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The evening also featured fine Hungarian wine and an impressive range of whisky – the British Embassy is very grateful for the sponsorship of WhiskyNet.hu.

The dress-code was a 'Touch of Tartan', and guests got into the swing of things, literally whilst holding hands and singing Auld Lang Syne, written by Burns in 1788, and set to the tune of a traditional Scottish folk song.

In his speech, the Ambassador emphasised the charity angle of Burns Night events, particularly the work of the local Burns charity. “…Here in Hungary, in the spirit of Robert Burns humanitarian philosophy we have the Robert Burns International Foundation, a charity set up in 2005 to raise funds on a sustainable basis to provide support for sick and underprivileged Hungarian children."



The Ambassador praised the people behind the foundation, "It was the President of the Hungarian Scottish Society, Magyar Zoltán, who took the initiative, and he is here this evening with Douglas Arnott (pictured above centre reciting a Burns poem about love), the current Chairman of the Foundation.” Guests raised their glasses as a mark of respect for the successful charity and individuals involved.

"Over the last 15 years, the Foundation has raised over €1 million, and at their Burns Supper on Saturday night the Foundation raised over HUF 8 million for the 2nd Department of Paediatrics at Semmelweis University, the Péterfy Children’s Hospital in Budapest, the Children’s Hospital in Orosháza, and the Children’s Hospital in Gyula," continued Her Majesty's Ambassador.



"Let me take this opportunity to thank the Foundation and its supporters for all the fantastic work they do,” Ambassador Lindsay concluded.



Zoltán Balog, Minister of Human Capacities, (pictured above left) also attended the event, along with a cosy group of around 50 expat and Hungarian guests.



Photos by Russell Skidmore for XpatLoop.com

Proofread by Írj Jól Szolgáltató Kft

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See What Happened @ Burns Charity Supper