Socials
We have many "social" events, including events in members' homes, and a variety of activities.
Those we currently call "Socials" often comprise a talk or entertainment on a Scottish theme.
In 2023-24 we look forward to
Sat 18th May Stories of the stones and the water
2023-24
Mar 2024 - Shetland Afternoon tea
Oct 2023 - exploring Morris dance
2022-23
May 2023 - play-reading afternoon
March 2023 - joint social afternoon with displays of Indian and Scottish dancing
Oct 2022 - Poetry afternoon - members' favourite poems
2021-22
May 2022 - Famous Scots in Harrow (incl attended Harrow School)
Autumn 2021 - Hebridean themed social
Socials in our 2020-21 season took place on zoom,
May 2021: Historian Theresa Mackay (zoom)
April 2021: Author Chris Dolan (zoom)
January 2021: Clootie Dumpling - demonstration of making it and traditions associated with it (on zoom)
Autumn 2020: Desert Island Discs theme - members reminiscences and choices of music (zoom)
Spring 2020: Journeys theme - illustrated talks and slides of journeys geographical or temporal
Autumn 2019: Desert Island Discs theme - members reminiscences and choices of music
May 2019 social: portrayed the life and music of fiddler and composer James Scott Skinner
Spring 2019 social: musical entertainment (St Mary's Handbell ringers & Isobel Gathercole) and Scottish tasting tea
Autumn 2018 social: James Boswell, diarist, and also a children's classic translated into a variety of Scottish dialects
Spring 2018 social: Scottish women innkeepers
Spring 2016 social: Shetland afternoon tea
March 2014 social: crafts - paper sculpture, leatherwork (sporran-making)
Spring 2013 social: created the atmosphere of an afternoon tea dance with a 1920s-1940s theme.
Spring 2012 social: the Glasgow Girls - artists and designers c1900
Autumn 2012 social: light-hearted discussion evening entitled "Convention of the windae-hingers".
Spring 2011 social: featured a celebration of (and friendly competition between) Scotland's various world-wide exports - bagpipes, dancing, golf, tartan and whisky.
Autumn 2010 social: contributions on the theme of Highland Games/Highland Gatherings
Spring 2009 social: members' crafts and skills including sampling all the Scottish recipes that had featured as the front cover theme on the past year's newsletters.
Autumn 2009 social: balloon debate between six historical or contemporary characters each with an Ayrshire connection.
May 2009 social: portrayal of the life and work of the Perthshire poet Lady Nairne in narrative, song and dance
January 2009 social: Hogmanay/New year customs around the world
Autumn 2008 social: balloon debate between six historical or contemporary characters from mid/central Scotland, and a recreation of our very first social in September 1928 (poetry, song and dance)
Spring 2003 social: plant hunter/ illustrator speaker, also brian + pat hamilton's music
Spring 2002: "All Our Own Work” - members’ talents in arts and crafts
Spring 2000 social: Islands
Spring 1999 social: Jacobite dramatisation - narrative, song and dance
January 1999 social: "Five nations" - music, dance and narrative from Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, France
Autumn 1998 social: balloon debate (4 historical scottish characters), also recreation of entertainment from our first ever social in 1928
Spring 1997 social: precious stones and gems from Scotland
Spring 1996 social: Desert island discs, also John A Anderson's writings
January 1993 social: Grand tour of Scotland
Spring 1992 social: demonstration of fiddle making (and playing), also bothy ballads (from Heston society)
January 1992 social: slide show, also ukulele musician
Spring 1987 social: illustrated history of highland dances
Autumn 1986 social: Herga Early Music Consort, also whisky tasting