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Rosehall's musical era comes to an end


By Staff Reporter

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A COUPLE who worked with others to turn their small Sutherland community into a by-word for music, have announced that they are standing down.

The decision by Dave and Mary Goulder brings to an end 40 years of voluntary music promotion at Rosehall.

But the Goulders are going out on a high, marking the end of an era with performances from two international bands tonight and next Friday.

Dave said: “We are sad to call it a day but I will be 80 next month and Mary is 70 and we think now is the right time.

“There is no-one to take over the reins. It would have been nice if some younger folk had stepped in and we could have dropped into supporting roles, but that has just not happened.”

Songwriter Dave, who plays the classical guitar and Jew’s Harp, and a friend, Charlie Menzies, started out by organising hugely successful three-day ceilidhs in the late 1970s with groups performing across three venues – the Achness Hotel, Inveroykel Lodge and Rosehall village hall.

That initiative evolved into the Rosehall Traditional Musical Society which eventually morphed into registered charity Rosehall Community Arts, with other like-minded people in the village such as Pam Menzies and Charlie and Lily Byron staying on board.

The society widened its scope, holding drama and theatre events as well as workshops such as drawing, pottery and papier mache.

In its heyday the group was holding an average of one event a month and more during the summer.

Rosehall soon acquired a reputation among performers, with big names in the traditional music world beating a path there, staying with the Goulders and becoming life-long friends.

Among the first groups to perform were The Boys of the Lough. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra also graced the village with a visit, as did Dundee Rep Theatre.

Rosehall Community Arts was wound down five years ago after Creative Scotland unexpectedly pulled its funding, but the Goulders then linked with the Kyle of Sutherland Trust’s musical arm, Kyle Live.

“We thought we could do something on a smaller scale, just music and not drama or arts events,” said Dave. “Linking with the trust meant they did all the administrative work, leaving us free to organise the events.

Rosehall Arts’ penultimate act at Rosehall Hall tonight is the Kliphuis Trio while next Friday, Molsky’s Mountain Drifters bring down the curtain on a golden era of music in the village.

“Mary said: “We’re hoping to go out with a bang and that everyone will have a great time.”


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