IN these rapidly changing times of troubles, divisions and uncertainty, the words of Rabbie Burns have never felt so relevant.

And beacons of hope could be seen over the weekend at gatherings up and down the country as groups honour a champion of love and compassion.

On Friday evening, as has been the case for the past 109 years, Galashiels Burns Club celebrated the life and works of Scotland’s greatest songwriter and poet with authority, humour and distinction.

President Robert Fairburn assembled a fine cast at his top table for an evening of tradition, reflection and hilarity.

And he even managed to squeeze in his own ‘Ode to Hibernian winning the Scottish Cup’ during his brief opening remarks.

Former President Grant Lees, as has become customary, Addressed the Haggis with skill and flare, following the procession of Bearer Tom Cass and Piper Billy Easson.

But the conversation during a fine supper often returned to Washington, Westminster and Holyrood.

And when introducing his Selkirk Grace the Rev Duncan McCosh was quick to remind the gathering of the message which lies behind the lines as he emphasised his work with local foodbanks during these times of social uncertainty.

But where there’s music there is merriment.

Dr Paul Syme, making his debut at the Galashiels Burns Club Supper, provided a terrific rendition of The Star of Rabbie Burns.

The ever-popular Malcom McEwen was also on song as he began his repertoire with Westlin’ Winds.

Later in the evening David Sanderson enthralled with his comical rendition of Willie Wastle’s Wife, Chris Achenbach was in form on the piano and David Darling had the toes tapping with a compilation on the fiddle.

At Galashiels Burns Club Supper the high standard of entertainment is a constant.

What is rather less predictable is what the array of speakers will produce.

An actor, a mechanic and an anti-sectarian campaigner were given the task of providing the insights, opinions and laughs.

While Burns clubs the world over have spent the past week or so honouring, reciting and theorizing the ploughman from Ayrshire, the top table in the Volunteer Hall steered away from the dry furrow of academic analysis.

Instead, Messrs Nichol, Millar and Scott served up an unforgettable evening of wit, wisdom and welcome distractions from the world outside.

During his Immortal Memory of Robert Burns, Selkirk actor and musician John Nichol summed up a lasting legacy of sincerity and appreciation that all Scots should be proud of.

John told the gathering: “He’s far bigger than politics.

“Few countries are ignorant of his importance – he is the figurehead of Scotland’s values.”

The Immortal Memory was at times thought-provoking and relevant throughout – and it wasn’t without its jokes.

Mr Nichol concluded: “As my mother always said ‘never quote your parents’.”

The dramatist, who runs the IDEOMS Theatre Company, took to the floor a little later for a rip-roaring rendition of Tam o’ Shanter.

This theatrical romp through the sozzled, supernatural stanzas of the Bard, with a prop or two thrown in for good measure, was truly mesmerising.

As was the deadpan delivery of former Selkirk Provost Les Millar with his Toast to the Lassies.

The motor mechanic was sharp with his put-downs and came armed with a bottle full of innuendo as he recalled chasing the Galashiels lassies of the early 1980s in the Snakepit and Digby’s.

He whipped up inter-town rivalries, fired off a few mother-in-law jokes and even attempted his own outrageous poetry… much to the delight of a laughter-filled hall.

Les added: “What I have learned about Burns is that he would have loved a night like this.

“He missed nothing and wrote about everything if the lassies were concerned.”

As campaign director with anti-sectarian charity Nill By Mouth, Dave Scott has toured the length and breadth of the country since arriving from his native Northern Ireland as he attempts to help bridge the divides with education programmes.

And he was able to draw on his travels and adventures to schools and colleges in his humorous, yet deeply honest, Toast to Land o’ Cakes, Caledonia.

Adorned in the colours of his new favourite team, Gala Fairydean Rovers, the Lisburn native described his growing fondness for his adopted Borderland home.

He said: “This is the only part of the country that takes flags as seriously as we do in Belfast.”

The jokes were good, the stories better, but it was the Stirling University graduate’s honesty which resonated the most.

He spoke fondly of a country and a national poet full of contradictions.

And he lamented the land that he has grown to love.

Mr Scott added: “Scotland for me is many things… asking a girl to marry you in Melrose Abbey and her saying yes.”

This was an evening of collective celebration, masterly pulled together by President Fairburn.

But there was time to single out one stalwart of the Galashiels Burns Club for more than 40 years of support.

Alastair Russell, who was President in 1999 and 2000, attended his first Supper at the Maxwell Hotel in 1974.

Mr Russell was presented with a Life Membership.

It was left to local school caretaker and football referee, Raymond Hume, to blow the final whistle on yet another glorious evening of Galashiels remembering Robert Burns.