Burns Night Supper 2012
Posted by: Richard Freeman on 04/02/12 |
Filed in: RCC News Updates
The 28th January saw the gathering of the RCC Clan at the clubhouse for Burns Night Supper, some 85 members and guests attended, the best turnout since this event was reinstated to the social calendar in 2010. The evening also witnessed the best turnout of kilts thus far - a total of five, plus Gerry's 'Tartan Trews'! whilst the rest of the the company got in the spirit with a touch of tartan (even if it was just a pocket handkerchief improvised from the table napkins provided!) Dave Beach did a wonderful job as 'Master of Ceremonies', drafted in as a late replacement for Mike Briers who is recovering from surgery and was unable to attend this year - best wishes from us all for a full recovery Mike! Colin Bromage kept the assembled company well supplied with essential fluids whilst the ladies of the House Committee, assisted this year by Pat & George Chiles served up an excellent traditional Burns Supper. Entertainment was provided by 'volunteer' members and Bill Bissett once again provided our musical interludes. The Commodore opened the proceedings with an expression of his gratitude to RCC members for their support to him and Helen during her illness and latterly for their support for him and his family following Helen's death on January 6th. He also noted that, following this sad event, many members had suggested that the Burns Night Supper might be cancelled as a mark of respect and frankly because many of us didn't feel up for it following her passing. He went on to say " However, you just can’t say Helen without it bringing a smile to your face, she loved ‘a good do’ and particularly enjoyed Burns Night and would be horrified if we’d cancelled this event on her account". He invited members to raise a glass to her as they enjoyed the evening. Mrs Monica Bissett delivered 'The Selkirk Grace' and, following the soup course, the Commodore 'Addressed the Haggis' somewhat theatrically in an ersatz Glaswegian accent. Of course, as is rapidly becoming a tradition, Pauline Betts (and others as yet unamed) conspired to put the Commodore off his stride - last year saw the Haggis commit suicide - splitting open before "rustic labours knife" got a look in. This year, going one better, Pauline had skinned the Haggis and put eyes, a nose and whiskers on it! Address completed and the Haggis duly toasted, we tucked in to a delicious meal and enjoyed good company to suitably Scottish background music. Following the meal a twenty minute break allowed time to inspect plumbing, check the weather outside and stock up at the bar before the 'entertainments'. Bill Bissett started the programme off with a bagpipe medley of 'The Battle Is O'er' and 'Black Bear', Stuart Blackledge then recited 'A Red, Red Rose' standing alongside the seated (and suitably blushing) Liz Benson - watch this space! Gerry then gave us a resounding rendition (complete with bibliography & footnotes) of Burn's ode to the common man - 'A Mans A Man For A' That'. There then followed a boring bit (well more than a bit actually, it went on and on and on....) where the Commodore recycled 'Immortal Address' speeches from previous years! Gary Woods, obviously fed up with making mice homeless, this year decided to uproot flowers as he recited 'Ode To A Mountain Daisy' - it was broadly the same plot as last years 'Ode To A Mouse' but apparently the daisy was turfed up by the plough (I say apparently because frankly nobody could understand a word of it , least of all Gary!). A sense of propriety was restored by Bernard Worsfold's sensitive rendition of 'Lines On The Fall Of Fyers'. Keith Lawton, in the laconic style that only he can manage, delivered an amusing 'Address To The Lassies' much to the approval of the assembled throng who were by this time definitely appreciating the finer points of alcoholic beverages. Sadly Alan and Diana Slorick, stalwarts of Burns Nights past were unable to attend as Alan had contracted a rather nasty throat infection (Get Well Soon!) and so it fell to the Commodore, with voice fading fast, to read 'Address To The Toothache' in Alan's stead - the bandage got a laugh even if the poem didn't! The highlight of the evening (once again) as measured on the clapometer was without doubt Kath Harper's 'Reply To The Toast To The Lassies'. Kath had put a lot of work into the composition of this Bridget Jones style response and it showed - it was hilarious! Well done Kath and also well done Colin who took it all in good part. Gerry Short then provided an unscheduled additional item to the evening's entertainment - a tongue in cheek discorse on the origins and taxonomy of the Haggis which he ended with the presentation of a model 'Tetroconidae Capercailie Raphus Cucullatus' to the Commodore - this now has pride of place in his home office surrounded by the model flowers Gerry had earlier distributed. Many Thanks Gerry! Following Bill Bissett's bagpipe rendition of 'Campbeltown Loch', Alan Betts proposed a vote of thanks to all who had contributed towards a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Those still capable of doing so then sang the first and last verses of 'Auld Lang Syne', marking the end of the evening. It is rumoured that some stalwarts continued to imbibe until 3am, personally I only did so for medicinal purposes which I found to be extremely restorative to the vocal chords however this proved to be at the expense of a somewhat delicate head in the morning! Richard Freeman - Commodore 
