Joy Bradshaw: Branch Award

May 2024

This speech was originally given by Branch Chairman Geoff Robinson at the Spring Dance on Saturday 13th April, at which the award was announced, but unfortunately Joy was unable to be present due to illness. Joy was later formally presented with the award at the Branch AGM on Wednesday 1st May.

I would like to ask for your indulgence for a few minutes whilst we pause the dancing programme because I have, as Chairman of Richmond Branch, an important task to perform. Our Branch Committee, all of whom are here with me now, decided some time ago that it was high time we recognised the dedication, enthusiasm and achievements of Joy Bradshaw , one of our teachers. Not only has Joy been a regular Branch teacher since she qualified in 1992, but she has also taught in a children’s class in Darlington for about 35 years. Joy has also been a Committee member for many years and has devised a good number of our dance programmes and acted as MC. A good example of Joy’s commitment was in 2023 when the RSCDS celebrated its Centenary co incident with that of The Flying Scotsman engine and several special events were organised worldwide. Joy was the driving force in the organisation of the Branch’s participation in three of these events, beginning with the filming of a video with adults and children dancing the Flying Scotsman at the Head of Steam Museum in Darlington. This video became part of a composite video made by HQ. She also organised our involvement in “Dancing Through the Decades” and “Dancing Around the World”. Finally, in January this year, Joy’s enthusiasm for this joint Centenary led us to dance The Flying Scotsman along with members of the public and a large supportive audience beside the real engine at the Locomotion Railway Museum at Shildon.

Joy, in short, you truly deserve to receive this Branch Award and it gives me great pleasure to present this to you.

~ Geoff Robinson