The Burns Night Speaker

John McEvoy is a seasoned Burns Night speaker, a Trustee, and currently President of Greenock Burns Club, known as The Mother Club since it is the world's oldest, being established in 1801. He offers pretty much everything you'll need apart from the haggis for a successful Burns Supper and he'll even address that for you.

Previous clients range from major companies like Scottish Power and PricewaterhouseCoopers to small, more intimate gatherings of Burns enthusiasts and just about everything in between.

He can provide a Toast to the Immortal Memory that will suit your occasion, whether your audience is a group of serious Burns enthusiasts, or simply a group of people who just want to celebrate our national poet and have a good time doing so.

This can be followed by resounding renditions of Scotland's national bard's best loved works, whether it's a roller-coaster ride with Tam O'Shanter through a stormy night, a not-too-serious Holy Willie's Prayer, or one of the other Burns favourites listed below.

John will fit in with your programme, dressed either in full late eighteenth century period costume of the style that would have been worn at the very first Burns Supper held at Burns Cottage in Alloway on 21st July 1801 or in traditional Scottish kilt and black tie.

The format that first evening was remarkably similar to the one we see at Burns Suppers today. A meal of haggis was followed by a speech in honour of the bard and singing a selection of his songs. Rumour has it that drinks were also involved.

It was actually a memorial dinner, held for a small group of the bard's friends, hosted by local minister Hamilton Paul and took place on the fifth anniversary of his death. The night was such a success that the participants agreed to meet the following January on the poet's birthday, which they thought was the 29th January. Two years later they discovered that he had actually been born on 25th January and since then Burns Suppers around the world have been held on or around that date.

Born and raised in Glasgow and educated at Edinburgh University, where he graduated with Honours in chemistry, John has had careers in Education, Pharmaceuticals and as a Wine Merchant. Based in the beautiful Scottish village of Houston, where from 2015 till 2019 he chaired the Community Council, John is well known for his performances. You can find out more by clicking on the Contact page and getting in touch. John will be happy to discuss your needs and help ensure a memorable Burns Supper. If required, he can also arrange to help you organise your event.

John has a wide range of performances he can deliver at your event, including among others

The Immortal Memory

Address To A Haggis

Tam O'Shanter

Holy Willie's Prayer

The Twa Dogs

Halloween

Address To The Deil

To a Louse

To A Mouse

The Belles Of Mauchline

To A Mountain Daisy

Of A' The Airts The Wind Can Blaw

A Man's A Man For A' That

Such A Parcel of Rogues in a Nation

Testimonials

It was an absolute pleasure having you as a special guest for our Burns Supper. You brought the whole evening to life, and everyone I’ve spoken to since has said how much they enjoyed your performance striking the perfect balance of humour, history, and genuine passion for Burns. We’re glad you enjoyed your stay and felt well looked after…The whisky and coasters were a small token of our appreciation and glad that you like them!

I’ll make sure your thanks is passed on to the RSM and the Commanding Officer (CC’d), they were equally impressed and send best regards.

It was great working with you!

Yours Aye,

Pabs.

WO2 (QMSI) Paul McLeish

Good afternoon John,

Thank you so very much for first of all accepting our invitation, The honour was all ours.

I'm glad you had a wonderful time during your stay with us. and yes please, like I said keep in touch and somewhere during the coming year if you are available we can get you back to get a more hands on visit to the Infantry battle School and get you seeing and conducting some live firing on the range with the 5.56mm SA80 A3 Assault rifle, 9mm Glock pistol and the 7.62mm General purpose machine gun. if there is enough time we could take you out onto the Beacons and see some real life training.

From everyone here at the Battle School, everyone thoroughly enjoyed their evening in your presence and everything you spoke about, albeit some had some understanding issues but none the less we all had a great evening.

I imagine there may be a few tapping you up in future for a similar burns experience.

Were are delighted that you like your gift and that it now has some sentimental value to you and please enjoy it and your dram when you have it.

I will pass on your regards to the RSM.

Take care John and thank you again for your splendid words throughout the evening.

Regards,

Mark

WO2 M McKenzie Scots Guards | CMC | Infantry Battle School | Junior Division |

Good morning John,

On behalf of everyone at the Ayrshire Hospice, I'd like to offer you our sincere thanks for supporting our Burns supper at the Brig O'Doon House Hotel on Friday by performing the Immortal Memory and reciting some of Burns most famous poems - you were fantastic! We have had fabulous feedback from our guests and it was lovely to see everyone enjoying the evening packed full of fabulous entertainment!

I hope you had a fantastic evening and enjoyed our other entertainment too.

That is extremely kind of you to add the travel expenses to the final total, which I am delighted to announce now takes the Burns supper total to £15,390! Your support is so very important to us and really will make a difference to patients and their families throughout Ayrshire living with life limiting illness.

Thank you once again, it was a pleasure to work with you.

Kind regards,

Rebekah

Rebekah McGinn

Senior Fundraiser

Ayrshire Hospice

Hi John,

Hope you are well and have had a good year! Wonder if you would be up for performing at our annual burns lunch, please? Thurs 25th Jan 2024 at Ingliston Country Club.

Would be same set up as 2023 and following your cracking performance would be lovely to have you return!

Many thanks

Bob

Bob Grant, Chief Executive, Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce

Brilliant, absolutely wonderful.

Tracy Flynn, Chief Executive, and Professor Tom Steele, Chair, Board of Trustees, Ayrshire Hospice

"John, Many thanks for joining us on 24th January for our Burns night. The whole evening landed so well with the team, so we will do it again. I've had great comments on your participation from all those I've spoken to.

I hope we can work together again soon. Will keep in touch. Kind regards"

Drew Stevenson, PricewaterhouseCoopers

Hello again John.

I must say that you beat me to it ; I tend to leave things over the weekend before thanks speakers and artists as by then I've had the Friday evening feedback, and anything form the weekend and I'm pleased to say that your Immortal Memory was very well received. That and the other toasts together with David's recitations all augmented by the music and song delivered another "richt guid nicht" at Haggs.

Several attendees mentioned the considerable amount of information you delivered during your speech and admitted not knowing a good bit of what you had said but feeling more informed now as a result. It was very good indeed and I thank you for your contribution which helped make the evening the success that it was.

Kind regards and best wishes for any remaining Suppers that you have this year.

Stuart Yuill, Haggs Castle Golf Club

"We would like to thank John for another fantastic Burns Evening in the Fox and Hounds. He really does make the evening; bringing such enthusiasm and passion to the event. We are very proud that John chose to join us for our Burns Night and we highly recommend him for his knowledge, entertainment and authenticity."

Fox and Hounds, Houston

Lots of those who attended our Burns Night said afterwards that it was the best rendition of Tam O'Shanter they'd ever heard.

The Coach House, Bridge of Weir

"Our team and owners at Sandylands Holiday Park, Saltcoats were over the moon with the performance of Mr John McEvoy this evening and we would thoroughly endorse his views on Rabbie Burns and we look forward to having him back to our annual Burns Night. Thanks John

From all the team and owners here at Sandylands, and we look forward to seeing you next year!!"

An excellent Immortal Memory by John McEvoy, past chair of Houston Community Council, who was suitably attired in traditional garb.

The Rotary Club of Gryffe Valley

Best Burns Supper ever...we were blown away by how great he was.....and fun too...witty, entertaining and recommended.

Caroline Wengel

"We asked John to speak at our Burns Supper at Sandylands Holiday Park for the second year in a row and he was a very welcome return.

John came dressed for the part and looked amazing.

He accommodated all my requests as I had asked for Tam O'Shanter instead of the usual Immortal Memory.

I can't believe someone can remember all that:

We were very impressed with his personality and all our guests loved listening to him.

We will gladly have John back to attend next year."

Angela Stevenson, Parkdean Resorts

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