Page 40 - Gi flipbook March 2018

IGEM NEWS | Events

SUPER BURNS SUPPER

By Sheila Lauchlan, IGEM President

“GREAT FUN!” “A fantastic evening”
and a “fabulous night” are just a few of
the words used to describe the
inaugural IGEM Burns Supper, held at
the Crowne Plaza, Leeds.
The guests were piped in to take
their seats before IGEM President
Sheila Lauchlan welcomed all, reciting
a poem she had written describing the
agenda for the evening. She then
invited Fraser Baxter, of Advance
Construction Scotland, to say the
Selkirk Grace.
Once the starters were cleared, it
was time for the guest of honour – in
paraded the piper, the chef and the
fair beast, the haggis!
Ian McCluskey, IGEM’s Head of
Technical Services, gave a passionate
rendition of the Address to the Haggis
and with gusto stabbed the beast,
giving the first toast of the evening.
The rest of the meal followed, and
while guests enjoyed coffee and
homemade shortbread, Ben Clarke,
Regional Accounts Manager at PM
Projen, delivered the Immortal Director of Redacre Consulting, to a fun-filled party atmosphere.
Memory of Robert Burns, with guests give the Toast to the Lassies and the The night could only end one way,
raising their glasses again for the toast. Reply to the Toast to the Lassies with arms entwined for a rendition of
With more whisky still to be respectively, now affectionately Auld Lang Syne.
consumed, Sheila then welcomed known as ‘the toast-off’! Mark Tindley, Managing Director at
Andrew Middleton, Asset Integrity The guests then took to the floor as Synthotech, summed it up perfectly
Manager for Northern Gas Networks the ceilidh began. Well done to when he said: “Superb company, great
and the North East & Yorkshire everyone for having a go at the dances food, lovely whisky and funny dancing.
Section Chair, and Nikki Barker, and letting their hair down, it made for A great night.” ■

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