February 4, 1946
"SHELL" NICHT WI BURNS [Mitchy and Meg - recognise anyone? ]
Two bus loads of employees of the Shell Refining and Marketing Co., Ltd., Ardrossan, foregathered in the Redburn Hotel, Irvine, last Friday night to participate in the annual Burns Supper organised by the firm's social club.
Preliminaries over, including the Selkirk Grace and the Address to the Haggis delivered in fine style by Sanny Stewart, a plentiful and delectable meal was enjoyed by the company who then sat back with "weelswalla kytes," primed for enjoyment. And enjoy themselves they did.
"The poet of humanity." Thus was Burns described by Mr H. K. Reid who, in proposing the "Immortal Memory," asked why so much should be heard about the poet and his works in January and so very little during the rest of the year. The poems and songs of Robert Burns, he said, were as palatable during the sunny skles of summer as during the cold blasts of winter.
Other toasts were proposed as follows:--The Shell, Mr J. G. Mackinlay, reply, Mr A. W. W. Kirby (late manager at Ardrossan, now at Heysham, Lanca.) The Lasses, Mr R. B. Mills; Absent Friends, Mr S. Forrest. (or the latter it may be said that his rhyming 'tributes to ex-Shell personalities, while probably more accurate than flattering, were greatly responsible for the maintenance of the personal homely atmosphere which prevailed throughout the function)
Charlie Gordon's rendering of "Tam o'shanter" was masterly and, if facial expressions go for anything, left the non-Scots in the company dumfoundered. Nor was his "willie Wastle" far behind. Less boisterous, but equally appreciated, was Sanny Stewart's "Epistle to a Young Friend." Appropriate songs were sung by Messrs W. Flynn, Q. McCall, J. G. Mackinlay and R. Altken, with Mr K. Wightman at the piano.
The whole programme was ably conducted by the "Shell" manager, Mr J. Enderby. All who contributed to a most enjoyable evening were due the votes of thanks proposed by Mr A. Robinson and Mr J. Hutchison.
On the buses, homeward bound, maybe they were not all "fu' but they were indeed "unco happy."
I think we all slept with the lights on that night. Kenny Wightman was also the very successful Shell Choir choirmaster.