Peter Gambold(20th May 1935 - 16th August 2025)

The St. Andrew’s Club in Swansea were saddened by the death in August of Peter Gambold, one of their long-term members. Anyone who has had anything to do with the Club throughout its 70 years of dancing, particularly those prior to CoVid, will have encountered Peter.

The following is an extract from the tribute given by Jim Proudfoot at Peter’s funeral, which was held on Friday 12 September 2025.

Like many Scout & Guide leaders at the time, Peter and Barbara met at the HYP Club - Honour Your Partner - run by a Scotsman who taught them some Scottish Dancing. They gravitated to the St Andrew’s Club in 1955, just before they were married. Alan Kerr, one of the founder members of the Club, used to recall the young couple sitting on the side, holding hands and exchanging longing glances! After a couple of years break for National Service, some of it in Stirling, Peter returned and, as was his way, joined the Club committee in 1960. He became MC in 1968, responsible for selecting and teaching the dances on Club nights and preparing programmes for, and running, social evenings, a post he gave up only after his heart problems in 2010 - 40 plus years of responsibility in this key demanding role. During that time he held the position of Club President several times. He was at the formation meeting of the South Wales Branch of the RSCDS and served on its committee for 8 years.  Peter’s commitment to Scottish dancing, as with the other activities he followed, was second to none. He was made an Honorary Vice-President of the St Andrew’s Club in 2011, at our 60^th Anniversary dance.

Peter enjoyed his dancing and he travelled widely to day and weekend schools to extend his considerable knowledge, so that he could pass it on to us back in the Club. His contribution across South Wales over the years cannot be overstated. As Keith Lascelles said in the foreword to the book of Peter’s dances, “Dancers throughout the years have been grateful for his dedication, patience and humour”. And if that patience and humour did sometimes slip, it was only very occasionally and usually when faced with a roomful of dancers in their dullest mode! As someone who has assumed his role since, I marvel sometimes that he kept his cool so long! A couple of comments I’ve received since his death are indicative of the influence he had: “It was Peter who whisked me off to Cheltenham Day School when I'd only been dancing a few weeks”. That would have been early 1976, a long time ago.” - that from Lyn Wilson, now, of course, a stalwart teacher in the area. And again: “He made us so welcome when we started back in St Andrew’s. He will be much missed and remembered with great affection.”

We will all miss him.

Jim Proudfoot