Member’s Lounge

It is nine years since the Club held its first Burns Night Supper and we are planning to once again host this popular celebration. Save the date!

Details TBC, but dress will be smart. Tartan is optional.

The first Burns supper was held in July 1801 when nine of Burns’ close friends gathered to mark the fifth anniversary of their friend’s death. Taking place at Burns Cottage in Alloway, the night included a hearty meal (haggis was involved), performances of Burns’ work and a speech in honour of the great Bard (now known as the “Immortal Memory”). The night was considered such a success they decided to hold it again (this time in honour of “Rabbie’s” birthday on 25th January), beginning the tradition we still enjoy to this day.

What happens at a Burns’ Supper?
Everyone enjoys a hearty Burns Night meal (which includes haggis, neeps and tatties, rounded off with drams of whisky), some of Burns’ poems and songs are recited and tributes are made to the great Bard.

Each Burns supper is individual, but the running order normally goes something like this:

• To start – everyone gathers, the host says a few words, everyone sits and the Selkirk Grace is said.
• The meal – the starter is served, the haggis is piped in, the host performs the famous Burns Night haggis poem “Address to a Haggis”, everyone toasts the haggis and the main meal is served, followed by dessert.
• After the meal – the first Burns recital is performed after Burns Night food, the Immortal Memory (the main tribute speech to Burns) is given, the second Burns recital is performed, then there’s a Toast to the Lassies, followed by a Reply to the Toast to the Lassies, before the final Burns recital is performed.
• To end the night – the host gives a vote of thanks, everyone stands and sings Auld Lang Syne, crossing their arms and joining hands at the line ‘And there’s a hand, my trusty fere!’.

Save the date! Please book early to avoid disappointment.

Please book via reception, in person, by email (reception@bsefc.co.uk) or telephone (01284 750969).

Save the date! Please book early to avoid disappointment.

Please book via reception, in person, by email (reception@bsefc.co.uk) or telephone (01284 750969).

This is a member run event, intended to run regularly on the first Tuesday of the month. February’s talk will be on – “Travelling though Afghanistan – before, during and after the Russians” and given by John Howell (ex-Chairman of the Club)

Please let us know you plan to attend via reception, in person, by email (reception@bsefc.co.uk) or telephone (01284 750969). Events can only proceed if enough interest is shown in advance.

Come along solo or with friends and join us for lunch and a catch-up. Family and friends more than welcome.

Please reserve your place. Bar open noon; Lunch 12:30pm.

No set menu, you can choose from the Club menus as you wish!

Ladies’ Lunches are held on the first Wednesday of most months.

Please book via reception, in person, by email (reception@bsefc.co.uk) or telephone (01284 750969).

In the summer of 2024, Rebecca Gosden’s first novel “No One So Much as You”, set in Suffolk, was published. Rebecca was born and raised in East Anglia and has lived most of her life in Suffolk with her family and animals. With a background in education and a passion for art and books, she finally decided to take the plunge and complete a lifetime ambition. One new year’s resolution and six months later, her first novel, “No One So Much As You”, was born.

Rebecca will talk to us about writing her book, the publishing process, how the local landscape and weather has influenced her – as well as the book itself. There will be a Q&A session during Tea & Coffee.

Set in Suffolk, the novel has received good reviews not only for the story and writing but for its use of the Suffolk landscape, readers reviews include:

• “An excellent novel. A real page-turner that is beautifully written with lyrical descriptions of the Suffolk countryside. Both main characters are complex and interesting and, as a reader, you feel drawn to them.”

• “Some lovely use of imagery, especially of Suffolk landscape and skies.”

The sharp-eyed amongst you may notice the book’s cover is the large landscape of Suffolk Skies that hung in Club reception for a while during Summer 2024.

Learn more: https://bookguild.co.uk/bookshop/No-One-So-Much-as-You/

Arrival from 11:15am; 12pm Noon talk; 12:30pm 2-course lunch with Rebecca; followed by Q&A accompanied with tea & coffee.

Menu and cost TBC.

Please book via reception, in person, by email (reception@bsefc.co.uk) or telephone (01284 750969).

Many of our members are very enthusiastic about our events and collaborations with Bury in Bloom and other gardening / sustainability / community projects.

Saturday 22nd of February 2025 will see the BSE Seed Swap event, a few minutes walk away from the Club in The Centre on St. John’s Street. See: Bury St Edmunds Seed Swap (bseseedswap.com), for full details.

The Bury St Edmunds Seed Swap is an annual seed swapping event held in the heart of Bury St Edmunds. This event is open to the general public and is free to attend. You can swap shop bought or home picked vegetable seeds, flower seeds, gardening magazines, books or potted house plants. If you have no seeds to swap, we are asking for a small donation of 50p an item. All donations collected will go to charity.

Our members have found that it’s a good idea to visit the event several times during the day – as if you go early you can pick up the bargains donated by lovely seed companies such as Sarah Raven and Thompson & Morgan UK. Attend later and you get a bigger range of interesting home-grown contributions from local gardeners and allotment holders.

Many of our members are likely to take lunch, brunch or coffee / bar refreshments between their visits, or read the Saturday / weekend papers available in the club. As a result we expect to be busier than usual and would recommend booking for brunch / lunch – you can do this via reception, in person, by email (reception@bsefc.co.uk) or telephone (01284 750969).

Start saving your seeds!

Save the date! Please book early to avoid disappointment.

Please book via reception, in person, by email (reception@bsefc.co.uk) or telephone (01284 750969).

Come along solo or with friends and join us for lunch and a catch-up. Family and friends more than welcome.

Please reserve your place. Bar open noon; Lunch 12:30pm.

No set menu, you can choose from the Club menus as you wish!

Ladies’ Lunches are held on the first Wednesday of most months.

Please book via reception, in person, by email (reception@bsefc.co.uk) or telephone (01284 750969).

Save the date!

Lucy Bellefontaine the Regional Manager for RABI in the East will be giving us an update on the challenges facing both those associated with agriculture and those living in rural economies. She’ll also cover the work RABI is doing to improve lives, educational and work opportunities and so on, of those in Suffolk.

If you’ve an interest in agriculture, land use or village (or more rural) life – come along to meet other like minded people.

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) is a charity that provides support to farmers, farmworkers, and their families. Established in 1860, RABI aims to offer financial assistance, guidance, and practical aid to those in agriculture facing hardship due to illness, disability, financial strain, or other difficult circumstances.

Save the date! Please book early to avoid disappointment.

Please book via reception, in person, by email (reception@bsefc.co.uk) or telephone (01284 750969).