PLANS are underway for Dumbarton FC’s annual Burns Supper in 2025, with tickets now available to purchase.
And this season’s event, at the Marbill Coaches Stadium on Friday, January 31, is a celebration of our club as a ‘Toast to the Promotion Winners and The Lassies’. For only £30 a head, the evening will consist of a four-course meal of traditional Scottish fayre supplied by Alex Graham Catering, followed by a selection of renowned speakers, performers and artists who are respected across the Burns Supper circuit.
Giving the Immortal Memory this year will be Kerry Burley, who is changing speeches after giving the Reply for the Lassies last year. Current president of Sandyford Burns Club in Glasgow, Kerry is fast gaining a reputation as one of the top performers at Burns events across Scotland. A tireless worker across the educational sector, Kerry also performs as a singer and will be doing this for us at the DFC supper as well. We are delighted to welcome her back for a second year in a row.
The Toast to the Lassies will be given this year by Niven Rennie, for whom the event will be a homecoming of sorts, as he is a former pupil of Keil School in Dumbarton. Niven is a former police officer with over 30 years’ service, before being appointed as director of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit in 2018. A renowned after-dinner speaker with a sharp wit, we are looking forward to the benefits of his talents here at the DFC supper for the first time.
Another DFC Burns Supper debut on the night will be made by Jean Hillhouse, who will deliver the Reply for the Lassies. Jean is a highly talented actress, from Ayrshire, who is in great demand on the Burns circuit, regularly speaking at between 10 and 15 suppers every year. She is also an experienced school teacher and became principal teacher of Scottish Studies with East Ayrshire Council in 1997. Like Niven, she will provide a humorous and sharp speech in reply.
By contrast, Stuart Brodie is a veteran of the Dumbarton FC Burns Supper – but when you see him you will know why. Stuart will give us his unique recital of the Bard’s iconic poem ‘Tam o’ Shanter’ which he has performed across the world. He will be at the Marbill Coaches Stadium for the third year in a row, and you will not regret seeing him in action.
Joining Kerry to perform songs will be well-known Sons fan and local businessman Robert Ryan. Helensburgh man Robert, who for many years had his own pet store in Dumbarton, is a talented musician and has performed as the lead singer in bands as well as going it alone as a solo artist. Robert will make it four years in a row doing the Dumbarton FC supper, which is testament to his popularity not just among our support, but in the community at large.
Piper Iain MacPhee will play the top table in on the evening along with the traditional piping in of the haggis, before performing a selection of songs later on. Iain, a local man, is a talented piper of decades’ experience who will currently be reaching the end of another busy wedding season. He too is a well-known face among our support, and we will be delighted to once again enjoy his talents on the night.
Supporter Andrew Galloway, who manages the evening, said: “It does not feel like a long time ago since we had the 2024 Burns Supper at the end of February, but here we are again – and we are looking forward to next year enormously.
“We once again have an outstanding line-up of speakers and performers who will make it worth your while spending the evening at the event. No knowledge of Burns and his work is necessary and the evening is not a history lesson – it is simply about letting your hair down and enjoying some traditional Scottish food, some excellent performances of speech and music, and great company.
“And there is everything to support about our club as well, with the youth setup going from strength to strength, the addition of a ladies’ team as announced during the close season – and of course we won promotion last season too. So far as it is possible, every recognition will be made on the night of how far our club has come in recent times.
“This will be a great evening, our fifth Burns Supper since it became an annual event in 2020, and we hope as many as possible can join us.”
Tickets are now available at £30 a head, with the evening being 6.30pm for a 7pm start on Friday, January 31. To book, please contact Andrew at andrewg31@hotmail.com.