Once again, the lodge organised another fine calendar event to fill the dark days of winter with a well-attended anniversary event. The evening began at 7pm following drinks at the bar when all began to gather in the well-prepared dining hall to again celebrate the birth of Scotland’s finest bard.
Robbie Burns, who was born in 1759, some 266 years ago and passed away aged only 37 years having written in his short life some of the most memorable verses and songs of the English-speaking world and who’s words and sentiments have not aged or lost any of their keen edge.
The lively chatter stilled as the bard’s Selkirk Grace was given by the lodge’s chaplain, George McDonald following which Sally and the rest of the staff swiftly presented the first of the three traditional courses beginning with cock-a-leekie soup.
Following the soup course, the next course was presented by organiser and master of ceremonies Stephen Oliver who carried the beast the length of the hall to the accompanying wail of howling pipes and delivered his, ‘Address to the Haggis’ accompanied by all of the customary theatrical mimes, motions, gestures and inflections and ended with his slicing and dicing of this, ‘chieftain of the sausage race’.
Next, the traditional neeps and tatties accompaniments were then distributed, also to the accompaniment of the pipes. The third course was a panna cotta with raspberries and shortbread biscuits as a variation to the traditional trifle dessert.
George McDonald then returned grace, followed by the first toast of the evening to the King by the master of the lodge Stephen Payne. Russell Skidmore then gave a well-presented history, in celebration to the memory of Robbie Burns, culminating in a rousing toast to the bard from generously filled and then refilled whisky tots.
The evening’s entertainment, Julie A Scott, was then introduced by Stephen as the noted tribute actor and singer who played Cilla Black in the musical at Liverpool’s Empire theatre. Julie then treated the audience to perfect renditions of Cilla’s hits, ‘Anyone who had a Heart’, ‘Alfie’, ‘Something tells me’, ‘You are my World’, ‘Step inside’ and many others, as well as songs by other artists mostly of the 70’s and 80’s, all interspersed with very humorous quips and asides.
During the interval, the tombola raffle was drawn for the many prizes which had been donated by the lodge and guests which raised a further £350 for future charitable giving to the benefit of the local community.
Julie then returned for her second set, which was just as lively and sing-along enjoyable as the first and got the lads and lasses on their pins to be, dancing the night away. The evening had come to its natural end by 11pm when Auld Lang Syne was movingly sung and accompanied by all. Members and guests then gradually departed to their carriages having all had been entertainment and well fed.
A busy hall celebrating Burns Night.