NEWCASTLE AND DISTRICT RSCDS

Welcome to a new season of dancing

Sally Salvesen being presented with her Branch Award

It is always sad to record the death of a Branch member but especially one of such
long-standing and longevity as Vice President Sally Salvesen. Sally played an
important role during the Branch’s formative years as, within three years of joining in 1954, she was head-hunted for the office of Treasurer.
The Branch was growing rapidly but book-keeping was rickety; professional expertise was required. Sally – whose ‘day job’ was with the Northern Rock – sorted out the chaos, taking over back-of-an-envelope style accounts and establishing a meticulous system that earned Headquarters’ respect. As Branch assets grew from Ł584 to
Ł14,561 during her 34 years in office, Sally remained imperturbable. She banked huge cash sums from dances (often with attendances of over 500) and oversaw investments that enabled the Branch to embark on the publications and records enterprise which gained it an international reputation. Though small in stature Sally had the character
of a colossus. She even defeated the Inland Revenue and the Society Treasurer in defence of Newcastle members’ interests. Sally loved dancing and its music and, even when she could no longer participate actively, her cheerful smile, sparkling eyes and infectious joie de vivre made her a welcome spectator. She will also be remembered
for her phenomenal memory. John Douglas recalls occasions when, as Chairman, he asked questions about, for instance, past changes to ticket prices. Sally always
supplied an instant, detailed answer which, after checking, was invariably right.
Unhappily, this memory deserted her in her final years. But the Branch
remembered Sally and her massive contribution to its success and
stability. To mark her 95th birthday she was presented with a Branch Award.
The Branch was well represented at her funeral service and a tribute will be
organised during the coming year.
We will miss you Sally. RIP.
Irene Waters

During the dances held in October, November and December a “bucket” will
be available for members to give a donation in memory of Sally which will
then be sent to the Alzheimer’s Society. Peter Avery has also written a dance
“Smiling Sally” which will be danced at the October dance, then published and
sold as a Branch publication in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society.

It seems a long time since we all met for the first class last September. The candidates were rather apprehensive during the first few sessions but soon began to enjoy the classes and gained much confidence. We are most grateful to Malcolm Brown for travelling from York to teach the Sunday afternoon classes, also Helen his wife who usually came to keep him company on the journeys. It was good to get to know both of them a bit better!
Also a huge ‘thank you’ to Patricia Cass who played for all the classes and the 1˝ days of exams, - we hope her fingers have now recovered.
The class could not have run without ‘stooges’, some of whom turned up for all classes and the exams too. I think they all enjoyed taking part and learned a lot too.
I am delighted to report that with the exception of one candidate who failed Unit 3 (preliminary teaching) all candidates passed. Unfortunately Peter Cass was unable to take Unit 5 because of a family wedding but will take the exam at St. Andrews in August. We wish him all the best.
Sheila Trafford, Secretary

I am sure that we would all like to express our thanks to Sheila for organising the class, as always everything ran smoothly. There was a lot of paper work required behind the scene, separate application forms, fees from candidates, forms from the Branch and not least of all the refreshments during the classes! Thank you Sheila. Carol Sanderson, Editor

On the afternoon of Saturday 23rd June, 22 children took the Society’s Medal Tests ranging from the Introductory Award to Grade 3 which involved dancing ‘The Reel of the 51st and The Duke of Perth’. I am delighted to say that 2 children gained distinctions, 14 children gained credits and 6 children gained passes. The adults who danced with the Grade 3 children will verify it is quite nerve racking, even with Fiona Turnbull, the examiner, putting them at ease! Congratulations to all the children. Let us hope that they will continue to attend classes and perhaps we will see some of them at the December dance.
Carol Sanderson, Editor

DANCING FOR PUDSEY BEAR AGAIN!!

A fun night!! Please come and help us reach our goal of raising Ł300 on Friday 16th November 2007 at Heddon Memorial Hall 7.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.

MIDSUMMER SUPPER DANCE ALNWICK 2007

This event went well as usual. After the initial panic when David Anderson’s band had to cancel at short notice I was extremely relieved and most grateful when Marian Anderson (no relation) said she could play for us. Her band had been playing till 4 p.m. that day at the Royal Highland Show, Edinburgh, so she had not taken any other booking further afield. We were so lucky. Her band played some really super music which helped to give us a lift even after Doreen Coleman’s (caterer) superb supper. We finished off with fruit as usual. Many people commented on how good the food was and how much they look forward to this event each year.

Numbers were again reduced due to clashes with other events - June seems to be the busiest month for dancing now! All who attended had a good time and takings were augmented by running a raffle.

Thank you to all to came and see you again next year (21st June).

Sheila Trafford, Secretary

OPEN AIR DANCING AT WALLINGTON

The summer open air dancing at Wallington in June and July was a great success. Varied programmes encouraged involvement for all ages, ranging from 0 (at least one expectant mother!!) to 85 and it was lovely to see the lawn filled with people dancing.

In June we were blessed with good sunny weather and enjoyed the wonderful music of Robert Whitehead and Kev Lees, with extra help from Roger Malton, Bethany Chamberlain and Deb Lees. There was also a demonstration of Scottish dancing given by Carol Sanderson’s Hexham Abbey Dancers.

In July we were lucky enough to dodge the rain and many families were able to join us dancing to Robert’s accordion, or just enjoying the entertainment we provided.

Many people came to get more information about us and everyone had an enjoyable time sharing our love of dancing.

Carol Sanderson has now taken over the organising of Wallington, and I wish her every success in this venture. I have very much enjoyed the Wallington experience and I am looking forward to coming along as a participant next year to introduce more people to Scottish dancing.

Pam Scott

WALLINGTON - DATES FOR NEXT YEAR

Saturday 14th June 2008 and Sunday 13th July 2008.

Music by Robert Whitehead plus anyone who wishes to join him!!

Dancing for all, but aimed at encouraging people to “join in and have a go”.

A LETTER TO THE BRANCH FROM TIM BOLTON-MAGGS

Dear Friends

I’m writing to thank you all for the engraved glass tankard that was presented to me at the Midsummer Dance in Alnwick. It was an unexpected pleasure to be called up at the interval, just as we were settling down to listen to the draw for the raffle, and a delight to have a tangible memento of my time as Vice-Chairman of the Branch Committee. Although the tankard was provided with a smart display stand, you can be sure that I shall use it for the purpose for which it was designed! When I gave up teaching the Branch Class in 1995, they presented me with a specially commissioned painting of the team dancing at Wallington. That and the tankard will remind me of the many happy nights & days of dancing I’ve spent with folk on (and off) Tyneside since I transferred to the Newcastle Branch in 1970.

At the time of writing this I have only just begun to dance in Edinburgh – but I seem to have jumped in at the deep end, as I’ve been asked to take part in the Dunedin festival at the end of July. In August I shall be going to see Dancing Forth, the show which Edinburgh Branch puts on during the first week of the Fringe, and I expect to meet people there who will help me to decide which RSCDS class to join in the autumn.

I shall still visit Tyneside from time to time, however, and will no doubt be coming to some of the dances as I don’t want to lose touch with the many good friends I’ve made while dancing with the Branch. No doubt I’ll meet up with some of you at dances in Edinburgh or elsewhere – the wonderful thing about Scottish Country Dancing is the way it provides a passport to a good social life anywhere in the world. This was amply demonstrated at the recent White Rose Festival, run by Leeds Branch, as it provided a place to catch up with friends from all over England (and a few from Scotland!). When I was in Melbourne for a few weeks in 1988 I discovered an SCD class just down the road from where I was staying. I soon became a regular and I still write to some of the folk I met there. With best wishes for another good season of dancing.

DISPLAYS AND DEMONSTRATIONS

Displays AND Demonstrations? Yes, there is a difference. Displays are intended as entertainment for an audience or competition entries
BUT demonstrations are aimed to attract newcomers into dancing through audience participation and provision of information about groups and classes. Hopefully, this is translated into more people coming along to classes and dances.

Demonstration teams are drawn from regular participants of the Branch Class (though it is up to individuals whether they want to take part). Displays and demonstrations are great fun to do, with a very strong emphasis on team work and creating an overall impression.
Recent demonstrations have included:-

· Northumberland County Show where we also had a stand in the Glorious Northumberland tent. Considerable interest was shown by people who had previously taken part in Scottish Country Dancing and didn’t know there were local classes - so here’s hoping!!
· Humshaugh Village Fete - a small village north of Hexham where we danced on the sloping lawn at the Vicarage and still we managed to get some of the locals joining in.

If you are interested in developing your dancing skills and perhaps taking part in demonstrations and displays why not contact Deb Lees on 0191 2170496, John Ferguson on 0191 2576882 or Roger Hall on 01207 506059 for a chat.

YOUTH DEMONSTRATION TEAM

In the last issue of the Newsletter we reported that a group of young people from Newcastle had attended a workshop at Perth organised by the Society’s Youth Director. The aim of the workshop was to establish a Youth Demonstration Team - young people aged between 18 and 35.
I am delighted to have to tell you that one of our young people Kirsten Ferguson was part of the team representing Scotland at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, in Brittany from Friday 3rd August to Tuesday 7th August. She had a most enjoyable trip and we look forward to reading her report in the next Newsletter.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

We are on the lookout for volunteers to help in a number of areas of Branch activity. These include publicity, finance and business development.
If you wish to become involved, please contact Roger Malton, 0191 2170496

DANCE SCOTTISH WEEK - 10th to 14th September 2007

Plans have been finalised for this project to introduce Scottish country dancing to Years 3 and 4 in First Schools (8 to 9 year olds). Sheila Trafford is leading for North Northumberland, Jean Wright for South Tyneside, Patricia Cass and Kathleen Gordon for North Tyneside, Carol Sanderson for West Northumberland and Peter Avery together with Tim Bolton-Maggs (who has kindly agreed to come back to Newcastle to help) the Central area. Each leader will be given a CD of Scottish Dance Music and a list of easy dances which depending on the ability of the classes of children should be manageable within the time available. The CD and list will be left with the teachers, together with a list of children’s classes in the area, the offer of further instruction for the teachers to be able to continue and details of an inter-school competition within the five areas. If you can help in any of the areas mentioned above, please contact the respective leaders. (Telephone numbers below) Thank you.
Peter Avery 0191 2818377 Sheila Trafford 01670 512568
Carol Sanderson 01434 602431 Jean Wright 0191 4552937
Patricia Cass 0191 2576882 Kathleeen Gordon 01912527465

TEACHERS CLASS

Thursday 6th September 2007 7.45 p.m. to 9.45 p.m. at West Jesmond School - Teacher: Peter Avery
This is open not only to qualified teachers but anyone who runs a class.
Peter will be teaching the dance “Smiling Sally” which he has written in memory of Sally, also the not so well known Hugh Foss dances from the leaflet sent from Headquarters, as well as some dances from the featured list of dances received from Headquarters.

FORMATIONS CLASS

Thursday 25th October 2007 7.45 p.m. to 9.45 p.m. at Gosforth Parish Hall (opposite the Gosforth Metro)
Teacher: - Peter Avery
Due to popular demand Peter has kindly agreed to run another Formations Class. If anyone has any particular formation or dance with a “tricky eight bars”, please let him know and he will try to incorporate them into the class.

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

Some significant changes were agreed at the Annual General meeting -

· The membership year has been changed to run from 1st July to 30th June.
· The period of grace for unpaid subscriptions has been reduced from 1 year to 5 months.
· We have introduced a new Young Member class of membership for people between the ages of 16 and 25, with a reduced Branch subscription rate.
· We have introduced a reduced half year subscription for new members joining on or after the 1st January.

The main reason for change is to bring us more closely into line with Headquarters and to reduce costs associated with late or non-payment of subscriptions.
Implications arising from these changes include:-

· For this year only the membership year runs from the 1st April 2007 to the 30th June 2008.
· If you pay by Standing Order please remember to amend the amount and date to reflect the change. The final closing date by which subscriptions must be received is the 1st December. This is the date when we are required to submit our returns to Headquarters (including all the monies we have collected on their behalf). As in previous years, we will include reminders with each issue of the Newsletter, followed by a final written reminder and follow up telephone call before the 1st December.

Roger Malton, Assistant Treasurer 2007-8.

· Chris Hiller (our Vice-Chairman) and his wife Alison have both retired this summer. We wish them a long and happy retirement. Chris will have more time to spend on the Branch Website!

· Congratulations to all our young people who have received their exam results. Good luck to Kirsten Ferguson as she heads off to Aberdeen University to study Geosciences and Kevin Lees to Newcastle University to study Traditional Music. We hope to see them back dancing and “playing” for us whenever possible.

· Congratulations and Happy Birthday to Sheila Trafford on reaching the ripe old age of 60 in October. There are a number of others who remain unnamed who will soon be celebrating their 60th birthday - Happy Birthday to them all.

· Some of you may recall Tom and Margaret Shield who ran the Heatherlea Hotel at Allendale and together with the South Shields Club organised dancing with Robert Whitehead at Easter week-ends for many years, as well as dancing at Corbridge and attending Branch dances until ill health prevented them dancing. Sadly Tom passed away in July. We offer his family our condolences.

PROGRAMMES FOR THE OCTOBER AND DECEMBER DANCES

October Dance - Please note those marked with an * will be walked through, all others will be recapped.

Johnnie’s Welcome Hame Flirtez*
The Wild Geese It’s Just for Fun
The Rose of the North Iona Cross
The Flying Spur* The Peat Fire Flame
Nottingham Lace Alison Rose*
Neidpath Castle General Stuart’s Reel
Smiling Sally * Tribute to the Borders
Fife Ness McDonald of the Isles
Margaret Parker’s Strathspey White Heather Jig
Bonnie Anne The Irish Rover

December Dance
Maxwell’s Rant St. Andrew’s Fair
The New Rigged Ship The Sailor
Seann Truibhas Willichan MacDonald of the Isles
Reel of the 51st Division Round Reel of Eight
Ladies’ Fancy Hooper’s Jig
Johnnie Walker Mrs. Milne of Kineff
The Linton Ploughman Roxburgh Castle
The Fyket Ian Powrie’s Farewell to Auchterarder
The Silver Tassie The Silver City
Fisherman’s Reel Mairi’s Wedding

PROGRAMME FOR 2007-2008

10th to 14th September Dance Scottish Week

13th October Informal Dance Wallsend Memorial Hall
7.30 p.m. Music: Gary Donaldson

10th November Highland Ball Newcastle Civic Centre
7.30 p.m. Music: Alistair Wood

1st December Informal Dance Wallsend Memorial Hall
7.30 p.m. Music: Grant Crawford

22nd December Informal Dance Hexham High School
7.30 p.m. Music: Robert Whitehead

2008
4th January Informal Dance Ponteland Memorial Hall
7.30 p.m. Music: Robert Whitehead

9th February Day School To be confirmed
(Full details in the next newsletter)
Teachers: Helen Russell and Eric Finlay

23rd February Newcastle Festival Emmanuel College, Gateshead
Adjudicators - Peter Clark and Graham Donald
7.30 p.m. Informal Dance
Music: David Cunningham

15th March Afternoon Workshop with Maureen Haynes
(Full details in the next newsletter)
Informal Dance Ponteland Memorial Hall
Music: Nichol McLaren

12th April Informal Dance Brinkburn School, South Shields
7.30 p.m. Music: Ian Thomson

16th May Annual General Meeting followed by dancing to CDs
7.30 p.m. La Sagesse School, Newcastle