St Andrew’s Ceilidh Proves Swinging Success
On Friday, 27 November, Newbattle Abbey College held a St Andrew’s Day Ceilidh, welcoming over 80 guests to the historic building for an evening of traditional music, dance, song and, of course, haggis.
Students, staff and stakeholders danced to the music of a community ceilidh band, organised by Depute Principal, Marian Docherty. The 12-piece band includes Newbattle students and staff, Midlothian Council staff, Edinburgh primary schools and friends of the college. Guests also enjoyed performances by Newbattle Abbey College’s ‘Rough and Ready Choir’, again involving the college and community partners, readings by two local poets, and solo singing talents of vocalists both young and old.
Newbattle Abbey College Domestic Assistant, Craig Robertson, donned a full tartan outfit on the evening, gifted to the College by a local film company as a thank you for allowing them to use the College’s grounds for filming. The tartan is that of the Kerr family and the full outfit will be on display within the College.
Principal of Newbattle Abbey College, Ann Southwood, said: “The ceilidh was an excellent opportunity for staff, students and friends of the college to come together for a night of celebration. The evening was an astounding success and I would like to thank everyone who took part and helped to organise the event. In particular I would like to acknowledge the work of Marian Docherty, who organised the ceilidh band and poetic readings. Marian also set up the Rough and Ready Choir who were excellent on the evening.”
The ceilidh also launched Newbattle’s Pan Celtic Programme, which builds on the College’s rich tradition of promoting Scottish culture within a heritage site. The programme is designed to promote traditional music, local history, story telling, creative writing, Celtic crafts, woodland education and genealogy for people of all ages. Several events are planned for 2010, including a Pan Celtic Festival on Saturday May 29, a celebration of Midlothian Gala Days, and a short course programme in a range of Celtic themes. Full details of the Pan Celtic Programme will be available early in 2010.
