Dancing with joy at prospect of a trip to rally in Denmark

NO wonder they are looking so cheery. These are members of Cambuslang Youth Club in 1949 who are going to be representing Scotland at an International Youth Hostel Rally in Denmark, when they would be giving an exhibition of country dancing.

Remember, this is only four years after the end of the Second World War so they would be among the first young folk from Cambuslang to go abroad without having a rifle in their hands.

They are pictured here heading to Cambuslang Community Centre to give a demonstration before leaving.

Not many young men in the picture, and would it be wrong to assume they are thinking how much they are going to enjoy showing the young women of Denmark what Scots look like in kilts?

The youth hostel movement began in 1909 and it spread rapidly worldwide. Back then you had to do chores, such as cleaning and bed-making, when you stayed in a hostel but that has since been abandoned in most accommodation.

In Scotland, youth hostelling began in 1931, and there are now more than 60 hostels connected to Hostelling Scotland. Often they are in areas of scenic beauty, and apart from the standard shared accommodation there are often private rooms with en-suite facilities, as well as cafes – some licensed.

But what could be better than a trip to Denmark from Cambuslang in 1949, even if you did have to dance when you got here?

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