A fantastic weekend of birthday celebrations was had by all at Dundas Castle over the weekend with entertainments supplied by the one and only Reel-Time Events!
After an impressive Scottish feast in the Stag Chamber the guests were led into the Grand Hall to be met by 2 of Reel-Times incredible Highland dancers. Their performance was accompanied by Pipe Major Greig Canning, one of our fine championship pipers, and the party guests treated to a traditional and energetic series of reels and flings. If you are unfamiliar with this style of dancing then it will be hard to imagine the strength and finesse required to perform at this level. It is easy to build up a sweat…………….and that’s just from watching!!!
The evening didn’t end there either. Guests were led out to the front of the Castle by our dancers only to be greeted by the sound of an 8 piece, mini pipe band who performed an emotional and stirring “Beat the Retreat” to the colourful backdrop of a sensational fireworks display! On completion the Pipe Major then marched to the fore and presented the birthday boy with a celebratory Quaich of fine Scotch whisky. This was deftly seen to by the appreciative recipient before being piped back into the house by the Pipe Major himself. And what sacred and emotive piece of music could the pipe major have possibly played to befit such an occasion…………………………
……………………….happy birthday of course!
There was no let up on Saturday night’s entertainment with the celebrations continuing in earnest! Roddy the Piper himself was on hand to entertain guests with a blow of his fine set of pipes before leading the birthday party in a musical procession into an exquisite 4 courses of fine dining in the elegant setting of the Croquet Room. To keep with the Scottish theme, what else would be served as a starter but the mysterious and nocturnal predator species, indigenous to the Scottish Highlands…………………………the mighty Haggis!
As befitting such a proud and noble beast, a recital of the Bards most famous prose, an “Address to a Haggis” was aptly and enthusiastically performed by Pipe Major Roddy Deans in homage to the great chieftain o’ the pudding-race!
Well watered and with full stomachs the party guests retired from dinner and were welcomed into the great hall by another stirring rendition of the celebratory party classic…..Happy Birthday, this time performed magnificently by the famous Reel-Time Ceilidh Band, in honour of those in the group who had celebrated their 60th year in 2013. Mr Luca provided an incredible ice cream cake which was dully dispatched with the aid of the Dundas sword. A funk infused ceilidh fest then proceeded and took the birthday boy and his guests dancing like wild and possessed Hagii well into the witching hour!
A very happy birthday to you good Sir and we hope you enjoyed your weekend celebrations as much as we did!
Photographs by the talented Jenn Knox at PhotoJenniK Photography
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