Kippen Road
Fintry, Glasgow
G63 0YA
01360 860205
Fintry Sports Club
BURNS SUPPER 2009
The Club’s 27th “Lads & Lassies” Burns Supper was held in the club lounge on Friday February 6th, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s national bard. The “Mixed Tradition” started in the Fintry Inn in 1983 and moved to the Sports Centre in 1993. The Chairman for the evening, Lloyd Inglis, gave a special welcome to the guests from all the airts and pairts.
The haggis carried aloft by Poosie Nansie – Linda Macadam – and was piped in by Sandy Shearlaw, addressed and despatched by Paul Carey in his usual rumbustious manner.
Prof Alex Gardner from Balfron gave a well researched, skilfully crafted and thought provoking “Immortal Memory” delivered in a highly professional manner. Prof Gardner focused on the Bard’s highs and lows as illustrated by many of his poems. He also dealt with the living conditions that pervaded many parts of Scotland in the second half of the eighteenth century and how they affected the lives and attitudes of the people. It was a tour de force, unique and set the tone for what turned out to be a truly memorable evening.
Jackie Smith’s animated and electrifying “performance” of Tam O’ Shanter was enthusiastically received.
Much to the delight of the audience singers Margo Campbell and Robert McLaren, accompanied by Anne McEwan on piano provided a thoroughly enjoyable Musical Interlude which is as popular as ever.
Dr Ian Rodger’s hilarious “Toast to the Lassies” was replied to by Marion Johnston in a light hearted and provocative manner focussing in on men’s foibles.
By the light of a candle and dressed in a night-
Derek and Janet Hulme entertained the company with a widely varied and well balanced selection of fiddle music.
Jackie Smith performed “Kate’s Reply” in which she berated a drunken Tam (Robert McLaren) for all his failings. Robert’s amusing portrayal of a drunken Tam was also warmly applauded.
The men had been taking a “beating” and Paul Carey decided to redress the balance
with “Tam’s Riposte” which certainly demonstrated Paul’s thespian skills, coruscating
wit and could only be described – by the men -
Angela Carey proposed a cleverly crafted “Toast to Scotland” in which she ranged over Scotland and the various types of people who make Scotland what it is today. Angela highlighted what the people of Scotland have and are continuing to achieve and certainly captured the new frisson abroad in Scotland today.
The club’s manageress Tracey and her staff, as always, made a major contribution to the success of the evening by setting the scene, preparing and serving a high quality meal, refreshments and clearing up afterwards in an efficient and unobtrusive manner.
In her “Vote of Thanks on Behalf of the Guests” Moira Perritt paid generous tribute to the Chairman and all who had taken part in providing the meal, refreshments, service and entertainment of such outstanding quality. She also thanked the audience for their attentiveness and spontaneous warm applause afforded to each and every artiste.
Lloyd Inglis, chairman for the last twenty three years, intimated that he was relinquishing the chairmanship. Next year he looked forward to being be part of the audience and to be able to relax and enjoy the evening. He thanked everyone for their support over the years.
Once again the evening was a great success and in no small measure was due, not only to the quality of the speakers and musicians, but also to the time and effort they take in preparing for the evening.
The evening concluded with entire company singing Auld Lang Syne.
Perhaps what typifies the attitudes that pervade the Club’s “Lads & Lassies” Burns
Supper are contained in:-
“And let the lesson be -
Ye needna fash gin it’s to be ocht else.
To be yersel’s -
Nae harder job to mortals has been gi’en.”
(Hugh MacDiarmid, A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle)
TLI February 10th, 2009