Monday 6 March 2017

Burns' Night Supper 2017

Chev. William Hackett KLJ MMLJ sets the scene 
as he prepares to warm up the pipes for the evening!

The Burns' Night Supper, hosted in Leyland, Lancashire 
and prepared by members Danny and Margaret Lawler, 
has become an annual event,
much anticipated by members and friends of the Order
from near and far.

This year proved the best attended Burns' Night yet 
and we raised £1,256 
for the leprosy charity SUROL in Sri Lanka. 
These funds are sent directly to the charity's patron, 
the Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith
Prelate Grand Cross of the Order of Merit.

The guests arriving.

Conf David O'Neill and Cons Teresa O'Neill,
who helped to raise our total funds on the evening by running a prize draw.

Mr John Robinson and Mrs Grace Robinson, 
friends of the Order. 
Thanks to Mr Robinson once again for the photographs





The saying goes that a man in a kilt is a man and a half!







Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, 
Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!

(Reference to the Haggis, of course, not Conf Lawler!)


Conf Andrew McDermot gives the Address to the Haggis 
and  does the honours of opening it up with a singular pen-knife of a vaguely military hue. 

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An cut you up wi ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!



Chev. Anthony Dickinson KLJ
treated us to a few suitable songs for the occasion.




I think the Scots call that, "Gi'en it laldie!"






Raising a glass to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns
- or were we toasting the King over the Water at this point?

Conf Damien McGrath gives the traditional toast to the Lassies,
extolling the many shortcomings and the few saving merits of the fairer sex.

Cons. Trish McGrath gives the Response and the Toast to the Laddies,
extolling their many shortcomings and their few saving graces!

Rev. Fr. Mark Lawler treats us to some of the excruciatingly good poetry of one of his compatriots, 
William Topaz McGonagall...

Poor little Sarah had never seen the snow;
She knew it was beautiful white, some children told her so;
And in December, when the snow began to fall,
She would go to the door and make a snowball.

I think we were enjoying it...

The dynamic duo of Burns' Night, Danny and Margaret Lawler
take a well earned rest after toiling in the kitchen all day!


And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
and gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak' a right gude-willie waught,
for auld lang syne.