How to find us.  
Times and Place.  
Subscriptions.
Dates for your diary
Spring Hop & Programme
Strawberry Dance & programme
Dancing in the Palm House.
Grand Scottish Ball, 2008.
                 
Photo Gallery.
In Memoriam.
Officers and committee.  
Highland Dress wear available.
Scottish Links.

email our webmaster
on matters concerning this page










Welcome to the
LIVERPOOL BRANCH
of the
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society

Our object is to advance the education of the public in the district of Liverpool
in traditional Scottish country dancing.
The RSCDS Liverpool Branch is itself a Registered Charity No. 1064074

IMPORTANT URGENT NOTICE
TEMPORARY VENUE CONTINUED.
Our regular school is still not available,
so we are continuing to hold our classes for
FIVE MORE weeks
at
ST COLUMBA'S CHURCH HALL,
Hillfoot Avenue, near Asda, Hunts Cross, by the traffic lights,
We are ST COLUMBA'S on 16, 23, & 30 April, then on 7, 14 & 21 MAY.
28th MAY is MID-TERM, and we hope to return to Christ the king on 4th JUNE
.But PLEASE WATCH THIS SPACE.

Contact us on 0151 734 1183
or click here to email our Secretary;
or click here to email our our Chairman
Where; Christ the King School, Childwall.
When: Wednesdays, 7.00 (school terms).








HIGHLAND DRESS WEAR AVAILABLE.

The items below have been donated to our Branch, and we are looking for good homes for them.
All items are in excellent condition, & we are asking for suitable donations for the Willowbrook Hospice.

2 Kilts "Black Watch" regimental Tartan.Waist 32/34ins.Length 24ins.

Formal Dress/ Dinner Jacket. ( Black.)Chest 36/38ins.

Formal Mess Jacket & Waistcoat. ( Green.)Chest 38/40ins.

Day Jacket. (Green. )Chest 38/40ins.

Please click here to email our Secretary; or click here to email our our Chairman

HOW TO FIND US ; Turn off Queens Drive into Thingwall Road at Christ the King / Rocky Lane traffic lights. Then first left into Fieldway, and (carefully) straight across Meadway into the school grounds.
Bus routes 81 and 61 stop close to these traffic lights.
A-Z page 70, B3 & B4.


For directions to other venues, please click here.
Back to theTop of the page.

 Liverpool : European Capital of Culture 2008

As part of the celebrations of the 2008 European Capital of Culture, RSCDS Liverpool and RSCDS Wirral Branches have organised a
GRAND SCOTTISH BALL, on SAT 24th MAY 2008, to the Marian Anderson Band, in the world-class St George's Hall, the finest neo-classical building in Europe and one of the most important buildings in the World!
For enquiries, please click here and email the Secretary of Wirral Branch.
or visit a page about this event, produced by RSCDS Wirral Branch
TICKETS (£30) have been on general sale since MARCH 2007, and are SOLD OUT (October 2007) . Contact WIRRAL BRANCH re tickets.

St. George's Hall was completed in 1854 and has been recently refurbished at a cost of many millions of pounds. Recently re-opened by His Royal Highness Prince Charles, it represents the prosperity of Liverpool in the 19th century. Built as law courts and as a venue for music festivals, the Hall stands at the heart of the City - both geographically and emotionally - and was the venue for our highly successful Millennium Ball.

Back to theTop of the page.

Where and When?
Adult Classes are held in Christ The King Primary School, Meadway, Wavertree Garden Suburb, Liverpool 15.
This is just off the ring road, Queens Drive, between the "Rocket" and the "Five Ways" pubs, behind the R.C. Church of Christ the King.
Adult classes are on Wednesday evenings;
the Basics class is 7.00 - 8.15, (and there are usually quite a few experienced dancers on hand who will help as well).
The General class (for more experienced dancers) is from 8.30 -9.50.

This system operates for the Autumn and Spring Terms. In the Summer term, we have one combined evening session, 7.30 - 9.45p.m., when those who were beginners, and experienced dancers, join together for social dancing, typically including the learning of the dances which will feature in our Annual Dance programme.
Back to theTop of the page.

 How much? Since Autumn 2002, the annual subscription has been set at £15.00, of which £10.00 goes to the RSCDS itself, and £5 stays with the local branch. That is the cost of bring a member for the (academic) year; this helps maintain headquarters, and provides a magazine, but does not pay for any tuition.
Class fees pay for the tuition, and as from January 2008 these fees have had to rise to £4.00 per evening, with 20% discount for those who pay for a full term in advance. This is because of an enormous rise in the cost of hiring the school hall. There might be a suitable hall somewhere which we could hire more cheaply, but so far we have not been able to find one. It is worth noting that at this £4 rate we would need 24 dancers each night to cover the cost of that night.
Students in further education need to pay full national subscription, but only 50% of class fees.
If you are "not sure", then just come along for up to three weeks, paying class fees only.
NB; No class fees are payable for the Christmas Party, or for the dancing which follows the A.G.M.


Back to theTop of the page.

Classes and Events 2007/8. ===========================================
SPRING TERM 2008
Wed 9th Jan to Wed 12th March ; nine weeks
(half-term 13th Feb 2008)

SUMMER TERM 2008
;NB Summer classes will be joint and informal, 7.30 - 9.45,
and we are inviting other teachers to come for a week or two.
Wed 2nd April - 25th June 2008,, ten weeks - (£20.00)
(Mid-term of two weeks, 21st & 28th May, no dancing)

AUTUMN TERM 2008;
Wed th Sept to Wed th Dec (Party!) (£.00) t weeks.
Mid Term = no class on Wed th Oct)
Christmas Party (Ceilidh) is on Wed th Dec 08 (no charge)

CEILIDH EVENINGS;
each term, one or two evenings will be Ceilidh dances, which will be open to all-comers, and which do not involve joining the Branch or signing up to anything. Please invite a friend to come and join in.

The ceilidh evenings will be on Wednesdays
17th October and 5th December 2007
6th Feb and 12th March 2008
and 25th June 2008

SPECIAL EVENTS;

Our SPRING HOP will be on Sat.19th April 2008

PALM HOUSE DANCING; in the beautiful Palm House in Sefton Park.
Monday 26th May 2008, on Whit Bank Holiday .

HIGHLAND BALL in St St Georges Hall SAT 24th MAY 2008.
(All tickets are sold; a "waiting list" is in operation.)

STRAWBERRY DANCE Fri 27th JUNE

A.G.M. 2008 will be on Wed 4th JUNE 2008 at 7.15 pm. followed by dancing.



COMMITTEE MEETING. The next meeting will be on .Tuesday 26th March. at 7.30 . So if any members can think of any matter they would like to have discussed at this meeting, please mention it to our Secretary.

Back to theTop of the page.


Our demonstration Team, at Fulwood Nursing Home, in 2005.
Sadly, the team as such no longer exists at present.
=============================================
BRANCH AWARD.

The RSCDS awards a Scroll of Honour to members who have distinguished themselves in the RSCDS itself, and we were delighted that DEREK HAYNES had received this honour before he died. However, the RSCDS has recently authorised local branches to nominate suitable persons for a new honour called a BRANCH AWARD. There are three criteria, involving the spread of Scottish country dancing by means long and meritorious to a branch. Our committee decided that JEAN BAKER was thoroughly deserving of such an award, and this was presented to her at the 2005 AGM, for her long service to the branch as member and Secretary.

===========================================
IN MEMORIAM

 GEORGE DOYLE
George Doyle had been a member of the Liverpool Branch for many years. In the early days he came with his wife Marie, & continued to attend after her sad death. George was a character, he was well known for his persistent "trip", often causing his partner to fall about laughing! He knew the dances inside out, and could always be relied on to help not only his partner but the entire set if they were experiencing difficulties, (& the teachers too!) He was a very willing whipping boy in the early class, always ready to give back as good as he got! George leaves a big hole in our branch, he will be sadly missed by all those who had the privilege to know him.

DONALD MERCHANT
Donald Merchant had not danced at our branch in recent years, although he continued his membership with us. He moved from Wirral to Wigan some time ago, and it was there he met and married Kath (Dunbar). During his active years at Liverpool, Donald held the post of Hon. Treasurer for some time. He was a quiet, dignified man, who will be remembered for his support of the young people who danced at the many festivals here in the North West.

Back to theTop of the page.
The People who make it happen.

Hazel Astle is again Chairing our meetings. She also teaches the Adult Basics class.
Gillian Laycock is our Branch Secretary. (Jean Baker retired from the post in June 2002).
Helen Dorrington is still Treasurer.

Margaret Palmer is the teacher for the Adult Advanced Classes, and organises our catering activity.
Committee Members from AGM 2007 , (minimum six) include the officers above and Jean Baker, Brian and Francine Keeley, Irene Lunt, Gerry Jones, Ken Maudsley and Margaret Palmer, .

You may e-mail Gerry Jones, for general information, or matters concerning this web-page.

In this Branch, the Chair runs our meetings, and for us the Presidency and Vice-Presidency of our Branch are posts of honour, in recognition of long and valued service to our Branch. Our Honorary President is John Baker and our Honorary Vice-President is Eric Astle.

Back to theTop of the page.

gathering in the foyer       Dancing in the Palm House 2005.     Morris Dancing in the Palm House 2006
dancing an "allemande"             diagonal reels of four             tea-time chat.             dancing in the Palm House.

Back to theTop of the page.








Back to theTop of the page.

SPRING HOP
at Court Hey Methodist Church
on Sat.19th April 2008.
7.30 - 10.30. Tickets.£2.50 from Brian & Francine Keeley. bg.keeley@btopenworld.com
PROGRAMME OF DANCES

1 The Duke of Athol's Reel.
2 Lady Sophia Lindsay.
3 St. Columba's Strathspey.
4 The Kelloholm Jig.
5 Plantation Reel.
6 The Cramond Wedding.
7 Pelorus Jack.
8 The Rothesay Rant
9 Cape Town Wedding.
10 Angus MacLeod.
11 Joie de Vivre.
12 The Dreamcatcher
13 The Highland Rambler.
14 West's Hornpipe.

Extras : Postie's Jig. The Summer Assembly.
=============================================
PALM HOUSE DANCE
FOR UNESCO DAY OF DANCE.
we will be dancing there on Whit Bank Holiday,
Monday .26th May 2008 from 12.30 - 4.00pm

PROGRAMME OF DANCES.
PALM HOUSE, May 26th 2008

Suggested Running Order, - subject to change if Mersey Morris Men are able to participate.

Joie de Vivre
Nice and Easy
The Montgomery's' Rant
Dundee Whaler
Fiona's Fancy
Angus MacLeod
Hamilton House
Snowball
The Summer Assembly
Miss Gibson's Strathspey,.
Major lain Stewart
Nice to See You
Postie's Jig
The Corian Strathspey
The Nurseryman
• The Dashing White Sergeant
Napier's Index
Neidpath Castle
Mairi's Wedding
Gay Gordons

Walk through given/or these dances, all others done without walk through. We hope that branch members, other scottish dancers, members of the public, and indeed other folk-dance groups will come and join in. In May 2006, this highly successful dance session run by the RSCDS Liverpool was augmented by the Mersey Morris Men, and also by the French folk-dance group, "La Brise d'Anjou" who were in England at the time as guests of Wigan Thistle Scottish Group. So it was a truly international afternoon, and each of these groups provided some dances for people to watch, and also some dances for people to join in. ===================================================

STRAWBERRY DANCE,
with IAN SLATER
FRIDAY 27TH JUNE 2008
Court Hey Methodist Church Hall, 7.30 - 11p.m.
with Strawberries and Cream for supper!
Tickets £6.50 from Irene Lunt 722 3844.

PROGRAMME;

Machine Without Horses J 8 x 32
Maxwell’s Rant R 8 x 32
Miss Gibson’s Strathspey S 8 x 32
MacLeod’s Fancy J 4 x 32
Peggy Dewar R 8 x32
Margaret Parker’s Strathspey S 8 x 32
The Grumpy Gentleman J 8 x 32
Scott Meikle R 4 x 32
Sugar Candie S 8 x 32
Ian Powrie’s Farewell to Auchterarder J 1 x 128
The Minister on the Loch S 3 x 32
The Falls of Rogie R 8 x 32

Interval

The Sailor H 8 x 32
Monymusk S 8 x32
Tribute to the Borders J 8 x 32
Angus McLeod R 2 x 64
Anna Holden's Strathspey S 8 x 32
The Chequered Court J 8 x 32
Swiss Lassie R 8 x 32
The Robertson Rant S 1 x 80
Mr. Iain Stuart Robertson R 8 x 32
The Final Reel R 8 x 32

Extras:
Midnight Oil J 5 x 48
Lady Sophia Lindsay R 4 x 32
Jennifer’s Jig J 8 x 32

=================================================================

Instead of our ANNUAL DANCE
in St Hilda's School Hall, Croxteth Drive, Sefton Park, Liverpool 17.
Dancing 7.15 - 11.15.

we are having our Highland Ball in St George's Hall - see above.
Back to theTop of the page.

Here are some "Scottish Dancing" links;
the home page of the RSCDS itself.
The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society RSCDS Wirral Branch
RSCDS South Manchester branch.
Scottish Dance Groups in the UK
Bands for Scottish Dancing
MacLennan Scottish Group (Kent)
Lancashire & Cheshire Federation of Scottish Societies.
Newcastle Uni Scottish Dance Society

and some non-"dancing" Scottish links
Wirral Pipe Band ( Pipe Major John Mahoney: 0151 677 1053)
the Edinburgh Castle site.

Back to theTop of the page.
 Some NON-Scottish folk-dance & music links;

 Liverpool Country Dance Band
Liverpool CONTRA Folk-dance club
Mersey And Deeside folk dance clubs
Country Dancing Classes
IRISH Dancing information.
Lyrics of some Liverpool Songs.
Back to the Gerry Jones home page

Back to theTop of the page.
Back to theTop of the page.