RBWF Newsletter May 2016
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The Robert Burns World Federation Newsletter Issue 21 May 2016 One of the most important contributions the Federation makes to Scottish culture is the promotion of competitions among the younger generation. This issue showcases some of that talent and demonstrates clearly that the legacy of our National Bard is in safe hands for the future. The Schools Festivals reflect great credit, not only of the fine work done by the Schools Committee, but also on parents and teachers who willingly put in immense time and effort honing skills and encouraging participation. (On page 2 of the March Newsletter MSP Joan McAlpine was shown as Loan McAlpine for which I apologise). Editor In this Issue: Page Lament of Mary Queen of Scots on the Approach of Spring - Secondary Schools’ Festival 1-2 - It’s all go at Ellisland Farm 3-4 - Helensburgh Burns Club Schools Event 4 Now laverocks wake the merry morn, - Tatties and Herring at Thistle Burns Club 5 Aloft on dewy wing; - John Lapraik Speaking Competition 6 The merle, in his noontide bower, - Lanarkshire Association Lunch 6 Makes woodland echoes ring; - Addressing the Haggis Competition 7 The mavis mild wi’ many a note, - Burns and Carnegie Book Review 7 Sings drowsy day to rest: - Tam o’ Shanter reboot competition 8 In love and freedom they rejoice, - Special Burns Supper in Vancouver 8 Wi’ care nor thrall opprest. - Ravenscraig Burns Club Donations 8 - Robert Burns Society Austria 9 - Teaching Burns in Schools 10 Tune: Mary Queen of Scots’ Lament - Burns course praise from Norway & Russia 10 - Lanarkshire Schools show interest in Burns 11 by Robert Burns - Burns an’ a’ That Festival 12 2016 Secondary Schools National Festival Proud winner of the title Young Burnsian is Holly Jarvis representing the Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Perth Association. From the left: Ian McIntyre RBWF Junior Vice President; Holly Jarvis; RBWF Immediate Past President Jim Thomson. The world-renowned, Uddingston-based company, Tunnock’s provides vital sponsorship for the schools competitions. We also received very welcome support from the Jean Armour Burns Trust. Registered Office: Dean Castle Country Park, Dower House, Newsletter Editor -Mike Duguid (Literature Convenor) Kilmarnock KA3 1XB Company Registration No 196895 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 2016 Secondary Schools National Festival The 2016 Secondary Schools National Festival was held on 23rd April and hosted by the Edinburgh and District Burns Clubs Association (EDBCA). Competitors travelled from all over Scotland to gather at St George’s School for Girls in Edinburgh. Convenor of the Schools Committee, Patricia Leslie, opened the festival by introducing RBWF representatives, Ian McIntyre, Junior Vice President and Jim Thomson, Immediate Past President. Jim Shields, President of the EDBCA, welcomed everyone to the festival and offered his best wishes to all the competitors. All through the school the wonderful sound of Burns could be heard in words and music. Performers were given great support and encouragement by the family and friends who accompanied them on the day. The varied programme and overall standard impressed the audience, adjudicators and Burnsians alike. While the final deliberations were taking place Jim Shields and Jim Wetherston performed a selection of Scottish songs and Gordon Jamieson delivered some hilarious recitations, much to the appreciation of the gathered audience awaiting the final results. The adjudicators admitted the difficulty in choosing winners from the high standard of participants. They offered constructive advice to the performers and encouraged them to continue in their appreciation of Scotland’s National Poet. Prior to the presentations, Junior Vice-President Ian McIntyre proposed a Vote of Thanks. He acknowledged the efforts of the Schools Committee, the assistance of the EDBCA, the staff at St George’s School but, most importantly, the enthusiasm of the competitors and the support of their teachers and families. He hoped they would continue to enjoy the works of our National Bard and looked forward to seeing some of them at future festivals Patricia Leslie announced the winners from each discipline and Jim Thomson and Ian McIntyre were on hand to present medals and trophies. Pictured above are the individual winners. Verse Speaking: Cameron Kerr for the Ayrshire Association of Burns Clubs; Instrumental: Euan Thomson, West Lothian Region; Singing: Holly Jarvis, Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Perth Association. The team from the Ayrshire Association won the verse speaking section, the West Lothian team won the instrumental category; the singing section was won by the team from the Fife Association which helped them capture the title as Overall Team winners with most points accrued across all disciplines. As Young Burnsian Holly will perform at the prestigious Westsound Burns Supper in Glasgow in January 2017. [Right: Receiving her award from Schools Convenor Patricia Leslie] [Photographs curtesy of Jim Miller] Newsletter Page 3 of 12 Ellisland Burns Suppers On Saturday 6th February the Friends of Ellisland held the first of their two Burns suppers. The Chairman, Ronnie Cairns welcomed everyone and read fraternal greetings from over eighteen kindred clubs. Betty Haining, Treasurer of the Friends of Ellisland, gave the Selkirk Grace. The haggis was piped in by Callum Watson, President of the Burns Howff Club and ably addressed by Kieran Nordon. Fraser Sanderson, a past Director of Education, gave an interesting Immortal Memory, Donald Urquhart, past Chairman and founder member of the Friends of Ellisland proposed the Toast to the Lasses and this was replied to by Emma Harper, President of the Dumfries Ladies Burns Club No 1. An evening of recitations and song followed. Photo L to R: Donald Urquhart, Ronnie Cairns, Fraser Sanderson, Halina Cairns and Emma Harper. Their second annual Burns Supper was held on the 13th February. It was a very successful night with a host of very talented performers. The Chairman, Ronnie Cairns did an excellent job as MC. Dan Cook gave grace before the meal. Sophie Easthill piped in the haggis, which was ably addressed by the Chairman. The Immortal Memory was delivered by Colin Gibson, Junior vice President of the Burns Howff club and Vice President of the Thornhill & District Burns club. The Toast to the Lasses by Russell Williamson, was well received. Jane Brown, past President of the Robert Burns World Federation, gave a humorous reply which was enjoyed by everyone. A rousing version of Auld Lang Syne finished a very successful Burns Supper. In the photo from left to right are: Russell Williamson, Colin Gibson, Ronnie Cairns, Halina Cairns and Jane Brown. End of an Era at Ellisland After living on the Ellisland Farm for 28 years, including the last 18 years as Curator, Les Byers decided it was time for him to retire. To mark the occasion, the Friends of Ellisland committee organised a splendid farewell party to recognise the outstanding contribution Les and his wife May have made in showcasing Burns’ last farm to Burnsians and the public alike. As well as being presented with a substantial cheque from donations made by his many admirers Les was also gifted an inscribed quaich from the Friends of Ellisland and the Trustees. Certificates of appreciation were also presented to Les and May for their many years spent at Ellisland Farm. The photograph shows the Friends of Ellisland Treasurer Betty Haining handing over the cheque to Les. Newsletter Page 4 of 12 Ellisland’s New Curator Settles In Having previously worked at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway, the new Curator at Ellisland Farm, Stuart Cochran, is settling in and has offered the following thoughts on his new post: “You can feel the presence of Burns at many of his haunts however none more than at Ellisland, the home he lovingly built for his family, where they could “live off the fat of the land”. As the new Curator of Ellisland farm and Museum I am delighted to carry on from the many years of work contributed by Les Byers. With the farm and the collection already in good shape my purpose is to bring the house and farm alive, so as to allow the collection to be seen as it would have looked to a visitor in 1789. They might even pick up some Burns household gossip as well! Visitors are now welcomed by hens and ducks in the farm close, Jean’s kitchen range is lit each morning and the table is set ready for the farm dinner at noon. With the invaluable support of The Friends of Ellisland we have a lot planned and you may even see Ayrshire cows back in the byre and Ellisland’s own butter and cheese on the table. I have created the Ellisland Facebook profile and I have called it Robert Burns Ellisland Farm Heritage Centre. Thus anyone searching the internet for ‘Robert Burns’ or ‘Ellisland’ or ‘Heritage’ will find it easily at: https://www.facebook.com/ellislandfarm/ I have attached it to the Ellisland Website, set us to follow and share Dumfries Museums, RBBM, Burns Federation, What's On D&G and hopefully the new SSCBA page. If we share other people’s posts then they will share ours and slowly our Facebook presence will snowball. So far today we have 15 people following us. If you know of any groups we should follow the please let us know. This will be my main way of communicating the Farm and its collection to the outside world and a way for our visitors to interact with us about their visit - hopefully by posting pics of themselves at Ellisland.