The women trying to bring a new spirit to Burns night

There are 131 affiliated Burns clubs in Scotland, according to the Robert Burns World Federation.

Many now allow people of any gender to become a member, although some remain men-only, or “stag clubs”.

Despite more women becoming involved in Burns clubs in recent years, the top table at Burns suppers still tends to be predominantly occupied by men.

Ms Burley says: “I’ve spoken at a lot of Burns suppers where I’m the token female.

“Things like The Immortal Memory (the main speech of the evening) are not generally done by women.

“Women tend to get rolled out just to do the reply to the Toast to the Lassies.”

This year, five of the six people at the top table of The Sandyford Burns Club supper are women.

Ms Burley says that although the club is trying to make the point that “Burns is for absolutely everybody”, the female top table is not “tokenistic”.

She says: “The fact they are wearing heels and lipstick doesn’t make a difference.

“They genuinely are the best speakers I know – they just happen to be women as well.”