Tumbling Lassie Ball raises £13,000

The proceeds from the ball are to go to two groups, TARA and the International Justice Mission (IJM), which tackle the scourge of human trafficking at home and abroad.

In the 1687 Court of Session case of Reid v Scot of Harden and his Lady, a travelling showman demanded damages from a couple who had given refuge to the “tumbling lassie”, a girl forced by the showman to work as a performing gymnast. He produced a written contract to prove he had “bought” the girl from her mother.

However, the judges dismissed the claim.

A report of the case stated: “But we have no slaves in Scotland, and mothers cannot sell their bairns.”

Alan McLean QC, came across the little-known case by chance, and he formed the Tumbling Lassie Committee with fellow advocates, Patricia Comiskey, Maryam Labaki, Eric Robertson, Janys Scott QC, and Iain Mitchell QC, to celebrate the case and to raise funds for modern efforts to end slavery and to help its victims.

The ball was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh, and Mr McLean said: “We have been inspired by the level of support we have had from within the legal profession and from those outside it – we are delighted to have been involved in raising this much money for these worthy causes.”

Earlier in the day there had been an associated seminar which examined the history of the law on slavery and people trafficking, through to the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Bill, passed by the Scottish Parliament earlier this month.

Bronagh Andrew of TARA, said: “Community Safety Glasgow’s TARA Service were delighted to be invited to speak at the seminar and celebrate the recent passing of the bill at the Tumbling Lassie Ball.

“The seminar brought home to us the parallels with historical enslavement and the similarities in the experiences of survivors across the world.”

She added: “The Tumbling Lassie Committee’s passion and commitment to combat human trafficking and uphold universal human rights has assisted in raising awareness of the issue across Scotland.

“The opportunities to enhance the work of the TARA team through their fundraising activities will bring real change to the lives of the women we support.”

Andy Bevan, of IJM, said: “The UN estimate that four billion people live outside the protection of the law – they are in desperate need for people like us to raise our voices on their behalf. The Tumbling Lassie events, both the seminar and ball, certainly achieved this!”