Glasgow Branch celebrate their centenary

Friday 24 November 2023 saw one of the highlights of RSCDS Glasgow’s Branch Centenary celebrations – a Civic Reception hosted by the Lord Provost of the City of Glasgow followed by a Ball in the magnificent setting of the City Chambers. Some 160 people gathered – mostly from Glasgow, but with friends/ representatives from the Society, Helensburgh and District, West Renfrewshire, Aberdeen, Clackmannan, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Hamilton and Clydesdale, Lockerbie, North Ayrshire, Oban, Belfast, Oxford, Croydon and Basel too. Many were dancers long involved in Scottish country dancing, but there were also younger folk and some relatively new recruits among the dancers.

Ten past and present Glasgow Branch Chairs were also in attendance. The Lord Provost welcomed everyone, Sebastian Wanless (the branch Chair) replied, and the Society Chair William Williamson proposed a toast to the Society, the Branch and the City of Glasgow.

The dance programme for the evening was mainly ‘old favourites’ but included two dances from the Branch Centenary Book – Compliments to Glasgow, and the Centenary Jig – with the devisers of both (John Johnston and Ann Thorn) present. The Ian Muir sound provided excellent music. The evening concluded with the usual ‘Auld Lang Syne’, and anticipation of celebrating the next 100 years.