Celebrating the life and work of Dr Jean Milligan

Celebrating the life and work of Dr Jean Milligan

Peter Clark reports on a fitting tribute to Miss Milligan held last year in Glasgow.

Irene Caithness and Irene Bennett with one of the dancers from Garscadden Primary in front of the plaque commemorating the life and work of Jean Milligan. (photograph by Brian Lochrin, University of Strathclyde)

On 14 September 2007, within Dance Scottish Week, The Faculty of Education at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow organised a gathering to commemorate the life of Jean Milligan, co-founder of the RSCDS. About sixty Branch representatives attended along with past Chairmen of the Society. Professor Andrew Hamnett, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, welcomed everyone to the Crawfurd Teaching Complex at Jordanhill where Miss Milligan had been a lecturer in physical education.

The opening address was given by our present Chairman, Irene Bennett, who recalled some of the major landmarks in Jean Milligan's life. Women had dominated the Society in its early years, but to the delight of Miss Milligan the situation changed partly as a result of the introduction of Scottish country dancing to male students at Jordanhill PE College in the 1930s. Her inspiration, drive and enthusiasm for this form of dance led to an ever-increasing membership of the Society and the formation of Branches throughout the world. In the 1950s and 60s visits by the International Team to festivals spread the popularity of Scottish country dancing even further. What had been a tradition in the doldrums became a flourishing activity. Miss Milligan was honoured with an honorary degree in law from the University of Aberdeen in 1977, the year prior to her death.

Dr Milligan was a very close friend of the Caithness family and visited them each

year during Summer School, so it was fitting that Mrs Irene Caithness was invited to unveil a commemorative plaque that was mounted on a stand on the stage. The Jordanhill site is due to close next year, and the plaque will be re-located to a permanent home on the John Anderson Campus of the University. The stage curtains opened to reveal a team of young dancers from Garscadden Primary School. They danced The Reel of the 51st Division and Lady Catherine Bruce's Reel beautifully to the fiddle music of Gordon Simpson. This was followed by a demonstration from the Glasgow Branch team who delighted the audience with a medley of The Earl of Mansfield, Miss Milligan's Strathspey and The New Virginia Reel.

Robert MacKay then spoke of Jean Milligan's love for Scottish music and her association with the pianists Susan Inglis and Winnie Carnie in selecting tunes for dances. The revival of Scottish country dancing did much for the promotion of Scottish traditional music. For many of us the phrases, "The music is the stimulus of the dance" and "Dance with your soul" encapsulate Dr Milligan's vision to see Scottish country dancing performed well in the ballroom.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Dorothy Paterson, Glasgow Branch. Everyone agreed it had been a memorable occasion at which to recall the achievements of such an important figure in the development of our Society.