Page 65 - RSCDS Toronto Golden Jubilee Book

Connections
Hughina Wilson Miss Milligan
awarded me my Teaching Certificate, and I taught Scottish Country dancing for fifteen years: 3-1/2 hours every Saturday
at Fallingbrook Presbyterian Church. It all started
when I was asked to put dancers into
a Christmas concert. Knowing it would be impossible to get boys, I said, "Sure – if I can get four girls and four boys to make a set." To my surprise, four girls and five boys arrived.
bility. I especially liked Stan Hamilton’s records – they were the best. I learned that Stan’s band played Toronto
– wow! Hughina took us to Children’s Festivals, which were well attended, with stiff competition and tense nerves. We competed with teams taught
by Evelyn Clark, Major Gil Rich, and Betty Thompson. Stan McKee or Stan Hamilton played piano; Iain Macfarlane adjudicated.
A couple of special memories: We danced at Calvin with 20 sets of danc- ers. That was crowded! I remember getting "the eye" as, kilted, I carried Hughina’s suitcase into the Hamilton YWCA. And I attended my first Tartan Ball with Susan Thomson, a friend from Hughina’s class.
Hughina's first team
From this unexpected beginning, we grew to have four age groups. The youngest learned rhythm and easy for- mations. Older students learned more difficult formations, but especially how to work as a team, how to mix, with the focus on sociability. My policy was no jeans – wear what you like to class but wear a dress or kilt in class. Our standard was high; Fallingbrook danc- ers won various medals and trophies.
Of all my dancers, I’m especially proud of "my boys" – Andrew Collins and Don Bartlett. Andrew achieved his Teaching Certificate and was the youngest Chair of Toronto Branch. Don’s band plays across North America.
These things, and more, make it all very worthwhile.
Don Bartlett adds:
My mother made me attend Miss Wilson’s SCD classes when I was elev- en. I dropped out at first, but returned
a couple of years later. Hughina took me under her wing and I came to enjoy the dancing, the music, and the socia-
Don Bartlett & Susan Thomson, Tartan Ball
The Key to Romance:
1. Bobby&LisaBrown
2. Fred Collins &Kathleen Fraser-Collins
3. Mairi & Andrew Collins
4. Stan & Ann Hamilton
5. Margaret & Forbes Brown
6. Bobby & Joyce Frew
7. Margaret&James Dudley
8. Nigel Keenan & Lourdes Genosa
9. Maggie & Doug Kean
10.Bunty & Gord Mitchell
11. Jo & Sandy Robertson
12.Fiona & Colin Philip
13.Patricia & Tom Young
14.Michael & Barbara Taylor
15. Teresa & Rob Lockhart 16.Joan & John Reeves
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