Ties with old Addington home end

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32789, 14 December 1971, Page 6

Ties with old Addington home end

Miss Muriel Waugh is moving from the only home she can remember and leaving behind more memories than she cares to think about.

The home built by her father on the corner of Wrights Road and Hillmorton Road, Addington, early this century, stands in the path of the proposed Southern Motorway and has been marked for demolition.

For 50 years Miss Waugh has taught pupils from all over Canterbury and from as far away as Auckland, the art of Highland and national dancing. Her studio was at the back of the house and on warm days she would open the doors or conduct classes on the lawn.

“The neighbours said they would miss hearing all the music around the place. My two sisters, Miss May and Miss Louie Waugh, used to teach music. It was a very busy and musical house.” Miss Waugh’s pupils have been successful in many competitions. “I never stress competition work, though. A lot of girls i just come here to learn the sheer delight of dancing. These ones I never try to persuade to enter competitions.”

Her studio at Wrights Road is liberally decorated with photographs of her past pupils. These she will transfer to her new premises in Hals-! well Road, where she will gointo semi-retirement.

“I couldn’t give up teaching altogether. When it has been such a big part of your life for so long you would lose so much.” Miss Waugh began dancing at a school run by the Canterbury Caledonian Society. Later she took private tuition, including being taught by Mr Willie Sutherland, who held the title of Scotland’s Supreme Highland Dancer. “It is quite interesting to look back now and realise

by a woman. In those days it was always men who were the judges."

’ Miss Waugh began teaching i dancing while still at school, juggling her time between shorthand and typing and . kilts and barre exercises. Def spite a warming from her i mother that she would bei come a “Jack of all trades and : master of none,” she abani doned secretarial work to . take on teaching full time. She taugh Highland and nai tional, Greek classical, ballet, I and ballroom dancing. . “I have held classes at , Ashburton, Lincoln and at j Christchurch homes such as Selwyn Blouse; Nazareth House, St" Joseph’s Boys’ Home and even taught four ! nuns at Calvary Hospital the Irish Reel.” The memorable occasions' in her career are many. “I can remember dancing before the then Governor-General j (Lord Jellicoe) and Ladyi Jellicoe as a member of the official Irish Reel party.” In 1922 Miss Waugh achieved the distinction of introducing the Irish Reel “as it is danced in Ireland,” to Christchurch. “It was the first time it had been. danced here.” At the same time, Miss Waugh was strumming away merrily as a member of Bloy’s Banjo Band. “With my sister, Louie, as accompanist, I often played the banjo over 3YA and played and danced at Caledonian Society concerts.”

These concerts were a high point in Christchurch social life of the time. “People used to be packed in like sardines. They would get acts from Auckland and Wellington—people they had never seen before—as well as the local people. They were marvellous occasions.”

The Waugh family is one of the oldest established in Addington. “We’ve always lived in the same house and, of course, being teachers of music and dancing, people from all over the place know us.” , . The house sits on what is the remainder of four acres of land that Miss Waugh’s father bought from a Mr Twhiggr, an Englishman, who named the nearby area Hillmorton after his home in England. Saturday was the final day of classes in the old. house, but Miss Waugh will continue her work in Halswell. “I get so much pleasure out of my pupils. It is marvellous to bring enjoyment to the people who watch them dance.”

The photograph shows Miss Waugh (centre) with her pupils, Lynley Brown (left) and Judith Burrows, at toe last lesson at the old studio, which can be seen in the background, on Saturday.