When Januar’ wind was blawing cauld!

 

January was always going to be a busy month and after the relatively quite time over Christmas and New Year I was ‘all set’ for the Burns season.

The secretary has documented many of the events in has blog so its bullet points for me.

Monday 11th. Executive committee meeting at Howff, lively but controllable!! Just!!

Sunday 17th. Durisdeer Village Hall for the old folks treat, yes I was their treat! Singing to the music of good friends John Douglas on accordion and Ian Kirkpatrick on fiddle.

Monday 18th. Round Table Burns Supper at The Globe. Sang for my supper as well at ‘toasting’ the Round Table as is the custom for Howff Club President.

Tuesday 19th. Locharbriggs old folks club Burns Lunch, cooked the meal for the locals then entertained with couple of Burns songs. Later in the evening chaired the meeting of the Locharbriggs Community Centre Association.

Thursday 21st. Lochfoot Village Hall for the Lochfoot Lunch Club’s Burns Lunch. Sang couple of songs and won a prize in their garden plant competition. Out again at night to Broughton House Kirkcudbright at the invitation of RBWF President Mike Duguid for ‘An Evening with Burns’ along with Chris Rollie and Holly Little. Chris is still one of the best orators of Burns works and if there is a better singer on the scene than Holly Little I have yet to hear her.

Friday 22nd. Dumbuck Hotel Dumbarton, for the Dumbarton Burns Club Burns Supper. Extended the fraternal greetings from Howff to our great friends at Dumbarton and then sang two songs at the request of the President.

Saturday23rd. Southerness Golf Club Burns Supper which was a comedy of errors at the start but turned out to be ok and a great Immortal Memory from Hon Member of the Howff Joe Campbell.

Sunday 24th. Locharbriggs Community Centre, where as their Chairman I hosted the ‘Songs of Praise for Burns’ A packed hall sang hymns sung to favourite Scottish tunes,  Burns reflection from Wilson Ogilvie, Prayer from Rev David Almond and music from Willie McRobert on accordion. Great night and the many complimentary comments whilst enjoying the coffee and shortbread afterwards proved we had hit the right note with our theme.

Monday 25th. Lunch at Globe Inn followed by service at St Michaels where I sang ‘Ae Fond Kiss’ before freezing at the Mausoleum to lay the clubs wreath. A welcome cup of coffee and blether was held in the hall afterwards.

Howff Club Anniversary Supper at Globe Inn.

Biased I may be here but I had the great honour or presiding over one of the best Burns Suppers I have ever attended. Toasts were great from Ted Cowan (Immortal memory) and Willie McDougall (The Lassies O’), Music from James Coutts, Ian Kirkpatrick and Lionel McClelland was of the highest standard and champion recitationist Willie Horne captivated the audience. Club members also added to the programme and I was overwhelmed by the support I received as President. A night I will remember for a long long time and another highlight in my year as Howff President.

Tuesday 26th. Loreburn Retirement Group Burns Lunch at Maxwelltown Church hall and then to the Globe Inn for their ‘in house’ Burns Supper. Sang and enjoyed a relaxed night of great entertainment and atmosphere.

Wednesday 27th. Lunch at Globe Inn with secretary to de brief from the anniversary supper. We were both still on a high from that great night! Travelled onto Dunscore for a rehearsal with pianist Peter Gunnel for Burns Supper taking place in February.

Thursday 28th. Globe Inn again as guest of Dumfries Lions Club and sang at their Burns Supper.

Friday 29th. Gilcknockie Village Hall for a real community Burns Supper,  the hall was packed with all ages and was great to be back singing where I had entertained during their Homecoming event in late summer of 2009.

Saturday 30th. Locharbriggs Community Centre for the Burns Season Dance. I didn’t do much dancing as my remit was to cook the meal for the 140 folk who were dancing to music from John Douglas and his band. The fun in the kitchen whilst listening to the music was hilarious and we served the meal in minutes with one complaint!!! It was too hot for some! Fun it was and we now realise that the fire safety warning system we installed in the centre in July does work as the alarms were ringing when the ‘tumshie’ boiled over on the stove.

Sunday31st. The month draws to a close with the humbling experience of the Charnwood Lodge Burns Supper. I chaired the event and addressed the Haggis before delivering a short Immortal Memory. I didn’t speak long and themed my speech round quotes from songs and poems that the audience would recognise. I was pleased with my effort and think it went down ok with the assembled members of the Howff and residents and friends of Charnwood.

So January over and what a great month it’s been. The anniversary supper is still being talked about and just proves what a great night it was.

Songs I have sung during the month have included. Ae Fond Kiss, Aye Waulkin O, Corn Rigs, There Was A Lad, Cragieburn Wood, Braes of Ballochmyle, Lass of Ballochmyle, Bonnie Wee Thing, Ye Banks and Braes, A Man’s A Man, O Wert Tho In The Cauld Blast and The Star o Rabbie Burns.

 

John M Caskie

PRESIDENT

BURNS HOWFF CLUB

07/02/2010