Hamilton Academy choir reunited after 40 years

Jun 26 2008 by Lesley Brown, Hamilton Advertiser

MEMBERS of the Hamilton Academy choir who toured the USA 40 years ago met up for a reunion last weekend.

Almost half of the original line-up of students, joined by two former members of staff, met at the Avonbridge Hotel to enjoy a buffet lunch.

A party of 58 singers had embarked on a three-week coast-to-coast tour of America in the summer of ‘68 under the leadership of the late Peter Mooney, the school’s former principal teacher of music.

Choir members travelled from all over Britain and Europe to take part in the recent anniversary gathering.

Members who were unable to attend, some of whom live as far afield as Australia, sent good wishes to the group via e-mail.

The afternoon gathering was arranged by choir members Catherine Ballantyne (nee Paton), Douglas Hay and Henry Hambley.

Former members even sang some pieces from their original tour which had taken in New York, Washington DC and Seattle.

During their west coast stay 40 years ago the choir and Mr Mooney were granted honorary citizenship by Washington State. And at Seattle Airport the choir were greeted by hundreds of people singing ‘Scots Wha Hae.’

Mr Hay had described the trip as a truly memorable experience because it took place when civil rights unrest was at its height.

The organisers of the reunion believed the following choir members took part in the trip: Jack Crosby, William Rae, Jimmy Jack, David Duncan, John Robertson, David Morrison, Rab Stewart, Henry Hambley, Roger Bouette, Brian Weaver, Keir Clelland, Brian Jackson, Martin Neilson, John Anderson, Alastair Newton, Graham King, Douglas Hay, Andrew Lindsay, Avril Dempster, Joyce McIntyre, Jessica Kelly, Alison Storrie, Rosemary Grieve, Elizabeth Burrows, Anne Collins, Alison Mooney, Denise Arnold, Catherine Paton, Elizabeth Padkin, Avril Dickson, Marion Massie, Sadie McDonald, Margaret Sime, Elizabeth Leggate, Anne Spiers, Emma Holmes, Morag Smith, Sheena Brownlee, Ian Cox, Jennifer Kissell, Heather Slack, Kathryn Weir, Sheena Higgins, Elaine Martin, Sheila Crawford, Anne Wilson, Christine Wassal, Joyce Archibald, Ellen Wilson, and Elizabeth M. Leggate.