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John Wilkinson - Schools Director
John is Director of Schools, his main responsibility being the organisation of Summer School. He plans to encourage younger dancers and first-timers, as well as developing standards whilst maintaining the traditions and all-important social aspects of the annual four-week event.
John learned to dance at primary school, and in 1960 joined a class in his home village, Bankfoot in Perthshire. Two years later he joined the Gowrie group in Perth where he met Ruby, later to become his wife. John's work in the Civil Service took him to different parts of the UK: Whitehaven, Manchester, Glasgow and Stirling. He has been a member of more RSCDS Branches than most!
In Manchester John danced in the demonstration team and it was there in 1970 that he gained his preliminary certificate. Another move, this time to Glasgow in 1972 meant another demonstration team and another exam passed, this time his teaching certificate. In Glasgow John served on the branch committee and was instrumental in organising the first Glasgow Govan Festival in 1977 (forerunner of the Spring Fling), a link with his work with the Glasgow University SCD club, which he taught for seven years. In Edinburgh John produced and directed the Festival Fringe show 'Strictly Scottish' for three years.
John’s dancing and teaching has taken him all over the UK for day and weekend schools, to almost every country in Europe and to Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, the USA and Canada.
Since 1995 John has taught regularly at Summer School and has been depute Director three times. He was Director of Winter School at Pitlochry, and became Director of Schools in 2006.
