The annual Burns’ Supper hosted by the St Andrew Society (Malta) was held recently at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Sliema.

Members and guests were welcomed with a drink

and the sound of the pipes played by John Van

Dyke before gathering in the hall for the nicht’s ongauns.

Piper Mario Farrugia piped his way round the hall to officially set the night in motion and Society president Helen MacLachlan gave a short welcome speech.

The dinner began with the Selkirk Grace, delivered

by the Reverend Colin Westmarland and a traditional Scottish meal followed.

Piper Farrugia led the procession for the Great Chieftain where the Haggis was carried in by the executive chef followed by Mr Van Dyke carrying the Quach and the Famous Grouse, sponsored for the evening by Messrs Wands Ltd. Bill Hunter addressed the Haggis and his animated rendition was well received.

Following the meal, which was accompanied by fine wines sponsored by E. Delicata the toasts began.

Mrs MacLachlan proposed the toast to the President of the Republic of Malta while Society Patron Prof. J. J. Cremona toasted the Queen.

The evening’s entertainment, dedicated to Scotland's National Poet, Robert Burns, was organised by Wylie Cunningham who, himself, got the ball rolling by delivering a spirited Immortal Memory focused on the more political side of the poet's life and times.

The undoubted highlight of the evening was Hugh Brown’s delivery (nae... performance) of the bard’s Holy Willie's Prayer, a satirical piece lambasting religious bigotry and delivered in a fashion that Burns himself would have cherished witnessing.

The Toast to the Lassies took the form of two poems (chosen by Mr Cunningham) one from the early years of Burns’ writings and the second, the lovely Oh Wert Though in the Cauld Blast, a much later piece, possibly the poet’s last. John Lejman (no stranger to participating at Burns functions) gave his usual sound performance but found Hugh Brown a hard act to follow.

In her reply, Isabel Kirkpatrick gave a heartfelt rendition of a piece written by Burns in defence of women and the ladies gave Mrs Kirkpatrick a worthy ovation.

The evening’s entertainment was interspersed

with the songs of Burns sang by Margot Cunningham with the choice of songs ably complementing the speeches. Mrs Cunningham chose to sing unaccompanied and this enriched the renditions.

Mrs Machlan then thanked all those involved not least the staff of the Crowne Plaza and the evening’s sponsors Messrs Wands and Delicata Wines.

The night was brought to a close when Mrs Cunningham, accompanied by Maestro J. Vella on the piano led the assembled company in Auld Lang Syne.