Branch News September 2025
Members of the Banffshire Branch participated in the 75 Club/Thrift Shop celebrations over the weekend. The over 60s from Portsoy, Sandend and Fordyce were invited for a tea dance in the Portsoy Church Centre on Sunday afternoon.
Frank Thompson provided the music and Branch Dancers led the dancing.
A good time was held by all.
CLASSES WITH A DIFFERENCE - September 2025
RSCDS Teacher: Anne McArthur
A small but enthusiastic group of dancers met in the Institute Hall, Portsoy on Sunday 21st September for the first Class with a Difference of the season - dances from book 54.
A Driving Reel proved to be an easy first dance as all dancers knew schiehallion reels.
The Tea Pottery was challenging with quick moves, numerous formations and the need to have an alert mind. We achieved it with aplomb.
The group liked the strathspey Canadian Landscape, easy to dance if one knows the tourbillon, set and link and espagnole. The group believe it will be popular on the rally circuit.
Other dances taught were The Waternish Tangle, Kinclaven Bridge and A Tribute to West Renfrewshire.
Anne McArthur
CLASSES WITH A DIFFERENCE - October 2025
RSCDS Teacher: Kate Strathdee
,
For this class I chose as a theme “Castles” whereby the divisors of the dances chose
to name their dances after a particular Castle.
They were as follows :
Armadale Castle on Skye R8x32 Frans Ligtman
Castle Varrick, Tongue J8x32 Jean Attwood
Ashintully Castle, near Kirkmichael S8x32 Lewis Derrick
Fingask Castle, Rait J5x32 Heather Cowan
Culzean Castle, Ayr J4x32 Jenny Bradley
Castle Campbell, Dollar S4x40 Peter hastings
Findlater Castle, Banffshire R8x32 Bill Forbes
Of these dances Castle Campbell, with Highland Schottische Poussette was the one that caused some thought but most of them might be seen on dance programmes in the future.
The class finished with Findlater Castle being a favourite here in Banffshire, devised by a “Buckie Loon” Bill Forbes.
Kate Strathdee