EAST Lothian is firmly in the grips of Burns supper season, with special events being held across much of the county to mark Rabbie Burns’ birthday.

Thursday was to see both Preston Lodge High School and Loretto Junior School tucking into haggis, neeps and tatties.

Meanwhile, North Berwick Drama Circle is again putting on an evening of entertainment to honour Burns.

Following the success of the group’s first alternative Burns supper last year, organisers have put together another colourful evening of entertainment, a three-course meal and music for the evening at the Glen Golf Club tonight (Friday) at 7.30pm.

Tickets are now available, priced £25, and can be bought by emailing davehvh@hotmail.com or calling 01620 862221.

Burns fare and Glenfiddich whisky is being served in a special evening at Greywalls at Gullane tonight (Friday) as well.

The evening starts at 7pm for pre-dinner drinks before sitting down to a meal at 7.30pm.

An expert from Glenfiddich will be on hand to talk those in attendance through each whisky.

The event is priced at £49.50 per person for four courses, including canapes, coffee, petit fours and whisky.

Haddington Burns Club hosts its 126th annual gathering tonight too.

Allan Doyle will preside over the gathering, which promises to be an interesting and humorous evening.

The Immortal Memory will be proposed by James McArthur, a member of St Andrews Burns Club for 30 years and past president of the championship committee of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club.

The Toast to the Toun will be proposed by Craig Statham, previously of East Lothian Council and author of a number of books on the county.

The reply will be proposed by Philip Rycroft, another stalwart of the Burns Club and former speaker at this event. Ian Buick, of Berwick-upon-Tweed, will propose the Toast to the Lassies, with the reply given in song.

The Toast to the Chairman, Croupiers and Club Officials will be given by Alastair Shepherd.

Tickets are priced at £25 for the event at the Maitlandfield House Hotel from 6.30pm.

Rounding off tonight’s suppers are Tranent 25 Burns Club, which is having a supper in Rannoch House, at 7pm, and Tantallon Burns Club, tucking in at 7pm at Tantallon Golf Club.

Tomorrow (Saturday) a Burns supper is being held in Gullane Village Hall at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £20, including a three-course meal, and it is BYOB.

Tickets can be booked on 07989 725265 or 07989 558239.

Also tomorrow, East Lothian Yacht Club meets in the Loft Cafe at 7.30pm, while Craigleith Burns Club are meeting at the Nether Abbey, North Berwick, at 6.30pm for 7pm.

Prestonpans Airts Burns Club will tuck into traditional fare on Saturday as well at Royal Musselburgh Golf Club at 6pm.

Friends of the Brunton are mounting a special Burns extravaganza ‘Burns – his life and legacy’ on Monday at The Brunton.

This will include several internationally-acclaimed performers, arranged at the eleventh hour due to the illness of its original guest “This has worked out really well,” said the Friends press officer, Roger Knox. “It’s very gratifying to know how many very accomplished individuals are willing to step into the breach on an occasion like this.

“We have Mairi Campbell, celebrated fiddler and singer who, with husband Dave Francis, formed the soundtrack for Auld Lang Syne in the Hollywood film When Harry met Sally. We have East Lothian’s own Coreen Scott, who sings regularly in France and who now includes a number of French numbers in her repertoire.

“Kenny MacAskill, Government Minister until recently, will make a talk about the Burns legacy abroad.

“They will be complemented by various local artistes and make the evening a Burns Nicht very different from the usual.” The evening starts at 7.30pm, While Knox Academy is hosting its annual Burns supper next Thursday night (January 29).

Haggis, neeps and tatties will be on the menu from 7pm, tickets £10 for adults and £5 for pupils.

There will be more Burns suppers in the county the following week.

EAST Lothian is firmly in the grips of Burns supper season, with special events being held across much of the county to mark Rabbie Burns’ birthday.

Thursday was to see both Preston Lodge High School and Loretto Junior School tucking into haggis, neeps and tatties.

Meanwhile, North Berwick Drama Circle is again putting on an evening of entertainment to honour Burns.

Following the success of the group’s first alternative Burns supper last year, organisers have put together another colourful evening of entertainment, a three-course meal and music for the evening at the Glen Golf Club tonight (Friday) at 7.30pm.

Tickets are now available, priced £25, and can be bought by emailing davehvh@hotmail.com or calling 01620 862221.

Burns fare and Glenfiddich whisky is being served in a special evening at Greywalls at Gullane tonight (Friday) as well.

The evening starts at 7pm for pre-dinner drinks before sitting down to a meal at 7.30pm.

An expert from Glenfiddich will be on hand to talk those in attendance through each whisky.

The event is priced at £49.50 per person for four courses, including canapes, coffee, petit fours and whisky.

Haddington Burns Club hosts its 126th annual gathering tonight too.

Allan Doyle will preside over the gathering, which promises to be an interesting and humorous evening.

The Immortal Memory will be proposed by James McArthur, a member of St Andrews Burns Club for 30 years and past president of the championship committee of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club.

The Toast to the Toun will be proposed by Craig Statham, previously of East Lothian Council and author of a number of books on the county.

The reply will be proposed by Philip Rycroft, another stalwart of the Burns Club and former speaker at this event. Ian Buick, of Berwick-upon-Tweed, will propose the Toast to the Lassies, with the reply given in song.

The Toast to the Chairman, Croupiers and Club Officials will be given by Alastair Shepherd.

Tickets are priced at £25 for the event at the Maitlandfield House Hotel from 6.30pm.

Rounding off tonight’s suppers are Tranent 25 Burns Club, which is having a supper in Rannoch House, at 7pm, and Tantallon Burns Club, tucking in at 7pm at Tantallon Golf Club.

Tomorrow (Saturday) a Burns supper is being held in Gullane Village Hall at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £20, including a three-course meal, and it is BYOB.

Tickets can be booked on 07989 725265 or 07989 558239.

Also tomorrow, East Lothian Yacht Club meets in the Loft Cafe at 7.30pm, while Craigleith Burns Club are meeting at the Nether Abbey, North Berwick, at 6.30pm for 7pm.

Prestonpans Airts Burns Club will tuck into traditional fare on Saturday as well at Royal Musselburgh Golf Club at 6pm.

Friends of the Brunton are mounting a special Burns extravaganza ‘Burns – his life and legacy’ on Monday at The Brunton.

This will include several internationally-acclaimed performers, arranged at the eleventh hour due to the illness of its original guest “This has worked out really well,” said the Friends press officer, Roger Knox. “It’s very gratifying to know how many very accomplished individuals are willing to step into the breach on an occasion like this.

“We have Mairi Campbell, celebrated fiddler and singer who, with husband Dave Francis, formed the soundtrack for Auld Lang Syne in the Hollywood film When Harry met Sally. We have East Lothian’s own Coreen Scott, who sings regularly in France and who now includes a number of French numbers in her repertoire.

“Kenny MacAskill, Government Minister until recently, will make a talk about the Burns legacy abroad.

“They will be complemented by various local artistes and make the evening a Burns Nicht very different from the usual.” The evening starts at 7.30pm, While Knox Academy is hosting its annual Burns supper next Thursday night (January 29).

Haggis, neeps and tatties will be on the menu from 7pm, tickets £10 for adults and £5 for pupils.

There will be more Burns suppers in the county the following week.