New Hall School in Chelmsford transformed into a traditional Scottish gathering with over 60 guests donning their finest tartan at the inaugural New Hall Burns Supper at the end of January. The festive occasion raised over £900 in aid of Chelmsford Foodbank, a charity that provides emergency food and hygiene supplies to people in the local community.
Attended by parents, students, Governors and members of the Senior Leadership Team, the event was hosted by Mrs Victoria McLaren, Teacher of French & Spanish. The idea of Scottish student Harry M (Year 13), the event forms part of Harry’s contribution to promoting community spirit in his role as Deputy Head Boy.
The festivities began with a reception in the School’s St Francis Hall, adorned with Scottish-themed decorations. In keeping with tradition and paying homage to Scottish heritage, a professional bagpiper led the procession of the haggis, the centrepiece of the evening, which was followed by a ceremonial recitation of Burns’ poem, Address to the Haggis.
The memory of the famed Scottish poet, Robert Burns, was celebrated in style, complete with poetry recitals, lively discussions and music. Bidding farewell to the January blues, guests were treated to typical Scottish delicacies, including cock-a-leekie soup, haggis, neeps and tatties, and raspberry cranachan, all accompanied by delicious wines, and followed by a lively raffle.
Andrew Fardell, Deputy Principal, commented: “We celebrated the rich tapestry of Scottish culture at our inaugural Burns Supper, as a testament to the true sense of community here at our School, all whilst helping a local charity. The poetry of Robert Burns serves as a reminder of the power of literature, and its ability to unite communities and transcend generations.”
This academic year, New Hall’s community has collected 588kg of donations in their Harvest Festival and World Food Day collections for the Chelmsford Foodbank, as one of their chosen local charities.