Seniors

  Glasgow 850 -  Seniors lunch October 2025
For our Autumn meeting we were delighted to have Peter Knapman as our guest speaker/ musician. His theme was ‘Music and Dances connected with Glasgow’ – focussing on some of the dances included in the programme for the ‘Glasgow 850’ Branch dance later in October, some dances with Glasgow connections, and music composed/ arranged/ played by musicians he knew in the Glasgow area. These included Glasgow Highlanders, Glasgow Lasses, Clutha, New Rigged Ship, Rakes of Glasgow, Montgomeries Rant, Good Hearted Glasgow, Glasgow 850 and Mairi's Wedding. 

Peter is interested in the history of dances and the tunes associated with them, so as well as playing the dance tunes we learned some interesting facts and figures about them, with occasional questions thrown out to see if we recognised which dance was associated with the tune he was playing.  

The final two selections were tunes associated with musicians with Glasgow connections that Peter has enjoyed dancing to over the years. The first was a set of jigs connected with David Ross and Norrie Williams, who both played for his class for many years, Colin Finlayson and Gordon Simpson. The tunes were – Good Hearted Glasgow, John and Joan Young of New Kilpatrick, On Galway Bay and Gordon Simpson’s Jig. The second set was a medley, two tunes with associations of the wonderful piano playing of Muriel More – Scott Skinner’s tune Sarona and one of her own compositions Ochiltree – the final tune in the set was Hamish Renton a reel written by John Renton.

We concluded with a communal rendition of  I belong to Glasgow.
A good lunch, good company and good entertainment.   

     

History

  In 1998, for the 75th Anniversary celebration of RSCDS (Society) and Glasgow Branch, a group of senior non-dancers plus active dancers  attended an afternoon tea dance. They all enjoyed the social aspects of dancing even if no longer danced regularly, and wished to meet more regularly.  The first official meeting of the Seniors' Group was held on October 10th, 1999, organised by Ruth Beattie, with Joyce Turkington and the late Dorothy Paterson. This event has evolved into four meetings per year, Spring, Summer, Autumn and a Festive Lunch in December, open to all members of Glasgow Branch. The general format is a light lunch, followed by musical entertainment and/or a speaker.  (The inclusive charge covers all costs.)

Previous events:

June lunch 2025  A presentation of flowers was made to Maureen Daniel ...
Our speaker was Sebastian Wanless, ex chair of Glasgow branch.  His subject was 'Africa - My Africa '.  An informative presentation.
March lunch 2025 Our entertainer was Frank Reid one of our talented muscians.

Festive Lunch   Dec 2024
We gathered for delicious food, before enjoying Maureen's 2 quizzes.  Branch Chairman Ian Johnson then read a Christmas poem to complete the celebration A Christmas Fairy.

25th Celebration October 2024
Amy Spearing - June 2024 
Les Lambert - March 2024
Centenary - Seniors' Celebration 'Afternoon Tea'  HOUSE for an ART LOVER, Nov 2023 photos Centenary 
Patrick Murray - Sept 2023
Ian Muir - June 2023
Alan MacPherson - April 2023
Margaret Church - Sept 2022
John Carmichael - June 2022
Challenges of the Walter Scott Book - March 2022
Article by Ruth Beatie for Scottish Country Dancer  (April 2020)
Festive Lunch  - December 2019

20th Anniversary Lunch  October 2019

Richard Maudsley - Scottish Small Pipe - July 2019 

Màrtainn Skene - More quality tunes and craic - April 2019