The Spire Church in Farnham celebrated the birth of Robert Burns 260 years ago with a traditional Burns Night supper.

This was the third year running the church – and its predecessor the Farnham United Reformed Church – have held a Burns Night event at Farnham Golf Club, so it is becoming a bit of a tradition.

The proceedings at the January 19 event were in aid of the Pilgrim Project at the church, so it was very good to know that the supper was a sell-out, with no less than 74 guests supporting the event and the project.

After the welcome given by Hugh McKinnon, the haggis was piped in by Donald Lendrum and addressed by George Wright using Burns’ words in his poem ‘To a Haggis’, before giving thanks in the words of the Selkirk Grace.

Dinner started, of course, with haggis, bashed neeps and chappit tatties, with a wee dram to accompany the food – and continued with roastit stirk, pudding and coffee.

After that, Hugh offered the toast to the Immortal Memory, in which he told the fascinating stories behind some of Burns’ poems.

Some of the poems were printed on the supper menu, and Hugh invited fellow diners to recite excerpts of some of the poems. Some were brave enough to do so, including some who were not Scots – requiring particular pluck as so many of Burns’ countrymen were present on the night.

The toast to ‘The Lassies’ was given by Ken Phillips and the witty reply was given by Jane Colquhoun.

And of course there was dancing, to the music of Roughditch Folk and Friends, and Barbara Luscombe was the caller, as in previous years.

Proceedings ended with ‘Auld lang syne’ – what else?

John Mansfield