Sadly Missed

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

Dulcie Bond, Sheffield

Dulcie Bond started dancing in Carlisle. In 1965 she and Paul came to live in Rotherham. She taught the Caledonian Class for many years and, with Paul, gave the Sheffield Branch classes unstinting enthusiasm and dedication. After Paul retired from teaching the advanced and intermediate classes, Dulcie became the Branch teacher. She taught both classes and took great pride in getting us ready to take part in the Association of Scottish Country Dance Societies and White Rose Festivals. Dancing was her passion and she had a vast collection of dances and music. She was also President of the ASCDS and a founder member of the Morland Annual Scottish dancing week. Dulcie retired from teaching in the Branch in December 2014 and the Committee then asked her to become President. After she retired, she was always interested in what was happening in the Branch and came to day schools and dances when she was able. Norma Hutchinson, Sheffield Branch

Terry Chater, Darlington

Terry was a tour de force on the dancing scene in Darlington and North East England from the 1940s. His huge personality, enthusiasm, and love of a good time on the dance floor was legendary. Terry started dancing in his early teens, initially attracted by the music, and in the 1950s began his enduring association with Richmond Branch. From the mid-1960s Terry taught adult classes in Darlington and subsequently a children’s class; and in 1971 he launched Junior Appreciation, an annual non-competitive festival for children. It grew in popularity, welcoming teams from a wide area, and bands from over the border. Terry was in his element! He took children’s teams to festivals in North East England and those involved still remember the hair-raising minibus journeys with Terry at the wheel. In 2009 Terry received the Branch Award, sponsored jointly by Richmond and Leeds RSCDS. Terry will be remembered for many things, but especially his swirling yellow kilt, piercing ‘heuch’, a tendency to sing along with his favourite tunes and unconventional outlook. Joy Bradshaw and Caroline Brockbank, Richmond Branch

Peter Elmes, Wellington, New Zealand

Peter Elmes passed away at the age of 83, after a long struggle with cancer. Peter was a much-loved musician from the Wellington Region. He played at Summer and Winter Schools, classes, day schools and formal dances, both in New Zealand and Australia. A self-taught musician, he had a kind of epiphany involving a button accordion! Peter led many bands and released several LPs and CDs. He wrote many tunes and had a gift for constructing wonderful sets for dancing, having done a great deal of research into the history and development of tunes; he had a rare ear for combinations of tunes. Peter was generous to young musicians, allowing them to play with the band, and was hugely influential in the continuance of the SCD tradition in New Zealand. His contributions were recognized with a New Zealand Branch Award in 2006. Peter gave his time freely to play at rest homes and retirement villages. Always shining through was his love of traditional Scottish country dance music. Rod Downey, New Zealand Branch

Bob Gilbert, Houston

Bob Gilbert passed away in October in Houston, Texas. Bob was born on New Year’s Day 1939 in Aberdeen. He served in the Royal Air Force from 1958 till 1961. Bob and his wife Sheila emigrated to the United States in 1965 and joined Los Angeles Branch. Bob worked in the petroleum and airline industries. He was a founding member of the Houston Branch. He earned his teaching certificate and shared his zeal for dance with many others. He moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he taught a dance group. Returning to Houston, Bob carried on teaching and dancing. He danced at the Texas Folk Life Festival. He served the Scottish-American community in a number of ways: Chieftain of the Heather and Thistle Society of Houston; President of the Houston Grampian Association; and President of the British American Business Council.

Kelley Fair, Houston and District Branch

Margaret Grieve, Newcastleton

Margaret Grieve passed away peacefully at the age of 90. Margaret, a life member of the RSCDS, started Scottish country dancing at Edinburgh University. When teaching in Coldstream, she danced with Duns and District Branch before returning to her native Newcastleton, where she joined Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles Branch. At one time she was Branch Secretary and later a Vice President. Margaret taught the Newcastleton class for 23 years. Mary Johnson, Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles Branch

Pamela Hood, Leicester

I first met Pam in the 1990s when she came to Leicester to attend the Branch day school. She then moved to Leicester. She was a valued committee member and was latterly secretary, a role to which she dedicated a lot of time. Pam was a lovely dancer and an excellent teacher, always with a story to tell. She was also a talented singer. Music and dancing were her passion. Pam was always kind and thoughtful and it was such a pleasure to be in her company. Doris Buchanan, RSCDS Leicester Branch

Campbell Hunter, Falkirk

It is with much regret that we announce the passing of Campbell Hunter, Chairman of Falkirk Branch for over 20 years. Campbell was introduced to dancing as a teenager when he attended a Branch class taught by Alex McLaren in the Temperance Café, Falkirk. He then went on to dance with the Glenbervie Dancers, appearing on STV on a few occasions. For over 20 years Campbell taught both country and ceilidh dancing for Falkirk Branch. He was also instrumental in introducing a Day of Dance, where children from all the schools in the area danced in Falkirk Town Hall; he has left a legacy for many children in the area. As Branch Chairman, Campbell attended the Falkirk Branch Crieff weekend (attended by over 350 people) acting as MC on both nights for the ceilidhs and teaching the ceilidh class. He was a popular figure with a wonderful sense of humour. Anna Marshall, Crieff Organiser, Falkirk Branch

Connie Irvine, Scottish Borders

Connie died in February last year aged 89. A keen dancer from schooldays, she joined the Society in 1950. Connie began teaching children. She then enthusiastically taught several local adult classes, continuing up till 2015. She also prepared children for the Borders Schools Dance Festival, for which she adjudicated on several occasions. Connie served as Branch Chair, Secretary, and latterly Hon. Vice President, receiving the Branch Award in 2016. Connie was a regular attender at the Society AGM, Summer School and dance weekends. She loved Scottish country dancing and was passionate about sharing her love of dance and music with dancers from around the world. She inspired all age groups, loving to tell the story behind the dance, imparting her vast knowledge. Lyn Bryce, Roxburgh, Selkirk & Peebles Branch

Bill Little, Castle Douglas

It is with the deepest regret that Castle Douglas Branch reports the death in late December of Bill Little, a member of TAS and a very much respected RSCDS member, teacher, examiner and adjudicator. I had the privilege and benefit of his perceptive, encouraging teaching over many enjoyable classes at Summer School in the 1980s and at various day and weekend schools around the country. He was a fine upholder of the RSCDS tradition and his kind, gentle manner and good humour, linked to his almost intuitive recognition of what made for fine social graces in the execution of the dance, made him a wonderful teacher and mentor – an inspiration for dancers of all levels and abilities and one of nature’s gentlemen. Bill was also a sensitive adjudicator. Bill and his service to Scottish country dancing were featured in an article in Scottish Country Dancer in October 2017 and in an interview in October 2006.

Oluf Olufsen, Chairman of the Teachers’ Association of Scotland

Tom Mullen, Manchester

Tom Mullen was a friend and gentleman, but also piper, drummer, singer, dancer and huge contributor to the folk scene, Scottish and beyond, for many decades. Unassuming but, unknown to many, a prime mover in the original Intervarsity Folk Dance Festivals when in Leeds in the early 50s; he was also very much an instigator of the Annual Manchester Scots’ Night in 1961, subsequently appearing in almost all of them. He was an anchor of many Manchester Branch overseas trips. He made a huge contribution to my own enjoyment of Scottish music and dancing, piping for uncountable numbers of Highland dances for me over a 40-year period and playing drums in my Scottish dance band for over 20 years. Dave Hall, Vienna Branch

Eileen Orr, Tunbridge Wells

Eileen Orr started Scottish country dancing in the 1970s and was a founder member of Tunbridge Wells Branch. She participated in Branch activities for almost 30 years, as Secretary, Chairman, teacher and dancer. Eileen regularly attended Summer School, taking her teaching certificate there in 1989. She was an elegant dancer and a Branch demonstration team member for over 20 years. She danced in Summer School demonstrations, both country dancing and ladies’ step, and in mass demonstration teams from the South East, including performances at Wembley and the Royal Albert Hall. Eileen loved to travel and attended overseas dancing holidays and dance festivals, as well as many local dance events. The popular dance The Dream Catcher was devised by her. After a stroke in 2004 she could no longer play an active part in Scottish dancing, but she retained her interest in the Branch, serving as President for some years. In 2005 she received a Branch Award. Pat Davoll, Tunbridge Wells Branch

Shiela Nicoll, Annan

Dancers in the South West of Scotland were saddened to hear of the death of Shiela Nicoll of Dumfries in November. Shiela taught the Branch class at Annan for over 40 years only missing two classes due to snow. She was renowned as an expert teacher, thorough and sensitive to the needs of her class. Shiela and the committee organised two dances per year, in March and November, and these were well attended by dancers from both sides of the border.

Nancy McLure, Annan Branch