Burns Suppers have been part of Scottish culture for more than 200 years as a means of commemorating our best loved bard. And when Burns immortalised haggis in verse he created a central link that is maintained to this day.

Lodge Cadder Argyle held its annual commemoration of Scotland’s best loved bard on Friday 13th January 2006.

The evening began with the chairman, RWM James T Cowan, welcoming the assembled company and introducing the Top Table.

The company was then asked to stand and receive the haggis. A piper from Chryston Boys Brigade Pipe Band led “the chef” Brother Russell Cameron, who carried the haggis to the top table. The guests accompanied them with the traditional slow handclap.

The Haggis
Tom McLeod then recited Burns' famous poem To A Haggis, with great enthusiasm. The company were asked to stand and toast the haggis with a glass of whisky.

Bobby Seggie said grace and the assembled guests sat down to a hearty traditional Burns Fairin.

Following the meal Georgie Thomson sang the first traditional song of the evening. This was followed by a recital from Andy Quinn and a song from an old favourite of Lodge Cadder Argyle, Archie Gallacher.

The Immortal Memory
One of the central features of the evening was Tom Johnston’s light hearted and memorable Immortal Memory. Tom really did manage to outline the greatness and the relevance of Burns today.

The 1st Chryston Boys Brigade Pipe Band then treated the audience to first-class Traditional Scottish tunes. As ever the 1st Chryston Boys Brigade Pipe Band carried out this job with dignity and professionalism.

Toast to the Lassies
Russell Cameron was given the task this year of proposing a Toast to the Lassies. This was carried out with decorum and with a certain degree of humour although there was a limit on what he could get away with as Russell’s wife Amanda was to reply to this toast. This was carried out in Amanda’s own inimitable way.

Tam O’Shanter
Brother Andy Quinn then gave the audience a first class recital of Burns’s Tam O’Shanter. The atmosphere in the hall was electric as Andy again showed how much of a Burns connoisseur he is.

Another song was carried out by Georgie Thomson, and then Brother Archie Gallacher led the audience in singing “Star o’ Rabbie Burns. Archie was accompanied by our organist for the evening Tom Lever.

A vote of thanks was very ably carried out by Charlie Blades. Charlie reminded the audience that the Burns Supper for 2007 will take place on Saturday 13th January 2007.

The evening culminated with the company standing, linking hands and singing Auld Lang Syne to conclude the programme.