Cookstown Rally Report – Burns Festivities 27th – 29th January 2023

       The usual warm welcome was given by the hosts Selma and Elmer and Jenny and Roy, on arrival at Cookstown Primary School.  The weekend started on Friday evening with Bingo with Florence Little rattling off the numbers and Selma as referee. Luckily no red cards were required! Iris Mc Ewan was the big winner with not one win but the JACKPOT as well. Make sure to buy Bob something nice Iris! After Bingo we had DJ Joe Little with some lovely tunes to loosen the limbs and dance to. 

      Saturday morning turned out lovely and everyone headed off to do their own thing. Cookstown is a great shopping town and the centre is so close to the School. But not everyone was lucky enough to head off, there was a group of very busy beavers who were working hard making absolutely lovely table decorations and preparing the supper – I was going to thank all the ladies – Ruth and Maud Ross, Agnes Adair, Betty Stewart, Jenny Dowie, Selma Mc Mullan - then realised Davy Stirling was also an excellent help. With those cooking skills maybe you should convert the motorhome into a chip van “Davy’s Haggis & Chips”. Could be just what members need at 1 in the morning!! Everyone arrived in the hall on Saturday night for the ‘Burns Night’ and The Haggis was carried in by Mervyn Ross, accompanied by the piper Alan. The address to the Haggis was given by Bob McEwan with great aplomb. After the food was served Ivan and Alex Mellon gave the address to Lassies and the Laddies - lots of chuckles and lets hope no cross words afterwards! Then we danced the night away to Dave Kane with yet another great session of music – he never lets us down.

       We also had a birthday girl – Mrs Ruth Ross. Running laps of the hall holding to that balloon she threatened to lift-off a few times but luckily she stayed safely on the ground. Many happy returns Ruth. 

      On Sunday morning we headed to the hall for coffee/tea and a chat. With yet another successful Burns weekend under their belts, Selma kept it going to the last making sure to thank all who worked to make it such successful weekend and all the members for coming. The McMullan & Dowie clans did themselves and the club proud. The only thing they deserved more than the applause is a weekend of rest - so on that note please respond to our Chairman’s host appeal and have a go. 

      With 52 vans in total, we had 2 new vans – Ellie Robinson and the Mc Ginley’s. Hope you have many miles of happy motoring. Also new members, Gerry and Janet Doherty and William Clarke. The quiz was won by Agnes Adair and the number plate draws were won by Gary Little and Andy Clarke. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and had a safe journey home and of course “Haste ye Back” to Regents House in Newtownards for Valentine’s Rally. 

      Yvonne Little