The Wits Dinners raised funds for Action Medical Research and Irvine Burns Club (shared equally), being organised jointly by dedicated supporters of Action Medical Research and directors of Irvine Burns Club. Over 25 years, from 1993 to 2017, the Wits Dinners were held in the Hospitality Inn (now the Riverside Hotel), black tie events attracting 130 to 180 attenders each year. At each, three or four speakers, charging no fees, competed for the votes of their audiences as the wittiest speaker, with the winners speaking again at the end of each three- or four-year cycle in an All Winners Dinner. In addition, guest artistes contributed music or song, also without charging fees. Irvine Burns Club used proceeds for special projects rather than running costs, such as the 'Independent Minds' sculpture in 'Wellwood'. To celebrate those 25 dinners, and the almost £100,000 they raised in total, we list here the names of the speakers, entertainers and major sponsors who supported them - their names will prompt memories of superb evenings enjoyed in fund-raising, as will the name of the initial leading organiser, Ann Caldwell.

Speakers included: Eileen Ballantyne, Rev. Georgina Baxendale, Gio Benedetti, Rev Andy Black, Fr William Boyd, James Brodie, Craig Brown, Hugh Brown, Jane Brown, Ian P Buchanan, Rev. Effie Campbell, Sheila Campbell*, Drew Cochrane, Brian Donohoe, Hugh Drennan, Billy Dunn, Michael Dunn, Bill Ferguson*, Allan Findlay, Donald Findlay, Tich Frier, Forbes Gauld, Baroness Annabel Goldie, Jim Haslett, Jean Hillhouse, Peter Hughes, Ricky Hutchison, Gordon Jackson, Charles Jacobsen, Marion Johnston, Dennis Johnston*, John Kerr, Rev. Chrissie Lane, Malky McCormick, Rod McCowan, Ian Macdonald, Michael McDonnell, Kenneth M McIntosh, Ian McPherson, Tom Meehan*, Len Murray, George Moore, Dr Jocelyn Nelson, Marilyn Orchardson, Linda Ormiston, Ron Orr, Jean E Park, Tom Paterson, Jim Robertson, Eddie Rose, Rev Alec Shuttleworth, Stewart Smith, Bert Thomson, Alf Vannet, David Vennard, James Wardrop, George Watson, Jack Westwood, Meg Whyte and Stewart  Whyte.    (* speakers at the first Dinner)

Entertainers included: Eileen Ballantyne, Jim Butler, Stephen Cowan, Jenna Dawson & Alan Gemmell, Tich Frier, James Gow, Jameson Greer, Gwynneth Guthrie, Dennis Haggardy*, John Mason, Barry McAleer & Alison Muslek, Adam McNaughton*, Lisa Milne*, Andy & Margaret Morris, Jocelyn Nelson (later Skaaning) & friends, Linda Robertson, Kimberley Sayers, Maureen & Alistair Smith, Sylvia Stark, Gordon Stevenson, Willie Stewart, Tapselteerie, Alan Watt & friends from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Douglas Whyte*, Andy Young and Willie Young.     (* entertainers at the first Dinner)

Sponsors included: The Barcapel Foundation, Booth Welsh, County Saab, Craighall Tyres, Giles Insurance Brokers, The Hospitality Inn (afterwards the Thistle, then Menzies, then Hallmark Hotel), Spirit Aerosystems, Thom Matthew & Co., Volvo Truck & Bus Assembly, Giles Insurance Brokers, Wilson Sporting Goods and many other local businesses.