Two lines from Burns, “to sum up all …… be merry, I advise: and as we’re merry, may we still be wise”, sum up a Burns Supper - an event of joy and singing, the pipes, the Haggis, toasts and whiskey.
Over 90 people gathered at the Knysna Yacht Club on Saturday, January 25 as the sun faded across the lagoon, approximately half the lads clad in kilts or tartan trews, the rest in black tie, and the ladies elegant with a touch of tartan. Sipping champagne, the partygoers were addressed by Chick Ramsay on behalf of the Knysna Burns Club, and exhorted to go back across the causeway for a “grand march” back to the quarterdeck, led by the pipes and drums of the Knysna Pipe Band.
The diners found their names on the seating plan and made their way to their tables for the Selkirt Grace by Linda Smerdon. “Some hae meat and canna eat, and some wad eat that want it: But we hae mat and we can eat, And sae the Lord be thankit”. The meal began with Flora MacDonald's Highland Patties, followed by the Lordly Haggis with neaps and tatties, slain by the MC Chick Ramsay after being piped in and addressed by himself. Wine stood on the tables, as did bottles of Clan Murray whiskey. A number of the lady diners doubled as waitresses and did a fantastic job of distributing the fare.
The dinner opened with all singing the Flower of Scotland accompanied by the pipes and drums. Then followed a toast by Simon McDonald to the immortal memory of Rabby Burns, a man who had spent much of life in a tiny hamlet in the Western Highlands of Scotland. It was a brilliant speech, acknowledge by the purists as being one of his very best, charged with information about the bard's life and love, and much humour. Four further toasts punctuated the meal, all with wonderful speeches and a number of songs contained on a song sheet.
Peter Southey and Ramsay performed two songs, accompanied on the piano by Dineal Weston - O my Luve’s Like a Red, Red Rose and There Was a Lad Was Born in Kyle and received much applause. After a superb Gowrie Berry Coulis, cheese and a Highland Cream it was time for singing Auld Long Syne, and a crowd of happy diners made their way home expressing their appreciation for a wonderful evening.
The Knysna Pipe Band, led by Pipe Major Steve Collins, performed during the Burns Supper.
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