Mid Argyll young and old celebrate Rabbie Burns’ birthday

The 18th annual Burns Supper of Inveraray Burns Club was held in the Inveraray Inn on Saturday with an audience of 65 people.

The celebrations included a party of 11 who had travelled from Herefordshire, and others travelling from Ayrshire and East Kilbride.

The audience was welcomed by club president Rev Roderick Campbell, and the proceedings started in the traditional manner with world renowned piper Stuart Liddell MBE piping in the haggis, which was carried by Welshman Gethin Jenkins and addressed by Allan McMillan from Cumnock.

After a delicious four-course meal, Piper Major

Stuart Liddell led the formal part of the evening with a display of skilful piping, proving exactly why he has been crowned world champion on so many occasions.

Past president Jim McMillan delivered an exceptional toast to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns, which provided all with a greater understanding of Scotland’s poet.

There followed a selection of songs from Bletherskyte, an Ayrshire folk duo, with a very humorous Toast to the Lassies by another Ayrshire man, Bobby McCallum, who was making his second appearance at an Inveraray Burns Club celebration.

The reply to Bobby was made by vice president Pamela Spalding, who stood in just 24 hours before after the original speaker had to withdraw because of illness.

In a light-hearted swipe at the male species, Pamela linked men and their weaknesses to Dr Who, who, until Jodie Whitaker, had always been played as a male, supported by a canny female.

Kenny Stark, past president, recited the fictional story Burns wrote of the death of his pet ewe, Mailie, who left her only possessions, her two lambs, to her master to look after.

A toast to the club was given by a member of the Herefordshire group, Andy Taylor, and the evening closed with the whole company singing The Star of Rabbie Burns and Auld Lang Syne.

Next year’s event will be held on January 25. For more information email garronbridge@gmail.com.

Meanwhile, at the end of last week, Lochgilphead Primary School pupils celebrated the Bard’s birthday with an afternoon of poems and songs, performed by all the pupils.

The primary children were piped along the corridor to the hall by S5 student Euan – who last piped in a similar fashion when he was in primary 7. The school said it was a “fantastic” afternoon celebrating Burns.