News

Our group of 16 members enjoyed a delightful morning of short lawn bowls. We split into two groups, each taking part in two sessions. Both groups made excellent progress, with our bowls regularly landing near where we aimed – a satisfying achievement!

Playing short bowls proved to be the perfect choice; a longer distance would have been beyond us, and we were just about able to bend down for our deliveries without turning them into shot put attempts.

The weather could not have been better – sunny yet comfortably mild. A big thank you goes to Hazel and Teresa from the bowls club, who kindly demonstrated the techniques and supervised our efforts with patience and encouragement.

When we entered our team for this year’s Festival, we had a large enough team of dancers that most of us would need only to dance for some of the time. In the event it didn’t quite work that way!

Who would have thought that no fewer than three dancers would have broken bones between January and May? Add to that the arrival of an awaited NHS operation and a unexpected invitation to a family wedding and you can see that we were significantly depleted! However, the survivors all set to with a will and by the time of the Festival we were fully prepared and put on a display that we can be proud of. More importantly, we had a really enjoyable afternoon.

In recent years our biggest worry has been whether or not it will rain. On a hot day in a hot month in a hot summer, our worry this time was about the heat!
We had originally planned a start at 6.30, but put that back for an hour to allow the garden to be shaded by surrounding trees. Just as well – the temperature hit 33C by late afternoon!

By 7.30, the shade had crept across the lawn and there was a gentle cooling breeze. Much to everyone’s surprise (and relief) it was a perfect evening for dancing.
30 of us – from the Association, Beeston U3A and Nottingham RSCDS – got through a varied programme, finishing with Mairi’s Wedding.

The rest of the evening was purely social as we enjoyed the handsome spread that everyone brought and caught up with friends.  The bonus of a ‘tropical night’ was the ability to sit out in shirtsleeves until after 10pm.

This year’s St. Andrew’s night celebration fell on a damp and dismal November day, but the atmosphere in the Hall was anything but dismal!

Forty members and friends, including a contingent from the Beeston U3A, met at the Welbeck Hall in West Bridgford for an evening of fine food, good conversation and a lively cèilidh. The Preidential procession was played in by our evening’s musician, Iain Carmichael, and we were welcomed by the President.

After a Scottish grace from Margaret Barnes, we settled down for an excellent meal, efficiently served by staff from the Hall. Bob Logan, our MC for the evening, kept us on track and welcomed Past-President Dave Chapman who proposed the toast to Scotland.

Dave talked about his love for Scotland and the Highlands, recently rekindled by a hike through the empty lands of Knoydart. He recalled the nights in bothies and a memorable descent into Glen Shiel with the Five Sisters of Kintail risng up ahead.

Once the toast had been proposed it was on with the dancing! Iain called the dances and provided us with some splendid music and we filled the floor for the Gay Gordons, the Dashing White Sergeant and many more. We finished, as has become traditional, with an Orcadian Strip the Willow.

The Nottingham Scottish Team joined with our friends from the Nottingham RSCDS Branch to represent the City in the annual festival of Scottish Country Dance in Retford. 12 NSA members took part and were a credit to themselves and the Association.

Burns Night with the Nottingham Scottish is just what you need in the depths of winter!

Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, a toast to ‘the Immortal Memory’, ‘The Lads and Lassies’ and a cèilidh to finish with!

It’s at the Masonic Hall in Goldsmith Street. Free parking and easy access to the Tram.

Tickets £35. Includes 3 course meal and cèilidh

Application Form and details here (Word) and here (pdf)

Another great night for the Association!

St Andrew’s Day will soon be here and the Nottingham Scottish is holding its annual dinner and cèilidh on Saturday 25th November at the Masonic Hall, Goldsmith St. Nottingham.

You are invited to an evening of dinner, dancing and revelry in honour of our Patron Saint! Three Course Dinner and a Cèilidh called by Schuggie Macinnes. All members and friends welcome.

A good time is guaranteed!

Tickets: £32. Easy access by tram or bus. Free parking.

Details and application form here (word format) and here (pdf)

Well, yes, there were16 of us for croquet! The Long Eaton Croquet Club generously allowed us access to their lawns and provided us with the equipment.

Most of us were beginners, although a few had some distant memories of playing in the past. Lack of skill may have held us back a bit, but we got the hang of it by the end of the afternoon. Importantly, it was a lot of fun.

Many thanks to the Long Eaton Croquet Club!