Provost's Chain

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

PROVOST'S CHAIN (S4x32) Sq.Set

1- 8 All ½ turn partner RH, turn next person LH once round and ½ turn partner RH
9-16 1s+3s dance ½ Ladies' Chain, 1L+3L ¾ turn RH to face side couples and set
17-24 1L and 3L dance out through arches made by 2s and 4s back to places while 1M and 3M dance into centre and dance out to meet partners
25-32 All Promenade anticlockwise ¾ round to end 4123

Repeat with new top couple

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

Dance Information

Aberchirder, also referred to as Foggieloan in Scots and Obar Chiardair in Scottish Gaelic, is commonly known locally as Foggieloan or Foggie. This village is located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, positioned six miles to the west of Turriff, along the A97 road.

While William Auchinachie assumed the role of Provost of Aberchirder in 1893, neither he nor his successors possessed an official chain of office. However, in preparation for the celebration of the burgh's 200th anniversary in 1964, the Town Council, prompted by Treasurer Laurence Gordon, resolved to acquire one.

Mr Young of Turriff supplied the chain at a cost of £46-10-6, equivalent to about £777 in 2024. On Sunday, June 14, Provost John Taylor received the chain from Senior Bailie Alexander Watt in a ceremony held at the Town Clerk's office. Subsequently, the Town Council and local groups, led by piper Alex McRobert Grant, marched to the morning service at New Marnoch Church.

Notably, the chain, featuring the Burgh Crest and the unusual inscription 'The Commissioners Of The Burgh Of Aberchirder,' is now safeguarded by Aberdeenshire Heritage in Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Dance information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence 3.0.
Text from this original Aberchirder article on Wikipedia.

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