Burns Suppers

Robert Burns is known as the National Poet of Scotland, widely regarded as Scotland’s answer to Shakespeare! Indeed In 2009, STV ran a television series and public vote to decide who should be named as being the Greatest Scot. On St Andrew's day, STV revealed the results of the public vote, and Robert Burns was voted as being officially the Greatest Scot of all time, narrowly beating William Wallace, Scottish patriot and independence campaigner, for the title.

As a Scotsman, Burns’ Suppers are something of a speciality for me! Whether it is an intimate themed dinner at home or a vast gala society dinner, I can bring that air of distinction, diction, elegance (and most importantly, the accent!) to this truly unique event.

Robert Burns influence is felt globally, and Burns’ Suppers are hosted the world over, traditionally on January 25th, although you don’t need to wait until then to enjoy the atmosphere of this event. You can host your own Burns’ Supper any time of the year, and I will be glad to help with the planning, organising and running of the evening.

A standard Burns’ Supper format would be:

• Guests seated for dinner
  
  
• Top Table guests Piped in
  
  
• Chairpersons Welcome
  
  
• Haggis piped in (Address can be given by Toastmaster, piper or guest)
  
  
• Selkirk Grace (Again, by Toastmaster, Piper or guest)
  
  
• Dinner Served (As per Bill O’Fare (Menu))
  
  
• First Entertainer:- The Chairman introduces the first entertainer which could be a singer, a Burns recital, or musician.
  
  • Favourite recitals include Tam O Shanter –Holy Willie's Prayer - To A Mouse - A Man's A Man For A' That.
  • Songs include My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose - Rantin, Rovin Robin - John Anderson, My Jo - Ae Fond Kiss (It should be pointed out that there is no limit to how long this entertainment can continue!)
    
    
• The Immortal Memory
  
  
• Second Entertainer - Further appropriate entertainment.
  
  
• Short Appreciation
  
  
• Toast to the Lassies
  
  
• Response from the Lassies
  
  
• Vote of Thanks-Chairperson
  
  
• Auld Lang Syne

All of these lead to the creation of a truly unique and memorable evening. You can have these as a standalone Burns’ Supper, or perhaps as a way to theme your own event. Either way, you will never find anything else like it!

Testmonials

"I have played the bagpipes at quite a few Burns Suppers. What is critical, is the comical but traditional nature of the Haggis 'Address'. Alan performed this brilliantly, along with directing 160 guests throughout the evening in various activities and in various states of 'merriment'. Alan performed all of these duties with the same professional but comical manner, making an excellent night for the first Burns Supper organised by St. Richard's Hospice in Worcester. Excellent......."

-John Campbell, Bagpiper

"Wow! What a night. Thank you so much for being part of it all and for helping us to raise so much money for the hospice. You did a grand job keeping us all in order, including me (not an easy task). Loved the bottle game too!"

-Rachel Jones, Fundraising Manager: St. Richard's Hospice

A Clip from my most recent Burns Supper at Worcester Guildhall 25th January 2013