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Dover and East Kent Scottish Society
Home      Burns' Night

Burns' Night  :  25th January 2008 :  Dover Town Hall
 
President Neil Farquhar welcomed over a hundred members and guests to the Society's traditional Dinner Dance
at the Dover Town Hall to commemorate the birth of Robert Burns.  Full report will follow, together with some
photos, but in summary
 
President                            Neil Farquhar
Immortal Memory              William Lang
The Guests                         Irene Mantle
Special Guest                     Graham Smith  - Editor of the East Kent Mercury
The Lassies                         Laurie Quigley
Reply for the Lassies         Kathleen Quigley
 
Star O' Robbie Burns         Norma Nunn
 
Toastmaster                       Graham Hutchison
 
Excellent catering and an Excellent Dance Band - more of that later.
 
The Immortal Memory by William Lang was a worthy highlight and spoken with passion and  knowledge
which he says was rejuvenated from learning Burns as a wee boy.  He is obviously not a one-stringed bow
as we have all experienced his vast knowledge of Whisky - I suppose the two are inextricably linked
- Whisky and Robert Burns.  William, delivered a speech aptly describing how Robert Burns liked the companionship
which Whisky provided rather than the actual Whisky itself and recited many verses to elaborate points within
his speech.  I am sure William Lang will be delivering more Immortal Memories and he was deserving of the
applause given. (And also deserving of the wee barley bree taken at the conclusion of his toast!)
 
Our special Guests, Graham Smith and his wife Sarah appeared to enjoy themselves and were up on the Dance
Floor much of the evening.  Graham, in his reply, stated that he was a "Scotophile" and loved the place.  He could not
understand why the Scottish Folk could leave such a place and he likened the scenery to being better than
Austria and Switzerland - in fact he initially said Scotland was up there with those two countries he has visited
but being the journalist, remembered his audience and quickly corrected things. I am sure that both Austria and
Switzerland have wonderful scenery but there aren't many Austrian or Switzerland societies here in England !
 
And besides, as Billy Connolly said on one of his shows, the Scots love singing about being so far away from
home and you can hardly do that unless you have actually left home!  Plus the fact it makes going home so much sweeter.
 
     
                                      TOP TABLE                          Irene, John, Jane, Neil, Sarah, Graham, Fiona, William
 
                  
 
William Lang delivering a memorable                   The "Nearly Top Table"  including Toastmaster Young
Immortal Memory                                              Hutch and photographer Alison (vacant chair)

     

Neil - our President.                                                    Irene, toasting "Our Guests"
 
           

Graham Smith, replying on behalf of The Guests.          Where would you go, without P and O ?
                                                                                                                Alison and Nicola enjoying a "Fleeting" moment off the dancefloor !
 
Following a traditional meal of Haggis, Steak Pie and Profiteroles and then the traditional speeches it was through
to the main hall for the Music and Dancing which commenced with a Grand March.  The dancing was expertly co-ordinated
by Society MCs Hutchison (Harry) and Johnston (Joe).  Thanet Leisure Force provided the catering and did an excellent
job - they in fact manage the Town Hall facilities and are very keen to try to meet all our requirements.  For example,
this year they provided Laurie Quigley esquire with "Hands Free" microphone, which he then passed to Kathleen for her
reply (Don't stick it there! She was claimed to have retorted !) 
The Music was booked with The Ian Shawcross Band and three musicians (Drums, Keyboard and Guitar) known as
"The PatchWork" did a brilliant job, not only with the style and quality of the music but with encouraging participation
in the Dancing and linking music etc.  The Piper was again Margaret Kearsley, who performed to her usual high standards
ensuring and maintaining the Scottishness of proceedings.
 
By all accounts, this was another resounding success.

Big thank you to Alison Laws who had her camera available and took these wonderful photographs.

 
If anyone has any others they would like to share - please forward on to the Editor/Webmaster.
 
This is a letter from Graham Smith of the East Kent / Dover Mercury.
 
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