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Newsletter 47 May 2007

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KASS

KENT ASSOCIATION OF SCOTTISH SOCIETIES


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CONTENTS

THE VIEW FROM WATERINGBURY 2

ANOTHER WEE WORD FROM THE CHAIRMAN 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 4

FEATURES 5

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY… 16

NOVEMBER 2006 QUIZ ANSWERS 16

QUIZ 17

AROUND THE SOCIETIES 18

KASS AFFAIRS 21

KASS DIARY, 2007/8 24

THE LAST WORD 24

THE VIEW FROM WATERINGBURY

Dear Friends,

The saying goes there is many a slip twixt cup and lip. In the build up to distributing the last newsletter, I had some fantastic contributions, lovely pictures, and 24 packed pages. Oh for me to go spoil it with shoddy photocopying. My apologies to all societies who received grubby looking sheets. I hope I have avoided it this time.

The subeditor, N’Chesa, has taken up a new hobby of bird watching (see right), so has devoted less time to pawing through the contributions. So it was left to me again to take pleasure in opening the emails and envelopes. I had asked Mo Dalton for Sheerness’ profile a long time back but it proved a timely piece with the passing of a founder member, the delightful Chrissie Ballard. Her daughter, Rosemary, tells us of Chrissie’s colourful, sometimes hard, but always full life. Jan Day picks an early recollection from her childhood roots. I get an interview with Jenny Barrow and learn of her energetic hobbies, Dr Warner gives us diagnoses, indeed there are medical themes to several contributions this time – does that characterise the readership unfairly? Our roving cub reporter, Kate Middleham, pays tribute to the hosts of two of Medway’s most memorable annual events (they certainly epitomise summer and start Christmas for me). And hot off the quill pen, the Chronicler continues his non-chronological chronicling of Scottish crowns (sub-ed please check chronic alliterations).

Thanks are due to all the contributors and I welcome our new advertiser, Edinburgh Bagpipe Co. If you know of anyone else who might want to pay for space, please contact me for a price schedule. However, it is frustrating to think that of 19 societies in the county, I only usually hear from a handful of correspondents. Come on, the rest of you, tell me what you are up to! I’m sure you can add to the rich tapestry of Scottish Societal life.

If you want a personal, printed copy of the newsletter, subscribe to me through the usual channels for the princely sum of 50p a copy. John Honey wants me to remind you that if you download the newsletter yourself online from WWW.KASS.ORG.UK, not only will you have your own copy, but that it comes with some pictures in glorious Technicolor! Thanks John.

The next newsletter’s deadline will be 25th October, 2007. Send offerings as usual by email to [email protected] or by post marked NEWSLETTER EDITOR, 110 Bow Rd., Wateringbury, Kent, ME18 5DY.

Alan


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ANOTHER WEE WORD FROM THE CHAIRMAN As predicted in the last Newsletter it appears that my term as Chairman will be busy and enjoyable.

The KASS Autumn Dance at Chatham Boys’ Grammar School was a great success and well attended. The event was hosted by the Medway and District Caledonian Association and Sheerness Scottish Heather Club organised the beneficial raffle.

Deal Scottish Country Dance Group organised the KASS Spring Tea Dance. Unfortunately the date clashed with a previously arranged holiday and I was unable to attend but our Vice Chairperson, Muriel Greenstead stepped into the breach and fulfilled the Chairman’s role for the day. I understand from those who attended that it was an excellent afternoon and some of the new dancers were very enthusiastic about the format which is informal and with walk-throughs taking the stress out of the occasion for the less experienced.

The Child Protection Act was raised at the KASS Committee meeting and a draft policy is in preparation for the member clubs to use where required. This will affect clubs that have children’s classes and may affect events where young people (under 18s) attend without parental supervision. The final policy and guidance documents will be made available on the website when they have been agreed.

May brings the renewal of the KASS insurance and Trevor Graves, our new treasurer, has agreed to take over the administration of the insurance thus relieving me of the task. For this I am grateful and I feel confident that the matter has moved into competent hands.

In addition to the KASS events Anne and I have attended a number of club events in North and East Kent. All of the events have been very enjoyable and friendly. We are keeping an eye on the KASS Diary to ensure that we will attend some events in West and South Kent before the next AGM.

The recent good weather indicates that summer is coming and holiday plans will be high on the agenda. We have plans for three short dancing holidays and I wish you all a very happy summer.

Ken

Editor Note – Please see Alan French’s information about the Child Protection Act in the KASS News section.

Papa’s piecesPapa’s piecesPapa’s piecesPapa’s pieces David Papa is always a great source of snippets and fillers for me, and I regret to say, I have had little room in recent editions to put them all in. However, the chairman has been brief, so it gives a chance for me to share more of David’s humour with you. If you have to groan, please groan at him. The Editor

The Senility Prayer Lord, Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, The good fortune to run into the ones that I do, And the eyesight to tell the difference. Children’s howlers

• The difference between a king and a president is that a king is the son of his father, but a president isn’t.

• Question: “Where was the Magna Carta signed?” Answer: “At the bottom”.

• Comment was made on returning home from a children’s tour of York Minster: “It was jolly interesting and we saw parts of the minister the public don’t usually see”.

A passenger jet was suffering from a severe thunderstorm. As the passengers were being bounced around but the turbulence, a young woman turned to a minister sitting next to her and, with a nervous laugh, asked “Reverend, you’re a man of God. Can’t you do something about this storm?”.

To which he replied “Lady, I’m in sales, not management.”


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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Drivers beware!

Hi Alan

The following has nothing to do with dancing, however, a newsletter is a good place to tell friends that there are naughty people about !

Dear Friends,

Be aware of a new car-jacking scam.

You walk across the car park, unlock your car and get inside. You lock your doors, maybe, start your engine and shift into reverse. You look in the rear-view mirror to back out of your space and notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of your rear window. You jump out of your car to remove the paper, engine running, your bag inside etc. When you reach the back of your car, this is when the car-jackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off!! Almost mow you down as they speed off. Your engine running and therefore, depending on your insurance policy, you could well not be covered. If you are a woman you would certainly have left your handbag in the car containing credit cards, money, mobile phone, licence, perhaps your home address and worst of all, your door keys. Not only have they stolen your car, but they would have time to ransack your house before you can get there.

WHAT TO DO? If you notice a piece of paper, just drive away and remove it later. This scam is now being used in London and Manchester and is making its way across the country.

Take care

Elisabeth Leishman Orpington & District Caledonian Society

A bouquet for teacher.

Dear Alan I attend a beginners’ class at St Paul’s Church Hall, Orpington, (Evening). We had a good number of raw beginners, plenty of improvers and some excellent dancers. Sounds good, and it is good. A nicer bunch of people of all ages would be very hard to find, BUT! This must create a dilemma for our teacher, trying to please such a broad band of competence. However we are blessed with Angela Campbell who copes with this with great aplomb, not only is she a top-of-the-class teacher and an exceptionally elegant dancer, she maintains a wonderful balance of humour so we not only learn and improve, we have fun. The numbers attending week after week would seem to prove she has the right approach. On behalf of all of us at Orpington I thank you Angela, sincerely. Signed, A useless but trying (my mother said “very”) pupil who wishes to remain anonymous.

Mr Anon, you certainly have the guidance of one of the best.

STOP PRESS – Scientists genetically modify animals to perform tasks that only humans could once do. See Page 17 for picture.

“The Gael”

21-23 Sea Rd, Bexhill on Sea,

TN40 1EE Tel; 01424 - 211331

www.edinburghbagpipes.com

Supplying quality Pipes and Drums to the World. Bringing Excellence to the South.

Probably the only outlet south of Luton where Pipers, Drummers Or Scots folk can get everything they might need, whether it’s a new set of pipes to a set of flashes, a jabot shirt, to a brooch Perhaps a new kilt, made in Scotland by people who know how. You can get it all here. We have a wide selection of chanters, pipe reeds and accessories. Pipe band uniform is also available here as is Kilt hire. We cater for all formal occasions, right down to the Lone Piper at a funeral, or a mini band for a wedding. You can even learn the art of playing the Great Highland Bagpipe. The first lesson is FREE and it can be done here at our shop or in the comfort of your own home. Next May we’re planning a Southern Counties Pipe Fest, so let us Know if that holds any interest for your organisation.

So, if you want the best, come to the best,

we’re at your service.


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FEATURES

SOCIETY PROFILES – No. 7

SHEERNESS SCOTTISH HEATHER CLUB

The Scottish Heather Club came about in 1950 when Charles Davidson (Charlie) put a notice in the Sheerness paper “Calling All Scots". He invited Scottish people to meet with him, with a view to establishing a meeting place for those (in those days of expensive train journeys and little time off) far from home.

The first meeting drew about 30 people and was held in the now redundant RAF Nissan hut, just along from where MacDonald’s is now, near the Fairground. The Club soon moved to the Labour Hall at Halfway, when the huts were demolished, and then to the Conservative Hall, also at Halfway.

Of the Founder members, we know of only three on the island - Christina Ballard, Alexander (Sandy) McPhee and Gordon Green. Other names, many of whom sadly, have died, were Joan Davidson, Flora Higgins, Mrs. Brown, Mrs James and Miss Nosie, all living in the Sheet Glass Houses at Rushenden. There was Mrs Smith, Miss Spence, Mrs Gilbert and Mrs Hales. Dr. Hamish Wylie was their very young President. Some of their children still live on the island - all towards or in their 60's of course and some still dancing! ..... Rosemary (Ballard) Jackson, Morag (Smith) Catchpole, Merle Higgins, Lorna Higgins, Ian Davidson, Adam Green, Elizabeth McPhee, Mhairi Domini.

Gradually, simple Scottish Dances were introduced to the social club and this was encouraged by Dr. Janet Stephenson of Gillingham, herself a highly qualified dance teacher and headteacher in Gillingham. As time went on, more members joined, many will remember Joe May, who owned the shoe shop and his wife Josie, an infant school teacher at Rose Street School. Together with Mr McDonald, who had a florist’s in Victory Street, a demonstration team of dancers regularly performed at Warner’s Holiday Camp, their fee going to local charities.

The closure of the Dockyard in 1960 had an impact on the Club, as on many features of the town and for a long time, it struggled to survive, sometimes with only three or four coming along, but its fortunes came up again and so the pattern has been, sometimes the hall full to capacity, sometimes barely eight to make a set.

We still meet in the Halfway Conservative Hall, on Friday evenings, from 8.00pm - 10.00pm. We welcome everybody, Scots and non Scots. All you need is flat, soft soled shoes and comfortable clothing. The tartan is usually only worn for special occasions, such as Dances, Balls and Burns Suppers.

Sadly, Chrissie Ballard passed away early on February 10th. She had just celebrated her 88th birthday and had charmingly hosted our Burn’s Supper on January 13th. She will be sadly missed.

Mo Dalton and The Members

Photo donated by Rosemary Jackson


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THE WARMEST OF WELCOMES

Kate Middleham, Sittingbourne

An artist and a teacher live in a pretty village south of Sittingbourne and to them, Medway and District Caledonian Association owes a debt of gratitude.

Mike and Elizabeth Leake, from Northampton and Northumbria respectively, have lived in Palace Farmhouse, Doddington for thirty three years. An odd name, Palace Farmhouse, but “palace” in the mist of the past, meant “corner” and indeed the building is on a corner. Cottages there are named “Palace Cottages”. There’s posh! The farmhouse was built around 1820 and several acres were farmed by two brothers.

Our heroes met on the Isle of Sheppey where Elizabeth and Charlie Davidson (the Glasgow Lad) were great friends; Charlie had founded Sheppey White Heather Club and consequently Mike and Elizabeth became involved in Scottish Events. Elizabeth was Secretary of Medway group for some ten years from 1967. In 1985 they started their flourishing bed and breakfast business. For a while Elizabeth’s parents lived with them. Mike’s sister, Mary is there now, not forgetting a succession of beautiful Irish setters.

From Medway summer outings came barbecues at Palace Farmhouse, proceeded by the annual Medway walk and followed by a dance at the Village Hall. Great stuff! From Christmas parties for their friends came the supper, drinks, chat and carol singing with Lynda MacGowan at the piano and sometimes Peter Parham on his violin.

We all enjoy and love these events and the food is FABULOUS – delicious soup, whole salmon, chicken, quiches, salads, potato dishes, casseroles, lasagne, desserts and huge bowls of local strawberries in summer. Those who don’t/can’t walk help with preparing the food, though most is done earlier by Mike and Elizabeth and Mary. The BBQ is in the capable hands of David Menzies in pinny and sunhat (fortunately not just those). There is more food in the dance interval. I particularly remember the luscious meringues. I recall one walk some years ago where many of us were ‘fair drookit’ in heavy rain. But, back at the farmhouse the sun came out, we dried off and some of us were able to eat in the garden.

Rumour has it that these events may be discontinued. No doubt they will be – eventually – but not yet. So raise your glass to Mike and Elizabeth Leake and their hospitality, par excellence.


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AGEING ALPHABET

A is for apple, and B is for boat, That used to be right, but now it won't float! Age before beauty is what we once said, But let's be a bit more realistic instead. Now: A's for arthritis; B's the bad back, C is the chest pains, perhaps cardiac? D is for dental decay and decline, E is for eyesight--can't read that top line! F is for fissures and water retention G is for gas, which I'd rather not mention. H is high blood pressure--I'd prefer low; I for incisions with scars you can show. J is for joints, out of socket, won't mend, K is for knees that crack when they bend. L is lost hearing--now what did you say? M is memory lapses occurring all day.

N is neuralgia, in nerves way down low; O is for osteo, the bones that don't grow! P for prescriptions, I have quite a few; Just give me a pill and I'll be good as new! Q is for queasy. Is it fatal or flu? R is for reflux--one meal turns to two. S for sleepless nights, counting my fears, T for tinnitus; there are bells in my ears! U is for urinary; big troubles with flow; V is for vertigo--that's "dizzy," you know. W is for worry. NOW what's going 'round? X is for x-ray and what might be found. Y is another year I'm left here behind, Z is for zest that I still have--in my mind. I've survived all the symptoms, my body's deployed, And I've kept twenty-six doctors fully employed.

Author unknown

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Doris Penton passed this to me via Iain Kinnear. When Doris was having a clear out, she came across various KASS papers. Among dance cribs was this typed letter which reflects how some things change, and others seem timeless.

20 Barnsole Rd GILLINGHAM, Kent 12th January, 1972

Dear Mrs Penton.

You are now well aware that the Annual Highland Ball will be held on Friday, 12th May, 1972 at the Assembly Hall, Tunbridge Wells; this occasion will mark the twenty-first Anniversary of the formation of the Kent Association of Scottish Societies.

Jimmy Shand and his Scottish Country Dance Band will be playing then and it is hoped that all members of your society or Group will be acquainted of this fact.

For the comfort of all dancers attending and to save “rationing” tickets, it is hoped that the approximate number of tickets YOU CONFIDENTLY EXPECT TO SELL will be communicated to me on the attached form by TUESDAY, 29th FEBRUARY, 1972.

The Balcony of the Assembly Hall will be open for use of spectators who will pay for their tickets at the door.

At a Sub-Committee Meeting of the Officers of K.A.S.S., it was suggested that a Raffle be held and to make it a “bumper” show Societies and Groups be invited to present a gift or to send a donation to assist in purchasing prizes for the Raffle.

Donations etc. should be sent direct to Mr. Gavin Hamilton, (Tunbridge Wells and District Scottish Association) or notification that a gift is being donated; a stamped, addressed envelope is attached for this purpose.

Please remember:-

TUESDAY, 29th FEBRUARY, 1972, FOR THE APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF DANCERS’ TICKETS YOU CONFIDENTLY EXPECT TO SELL.

Sincerely yours,

COLIN STEPHENSON.

Secretary K.A.S.S. & BALL ORGANISER.


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THE KINGS AND QUEENS OF SCOTLAND: PART 5 Malcolm III (Canmore): King of Scotland (1058-1093)

Malcolm was born about 1031, became king in 1058 and died 1093. His long reign occupied a pivotal period in Scottish history because of the policies introduced by Malcolm but also because of the effect international politics had on the country.

Malcolm was the eldest of the three young sons of Duncan I, first king of the House of Atholl who was killed in 1040 by his cousin MacBeth of the House of Moray (their mothers were sisters). Duncan’s followers believed that the lives of the boys were in danger under MacBeth so they fled with them to England to seek sanctuary. There, they were brought up and educated in the Anglo-Norman court of King Edward the Confessor. Malcolm was a linguist having Gaelic as his native tongue, English, Latin, and probably Norman French from his long years in the country.

As Malcolm grew to manhood he wished to avenge his father’s death and depose MacBeth. He was supported in his efforts by King Edward who placed English troops at his disposal, especially Northumbrians, as Malcolm’s mother was a member of the local ruling family. The campaign to regain the throne took about four years with MacBeth gradually being pushed back further into his core territory of Moray until he was killed at Lumphanen, near Aberdeen, in August 1057. MacBeth’s supporters then chose Lulach, MacBeth’s stepson, as their next king so the struggle continued until he too was killed in the following March. Five weeks later Malcolm was crowned as king of Scotland. He was called Canmore which is usually translated as “Great Head or Chief” however his detractors equate it to “Big Head”.

At this time Scotland was split into three main power blocks. There was the south, particularly the land below the Forth and Clyde valleys where Malcolm had his main power base. Secondly the highlands, especially around the Moray area which only accepted Malcolm as overlord because of the strength of his forces. Lastly, mainland Scotland above Inverness, the Orkneys and Shetlands and the Western Isles. They were governed by descendants of Vikings under the local rule of the powerful Earls of Orkney, who in turn owed allegiance to the distant Kings of Norway. The Earls were not subject to the kings of Scotland.

Malcolm needed to neutralise the menace from the north so when Thorfinn, the Earl of Orkney and a MacBeth supporter, died shortly after Malcolm became king, he promptly married his widow, Ingibiorg and so became step-father to her two sons, Paul and Erland. Malcolm formed a strong alliance with the two young men when he supported them in becoming the new joint earls of Orkney. Ingibiorg was probably by then around her late thirties, but she bore Malcolm three sons. Her fate is uncertain. She is presumed to have died around 1068/9 but it is possible she was divorced by Malcolm to make way for his second wife.

Malcolm's alliance with Orkney led him into the dangerous waters of the English succession of 1066. King Edward had died in January 1066 and was succeeded by the Earl of Wessex, Harold Godwinson, who set aside the young boy heir, Edgar the Atheling, but Harold’s accession was disputed by foreign princes. The first major threat to Harold was by the Norwegian king Harald Haadraada, reinforced by soldiers of the king of England’s wild brother, Tostig. The invasion force landed first at Orkney and sailed down the eastern coast of Scotland to the Humber estuary. Why Malcolm supported this invasion is uncertain as, if Harald of Norway had won, Scotland would have become virtually a puppet of the new line of powerful Norwegian/English kings. However, both Harald and Tostig were killed at Stamford Bridge, and a few weeks later Harold Godwinson was himself killed at Senlac Hill by the second major threat, William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy.

As mentioned earlier Malcolm had been brought up at the English court of Edward the Confessor, whose mother had been a Norman princess. Norman influences were very strong at court and Norman soldiers had helped place Malcolm on the throne. Malcolm was in a cleft stick unsure whether he should form an alliance with the new Norman rulers of England or support the native English. His initial sympathies were with the Anglo-Saxons. Young Edgar the Atheling joined in the rebellion against William in 1068, and when that failed, he subsequently fled to Malcolm's court to seek refuge. He was accompanied by his sister Margaret whom Malcolm married the following year. This further consolidated the Scottish-Saxon alliance, but alienated Malcolm all the more from his Highland subjects, and made an enemy of William the Conqueror. In 1069 William's hold on England was far from secure and many believed that he would eventually be overthrown therefore it seemed a reasonable gamble for Malcolm to make. Certainly, Edgar seemed convinced that he would some day regain the throne of England, and Scotland was part of his framework of alliances with neighbouring powers. Malcolm supported Edgar's unsuccessful attempt to regain England in 1069 together with aid from King Swein of Denmark. The next two to three years saw Malcolm supporting a series of raids throughout northern England as far south as Cleveland. In retaliation William invaded Scotland in 1072 and sought the submission of Malcolm at Abernathy. Under the terms of the treaty Malcolm could no longer harbour any of William's enemies and so Edgar Atheling


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again became an exile. William also forced Malcolm to recognize him as his overlord, and took his eldest son by Ingibiorg, Duncan, as hostage. Despite the treaty Malcolm continued to raid England in 1079, though this proved equally fruitless. William sent his son Robert to negotiate with Malcolm but as this achieved little, Robert added to the fortifications of the north and built the New Castle at the estuary of the Tyne.

Malcolm’s marriage with Margaret was one of those very rare royal love matches. Malcolm doted on his wife and, to paraphrase the song from the musical “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” he could never say ‘No’ to her. So much so that Margaret was not just his consort but virtually had the power of co-ruler. Under the influence of Margaret, Malcolm changed steadily from the coarse ruffian of his youth to a mature individual who had strong respect for his wife's religious and cultural beliefs and interests. Margaret had been born and educated in Hungary and later in England and was an avid Christian with a devotion to Rome and the Pope. Margaret took a particular interest in church matters and it was under her direction that the building of the abbey at Dunfermline was started in 1072, to equal the one Edward the Confessor had completed at Westminster just seven years earlier. Margaret also restored the monastery on Iona, and did much to bring the Celtic church, which had strong links with Ireland, in line with the Roman usages and practices - observing the Lord’s Day and the Lenten fasts for instance. It would also seem that from 1072 the archbishopric of York was given authority over the Church of Scotland. Malcolm may have been aware of the long-term danger this posed for the political and ecclesiastical independence of Scotland but he seemed content to allow Margaret to undertake these reforms.

After the death of William I in 1087, Malcolm’s son Duncan was released as a hostage and returned to Scotland. Malcolm again began planning military excursions into England. He was soon joined by Edgar the Atheling and in 1090 Malcolm invaded Northumbria but was defeated by William II. Again the terms of the Treaty of Abernathy were re-invoked. William continued to defend the north and in 1092 invaded Cumbria and built a fort at Carlisle. William also pushed back the border between the two countries to its final form to the disadvantage of Scotland. In August 1093 Malcolm and his eldest son by Margaret, Edward, were present at the laying of the foundation stone of Durham Cathedral and then travelled on to Gloucester to meet William but there they were rebuffed. Angrily, Malcolm and his army invaded England for the fifth time in November 1093 but were ambushed by Robert Mowbray, earl of Northumberland, near Alnico and both Malcolm and his son Edward were killed. Queen Margaret was extremely ill in Edinburgh Castle when she was told the news 4 days later of the death of her husband and son. The shock killed her. Malcolm was buried temporarily near Tynemouth but his son King Alexander I later removed his body to lay by his wife in Dunfermline Abbey. Following a papal inquiry in 1250 into the life and possible miracles of Margaret, she was canonized and made one of the patron saints of Scotland. During the Reformation their bodies were reburied at a specially built tomb in the Scoria, Madrid.

Malcolm's reign was a clear transition from the Gaelic tradition of the past and the close links with Ireland forging new ones with England and through her to Normandy, France and to Rome. Malcolm and Margaret began the process and it was brought to fruition by the work of the son King David I. Although generally a successful reign Malcolm failed on two counts, he failed to make Northumberland part of Scotland and lost northern Cumbria to England. His major success was in neutralising the dangers from the Viking north.

Malcolm had a large family and five of his sons became king. By his first wife, Ingibiorg, he had 3 sons all with traditional Scottish names, King Duncan II, Malcolm and Donald. By his second wife he had at least six sons and two daughters and all with non-Scottish names, Edward (after her father), King Edmund (after her grandfather), Aethelred (after her great grandfather and who was Abbot of Dunkeld), King Edgar (after her great-great grandfather), King Alexander I (named after the Pope) and King David I and no one is certain why he was given the name. The two daughters were Matilda who married King Henry I of England and Mary who married Count Eustace III of Boulogne. Despite his many sons, King Malcolm’s immediate successor was his brother King Donald III.

The Chronicler

EYE TEST

Count every " F" in the following text:

FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTI FIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS...

HOW MANY ? ANSWER ON PAGE 15


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REPLY TO SENDER

Following my last editor’s note, Kate Middleham insisted I told you of my trip to St Helena. I prefer others to fill the space in the newsletter (you read enough from me already), but am persuaded by Kate to reprint an article I wrote to the Lancashire and Cheshire Federation of Scottish Societies’ own newsletter in answer to a note from Ann Mabbot of Liverpool Scots Association. My other society is Liverpool St Andrews, so I still keep in touch with oop north. Ann lives in St Helens and she was amazed that some mail arrived on her doormat after being diverted via St Helena. It was just after my first trip in 2005, so I wrote this response…

Dear Ann,

Having seen your note in the last newsletter about your post being lost in the South Atlantic, I promised Elsie (their Editor) I would tell you about a trip to St Helena that I took last year. I travelled a month or two before your letter and can confirm, Ann, that your post made the round trip in record time; as there is no airport there, you have to fly to either Ascension Island or Cape Town and sail for three nights to reach this isolated rock over 1000 miles from the African continent.

My main reason for travelling was because of environmental work in Ascension Island, assisting their Conservation Office with mapping locations of, and threats to, the globally important turtle nesting beaches and bird colonies. Getting to Ascension itself is not simple; twice a week a jumbo leaves RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on its way to the Falklands. I shall never, ever complain about delays on commercial aircraft again as, for one reason or another, my flight was delayed by three days, and I had to bunk in the RAF’s “hotel” (read dormitory) and eat NAAFI food until we were allowed to board. But eventually I reached the Airhead at Wideawake Fairs on Ascension and was whisked off by Landrover to the capital, Georgetown.

Ann, if you think your post to St Helens was badly directed, give a thought to the 1000 inhabitants of Ascension whose mail can end up in Georgetown, Guyana, or Ascunsion in Paraguay before heading back to the centre of the Atlantic. To solve the problem, Ascension has been given a post code of ASCN 1ZZ and St Helena, STHL 1ZZ. So really there should have been no excuse!

Ascension is barely 7 miles by 5 (slightly larger than Wallasey), a recent volcanic emergence from the mid Atlantic Ridge. So new, in fact, that very little natural vegetation can be found except on the cloud-soaked 2500ft Green Mountain, and much of that has been replaced by introduced agricultural plants (guava, tomato, prickly pear) once used to feed passing ships and the naval installation at Georgetown. Now all food is flown or shipped in; the RAF feeding Brits steak and kidney pud and Heineken, the USAF give Americans hamburgers and Bud. BBC and Cable and Wireless have transmission stations there – the World Service broadcast across the Southern Atlantic from huge aerials at the island’s north end; so large that over 2/3 of the electricity generated on island goes to feed them.

Much of the island is barely vegetated with lichens and thorn bushes, and large tracts are a Marsscape of grey, black or red ash and black laval flows. The birds love to roost and nest in these and I did several walks to remote beaches and cliffs to monitor sooty terns, boobies, noddies, frigate birds and tropic birds. Large yellow crabs wave their enormous claws at your tyres as you drive past, and on the sandy but treacherous beaches, every inch was covered in mounds where thousands of green turtles had buried their eggs. My first attempt at rod and line fishing ended up with me covered in slime and blood (and with wrenched wrists) as we hauled out 55lb tunas at a rate of one every 10 minutes into a small boat.

Ascension is a working island with a mixture of British, American and Saints. Saints are from St Helena, 750 miles to the South East. They could hardly be called indigenous, as over the 400 years of occupation on their rock, passing visitors from South America, China, southern Asia, Africa and Europe have all contributed to the gene pool. When the Saints heard I was coming to Ascension, they asked me to travel south to talk about another project. The deal was I would work one week for them, but that meant travelling the three nights south, spend three weeks on the island waiting for the ship to return, and then head north again for a further three nights before catching the plane back from Ascension. Thank heavens for Internet and laptops so I could do other work while stranded.

One morning, the Royal Mail Ship St Helena, the last RMS in the world, gently cruised into Georgetown Bay. Built especially to service St Helena island, the back half is for passengers, the front half takes all cargo, food, building material, electrical goods and vehicles for the island, and of course the post, including your letter. With no wharf at Georgetown, we had to swing ourselves off the jetty on to a launch and time a jump from the pontoon in the bay up on to the ship’s ladder to board. There followed three days of excessive eating and lounging around, playing silly games and reading book after book while we slowly plodded SE. Every day at noon


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I went on deck, and with a GPS, marked my position, having to zoom the unit’s map display right out before being able to compare my location with the surrounding continents. Around me, each day, there was no land in sight, no ships, and above no planes. Only the flying fish and the odd, stressed, blown off course bird kept us company for any part of the journey.

Early on the third morning, I peered from my porthole at a forbidding set of cliffs and we reversed the embarkation procedure to get onto the narrow wharf at Jamestown, one of only three places on the whole island where you can drive to the coast. With my little hire car, I drove up through Main Street, past the fortress gates and castle, court house and Jacob’s ladder – a 700 step staircase that soldiers used to get from town to their cliff top fort. Jamestown is an almost perfectly preserved Georgian town hemmed in by the steep valley sides. I drove on up into the interior on single track roads with 300 foot cliffs one side, and 500 foot drops on the other, winding back and forth on treacherous hairpins, till I reached verdant scenery of pasture and forest. You would never imagine that this paradise existed from the harsh coastline. I was renting a fabulous stone house with extensive garden, just on the border between the dry outside of the island and the green interior. I worked in Scotland, the green, lush district where the Agricultural and Natural Resources Department (ANRD) resides. Higher still, on the 4000 ft central ridge of this 12x7 mile island, is the Diana’s Peaks National Park. My main work on St Helena was to help the local National Trust and ANRD map the replanting of very rare tree ferns, cabbage trees and gumwoods. On near vertical slopes on the ridge, staff clear old flax plantations to allow these endemic species to regenerate. In the mist, tree ferns drift in and out of vision like some prehistoric movie set, and only when the cloud occasionally lifts do you see the spread of farmland, wastes and desert that mark the lower zones of the island.

The people are fantastic. You wave to everyone as you drive along, and in three weeks, waving was not just politeness but, I think, because I recognised every one of the 3500 inhabitants. The main party location was Donny’s Place on Jamestown wharf, but the Standard Pub was good for beer. In the only hotel, the Consulate, you met to find out what was the one event on the island that night. One night, I drove for forty minutes to the other end of the island, to Blue Hills, to do some “Close Dancing”. The Saints have a mixed bag culture – when someone brings a new idea to the island, it becomes established and never stops. It happened (unfortunately) with country music in the 1970’s and it also happened with Close Dancing; which is why in late September, some 6000 miles from Edinburgh, I found myself teaching the Gay Gordons to an American student.

I was big news. When there’s only been one murder in 50 years, “Man visits island” makes the front page, and people knew of me before I met them. I even got an invitation to Plantation House to dine with the Governor, and meet his 5 ancient giant tortoise patrolling his grounds. But everyone was so pleasant, from the supermarket checkout (a branch of Spar), to the only filling station, from the bus driver to the Post Office.

Your letter would have had a very nice stay in the Post Office (a hark back to 1950’s style counter service and hand written receipts). One of their largest exports is stamps; displays of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan Da Cunha First Day Covers are framed on the wall, and many stamp collectors make the long voyage just to buy a St Helena stamp (who says Philately will get you nowhere?).

Although a tiny island, as well as the British Overseas Territory of St Helena, there is the French Dependency of St Helena; composed of two houses, a grave and a population of two (the French Consul and his dog). Napoleon was taken home from St Helena after his initial burial, but the French have devoted a lot to his memory on island, and I visited both his initial room at The Briars and his final home at Longwood House on the wetter south east side. St Helena hopes that when the planned airport is finally opened in 2012, Napoleon will be one of the biggest attractions, alongside the inevitable hotel development. But two things make the island special. It is a living museum; as well as the historical buildings, for example, cars have been imported one by one over the years, and people maintain and care for them, so much so you can find almost every model of every make still running around the roads. For me, though, the island’s natural beauty is singular; to sail through a pod of 100 dolphins, see six humpbacked whales in a morning, share my garden with the ghostly white fairy terns and absorb some of the most varied and fabulous vistas I have seen in such a small space is enough. I hope its nature and small scale charm will prevail. Even so, despite having lived on my own rock in the Caribbean and still working in small islands; the remoteness of St Helena can overwhelm (stand on the cliffs and look out at the miles of unending ocean) and I was quite glad when, having breakfast one morning, the sound of a horn up the valley told me the RMS had arrived in James Bay to allow me to start the week-long journey home.

I hope your letter had a good trip. Mine was fantastic and by the time you are reading this, I hope to be back in St Helena once more to work, enjoy the scenery and relax with its people.

Alan

PS – Hope this letter reaches you safely. I think I got your address right– Mount St Helens wasn’t it?


12

PEN PORTRAITS No 2 – JENNY BARROW

Jenny Barrow of Medway Caledonian is a Highland Dancer extraordinaire. She has taught many children and several adults how to fling, lilt and cakewalk, entered competitions and given demonstrations all over. She has also been Secretary and Treasurer of Medway Caledonian. I caught up with her recently and asked about her interests and background (well, she does live just up the road from N’Chesa Towers!).

Can you tell us about your early days?

I was born in Cape Town, my parents having emigrated from the UK after the war. My Mum was from Derbyshire and my Dad from Glasgow and they’d met in London during the war. They had emigrated in the hope of making a home where there was more space for us children to grow up. They settled on a small holding of 9 acres where there was no electricity or running water – I think these inconveniences were more than compensated for by the freedom we enjoyed as children.

What first interested you in Scotland and its customs?

Although Dad was a Scot our only links with Scotland when I was very young was the Sunday Post and the People’s Friend which his older sister sent out every week. My older brother and I used to fight to be first to read the Broons and Oor Wullie in the comic section. It was only after I started dancing that we became members of Cape Town Caledonian Society which played a major role in my social life as a teenager. Attached to the main society was a junior society of which I was first secretary, then Junior Lady President. We produced our own newsletter, organised outings and annual Halloween and Christmas parties for the younger members. We also had a role to play in the main society’s annual events such as St Andrews, Burns Supper, Kirkin’ of the Chief and Chief’s At Home. The pipe band and country dancing sections were loosely attached to the society.

How did you get involved in Highland Dancing?

It was through a friend that I started Highland Dancing. I had tried ballet when quite young but, being a tomboy, I did not really take to prancing around in a tutu whereas from my first Highland class I was totally hooked. My Dad used to complain that I never stood still after that, I was always hopping around and friends of my parents had to sit and watch me perform whatever dance I’d just learnt. In the early sixties the outfit we wore for dancing consisted of a kilt and velvet long sleeved jacket with jabot, braid and buttons, we also wore a belted plaid, long hairy sporran, and balmoral with brooch and cock feather.

Although there were probably half a dozen Highland dance teachers in Cape Town numbers justified only one competition a year and there was also a Highland dance section in the annual Eisteddfod. We were able to take exams only every two years when an examiner was sent out from the Scottish Official Board in Edinburgh. Once in three years we had a Highland Gathering in Cape Town which was an event we prepared for months in advance. We certainly made the most of the gathering and our Highland dance class always entered a team in the country dancing section. This was my first experience of country dancing and I later became active in the society’s country dance section, dancing with their display team and competing at occasional gatherings.

My younger sister started dancing at an early age and one of my three brothers is a piper. By the age of ten he was a competent member of the pipe band. I took advantage of my position as older sister to bully him into learning tunes for dancing and continued to bully him into playing at required tempo. The 3 of us made a good team and were much in demand for entertaining at various fetes, old age homes and other charitable events.

When did you join Medway Caledonian? Have you any memories you wish to share?

We arrived in the UK in May 1979 and settled in Rainham. It was only a couple of years later when I saw an article about MDCA’s Burns supper in the local paper and went along to the Community Centre where I was able to dance the night away thanks to the friendly guidance of Brian Izzard and David How. As is my wont I threw myself whole-heartedly into the association’s activities and in a fairly short time found myself secretary and organiser of the ladies dance team. The only slight disappointment I felt was that there was no Highland dancing at the time although some members had been Highland dancers in the past. I decided to remedy this as my children were the right age to start learning and there was no other teacher within a reasonable distance. I took the UKA associate exam and my first class was held at the Woodlands Dance Centre. My pupils were my two


13

sons, Tom and Tim, the girl next door and the daughters of some Scots friends. I was very fortunate in making the acquaintance of Jimmy Miller, a former president of MDCA, who not only taught me to play the pipes, but took a great interest in the class and supported us by playing for the dancing and attending competitions.

What competitions have you entered and how did you fare?

I was a pretty average dancer and never won much as a youngster other than the occasional trophy for the best Caledonian dancer at the Gathering, or the best sailor’s hornpipe for my section. Competition was a lot fiercer in those days in that the best dancer from each age group would have to compete for the trophy by dancing the Highland Fling at the end of the day. Although the chances of winning medals and trophies were fewer we did at least get a written report for every dance we did – each judge had a scribe and we were given marks for timing, deportment, technique etc. In the mid-90’s when the only pupil I had competing was my daughter Cat, I entered a few competitions in the premier (veteran!) section and was very successful.

You have been teaching Highland Dancing for many years. What has kept your enthusiasm for it?

It’s very hard to explain because I cannot really remember a time when I’ve not been enthusiastic about dancing. I’m a natural optimist and whatever I do I usually feel that with a bit of effort I could probably do a lot better. I don’t think I’ve ever given up the hope of being a much better dancer myself and I’ve transferred this aspiration to my pupils.

People marvel at your Sailor’s Hornpipe (indeed wince as you squat and jump with such ease!) You obviously enjoy keeping fit. What activities do you do to keep this level of energy?

The Sailor’s Hornpipe is itself a perfect exercise, designed for limited space and I love performing it. However I must confess that I don’t practise other than to learn a new step or prepare a new sequence of steps in a dance. Although I started running some years ago to keep fit for dancing, I soon began to enjoy running for its own sake.

Do you have any other pastimes?

My other main interest is piping and I really enjoy the camaraderie of the pipe band scene. My daughter Cat is a drummer and we’ve had some great times on band trips. I’m a member of the MacLennan Scottish Group and enjoy the opportunity to dance as part of a team and perform in other countries. I’ve always had an interest in Russian culture, history and language. I studied Russian to A-level with my son Tom some years ago and have recently started attending classes again. My ambition is to read Russian literature in the original text and be able to hold a conversation when I do the Trans Siberian train journey before I get too much older!

How about your family?

We have three children who are now in their twenties – Tom is a web designer with the Kent Police, Tim is a senior legal researcher with a legal publishing company is London and Cat is a police officer with the Met. Although all three have learnt to dance only Cat has stuck to it and we dance at gigs together and I am fortunate in being able to share my interest with her. The boys were not keen on wearing the kilt so I let them ‘retire’ once they’d learnt the Fling and the Swords. The highlight of their dancing career was when Ray Osment gave them 10p each when they danced at a summer fete where the dem team were performing.

In between your hobbies, you fit in your job. What work have you done and what interests you there?

Once the children were at secondary school I returned to work as a school secretary. After I’d completed my French degree course I decided to study something that would improve my career prospects so as to find a more challenging and interesting occupation. I qualified as a chartered secretary in 2003 – this required a few years study and some changes of employment so as to gain sufficiently varied practical experience. Working as assistant company secretary for a company based in Horsham I think I’ve found the job where I’d like to stay until retirement – whenever that may be!

A few weeks ago, you stopped teaching Highland Dancing. How do you intend to use the free time, and will you still keep in touch with your former students and the Highland circle?

I never seem to have a problem filling time – one luxury I’ll enjoy on Saturday mornings is to patronise our lovely little village post office in Wateringbury! I intend to take the next level of Highland teaching exam this summer and will remain involved in the dancing scene by retaining my membership of the dance teachers’ association and attending workshops, lectures and competitions. Although I’ve stopped holding a weekly class because of the commitment I would still like to do individual coaching or hold the occasional workshop should the demand arise. I shall take a keen interest in the progress of my former pupils as I would of any friend.

Thanks, Jenny, for your contribution and for all the dedication to demonstrations and teaching over the years. Photo courtesy of M.A. Robertson


14

READDRESSED

The Address to the Haggis was delayed in an Arbroath Hall in February 1968 because the Great Chieftain had a misadventure on its way to the top table. It was inevitable it would be recorded thus….

Great Chieftain, it would appear Ye’ve had some trouble getting’ here, An’ I’ve nae doot you’re feeling sair Efter your contact with the flair, In which I fear you cam’ aff worst, I see ane o’ your ends is burst, Although the poet said “Fair fa’” That was not what he meant at a’, And when upon the flair ye dunt it, Yer “chef”, puir man, was sair affront it, His face grew red as ony beet When ye gaed slitherin’ tae his feet, The ha’keeper breathed a silent prayer An’ thanked the Lord she’d swept the flair, While Rabbie, in his Ayrshire tomb, Was nae doot birlin roon’ an’ roon’,

Ye cam in tae that croddit ha’, Held Aloft “Abune them a’,” Fu’ o’ steam and Scottish pride, Lookin rich an’ dignified, An’ then, doon frae yer perch ye fell, While a’ the audience laughed like ….. For sic a superior kind o’ puddin’, Yer doonfa’ was richt sair an’ sudden, An’ noo ye lie here in disgrace, Wi’ shame upon yer “sonsie face”, Dae ye expec’ me tae address A haggis that’s in sic a mess? For slidin’ aff that “groaning trencher”, Ye’ve mair need o’ a vote of censure.

J.B.

AND HOW IS THE PATIENT TODAY…?

These are actual writings on charts in hospitals (according to John Warner, RSCDS RTW, RCS)….

1. The Patient refused an autopsy.

2. The Patient has no previous history of suicides.

3. Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital.

4. Patient’s medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40 pound weight gain in the past three days.

5. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.

6. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.

7. On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it disappeared.

8. The Patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.

9. Discharge status: Alive, but without my permission.

10. Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert, but forgetful.

11. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.

12. She is numb from her toes down.

13. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.

14. The skin was moist and dry.

15. Occasional, constant, infrequent headaches.

16. Patient was alert and unresponsive.

17. Rectal examination revealed a normal sized thyroid.

18. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life until she got a divorce.

19. I saw your patient today, who is still under our car for physical therapy.

20. Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation.

21. Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized.

22. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.

23. Skin; somewhat pale, but present.

24. The pelvic exam will be done later on the floor.

25. Large brown stool ambulating in the hall.

26. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.


15

ROOTS AND RECOLLECTIONS PART 3: HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS

Hares are different.

Jan Day, Cobtree Scottish Dancing Group

It was the amazing brightness of it all that I remember. Even through the thick ice inside the window pane the light was dazzling. It had been very dark and dim downstairs under the blanket of snow, but peeping through the window up here on the first floor, the sun was shining and it was magic. It was very exciting seeing the snow so high. I was three years old and it was my first memory. We lived in a high old Victorian house at Glenfarclas and now the ground floor had completely disappeared and we lived in a bungalow! My mother had tried that morning to pull open the door downstairs to let the dog out, before she’d realized how deep the snow was. Rex had declined to venture out through the thick white wall behind. Rex was a reject gundog but he was no fool. A white cocker spaniel did not show to advantage against this pristine landscape. He knew too that chasing mountain hares when the snow was on the ground was a waste of time. We used to watch him try, ginger ears flapping while the fast blue shapes sped off over the icy landscape and out of sight. He was no match for the hares.

Uncle Jock was the game-keeper and he had binoculars. He was not a real uncle, but the father of my best friend Diana. Diana and I liked to watch the hares. Their snowy blue coats were almost impossible to see in the snow but Uncle Jock would spot them and pass the binoculars for us to have a look. They had dark tips to their ears and were usually recumbent in a hollow out of the icy wind. We liked watching the hares.

Uncle Jock knew all about wildlife in the glen. When we were older we were allowed to go out with him on the moors. He knew just where the red deer were hiding and where the game birds were going to nest this year. His was the responsibility for managing their habitats to ensure the animals prospered. The heather had to be at the right stage for the grouse, with a good supply of young shoots to give them food and shelter. It was important for “The Shoot”. I didn’t mind too much about “The Shoot” in the autumn. The untimely demise of some of the birds and deer was sad, but a necessary part of our life in the Highlands. We had to live off the land. I didn’t like the thought of anyone shooting at my hares though. Hares were different. Through Uncle Jock’s binoculars we’d watch them in the spring. They were quite bold then and would let us get close enough to see the spectacle they presented. I thought they were actors and knew we were watching them. They liked to put on a good show for us. We sat there, silent observers. Gone were their white winter coats. Two jacks, fur now dull brown, long ears prominent, would face each other. Standing up on their hind legs they would parade around a little, posturing. Then they would start to spar. Like fighters in a ring they were. Gradually the blows would increase until we were watching a full blown boxing match. I liked the hares. How could anyone shoot a hare?

Uncle Jock was silent, scanning the hillside with his binoculars. He’d not let anyone shoot a hare, I was sure. He was very quiet though. I felt a bit uneasy. He would be on the look-out for poachers at this time of year. There were a lot of them about. I felt uncomfortable. My mind flashed back to the tasty thick dark stew our family had had for dinner the other night. It was my mother’s particular favourite and my father had served it with such relish.

Hares were different though.

Thanks, Jan, you took us all there with you. Next time I am after recollections of time spent in Edinburgh and Lothian. Were you born there? Did you school there? Have you recently visited the Scottish capital and have a particular memory you want to share; the castle, Arthur’s Seat, the Tattoo or Festival, Princes St, Leith (even a spot of trainspotting if you want to confess), Hopetoun House, racing at Musselburgh, picnics with the crème de la crème near Cramond Bridge?

EYE TEST – THE ANSWER

THERE ARE 6 -- no joke. IF THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU GOT READ IT AGAIN !

Really, go back and try to find the 6 F's before you read ahead.

Apparently, the brain cannot process "OF". Incredible or what? Go back and look again!! Anyone who counts all 6 "F's" on the first go is a genius. Three is normal, four is quite rare. Send this to your friends. It will drive them crazy! And keep them occupied for several minutes..!

Contributed by Paula Dyke


16

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY…

Kate’s space…Kate’s space…Kate’s space…Kate’s space… Saga Magazine – from their series on diary entries

Sir Alan ‘Tommy’ Lascelles

September 15, 1907

I donned a kilt for the Highland Ball at Glenferness. It was anxious work at first, as it is a garment with no notion of privacy. However, with careful manipulation and a pair of drawers I got through the evening tolerably. It is quite comfortable to dance in it, but should be a godsend to mosquitoes.

Back to Kilts, eh, Kate?

And from Paula Dyke:

Pipers are curbed by safety code.

Soldiers are learning to play the bagpipes have been told to limit their practice sessions to only 24 minutes a day, or 15 minutes when indoors.

Pipers will also have to wear ear plugs under the new guidelines brought in by health and safety officials.

The advice, aimed at preventing soldiers from suffering hearing problems, was issued after a study by the Army Medical Directorate environmental health team.

From the Online Telegraph – 24/7/06.

NOVEMBER 2006 QUIZ ANSWERS

Cryptic Quick

R A F S M S S T

O R C H E S T R A L E P E R

B C S O N E R E

E V E R T O N A L A B A M A

R P O E T T T T

T A T T O O R A B A S T I

E N P R P S

T I D E D R U M C A S T L E

H E O S N A

E T H A N O L S T O I L E D

B A C E S R I I

R A G W O R T C L A M B E R

U G D O O M A K

C R I M E R E T R A I N E E

E S D Y T S S D

C A E B A B A B

R E I N S T A L L L A B E L

I R P L S A L A

E M P L O Y S A R C H A I C

F O U A T K Z K

F O R E S T X I X R E E L

T E A O R E

M I S T A B A N D O N I N G

O L E S Y G

U P S T A I R S S A I N T S

N W M N A L O H

T R O U B L E L A M P R E Y

A R A T I I A E

I N D U S H I G H L A N D S

N S T Y N E T T


17

QUIZ Fifty two castles are hidden in this grid – forwards, backwards, up, down and diagonally. A letter can be used more than once. Fifty two letters remaining spell out nine more Scottish features and there is one more letter which fits nowhere. Just for fun, but work out where the castles are, what the other features are and what’s the remaining letter.

1. BALLOCH 2. BALMORAL 3. BLAIR 4. BRAEMAR 5. BRODICK 6. BRODIE 7. CAERLAVEROCK 8. CAMPBELL 9. CARNASSARIE 10. CAWDOR 11. CORGAFF 12. CRAIGEVAR 13. CRATHES 14. CULZEAN 15. DEAN 16. DOUNE 17. DRUM 18. DUART 19. DUFFUS 20. DUNANS 21. DUNDEE 22. DUNOON 23. DUNSTAFFNAGE 24. DUNVEGAN 25. EDINBURGH 26. EILAN DONAN 27. ELCHA 28. FAST 29. FINDLATER 30. FLOORS

31. FRASER 32. FYVIE 33. GLAMIS 34. HUNTLY 35. INVERARAY 36. INVERLOCHY 37. KELLIE 38. KELSO 39. LOCHMABEN 40. MENZIES 41. MEY

42. MINGARY 43. NEIDPATH 44. ROTHESAY 45. SLAINS 46. STIRLING 47. STROME 48. SWEEN 49. THIRLESTONE 50. THREAVE 51. THURSO 52. URQUHART

RE: STOP PRESS:

“I think the demo team are getting ideas above their station”

………From David Papa

O S R U H T F O E I R A S S A N R A C F

R C R A M E A R B T N H T E I V Y F L L

K R L C S A H O B R O D I E Y N E R A O

C A L O L B C T B R O D I C K E M A R O

O T E R A A L H L M N C L E E I E S O R

R H B G I L E E A U U Y L D L D N E M S

E E P A N L Y S I R D S E G L P Z R L D

V S M F S O L A R D O O N R I A I N A U

A P A F E C N Y R T U I E T E T E L B N

L N C A L H N D S A L N H N O H S L N S

R E W R O A G Y S R R R V B U E A Y A T

E E R E C U U R I I E E L E C O N H N A

A W A T H D E T U A M T V A G A D C O F

C S V A M U S E V B R A W N E A N O D F

S S E L A N N E D A N D L Z I A N L N N

T U G D B A Y T H N O I L G E D T R A A

R F I N E N O U L R U U D D R N S E L G

O F A I N S Q O C Y C D H E C R A V I E

M U R F O R M A R M I N G A R Y F N E T

E D C D U A R T Y E N O T S E L R I H T


18

AROUND THE SOCIETIES

SHEERNESS SCOTTISH HEATHER CLUB

Chrissie Ballard

Christina Campbell Ferguson was born in Paisley on January 8th, 1918. Her father and mother were born in 1874 and 1882 respectively and were married at Hogmanay of 1899 (the last day of the 19th century) and even Rosemary remembers their Golden Wedding.

Chrissie's father was a miner and they lived, at intervals, in villages along the Firth of Forth; Chrissie particularly remembered Low Valleyfield and High Valleyfield. At the latter, she and her younger siblings and cousins often played in the ruins of the Great House, still, like their cottages, on the estate of the Earl of Preston. Some years ago, we re-visited the area, armed with Ordinance Survey maps and some advice from an archaeologist friend and managed to locate and uncover some footings and a wall, which gave Chrissie much delight.

They then moved to Culross, whose gentrification under restoration and now a National Trust town gave her much amusement!

They moved on to Rosyth, as her father's mustard gas lungs and damaged arm from WW1 made his mining life increasingly difficult. Unfortunately the Dockyard was mothballed in the late 1920's / early 1930's and they knew times again of extreme poverty. Like many children, Chrissie passed the qualifying exam for the High School, but was unable to take it up, as the family was so poor. This was always a regret for her, though she eventually went into nursing.

At the outbreak of WW2, several Englishmen arrived in Rosyth, who were experienced from other dockyards, still active, to help "gear up" Rosyth for the coming war. This was 1938 so, as a note of history, it is obvious the government knew war was more or less inevitable.

Chrissie met Jack through the Methodist Church Fellowship, to where he had been brought by the family he was in digs with. They were married in December 1939 and lived in a cottage in the grounds of Rosyth Castle and it was here that Rosemary was born a few years later. Jack had looked after all the oil resources that came in and out into ships as they refuelled, and Chrissie worked in the Red Cross.

In 1949/50 and again in 52/53 Chrissie and Rosemary stayed with Jack's mother and brother, Roy, in Sheerness, while Jack travelled to all the ports that Britain was responsible for overseas. It was in 1950 that Chrissie saw a

Although the newspaper picture quality is poor, we can see three founder members at the Heather Club’s 40th Anniversary: Joan Davison, Chrissie Ballard and Flora Higgins.


19

letter from Charlie Davidson, in the local paper, "calling all Scots". With his wife Joan, Flora Higgins, Sandy McPhee, John Duncan, Mrs Brown, Mrs James and Miss Horne (all sisters living in Rushenden), the Sheerness Scottish Heather Club was begun. Chrissie taught some simple dances and with the encouragement of Dr. Stevenson, more ambitious dances were learned. The club grew in numbers, meeting first of all in the RAF Nissan hut, on the site where MacDonalds is now, then later moving to the small Labour Hall at Halfway and finally to the Conservative Hall, where it still is. With others, Chrissie encouraged the club and was always very involved, serving as a committee member for many years and finally as President.

With most of the colonies now having gained independence, the family stayed in Scotland, on Jack's return, finally moving to Sheerness again in 1956. With the closure of the Sheerness Dockyard in 1960, the bottom fell out of the property market, so Jack spent many years as an Inspector of Naval Stores, travelling to all the home dockyards, spending much time in Faslane where the nuclear subs are located.

In 1968, the Hydrography Deparment de-centralised from London to Taunton and Chrissie and Jack moved there for 7 years, where their first granddaughter, Katy, was born. Nearing retirement, in 1975, they moved back to Sheerness to work at Chatham. Jack died in 1981 and Chrissie continued her association with the Scots Club, still dancing almost to the end. She died on February 10th, 2007. Rosemary Jackson.

Thanks to Mo Dalton for typing up the piece

Several years ago, Chrissie Ballard went to the aid of a little girl being badly hit by a man. On hearing of this by letter, Margaret Bryn wrote a poem of her heroic deeds. You can read it again at WWW.KASS.ORG.UK by going to the November 2001 edition, page 8.

SIDCUP AND DISTRICT CALEDONIAN ASSOCIATION

Our 2006 Hogmanay Party proved to be something of a surprise. Attendance was better than usual and all went well until the supper interval. Suddenly the hall was plunged into darkness. No fuses appeared to be blown and some houses and the church next door were ablaze with light. A phone call established that we were on a circuit that had had a power cut. The old wartime spirit came to the fore and a surprising number of people produced torches of varying sizes. Fortunately the urn had just boiled so we were able to make tea and coffee. The buffet table was illuminated by torches. This still led to some surprises - the egg sandwich turned out to be cheese and the small round cake was a savoury. We all managed to discern the numbers on our tickets for the raffle. By this time people were starting to don coats, hats and gloves as the temperature in the hall dropped. At 11.15 pm we finally admitted defeat, sang Auld Lang Syne and went home to watch the London firework display on television.

Our Burns Night Dinner/Dance on 26 January at Parkwood School in Swanley held no such surprises. The dining room had the look of an old baronial hall with its high vaulted ceiling. The portrait of Robert Burns flanked by two Scottish flags hung behind the top table and tartan pennants were strung across the hall. With white table cloths, red napkins and the colourful programmes made by Terry Boorman, it all looked very festive. Jim Watson piped in the President and her party. He also gave a dramatic address to the haggis. We particularly enjoyed the stabbing part. The Immortal Memory was given by John Osborne. The evening concluded with dancing and our guests successfully attempted some of the easier reels and strathspeys. Unfortunately Caber Feidh were unable to come at the last moment due to illness. Our new music centre took a dislike to the hall but was coaxed into playing by our MC, Loraine Chase, helped by Albert Farthing, our man in charge of the music.

Our monthly dances continue on the last Saturday of each month and we are looking forward to the President's Dinner on 29 June at the Masonic Hall in Welling.

Wendy Carter

Scottish Dancing Thro' the AgesScottish Dancing Thro' the AgesScottish Dancing Thro' the AgesScottish Dancing Thro' the Ages A Ceilidh type evening with a full programme of fairly easy dances interspersed with dances from the past. Hawkinge

Community Centre. May 19th. 7.00 - 11.00 pm

Dancing to Scottish Measure

Tickets : £12.50p Children £8.00p ;

Contact Mo Dalton 01795 583189 or Pat Boulting 01634 235357

ORPINGTON AND DISTRICT CALEDONIAN ASSOCIATION


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Peggie Randall

Peggie Randall died on tenth October 2006 after a short illness, at the age of 91. She had been a keen Scottish Country Dancer all her life and continued to dance with Orpington until well over ninety.

Peggie was a dedicated teacher at the Lee Thistle Club throughout the early 1970’s and became its President in 1987. She also taught an evening class in Bromley Borough and was a stickler for “going by the book”. Dancing was Peggie’s life, in her younger days she enjoyed English as well as Scottish Country dancing and went on many dancing holidays all over Europe.

Peggie’s loyal attendance at Orpington on Monday and Thursday dances is greatly missed.

Update from Elisabeth

The year 2006 was a bumper year for Orpington with lots to celebrate:

• Diamond Wedding for Joyce and Jack Walters,

• Golden Wedding for Hazel and John Osborne, which was sadly followed by Hazel's sudden and unexpected death a few months later,

• Silver Wedding for Denise and Paul Buick,

• Coral Wedding for Maggie and Mike Talbot and finally,

• a Wedding for young Michelle Hickson and Stuart Sutherland. In addition, all our dances were a sellout. A good year indeed with more to celebrate in 2007: 70 YEARS of ORPINGTON & DISTRICT CALEDONIAN SOCIETY! Come and join us in a celebratory drink at our Summer Dance on Saturday the 2nd June, at 7 pm at Petts Wood Memorial Hall. Tickets are selling fast, so please contact Deirdre on 01689 833608 a.s.a.p.

Elisabeth Leishman

MEDWAY AND DISTRICT CALEDONIAN ASSOCIATION

Swan song for Lynda

Lynda MacGowan, president of the Medway and District Caledonian Association, hosted a Grand Ball at the Stanley House Ballrooms at the end of March. In an evening, which has drawn much acclaim, dancers from Kent and beyond enjoyed a fine three course meal before indulging in three hours of dancing to wonderful music from Ian Muir and friends who had flown down from Prestwick that morning. The enjoyment of the evening was ensured by excellent programmes from MCs David How and John Day. Jan and John Day from Cobtree enjoyed an overnight stay at the hotel won in the prize draw for those early birds that bought their tickets to the Ball before Hogmanay.

The Grand Ball was Lynda’s last major event, bringing to a close a very successful two year presidency that has seen the membership of the association rise, the average age group fall and activity on all their weekly events, Monday afternoons at Bredhurst, Tuesday’s beginner’s class and Thursday evenings at St Mary’s Island, increase. This enabled the association to be one of the sponsors of the event which allowed a very low ticket cost for a very high quality occasion. The association extends its grateful thanks to the other sponsors of the evening, Lynda and husband Tony MacGowan, who himself has been president of the association twice, and to Lis and Tim Bowden who were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.

Tim Bowden; Photo: - Caroline Norman Photography


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KASS AFFAIRS

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The 229th meeting took place on 6 March 2007 with 21 members attending, representing 13 Societies

The Chairman, Ken Hamilton, expressed a warm welcome to everyone and, without much-a-do embarked on the evening’s business. (Ken obviously intends to try and keep the meetings brief but to the point!)

Charity Status was again discussed but it was unanimously agreed that there were no obvious benefits to be gained by KASS becoming a charity.

Unbelievably the KASS website has been running for just over a year and, to date, had been visited 1,667 times. 14 Clubs now had their own individual sites which were linked into the KASS website and 6,000 visits to the Cobtree site had been made, including ‘hits’ from Japan and Australia. All the hard work in getting these sites up and running is now obviously reaping rewards and should encourage Clubs to keep their sites up-to-date.

The Treasurer requested that, in order to maintain correct records, deposits for halls hired for a KASS event should be paid using a KASS cheque. Club Treasurers are asked to contact him when necessary and he would be able to issue a cheque by return.

* * * * * *

The 230th meeting took place on 1 May 2007 with 19 members attending, representing 13 Societies.

John Day sent his apologies and also advised that he was resigning as the Cobtree representative for this meeting. The Committee wished to record their official thanks to John for the many years of support that he had given to KASS.

A draft of the Child Protection Guidance for KASS Member Organisations (produced by the Chairman together with Alan French) had been circulated at the previous meeting for members and Societies to consider. It was unanimously agreed that this document be adopted as drafted but the contents be kept under review and updated as and when necessary.

The Treasurer circulated invoices for the respective Society’s share of the insurance premium that he had paid and requested that payments be made no later than 31 May to ensure accurate accounts were maintained.

A second checker was required before the next AGM to audit the accounts and the Treasurer was looking for a ‘volunteer’. David How (Gravesend) kindly agreed to undertake this task.

As a result of an enquiry raised at the previous meeting regarding Entertainment Licences the Secretary gave information to clarify the position. If a hall is unlicensed a Temporary Events

Notice (TENs) could be obtained at a cost of (currently) £21 either by the hall’s owner or by the relevant Society. Ten working days notice would be required to obtain this Notice and would cover entry by 499 people (including staff), supply of alcohol and entertainment. Societies should not be involved in obtaining a full licence which is expensive and takes about six months to obtain.

Should you wish to receive a full copies of the minutes of the above meetings please do not hesitate to contact me.

Hazel Catlett, Secretary

[email protected]

LATE NEWS – Unfortunately, this is probably Hazel’s last report on the KASS committee. As she is relocating, she is having to give up her role as Minute Secretary for KASS. Thanks for all your hard work, Hazel, and good luck to you and Peter for the future. The Editor


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Spring Tea Dance at St Margarets at Cliffe. 15th April 2007

Horrendous traffic on the M20 and A2 did not deter us from journeying to St Margarets for the Tea Dance and I’m so glad because the afternoon was a tremendous success. It was a glorious sunny day and a wonderful area to take the family. Forty of us danced with a good deal of laughter and some helpful walk throughs by Margaret Bowden, also Eddie McCue as M.C. for the first time must be congratulated. Eleven societies were represented, mainly because some of us are members of approx: three!

I know that we all have other lives, but there are only two tea dances a year and they are fun. Lets get back to a family day out with a dance thrown in.

Well done and thanks to Deal for hosting us.

Muriel C Greenstead. Vice Chairman: Photo:- courtesy of Trevor Graves, Treasurer

KASS Website

The KASS website is over a year old. Most of the clubs have provided material to placed on their web page and I have recently received information from some clubs which will complete the pages for most of the remaining clubs.

The statistics for the site are as follows:

2006 2007 (so far)

Unique visitors: 1,308 Unique visitors: 565

Pages viewed: 5,422 Pages viewed: 1,649

Return visitors: 375 Return visitors: 105

The site now needs to be revised to give the member clubs a more prominent place and my thoughts are that the home page should provide direct access to the club pages. The revision will have to wait until the Summer when I should have more time but my plan is to make the home page the link to the club pages with an index to the KASS activities.

In the mean time I shall try to keep the pages up-to-date.

Regards and thank you all for your contributions.

Ken Hamilton, Webmaster


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Child Protection and KASS

Background

Most organisations, if not all, where adults either volunteer or are employed to work with children (all those under the age of 18) or vulnerable adults (people with a learning or physical disability), make it a requirement that the individual concerned undertake a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) “Disclosure”. This involves the following checks:

• Police Records of Convictions, Cautions, Reprimands and Final Warnings;

• Information from the list held under Section 142 of the Education Act 2002;

• Protection of Children Act List Information and

• Other relevant information disclosed at the Chief Police Officer(s) discretion. Each organisation has to be registered with the CRB (at a cost of £300) in order to obtain this information, but KASS could well be registered as a “Registered Body” to act on behalf of KASS Member Societies.

Does KASS Need To Be Involved?

It is probably very wise for KASS and its individual member societies to support and subscribe to a Child Protection Policy [CPP]. A draft has been proposed for member societies to approve. This is because the general body of opinion now is that all children need to be protected and we have a “duty of care” to safeguard children. So, if children attend either club meetings or dances, whether accompanied by their parents or not, then the club concerned should subscribe to the CPP. Of more concern is where the member society runs classes specifically for children whether on a weekly basis or only annually with a “day school” for children. Some are of the opinion that these adults ought to be asked to undergo a CRB Disclosure. This is as much for the protection of the adults and society concerned as well as the children. If the adult is a volunteer however, receiving no payment for what is done, the CRB will issue the Disclosure free of charge. Each disclosure would cost £31 (Standard) or £36 (Enhanced). The CRB itself suggests that if an annual rate of c100 disclosures is not met, and KASS would clearly fit into that category, an umbrella organisation should be approached – perhaps the RSCDS – to act on our behalf. However, it is NOT a legal or statuary obligation that adults teaching children in organisations, such as KASS and its member societies, should undergo these disclosures.

What may KASS do?

Perhaps there are a number of things we should consider as the way forward. Firstly, is for all member societies to subscribe to the CPP and display it in public. Secondly, those member societies specifically teaching children should ensure that while in “loco parentis” they undertake all measures that a “reasonable parent” would take to ensure the safety of the child (or children). Thirdly, a sufficient number of adults should be used at any time to make sure no individual is put in the position of being alone with a child (or children) other than in an emergency. Fourthly, all members should be vigilant and alert but above all inclusive – if we do not allow children into our societies and if we do not teach those who want to learn Scottish Country Dancing then KASS and its constituent groups will wither and die. Alan French, Dover

KASS WALK – 24th June 2007

Gravesend and District Scottish Association last took responsibility for organising the KASS walk in 1990 – how time flies! On that occasion we had a fine afternoon and over 60 walkers so we are hoping for a repeat.

Starting from the Meadow Room opposite the church in Cobham at 2.15 p.m., the longer walk, some 5 miles, will be through orchards and attractive open countryside and passes through the hamlet of Luddesdown which contains what is claimed to be the oldest continually inhabited house in the country dating back to the Saxon Times. The shorter walk will be 2 miles long and if it is hot there is the possibility of a pub stop at the half way mark.

Dogs on leads will be welcome to join us – no charge for them but everyone else will be £1.50.

Cobham itself is a picturesque village with a church famous for its brasses and is situated just south of Gravesend. It is clearly signposted off the A2 and it can also be approached through Sole Street from the A227 at Meopham.

There are 3 pubs in the village for lunch, but bring your own picnic tea – we will provide tea and squash. We look forward to welcoming you all.

David How, Gravesend


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KASS DIARY, 2007/8 Secretaries; please ensure your society’s events are passed to the KASS secretary well in advance for entry in the diary to avoid clashes. Also, the secretary is happy to enter dates where venues and other details are uncertain; but would request updates when you can confirm. More frequent updates can be found on the KASS website at WWW.KASS.ORG.UK Date Society Event Venue Band 2007

19/05/07 Sheerness Scottish Heather Club "Scottish Dancing Through The Ages”

Hawkinge Community Centre Scottish Measure

26/05/07 Sidcup & District Caledonian Ass. Dance St Johns Hall, Sidcup Robin Ellis 26/05/07 Tunbridge Wells & Crowborough SCDC Ball Beechwood School, Tunbridge Wells Frank Reid 26/05/07 Sidcup & District Caledonian Ass. Dance St Johns Hall, Sidcup Robin Ellis 02/06/07 Orpington & District Caledonian Soc. Summer Dance Petts Wood Memorial Hall Robin Ellis 09/06/07 Isle Of Thanet Scottish Country Dance Summer Dance Minster Village Hall

16/06/07 Sheerness Scottish Heather Club Picnic Dance Conservative Hall, Halfway, Sheppey

CDs

23/06/07 Cobtree Scottish Country Dance Summer Dance Ditton Community Centre Craigellachie 24/06/07 KASS Walk Cobham (Kent) Area 07/07/07 Canterbury St Andrews SCD Dance Littlebourne Village Hall Records

14/07/07 North Kent Scottish Ass. Dance Methodist Hall, Barnehurst Road, Barnehurst

NOTE VENUE CHANGE

21/07/07 Meopham SCD & Gravesend & District SA

Summer Picnic Dance

Northfleet School For Girls Caber Feidh

28/07/07 Sidcup & District Caledonian Ass. Dance St Johns Hall, Sidcup Robin Ellis 25/08/07 Sidcup & District Caledonian Ass. Dance St Johns Hall, Sidcup Taped Music

9/09/07 KASS Autumn Tea Dance

Conservative Hall, Halfway, Sheppey

29/09/07 Sidcup & District Caledonian Ass. Dance St Johns Hall, Sidcup Robin Ellis 29/09/07 Medway & District Caledonian Ass Autumn Dance Rainham Mark Grammar School Green Ginger 06/10/07 Dover Scottish Country Dance Annual Dance Triangle Centre. Dover Green Ginger 13/10/07 North Kent Scottish Ass. Dance St Paulinus Hall, Crayford 13/10/07 Orpington & District Caledonian Soc. Autumn Dance Petts Wood Memorial Hall Robin Ellis 20/10/07 Isle Of Thanet Scottish Country Dance Autumn Dance Minster Village Hall 20/10/07 RSCDS Tunbridge Wells Autumn Dance 27/10/07 Sidcup & District Caledonian Ass. Dance St Johns Hall , Sidcup Caber Feidh 10/11/07 KASS Autumn Dance Northfleet School For Girls 17/11/07 North Kent Scottish Ass. Dance St Paulinus Hall, Crayford Robin Ellis 24/11/07 Sidcup & District Caledonian Ass. Dance St Johns Hall, Sidcup Caber Feidh 24/11/07 Canterbury St Andrews SCD Dance Littlebourne Village Hall Records

30/11/07 Orpington & District Caledonian Soc. St Andrews Dance

The Warren, Hayes Robin Ellis

08/12/07 Isle Of Thanet Scottish Country Dance Ceilidh The Centre, Birchington 08/12/07 Meopham Scottish Country Dance Christmas Dance Northfleet School For Girls Robin Ellis 15/12/07 Cobtree Scottish Country Dance Christmas Dance Ditton Community Centre Records 31/12/07 North Kent Scottish Ass. Hogmanay Party Baker Trust Hall, Crayford 31/12/07 Sidcup & District Caledonian Ass. Hogmanay Party St Johns Hall, Sidcup Records 31/12/07 Orpington & District Caledonian Soc. Hogmanay Petts Wood Memorial Hall Robin Ellis 31/12/07 Medway & District Caledonian Ass Hogmanay Party St Georges Ctr, Chatham Maritime CDs

2008 05/01/08 Isle Of Thanet Dance The Centre, Birchington 25/01/08 Orpington & District Caledonian Soc. Burn’s Supper The Warren, Hayes Robin Ellis 26/01/08 Sidcup & District Caledonian Ass. Burn’s Supper VDF Hall, Crayford Robin Ellis 26/01/08 Medway & District Caledonian Ass Burn’s Dinner

Dance Franklin Rooms, Gillingham CDs

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