Alloway Burns Club Centenary

Angus Middleton, President of Ayrshire Association of Burns Clubs, with president Bill

On Friday evening I had the pleasure of being with Alloway Burns Club as they celebrated their Centenary, yes one hundred years in existence for this great Club. Of course their roots go back much further being successors to the group which initiated the practice of holding gatherings to celebrate the birth of Burns and enjoy the wondeful legacy of poems and songs he left us. A few years after Burns death a group of his Ayrshire friends gathered on the anniversary of his death to remember the Poet, and from there resolved to meet on the annversary of his birth thus starting the Burns Supper. no doubt this continued until Alloway Burns Club was officially formed 100 years ago. Apart from the tradition of the Burns night, Alloway also has done sterling service looking after the various Burns sites in their localle, and still are doing valiant work including their recent rejuvination of Mungo's Well.

It was a real pleaure to be with the Club for their celbrations of this great milestone, and what a grand occassion it was. South Ayrshire Council gave a champagne reception on arrival, main entertainment was from Sheena Wellington, singing a few extracts from the songs as she gave an entertaining understanding of Burns works. Other highlights were a Toast to the Club by Rev Neil McNaught and a presentation to several Past-Presidents. There was an Auction ably conducted by Angus Middleton which raised a substantial sum to offset the sundry expenses of the night. At Auld Lang Syne everyone could conclude it was a very fitting tribute for the Club's Centenary.

Autioneer Angus, ably assisted by Bill Duncan, seeks bids for the star Lot, a painting illustrating "The Twa Dogs" by Club Member Bill Kerr and below the hammer falls on a great night

The First Fortnight

It is just over two weeks since I posed with my Vice Presidents, above on my right, Senior Vice Mike Duguid and on my left newly elected Junior Vice President, David Baird. It has been quite a busy couple of weeks with several engagements, at a variety of very enjoyable gatherings, and on all occasions I was most warmly welcomed as I sported the magnificent gold chain.

My first outing on the Tuesday after Conference was to the first autumn event of Perth Burns Club, where I was giving a short lecture entitled "The Sweetest Hour" based of course on some of the ladies in Burns life, but not necessarily following the generally accepted judgement on their place of importance in his story.

On Saturday 13th September I attended a meeting of The Southern Scottish Counties Burns Association, and found a well attended, convivial but businesslike meeting. It was great to hear of a number of plans they have well advanced for the great celebrations of 2009. Afterwards at a relaxed lunch, conversation was around many Burns related topics. Altogether a most enjoyable occasion.

The next day I officiated at The Clackmannan Stirling and West Perthshire Association Annual Bowling Tournament, this is the annual social get together of my home association and it was a fine afternoon for great bowls, and at the end I had the pleasure of presenting the prizes, first going to Greenloaning Burns Club, and runners-up to Denny.

Greenloaning below and Denny right

The following Tuesday, 16th September, I travelled to Dumfries again for a great event. Hosted by Dumfries Ladies Burns Club, the renowned "world championship" Tam O' Shanter Competition, where readers from across the globe gather in The Globe, to give of their best before the judges, including your President, and a packed audience of enthusiasts, to be acclaimed the winner. We had five recitations, and no doubt this will all be reported in detail elsewhere so I will only say the worthy winner was Willie Horne from The Airts Burns Club, Prestonpans, by the way Willie also won the recent Lapraik recitation competition, he is really setting a high standard for others to follow.

I returned to Dumfries again on Saturday past, to Ellisland, where Jane Brown and some friends had laid on an evening to meet with the young winners of the St Petersberg Forum competitions and enjoy a concert given by these youngsters and a number of young performers from the locale. Expect a full report of this elsewhere as well, suffice to say it was a great show from four very talented young Russians and several equally gifted Scots.

Pictured above is Jane Brown (third from left), while I have the pleasure of centering the quartet of young Russians.

Jane has to be hugely congratulated for her work in organising this evening. The St Petersberg Forum and those from the Federation who work with them are to be applauded for their efforts, they are certainly worthy of support.

That is all for this blog, I can't promise as much every fortnight, but I hope to post fairly regularly so keep checking in.

1st Federation Blog

Last weekend at the 2008 Federation Conference in Newcastle I was honoured to be inaugurated as President of The Robert Burns World Federation. In my acceptance speech there, I spoke immediately of the burden of this great office using the term "burden" because the first impact of the inauguration was the substantial weight of the President's chain of office imposed on my shoulders. and that is allegorical with the extent of the duties that I will undertake as President for the forthcoming year. Now that I have had a little time to look over the chain, at the names of the many Past-Presidents engraved on the medals forming the chain, some of these names of great men legendary in Burns appreciation, it is quite daunting to feel the depth of history and tradition that I now become part of. I undertake to bear this chain, this great office, in the name of The Robert Burns World Federation, with all the dignity it demands, with the enthusiasm that all the Members give me, and with every ounce of energy that I can muster. When I was first nominated for the post of Junior Vice-President I received many messages of support from a' the airts, that was all quite unexpected, but very gratifying that over my many years in this organisation I have built up such a gathering of friends and colleagues, all of us in pursuit of a greater understanding of Robert Burns Works, his life and philosophy. Again on graduation to this office I have had so many messages of good wishes and congratulations, it is all most appreciated and I assure all those I will return this support tenfold if it is within my power.I look forward to 2009, 250 years on from Burns birth, and to the many wonderful special events that are planned to mark this great anniversary. Not just the major spectacular January weekend events, but I look forward to catch many of the club events planned throughout 2009, within and outwith Scotland. I know many clubs and associations have plans in hand, I have several in my diary, but I will make a date for as many more as I can, simply to join with you in your club as you mark this milestone. Clubs that have not made any plans yet, - think, set a night aside in your programme, and build a theme around a particular connection to Burns, if there is anything I can do to help, please ask, I am at your beck and call.I look forward to every aspect of my year as President; I look forward to my duties in the boardroom as Chairman of a panel of enthusiastic Directors striving to secure the business of this movement for the next year and for the future, beyond 2009 to many other great anniversaries. I very much look forward to the Executive meetings, taking an overview of all the fantastic work of the committees, and I also want to meet with you all back in the Clubs and Associations, developing further friendships for the Federation. That is my manifesto for my time as custodian of this great chain, the emblem of this great purpose we share, for it is shared, I carry this Chain by the grace of all the Federation Membership, and for that I am deeply honoured.