from Vancouver, Eric Finley from Ayr and Muriel Johnstone from Canada along with our own Rachel Wilton, Maureen Campbell and Joan Desborough.

The music was provided by Ian Muir, Jennifer Wilson and Barbara Manning. What a star line up!

A day such as this does take a great deal of organising and I would like to thank all those who contributed to the success of the event:

Reception: Simon Wales and Pam Ellam
Car Park: Peter Knight
Catering: Margaret Shaw, Helen Brown, Lena Robinson, George Potts, Rosemary Tilden, Angela Young, Sue Speller, Jenny Sweeney and Jean Nicol
Introductions: Helen Brown, Gaynor Curtis, Wilson Nicol, James Fairbairn and Moira Strutt
Ceilidh Items: All those who took part, particularly the musicians from the workshop, the dem class and the Wee Kirkudbury Centipede
Accommodation: Rachel Wilton, Margaret Catchick and Peter Luke.
Bookshop: Ian and Iris Anderson
M.C. Andrew Kellett
Ceilidh Band: Ian and Judith Muir

But most of all, a huge thank you to Margaret Catchick, our organiser and mentor who surpasses expectations year after year.

Read the full report in the next Reel.

For those who wish to improve their Technique

I am often told by the good and the great that there is always room for improvement. So why not join me at our Sunday Technique classes at Coram Fields for that special coaching on the following Sundays.

Teacher/Musician:- Angela Young/Dave Hall on 26th October, Mervyn Short/Ian Cutts on 30th November and Rachel Wilton/Peter Jenkins on14th December.

Dave Hall will also be teaching the Highland classes at St Michael and All Angels Church, Turnham Green on 9th, 16th and 23rd October and 2nd and 20th Nov and 11 December.

Come along and give it a try!

November 2008