Our Burns celebrations this year focussed on family and community. On 26th January, storyteller Renita Boyle held a “Wee Burns Bash” in the barn built by the poet. She told stories of Laldy, the not-so-timorous mouse, and the children played games, sang songs, coloured in, and enjoyed a Burns-themed snack. All the fun took place on the farm built by Burns himself for his young family.
A week later on 1st February we held A Taste of Burns which was part of the Big Burns Supper community events.
Guests joined us in the historic kitchen within the farmhouse at lunchtime where they enjoyed a mini Burns Supper menu provided by Hulaballoo to You with performances by local musicians
Thomas Robertson piped as people arrived and our Development Officer Ailsa Paton welcomed guests. Next, the Haggis had its moment piped in by Thomas Robertson. Address to the Haggis was performed by young Burnsian Tess Harper followed by the toast. After the Haggis was appropriately appreciated, it was served up to the hungry guests.
The toast to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns was delivered by Project Director Joan McAlpine and Grant Dinwoodie performed a selection of traditional songs.
Instead of a Toast to the Lassies, all the guests read a line from the Burns song ‘A Red Red Rose’. Instead of the Lassies’s reply, a Toast to the Lads was performed by Tess Harper who recited ‘The Ploughman’. Finally, Auld Lang Syne was performed by Grant and Tess while guests joined in too.
Thank you as always to our supporters: The National Lottery Players – The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Annandale & Nithsdale Community Benefit Fund and The Holywood Trust.