MORE than 100 guests joined the fun at the Burns’ Night evening at Headley village hall on Saturday.

The event, organised by the Headley Twinning Association, saw visitors from near and far, with dancers from Guildford’s Scottish Country Dancing Club providing fitting entertainment for the evening.

Headley Twinning committee member Clive Harrod said the common aim was to share the haggis and poetry in honour of Robert Burns, probably Scotland’s most famous poet, on or near his birthday, January 25. The whisky, however, was completely optional.

Piper Graham Mudie set the mood, playing as people entered the hall and again when the haggis was piped in. The chairman for the evening was John Smith, who performed a theatrical rendition of Address To A Haggis.

Over the course of the night the guests were entertained with Highland and Scottish country dancing, which was described as a “real highlight”, and enjoyed a variety of Scottish food. Mr Harrod said that it was a “fabulous evening” and thanked all those who supported it - not only the guests themselves but also the small group of helpers behind the scenes who “had worked incredibly hard”.

He added that this year will also be Headley’s turn to be the host, when 45 visitors from its French twin town visit from May 5-8.

“Hosting our friends from Corne is always a unique and enjoyable experience and there is already a fun-packed weekend planned,” he said. “Speaking French off course is an asset but is not essential as communication is rarely a problem and it would be great to see plenty of households involved.”

For more information on hosting French visitors, or on the twinning association generally, call Clive Harrod on 07733106565.