Wanganui Robert Burns Club hosts supper in Robert Burns' honour

Robert Burns will be celebrated with a special supper and recitations of his work.

He may have died in 1796 but Scottish poet Robert Burns is still celebrated around the world as well as in Whanganui.

The Auld Lang Syne author is remembered in January for his New Year anthem and also for his birthday on January 25.

The Wanganui Robert Burns Club will host its annual supper in Burns' honour at the Grand Hotel on Friday, January 19.

"We don't want to clash with the Turakina Highland Games," said club member Wally Duncan.

"We will start the meal with the addressing of the haggis and someone will recite a Robert Burns poem.

"We will then eat the haggis for entrée and we will follow with some favourite Burns fare of roast pork followed by trifle."

The meal will be followed by coffee, tea and shortbread and Mr Duncan said there will be a recitation of a Burns poem "for the lassies".

"We know that he was a bit of a one for the lassies and there will be a lassie present who will reply."

The "lassies" present may get to hear the Burns poem A Red, Red Rose...

"As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry:"

Mr Duncan said the Robert Burns Club formed in Whanganui about 13 years ago and it usually meets on the last Sunday of every second month.

The supper starts at 6.30pm on Friday, January 19 at the Grand Hotel, St Hill St. Tickets are $40 for members and $50 for non-members. Everyone is welcome and tickets can be bought by calling Wally on 06 343 1823