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An Gearran 2005 - February 2005
Duais Comunn Gàidhlig Lunnainn
Gaelic Minister Visit
Peter Peacock, Minister for Education & Young People, who is the Scottish Executive Minister for Gaelic, recently requested a meeting with the Society to canvass our views on Gaelic in general and the Gaelic Bill 2005 specifically.
Janice Fairney (Edinburgh University, Celtic Studies Department) presented Simon MacKenzie with this year's award. Janice is the sister of Ann S. Castle, for whose memory the award was established in 2004. In memory of the loss of life in the Uists during the recent hurricane the President of the Society asked all present for the Burns Supper to pay their respects to the Campbell and MacPherson families, by holding a one minute silence before they commenced the annual Supper. We welcome Màiri Sìne Campbell from Plockton, our singer and class tutor.
The meeting was held over dinner and representing the Society Iain MacLeod, President, Tommy MacAskill, Hon. Secretary, Joyce Seymour-Chalk, Hon. Chief. The Minister was accompanied by his Private Secretary, David Stewart, Douglas Andsdell and George Macgregor, the latter were closely involved with the drafting of the Bill. Discussions were largely exploratory and friendly.
Duais Comunn Gàidhlig Lunnainn
In his acceptance speech Simon was clearly moved by receiving the honour and he paid tribute to the work of the Society. In particular he singled out the work of Joyce Seymour-Chalk with the Education Fund / Annual Schools Competition. Simon also talked about the recent tragic loss of life in the Uists and conveyed how such an event had impacted on the lives of the whole community.
We are pleased to report that the event was a huge and very profitable event. There was a hall full of smiling happy faces. The Council worked hard to ensure that the Society could host such an ambitious event. After the introductions the guests sat down to a Scottish feast, the Salar salmon was an extremely popular starter. There have been many requests for more information about Salar, their web site is : www.salar.co.uk
The mailing address is: Salar Smokehouse Ltd, The Pier, Lochcarnan, Isle of South Uist, Outer Hebrides, HS8 5PD (Tel. 01870 610324)
The haggis was piped in by Donald Smith, son and namesake of the late President and Chief of the Society, who hailed from Ormacleit in South Uist. Norman MacKenzie carried in the pudding and the address was delivered by Simon MacKenzie in Gaelic, this was a 'BAFTA' winning performance. Simon then called upon the guests to raise their glasses to toast the haggis. Tommy MacAskill who hails from Dunvegan, in Skye, courted trouble with his witty toast to the lasses, and was duly slapped down to size by Vice President, Chrissie MacLeod Webb, who hails from South Lochs in Lewis, showing us all that the feminists are alive and kicking in South Lochs. Simon gave us a flavour of Burns, the man, the poet, and his links with Gaelic and Gaeldom.
Mod Gold Medalist, Sandra Thomson of Tunbridge Wells was in great voice, she sang a selection of Burns songs, accompanied by Simon Gutteridge from LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts), on piano. The winner of a host of awards at the recent Perth Mod, Sandy Jones sang with clarsach. Among Sandy's selection of songs was Hi ho ro 'sna ho ro eile sharing the same tune as Ae fond kiss, linking the Bard with his Gaelic influences.
There was a lively delegation from the newly reformed Camanachd Association of London, they meet near the rugby pitch at Regents Park most Sundays. We were pleased to welcome on stage their new Chieftain, Eric Morrison who hails from Connon Bridge, a Gaelic speaker and fine fiddler and all round musician and good egg! Angus 'Monty' Montgomery played accordion for the dancing and also entertained the guest before and during the Supper, he drove down from Edinburgh especially to support the Society and he was making a great sound, it really created a good atmosphere. There was a raffle to raise money for the Education Fund / Annual Schools Competition. Young Nathalie MacKinnon, whose grandmother hails from Vatersay, sold most of the tickets, she's a shrewd business tycoon in the making, but also has a huge heart, she personally donated a whole host of prizes, ranging from CDs, DVDs books and other goodies. Other prizes for the raffle were; a lunch for two at the Loch Fyne Restaurant in Covent Garden; two tickets to see the London Wasps RFC; two tickets to see the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of MacBeth; a bottle of Scottish Parliament 10-year-old Malt, signed by Jack McConnell.
Song class and ceilidh of Gaelic Love Songs for St. Valentine's Day at Crown Court, Saturday 12th of February, class starts at 5pm, ceilidh starts at 7.30pm. For details telephone Tommy MacAskill on 020 7828 8978.
Registered charity no. 285676
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page last updated 18/12/06