Events
At the Guildford Burns club we have 3 main events through the year plus our annual general meeting. Details of the upcoming events can be found below. If you wish to attend any of these events and you are not a current member, have a look at the membership page for details on how to join and attend our events.Burns Supper 2010
The Burns Supper was held on the 29th January at the Grantley Arms in Wonnersh. The Burns Supper is a more formal occasion and is held at the end of January and we take this opportunity to Toast the Haggis.
"Club members and their guests crammed into the Grantley Arms in Wonersh – there was even a waiting list. Welcomed by the pipes of Gordon Skilling and a dram at the bar, all were soon seated and welcomed by Master of Ceremonies Ron Dick.
From the kitchen the Haggis emerged to an enthusiastic welcome, to be addressed and despatched by Chris Parker. An excellent opportunity for another dram to be enjoyed.
After an excellent meal Ron Dick spoke to The Immortal Memory with the knowledge and verve of a true Burns scholar. He was followed by Gerry Rowe with a witty Toast to the Lassies and Helen Quinn responded to keep the lads in their places.
The evening was rounded out by a table walking rendition of Tam o' Shanter from Bob Nisbet.
A great time was had by all. In 2011 we return to the Refectory at Guildford Cathedral on Saturday 22 January – mark the date in the diary."
Many thanks to Chris Parker for this report of the Burns Supper.
Pictures ofthis event are in our gallery
Annual General Meeting 2010
The AGM is open to all members of the club. The 2010 AGM was held on the 20th April at the Grantly Arms in Wonnersh. Please click here to see the minutes from this year's meeting.St Andrew's Dinner Dance 2010
The 2010 St Andrews Dinner Dance was help at the Guildford Cathedral Refectory on Friday 26th November.
A report of the evening will be published shortly - in the meantime, have a look at some photographs from the event - gallery
Burns Supper 2011
The 2011 Burns Supper was on Saturday 22nd January at the Guildford Golf club.
"The highlight of the Club's year was the Burns Supper held at the Guildford Golf Club on 22nd January 2011. Piped by Gordon Skilling and addressed by Bob Nisbet, the Haggis was duly honoured and dispatched.
The traditional formalities of the occasion were graced by distinguished speakers. Peter Kormylo, a former chair of the Burns Howff Club in Dumfries, gave a most engaging Immortal Memory, setting some of the events of Burns's life, work and character against Scotland's social and political context of the time.
The light-hearted battle of the sexes was an honourable draw between, in the blue corner, Andrew Harburn, toasting the Lassies and, in the pink corner, Amanda Zwarts, replying.
A selection of Burns's songs, exquisitely sung by Elizabeth Nash, reminded us of the debt of gratitude we owe to Burns for preserving and adding to the canon of Scottish songs.
Rounding off the evening in the finest of style, the Club was treated to a hilarious 'Toast to the Droothy Ones' by James Hainning, also a stalwart of the Burns Howff Club, who launched a barrage of wit and wisdom (well, not much of the latter) which reduced the company to helpless laughter."
Many thanks to David Ferguson for this report of the Burns Supper.
Pictured from the Burns Supper are available in the gallery