Burns Supper
As Burns Night (25th January) fell on a Saturday this year's regional event was the grand affair of a Burns Supper to honour Scotland's most famous poet, Mr Robert Burns. Wanting a venue with easy access from the motorway and a large function room for dancing my obvious choice was the Radisson Blu Hotel at East Midlands Airport. Especially as I have many dealings with this hotel in my professional life and am constantly amazed by the efficiency and helpfulness of all their staff. As a customer this four star hotel did not disappoint.
Having booked a ceilidh band nearly a year ago I was alarmed when their leader suffered a fractured shoulder and was no longer able to play the accordion so unfortunately had to cancel our booking. Would I find another ceilidh band available on Burns Night so near to the event? Eek! I need not have worried as, after much research and enquiries, I had a choice of bands and opted for Lonely Mister Punch. This 12 piece band came with various costumed musicians, a host of dance demonstrators and their very own 'Mr Punch' mascot, who for our event carried his own bottle of whisky!
From 6.00pm guests started arriving for our Burns Supper and the bar was soon awash with tartan in the form of kilts, dresses, sashes and ties. Although the hotel did not appear to be busy beyond our own party they had set up a special wine and whisky bar in the lobby of the function rooms to avoid any queue at the main bar. I enjoyed 'meeting and greeting' as so many attendees I had not previously met. It was great to see so many new faces of all ages. By 7.30pm everyone was seated and the Burns Supper began.
After a short welcome Annabel McLeod - our token Scot as far as I'm aware - gave the 'Selkirk Grace' and the first course was served. For many it was the first tasting of cullen skink, a smoked haddock based soup. Next was the parade of the haggis with the chef carrying a silver salver covered with tartan on which this Scottish delicacy lay followed by David Bolton who gave the traditional 'Address To A Haggis' before plunging a dagger into the offal! We then dined on plates of well-presented haggis, neeps and tatties. An excellent 'Immortal Memory Of Robert Burns' was given by Andrew Young ahead of the main course of beef tenderloin in a drambuie sauce. The other traditions of a Burns Supper are the 'Toast To The Lassies' and 'Reply From The Lassies'. These were given by Mark Graves and Susan Luke and raised a few chuckles. Yet more food arrived in the form of cranachan, a desert containing oats, raspberries, whisky and cream. It was then pointed out that the scrolls that formed part of the table centrepieces were in fact more than décor. Guests were instructed to open the blue ribbons to reveal the words to 'Auld Lang Syne' so they could join in the singing to the accompaniment of the accordion.
As coffee and shortbread were served the dancing began. This started simply with the 'Gay Gordons' and finished over two hours later with the more complicated 'Strip the Willow'. I was delighted that so many people danced most of the evening - especially after so much food! - and with a 50:50 male:female split plus several dance demonstrators nobody was ever short of a partner. Many of the dances were progressive so we got to meet each other in a short space of time. At midnight everyone took to the floor for one last linking of arms and singing of 'Auld Lang Syne' including the waiting staff and band who I think enjoyed the event as much as us!
Although this was an East Midlands event we were pleased to welcome guests from as far as Lancashire, Reading, London, Cambridge and even Cyprus. I've received so many messages of thanks including:
"Wonderful food and great dancing."
"Absolutely wonderful evening."
"Great fun - but far too much food!"
"Excellent Burns Night - more please!"
If you weren't there you missed out on a great night of dining and dancing.