Burns Night Review
On 25th January 2003
On Saturday 25th January 2003 we raised a glass to the immortal memory of Robert Burns. It would have been even better had I remembered to fill it up beforehand, but in my defence it was my first time.
There was an element of ritual about the whole thing that was a little intimidating to the uninitiated, but as with my experience of Scots culture in general, it was in a way that made you feel welcome. There was the piper to march in the haggis, the various toasts to be made, and of course the inscrutable mysteries of the ceilidh.
I am told that we had the benefit of two genuine Scots on the evening. Stewart Kennedy could have been nothing else by his accent, giving a fine rendition of the "Address to a Haggis". He could have been saying pretty much anything for all that I understood, but it sounded magical, and those who had noticed him taking the vegetarian option earlier enjoyed his wince as he had to grasp the thing to cut it. Ray Calverley gave a stirring toast "to the immortal memory", for which I can have no higher praise than that it made me want to rush out to buy some of Burns' work. Geoff Kay and Janet Nelson made the witty "Toast to the Lassies" and "Reply from the Lassies" respectively, and everyone found a way to read from "a Red Red Rose", which is clearly Mensa's favourite work.
We all enjoyed fumbling our way through the ceilidh to the tunes of Heather with the accordian. She told us many times that she could play anything, not just ceilidh, and demonstrated her range by going through the full gamut of "accordian ballroom" including the foxtrot, quickstep and a slow waltz. I do feel that Andy Farrell went a little too far though when he asked for the TimeWarp! She didn't know it.
Many thanks to Maxine Bates for organising a really successful event the only pity is that the English don't take enough pride to do something for St George's Day. Maybe next year.
Some of the comments received about this event.