Editorial

The last three issues of Scottish Country Dancer were edited by Marilyn Healy. A big thank you must go to Marilyn for all her work before she gave up the task at the end of last year. We are sure you will agree that she put together three excellent magazines. This edition is being co-edited by Jimmie Hill and Jean Martin. An advert for a new editor is on the page opposite. A large number of significant Branch anniversaries occur this year and congratulations are due to all. Many events are planned and we are sure that they will be memorable occasions with lots of reunions, reminiscing, and all exhibiting the joy of dance. This issue contains a report of a very significant country dance project outwith the Society – the Nathaniel Gow celebrations in Edinburgh. Muriel Johnstone pays tribute to her good friend and one of our great teachers and personalities, Alastair Aitkenhead. Two of our teachers were honoured by the Queen in the New Years Honours: Mrs Elma McCausland and Mrs Mary Ross. Congratulations to both. As usual, this edition covers reports from branches around the globe and we would ask that you assist your correspondents by passing on to them news items which would be of interest to all members. The experience of the correspondents varies. Often, despite sending out reminders, they are left to find things out for themselves or, the opposite situation is the case, when they are given so much detail that it is difficult to summarise. For this edition quite a lot of other material was submitted. Some items just couldn’t wait until the next edition as the events being described would be long gone by that time and some articles had to be reduced in size so that they could be accommodated. We do hope that you will be understanding. Finally and encouragingly, this issue contains quite a lot of reports from different youth initiatives. This must be good news for the future of both country dancing and our Society. Jimmie Hill and Jean Martin

New Scottish President

The Members of the RSCDS Management Board are happy to announce that at the AGM on 5 November 2016, Jean Martin became the Honorary President of the RSCDS. She is a past chairman of Aberdeen Branch, but many members will also be familiar with Jean in her capacity as a past Chairman of the Society, an examiner, adjudicator and much sought-after teacher at many day schools, workshops and residential courses around the world. She has had key roles in many Society projects, including the revision of the 2004 examination syllabus, the production of the combined books in standard terminology and, more recently, in the combined project with TAC to produce teaching notes for the Miscellany dances. She has a sound knowledge of the history and the structure of the Society, and, as such, is a much valued President. Helen Russell