Saughton House

from The Edinburgh Reporter February 2020

Jane Street

The Lord Provost of Edinburgh’s Burns Supper 2020

This was a wonderful evening under the command of Toastmaster, Philip Henderson, with an outstanding Address to the Haggis by Cameron Goodall, unsurpassed singing of Burns songs from Robyn Stapleton, an unforgettable Immortal Memory by Professor Joe Goldblatt and a wonderful Toast to the Lassies by Gordon Dewar of Edinburgh Airport with a beautifully crafted Reply by the Fringe's Shona McCarthy. The Deacon Convener Ian Robertson recited the Selkirk Grace and former Lord Provost Lesley Hinds offered a most appropriate and entertaining Vote of Thanks.

The Mayor of Dunedin, Aaron Hawkins, sent a video message from our sister city, saying that he hopes to attend in person one day,

The dinner raised around £20,000 for the Lord Provost’s charity OneCity Trust. This was established in 2003 and aims to combat social exclusion in the city. There were donations in kind on the evening from Bentley Edinburgh who ferried VIPs in luxury, James Thomson, owner of Prestonfield House Hotel, and Gavin Strang of Lyon & Turnbull who conducted the live auction. Other benefactors include Travis Perkins Managed Services, Engie, CGI UK Ltd, The City of Edinburgh Council and Underbelly who made the charity their partner both in summer and winter 2019.

In 2019/20 the Trust made donations of £180,000 to organisations in the city including the North Edinburgh Arts Sharing Shelf and Pilmeny Development Project whose work was highlighted in videos created especially for the guests attending the dinner.

And if you weren’t there this year, then make sure you get the hottest ticket in town next January! Email elaine@onecity.org.uk for updates. PHOTOS Martin P McAdam