At one time, Cumbria was part of Scotland, but at other times
part of Scotland were English, so the border has moved over
the years.
Tonight it edged south again, if only for a few hours, as Loweswater
Village Hall seemed to be invaded by men in kilts and ladies
sporting tartan sashes.
It's Burns Night and the Loweswater 77 Club is in celebratory
mood . . . okay it's a day or so early, but you just can't get
a good piper to the village on the 25th for love nor money !
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Poetry abounds
as we celebrate Scotland's most famous writer of verse. |
We found a great piper
tonight . . . and he started the evening by welcoming
guests to the Hall. |

Tables were full with 60 locals and guests filling
the Hall . . . a good night is in prospect.
[ I have to say that, for as Club Chairman I
was responsible for getting everything organised !]

The guests included some who were to open the
evening and also entertain us after the meal.

The Hall and the tables were suitably decorated
for the occasion . . .

. . . as were the people.
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- - - o o o - - -
As the clock struck seven, it fell to me to quieten
the crowd,
to temporarily place their many conversations on
hold,
and to open the evenings proceedings
by asking Harry Patterson to say the traditional
Selkirk Grace.
- - - o o o - - -
Loweswater
77 Club Burns Supper
January 2025 Programme
7.00pm Welcome – Roger Hiley
The
meal - The Selkirk Grace - Harry Patterson -
then Cock-a-leekie
soup
Guests
please stand for the Haggis, piped in by Rowland
Lawson
Toast “To the Haggis” – Harry
Patterson
Main
Course - (Haggis
warm reeking, rich wi’ Tatties and Bashed
Neeps)
Dessert
- Cranachan
… followed by tea or coffee
Toast
“The Immortal Memory” – Roger
Hiley
Toast “To the Lassies” – Chris
Spencer
Toast “To the Laddies” – Barbara
Robinson
Entertainment
– by Niall and Harry Patterson
Raffle
Closing
Remarks – Roger Hiley
All sing Auld Lang Syne
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The first course was Cock-a-leekie soup,
a Scottish soup consisting of leeks and peppered
chicken stock, often thickened with rice or barley.

- - - o o o - - -
Our Piper for the night was Rowland Lawson
whose playing accompanied the arrival of the Haggis.
His wife Anne carried the delicacy on a silver platter,
and together they paraded the fine offering
the length of the hall and back
as the people stood and applauded in unison.
The Haggis was placed on the top table, and then
in true tradition
Niall Patterson "Addressed the Haggis"
with the words from the classic Rabbie Burns poem.
- - - o o o - - -
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Fir
fa' your honest, sonsie face, |
Great chieftan
o the puddin'-race ! |
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His
knife see rustic Labout dight, an cut you up wi ready
slight. |
And then.
O what a glorious sight, Warm-reekin, rich ! |
Click
her for the full poem of which Niall chose a slightly abridged
version of four verses.
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The magnificent
offering was paraded once more . . . |
. . . for all to appreciate
the quality of the offering before us. |

Round the tables while the guests were served
their meal.

"Cheers" from Loweswater.

Taking the BYO theme to heart . . . don't panic,
they're not all alcoholic bottles on the table !

A dubious crowd on the bottom table . . . including
from the left, Jeff who would recite a poem later, Christine
who wrote it, Lorna who helped me organise the evening,
Barbara, with Chris who volunteered (!) to propose
a toast after the meal, finally Keith, Lorna's husband, on the
right who also helped with the preparations.

I'll not name everyone . . . in order to protect
the guilty !

Niall and Harry our speakers plus Barbara on
the right, who would respond to Chris's "Toast to the Lassies"
after the meal.
She's looking a little worried . . . or is that
apprehensive ?

Our table . . . the less said the better.
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Cranachan
to follow . . . full marks to our caterer Ann Parry
and to her serving staff. |
It fell to me to give
the speech "To the immortal Memory of Rabbie Burns". |

Chris took to the floor to propose a toast to the "Lassies
of the Village"
with a guide to the finer points of male company to look
out for during the various stages of their lives.
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A fine speech,
sometimes humorous . . . sometimes serious. |
Barbara, here on the
left, responded in kind. |
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After the more formal part of the evening, the entertainment
continued with a recitation from Harry Patterson.
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This took
the form of a Bedtime Prayer by Burns . . . |
suitably supported by
candlelight and costume. |

Sometimes gentle, sometimes a plea, occasionally
a rant . . . but very entertaining.
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Niall also
entertained with Burns poetry . . . |
. . . and accompanied
himself on guitar for a couple of classic Burns songs. |
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Before proceedings drew to a close, we mustn't
forget to draw the raffle . . . with full appreciation to those
that donated "gifts with a scottish theme" this year.
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The evening
closed with the singing of Burn's famous song . . .
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. . . Auld Lang Syne
. . . "for the sake of olden times". |