Burns Supper, Frankfurt 2016

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BCCG Regions
REGION RHINE-MAIN
BURNS SUPPER, FRANKFURT
In what has become a hugely popular event, the 8th Frankfurt Rhine-Main region’s Burns Supper took place again
this January, to celebrate the 257th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth. Tucked away in an inconspicuous back
courtyard, the picturesque halls of the Freimaurerloge “Zur
Einigkeit” were packed with elegantly-robed “lassies” (ladies), with a good sprinkling of kilts sported by some of
the accompanying “laddies” (gentlemen) especially for the
occasion.
The Selkirk Grace, read by Nick Jefcoat of the Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft, kicked off the culinary proceedings.
For the uninitiated, the appearance on their dinner plates
of the dark and pungent haggis was something of an education, although aficionados were gratifyingly heard to
remark, “The haggis is particularly good this year!” Traditionally served at Burns Suppers, this early version of
a “boil-in-the-bag” dish (in this case, a sheep’s stomach)
was praised in lavish terms by Burns in his Address to The
Haggis, which poem is recited ceremonially in Scots just
prior to the specialty being served. On this occasion, the
formality was manfully handled by Brian Laird who, with
great gusto and along with much knife brandishing and a
good slug of whisky, ended by plunging both hands into
the steaming sausage, to the delight of the audience. At
least, that is how your correspondent interpreted the collective gasp.
Returning for the second time to Frankfurt to officiate at
the event was Professor Murray Pittock, Director of the
Centre for Robert Burns Studies at the University of Glasgow and a true Burns devotee. His presence was made
possible by the evening’s main sponsor, The Royal Bank
of Scotland. In scholarly style Professor Pittock delivered
the Immortal Memory speech in which he cited Burns on
various aspects of the human condition, pointing out that
his poems and songs still hold great relevance today.
Scottish music and songs played an important part of the
evening, as always, ably led by stalwart Burns Supper animator and accomplished musical entertainer Craig Herbertson, whose renditions of some favourite Burns songs
were received with resounding applause. Clearly greatly
affected by the presence of so many charming members
of the female species, Andy McNeill’s “Address to the Lassies” expressed his undying devotion to them – as indeed
Burns was wont to do a couple of centuries before. The
answering riposte was delivered with spirit by Christiane
Wolterhoff who, in her “Reply to the Laddies”, laid claim to
multi-tasking as a female domain.
Scottish Country Dancing
Erich Benoit and
the haggis
BCCG Regions
With the plates cleared, the tables were pushed back to
make space for the dancing that energetic audience members had been looking forward to all evening, carried out
under the expert instruction of members of the Frankfurt
Scottish Country Dancing Society.
None of this merriment would have been possible without our generous sponsors, and, in addition to The Royal
Bank of Scotland, the BCCG Rhine-Main regional board
is also very grateful for the support of Scottish Development International and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
Her Majesty’s Honorary Consul General for Frankfurt, Andreas Fabritius, proposed the loyal toast not only to Her
Majesty the Queen, but also to the Head of State of the
country in which the Burns Supper is taking place, as is
customary. An appropriate touch was the fact that he had
attended both of these heads of state during their visit to
Frankfurt last year. The fine single malt whiskies so essential to any Burns supper were supplied by Moët Hennessy
(Glenmorangie), Campari (Glenfiddich) and Pernod Ricard
Deutschland (The Glenlivet), and no doubt assisted many
otherwise reluctant dancers in their decision to kick up
their heels. British Airways made the evening even more
Susan Tackenberg, Neville Anderson
Christof and Simone Menzies, Marcus and
Danny Messerschmidt, Luka and Nina Mucic
ARTICLE
exciting by their generous donation of a pair of return air
tickets to Scotland for the raffle. And to round off the proceedings, everyone joined in the singing of Auld Lang Syne
as if they had known each other for years – which, judging
by the number of repeat attendees, is probably more or
less true.
Susan Tackenberg
Board Member, Rhine-Main Region
Maik Reckziegel of the Clan Pipers
Jürgen Sendel, Nick Tolhurst, Craig Herbertson, Brian Laird
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