Sadly Missed

We would appreciate it if obituaries for inclusion in the next issue were sent from Branch or Club Secretaries.

Jimmy Boal, Dundee

Jimmy Boal of Dundee was a great accordionist, an excellent arranger and composer, and led The Maple Leaf Scottish Dance Band with his wife Muriel on second accordion. They played for Dundee Branch summer dances for almost 35 years and organised dance holidays in Europe as well as travelling all over Britain. Jimmy maintained that the best part was the friends they made. Despite his cancer treatment, Jimmy remained up-beat and jovial and you would not have known he was so desperately ill. George T Watt, Dundee Branch

John Baker, Bath

John Baker joined Bath Branch in 1950, becoming a committee member soon afterwards. He met his wife, Mary, at Summer School. From 1957 he was an inspiring teacher of all levels. In 1959 John had the privilege of dancing for Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. He organised the 1961 Festival of Dance at Bath Pavilion. From 1968-1982 he led the demonstration team which performed in the UK and abroad. Over the years he was the main MC at Bath dances. He represented the Branch on the Executive Council and was President of Bath Branch from 1983 until 2018. Fiona Keane, Bath Branch

Joyce Elliott, Leicester

Joyce trained in PE, receiving her teachers’ certificate in the early 1960s. In 1985 she married Bernard Elliott, the piper at Summer School, which they attended for many years. Joyce taught SCD up to the time of her death, and ran teacher training courses from 2001 to 2003. She was a founding member of the Galloways Dancers of Nottingham, eventually taking over as leader, designing and teaching all the group routines. She maintained an enduring, reciprocal twinning association with Karlsruhe. Joyce took part in all 48 trips to dance festivals abroad – even visiting Outer Mongolia. Pamela Hood, Leicester Branch

Maureen Haynes

For the last 20 years Maureen was an enthusiastic member and inspirational teacher of NW Craven Branch. She taught with firmness, always making her classes fun to bring out everyone’s best dancing. She was sought after for workshops and schools worldwide. Her skilled tutoring leaves an important legacy of qualified teachers. On Derek’s death in 2005, Maureen set up The Derek Haynes Annual Scholarship, from which many young dancers benefit. She continued to self-publish Derek’s Carnforth Collection, resulting in charity donations of thousands of pounds. In 2018 Maureen was awarded the RSCDS Scroll of Honour. Trevor Clarke, NW Craven Branch

William McLennan, London, Canada

Bill was born in Scotland, emigrating to Canada in 1957. He joined London (Canada) Branch in 1963, teaching from 1973 until 1994. He organized the music for classes and monthly dances and served as Branch Chair and as Outreach Chairman of TAC. Bill and his wife Marie were honoured for cultural work by the London Multicultural Council and by the Government of Ontario. In November 1997 the RSCDS presented them with a joint Scroll of Honour. Many of us owe a huge debt of gratitude to both for their friendship, support, wise counsel, generous hospitality, and for the many moments of joy they brought us. Barbara Jessop, London Canada Branch

Lilian Meiklejohn, Inverness

Lilian was our Honorary President. She gained her teachers’ certificate in 1972. She taught the Branch children’s class before moving on to take the general class, which she taught for 23 years. She was presented with a Branch Award in 2006. Although she had been ill for some time she was always cheerful and a great support to the Branch. Irene Whyte, Inverness Branch

Jim Murray, Vancouver

Jim, a lovely man with an affable manner and warm chuckle, was born in Edinburgh in 1933. He and his wife Mary were members of Allie Anderson’s Demonstration Team for several years. In 1966 they emigrated to Canada and joined Vancouver Branch where Jim was Chairman from 1971 until 1974. He danced with the demonstration team for another 28 years. Jim enthusiastically embraced everything Scottish and was a founder member and Chairman of the Vancouver Burns Club. His knowledge of both Burns and Scottish history was generously shared in the establishment in 1998 of the Centre for Scottish Studies at Simon Fraser University. Sandy Caruth, Vancouver Branch

Ann D Naismith, Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles Branch

Ann Naismith, Branch President, has died aged 97. Ann began teaching physical education at Govan High; the boys thought highly of her – reluctant dancers were told SCD would improve their footwork for rugby or football. For many years Ann taught the Branch ‘new book’ class. In retirement, she taught pre-school and adults in Hawick, and took over the Galashiels class from 1997 until 2004. Ann danced on for many years until latterly sitting beside the musician at class. She was greatly involved with the Braw Lads Gathering, whose Executive honoured her with Life Membership – then only the second woman to receive this award. Eleanor Wood, Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles Branch

Margaret Shearer

Margaret Shearer passed away in May last year aged 91, having spent 50 years enjoying and promoting Scottish country dancing. She started in Yorkshire, moving to Dunfermline Branch where she several times danced at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. It was her enthusiasm that initiated the annual ‘Dancing in the Glen’. She moved to Crook of Devon, where, for over 25 years, she held both children’s and adult classes. She organised two eagerly attended dances every year. Margaret taught the true meaning of Scottish country dancing: fun, enjoyment and sociability. Teresa Brogan, Ayr Branch

Eleanor Stewart, Inverness

We were saddened to learn of the sudden death of Eleanor – a popular long-term member of our Branch, who taught SCD for Highland Council evening classes before teaching the Branch beginners’ class. Eleanor was a regular attender at St Andrews Summer School where she made many friends. Irene Whyte, Inverness Branch