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The society was originally formed in 1933 by
a group of exile Scots who had moved south to work in the many large
companies in Slough, especially on the Trading Estate. Following a notice in
the local paper, a meeting was held at the Cheshire Cat Restaurant, above the
Electricity Shop in Bath Road, Slough, and the Scots’ Society of St.
Andrew, Slough and District was born.
The
Society held many functions including:-
Hogmanay
Dances (at the Adelphi Cinema, Slough / White Hart Hotel, Windsor)
Burns’
Suppers
St.
Andrew’s Dinner and Dances (Castle Hotel, Windsor)
Ceilidhs
Whist
Drives (Upper Room, Reindeer Hotel, High Street, Slough)
Summer
Outings with Races (Burnham Beeches)
Children's
Christmas Parties
Junior
Shows (presented in the 1930s by Mrs. Naismith)
During
the War, the ladies of the Society together with
those of Trinity Church, ran a work party, knitting for the Forces and this kept
the social side of the Society together.
There
was a revival of the Society after the war with the Dancing Classes
recommencing in the late 1940s in a small room at Herschel Hall, Slough. So
many people attended the first session that Mr. J. J. S. Smith together with
the President went to find larger premises. Classes continued in the Banquet
Hall of the Royal Hotel (opposite the Station) until it was demolished. The
number of members attending the classes on some nights was in excess of 80!
The
Society has met at several other premises in Slough
including the Co-operative Hall (behind Isaac’s Furniture Shop), The
Methodist Church (corner of The Grove and High Street), Herschel Hall and
finally Trinity United Reformed Church Hall. It moved to these latest
premises in 1990,when the new church was built, and
this is where it continues to meet.
Miss Jessa Ferguson’s mother was a
founder member of The Scots’ Society of St. Andrew, Slough and
District and Jessa herself was a first year member. She was the Instructor
for the Society from the late 1940s until her retirement in 2004!
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