It is with great sadness that we inform you that the great lady of dance, Mrs Jessie Stewart-Haggarty MBE, passed away peacefully at home in the afternoon of Sunday 28th August 2011.
Mrs Haggarty was 98 years of age and started teaching dance at age fourteen. Her pupils have been very successful in examinations and competitions, winning every major highland dancing championship in the UK. Mrs Haggarty has also trained students in many other countries including Canada, USA and Australia.
Mrs Haggarty was one of the founding members of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing. She was the recipient of many accolades including an MBE, the Atholl Clasp and two Carl Alan Awards amongst many other tributes. Mrs Haggarty was also SOBHD Vice President and formerly an Adjudicator of the SOBHD and an Examiner of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing.
A life dedicated to the preservation of Scottish culture and promotion of highland dancing, Mrs Haggarty has touched many lives throughout the highland dancing world.