No XII Charity Burns Supper 2016

The 6^th No XII Burns Supper was the biggest yet!  Just over 170 sat down in the Greenock Town Hall on Saturday 27^th February to a sumptuous meal prepared and served by our President of Stewards, Tony Buckley’s staff from I.C.E Catering. Having demanded admission, the Haggis was piped in by Lodge Piper Bro Alasdair Beaton PM and addressed in lusty fashion by Bro Alan D Beck IPM.  In charge of proceedings from the Chair was Bro Ian M Ross PM and he kept things moving along in his usual efficient and good humoured way.  Bro James P Livingstone RWPGM said Grace and Tam O’ Shanter was given a lively run out by Bro Sandy Reddy.  Main speaker Alasdair Hendry, local solicitor and member of Lodge Cumberland Kilwinning No 217, gave us a thought provoking Immortal Memory where he highlighted the universal appeal of Robert Burns, contrasting occasions when he has spoken in very different places, to very different audiences and yet found that the material was equally well received, thanks to the wide appeal of the Bard.  The Lassies were toasted in amusing fashion by Bro Duncan McFadyen (PM of The Glasgow Kilwinning No 4) and Andy Goram replied.  It was good to hear Deputy Provost Bro David Wilson in fine form and offering words of reassurance to the brethren of 217 regarding the repair of their temple.  Bro Ken MacDougall PM gave a hearty Vote of Thanks and this was followed by everyone joining enthusiastically in The Star o’ Rabbie Burns and Auld Lang Syne.  IPM Bro Alan D Beck’s singing was of the highest professional quality as were his accompanists, Jamie Stables on trumpet and Craig Dunsmore on keyboards.

We were grateful to professional auctioneer Brian Clements who stepped in from the body of the haul to conduct our charity auction.  This and the raffles so effectively conducted by the Bros McGregor brought an eventual profit from the evening to go to our charities of around £5,300.  The major beneficiaries will be the Erskine Home for veterans, Children in Poverty Inverclyde and REACH for Autism Inverclyde.

The 2017 Burns Supper will be on Saturday 25^th February!