Scotmid marked their 160th anniversary celebrations by making history at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange on Friday evening (24 January) after hosting the largest Burns’ Supper of all-time.
926 people tucked into haggis, neeps and tatties at the showpiece event, which set a new achievement with Guinness World Records for the largest Burns supper. The huge total smashed the previous record of 645 attendees set in Glasgow in 2015.
The record-breaking event was hosted by comedian and presenter, Fred McAulay. Hugh Farrell, Chairman of the famed Friends of Robert Burns Birthplace Museum addressed the haggis and delivered the Immortal Memory while the Toast to the Lassies was given by TV’s Mark Cox – Tam from Still Game – while the Response from the Lassies came from Jane McCarry, AKA Still Game’s Isa. Tam O’Shanter was enthusiastically delivered by Fergus Muirhead.
Scotmid CEO John Brodie said: “It was absolutely fantastic that as part of our 160th anniversary celebrations we also managed to make history by breaking the Guinness World Records title for the largest ever Burns’ Supper.
“Our Burns’ Supper was truly unforgettable; it was great to see so many friends and colleagues joining together to be part of such a memorable achievement – the largest Burns Supper of all-time.
Scotmid President Harry Cairney, who wore the specially commissioned Scotmid tartan said: “Thanks to everybody who contributed to this record-breaking feat – it was a real team effort and that has been a recurring theme throughout our 160 years serving Scottish communities and improving people’s everyday lives.”
The Preston Lodge High School Pipe Band piped in the record-breaking number of guests while the award-winning co-operation band entertained the attendees during the event.
Image (left to right): Guinness World Records Adjudicator Jack Brockbank, Scotmid Chief Executive John Brodie and Scotmid President Harry Cairney with the certificate