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" Burns Night Celebrations 2024 "

Date & start time:       Tuesday 23rd January 2024. 7pm start.

Location of Start :      Loweswater Village Hall, Cumbria, Uk. ( CA13 0RU).

Places visited :            Just the Hall tonight.

Walk details :              Very limited . . . most folk could manage.

Highest point :           The Grand Address to the Haggis.

With :                            Myself, Loes and about 50 local residents and their friends.

Weather :                     Cold and damp outside, warm and bright indoors.

                     

                     

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number PU 100034184.

 

It's January and this time of year is regarded as almost the middle of winter.

Despite the cold weather, the snowdrops have braved the elements and started to provide a welcome display in my garden.

January also brings an important date on the Loweswater Social Calendar as well . . .

- - - o o o - - -

In Scotland, Burns Night is celebrated on the 25th of January,

but that doesn't stop Loweswater 77 Club

making an early start this year.

 

 

Tuesday was the convenient day for us to celebrate the Scottish Bard,

just a day or so away from his official birthday.

 

 

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Our illustrious Chairman John opened the proceedings with the explanation of why we were here today . . .

It turns out that most of modern day Cumbria was a principality of the Kingdom of Scotland at the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066,

so as technically past-residents of the Kingdom of Strathclyde, we were quite happy to cast care aside

and celebrate the life of Scotland's most famous poet, Rabbie Burns.

In true style the Haggis was piped into the room and paraded for all to see.

( Photo by Christine Goode.)

Our Piper tonight was Alistair Smeaton and the Haggis was presented by John Angus.

- - - o o o - - -

 

 

 

The mighty Haggis was placed at the front of the hall

for all to see,

and was addressed in the official manner by

Mr Ken Williamson.

 

The main dish was the veritable Haggis,

"warm, reeking, rich wi' Champit Tatties

and served with bashed Neeps".

 

- - - o o o - - -

Ken gave us the most memorable toast . . .
. . . praising the Haggis for it's grandeur . . .
   
it's taste, the ability to reach the soul . . .
. . . and he offered up a desire . . .
   

- - - o o o - - -

 

. . . and invited us all to join him

to toast the famous beastie with a wee dram of Whisky

 

 

The toast included the 'cleaving of the haggis'

with his trusty dirk.

 

 

 

My one regret of the evening

was not to have his amazing, animated speech on video.

 

 

- - - o o o - - -

 

 

Suitably praised, it was divided amongst the guests

and served with a large helping of Tatties and Neeps.

 

The jury is out as to definition of Neeps, some say it is turnip ('nips')

others say swede (a cross between turnips and kale).

Either way it was beautifully bashed and delightfully served.

 

- - - o o o - - -

 

The main course was complimented with Scottish Cranachan,

a dish of whipped cream with honey, Whisky and oatmeal.

A quick wiz around the room to acknowledge everyone who took part in tonight's event.

Names are withheld to protect the guilty !

Sorry you guys . . . caught you on the hop and I forgot to say cheers . . .

That's better . . . like the Tam o'Shanters everyone.

This table included Ken relaxing after his speech.

Likewise this table included Alastair and his good lady

who accompanied the proceedings later with her talented accordion music.

Peter on the right was alternating between drinking his whisky and practising his speech for the next stage of the evening.

The good ladies of Loweswater, Lorton and even Cockermouth.

A warm Scottish welcome from the next table.

Chris Judd, first on the left, would shortly be entertaining us too.

The final table, depending on where you class the starting point, included Christine who provided me with the first picture of the piper.
After the meal Peter stood to toast "The Immortal Memory" of Rabbie Burns.
Ably assisted in this task by Sue and Dave.

Rabbie is credited as one of the greatest Scottish and World poets.

He is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic Movement and a source of political inspiration for both liberalism and socialism.

He had many love affairs in his short life and was father to nine children.

He also often wrote his poems in a light 'Scots dialect' which helped make his poetry accessible to many more people beyond his home country.
The "Toast to the Lassies" was made by Keith . . .
. . . and the excellent response "To the Laddies" was by Chris.

- - - o o o - - -

The evening closed with a rather fine raffle with so many gifts that there was almost a prize for everyone.

And finally . . . our place mats tonight for those that wish more detail about the National Bard

and the words to tonight's parting song . . . Auld Lang Syne.

Click here or on the picture to view a larger, perhaps more readable photo

- - - o o o - - -

 

During the evening the topic arose about whether the Haggis was male or female.

The conclusion by one of our speakers was that, as the haggis had been cleaved by Ken during his address

then the haggis was definitely female as it now "had a visible cleavage" . . . thanks Keith !

 

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with my iPhone 11pro mobile phone camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . sufficient usquebaugh (the water of life) to match the toasts.

 

Go to Home Page . . . © RmH . . . Email me here

Previous walk - 18th January 2024 - Cold, Sunny, Hen Comb

A previous time up here - 24th January 2017 - Loweswater's Burns Night

Next walk -  27th January 2024 - Surprise Mellbreak