Who Are We?
Our History
Nitten Folk Club was set up in 1986 by a steering committee of seven founding members. It was originally called the Lady Victoria Folk Club, as the meetings were held in the tearoom of the Scottish Mining Museum, formerly the Lady Victoria Colliery.
The aim was to encourage, promote and keep alive traditional and contemporary folk songs, poems and stories.. Since its creation it has grown to become one of the most popular folk clubs in Scotland. Every Thursday evening members and visitors get together to sing old songs and new, recite poetry and just enjoy the camaraderie and joy that comes with being a part of the community.
In order to achieve these aims the club tries to foster and encourage interest in all forms of the performing folk arts in Newtongrange and the surrounding communities.
Although nominally a ‘Folk Club’ we are open to all genres of music: on any given Thursday you might be regaled with songs by Robert Burns, Tom Paxton, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and even Noel Coward, in rapid succession.
Our Venue
Around 1990-91 (we’re not sure exactly when), the club moved premises to The Dean Tavern. The Club was renamed Nitten Folk Club. (the local name for Newtongrange). We remain at the Dean to this day and meet every Thursday from 8-30pm till 11:00pm. The club has flourished in this setting and considers itself to be one of the friendliest and most welcoming in the country, an opinion confirmed by many of our guests. At present we have more than 65 full time members and hope to keep the Folk Club tradition alive for many years.
Our Constitution
The club operates as a ‘Not For Profit’ non-incorporated organisation. The affairs of the club are managed by an elected committee comprising:
Convenor – Secretary – Treasurer – Organising Secretary and four others.
Election to the club committee is by vote, held at the A.G.M. each year.
The current committee members are:
Ian Duncan – Chairman
May Weatherston – Secretary
Ronnie Miller – Treasurer
Jim Weatherston – Booking Secretary
Janis Duncan – Gillan Anderson – Jane Fairnie – Tom Fairnie
Our Core Values
The aims and objectives are to encourage, promote and keep alive traditional and contemporary folk songs, poems and stories.
In order to achieve these aims the club will adopt a policy as devised hereunder:
- To foster and encourage interest in all forms of the performing folk arts in Newtongrange and the surrounding communities.
- To provide, on a regular basis, a social venue for sharing of these interests and a platform for their performance.
- To establish liaison and interchange between the club and other individuals, groups or organisations with mutual aims, interests or objectives.
Our Team
Ian Duncan
Ian is our club chairman. He is responsible for the overall running of the club and also handles the emcee duties for the guest artistes who appear at our club.
May Weatherston
May is our club secretary and deals with most of the administration of the club. In addition, along with hubbie Jim, she handles the organisation of club events, such as outings, meals and other special occasions.
Ronnie Miller
Ronnie is our club treasurer and is also our in-house sound engineer. He looks after the finances of the club and also provides and manages the PA system for visiting guests. In addition he also built and maintains the club's website.
Jim Weatherston
Booking Secretary
Janis Duncan
Committee Member
Gillian Anderson
Committee Member
Jane Fairnie
Committee Member.
Tom Fairnie
Committee Member