Jolly Beggars
The Jolly Beggars was established on 22 January 1909 and became a member of the Robert Burns Federation that year, being No 179 in the role book. It was started by a few cronies getting together and deciding to have a Burns meeting to recite and sing his works and of course have a few drams.
The name The Jolly Beggars comes from a song written by Burns, where he sits in a pub (Possie Nancies in Mauchline) and pens verses about everyone in the pub, getting more high spirited as the song goes on. This was a very apt name for the Dailly supper considering that these were the same surroundings in which the Dailly supper was born.
The first supper was held in 1909 in either the Orange Lodge (which is where the telephone exchange is now) or the King’s Arms Hotel. It stopped for a few years during the WW11, and started again after the war in the upstairs room in the Greenhead Hotel with 12 people. However, it outgrew this space in the early 60`s; it has now been in the Community Centre for many years.
Many of the most renowned speakers have been to the Dailly Burns’ Supper, including Alec Fergusson, MP, Speaker of the House in the Scottish Parliament, Rev James Currie, and Lord George Foulkes. The supper is for men only but the women are graciously allowed to cook the meal and serve it !!
The evening is light hearted with many poems, speeches, song and recitations of Burns’ works. The supper is always the nearest Friday before his birthday, 25 January, with 130 people going each year (and it is said that someone has to die before you can get a ticket for the supper!).
We have a small committee of Neil Gillon (Chairman), David McCracken (President), Archie Howie (Secretary), Willie Douglas and Matthew Scobie (Committee Members).
The 2009 supper is set for Friday 23 January 2009, and will be the 100 year celebration.
Update
A good night was reported to be had by all, and you can see why if you click on this link to take you to some photos in the Gallery.... The 2009 Haggis
| Title: | Jolly Beggars |
| Short Description: | 100 year celebration in 2009 - check it out...press the title button |