The story of the dances on the programme

Below are stories of the devisers and dances on the programme for the Lower North Island RSCDS Centenary Ball on 4 November 2023, compiled by Iain Boyd and Rod Downey.

Almost all New Zealand devisers who have had dances published by the Society have one dance included in this programme.

Where available, photos/videos of the devisers/their dance/the subject of their dance are included (the majority of the photos/videos were taken in the Lower North Island), compiled by Loralee Hyde.

Download PDFs of the notes only (no photos or videos)

Dances 1-4
Dances 5-8
Dances 9-12
Dances 13-16
Dances 17-19

New Year Jig (3C – 32 – J) Maureen Robson 51/8

Maureen Robson is a well-known Wellington tutor who has served several roles in the Region. She has also taught nationally. New Year Jig was devised in 1995, as a means of teaching reels to a children’s class. It has been very popular in New Zealand for many years, but was not published by the RSCDS until 2017, in Book 51, which has the subtitle ‘Scottish Country Dances for Young and Less Experienced Dancers’.

The music was composed specially for Maureen by the late Peter Elmes, the first tune being Maureen Robson’s Jig. Maureen was the tutor of the Tawa Club for 38 years before retiring in November 2019. She published a collection of her dances (along with music composed by Peter Elmes) in ‘From North To South’ in 2019.

2020/2021: Watch Pat Reesby’s video of New Year Jig at the Wellington Region Hogmanay in Lower Hutt.

Morison’s Bush (3C – 40 – R) Ken Shaw Morison’s Bush

This is probably the first dance devised in New Zealand and certainly the earliest dance in this programme. Morison’s Bush was devised in 1954 and the instructions published in the same year in the first issue of ‘The New Zealand Scottish Country Dancer’. The original tune was composed by Charlie Jemmett, a leading musician in the early years of dancing in New Zealand.

Ken Shaw was President of the Whakatane Club. For many years, Morison’s Bush was for country dancers in the Wellington, Wairarapa, and Hawke’s Bay the centre of social life and dances there were not to be missed. Morison’s Bush was the site of the first Scottish Country Dance Ball in New Zealand.

Bruce Fordyce (Back row, fourth from the left in the above photo) devised the dance Seton’s Ceilidh Band (which is on the Ball programme) to commemorate Jack Seton (Front row, centre), who was the original President of the Wellington/Hawke’s Bay Association.

2023: Watch Jeanette Watson’s video of Morison’s Bush at Capital City Club

Miss Milligan’s Strathspey (3C – 32 – S) RSCDS Leaflet

What needs to be said? Miss Jean Milligan is the most famous name in the RSCDS. She was one of the two co-founders of the Society in 1923. Dr Milligan was the central force promoting Scottish Country Dancing worldwide. She made a three-week visit to New Zealand in 1974. Miss Milligan’s Strathspey was devised by an RSCDS committee and has a very nice lead tune.

Mrs Stewart’s Jig (3C – 32 – J) 35/1

Mrs Ysobel Stewart of Fasnacloich was the other co-founder of the RSCDS. She had the idea of forming a group to promote our pastime and served as Secretary for 10 years before moving to South Africa, where she continued to work supporting the society. Again, Mrs Stewart’s Jig was devised by an RSCDS committee and has a strong lead tune.

1994: Watch a video of a demonstration including Mrs Stewart’s Jig (5:20) at the Wellington Region Anzac Weekend School.

The Meeting of the Waters (3C – 48 – R) Iain Boyd 53/15

Iain Boyd already had two RSCDS dances and this well-known dance was recommended by the Branch for inclusion in Book 53. Iain is a very well-known tutor in the Region and has taught classes throughout the world. Iain has many books of dances, as well as dances in various collections. They are widely danced internationally.

The Meeting of the Waters was devised to celebrate the 1964-65 New Zealand Summer School in Whanganui, the ‘River City’.

Oriel Strathspey (4C – 32 – S) Ian Simmonds 32/2

Ian Simmonds was the founding tutor of the Linden Club and taught there for 53 years. For many years Ian trained a demonstration team which supported nursing homes and hospitals in the local area. Peter Elmes was the long-standing musician for these demonstrations.

Oriel Strathspey was the second New Zealand devised dance accepted by the RSCDS for publication. The title refers to Peter Elmes’ home in Oriel Avenue. The demonstration practices and his Friday night classes were first held in the double garage below Peter’s home.

Catch the Wind (3C – 32 – H) Romaine Butterfield 45/5

Romaine Butterfield has four dances published by the RSCDS – the most of any New Zealand deviser. Catch the Wind is much loved worldwide. An excellent selection of tunes has been recorded by Peter Elmes, The Music Makars, and other bands. The original music (a set of ‘flirtation’ hornpipes) was included on an old recording by the late Elma Grech.

The title refers to Iain Boyd’s pursuit (for marriage) of local teacher, deviser, and later examiner, Noeline O’Connor.

Gary Morris (3C – 32 – J) Alec Hay Morison’s Bush

Alec Hay was a highly original and prolific deviser of dances and formations, and has a dance in Book 28 For example, ‘set and link’, ‘half turn, hesitate and cast’, ‘set and shuttle’ and ‘set to corners and cast away’ (the Best Set In The Hall figure). He founded and taught at the Howick Club (Auckland) for many years.

This dance was devised for Gary Morris (tutor, deviser and examiner) and has the first occurrence of the formation now called ‘inverted double triangles’, later incorporated in the dance The Nurseryman.

2023: Watch Jeanette Watson’s video of the dance Gary Morris at Capital City Club

Balmoral Strathspey (4C – 32 – S) John Charles 22/3

Balmoral Strathspey was the first dance from a Kiwi deviser adopted by the Society. Book 22 was the first book to include only modern dances. John (‘Jock’) Charles (from Kawerau, Bay of Plenty) was a Scot from Banff who arrived in New Zealand in 1953 aboard the government owned immigrant ship ‘James Cook’.

The Reel of the 51st Division (3C – 32 – R) 13/10

The Reel of the 51st Division was the first modern dance adopted by the RSCDS, under recommendation from Her Majesty the late Queen Elizabeth II. Famously devised by prisoners of war.

1998: Watch a men’s demonstration of The Reel of the 51st Division at the Wellington Anzac Weekend School Ceilidh.

Pelorus Jack (3C – 32 – J) Barry Skelton 41/1

Barry Skelton is another prolific New Zealand deviser with many excellent dances including Pelorus Jack from Book 45. The ‘dolphin reels’ were originally created by Barry Priddey and first used in his dance The Flight Of The Falcon.

Barry’s dance is much loved worldwide. Pelorus Jack was a famous Risso’s dolphin which once accompanied ships from Nelson to Wellington.

The Reverend John MacFarlane (4C – 32 – R) Gary Morris 37/1

Gary Morris was a tutor with the Ngaio Club in Wellington from 1983 to 1998, and became an RSCDS examiner.

The dance The Reverend John MacFarlane commemorates the first Christian (Presbyterian) religious service held on the Petone foreshore on 23rd February 1840. John MacFarlane arrived in Wellington on the ’Bengal Merchant’ in 1840 with two shiploads of Scots. He returned to Scotland in Oct 1844 and settled at Inverary, Argyllshire.

Mildred Clancey’s Strathspey (4C – 32 – S) Jennie Miller A Touch of Gold

Jennie Miller is an Auckland deviser with a dance in the Society’s third Graded Book. She has devised many dances and published several collections of them. Many others have been published in the ‘Dance Devisers Day’ collections.

Mildred Clancey was secretary of the New Zealand Scottish Country Dance Society from 1956-67 and then secretary of the Branch from 1967-74, dying while in office. She arrived in New Zealand from Ireland in 1955 and taught at the Day’s Bay summer school (the second summer school) in 1956. Mildred taught at many summer schools. The inclusion of the ‘Glasgow Highlanders’ setting was suggested for the dance Mildred Clancey’s Strathspey after the deviser saw a picture of Mildred dancing this step.

Best Set in the Hall (3C – 32 – J) Helen Greenwood 46/7

Helen Greenwood is an Auckland dancer and deviser, originally from Yorkshire. The central movement of ‘set to corners and cast away’ was first used by Alec Hay in his strathspey Peter White. Best Set in the Hall has become extremely popular both here and overseas.

2020/2021: Watch Aline Homes’ video of Best Set in the Hall at the Wellington Region Hogmanay

Petronella (2C – 32 – R) 1/1

Petronella is the first dance in the first book published in 1924 by the newly formed Society. Loved by children, and with a great tune, this dance was frequently ‘doubled’ with both first and second couples dancing the ‘diamond’ figure.

A Gift From Heaven (4C – 32 – S) Norman Whitson Harbour City

Norman Whitson was a long-time tutor of the Eastbourne Club. (Eastbourne was the site of the second Summer School in 1956 – after Napier). A Gift from Heaven was devised in the memory of his and his wife Coral’s daughter, Shona. The lead tune, The Girl with the Deep Brown Eyes, was composed and arranged for this dance by an early Wellington musician – Tom Barnes

The Harbour City, published in 1986, was the second collection of dances published by the Wellington Region, and, again, included dances from the Wellington to Whanganui crescent.

Seton’s Ceilidh Band (4C – 64 – J) Bruce Fordyce 53/12

Bruce Fordyce was a devisor and tutor from Hastings. He was one of the original committee members of the Wellington-Hawke’s Bay Association of Scottish Country Dance Clubs – the forerunner of the New Zealand Society and the New Zealand Branch. Jack Seton was the original President.

Seton’s Ceilidh Band commemorates Jack Seton whose band was based at Morison’s Bush near Greytown in the Wairarapa, New Zealand. Both Bruce and Jack were early giants of Scottish Country Dancing in New Zealand. They were the principal forces behind the early Summer Schools and the New Zealand Society.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh (3C – 40 – R) Allie Anderson / Florence Lesslie 39/7

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh was devised by Allie Anderson and Florence Lesslie in 1948 to celebrate the wedding of HRH Princess Elizabeth to HRH the Duke of Edinburgh. Miss Allie Anderson was a contemporary of Miss Milligan and a founder member of the RSCDS Edinburgh Branch. Professionally, she taught PE at James Gillespie’s High School, Edinburgh. She also co-authored A Complete Guide To Scottish Country Dancing with John Duthie.

Mrs Florence Lesslie was secretary of the Edinburgh Branch for many years. When she emigrated with her husband to New Zealand she was given special permission to examine teacher candidates by herself – the only person Miss Milligan gave this permission to. The first examinations were held at the beginning of 1965 at the end of the summer school in Whanganui. Mrs Lesslie had a significant impact on New Zealand dancing and assisted the New Zealand Society to become an RSCDS Branch. She was the first life member of the Branch.

This well-known dance has a great driving tune, and finishes the programme with a circle of friendship.

2017: Watch Pat Reesby’s video of The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh at the Johnsonville Tartan Night in November (and listen to the marvellous music from Peter Elmes’ Band!).

We remember Her Majesty, our immediate past Patron.

Dancing Spirit (3C – 32 – J) Amy Luxton-Esler 50/11

Amy Luxton-Esler (from Auckland) was one of the young dance devisers who submitted dances for consideration for Spring Fling 2015. The winning entries including Dancing Spirit were subsequently published by the Society in Book 50. Amy has served the New Zealand Branch as a member of the JAM (Junior Associate Members) Committee. She has also published three collections of her dances in her ‘Memories Are Made Of This’ series.

Loralee Hyde
24 October 2023

As part of the Wellington Region’s 60th Celebrations in 2021, a small team has been gathering information relating to the Region’s history.

This ongoing project aims to build a historical resource, and in so doing, honour all the people who’ve been a part of the Region’s history.

Those who attended the Wellington Region’s 60th Ball this year, had the opportunity to enjoy viewing some of the historical photos and videos collected and digitised by the project team and other volunteers.

There’s been an exciting development – we’ve received material from the families of two Scottish Country Dance musicians who played in the 1980s, fiddler John Foden and accordionist Tom Barnes.

Margaret Foden has shared some of her personal photos, and Sono Barnes has donated cassette tapes of Tom and John playing for various Scottish Country Dancing events. These are valuable additions to the Region’s archival collection, many thanks to both for giving us this window into our Scottish Country Dance musicians.

If you have material you could share with, or donate to the region’s Archives Project, or recollections of those times, please email Region committee member Philippa Pointon

Kristin Downey

Originally published in Harbour City Happenings Volume 24 No. 4, December 2021

As part of the Wellington Region’s 60th celebrations, I’ve started combing through old NZ Scottish Country Dancer magazines, extracting items of interest relating to the Region.

I didn’t come to New Zealand until 1986, and didn’t start dancing till 1991, so this has been a voyage of discovery, and I’m really enjoying finding out about the history of Scottish Country Dancing in the Wellington region.

Although the Wellington ‘Branch’ (as it was then known) wasn’t established until 1961, Scottish Country Dancing was already alive and well. Here’s what I’ve found, apologies for any mis-interpretations or omissions, I’m happy to be corrected.

‘In May, 1949, under the auspices of the Wellington Association of Scots’ Societies, the Scottish Country Dance Circle came into being, and was affiliated to the Scottish organisation. The membership was approximately 60, and included members of the Hutt Valley Scottish Society.’ (1954 SC Dancer, p 4.)

‘However, owing to the small attendances and lack of interest, it was reluctantly decided, in April of 1951, that the dancing circle should cease functioning. A new start was made on 10 October 1951 … and Scottish Country Dancing was soon firmly established in Wellington’ as the Wellington Dancing Circle. (1954 SC Dancer, p 5.)

Lower Hutt continued to dance as ‘a Scottish Country Dance Circle of the Lower Hutt Scottish Society’ (1957 SC Dancer, p 20) and ‘Wallaceville Scottish Country Dance Club began its career halfway through 1952 as ‘from Wallaceville to Wellington is a long trek on a cold winter’s night’. (1954 SC Dancer, pp 5-6.)

In Coronation Year, 1953, the Wellington-Hawkes Bay Association was established, with member clubs including Lower Hutt, Wallaceville and Wellington.

However ‘the distance for meetings had become quite a problem, and so in November 1958, the Hawke’s Bay Branch was formed’. (1973 NZ SC Dancer, p4.)

This led to the formation of the Wellington and Districts Association, which included clubs in the Wairarapa. It was an exciting time, culminating in 1960 with the ‘first truly Scottish Country Dance Ball held in New Zealand’. (1961 SC Dancer, p 13 – download below.)

In late 1961 ‘it was agreed … to dissolve the Wellington and Districts Association’ with the formation of ‘two new branches – Wellington Branch and Wairarapa Branch.’ (1962 NZSC Dancer, p 17.)

There is more to the story, including the formation of the NZ Scottish Country Dance Society in 1957, and then in 1968, the NZ Branch of the RSCDS. But that’s for another day.

Clubs in the Region have come and gone over the years, but Scottish Country Dancing remains in good heart in the Wellington Region, built on the shoulders of all those who came before.

This year the Region celebrates its 60th year with a 60th Anniversary Ball, and honours the Wellington Region dancing community by starting to collect and share its history.

Many thanks to those who gifted back copies of NZ Dancer magazines to help with this research. I would be very grateful to hear from anyone who has spare magazines covering the years 1954-1958. Please email me here

Kristin Downey
June 2021

This article was originally published in the RSCDS Wellington Region Harbour City Happenings Volume 24 No. 2 June 2021