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

    a traditional Shetland afternoon tea



2023-24

  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

  Autumn 2017 social:  included a dramatised performance of an excerpt from Liz Lochhead's play "Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off"

  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


..
Harrow  &  District  Caledonian  Society

offering Scottish activities and friendship in this part of Middlesex/NW London for over 90 years








Our 2010 autumn ramble was in Denham, Bucks and the Boxing Day walk at a very snowy Ruislip Lido.  In 2011 the spring ramble was in Chesham, autumn at Burnham Beeches and on Boxing Day walk at Stanmore Common.  Our 2012 early morning bird song walk was on a Saturday morning in April at 5.00 am near Rickmansworth, our spring ramble in May at Wigginton, Tring and our autumn 2012 ramble in October at Marsworth, near Tring, Herts.  The spring 2013 ramble in May started from Sarratt, Bucks.  The autumn 2013 ramble on Saturday 5th May was again in the Chilterns, starting from Wigginton, Bucks.  2014 rambles were along the Grand Union Canal (Paddington to Kings Cross) in April, Hartwell, Bucks, in October, and our boxing day walk at Iver, Bucks, in December.