Burns Supper
A gathering of 100 people attended the supper at Park Farm on Friday 30th January.
Club President Sam Carlisle had a chest infection so John Donald stepped in as Chairman and got the evening underway by welcoming the artistes and the company.
Don Wylie MBE piped in the haggis which was carried by Club Captain Kenny Henderson.
The chairman offered the Selkirk Grace before the address To a Haggis by Andy Wallace who is a weel kent face in Dumfries.
An excellent meal was then served followed by the Loyal Toast. After dinner Stuart Anderson from Stow, a talented musician and singer entertained the company with two songs and accompanied himself on the accordion. This was followed by Mrs Kate Kaye from Dalbeattie with different humorous readings which were well received. Don Wylie MBE got resounding applause after entertaining us to a selection of Scottish tunes on the pipes. He never fails to entertain.
Derek Ingles from Hawick will long be remembered for his brilliant rendition of Tam o’ Shanter. Andy Wallace was next up to conclude the first half of the ongauns with a splendid and knowledgeable delivery of the main toast of the evening – The Immortal Memory.
Don Wylie MBE again stepped up to entertain with more stirring Scottish tunes which were well received by the company.
Derek Ingles who had entertained us earlier with Tam o’ Shanter now recited Willie Wastle, and nearly brought the house down with his take on one of Burns’ most humorous poems. Stuart Anderson was welcomed back and gave an excellent rendition of The Star o’ Rabbie Burns which had the company joining in with gusto. Following Stuart was Stevie Ellwood from Langholm who treated the gathering to an interesting and entertaining presentation of the Toast to the Lassies. Local lass Lesley Douglas rose to the occasion with her Reply frae the Lassies and the company enjoyed her amusing perceptions of the male species.
Kate Kaye again entertained with another funny recitation.Steve Ellwood followed and had the audience and artistes in stitches with a recitation that was short, funny and a little bawdy.
Derek Ingles took the floor for his last recitation – Holy Willie’s Prayer – and, dressed for the part, he did not disappoint and received a loud round of applause when he finished. Stuart Anderson on the accordion and John Donald on the “moothie” led the company in a song medley, finishing with the Saints Go Marching In.
As the evening drew to a close Chairman John Donald thanked the artistes, bar and catering staff and all the helpers who made the Supper such a success. Issy Rainey presented the artistes with commemorative medals and thanked John Donald for chairing the event at such short notice.
A successful evening then concluded with the company singing Auld Lang Syne.