Helensburgh & District Highland Association

Dancing, Music and Song

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Monthly Function Friday 25th October 2019

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Dance Held at the Commodore Hotel on 25 October 2019

 

 

 

On a chilly but blessedly dry Helensburgh evening  a reasonably respectable turnout of 60 members and two guests (one of whom, most unusually, was a young lassie) were treated to some excellent music by the Martainn Skene Scottish Dance Band. The man himself was on keyboard on this occasion while, in a welcome surprise, the box was in the hands of the inimitable and ever popular Charlie Kirkpatrick, a last minute substitution.

 

The evening began in usual fashion with a welcome by President Neil McLeod and the dancing then got under way accompanied by Charlie's usual patter.

 

The tea break was on schedule (though curtailing the last dance of the first half) and the provision of tea and coffee seemed to run more smoothly than on recent occasions. The raffle followed and raised  a total of £150. Thanks to those purchasing tickets and in particular to those who donated prizes. Before the dancing recommenced the President made a plea for members to volunteer as committee members, pointing out that due to imminent retirements from the committee there was a real risk that the Association may have to be wound up next year if numbers could not be maintained.

 

Tickets for the Christmas dance were on sale on the night and are still available from Gordon Hendrie while tickets for the Hogmanay dance will be on sale at the November dance and may be acquired from Colin Crawford.

 

Following an enjoyable second half's dancing closing remarks and thanks were made by the President before the last dance and the traditional end to the evening with Auld Lang Syne.

 

The next dance will be held on Friday 29 November in the Osprey Suite at the Commodore as always. All welcome

 

Martainn Skene Scottish Dance Band

 

Well Done the Dancers!

 

Well Done the Dancers!

 

Well Done the Dancers! 

Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 November 2019 14:38
 

Monthly Function Friday 28thJune 2019

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Dance Held at the Commodore Hotel on 28 June 2019

 

 

An unusually warm and sunny evening in Helensburgh saw a somewhat disappointing attendance of 38 members and 8 visitors at the June dance.

 

Playing on the evening was the Liam Stewart Scottish Dance Band producing excellent, lively music and not a little amusing patter. Commencement of the dancing was delayed for about twenty minutes by problems with the stage lighting. Once resolved President Neil MacLeod gave the welcome address.

 

Notwithstanding the paucity of numbers the floor was fairly consistently full for most dances and, unlike recent experience, most of the attendees stayed until the end of the evening. While the delay at the start meant that three dances scheduled for before the interval were missed out these were neatly incorporated in the second half.

 

The raffle raised 143 and thanks go to those who bought tickets and especially to those who contributed prizes.

 

Closing remarks were made by the President before the last waltz and the traditional end to the evening with Auld Lang Syne.

 

This year, after a long period we are reinstating a summer break and there will be no July dance, with the next event scheduled for Friday 30 August in the Osprey Suite at the Commodore. All welcome

 

 

Liam Stewart Scottish Dance Band 

 

Well Done the Dancers!  

 

Well Done the Dancers! 

 

 

 

 

 

Liam Stewart Scottish Dance Band 


Last Updated on Friday, 05 July 2019 13:46
 

Monthly Function Friday 31st May 2019

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Dance Held at the Commodore Hotel on 31 May 2019

 

 

Turnout at the May dance on a thoroughly dreich evening was modest with only 49 members attending. The numbers were, however, boosted a little with a count of 10 non-members.

 

Music was provided by the ever reliable Ewan Galloway Scottish Dance Band who drew dancers onto the floor with a perfectly judged selection of tunes. The band fairly raced through the programme and two extra dances were fitted in at the end.

 

The Annual General meeting was held at half time, with the Minutes of the last AGM being read by Secretary Ronnie Reardon, financial report by Ewan Howieson and the President's report by Vice President John Johnston in the absence of Association, President Neil MacLeod. 

It was announced that two Directors were retiring from the committee, Jim Gray and Andrew Rankin.  

The rest of the committee, as per the constitution, stood down at the meeting and all were re-elected, no other names being put forward to fill the vacancies. 

A minute's silence was also held at the commencement of the meeting in honour of two members who have sadly passed away since the last AGM, Andy Love and Jack Inglis.

 

There was a slight delay for refills of the tea and coffee pots at the interval leaving some dancers waiting to slake their thirsts.....apologies to those affected. It's also worth noting that the condition of the floor was not ideal, being somewhat “stickier” than usual. Hopefully that will have improved for the next dance.

 

The raffle raised a respectable total of £167 and, as ever, thanks to those donating prizes and purchasing tickets.

 

Closing remarks were given by John Johnston and the evening ended in traditional fashion with a last waltz and Auld Lang Syne.

 

Our next event will be a dance in the Osprey Suite of the Commodore on Friday 28 June 2019 with music provided by Liam Stewart. All welcome as ever.


 

Monthly Function Friday 26th April 2019

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Monthly Function Friday 26th April 2019

 

The Association’s monthly function was held in the usual venue of the Osprey Suite, Commodore Hotel, Helensburgh.

The evening was opened by our President, Neil MacLeod, who welcomed all present, including a group of Polish and Canadian visitors.

It is always a pleasure to see new faces coming along.

 

For many years, donations of between One Thousand and Two Thousand Pounds have been dispersed locally, and in keeping with its longstanding tradition of donating annually, any profits, to local good causes, this year, we were pleased to be able to give away a total of Sixteen Hundred Pounds, divided amongst the following organisations.

 

Helensburgh Food Bank: £500  -  St Augustines Foodbank, Dumbarton £500  -  Rhu Scouts  £300  

and 

Grey Matters, Helensburgh:  £300 

Representatives of all the organisations joined us for a night of dancing, with music provided by the 

Roy Hendrie Scottish Dance Band, and are pictured here along with the Association President, 

Neil MacLeod, and Treasurer, Ewan Howieson.

 

As always, visitors local and further afield are invited to join us at our regular events, held on the last friday of every month. 

All  will be  will be made most welcome. 

Our next Ceilidh dance Function will take place on Friday 31st May and will feature 

the Ewan Galloway Scottish Dance Band. 

 

Good Causes Donation Recipients 


Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 April 2019 08:27
 

Monthly Function Friday 29th March 2019

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Dance Held at the Commodore Hotel on 29 March 2019

 

 

On a pleasantly surprising rain free night in Helensburgh the welcome and introduction were given by  Vice President John Johnston in the absence on holiday of President Neil MacLeod.

 

Playing on the night were the Lomond Ceilidh Band, minus their usual fiddler and with a second box filling in. Notwithstanding the change in lineup the music produced was of the highest quality and special mention is due to the perfect tempo for the Viennese Swing, something which other bands have often struggled with. Dancing progressed apace through the advertised programme and a couple of extra dances were fitted in.

 

Numbers on the night were on a par with those of February's dance with 53 members and 2 non members attending.

 

The raffle raised a total of £150, somewhat more than last month, and, as ever, thanks to those donating prizes and purchasing tickets.

 

Closing remarks were given by John Johnston and the evening ended in traditional fashion with a last waltz and Auld Lang Syne.

 

Our next event will be a dance in the Osprey Suite of the Commodore on 26 April 2019 with music provided by the  Roy Hendrie Scottish Dance Band. All welcome as ever.

 

 

Lomond Ceilidh Band

 

Many Happy Returns to George on a Special Birthday

 

 

Well Done the Dancers!

 

 

Well Done the Dancers! 

 

Well Done the Dancers!

 

 

 Well Done the Dancers!

 

 

 

 

 

Well Done the Dancers!

 

Well Done the Dancers! Who happens to also be our resident photographer!  

Last Updated on Tuesday, 02 April 2019 15:55
 


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