LEDBURY is a long way from Scotland, but that didn't stop the The Friends of Ledbury Parish Church holding a very successful Burns Night Supper, last Saturday.

And the event raised £500 towards "the preservation of the fabric of Ledbury's medieval church".

Tim Keyes, Chairman of The Friends of Ledbury Parish Church, welcomed town mayor, Councillor Phillip Howells and sixty guests to the evening at St Katherine’s Hall "in celebration of the life and poetry of Robert Burns, the bard of Ayrshire."

But this wasn't a one off cultural event for the Friends.

Mr Keyes said: "The Friends have put on a number of events to celebrate poetry in recent years. This traditional evening began with bagpiper Veronica Sandy piping in the haggis, which was then addressed by Ken Simpson, knife in hand, with the dramatic words of Robert Burns.

"After toasting the haggis with a tot of whisky, the guests sat down to a traditional meal of haggis, neeps and tatties followed by a delicious Cranachan dessert."

Mr Keyes added: " Scot Alasdair Gibson proposed the toast to the Immortal Memory of Burns in a speech full of warmth and wit."

Then, after a discussion about "the rather dissolute life of the great poet", Burns was complimented and afterwards a toast proposed, in the manner of Burns, "to the lassies”.

Mr Keyes said: "Mary Anne Keyes replied on the lassies’ behalf with the expected balance of lamenting the many faults of men whilst recognising that they have their uses!

"The evening ended with Scottish dancing for all the assembled company and the singing of Auld Lang Syne. The event raised over £500 for the preservation of the fabric of our medieval church."

Robert Burns, who died aged 37 in 1796, is widely regarded as Scotland's national poet, as well as being an important "first wave" Romantic poet.