Burns Supper and Ceilidh

The day I'd been planning (and secretly dreading) for months had finally arrived. The tables were set, the piper had arrived, and the guests were filtering in.

Before the broth was served, I stood up and delivered the Selkirk Grace...and to much applause got it wrong. The soup was fantastic. Before long all the plates were cleared, and it was time for Dr Lyndsay Fletcher to deliver the Address to the Haggis. A true performer, she wielded the knife like a professional, slicing and dicing the haggis with ease, whilst terrifying the people standing too near.

Dr. Lyndsay Fletcher presenting the Haggis

Silence filled the hall as the magnificent plates of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties were placed on the tables. The second main course went down just as well as the first, and with the ceilidh soon to start down in the Dining Room, it was time to press on to the speeches.

First up was Martin Black, presenting the Toast to the Lassies. This geeky and surprisingly nice speech was immediately followed by a response in the form of a poem by Becky Douglas - this was appreciably more scathing.

Becky Douglas and Martin Black

Dessert in the form of Cranachan was delivered to the tables, and for the third time that evening, the room quietened as everyone ate.

Next, Professor John Brown, Astronomer Royal for Scotland, presented the Ode to the non-Scots. Combining his seasoned public speaking abilities and his fondness of magic, this was a truely spectacular speech to bear witness to, and was going to be a tough act to follow. Fortunately, Doctor Nic Labrosse was up to the challenge of giving the response...and spent the majority of the time making fun of me!!

It was time for the final speech of the evening, and as the ceilidh had already been running for over an hour, it was agreed that this should be the last part of the evening (Steven and Chris leapt for joy when they realised they no longer needed to read the poems). Doctor Martin Hendry, the reason most of those running AstroSoc this year were as interested in astronomy, took to the podium. His delivery of the Immortal Memory sealed the Supper as a strong success for the society, and made what I was going to do next all the more fitting.

It was my honour to present Doctor Lyndsay Fletcher, Doctor Martin Hendry and Professor John Brown with the first Honourary Lifetime Memberships awarded by the Glasgow University Astronomy Society.

The first years with Dr Martin Hendry

With the supper ending, and people heading downstairs to join the ceilidh (now having it's half-way interval), I went round the tables, thanking everyone for joining us for the evening.

By the time I arrived downstairs the ceilidh was in full swing, and it was fantastic!! Not much to say other than the hall was full to bursting with half-cut students and lecturers dancing their worries away. All-in-all an awesome night, and an awesome first date with Elspeth.