This year, we spent a week of our holidays in Aberfeldy. A little time spent researching on the internet brought up John Sturrock’s site with an events list which had details of a dance in Pitlochry on the Saturday evening. Further investigation revealed that we would be dancing to Glencraig. An e-mail to the organizer soon produced a copy of the programme.
We had a lot of rain whilst in Aberfeldy, but managed to choose the best day of the week for a walk up Schiehallion. The summit ridge is strewn with boulders – jumping round on these was a little like Schiehallion reels.
On the Saturday evening, Pitlochry town hall was full of dancers, both local and well travelled, including three ladies from Australia in Scotland for their holidays, and four people we knew from the South who had moved to Scotland, including John Sturrock. Two passing Spanish tourists were intrigued by the event.
There were twenty two dances on the programme. Six of these were new to the group and were walked through once. Most of dances were familiar to us. Very appropriately the programme included Australian Ladies and the Glenalmond Gamekeeper – he was one of the dancers there that evening.
Glencraig were excellent and kept us on our feet all evening. We certainly had our money’s worth, there was scarcely any break between the dances.

Helen and Keith Rose

As I mentioned in the last newsletter there was a Step Dance Class on September 17th at St. Paul`s Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge. The dance we were to learn was “The Hopeful Lover”. Carol, Fiona and I went along in relaxed mood feeling reassured by Ron Nedderman`s note in his notice that no experience was necessary. It was true that there was nothing particularly difficult about the steps, it was just a lot to absorb in one afternoon. However, we did come away with a very clear and comprehensive written description and should have no difficulty learning the dance in our own time.
The next class will be on Sunday 3rd December, details available from me on 01234 349803.

A small party of Bedfordians (including one Canadian) attended the North Herts Reel Club`s Annual Ball in Hitchin Town Hall on October 14th and had a very enjoyable evening. The music was provided by the Karl Sandeman Band, a new name to us, and we were favourably impressed with them.
A lot of comments were made about the floor which was not quite as bouncy as we remembered it, though it was still a pleasure to dance on. The programme was good with plenty of well-known dances and nothing too taxing though there were one or two unfamiliar ones which we liked and would be pleased to do again.

The New Year Ceilidh will be on January 6th 2007 and will be held in Bromham Village Hall again. Tickets are on sale now at £3 and can be obtained from committee members. I should say that they usually sell out well in advance so make sure you get yours in good time.

Could I drop a gentle hint that subscriptions should have been paid by now. If you haven`t yet paid yours Keith will be very pleased to relieve you of the necessary £13 of which £10 goes to Headquarters.