PRESIDENT DUTIES BEGIN!

Thursday 30^th April will live in my memory for a long time. That was the night I assumed the role of President of the Burns Howff Club. Over 30 members attended the AGM in the Globe Inn where they heard a comprehensive report on the past years proceedings by Secretary David Smith in his 37^th annual report. Retiring President David Miller, who has had a tremendous year, highlighted a few of the events he had attended and the ‘high points’ in what has been a busy year for him before presenting me with the famed chain of office as President of the club. In turn my first duty was to present David with a Past Presidents badge and thank him for the service he gave to the club over the past year.

Neil Johnston was elected Senior Vive President with Frank Manson becoming Junior Vice President. I look forward to working with both Neil and Frank in representing and promoting the club over the next 12 months. After conducting the second part of the meeting with the assistance of Secretary David Smith it was a pleasure to lead the members in Auld Lang Syne at the close of a morable evening for me.

Some members then retired to the Chinese restaurant for an enjoyable meal and refreshments.

Presidential duties are now under way; I look forward to the year ahead and thank the members of the Burns Howff Club for their support and confidence in electing me as their President for this year.

JOHN M CASKIE

PRESIDENT BURNS HOWFF CLUB 2009/2010

The third "Spring Fling" took place at the Easterbrook Hall on 28th March when a few members and many friends disported themselves to Reels, Strathspeys and Jigs with music from the popular ceilidh band "Two Left Feet".  Dancing was impressive with some members displaying unsuspected talent for the odd Gavotte and Cotillion. The raffle which took forever was a great success and brought in some cash for the Scots Language Competition. Thanks are due to David Baird and family for hard work and effort to make the evening so enjoyable. It is reported that Ted Murray has been approached for the next series of "Strictly Come Dancing" and is open to offers.

D. Smith

Flushed with success in the Round Table Quiz, see above, four intrepid quizzers entered for the Locharbriggs Community Centre's Quiz Night in the Lochar Inn, on 20th March.

Organised by John Caskie, the Creme de la Creme of the club pitted their wits against 21 teams from the district and more than held their own although the opposition was stiff and many of the questions were cryptic. The Burns Unit came in a commendable 5th with Jane Brown's team winning overall but they may have been in cahoots with the questionmaster although this can not be proved. The team consisted of David Miller, John Lauder, Rab Walker and David Smith. Once again Rab's knowledge of popular culture saved the day but the cumulative performance was outstanding.

This was a charity fundraiser for the Community Centre and a most enjoyable night which featured Irish Bingo and nibbles at half time.

D. Smith

After an absence of some years, the club entered a team in the Round Table Annual Charity Pub Quiz last month.

On successive Friday evenings in February, various cerebral members gathered in the Edenbank Hotel to strut their stuff and field questions from the trivial to the arcane all for fun and to support a good cause.  The first session on 6th Feb. saw David Miller, John Lauder, Rab Walker and the writer, entered as "The Burns Unit" return a score of 81.5 from a possible 100 (not bad). Unfortunately, the score at the next quiz on the 13th dropped to 70.5 when Godfrey Bedford replaced David Miller but that was entirely coincidental. On the third session on 20th Feb. Neil Johnston stood in for Rab Walker and the score lept up to 73.5 but the team fell by the wayside on the final session on the 27th when the score plummeted to 61.5 but the questions then were more obscure and the competition stiff. The last team was John Lauder, Ted Murray Derek Rogerson and the writer. Questionmaster Mark Jardine announced to some hilarity that the team from the Howff Club got a Burns question wrong by answering that the first recorded Burns Supper in the cottage at Alloway was held in 1805. The correct answer being 1801.  OK, so I was 4 years out. No big deal!

The cumulative score for "The Burns Unit" was 287 and we finished in the upper half of the Leader Board.  I would like to express admiration for David Miller's incisive grasp of recondite concepts which was invaluable. The encylopedic knowledge of popular culture (modern music) displayed by Rab Walker, Neil Johnston and Derek Rogerson was beyond price and the quiet erudition of Godfrey Bedford, Ted Murray and John Lauder betrayed a classical education and maintained the club' reputation for excellence. I can say with some modesty that my own contribution was not without merit.

The Quiz raised £2500 split between the local Menengitis Trust and the People's Project.

Perhaps next year, the club can find superior brains and improve the score. 

Saturday 21st February 2009 was the second supper held by the Ukrainian Social Club of Edinburgh to celebrate the life and works of Burns and the national poet of Ukraine, Tamas Shevchenko.

Over 100 revellers gathered in the club premises at 14 Royal Terrace in Edinburgh's New Town to be welcomed by the club president. The top table included David Baird, Jim Haining, Peter and Lesley Kormylo and the acting Consul General of the Ukriane, based in Edinburgh.

Following the Selkirk Grace, the company was blessed by Father Lubomyr and the Ukrainian Haggis Dish was addressed by Peter Kormylo. An interesting meal included Borsch Soup, made from Beetroot, and Haggis, Neeps and Tatties.

After dinner, David Baird proposed a riveting "Immortal Memory" of Burns, followed by a recital on Taras Shevchenko by Alex Kurlyuk. The toast to the Lassies was delivered by Jim Haining in his inimitable style and was ably replied to by Lesley Kormylo. Later, a ladies choir sang beautifully in Ukranian followed by a mandolin solo. A rousing version of "Auld Lang Syne" was followed by the Ukranian National Anthem at which, the contingent from Dumfries were unable to join in.

A most memorable evening was spent with members of the Ukrainian community and friends in Edinburgh and the Lothians and hopefully, the Burns & Shevchenko Supper will become a regular feature.

I had the pleasure of accompaning David Baird and Gordon Johnston. David, who was driving, found the club a trifle difficult to find due to the roundabouts and road system and the Satnav was worse than useless.

D. Smith

22/02/09

BUSY BURNS SEASON

2009 was always going to be a busy year for with the ‘Homecoming’ and the 250^th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. I have been out and about and have listed the events I have taken part in during a busy season.

Saturday 10^th January saw my ‘season’ begin. At 2pm, I joined Frank Curran at the local BBC studios where we gave our thoughts on two of Robert Burns’s songs which had been re mixed into a more contempory feel. Frank and I, both agreed that one was acceptable but the other wasn’t too our liking. The programme was recorded and aired the following Friday on BBC Radio Scotland. Later that evening I enjoyed my first Burns Supper at Mouswald village hall at the invitation of MouswaldChurch. A great start to the Supper season with Wilson Ogilvie delivering the Immortal memory. Friday 16^th I was at the Woodland House Hotel as guest of the St Michaels Burns Club’s supper where Michael Russell MSP gave the Immortal Memory. Jim Donald from Dumfries gave the ‘Memory’ at Marchmount Bowling club on Saturday 17^th. Monday 19^th I visited Lochside primary school in Dumfries, where I spoke to the children on the Howff Club and on Robert Burns, the kids were amazing and were well informed of our bards work. Tuesday 20^th I was back at Woodland House Hotel this time along with the members and friends of the Kidney Patients Association. The Immortal Memory was given by KPA member, Rev Ella Pennington. Wednesday 21^st I was honoured to be a guest at the Presiding Officers Burns Supper at the Scottish Parliament, I took my elder brother as my guest and we were treated to an excellent evening of friendship, fun and music in the Parliaments ‘garden lobby’ where the event was held. Before the supper, where Len Murray QC gave the Immortal Memory, we viewed the ‘as other see it’ exhibition. An exhibition of people from every walk of life giving their views on their favourite works of Robert Burns. Thursday 22^nd I attended the Lochmaben lunch Club for the annual Burns Lunch when David Shanlkand gave the toast. Friday 23^rd was the Howff Supper which was excellent and report is available both on web site and President’s blog, during the night, along with Past President Bill Welsh, I visited Dumfries Burns Club to offer in person, the fraternal exchange of greetings between the clubs. Irene McMichael from Auldgirth proposed the Immortal Memory at Hightae’s Royal Four Towns Hall on Sat24th where I was attending and on Sunday 25^th I took part in the Service at St Michaels Church before attending and performing at the Gala Dinner of the SSCBA at Easterbrook Hall in the evening. Tuesday 27^th I attended and sang at the Globe Inn for their ‘first’ Burns Supper run by the pub itself, and what a great night it was, where Chris Lyons gave the Immortal Memory.  Dalbeattie Burns Club held their Supper on 30^th Jan where I was guest singer and when Michael Russell MSP gave the Immortal Memory. Saturday 31^st was Gatehouse for their clubs Supper which was chaired by RBWF SVP Mike Duguid and the Immortal Memory was given by Chris Rollie. January ended but no let up in Burns events and Tuesday 3^rd February I visited Lockerbie for the lunchtime meeting of the ‘friendship club’ to sing a few songs of Burns. Friday 6^th Feb was the Burns season dance at Locharbriggs. In my role as chairman of the Locharbriggs Community Centre Association I welcomed the gathering then departed to the kitchen to assist with preparing the meal for the 150 folk who were enjoying the music and dance of the ‘Bon Accords’. Sat 7^th I ‘stewarded’ along with other Howff members at the SSCBA Schools competitions at the academy hall in Dumfries before heading to Gretna Hall Hotel to assist in the Burns Ceilidh for a private function at the hotel. Friday 13^th and Annan South Church Burns supper held in the church hall was well attended and the Immortal Memory given by Helen McNairn member of the Solway Burns Club. Ellisland Farm on Saturday14th and Michael Russell MSP again delivering an interesting Immortal Memory. Wednesday 18^th I will again be in the Globe Inn for the Rotary Club supper and that will conclude what has been a great time enjoying friendship company music and laughs all in the name of Robert Burns. During my travels I have tried to sing a variety of songs of Burns which have included, Ae Fond Kiss, Lass o’ Ballochmyle’ Ay Waulkin O’, Cragieburn Wood, Braes of Ballochmyle, O Wert Thou In the Cauld Blast, Scots Wha Hae, Corn Rigs, A Mans A Man, Green Grow the Rashes, My Luve is Like a Red Red Rose, The Lea Rig, Bonnie Wee Thing, The Star O’ Rabbie Burns and Auld Lang Syne.

JOHN M CASKIE

SVP BURNS HOWFF CLUB

Friday 23^rd January 2009