Residents at Colten Care homes across the south celebrated Burns Night in honour of the famous 18th century bard Robert Burns.
Reflecting annual tradition, poetry recitals were held along with lively lunches and suppers featuring haggis, neeps, tatties and a ‘wee dram’ here and there.
At Brook View in West Moors, Dorset, creative residents designed and handmade their own sporrans using various materials such as tartan ribbon.
To add a touch of gentle rivalry, a competition for best sporran was held with staff members stepping up to model the entries on a makeshift catwalk.
In the end, resident Diana Pearce took the top spot for her creation, saying: “I had a fabulous time and was taken aback to win best sporran!”
Derived from the Gaelic word ‘sporan’ meaning ‘wallet’ or ‘purse’, the sporran is the small hanging pouch worn from the waist in front of the kilt. In the absence of pockets, it is used to carry everyday items such as coins and keys.
Burns Night is a worldwide commemoration, held every year on the anniversary of ‘Rabbie’s’ birth in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1759.
Lauren Steele, Home Manager at Brook View, said the annual celebration is a firm favourite at the home.
“It always proves popular with residents from both north and south of the border,” she said.
Pipers, other musicians and singers also gave performances in honour of Burns Night at Colten Care’s Belmore Lodge and Court Lodge in Lymington, Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst, Bourne View in Poole and St Catherines View in Winchester.
