The menu was marvellous, featuring the traditional haggis, neeps and tatties as a starter (vegetarian option available for the fainter of heart), followed by a roast sirloin steak with thistle fondant or a Scottish brie and creamed leek pithivier. A superb Cranachan finished the meal perfectly.
Burns Supper 2018
The real fare at this event, however, is the wide range of speeches and musical offerings that decorate the night. The Chairman, Mr Campbell, gave the Welcome followed by the Rector’s offering of ‘Selkirk Grace’. Liam Murray delivered a superb recitation of ‘Address to the Haggis’ before Jennifer Aitken offered ‘The Immortal Memory’ speech. James Taylor recited ‘The Silver Tassie’, which was very well received. The ‘Toast to the Lassies’ was undertaken with grace and wit by Rory Power and Eva Caie’s ‘Reply’ was delightful. Alexandrina Ghetiu recited ‘A Vision’ before Sandy Steele’s very fine ‘Toast to the School’ speech. Ms McCord gave the ‘Reply’. The final recitation of the evening was ‘The Rights of Women’, a powerful offering by Imogen Hubbard.
The musical entertainment of the evening is perhaps what makes this event so distinctive on the Dollar calendar. Imogen Hubbard, earlier in the evening, sang ‘John Anderson, My Jo’ and Sophie Chandler sang ‘Ye Banks and Braes’ in beautiful style. The evening ended, as it must, with a singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne’, led by Erin Stevens and Eva Caie. It was a superb evening of food, verse and song.
