RBWF Newsletter July 2020
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The Robert Burns World Federation Newsletter Issue 45 July 2020 Although this edition yet again doesn’t carry reports of the normal events at this time of year, because of the Corona virus, it does reflect the growing trend of things taking place in a ‘virtual’ world facilitated by technology. It also carries news of some exciting developments in production of the Burns Chronicle, the formation of a new Trust for managing Ellisland Farm, work being done to produce innovative education packs and the refurbishment of Burns Cottage and Highland Mary’s Monument. It also introduces the new personnel in the office in Kilmarnock, Anne and Lorraine, albeit that they are mostly working from home. So it is gratifying to read that Burnsians are still hard at it honouring our National Bard . Editor In this Issue: Page Epistle to James Smith - Burns Chronicle 1-2 - Meet the Office Staff 2 O Life! How pleasant, in thy morning, - Norman MacPherson Obituary 3 Young Fancy’s rays the hills adorning! - Irvine Burns Club Founder’s Day 3-4 - RBWF Virtual AGM 5 Cold-pausing Caution’s lesson scorning, - 200 Club 5 We frisk away, - Brow Well Ceremony 6 Like school-boys, at th’ expected warning, - Atlanta Burns Club Talk 6 To joy an’ play. - Barrmill Burns Club 6 - New Educational Packs 7 - Burns Cottage Facelift 8 We wander there, we wander here, - Tony Grogan Obituary 8 We eye the rose upon the brier, - Highland Mary Statue 9 Unmindful that the thorn is near, - Camperdown Virtual Festival 9 - New Ellisland Trust 10 Among the leaves; - New President for DGBA 11 And tho’ the puny wound appear, - Isle of Arran New Blending Venture 11 Short while it grieves - TamFest 2020 12 Robert Burns 1786 - Friendship Tiles 12 - 8 Historic- Congratulations Change to John for Caskiethe Burns MBE Chronicle8 - 9 Robert Burns - Young Talent at Aberdeen Concert 9 - RBWF Conference in Irvine 9 Some months ago, then President Bill Nolan entered into conversations with - RBANA Conference Report 10 - Shaw Scholarship Edi nburgh 11 University Press (EUP), examining if our Burns Chronicle would fit - Isle of Arran Distillery News into the stable 11 of academic journals which they publish. Discussions progressed well from the start, negotiations advanced, University reviewers responded positively with enthusiasm and the contract has now been finalised. From the 2021 edition the Burns Chronicle will be published by EUP and promoted by them through their well-established worldwide marketing network. With EUP we propose two editions per annum, each of around 120 pages, the first edition in Spring with the second in autumn. This move represents a substantial increase in the volume of Burns information and learned comment annually in the Burns Chronicle, more than doubling the current offering. To enable this substantial uplift the Editorial strength has been enhanced with Prof. Gerard Carruthers joining Bill Dawson as Joint Editor and significant additions to the strength of the Editorial Advisory panel. Registered Office: 3A John Dickie Street, Kilmarnock KA1 1HW, Company Registration No 196895 Newsletter Editor -Mike Duguid (Literature Convenor) Scottish Charity No SC029099 e-mail: [email protected] Email:[email protected] Tel: 01557 860040 Tel 01563 572469 Website address: www.rbwf.org.uk To unsubscribe please email [email protected] Newsletter Page 2 of 12 Burns Chronicle (cont’d) Member’s copies will be mailed directly to them from EUP saving substantial and costly efforts by our office staff. EUP also operate a highly successful internet platform which will provide a further vehicle for the Burns Chronicle. RBWF Members will also get ready access to the Burns Chronicle on this platform. It is anticipated that these significant enhancements in style and content will result in additional subscribers to the Burns Chronicle throughout the world and raise RBWF presence in areas where to date we have barely touched and which, without this additional marketing muscle, would remain only in our dreams. Sales and subscriptions to EUP from outwith our Membership will bring very welcome royalties. Teri Williams, Journals Marketing Manager at Edinburgh University Press, remarks: “I am very excited to be working with the Robert Burns World Federation on the publication of the Burns Chronicle through Edinburgh University Press. At the Press we pride ourselves on our high editorial, production and marketing values to produce and support works of lasting importance, contributing to Scotland’s long tradition of furthering learning and intellectual debate. To me, this is a natural partnership that will no doubt elevate the Burns Chronicle to new, deserved heights, and I very much look forward to broadcasting it to the academic world at large.” Meet the New Admin Team at the RBWF Office. Anne O’Connor (left) is our Office Manager and Lorraine Cheyne (right) is our Office Administrator. Both Anne and Lorraine live locally and have worked in administration for many years which means that they bring a wealth of experience to the Federation. Please contact the team anytime during our new office hours, Monday – Friday, 10 am – 4 pm (following lockdown) and Anne and Lorraine will be delighted to assist. Obituary - Norman McPherson Born in Aberdeen in 1944, Norman George McPherson was the original square peg in a carefully-fashioned square hole. For Norman so fitted life. Anyone knowing him was fortunate to meet one of life’s polymaths. Norman knew so much about so many varied subjects – genealogy, history, whisky, car number plates, heraldry, the sea, the Highland clan system, petroleum engineering, Scots speech, and of course his beloved Clan Macpherson. Norman moved easily through this world, wearing his learning lightly, for he never threw his knowledge at you. You’d get that cheery glint in his ee, and the trademark grin. After that, it was up to you to ask – and the pearls of wisdom would fairly pour forth. He possessed a happy knack of strewing laughter in his wake, and was never less than helpful, kind and considerate. The Aberdeen home that he and Mary shared resounded in fun. We’ve all lost a friend, and Norman’s passing denies Mary her soulmate. They were inseparable, a team who daily demonstrated such teamwork. Newsletter Page 3 of 12 Norman McPherson (Cont’d) Norman and Mary were strong, active and supportive members of a string of organisations. Their many worlds included their local church, the Order of St John, the Order of St Lazarus, Wallace 700, the Association of Highland Clans & Societies, our Society of course – and they never missed attending the annual commemorative service at Culloden. Norman’s busy life even encompassed the presidency of Aberdeen Burns Club – a committed leader and a noted contributor to the annual schools’ festival of the Robert Burns World Federation. Mary apart, Norman’s great love was Clan Macpherson Association. He joined in 1968, and over more than half-a-century, rose to become Scottish chairman. He proved an innovative leader, introducing the practice of a Doric grace whenever clans folk dined together. In tribute, the Hon Sir William Macpherson of Cluny & Blairgowrie, chief of Macpherson, said “Norman was so knowledgeable – and so committed. He did much for us, as well as Clan Chattan”. While Norman didn’t gain arms until recent years, he made up for lost time with his delight in using them, joining our Society and attending the St Andrew Dinner. His understandable pride in being appointed bannerman to his chief in 2009 is reflected in the little Azure banner with a bordure Or that forms part of his crest. His shield is among the seventy-four that form a heraldic mural in the Macpherson Museum in Newtonmore. Born in Aberdeen, Norman cherished his roots, though prouder still that his lineage could be traced back to a crofter ancestor in Ballinloan, Strathspey, in the heart of Macpherson territory. Trained as an engineer in his home city, Norman served in the Merchant Navy before moving into the oil industry in 1974. By the time he retired in 2007, he was a leading consultant in specialised aspects of offshore drilling, with his long career taking him as far afield as South Africa, USA and mainland Europe. Norman died on 21 April, 2020, in Aberdeen, age 75. He is survived by his wife Mary, two sons and a daughter, and four grandchildren. [Gordon Casely] Pic captions This picture epitomises Norman’s love of life, not to mention his constant lightheartedness. He was at a lecture when this image was flashed up on screen. Interrupting the speaker, he quipped “We ken fine the mannie wi the flaggie. Bit fa’s the mannie on the cuddy ahint?”. Norman’s arms as Bannerman to the Chief of Macpherson (Artwork: Anthony Maxwell). Innovation as Irvine Burns Club Goes On-line to Celebrate Earlier this week (Tuesday 2nd June) Irvine Burns Club, founded in the early 19th Century, turned to 21st Century technology to meet a fresh challenge created by the current Covid-19 pandemic. With its popular Wellwood Burns Centre & Museum in the heart of Irvine having been locked-down since 16th March, the Directors found themselves unable to mark the 194th anniversary of the Club’s foundation with their “traditional” lunchtime gathering. Instead, they decided to go on-line to create an event which, while totally different, allowed the traditions of the Club to be maintained. Explained Burns Club President, David Burns (left): “We wanted to retain the tradition and spirit of these celebrations which, since 1977, have begun in The Crown Inn, where the Club was founded on 2nd June 1826, in what was then Milne’s Inn, prior to moving on to Wellwood to honour our twelve Founder Members.