A Short History of the Branch
In 1934 a team of Burnbank Girl Guides gave a demonstration of Scottish Country Dancing at the Dalton Special School near Blantyre. Members of the Rotary Club were also present and as a result Mr A.P. Smith suggested to Miss Ballantyne, who trained the guides, that a branch of the Scottish Country dance Society be established in Hamilton. A meeting was addressed by Miss Milligan and the formation of the Hamilton Branch ensued. A loan of £3 from Headquarters assisted with initial expenses and the first formal meeting took place in 1935 Mr A.P. Smith was the first President and Miss Ballantyne the first secretary. The loan was repaid by 1936.
Two hundred dancers and four hundred spectators attended the first Ball in 1936 The Town Hall was used for dancing and the Lesser Hall for a set meal. Tickets were four shillings for dancers and one shilling for spectators. The war years limited activity but the Branch continued as far as possible during these years. Miss L Bannatyne took up teaching the Branch class in 1945 and continued until 1990. This was no mean feat as numbers fluctuated over the years, only to see a revival of Scottish Country Dancing in 1985.
The name was changed to Hamilton and Clydesdale Branch in 1948 to indicate the wider area it now served incorporating Larkhall, Wishaw, Biggar, Strathaven, Bothwellhaugh, Chapelton and Dalserf. 1951 saw a demonstration team from the Branch helping to entertain at various events which included taking part in an “Act of Homage” in the presence of the Queen in 1953.
Dances and the Annual Ball continued to be held in Hamilton Town Hall until it was closed for refurbishment in 2002 and alternative premises had to be found. Eddlewood Hall was then used to hold dances throughout the year but no Ball was held. The Ball was reintroduced in 2010 for the Branch’s 75th Anniversary. It was held in the Banqueting Hall of the County Buildings and a reception was hosted by South Lanarkshire Council. This special event proved popular and further Balls were organised using The Shawlands Hotel. Eddlewood Hall was itself needing refurbishment and in 2013 the Branch decided to hold future dances and events in the newly opened Stonehouse Lifestyles Centre.
From 1990 with the retirement of Miss L Bannantyne until 1993 the class had a three year break due to lack of numbers but dances were still held as was the Day School. Classes in the outlying areas of Hamilton attended these dances and to aid the enjoyment the recapping of dances was introduced in 1991 and continues today.
In 1993 the Branch class was reformed with Mrs Alison Robertson as the teacher. Sixteen attended the first class and twenty two the next week so the class was reborn and is still operating today with an average of twenty two members each week. A demonstration team was also reformed giving performances at various events over the years. A rather memorable one was performing for the Police Family Day in June 2000 which by all accounts was enjoyed by all who attended due to the enthusiasm and commitment of the participants. Sadly the demonstration team was disbanded in 2002.
1999 saw a Children’s Festival Day held in Ballerup Hall East Kilbride with tuition from Alison Robertson. Schools from the surrounding areas were invited and enough children to form sixteen sets attended. This instigated a children’s class being set up in Strathaven which continued until it was deemed more economical for Scottish Country Dancing to be taught in the school setting.
A Day School was held each year and a guest teacher was invited to come and give the dancers the benefit of their tutelage in the classes. In the evening a dance with live music rounded off the day. This continued until the members decided that they wished to have a weekend of dancing. In 1996 the first weekend was held in Tinto Hotel with music by George Stirrat and tuition from Alison Robertson . It was such a success that the following year there was a waiting list. The event then moved to Gartwhinzean Hotel for five years and then to Dunkeld after which Windlestrae Hotel in Kinross was the venue. 2014 saw the weekend move again to The Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry and the reintroduction of a guest teacher. These weekends are supported by dancers from other Branches throughout Scotland which all adds to the enjoyment.
The Branch Class has been held in many and various venues around Hamilton over the years. At present we happily dance
in the Guide Hall which is both central and rather appropriate as the class came into being after a demonstration of country dancing by Girl Guides. At one time the Branch Classes had live music provided
by George Stirrat. The class now uses modern technology in the way of a Portogram system to play compact discs for the music. Classes are now held throughout the year. Summer classes were introduced with less emphasis on the teaching of new dances and more on the enjoyment of everyone’s favourites. These classes have proved to be very popular since the venue was moved to the Guide Hall in Hamilton.
The Branch would not exist without the hard work and commitment from members and teachers past and present who have put much time and effort to ensure that Scottish Country dancing continues.
2014 saw the Branch launch a new website :
www.rscdshamiltonandclydesdale.org.uk
providing information to members and dancers worldwide.
This has proved invaluable.
The present committee work hard on the Branch’s behalf and it is good to know how much this is appreciated by the continued support of the organised events.
A Ball for the Branch Golden Jubilee was held in April 1985 and a 75th Anniversary Ball April 2010. It is fitting, therefore that the tradition is continued with this 80th Anniversary Ball April 2015.
1984 -1985 Branch Committee Members
Our Branch was mentioned in the RSCDS blog
for the International Women’s Day on 8th March 2020 .
Mrs Irene Miller was the Branch Chair in 2020.
Our Branch featured in the
RSCDS Scottish Country Dancer Members’ Magazine
No 41 October 2025, page 16.
Branch Chair Arthur Reilly and
RSCDS Chair Gary Coull cut the 90th Anniversary celebration cake.
The Magazine also reported on the Branch demonstration team
performance as part of the
2025 Scottish Garden Festival at Hamilton Racecourse .
