Hopetown S&DR200

A Hopetown Reel for S&DR200 Fringe Festival, Saturday 9th August 2025

Dancing along the platform

The Railway Anniversary continues to inspire varied events with groups of enthusiasts taking this opportunity to celebrate by featuring what they most enjoy.  For dancers who love the traditional music and patterns of Scottish Country Dancing, their celebration on Saturday 9th August at Hopetown highlighted a selection of dances inspired by railway themes and journeys – and there are a surprising number of Jigs and Reels from which to choose. 

This popular Darlington location beside the famous railway line provided the ideal backdrop.  Members of Richmond Branch of the RSCDS entertained visitors with an afternoon of Scottish dancing to great traditional music. 

The dancing formed part of a unique contribution to the S&DR200 Festival and included a dance written by well known Darlingtonian, Terry Chater, to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of S&DR.  Named ‘Locomotion No.1’ in honour of the locomotive, it was written for that earlier anniversary by Terry, who will be remembered for his infectious and lifelong enthusiasm for Scottish Dancing which he shared with very many adults and children in Darlington and beyond. 

The Hopetown programme also included a dance inspired by the famous Forth Railway Bridge and another named after The Royal Deeside Railway.  No selection of dances celebrating the railway would be complete without including ‘The Flying Scotsman’ – a popular choice with dancers around the world and almost as well known as the engine itself.  The fun patterns of the dance make it ideal to encourage the audience to join in, and what better way to celebrate the outstanding achievement of S&DR200!

~Joy Bradshaw 

Originally published in Darlington & Stockton Times; adapted/abridged.