The Chestermere Whitecappers gathered to celebrate Robbie Burns Day, an event marked all over the world to honour the late Scottish poet’s birthday. The annual event saw over 60 members in attendance.
The potluck dinner, held on January 28 in the Whitecappers Room at the Chestermere Rec Centre centered on the entrance of the haggis which was presented on a platter to the sound of bagpipes played by Marjorie Zander.
Graham Cox entertained those in attendance with an amusing performance of the Address to the Haggis. Cox, who has Scottish roots; did an excellent job reciting the poem which includes stirring lines such as “Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware that jaups in luggies: But, if ye wish her a gratefu’ prayer. Gie her a Haggis.”
“It was the first time for me and trying to get the Scottish dialect took a lot of practice,” said Cox, who added that watching YouTube videos of real Scotsmen reciting the ‘Address to a Haggis’ certainly helped. “My mother was born in Scotland and emigrated to Canada with her parents in the very early 1900’s.”
At the end of the reading, Cox ceremonially sliced the haggis and offered a toast to Burns before the meal began. The poem was written by Burns who died in 1796 at the age of 37. He is now fondly remembered as “Scotlands’s favorite son” and is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic Movement, writing other famous works such as A Red, Red Rose.
After dinner the piper played some more Scottish songs on the bagpipes that ended with the Whitecappers standing, joining hands and singing Auld Lang Syne, a traditional folk song well known as the traditional song used to celebrate the start of the New Year.
“The highlight for me from the dinner was the bagpiper and her excellent playing both before and after we had had supper”, said Cox. “I have pride in my Scottish heritage and did learn to play the bagpipes during my time as a Boy Scout and later during my time at university in the reserve army, however that was long ago and I have no ability to play the pipes now.”
The evening came to an end with a band playing some old time songs. According to Audrey McDonald, a member of the Whitecappers, everyone had a great time. “Many of the members got up to dance while other just sat back and enjoyed listening to the music.”
