SOROPTIMISTS from Ilkley and Skipton celebrated Burns Night last week with a joint supper.

The two presidents of the Soroptimist International clubs in Ilkley and Skipton both hail from Ayrshire in Scotland – Burns country.

The Selkirk Grace was said by SI Skipton president, Betty Mendoza, followed by Mark Clarke’s address to the haggis.

The traditional Bill of Fayre, prepared and served by both clubs, was followed by Agnes Tomlinson, president of SI Ilkley, giving the Immortal Memory and sharing memories of her Ayrshire childhood and the work of Robert Burns.

Margaret Cook, of SI Ilkley, proposed the Toast to the Lassies, as the beneficiaries of the evening were to be the women of the International President's Appeal.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Joanne Dodds, replied to the toast before Joanna Clarke of SI Skipton sang the Burns song, My Love Is A Like A Red Red Rose.

The evening finished with everyone singing Old Lang Syne.

Members say it was a wonderful evening of celebration, joining together in friendship and raising £870 for the International President’s Appeal – Education To Lead In Nepal.