Betty Jessiman

Highland dance champion and teacher; Born: March 18, 1921; Died: February 16, 2012. BETTY Jessiman, who has died aged 90, took on the traditionally male world of competitive Highland dancing and won – in spectacular fashion.

She refused to be bound by the archaic system barring women from taking part alongside men and boys and her determination paved the way for generations of women to compete for trophies at Highland games across the land.

It also saw her become a world champion, beating the men at their own game time after time, ultimately being crowned champion of champions – proof, if ever it was needed, that the fairer sex deserved its place on the podium.

Today generations of dancers have benefited from her expert tuition at the dance school that bears her name and is still going strong 60 years on.

Born in Huntly, the daughter of baker Edward Jessiman, she began dancing when she was four. Initially taught at home by her mother Helen, she later attended classes in Huntly with her sisters Gertie, Tibby and Margaret, and also took lessons in Aberdeen. The four girls, known as The Jessiman Sisters, danced with the local harmonium band all over north-east Scotland.

After leaving the Gordon Schools, Huntly, she worked as a secretary for local solicitors Murdoch, Macmath and Mitchell before joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) at 18 with Tibby.

During the war they both served as secretaries to officers and were stationed in Dunfermline, Shetland and Orkney. They also entertained the troops, dancing with various concert parties, and were both made honorary members of the Entertainments National Service Association. Her last posting was to Edinburgh Castle.

After leaving the ATS in 1947 she trained as a ballet and tap teacher at Madam Ada’s dance school in Edinburgh. She was already a qualified Highland dance teacher and returned home at the weekends to take classes in Huntly and the surrounding area.

At this time, despite the efforts of one woman named Jenny Douglas,