Kilbryde Burns Club President Maureen Cunningham welcomed members and guests to the Village Bowling Club Pavilion for the club’s first face-to-face meeting since the outbreak of Covid.
After a short introductory address, President Maureen paid tribute to six members and past members who had died since the last meeting. A few moments of quiet reflection were then observed.
As the club had not met for 19 months, the first part of the evening dealt with the AGMs that had been postponed in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 sessions. At the conclusion of the AGMs, the only changes to the composition of the club’s management team was the election of Ian Ross as Vice President, the addition of Denys Docherty to the committee and the return of Patricia Leslie to the post of Secretary.
Following a break for tea and coffee, the evening’s entertainment commenced with a long term crony of the club and well kent face in Burns’ circles, John Hutcheson, providing a comprehensive history of the relationship between Robert Burns and fellow Ayrshire farmer and poet John Lapraik. He then followed this with a perfect recitation of Burns’ “Epistle to J Lapraik, an Old Scotch Bard”, written on 1 April 1785.
Following rapturous applause from the audience, club member James King then had the company’s feet tapping with a selection of Scottish tunes on the accordion.
May Lobban followed by reciting an amusing poem she had written about how Covid has affected all our lives. John Hutchison then returned to deliver “Tam the Bunnet”, a hilarious poem in the style of Burns’ “Tam O’Shanter”.
The evening’s entertainment was rounded off with contributions from club members Harvey Littlejohn and Willie Anderson. President Maureen gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the audience.
The evening concluded in the traditional manner with the company singing Auld Lang Syne from their seats in accordance with Covid mitigations.
The next meeting of the Kilbryde Burns Club will take place on Monday, November 1 at 7.30pm in the Village Bowling Club Pavilion, Maxwell Drive, when the speaker will be Helen Morrison of Allanton Jolly Beggars Burns Club, who will deliver a talk on the Solway Martyrs.
All interested in coming along to any of the meetings and learning more about our National Bard or to receive a copy of the latest syllabus should contact Jim or Patricia Leslie, on 01355 235189.
Guests can attend all meetings up to the New Year for free, without committing to membership.
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