Bill Zobel- First recollection of interest was in the music when I drove my parents to despair
with 3 old 78 rpm vinyl records. Started dancing at age 13 (many years ago!!) in London area.
- First involved in a dance as a stand in for the missing fourth man at a demonstration practice,
first dance learned was Jessie’s Hornpipe, first kilt bought with all my savings in 1957. My parents had difficulty in getting me to take the
kilt off once I had got it on, got into trouble at home with wearing holes in the carpet, practising in front of a mirror.
- Involved as a student in Newcastle upon Tyne ’62 to ’65 and with Newcastle Branch; took
teaching certificates in ‘70’s, involved in Country and Highland dancing
- Taught all grades of classes over the years in many parts of the world; on St Andrews Summer School staff since 1987,
first ‘Englishman’ to teach abroad on an RSCDS teaching tour, involved in running dances and MC’ing since 1965
- Most hilarious time caused by seam in bell bottoms splitting whilst in the midst of a Sailor’s
hornpipe allowing views of rear end not normally seen as part of the dance. Also during one visit to Australia when a large part of the Sydney Winter School thought Muriel was aged 75+ and that I was her toy boy!!!
- Most frightening experience - MC for the Ceilidh at St Andrews Summer School, most challenging time -
dancing the Duke of Atholl’s Reel in Hawaii dressed in snorkel, mask and flippers, Highland dancing highlight – performing Sailors Hornpipe for Duke of Edinburgh
- Am still fascinated by the contribution good music makes to dancing and how the musicians achieve it, musical involvement has continued
through being the ‘sound man’ and ‘button boy’ in our own recording studio, Scotscores, since its inception in 1987.
- Highlight of 50+ years was to dance at and MC a ball in Blair Atholl Castle when the music was
provided by Alasdair Fraser and Muriel Johnstone.
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