St.Andrews Dinner Dance

December 5, 1997 by Michael Swart
Filed under Events, General News

by Randall Patterson

Pattaya Scots and international community celebrated Saint Andrew’s Night last Saturday with the Saint Andrew’s Dinner Dance at the Royal Cliff Grand Ballroom. Over 300 people turned out for this gala evening organised by the Pattaya International Ladies Club. All proceeds from the event were donated to the Rayong AIDS Centre.

Saint Andrew, a Galilean fisherman, was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and the brother of Saint Peter. The apostle preached Christianity to the Russian aboriginals, the Scythians and the Greeks.

Andrew was crucified on an X shaped cross, now known as Saint Andrew’s cross. In the 8th century, part of his remains were taken to Scotland. Thus Andrew became the patron saint of Russia, Greece and Scotland.

Scotland’s national flag of white and blue bears a Saint Andrew’s cross and his feast day is a day of celebration for the Scots.

Scottish blood seems to be conducive to the production of great innovators in the fields of invention, science and medicine. We have the Scots to thank for the telephone, telegraph and the many inventions of Thomas Edison, an inventor of pure Scots descent.

Aside from celebrating the Scottish heritage, the people from the land of lochs dedicated the proceeds from the celebration to the Rayong AIDS Centre. This is not surprising as St. Andrew’s medical school in Scotland is considered one of the world’s finest.

The youngest graduate of this centuries old institution was a Thai prince, who finished his studies and garnered highest honours from the meticulously critical Scots board of examiners. He was certified a medial doctor at age 16.

The Scots may not know it themselves, but Thai people who have been to this wuthering country consider the Scots the most hospitable and friendly people in Europe. Thais also love scones and marmalade, but usually shudder when that dubious delicacy, Haggis is mentioned.

‘I just couldn’t stomach it’, recounted a Thai friend.

Money flowed out of the Scot’s hands with uncharacteristic freedom at the gala event when the revellers learned that all proceeds were going to help children with AIDS.

The main organisers were Jo Hall, President of the Pattaya International Ladies Club, Cath Gatrell, who is active at the Rayong AIDS Centre, and Catherine Bond, a closet Diva, who thinks no-one knows about her glorious singing voice.

Jo said the event was a great success. “This is the first Saint Andrew’s celebration in Pattaya but not the last. There will be many more to come.”

Jo added, “We had many generous sponsors and donations from many people in the community. We were highly gratified by the large donations which showed how much people care about helping others.”

There was a lively Highland Fling Traditional Scots Sword Dance and Irish Jig by dancer Erin Johnson.

Young Paul Gatrell sang Scots folk songs. His crystal clear boy soprano suited the highland songs and their straightforward simplicity.

Everyone had been practising the traditional Scots reel and all joined in the dance.

A few non-Celtic dancers made faux pas, resulting in collisions, but fortunately no one was ‘kilt’.

With all the ‘moorish’ food, drink and revelling, the fling ended and the crowed reeled home.

Original article by Pattaya Mail