Kilbarchan General Society

2020 Burns Supper

Our Burns Supper is always the second Saturday in January, unless it’s the third. Had we had it the weekend earlier people would have still been combing the New Year steak pie gravy out of their beards. When I arrived at 6pm there was a fair gathering of the great and good of the village. The caterers had done a fantastic job of dressing the tables and Mr Treasurer was doing a fantastic job of parting our guests from their cash. This is our biggest fund raiser of the year after all. Mr Jones called for silence and the company stood to receive their top table; Piper Kerr led Mr D Dunlop, Mr Ross McLelland, Mr S Tennant – Preses, Mr Jim Kerr and Mr D Blair to their seats before piping in the haggis and whisky for the toasts. Mr I Richie carried the haggis this year and Mr D Dunlop the whisky. Mr A Gordon addressed the haggis which really doesn’t do justice to his performance and the piper led off the creature. The Preses welcomed our guests and introduced the top table before Mr Dunlop said Grace and the Supper was served. The background hum gradually tailed off as our guests got stuck in to soup, haggis, steak pie and trimmings and the cheese board. There was no repeat of cheesegate and the caterers had provided enough to keep us nibbling well into the night. One guest was seen opening a nice bottle of Port during the pie course. To let it breath. Preses – S Tennent As the last empty fork hit the empty plate Piper Kerr heezed up his pipes and gave us a stirring medley of tunes ranging from plaintive airs to rollicking jigs. The Preses then introduced our first speaker Mr Ross McLelland from Paisley Burns Club. Ross gave a heartfelt and personal Immortal Memory, funny and poignant. His mis-timing of a barded gag at the expense of the catering staff left him red faced and having a finger wagged at him to huge hilarity. We think this young man may have a future at this Burns malarkey. Mr S Vaughan then arose on shaky legs to perform Tam O Shanter for the company, this was Mr...

2019 AGM

After a short meeting attending to Society protocol the Managers moved into the main hall for the 254th Annual General Meeting of the Society. Preses David Blair was chairman and welcomed a small gathering of Managers and Members. The absence of the Chain of Office was noted about now and a Manager was dispatched to collect it. The Clerk, Mr Stephen Vaughan, had circulated the minutes of the 253rd AGM and they were approved as a proper record of the event. The Preses then called on all present to stand for a minutes silence as a mark of respect to all members who had passed away during the year. The Treasurer, Mr Jim Farmer, reported a very successful year in which we had covered all those outgoing we had committed to. Mr Farmer thanked the Managers and Office Bearers for their support over the last eighteen years and offered the new Treasurer all assistance. The Auditors; Mr Eric Black and Mr Oliver Jones, found the Society’s books to be in their usual good order, Mr Black praised the Treasurer for his meticulous bookkeeping and thanked him for his work over the years. The Retiring Preses spoke fulsomely of the works the Managers had done over the year, listing the profits derived from each event before listing the beneficiaries of Society funding; Chas, St Benedict’s School trip, Kilbarchan Pipe Band, Beatson, Accord Hospice, St Vincent’s Hospice and Erskine Hospital and noted that we had increased our payment to the last 4 on the list. The Managers proposed Mr Scott Tennant as Preses for 2020 and this was accepted by the assembly. Preses Tennant thanked past Preses Blair and nominated Mr David Dunlop as his Vice Preses, this was accepted. We had five Managers due to retire and all had intimated they were available for re-election, this was passed unanimously and we moved on to the election of Office bearers. Mr Stephen Vaughan was elected unanimously as Clerk and Mr David Blair was elected to the vacant post of Treasurer, AM Connell retained the office of Officer There being no further business the Preses invited the assembly to join him for hospitality and refreshment. Past Preses Blair welcomes Preses...

2019 Burns Supper

The 2019 celebration of the life and works of Robert Burns began with the traditional grand seating ballet as guests places in the seating plan were arranged around move and counter-move by those arched seat wranglers the Managers of the Society. Once the seating is finalised we disband and let the professionals get on with preparing the hall. Our guests began arriving just after 5pm and it looked like being another full house. The lounge bar buzzed to the meeting of old friends. The formal part of the evening began with the assembly standing to receive their top table. Piper Kerr led Vice Preses S Tennant, Mr I Zycinski, Preses D Blair, Mr A MacMillan and Mr J Wallace to their places. Preses Blair introduced his top table to the assembly before Piper Kerr piped in the Haggis, carried by Mr G Bell. Mr D Dunlop carried the whisky for the toast. Mr J Wallace toasted the Haggis in grand style and cut it up wi ready slicht. The Vice Preses said Grace and supper was served. This is probably the quietest time of the night as the diners get stuck into their soup, haggis and neeps, steak pie and veg and cheese. However the cheese (Cheesegate as it’s now officially known) caused me some heartache, to quote Para Handy, ” it was like the herrings in Loch Fyne, it wasna in it.” The cheese was missing and no sooner had the Preses apologise to the assembly for its absence than with pantomime timing the caterer arrived with the precious curds. Mr J Wallace cutting up the Haggis wi ready slicht. Piper Kerr entertained the assembly with some new tunes and some old favourites before Mr I Zycinski rose to give a very personal and reflective Immortal Memory. We are very fortunate at Kilbarchan General Society in having Mr A Gordon to call upon to perform Tam O Shanter for us. Alan looked resplendent is his Guid Blue Bonnet and braces as he skelpit on through dub and mire. Mr A Gordon performing Tam O Shanter The singing of the Lass O Ballochmyle brought this part of the evening to a short hiatus while glasses were recharged. Mr A MacMillan got the proceedings back underway...

Our History

The Kilbarchan General Society was founded in 1765 and is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, charitable institution of its type in Scotland. It was formed from several other institutions which operated in the village. The following pages give some of the history of the General Society, details of the current activities of the General Society along with contact details if you would wish to learn more of our work or even become a member. We hope you enjoy your visit and hope to see you at one of our events or Lilias Day, where the General Society Preses leads the historical pageant to the village park.

2020 Events

As Preses for this year Mr Scott Tennant has proposed a comprehensive set of events and fund raisers wishing to build on the successes of 2019. The first event will be our annual Burns Supper on the 18th January, this is always a well subscribed event and a hugely enjoyable evening. On 28th March we have a Murder Mystery evening in the Bowling Club, this will include murdering a pie and beans/peas.

Running the Society

The General Society is managed by its office bearers, The Preses, Vice Preses, Secretary (or Clerk) and Treasurer along with eleven Managers. The Managers are elected for 3 years and are available for re-election if so desired. The Preses and Vice Preses hold office for 1 year. These officials meet on a regular, usually bi-monthly, basis. They plan the General Society’s events and fundraising ventures as well as considering new applications for membership and requests for funds. The A.G.M. of the Society is held on St.Barchan’s Day, the first Tuesday in December each year.

Contact Us

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