Club enjoys Burns’ lunch

The House for an Art Lover’s music room was full when Glasgow South Business Club President, Remo Pisaneschi welcomed members and guests to their annual Burns lunch on Tuesday 24 January.

Govan High School music students entertained the crowd as people assembled and their Heidie, Iain White, piped in the haggis. Club member, journalist Grace Franklin, gave her usual flamboyant performance of Burns’ Address to the Haggis. The toast to the Immortal Memory of the Bard was given in humorous fashion by Alan Murray who is modest about his knowledge of the poet. In the course of his illuminating and witty speech, he sang one of Burns’ songs and recited verses from several poems. An effective tour de force that was as entertaining as it was enlightening. Alan is a Govanite by birth and early education. He currently runs a new styled, multi uses, community centre in Maybole, Ayrshire.

Honorary Life Member, Frank Bendoris, thanked all the contributors. The Club, which meets monthly, has important guests signed up for future meetings, including Brian Souter and First Minister Alex Salmond. Full information from the Club’s website: www.glasgowsouthbusiness club.co.uk

Burns suppers galore

You could get indigestion if you attempted all the Burns Suppers which are held at this time of year.  But if you’ve never attended such an event, try to take in one if only to enjoy the camaraderie and glean a little more knowledge about Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Poet.

Tuesday 24 January 2012: Glasgow South Business Club’s annual Burns Lunch in House for an Art Lover. Music by Govan High School students. Members and guests but check the Club’s website: www.glasgowsouthbusinessclub.co.uk

Wednesday 25, Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 January 2012: The owners of Rozelle House in Rozelle Estate, Monument Road Ayr – which has close ties to Alloway and Burns – offer a free guided tour of the premises and of the permanent collection of Alexander Goudie’s famous paintings of Burns’ poem ‘Tam O Shanter’. No booking required. ‘Come along and enjoy the experience!’ is their invitation.

Wednesday 25 January: Robert Burns Birthplace Museum offers an evening of fine dining and entertainment hosted by John Cairney. Tickets £45 from the Museum tel: 0844 493 2601 or email: burns@nts.org.uk

Friday 27 January : Govanhill Baths Trust hold their annual Burns’ Nicht and ceilidh in Langside Halls. Tickets £10, £8 concession and £5 for children under 16. See their website for details: www.govanhillbaths.com

Friday 27 January: Wellington Church International Welcome Club will hold a Chinese Burns Supper combining celebrations for Chinese New Year with those for Robert Burns. Chinese haggis filled dumplings will be served. Tickets limited. Contact Church office: tel: 0141 339 0454 or email: grace.franklin@ntlworld.com

Saturday 28 January: Robert Burns House, Burns Street, Dumfries DG1 2PS invitation to join David Sibbald in residence and celebrate the Biggest Burns Supper  between 2pm and 4pm. Says David: Burns should be fun. Let’s all enjoy the friendship and camaraderie: that’s what the Big Burns Supper is all about. Events at various venues across Dumfries on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 January. See website: www.bigburnssupper.com

Sunday 29 January 2012:  Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway. Singing a Nation. A Robert Burns and Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore Supper. Celebrating Scotland and India through food, music, dance, poetry and good company. Tickets £30. Tel: 0844 493 2601  or email: burns@nts.org.uk

 

Sterling service to the business club

Glasgow South Business Club celebrated 25 years of being in business with a gala dinner in the Grand Central Station Hotel last month. Frank Bendoris, who has been secretary for many years, was presented with Honorary Membership for his sterling service to the organisation. Having stepped down from that office, he has been replaced by Angela Samson.

President, Remo Pisaneschi, paid tribute to Frank’s work on behalf of the Club.

The first meeting in January will be a Burns Lunch in The House for an Art Lover. Major speakers are programmed for future monthly meetings which take place in the Ibrox Stadium function suites. For further information check their website: www.glasgowsouthbusinessclub.co.uk

Doing Business with Burns

Robert Burns attracted a full house at Glasgow South Business Club’s January meeting. Held in the beautiful function rooms of the House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston, the lunch celebrated the Bard with former chief executive of SPT, Ron Culley, sharing his wit and wisdom on the subject.

Welcomed by Govan High School music students, the gathering of around 80 members and guests had a feast of entertainment before the meal. Under the baton of Elaine Bonner, Head of Music and accompanist Stephen Roger, vocal soloists were Jennifer Baird, Frazer Chisholm and Tiree McDonald. Recorder soloists were Colette Rinaldi and Gabriele Pikturnaite. Clarinet soloist was Kristofer Shaw and guitar soloist was Craig Connell.

School Head Teacher, Iain White, piped in the haggis which was address, with panache, by Local News  Editor, Grace Franklin.

After the delicious meal, Ron Culley took the floor.  He had been chief executive of Govan Initiative when it launched the Business Club in 1987. Its first secretary,  he reflected on what Govan was like in those, not so far off, days. ‘There was no BBC, no Science Centre – that was all derelict dockland. Some parts of Govan had 100% unemployed. So in that relatively short time it is good to see what changes have been made.’  He paid tribute to Glasgow South West Regeneration Agency which is today’s version of Govan Initiative and the other agencies who are transforming the area.

Since stepping down from the SPT for health reasons, his heart problems are being  overcome, he told the audience. Twice before, the Club had anticipated his Immortal Memory at their Burns lunch and twice they’d been disappointed when he’d had to call off for those very health reasons.

Using the lunch as the trial run for his speech – he had three other audiences to address in similar fashion – he asked why Burns had transcended the centuries and was celebrated as the man and the poet, while Shakespeare and Charles Dickens were only celebrated for their works and not their humanity.

‘We could ask ourselves if Burns would have stood in the queue at Cupids?’ he questioned to much laughter. ‘He was a genius but also he had honesty and despite his faults, kept his feet on the ground and despised hypocrisy.’

Explaining how Burns was well schooled in grammar, Ron Culley said his generation of Pollok residents was schooled in the same way. That’s why he found writing came relatively easy to him and he has now published two books – copies of which he had with him.

The Kaibab Resolution was a thriller set in America and I Belong to Glasgow – with a foreword by Sir Alex Ferguson – was his own look at his native city. Ron is working on two other novels to complete his first trilogy.

Thanks were expressed to Ron and the other participants by Club member Ralph Riddiough with the whole day efficiently conducted by Club Chairman Remo Pisaneschi.

READERS OF THIS ENEWS have a chance to win a signed copy of Kaibab Resolution. Just tell us what year Glasgow South Business Club was founded. Email answers to: newsdesk@localnewsglasgow.co.uk with GSBC in the subject box to arrive by 9am Friday 11 February 2011.

Members of the Glasgow South Business Club are raising £500 to pay for one country team to enter the next Homeless World Cup. They have a football signed by Sir Alex Ferguson, who wrote the foreword to Ron Culley’s book ‘I Belong to Glasgow’ which is being raffled. Tickets from the Club committee.  See website: www.glasgowsouthbusiness club.co.uk or phone 0141 440 2334 or email Frank

Big John calls it a day at awards bash

Glasgow South West Regeneration Agency (GSWRA) celebrated the festive season with their annual awards ceremony at House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park.
A fun affair – yet tinged with sadness due to the retirement of father-figure John McLaughlin – celebrated some of the great achievers in Govan and the south west of Glasgow.
John McLaughlin MBE was up till recently a Board member and previously a Chairman of GSWRA.
He was a pioneer not only for GSWRA but its forerunner, the Govan Initiative.
A couple of John’s friends (aka The Govan Chairman due to his wooden crafting of miniature chairs) including Scottish Boxing King Tommy Gilmour were unable to attend but paid plaudits on a pre-recorded DVD that was beamed into the dinning hall.
Gilmour spoke of how it was a privilege and a pleasure to know John and said: ‘When the ship building went he was the man that kept the faith and the pride in Govan.
‘John might have an MBE but I think that a knighthood or sainthood would be more appropriate.’
On collecting his award John kept things brief, saying only: ‘It’s been great being with you all, thank you.’
Alison Sinclair, Chief Executive of GSWRA and host at the event hailed Big John’s effort in helping schools, businesses and communities, before going on to the awards ceremony.
The winners of the Business Excellence Awards included;
Partnership Working Award – Reed in Partnership
Supporting Local Businesses Working – Glasgow South Business Club
Commitment to Partnership Working – Cardonald College
Significant Person Achievement – Angela Williams
There were also fifteen year service awards handed out to Mary Teresa Smith, John Currie and Mae Campbell.