Mix a foot-tapping playlist of traditional Scottish tunes and a supply of homemade shortbread, and Surbiton & District Caledonian Society lives up to its motto, Joy Through Dancing.
Surbiton Festival’s station forecourt display was a call to newcomers to experience the fun and sociability of Scottish country dancing. The club has also entertained veterans at Brighton Road’s Royal Star and Garter Home, dancing the Duke of Atholl’s reel to bagpipes, and inventing the Star and Garter caper, a dance widening participation to those in wheelchairs, and their carers.

“We’ve also been guests of the Surbiton Care Home, as we heard many of them enjoy doing daily exercises to Scottish music,” said the society’s Cathy Daldy.

Younger generations are joining in too. The club’s qualified tutors have been putting cubs and scouts through their paces at Scottish-themed evenings; an outreach activity adding a new dimension to this established Surbiton club.

Surbiton & District Caledonian Society meets at 7.30pm, Thursdays, St Mark’s church hall, Church Hill Road. You don’t need a kilt, a partner or experience, and you don’t have to be Scottish! Non-members £4. Tea, coffee and shortbread provided.