The 250th anniversary of Robert Burn’s birth was celebrated on the 25th of January by the first-ever St Monans Community Council Burns Supper. Hosted in superb style by Ena and Tom Hughes at the Mayview Hotel …..almost every member of the Community Council got involved in the arranging and entertainment. The village got right behind the event and a hundred tickets were sold….the proceeds going to St Monans Primary School and Sea Queen Day funds.
Nearly all the entertainment was provided by people who live in St Monans, and what a bunch of talented individuals we have! The Mayview Function Suite was decorated by Ena and her helpers, becoming a tasteful Scottish and Burns ‘oasis’ for the evening.
On Sunday evening our guests arrived early- many dressing up especially for the occasion in kilts or tartan trews, or sporting tartan ties - or tartan and thistle button-holes - and that was just the men! While the ladies wore tartan sashes, jackets, skirts and even tartan shoes, with many adorned with floral, thistle & tartan corsages! It was great to see so many people getting right into the mood of the evening…..
Community Council Secretary, Ruth Craib, introduced the evening and gave a brief outline of what would happen, as many Guests had said earlier that this would be their first Burns Supper.
Our Piper was Nicole Fleming, who gave the proceedings just the right atmosphere. Her stirring music had the company on their feet clapping as she piped in the top table!
Those at the top table were - Alastair Wood our MC for the evening, (and a friend and colleague of Treasurer George Brown’s wife, Win, from Glenrothes), accompanied by his wife Margaret. Then there was Community Council Vice Chair, Vic Bland; Community Council member Vicki Salvage; Local poet - John Brewster and his wife Rita; and our two Burns ‘Divas’ - Janet Reekie and Ann West.
After the traditional Selkirk Grace - Nicole piped in the star of the evening, The Haggis. Poosie Nancie’s duty of carrying in the haggis was beautifully performed by our present Sea Queen, Lisa Fleming, who looked charming in her traditional outfit, including a long white apron and white mop-cap!
Alastair Wood performed a stirring rendition of ‘The Address to the Haggis’, the Piper emptied her quaich (of Irn Bru!) - and the whole company joined in the fun of toasting the haggis.
The Mayview Hotel served us a veritable Burns Nicht Banquet! Scotch Broth; Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, served with a helping of delicious Mince; Cranachan; Tea, Coffee and Home-Made shortbread. Excellent fare indeed!
The audience was also reminded to have suitable refreshments ready for the toasts to come.
Once the meal was cleared away - the speeches, poetry and musical entertainment began….. all graciously introduced by Alastair.
Vic Bland gave us ‘The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns’; explaining how he became acquainted with Burns many years ago as a butcher with Wiseman in Pittenweem. John Brewster’s ‘Address Ti the Lassies’ was a beautiful and humorous poem - especially penned for the occasion; followed by Vicki Salvage who Toasted the Laddies in a lighthearted ‘Reply’.
Janet Reekie gave two Burns recitations - ‘The Rights of Women’ and later - ‘John Barleycorn’. While Ann West gave us her choices of Burns poetry - firstly ‘An Address to the Toothache’ and later in the evening - the poem - ‘To a Louse’. Both Ladies delivered their poems with skill and great panache.
Janet’s recitation of John Barleycorn took us straight into one of the highlights of the evening - a raffle for the Famous Grouse 37 Year Old Malt Blend - a Special Edition bottle of Robert Burns Whisky…….. with only 250 bottles available world-wide. Alastair Wood’s wife, Margaret, drew the winning ticket, and presented the valuable prize to Tom Hughes on behalf of the winner - who wasn’t present. (Eck Ireland). The proceeds from this special raffle will be presented to the local RNLI.
The musical entertainment began with two songs from Rab and Roy of ‘Tackety Boot’. Had Robert Burns experienced a modern Car Boot Sale in Crail perhaps he would have written a song about it too, as Roy and Rab have!
Martin Salvage, Alistair Sutherland and George Brown gave us several Scottish songs on their guitars, with Martin singing and inviting the audience to join in. ‘Flower of Scotland’ was especially popular. This was the first public performance for this threesome. The first - but, hopefully, not the last time they play in public together.
Ian Thomson’s wonderful voice, accompanied by Alistair Sutherland on the classical guitar, was one of the highlights of the evening. Ian sang three Burns songs….. including ‘My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose’… we could have listened to him all evening!
Bill Buchan entertained us well, accompanied on keyboard by Ruth Craib; Billy even taught us an amusing song about Hunting for Haggis!
Last, but by no means least we were treated to communal singing accompanied by Ruth and Brian Craib on keyboards and double bass. Most people discovered that they knew more Burns songs than they realised when they heard the melodies. Ruth thoughtfully provided song-sheets for everyone.
Community Council Treasurer, George Brown, proposed the Vote of Thanks and Community Council member Bill Buchan presented Alastair and Margaret Wood with whisky and flowers as a token of our appreciation. Finally… Martin, Alistair & George lead the company in Burns’ most famous song, ‘Auld Lang Syne’.
As everyone left, the opinion of visitors and locals alike was that it was a great evening and they hoped we will hold another one next year!
(If anyone would like to ‘Do a Turn’ next year please let us know!)
The Community Council would like to thank Tim Hacking for providing the Burns Supper with a brilliant sound system and excellent lighting, and for working tirelessly with the performers to make sure everyone was comfortable with the sound & light they needed.
We would also like to thank The Famous Grouse (Scottish Whisky) for the generous gift of their bottle of rare whisky for our RNLI raffle.
