BURNS' SUPPER SUCCESS
The Dover & East Kent Scottish Society celebrated the Anniversary of of the birth of Scotland's National Poet
Robert Burns in style at the wonderful venue of the Dover Town Hall on Friday 27th January 2012.
Our Society is celebrating our 125th Anniversary this year and it was only fitting that the event was graced
with the presence of The Right Worshipful The Town Mayor of Dover, Mrs Veronica Philpott
accompanied by Mrs Alice Charlesworth.
The Special Projects Committee of the Town Council have recently made a £500 grant towards our Special
Edition WeeBletherer which we are producing this year to help mark our Quasquicentennial Anniversary.
President Neil Farquhar addresses the Haggis, Mayor Ronnie to his right and wife Veronica on his left. In the background
are the Escort Party - Davy Andrews, Piper Margaret Adamson and Patsy Andrews (the one in the pinny!)
Davina & Graham Hutchison Veronica Farquhar, Alice Charlesworth
President Neil Farquhar, Mayor Ronnie Philpott The Great Stone Hall, Dover Town Hall
There were nigh on 160 people attending this Burns Supper and it was so nice to see a packed hall enjoying the wonderful
meal served in such fabulous a setting as the Great Stone Hall at Dover Town Hall. There can be very few Societies which are afforded
such a setting for their Burns' Suppers.
President Neil Farquhar, welcomed members and guests, said Grace and addressed the Haggis. Catering was provided by Thanet Leisure Force-
cock-a-leekie soup, haggis with mashed neeps n tatties, steak pie and vegetables, cranachan or trifle followed by coffee and mints. The Haggis
was especially good this year. The Catering staff did an excellent job of serving as usual.
This was followed by the formal part of the proceedings - the speeches and toasts.
The principal speaker this year was our very own Secretary, Graham Hutchison who was making his very first Immortal Memory. Graham delivered
an erudite and informative Immortal Memory, using the theme of the Excise as Burns had served in the Dumfries Excise for 7 years and Graham
had served as a Customs Officer so there were many common threads and co-incidences.
Graham would like to apologise to anyone who felt his speech perhaps went on a bit long but explains that in practice it had consistently taken
19 minutes as opposed to the 24 minutes it took delivering in reality. Many commented on the amount of effort and research Graham had
evidently put in but Graham adds " I did not have the skill to leave out large chunks which perhaps the circumstances may have otherwise
dictated but I attempted to deliver something different as not much is known or spoken of Burns' Excise Days. I hope I have dispelled the myth
that Burns was a drunkan Exciseman - he was far from it !"
The Immortal Memory was followed in time honoured fashion by the Toast to our Guests, which was performed excellently by debutant
Kenneth MacKellar. His speech was witty, humorous and sincere explaining that without our Guests, we would not be able to hold such
events and that they would not be as succesful. Credit to Kenny stepping up to the mark and hopefully this will be the first of many
speeches he delivers at such events.
The Reply was made eloquently by the glamorous The Rightworshipful, The Town Mayor of Dover, Councillor Veronica Philpott, who
remarked that she had been attending many of our Society functions over the years and was impressed by the warmth and hospitality shown.
The Toast to the Lassies was made by Society Legend Harry Hutchison who again delivered a speech people will be talking about for years.
Harry delivered much humour but enveloped with sincerity for the fairer sex and his skill in presentation allowed much irrevereance and cheek
which he explains "perhaps as you get older you can get away with a bit more". Some commented that he seems to get worse each time
he does it but those attending were lucky to witness a brilliant Toast to the Lassies by an expert speaker. Graham had commented
in his Immortal Memory that Burns was a Lovable Rogue, Harry may not be a Rogue but he is certainly a Rascal.
The Reply was made by longstanding member and former Committee member, Margaret Danstead, who delivered a very poetic Toast to The
Laddies which was excellent again with wit, humour and sincerity merged together. The poem I have replicated on the next page.
The Immortal Memory by Graham Hutchison Toast to Our Guests by Kenneth MacKellar Reply by Ronnie Philpott, Town Mayor
Toast to The Lassies the Inimitable Harry Hutchison The Reply to The Laddies by Margaret Danstead Toastmistress Irene Mantle.
Toastmistress and Society Vice-President, Irene Mantle had earlier presented President Neil Farquhar with a special Certificate from the
Robert Burns World Federation, congratulating us on or 125th Anniversary Year. Our Secretary Graham had also arranged a special
congratulations from the Scottish Culture Minister's Office, which was on display in the foyer.
President Neil Farquhar with special certificate. I hope this is a "smug" presidential look and not a "glum" one !
It was great to see so many "newbies" together with "oldies". There were several Scots amongst us who claimed
it to be their first ever Burns Supper, so I hope we impressed everyone enough to want to come back, again and again !
I, personally was thrilled to catch up with the McCarville's again after so many years - probably more than each of us would care
to admit to - cannot believe it was your first Burns Supper Frank - hope you and Fraser enjoyed it.
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BURNS SUPPER 2012
