LAST weekend's Burns Independence Supper in Thurso was "a great night", according to the Yes Caithness group which organised the event. More than 60 people attended the function at the Pentland Hotel on Saturday.

Entertainment was provided by Nancy Nicolson, Susan Dearness, Addie Harper and Richard Smith as well as David Rosie and Danny O’Hagan and Friends and the Saor Alba Soul Band. Food, drink, music and poetry were on the menu but it was not a traditional Burns supper.

The event was hosted by local writer George Gunn, who spoke about Burns the republican, democrat and rebel. Gunn said the national bard lived in "a dangerous time when there was no democracy in Scotland. You could get 14 years hard labour for advocating the rights of ordinary people."

Gallery1

Ian Sinclair, who helped organise the evening, was delighted with how it went. He said: "We had a great night with over 60 people attending. George Gunn's alternative approach worked very well. He gave a very interesting and witty presentation about the difficult times in which Burns lived.

"The Pentland Hotel provided an excellent meal of haggis, neeps and tatties with whisky sauce and great atmosphere for a ceilidh."

Yes Caithness is a grassroots movement which supports the idea of Scottish self-determination.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.