To set the scene for his recitation of “Holy Willie’s Prayer” Dr Stewart MacPherson had the lights dimmed and the candles lit before launching into a moving rendition of one of Burns best loved satires. His facial expression and general mimicry of that forlorn elder of the kirk held the audience spellbound and earned him rousing and well earned applause.

That well known journalist and broadcaster, Bill MacAllister was then called upon to Toast the Lassies. A speech, full of the native wit alluded to by Alastair MacInnes earlier in the evening, had the audience in tears of laughter before moving to a more serious examination of Burns’s love of women quoting appropriately from many of his love poems. Bill concluded with his own ode to the women folk, reaping a standing ovation to his endeavour.

Responding to Bill MacAllister’s excellent Toast, Fiona Larg, Group Business Manager with Cap Gemini, very capably equalled Bill’s humour putting the men folk firmly in place. She questioned whether today’s men possessed the same charm that Robert Burns obviously possessed – again illustrating her theory with much wit. Fiona concluded by making the observation that if the three wise men had been women, they would have got there on time, helped with the birth, cooked a casserole and would have taken sensible presents. Again, a standing ovation was the order of the day as the audience expressed their delight at Fiona’s response to the Toast of the Lassies.

Hugh Aberach MacKay, one of the north’s foremost Burns orators himself, very eloquently proposed the Toast to Our Club and Artistes. He reminded members that while the Club only met twice a year, it was important that all members retained the values of the many and varied messages, portrayed by Robert Burns, throughout the year and that the relevance of those values in modern times should not be forgotten. In toasting the Artistes he paid homage to the manner in which all of them had enhanced the business of the night. During the evening the company had been well entertained by the beautiful singing of Kirsteen Menzies accompanied by her father, Hamish Menzies, the haunting airs and melodies so gracefully played by flautist Catherine O’Rourke accompanied by Bob Wilkie, the foot tapping tunes of Hamish Polson on accordion and the inspiring piping of Duncan MacGillivary had all contributed greatly to the success of the evening.

Rounding off what could only be described as a memorable and enjoyable evening, President Jock Watt thanked the speakers before inviting all present to bring the evening to a fitting close with Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem.