Our Community Burns Supper was a resounding success with plenty of good food, music, verse, and company to go around!

It was wonderful to have such a gathering of people from our community.  We were from churches across Kilmallie, and no church, from those new to the area, and others who have lived here for years, yet only now attending their first Burns Supper!

From the piping in of the Haggis by Rev Rory MacLeod to the final verse of Auld Lang Syne there was a fantastic atmosphere within the Kilmallie Community Centre.

Throughout the night, guests enjoyed captivating renditions of Burns’ poetry and songs, showcasing both the works of the Bard and the talents of those performing them.

After it being carried in by resident ‘Poosie Nancy’, Norma MacLellan, Sandy Malcolm Addressed the Haggis with panache and David Anderson led the musical accompaniment for the evening. The Rev Malcolm Kinnear played airs on the fiddle with Ishbel Murray excelling in her singing of ‘My Love is like a Red, Red, Rose’.  Many didn’t know that Mendelssohn had arranged Burns but Ishbel and John Hutchison showed the sensitivity of his duet arrangement of ‘Oh, wert thou in the Cauld Blast?’, one of Burns last songs.  John then changed the mood completely with a spirited ‘Tam o’ Shanter’, always a favourite.       

The ‘Immortal Memory’, highlight of any Burns Supper, was given by Bill Cameron who educated us on the life of the “heaven sent ploughman poet” with a lacing of wit reminiscent of Burns work.

The ‘Toast to the Lasses’ was ably given by Cameron Malcolm, Chair of the Friends and Moira Murphy gave a more than capable ‘Reply on behalf of the Lasses’. 

In giving the vote of thanks, Rosemary Green commended those who had prepared the meal and the serving men who waited on the tables!   Margaret Simpson was especially thanked for managing the kitchen. 

The Friends of Kilmallie Church would like to thank all those who performed, proposed toasts, produced the Halesome Fare enjoyed by so many, helped set up the evening and everyone who came along and made it such an enjoyable and memorable night!