Another sold-out crowd enjoys great food, fabulous entertainment at 24th Robbie Burns Supper

For the second year in a row, the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band has welcomed a sold-out crowd to the Robbie Burns Supper. Including the band, almost 200 people enjoyed the great food and fabulous entertainment at the 24th annual event held Saturday night at the Kincardine Legion.

Nathan Smith opened the evening by playing the Piper's Welcome.

Jennifer Farrell piped in the haggis, carried by Brandon Fitzgerald, and Scott Duncan did an amazing rendition of the Address to the Haggis. Cathy Milne gave the Selkirk Grace and the crowd enjoyed a delicious roast beef dinner, complete with the haggis, beautifully done by Cate O'Brien and her team of volunteers.



Scott Duncan offers an amazing rendition of the Address to the Haggis at the Robbie Burns Supper, Saturday night at the Kincardine Legion

Stuart Killin presented a marvellous Immortal Memory of Robbie Burns, not only giving some background on the great Scottish Bard, but also reading a few poems as only a Scotsman can do.

"So, why do we celebrate Robbie Burns, rather than some other Scots that we can seemingly connect much better to our lives today, such as Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, James Watt, famous for his work on steam engines, ... Sir Alexander Fleming, inventor of penicillin," said Killin.

"Why do we celebrate a poet who was born on Jan. 25, 1759, in the Village of Alloway, Scotland, just south of Ayr? His parents were tenant farmers, but they ensured he received a good education and helped him become an avid reader. After the release of his first published works of poetry, at just the age of 27, he became famous. We know he died at the young age of 37, after a hard life with many ups and downs that took a toll on his health.

"But why are we here, 258 years later, honouring a poet, a writer, a farmer? Perhaps, as we examine who he was, through the words he penned, we can see the characteristics and traits that we all see within ourselves."

Killin then read several Burns poems, outlining him as: a staunch defender of the right to bear arms and take a stand against tyranny; a critic of the ruling class and herald of equality; an environmentalist and animal lover; a hopeless romantic and a failure at relationships. He wrote about the weather, enjoyed his food, and loved a good story.

"But there is one poem, written in 1788, that in my mind brings us all together to remember Robbie Burns," said Killin. "It is the second-most-sung song in the world, surpassed only by 'Happy Birthday To You,' and it is the one time when the world comes together, when we close the old year and look to what the new one may bring. It's 'Auld Lang Syne'.

"We can all look at Robbie Burns and find something we identify with. We can see how he changed the world with his words and with his example. And we can all be inspired by that."

Killin then raised a toast to the Immortal Memory of Robbie Burns.

Andy Fraser offered a Toast to the Lassies, with a delightful poem he wrote himself. His wife, Rev. Kathy Fraser, gave the Reply from the Lassies and offered a Toast to the Laddies, in her original song, "The Bonnie Banks of Affection," to the tune of "Loch Lomond," accompanied by Brenda Manderson on keyboard.

The Kincardine Scottish then performed four songs and urged the crowd to Name That Tune after one particular song.

The Pleats, featuring Nick and Nicole Reid, Laurie Dalton and Brenda Manderson, performed, followed by another set by the Kincardine Scottish. This featured one song by the Mini-Band, consisting of newest members to more senior members with a few extra members to help out: Nathan Smith, Andy Smith, Jessica Bale, Aaron Urie, Brandon Fitzgerald, Martin Mendez Hennink, Terry Reid, Nick Reid, Steve Wolfe, Ashley McAllister, Lisa Moore, and drum major Lorne Smith.

The evening ended with a Toonie Toss for those who wanted to take home some of the extra haggis.



The Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band performs at the Robbie Burns Supper