Burns Night in aid of Soroptimist International President’s Appeal – Educate to Lead in Nepal
Soroptimist International Clubs of Skipton-in-Craven and Ilkley celebrated Burns Night with a joint Supper which was held at the Clarke Foley Centre in Ilkley on 25th January.
As it happens, both Club Presidents this year hail from Ayrshire in Scotland – Burns Country. The Selkirk Grace was said by President Betty Mendoza of SI Skipton, followed by the Address to the Haggis by Mark Clarke. The traditional Bill of Fayre, prepared and served wonderfully by members of both clubs, was followed by Agnes Tomlinson, President of SI Ilkley giving the Immortal Memory and sharing memories of an Ayrshire childhood and the works of Robert Burns. Margaret Cook of SI Ilkley then proposed the Toast to the Lassies as the beneficiaries of the evening were to be the women of the International Presidents Appeal in Kathmandu. Guest of Honour, The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor, Joanne Dodds replied to the toast before Joanna Clarke of SI Skipton sang the Burns song “My Love is like a Red Red Rose” accompanied by Barbara Lockwood of SI Ilkley.
The evening finished with everyone singing Auld Lang Syne. It was a wonderful evening of celebration and joining together in friendship and raising £870 for the International President’s Appeal – Educate to Lead in Nepal.
Left to right: President Betty Mendoza of Soroptimist International Skipton-in Craven, The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor, Joanne Dodds. President Agnes Tomlinson of Soroptimist International, Ilkley, and Mark Clarke.