Lifting a toast to Robert Burns

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25: Just a handful of tickets for a glittering gathering to celebrate the life of Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns are still available.

The event — organised by the Caledonian Society of Bermuda and to be held on Saturday at the Rosewood Tucker’s Point Hotel and Spa — is the society’s 75th annual commemoration of the writer who penned the traditional New Year song Auld Lang Syne.

Society secretary Ian Hind said: “It’s an important anniversary for us and we’re determined it’ll be a night to remember.

“You don’t have to be a literary buff to enjoy it, either. Burns was a renowned drunken womanizer, so anyone who enjoys cocktails, dinner, poetry and entertaining toasts and speeches will thoroughly enjoy themselves.”

The MC for the night, which includes a five-course dinner, is Bruce Murray, with society past president Gordon Ness making the traditional Address to the Haggis.

Bill Storie will provide the Immortal Memory, while Steve Pegg will toast Scotland and Arthur Wightman will propose the Toast to the Lassies.

Bruce Barritt, of the Not the Um Um Show fame, will propose the toast to Bermuda.

Mr Hind said: “We have an excellent line-up of speakers and you don’t even have to be Scottish to appreciate the entertainment which will be on offer.”

Burns, who died in 1796, was a romantic and an egalitarian and Burns Suppers are now held all over the world.

American singer Bob Dylan has cited Burns’ A Red, Red Rose as one of the major influences on his work and in 1958, the then-Soviet Union issued a Burns commemorative stamp.

The black tie event kicks off with a cocktail reception at 6:30pm, with dinner being served at 7:30pm. Tickets are available at www.premiertickets.bm or through Mr Hind at [email protected] .

More details on the Caledonian Society website at www.caledoniansocietyofbermuda.com.