Dancers past and present surprise retiring Scone teacher taking time for herself after 43 years of classes

dailyrecord.co.uk:

After 43 years teaching Highland dancing in Scone, Margaret Nicoll is hanging up her black laced pumps.She enjoyed a special gathering of pupils past and present on Thursday, June 29.Margaret, of the Margaret Stewart School of Highland Dancing, started dancing herself at the age of 11.After achieving her teachers’ qualification at the age of 20 she started a class at the Robert Douglas Memorial Institute, Scone, in 1980.This long commitment to holding classes makes her the longest standing let holder at the institute.Margaret has taught hundreds of local children over the years and has supported eight of her pupils to become Highland dancing teachers themselves.Margaret has been assisted with the class for many years by Lynne Brand (one of those eight teachers whose daughters now attend Margaret’s class) and by Sarah Dobbie (who has completed all her exams and now is keen to train to become a qualified teacher).Putting something back into the community has been part of Margaret’s ethos, with her managing to raise thousands of pounds over the years for many charities through holding an annual charity dancing display.This year’s display was a celebration of 43 years of dedication to the classes.Unbeknownst to Margaret, she was surprised by many of her former pupils who took to the floor to perform many of the classic Highland dances alongside her current pupils.Some of these dancers have not danced for over 30 years so retiring Margaret felt very honoured.It was an emotional and wonderful evening and was a real tribute to “an amazing and dedicated” dance teacher and friend to all her pupils past and present.The display raised £435 for Parkinson’s UK.The dancing class will continue on in the Robert Douglas Memorial