On a crisp Saturday, 26th January 2019 about 60 guests gathered expectantly in the Rowena Davey Centre in Dunmow for a Burns Night with a difference: the first time this talented group of Dunmow Twinners had planned and organised the whole evening themselves and done the cooking as well! We were not disappointed!
Sadly, however, the evening started on a poignant note with our Chairman, Wendy Barron, welcoming everyone and explaining that Anne Crisp, a long-standing and devoted Twinning Member, had died suddenly a few days before. We all joined in two minutes’ silence to remember Anne and her husband, Peter, and family.
With the room and tables decorated superbly with a Scottish theme, the evening’s proceedings began in traditional style. A wonderful bagpipe player piped in the haggis, borne carefully into the room by our youngest member, James W, resplendent in chef’s hat. The addressing of the haggis was simply amazing with guests held in both awe and amusement at the passion with which the words were spoken, as well as the speed of delivery.
We were then treated to a superb meal, presented in exquisite style: salmon and salad platters, haggis (including a vegetarian one), swede and potato and array of simply delicious desserts, many of them featuring raspberries.
Whilst we enjoyed our meal, we were entertained beautifully by Grace W, assisted by husband, Richard. Grace played guitar and sang some well-known Scottish folk songs, interspersing these with some very interesting facts about Robbie Burns, his life and his poetry.
Gaenor J. and Sandra M. and their team had certainly done everything to an incredibly high standard and were thanked by Wendy and everyone with an enormous round of applause. The evening ended movingly with a rousing rendition of “Auld Lang Syne!”
