Burns Night at St Andrew's

Burns Night at St Andrew's

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

Burns Night at St Andrew's, Dearnley was led by kilted church warden Ray Milligan who is president of the Rochdale Scottish Society.

A packed church enjoyed a roast beef dinner, starting with haggis, neets and tatties, and finishing with a Burns Night pudding comprising of oats, shortbread, whisky, raspberries and cream.

Ray proposed the toast to the haggis, piped in by Trevor Armistead, and there followed amusing toasts and speeches by John Paterson, himself born within a few miles of Robbie Burns's birthplace, Peter Shrigley and Sheila Moore.

Some enjoyed a spot of Scottish dancing and the evening concluded with renderings of the National Anthem, then 'Flower of Scotland' and finally 'Auld Lang Syne', with arms and hands crossed and interlinked - only on the second verse, of course.

A spokesperson said: "The evening raised £633 for church funds and thanks are extended to proud Scot Ada Pratt, who organised it, Lords the Caterers and Jonathan Coomer for looking after the bar."