Is it farewell to Silves Burns Night? The St Andrew’s Society is looking for a new young generation of Scots to take over.
The Saint Andrew’s Society of the Algarve held its Burns Supper in Silves on Saturday, 25 January. With 100 participants, the supper was a resounding success. However, it was also tinged with sadness as this was the last event organised by the present committee, which has been doing so for almost 30 years.
Our usual bagpiper, Malcolm MacGillivray, came out of retirement for the last time to get the evening off to a scintillating start by welcoming guests. The restaurant has welcomed us to this event for many years and is now well-versed in preparing and serving the traditional Macsween’s haggis, tatties and neeps. I addressed the haggis after it had been piped in by Malcolm and a dram offered to him and the accompanying “kilties”.
Our final Burns Supper was blessed with three excellent speakers. The main speech was a reflective Immortal Memory by Mike Milliner – the teasing Toast to the Lassies was made by Chris Wells and Kate Stratton’s response on behalf of the lassies was also greatly enjoyed by all. The assembled company then enjoyed lively and enthusiastic Scottish dancing conducted by Mardie Cunningham, who also made the superb Atholl Brose. The proceedings were brought to a close just after midnight with ‘Auld Lang Syne’.
Blevins Franks also very kindly provided the amber mead (whisky), and we appreciate their support over the last few years. However, the success of the evening was mainly due to Kathy Prentice’s work before and during the evening.
It would be very sad indeed if the tradition of bringing people together to mark the lives of Saint Andrew and Robert Burns – and to enjoy themselves in the process – were to end with the retirement of the present ageing committee.
We hope to hear from younger members of the community who might like to step into our shoes to ensure that the tradition endures.
Doug McAdam is the current Chieftain of the Saint Andrew’s Society of the Algarve.
Doug (+351 935 577 362) or Vice Chieftain Rod Frew (+351 935 587 382) would be delighted to hear from anyone who might be interested in taking over the tradition.
