Wirral Pomona have a cider ceilidhe on 18th January, 2019, to mark Robbie Burns’ Immortal Memory and his legacy for the makers of cider. We, as the network of Cider-Makers, believe passionately in convivial occasions, using our home-grown resources, whether they are local apples which are surplus to requirements, or local music-makers, cooks, artists and dance-callers, who’ve grown their skills in the Wirral. Burns’ birthday, a few days later in the month gives us an excuse. Apart from his most famous poem to cider, “..an old lady of Clyde,” Burns was for many years a collector of Excise taxes on Cider and “strong waters” and that is all we need to keep the tradition of music, dance and jollity in the otherwise dull, dark, dank and dry month of January.

The ceilidhe roughly takes the form of a Burns Supper, at the Old Church, Brookfield Gardens, West Kirby (ARTS CENTRE.) We had our first event like this four years ago we thought then that the Arts Centre looked like the kirk in Burns’ Tam O’Shanter, where the patrons were behaving in a way you wouldn’t expect in a church. This coming ceilidh will be just as irreverent, but a lively and friendly rom.

Warlocks and witches in a dance’ by 19th-century illustrator John Faed.

“And, vow! Tam saw an unco sight

Warlocks and witches in a dance;

Nae cotillion brent-new frae France,

But hornpipes, jigs strathspeys, and reels,

Put life and mettle in their heels. ”

The Supper gives us a chance to raise a few funds, taste our cider from last year, but mostly to hold a convivial celebration to balance with the hard work which has been involved over the last 6 months in building up the equipment, resources and expertise, cleaning, scratting, pressing, bottling, organising, sampling and tasting. We also help Wirral Tree Wardens in protecting trees, including the demonstration orchard at Brimstage which has been under threat in the last 2 years.

It’ll be seasonal, lots of food and drink, live music with Rosie as dance caller for the barn dance with Scots, Irish and English Country dance elements which have proved great fun and surprisingly easy to join in. Music, song and dance calling is provided by Jo Pue, John Walsh, Rosie Wright and special guest Anita Rockford with guests and by Melody Makers who meet at Melrose Hall every Wednesday lunch-time. We have a maximum of 80 tickets to sell, which will pay for the fees and expenses and earn us enough, we hope, to pay for any extra bits we need.

Burns Supper 18th January 2019 from 7.00-10.00pm

Ticket prices: £10.00 to include a Burns Supper Menu Children 6-16: reduced price of £5.00 (those 5 and under will not be charged.)

We’ll post the full menu nearer the time: it’ll probably have haggis but will have vegan and other alternatives.

Rough Timings:

• 6:15 doors open
• 6:30 bar opens.
• 6:45 Supper starts, accompanied by some finely-sung Burns songs
• 7.00  Melrose Melody Makers play Scots and Irish tunes and songs
• 7.20 pipe in the Haggis:
• 7:30 Supper. with a story/Burns poem while we are eating
• 8:00 Dancing and songs (till 10:00
• 9:15 puddings & cakes brought round
• Bar and hot drinks available till 9:45pm
• 10.00 event ends with candle dance and a final song
• clearing away and setting off!

Other points: please do not park in Brookfield Road or upset the neighbours by loud or boisterous mollocking in the street. Free evening parking for guests at the back of Concourse Leisure Centre, Grange Road West Kirby, Wirral CH48 4HX then cross over main road and into Brookfield Gardens. Some parking at end of Carpenters’ Lane / Townfield Road: along (dimly-lit) lane and in the back gate (N.B. steps down into the centre are more awkward than those up into the centre from Brookfield Gardens for anyone with unsteady footing)

(Robbie Burns was an official in the government’s Excise and this was one part of his relationship with Cider. The headquarters of the Excise in Scotland still is the office for the whole of UK, which issues cider-making tax-exemptions, of which Pomona members have three.  This is a transcription of extracts from Burns’ commission.

‘TO ALL WHOM these Presents shall come, Greeting. Know Ye, That we, whose Hands and Seals are hereunto set, being the major part of the chief Commissioners and Governors for the Management of the Receipt of the Excise…. of the several and respective Duties upon making and importing Mum, Cyder and Perry respectively; reposing especial Trust and Confidence in the Knowledge, Skill, Industry, Integrity, Fidelity, and Circumspection of Robert Burns Gentleman HAVE nominated, constituted, and appointed the said Robert Burns to be One of the Surveyors, Messengers, Gaugers, and Officers, of and for the said several and respective Duties before mentioned,and for the seizing of all Brandy, Arrack, Rum, Spirits, Strong Waters, Coffee, Teas, Chocolate and Cocoa Nuts, which shall be unlawfully imported or carried within the Limits aforesaid: GIVEN under our Hands and Seals at the Chief Office of Excise, and for the said Duties, in EDINBURGH this Fourteenth Day of July in the Twenty eighth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of GOD of Great Britain, France and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, and so forth, and in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and Eighty eight ‘ (Signatures)