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Pat Batt is a name that most of you will recognise as being synonymous with incisive, humorous poetry centred on Scottish country dancing. Her ditties are based on personal experiences and observation of human life in SCD and then put into rhyme for her and our pleasure. She often is found making a pithy point through fun, this probably being the best way to do it! Go to a dance party, tea party or ceilidh and you will invariable hear one of her poems recited or simply read out. Teachers use them in part to illustrate a point or to give their class a sideways look into our world. Phrases like When I was one and twenty…. , I’m a two-sex Scottish dancer … , I joined a Scottish dancing class … come to mind when thinking of her poems.
I knew Pat; she was a cheeky mischievous person with a twinkle in her eye which I always see in my mind when I read her works. Reading one of her poems daily is like taking a tonic and this is a compliment I am sure she would have loved to hear. The London Branch have been given special permission by her daughter Jo Chima, to whom we are indebted and thank heartily, to show all 33 of her poems, from her five volumes, on the Noticeboard, on this website starting today with the 6 already published in the Reel since 1987. The next will be added in September and from then on, on a one a month basis with every fourth also being published in the reel. London Branch hopes their readers enjoy this treat over the coming years and avail themselves of Pat’s daily tonic for life.
(Pat passed away at the age of 85 in 2006 and her obit. can be found in Reel 257 (which is in the reel archives), through the sales of her poems she was able to make generous donations to The North London Hospice)
Stephen Webb June 2011
The Ladies Man
The New Dance
The Demonstration Team
Eyes Right!
Dancing Through
Celebrating Age
The Beginner
45 Degrees
Injuries
The Horse
The Morning After
Old Friends - added 4th April 2012
Wicked Willie- added 4th April 2012
Mix-Up- added 4th April 2012
The Expert- added 4th April 2012
Pride Goeth...... - added 4th May 2012
The Dancing Shoe - added 1st June 2012
The Ball - added 30th June 2012
Maggie Thomas - added 6th August 2012
Turkish Delight - added 1st September 2012
Starters - added 1st October 2012
The Essential Mum - added 7th November 2012
Dress Sense - added 3rd December 2012
Age Concern - added 1st January 2013
January 25th - added 1st February 2013
Did You Have An Enjoyable Christmas? - added 1st February 2013
Moonlight Serenade - added 5th March 2013
Mothercare - added 28th March 2013
Fresh Air and Fun - added 21st May 2013
The Kilt - added 21st May 2013
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