President
Alistair Deas is the current club president having taken office in 2015.
His duties include chairing all committee and club meetings and organising our annual suppers - both the January one and the one for our ladies in March. (He should have retired in Apri 2020 and been replaced by Dougie Abercrombie but due to lockdown from C19 we have not been able to meet.) |
Some of the club members we have lost over the last few seasons.Sadly missed by members and supper guests alike.
Bob Shepherd
Dave Penman
Bill Adie
Humphery Every
Club news update - highlights:
| In 2015: 14th March, Val McDermid with her partner Jo attended the monthly meeting where Val was presented with her Certificate confirming her as Honorary President of the club in company with Henry McLeish. |  |
| September of 2015 Humphrey Evry retired from his post as club accompanist, opening the door to Stewart Abercrombie |  |
| Club stalwart Bill Adie passed away during the 2016 summer recess. Bill has been at the forefront of all the club's activities for many years. Always up for a song or a poem. At many suppers he sang the Opening Song (There Was a Lad), as well as many others, and he was also able to deliver Tam O Shanter. |  |
Two more of the club regulars - David Penman and Bob Shepherd passed away during the break. Dave was a willing participant at suppers and at monthly meetings - often with his own "take" on The Bard's words! |
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| Bob Shepherd was a great reciter - not only of Burns but also Robert Service. His "Haggis of Private McPhee" was a firm favourite. |  |
in the Autumn of 2018 Josh Gregory, Bert Ritchie and former club stalwart John Blamey all passed away.
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In 2019: Allan MacDonald - son of Past President DJ MacDonald - and a regular singer of "Killiecrankie"was found dead in his home in January. This was on the night of our Supper and a real tragedy. The club offers sincere condolences to Davie and all his family on their loss.
Later in the year, Humphrey Evry (see picture above) became the latest sad loss to the club. |
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Who Has Performed at BPBC
We have had many famous personalities from the Burns' World speak at our annual supper over the years. As a club we also pride ourselves in providing a comprehensive entertainment from within our club members. A full list of who has done each of our main toasts and items can now be found here.
Who did what: previous suppers
Past President Kevin Thompon is unique in having performed all of the major items across the years, including all three BPBC toasts. Well done to him for that achievement!
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2016-2020
The supper was held as usual with the venue changing in 2018 to The Masonic Lodge in Cardenden.
Full reports are not available at this time but there is a selection of photos below.
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 2020 - Past President Bob Garmory and Hon Pres Rt Hon Henry McLeish with 'The Book" As it was our 80th anniversary ,two celebrity authors from Cardenden - Val McDermid & Ian Rankin - both signed a Burns book for the club. |
 2019 The Ploo'man - Messrs Miller, Alex Abercombie, A Abercrombie, Hopton, MacDonald snr, Garmory |
 2017 - Some of Top Table |
 2016 - Top Table |
 2016 - The Company |
Annual Supper 2015
This year the supper was once more a huge success. All credit to Davie MacDonald in chairing this one - his third and final - at least for the time being.
Click the photo for a full report
Sadly our old guestbook has been hacked and deleted. It had comments in going back 7 years so this is a blow. However we have started a new one below:
| [Sign My Guestbook] [View My Guestbook] |
| Powered by E-Guestbooks Server. |
Annual Burns Supper 2014
Another fantastic success at the annual supper. Once again over 100 gathered to hear toasts, songs,& poems and to share good food and several drinks! Well chaired by President DJ MacDonald. Photos to follow asap.
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Sadly Wilf Alsop - past president of the club, passed away recently. He was a great Burnsian and a genuinely good man. A former English teacher, several people spoke very eloquently at his funeral including Val McDermid - a past student of his. |
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Supper 2013
The annual supper took place in The Dundonald Institute on the 26th Jan. Once again a packed hall had a wonderful night's entertainment. Click the top table photo for a report!
Who did what: previous suppers
2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007
Sad News
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It is with regret we must announce the passing of our Honorary President Ann Watters age 86.. Ann's husband Norman was a club stalwart and Past President and when he passed away some 17 years ago Ann was good enough to become our Honorary President. She is well known in this area as a former Councellor and campaigner on many issues, and has been a strong supporter of BPBC for many years. |
Ann lived most of her adult life in Kirkcaldy, where she was a teacher, science education adviser, a councillor for the Dunnikier ward and chairperson of the civic society.
In 1949 she married dentist Norman Watters - who was to bacome our club president -and accompanied him to South Africa, where they lived for three years.
They returned to London and then, in 1953, moved to Kirkcaldy, where Norman bought the dental practice at 16 Wemyssfield.
Ann taught science at Templehall School before becoming a science education adviser with Fife County Council.
During this time she set up the East Wemyss Environmental Centre, which offered hands-on experiences to generations of children.
Her great contribution to Kirkcaldy was as chairperson of the civic society for 24 years. She was made an MBE in recognition of her service.
For more than 20 years she represented Dunnikier on Kirkcaldy District Council and then Fife Council, firstly as a Liberal Democrat and later as an independent.
Sadly our new VP Tom Dow passed away very suddenly recently. He has been a club stalwart over the last few years and will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with his family. RIP Tom.
New members welcome. Contact any of the committee or simply turn up. 2nd Sat each month Sept to April in the Bowhill Hotel at 7pm.
Note we are now on Facebook! Search for Bowhill Peoples' Burns Club
Two Suppers in One Night - AGAIN- 3750 miles apart!
Club President Kev Thompson not only hosted our supper this year but once again went on later that night to perform to another audience, 3000 miles away! The third live skype link up, when he sang for The Minneapolis Twin Cities Club, took place in front a very enthusiastic 300+ Americans in Minneapolis. Watch for video....
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Children's Competition 2012
The annual children's competition takes place on 12th March 2012 in Bowhill Bowling Club.
Please arrive at 9:30 to register!
Previous years reports:2010, 2009, 2008
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Older News has been moved to here
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Tam O Shanter
Former Club President Kev Thompson recites Tam O Shanter to a series of Paintings by local artist Charles Nasmyth.
Kevin says "I
was delighted to be invited to take part in this unique compilation. Charles' paintings are a wonderful illustration for Burns' classic poem"
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Burns Wall Hanging
Carolle Graham - wife of club member Jack - tells the story behind her fabulous wall hanging.
Click the picture above to read it and see the hanging.
Auld Lang Syne: Orignal words and tune
Several members including our new Honorary President, asked for a recording of this.
Although not on CD there is a video clip here for those interested.
Where do our website visitors come from?
Thanks! Please keep visiting.
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Frank chooses Epsitle to a Young Friend and Holy Willie's Prayer. |
Members Jottings: Who likes what and why! |
| Dance and social - read the story.... | Opening Social: Report by DJ Macdonald |
| Bus trip to Ayr. Read all the details | Club trip to Ayr 30th June 2007 |
| Sad loss to the Club.... | Passing of members: Sad News |
| Christmas raffle prizes | Christmas Social Raffle Prizewinners list. Click here. |
Burns Quiz: by DJ MacDonald......QUICK QUIZ....NO BOOKS!
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New Burns Quiz! |
Features
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Do we really know what Burns looked like?Click his picture to find out and try our quiz too! |
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About the club - by Wilf Allsop (past President)
BPBC is number 803 in The Robert Burns World Federation Ltd
The Bowhill People's Burns Club was founded in 1940 during the Second World War with the aim "to perpetuate the memory of Burns, to foster the study of his works, and to promote social and intellectual discourse among the members by meetings and discussions". As a consequence its special toast at the annual Burns Supper has always been "Peace and the People", alongside the traditional toasts of "The Immortal Memory" and "To The Lassies". The first Supper was held in 1941 and the club has continued to celebrate the life and works of Robert Burns every year on sixty-seven occasions.
A feature of the club has been its regular monthly meetings, when the singing and reciting of the Bard's work by the members has been a key element. Originally the members met in each others houses but, after some time, the meetings came to be held in the Railway Tavern, which had the ideal size of room. Unfortunately this venue was closed in 1994, but a room became available in the Bowhill Gothenburg Supper Rooms. The venue has since changed again several times and is now the Bowhill Hotel on the second Saturday of each month September to April.
Club plate |
Bowhill Hotel - Derran Drive: Current venue for BPBC |
 The Railway Tavern Bowhill |
The Number 1 Gothenburg |
In the 1970s the club ceased to be entirely local and now has members from further afield including Burntisland, Cambridge, Cowdenbeath, Crossgates, Cupar, Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Glenrothes, Kelty, Kennoway, Kirkcaldy, Kinglassie, Kinghorn, Leslie, Lochgelly, and London! The club celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1990 with a special supper attended by officials from the Burns Federation. (notes from the back of the club's limited edition commemorative plate)
