Burns Supper - Saturday 28 January
2006 in the Masonic Temple, Alexandria.
The Club's Annual Festival took
place in the Masonic Temple, Alexandria when 150 members and guests sat down
to an excellent meal provided by Venue Caterers.
The Supper was chaired over by the Club President Ian
Collins, he welcomed
everyone in his inimitable manner, then called for a minute's silence to remember
deceased members including past president Peter McLaren. He then asked the company
to be upstanding to welcome the beastie, which was piped in by Malcolm
Gilmourand carried by Robert Mills and addressed by Dr
Tom Barlow, who duly cut open
the haggis with surgical precision.
Ian Collins our Chairman with Donald Campbell and Eddie
Gaughan on his right.
The Immortal Memory was given by Club member the Reverend
Donald Campbell who reflected
upon Burns being an artist whose brush strokes let us all visualise the bard's
wide range of talents, including Conviviality and Fun, Mother Nature, the Glory
of Scotland's proud history, the Simple Life of the Cotter and how relevant Burns'
words are to us today. This most thoughtful Immortal Memory was very well received.
John Barleycorn was toasted by Jim McNiven and the Lasses were given their
place by John Doran.
Tom Barlow gave the reading of John Glen 'am unco mornfu
tale' about a deceased
club member who was the local undertaker.
Eddie Gaughan delivers his excellent Tam o' Shanter
Eddie Gaughan gave his usual virtuoso performance of Tam
O'Shanter and a superb compilation of some of the bard's most famous lines.
Mike Taylor brought the evil elder Holy
Willie to life.
Songs were provided by John Young and Ian
McLean and included, There was a
lad, Ca' the Yowes, Ae Fond Kiss,
A Man's a Man and a Parcel of Rogues.
John Young and Ian McLean entertain the audience in song
A highlight of the Annual Festival is Sangs and Clatter presented by Lennie
Moore whose humour had the audience literally rolling in the aisles.
The one and only Lenny Moore
The evening concluded with the Toast to the Artistes by Fergus
McLellan and
then everyone joined in the Star of Rabbie Burns followed by Auld Lang Syne.
(The 2007 Festival will take place on Saturday 27 January).
