Alloway Burns Club looks back to first supper in 1801
More than 80 members of Alloway Burns Club and friends gathered at Burns Cottage to remember the very first Burns Supper held there in July 1801, five years after the Bard’s death.
Due to an inclement weather forecast, the gathering was in the Education Pavilion where talented young piper, Tigan Harley, played as everyone arrived in the cottage grounds.
Club president Andrew Moynihan welcomed all before guest speaker, Martin Cassidy, a renowned Burnsian and past president of Alloway Burns Club, spoke of the different roles Burns played throughout his life – as son, brother, husband, father - and of the commitment given to these roles.
The president and guest Martin Cassidy laid a single red rose in the window of Burns Cottage while Lucy Pye, an accomplished young cellist, played My Love is like a Red Red Rose.
The company then headed to Alloway Village Hall, where, after an excellent buffet meal supplied by Poet’s Corner, they enjoyed ‘ sangs and clatter’ hosted by junior vice- president Bill Duncan. The evening closed with the vote of thanks from senior vice- president Maureen Leitch and a rousing rendition of Auld Lang Syne.
Meanwhile, a sunny Sunday morning marked the annual wreath laying at the monument in Alloway with an excellent turnout of members and representatives from other Burns’ clubs and organisations.
Young piper, Tigan Harley, led the company to the monument from the gathering point outside Alloway Church and once inside, club president, Andrew Moynihan, thanked her, welcomed everyone and said a few words about the continuing importance of Burns and his influence in the world today.
Wreaths were laid by: Sean McGlashan ( Burns Birthplace Museum Curator), William Grant ( Depute Provost, South Ayrshire Council), John Scott MSP, Bobby Kane ( Robert Burns World Federation), John Campbell ( Ayrshire Association of Burns Clubs), Alex McKenzie ( Ayr Burns Club), Margaret Greenlees ( Irvine Lasses Burns Club), Isobel Lynn ( Kilmarnock Howff Burns Club), Tom McCrorie ( Prestwick Burns Club), Ian Capstick ( Kilmarnock No 0 Burns Club) and Andrew Moynihan ( Alloway Burns Club).
Thereafter, Sean McGlashan, curator at the museum, updated all regarding the progress with the monument renovation, the present situation as regards funding and the timescale for completion. The ceremony concluded with Tigan piping the company back to the Museum for tea/ coffee and scones provided by the National Trust for Scotland.