The minute book reflects the number of Society social events held over the years, and we see that the Burns Supper was an annual event.
The first (recorded) Burns Supper was held on 26th January 1928.
Brigadier General E Craig Brown DSO and Col Robertson VC gave the Immortal Memory. 92 tickets were sold. Representatives of the Braw Lads attended.
The Burns Supper made a profit of £2 3/-.
At the first AGM in 1928 in his review the Chairman Mr Gibson remarked:
Interestingly Mr Gibson stated that ‘Money was not the object’, reflecting just how important the social aspect of the Society was.
Records show that the Society held a Burns supper every year for many years.
The Society was very lucky to have member and President Davie Stenhouse, an expert on Burns and described by President Alan Elliot in 2000 as ‘our own Mr Burns’.
Davies’ recitation of Burns Tam O’Shanter, Holy Willies Prayer and To the ToothAche was awesome and he gave many wonderful tributes to our National Bard.
The following provided glimps into a few of the ELSS Burns Suppers over the years.
Edinburgh and Lothain Souter Society's Burns Supper 2026
Scotland’s national bard was entertainingly celebrated at the Edinburgh & Lothians Souters Society Burns Supper on Friday night, Society President Alan Elliott in the chair.
Members and guests enjoyed toasts, speeches and songs from an excellent array of entertainers. The main speech of the evening was as ever the Immortal Memory, given superbly this year by Andrew Anderson, and during which he questioned whether or not the Edinburgh Souters under their new President were taking note of behaviours across the Atlantic and considering making an incursion into Stow to acquire the lands of the Gala Souters? The President confirmed this is fake news.
Royal Burgh Standard Bearer Darren Knox performed an excellent selection of songs for the audience while both he and ex Standard Bearer Matthew Stanners brought their Gold Medallions, presented to them by the Society, for people to see up close.
A first-rate Toast to the Lassies was given by Kevin Fairbairn who outlined his affection for said lassies in rhyming fashion and Susan Robertson eloquently replied pointing out some weaknesses amongst the male of the species including the inability to find things in a kitchen cupboard.
Other contributions to a very enjoyable evening came from May Stark, George Thomson, David Young and Provost Rodney Pow.
Burns Supper 2023, 2024 & 2025
In 2023 we have tried a different approach to the Burns Supper and were delighted to welcome John Nichols and IDEOMS to our Burns Supper in 2024 and 2025.
The wonderful John Nichol in full swing.
Tommy and Darren Knox 2025.
In the Press.
Burns Supper 2020
The Edinburgh and Lothians Souters Society held a very enjoyable Burns Supper on Friday the 7th of February at the Liberton Golf Club, Edinburgh.
The Supper was attended by 42 guests including a few people who had traveled up from Selkirk and two from Kelso.
President Jim Jackson welcomed everyone and introduced a few people who had not been at the Society Burns Supper before. He then handed over to David Young who was Chairman for the evening who said a few words before the Haggis was piped in by Jamie Goodbrand a pupil at George Watson’s College. David’s knowledge of Burns grows year after year and it is a credit to his hard work in expounding this at Suppers.
Donald Wilson who was the previous Lord Provost of Edinburgh and who is now a member of the Society then Addressed the Haggis. Donald’s father had a bakers business in Tower Street which many will remember.
Jim Jackson then said the Selkirk Grace before Cullen Skink or Lentil Soup was served.
That was followed by Haggis Neeps and Tatties then Cranachan and tea and coffee.
Once the meal was consumed Andrew Anderson did the Immortal Memory which was filled with information about the life of Robert Burns interspersed with some of Burns well known poems. Andrews effort was warmly applauded by the assembled company.
He was then followed by Alan Elliott who did the Toast to the Lassies which was extremely well done and very funny. Alan has obviously missed his vocation in life because his delivery and timing of his jokes was par excellence.
May Stark who is the Society Vice President then replied to the Toast to the Lassies and had obviously put in a lot of research into what she said and again like Alan it was greatly appreciated by the company.
May was very heavily involved in the arranging of the evening and a huge thanks must be given for her efforts despite minor hiccups in the weeks before the event.
Honorary Provost Keith Miller then said a few words and talked about the integral part played and the contribution of well over 100 years that The Edinburgh and Lothians Souters Society have made to the Common Riding having presented 6 sashes to the town since 1900 and this year will see the 115th Gold Medallion presented to the new Royal Burgh Standard Bearer at the Colonial Bussin Concert in the Victoria Halls on the Wednesday evening of Common Riding week. Keith said this tradition must not be allowed to be lost.
Fred Smail from Kelso then recited John Barleycorn which was very well done.
He was followed by Sheila Spence who recited Burns poem the Unco Guid which she performed well.
The evening was then drawn to a close by a Vote of Thanks from Jim Jackson who thanked everyone for attending and those who performed during the evening.
The Society has had Burns Suppers many times over the years with a few gaps recently through lack of members. However Jim Jackson said he was greatly encouraged by the way the event had gone this year and already thoughts of next year are in the air. The hope being for a larger still turnout with hopefully a few more people coming up from Selkirk to enjoy an evening of Burns and a chance to meet old friends and make new ones.
Photos show Andrew Anderson giving the Immortal Memory and Alan Elliott giving the Toast to the Lassies
(Originally shared on exploreselkirk.co.uk)