It is with great sadness I report the passing of Edith Campbell on 24 September 2024.
This text is modified from the citation for the Wellington Region Appreciation Award, given to Edith at the Lower North Island RSCDS Centenary Ball, on 4 November 2023.
Edith gave over 60 years in the service of Scottish Country Dancing. She taught at many National and Regional events and at all levels, including RSCDS New Zealand Summer Schools in 1964, 1970 and 1978, and Region Day Classes and Region classes at all levels, including training teams for major demonstrations.
On 26 September 1984, a Wellington Region demonstration team took part in a celebration for His Excellency, the Governor-General Sir David Beattie’s wife’s birthday at Government House. Edith was in the team and played a selection of songs, ballads and airs on her Celtic Harp (cláirseach).
See more about this evening at Government House including the full programme
Edith served on the organising committees for major regional and national events, such as Summer School 1970, the RSCDS Golden Anniversary Ball in Lower Hutt in 1973 (see her commentary on creativity at this event and other celebrations) and the Wellington Region Diamond Jubilee Ball in 2012 at Government House.
Remarkably, Edith taught in the Wellington Region for at least 60 years including 10 years at Wellington Club. With her husband Bruce, she established the Seatoun Club where she taught for over 46 years, also having previously taught a children’s class in Newtown.
Edith served continuously on the Wellington Region Committee since at least 2002. Most recently she taught at the Early Wellington Dances afternoon in 2023, which celebrated the role of the extended RSCDS Wellington Region as the well-spring of Scottish Country Dancing in New Zealand.
Beyond this, Edith was heavily involved in promoting all things Scottish throughout the Region, especially through her efforts in the Scottish Interest Group, playing her harp at many Region and Branch occasions, and providing the calligraphy for the Wellington Region 60th Anniversary Ball in 2021.
Edith was known for her many writings about Scottish dancing and things Scottish, especially in her column The Spurtle-wielder, published continuously in the Wellington Region Harbour City Happenings newsletter since 1993.
There will be a memorial service for Edith at 2pm on 30 November at St Andrews on the Terrace in Wellington.
Rod Downey, President, RSCDS Wellington Region
Originally published in the RSCDS New Zealand Branch Kiwi News, Volume 29 No 3 October 2024.
Photos: Loralee Hyde except where noted.