Blackpool resounds to the skirl of the pipes

Once again Masons, family and friends packed the Blackpool Masonic hall to enjoy what has now become a regular feature on the hall’s social calendar, a celebration of the Scottish poet Robbie Burns.

Eileen pipes in the haggis.

Organiser Ian Jackson, a member of Tranquillity Lodge No 6544 said: “We have been staging this Burns Night event now for the past six years and it just goes from strength to strength. It is always a sell-out and this year is no exception with 90 people attending”.

At the beginning of the evening the revellers were welcomed to the lounge bar by hall stewards Peter and his partner Pauline. Peter added: “This function is now so popular that I have had to take on extra staff. Even the hall secretary Tom Inman has had to help behind the bar! We have such a fantastic team here all pulling in the same direction.”

Everyone was treated to a ‘wee dram’ before being escorted to the upper dinning room and, once seated, Ian announced the entrance of the haggis which arrived to the skirl o’ the bagpipes stirringly played by piper Eileen Fox.

Eileen, who lives in Bay Horse near Lancaster, is a past member of the Lunesdale Pipers and who has been playing the bagpipes for over 50 years, confesses: “I started at a very early age.” The Lunesdale Pipers hailed from Lancaster and were in their time a very famous pipe band, travelling throughout Europe and playing in major cities including Paris and the famous Le Man circuit. Eileen says: “I still play regularly and every year I pipe in the New Year at the Lancaster Golf Club.”

Pictured is Lunesdale Piper Eileen Fox.

Once the haggis had been piped in it was given a central place of honour prior to the ‘great chieftain o’ the puddin’ race’ being dispatched, so the gathering could see and hear the address which was impeccably recited by Bob McGowan of Blackpool Lodge No 1476. Those aficionados of the Scottish bard present exclaimed that they had never heard the ‘Ode to a haggis’ recited better.

After the meal Ian organised a game of heads or tails with his daughter Emma sweetly persuading the dancers to part with their ‘bawbees’ for raffle tickets. This was before everyone made their way to the lounge bar to be entertained by local professional entertainer, Johnny Roxx, (aka Blackpool Mason Simon Slater) with music from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Bob McGowan toasts the haggis.

At the conclusion of the evening Ian Jackson said: “This has been another fantastic evening here at the Masonic Hall, Blackpool. A very special vote of thanks must go to Peter and his team and I must also mention my wife Sue and daughter Emma who have all worked so hard to make the evening a success. All money raised will go to the McMillan nurses.”

The revellers pack the hall.