The Immortal Memory

[Oddern]

22. January next year I'll be attending the Burns Supper in The Caledonian Society. The secretary of the Society has asked me to deliver The Immortal Memory, and stupid me said yes .
So I need help from my friends here on X marks to come up with a short and witty speech that honors our great poet.
Is there anyone who knows of websites on this topic? Or is there any of you who have delivered The Immortal Memory earlier and wants to share his knowlege?
It is important to emphasize that this Burns Supper is an all male event, and that the British ambasador will attend, so the speech should be accordingly. I can't read scottish, so I think it's wise not to read to many Burns poems.

Help anyone?????

[BroosterB1]

Try here as a start. http://www.experiencefestival.com/bu...mmortal_memory

google "immortal memory speech" and you will get several dozen example. cut and fit from those to fit your personality and the character of the group you are addressing.

Cheers

B

[McClef]

I had the pleasure of delivering an Immortal Memory speech at Ferintosh in January this year.

I would be happy to send you a copy Oddern and you can make use of any bits that you would like - you can cut out any difficult Scots bits

Funnily enough I was Google walking down Thomas Heftyes Gate (where the Brit Embassy is) only yesterday! I visited it once for some information.

But what HAVE they done to the road system in Oslo? Cut off pedestrianised bits all over the place!

Hilsen!

Trefor

[KD Burke]

I understand entirely! I've been asked to present the Toast to the Lassies at our NE Florida Burns Night!

[Graham A. Robieson]

Greetings,

You can say about the meaning behind some of Burns poetry...like Auld Lang Syne (about remembering absent friends at the end of the year) and A Man's A Man For A' That.

Hope this can help with some of the speech,

All the best,


Graham

[Oldhiker]

Here is how I ended my speech last year

This is to Robert Burns:
A man of passion;
A man of freedom and independence;
A man of verse and song;
A man of the people;
It is to Scotland’s native son and national bard

That I ask you to stand and charge your glasses,
“TO THE IMMORTAL MEMORY OF ROBERT BURNS, the “People’s Poet”!

I think the only requirment/tradition is to end the speech with TO THE IMMORTAL MEMORY OF ROBERT BURNS. The subject of my speech was Highland Mary, you can pick any subect about Burns, easy to research on the internet.

[thescot]

the ending of another good address:

The worst thing I can imagine is being a Scottish poet after Robert Burns has lived and written and amazed. He only lived 37 years, but he has left a legacy for these 251 years since his birth that kind of surpasses everyone else’s. His works have been translated in every major language, even Chinese. And no other person except Jesus has millions of folks around the world gathering for celebrate his life and work—and . . . his charm, and worldliness, and human frailty.
And so, I ask you to join me this evening by charging your glasses and standing one final time as we recall the memory of a fine man, scholar, lover, patriot, mason, and friend.
To the immortal memory of Robert Burns.

[macwilkin]

I traditionally end my Immortal Memories with this:

A last request permit me here, -
When yearly ye assemble a',
One round, I ask it with a tear,
To him, the Bard that's far awa.

From Burns's The Farewell To the Brethren of St. James' Lodge, Tarbolton.

One piece of advice regarding Immortal Memories: keep it short -- no more than 20 minutes, 12-15 is really the ideal amount of time.

T.

[Oddern]

Thanks for many good suggestions. And thanks to McClef and Beedee for sending me copies of their speeches. Now I have to put all the bits and pieces in to a great and memorable speech.........