Posted: Tuesday 27 January 2009
Morrison’s Burns Night
Morrison's Academy recently held its biennial Burns Night at a packed Academy Hall which had been transformed into a stunning and atmospheric candlelit venue for the occasion.
The Morrison's Pipe Band drummers began the evening with a stirring Drum Salute, after which the Master of Ceremonies, Edward Coffey, moved the evening's entertainment along seamlessly backed by a top table of talented guests. Mr Alasdair Robertson, the organizer of the event, delivered the ‘Address to the Haggis' with aplomb and, following some delicious fare from Marion Maguire (this being her last Morrison's Burns Supper as she retires at the end of the session) the Chamber Choir, conducted by Mrs Susan Smart, sang a selection of Scottish songs, the highlight of which was a haunting rendition of ‘Wild Mountain Thyme'.
Mr Bill Clark delivered ‘The Immortal Memory' with just the right mix of biographical detail and topical humour and Mr Jim McLaren's dramatic ‘Tam o' Shanter' was a faultless master class in how to deliver this wonderful narrative poem. The Three Braw Lads (David Innes, Stephen Lafferty and Andrew Tainsh) sang ‘Wille Brew'd a Peck o' Malt') with just the right hint of tipsy bravado and all this led up to the highlight of the night, the ‘Toast to the Lasses' and ‘The Reply'. Mr Forbes Gauld reminisced nostalgically (and hilariously) on his experiences with women (and sheep) in his life while Mrs Teresa Lafferty, in the world premiere of her own original poem, used rhyming couplets to highlight, with unerring accuracy, man's shortcomings.
After a successful auction and raffle, which swelled the coffers of the Pipe Band and Chamber Choir funds, The Morrison's Pipe Band itself raised the rafters of Academy Hall with a rousing medley. Mr Alistair Beaton completed the evening's speeches with his gracious Vote of Thanks. This had been a thoroughly entertaining evening of which the Bard himself would have been proud.
Pictured here are the top table: left to right:
Mr Jim McLaren, Mr Bill Clark, Mr Edward Coffey, Mrs Teresa Lafferty and Mr Forbes Gauld.
Also pictured: The Morrison's Academy Pipe Band
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