McGonagall Evening - 07/02/22

This week Irvine Seagate Rotary had a virtual McGonagall dinner, organised via Zoom by Ian Dickson.  William Topaz McGonagall, 1825-1902, has been classed as Scotland’s worst poet, and was ridiculed during his lifetime, but nevertheless managed to put over some significant stories of his time in an unintentionally painfully amusing way.  He lived 55 years in Dundee, and the recommended dinner for this evening was stovies, with the dress code bunnets and shawls.  

To confuse matters, Ian ran the evening in reverse, from the Vote of Thanks and death of McGonagall back through his life, and all episodes were illustrated with recitations from his works by Club members.  Altogether this was an entertaining evening which finished with President Hugh Hutchison’s welcome to all present.