Mauchline Burns Club

Mauchline Holy Fair

Another successful Mauchline Holy Fair

took place on Saturday 29th May 2010.

Mauchline Burns Club thanks everyone who contributed

in any way whatsoever to that success.

Did everyone enjoy the Holy Fair ? YES !

Did it attract people to Mauchline and East Ayrshire? YES !

Was it worthwhile ? YES !

Would it be missed ? YES !

Will there be another Holy Fair ? TBA ! !

This is the consensus of opinion taken during this year's Holy Fair and The Mauchline Burns Club would like to

thank all who participated in making this year's event such a tremendous success.

It is very difficult to thank everyone individually and we are bound to miss a person or an organisation,

so let us say �THANKS TO ALL.'

Perhaps the weather was not as sunny as we would have liked it to be, but the spirits of Mauchline were

flowing and overall, the cooperation and hospitality shown to the many visitors from everyone involved-

from the shopkeepers to the public - gave us reason to be proud of Mauchline. A job 'WELL DONE'!

Stop Press:- The Chief Executive of East Ayrshire Council has recently sent the Burns Club a very nice letter

of congratulations and invited us to an early meeting to discuss working in Partnership to put on

the 10th Mauchline Holy Fair in May 2011. The meeting took place and we are very hopeful that we will work

together to produce the 2011 Mauchline Holy Fair.

A Few Images

Below is Hugh Brown,

our President

All above Images Courtesy of Gavin Lyall

2010 Holy Fair Programme:-

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Below is Last Year

The 2009 Holy Fair was presented by the Mauchline Burns Club
in Partnership with East Ayrshire Council

The 2009 Mauchline Holy Fair
took place on Saturday 23rd May
and Mauchline again
entertained crowds of over
20,000 spread over the day.

Mauchline Burns Club thanks everyone
who came or who helped in any way
with this very successful event.

Could we do it?
Yes we could.

Mauchline Burns Club are proud to announce that we now hold the World record for the biggest haggis ever cooked at 1234 pounds, some 534 pounds above the previous record.

Seen below, left to right, are Mauchline Burns Club members Fergie McCartney, Peter Scally (who masterminded the cooking) and Jim Davidson.

The biggest haggis the world has ever seen was cooked in Mauchline and it was a half-ton highlight of the Mauchline Holy Fair.

This great chieftain was truly the greatest of all time - a massive 1234 pounds.That's 534 pounds more than the previous record, so the Mauchline record should stand for years to come.

Slow cooking of the haggis began two days before the Holy Fair.

It was cooked in a specially made giant stainless steel tank and no-one could be sure of what would happen. Would the haggis burst open and provide the largest tank of haggis soup the world has ever seen? And, even if it held, would such a monster cook right through?

Would it even survive being lifted out of the tank?

Mauchline Burns Club member Peter Scally, an ex-army cook, was in charge of the process and he watched over the haggis like an expectant father.

By the morning of the Holy fair, the haggis showed a small split on top and Peter feared it might also be splitting at the bottom. But his nerves were calmed when liquid was drained from the bottom of the tank - and it was clear.

The bag survived cooking and lifting and was duly cut open and addressed in the traditional way by Mauchline Burns Club's Andrew Cooper (see below) before free samples were passed round the crowd.

The great event took place on the Bleaching Green, where Burns met wife-to-be, Mauchline girl, Jean Armour.

Witnesses of the record attempt included Chris McCarthy, managing director of old - established butchers, McKechnie Jess of Greenock, who provided the haggis.

Others were Provost Stephanie Young of East Ayrshire and Torquil MacLeod, Director of Homecoming Scotland.

Mauchline Burns Club are grateful to the many people who helped enthusiastically to create this World Record.

Mauchline Burns Club's International Haggis Addresser, Andrew Cooper, addresses the half ton haggis with a 'knife' worthy of it's size.

Mauchline Burns Club President Bill Sharpe gives it laldy as he opens our Holy Fair.

The Dignitaries and some Twinning Visitors from France.

Top of the Bill on the Main Stage are the
Red Hot Chilli Pipers.

Also on the Main Stage
HIGH SCHOOL REVIEW

A blockbuster, theme park style, production with cutting edge dance moves and songs - perfect for all ages!

A superbly presented, fully choreographed show featuring all the big songs � and key scenes - from Disney's High School Musicals 1, 2 and 3. The six man team sing, dance and high kick their way through 2 x 45 minute hi-energy sets with the aid of props, multiple costume changes and audience participation numbers. See this excellent interactive show!

Our Top Fairground attraction at Loudoun Street. Coming from the South of England to entertain us :-
Messhams Famous Wall of Death

And on the Streets:-
EASY CHEESY RIDERS

This cheesy duo and their mobile cocktail bar serve an all action mix of shaker juggling, comedy cookery, and an unforgettable 60's �makeover� for one lucky volunteer!

With 49cc's of raw power and a six pack of Babycham this show is a firm family favourite.

(NB: Act does not feature alcohol consumption.)

This cheesy duo and their mobile cocktail bar serve an all action mix of shaker juggling, comedy cookery, and an unforgettable 60's �makeover� for one lucky volunteer!

With 49cc's of raw power and a six pack of Babycham this show is a firm family favourite.

(NB: Act does not feature alcohol consumption.)

DYNAMIC DEMONSTRATORS

Selling an incredible line of �wonder products�, our two demonstrators have no problem finding punters to watch � and participate in - their hilarious demonstrations.

With products for all the family, they have the audience in stitches

as they fail to sell an astonishing array of gadgets, gizmos and gimmicks including��.

Killit Wallop � multi purpose cleaner/hangover cure

Bison 01 � bag-less vacuum- it beats as it sweeps as it maims.

Propper Chopper � it chops, it dices, it slices quickly and indiscriminately!!

Unbreakable crockery � smashing stuff!!

Imagine QVC meets TOMORROWS WORLD�� on wheels !!

Stop Press
On the
Bleaching Green

Were you part of an official attempt to break the Guinness
World Record for the Largest Haggis ever cooked?

Cumnock Chronicle of 8th April says:-

The 800 lb Haggis will be provided and donated by McKechnie Jess of Port Glasgow and cooked by Mauchline Burns Club
Member, Peter Scally, an ex-Army cook, and The 29th Field Kitchen.

Below, McKechnie Jess staff on a trial run with a half size haggis.

Below - 2009 Programme