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Solway Offset the Printers, Heathhall, Dumfries. Tel. 01387 262960 Motto — “A man’s a man for a’ that” - THE ROBERT BURNS WORLD FEDERATION LIMITED Company Registration No. 196895. Scottish Charity No. SCO29099 (Formerly THE BURNS FEDERATION) Instituted 1885 upon him at Erskine. HEADQUARTERS: DEAN CASTLE COUNTRY PARK, DOWER HOUSE, KILMARNOCK. KA3 1XB. TEL/FAX: 01563 572469. OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. CLOSED FOR LUNCH 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. [email protected] DIRECTORS JAMES ROBERTSON, E-mail: [email protected] HUGH WILSON LOGAN (Senior Vice President), Tel: 02828 272963 WALTER WATSON (Junior Vice President), E-mail: [email protected] JAMES GIBSON (Immediate Past President), E-mail: gibson.symington@virgin ANNE GAW, Tel: 01294 217481 MURDO MORRISON, E-mail: [email protected] Dr JAMES CONNOR, E-mail: [email protected] A. MacARTHUR IRVIN, E-mail: [email protected] JAMES O’LONE, E-mail: [email protected] SHIRLEY BELL, E-mail: [email protected] PETER WESTWOOD, E-mail: [email protected] WILSON OGILVIE, Tel: 01387 264267 MOIRA DUNSMORE, E-mail: [email protected] JOHN PATERSON, Tel: 01303 256670 HONORARY PRESIDENTS Mrs. Stella Brown, Charles Murray, Lew W. Reid, George Irvine, Professor G. Ross Roy, Archie McArthur, William Williamson, Murdo Morrison, Lawrence Burness, Tom G. Paterson, Peter J. Westwood, James Hempstead, Provost of East Ayrshire, Joseph Campbell, Professor Henryk Minc, Kenneth McKellar, Alastair Gowans, Robert Cleland. OFFICIALS Chief Executive: SHIRLEY BELL, “Inveresk,” Kelton, Dumfries. DG1 4UA. Tel/Fax: 01387 770283. E-mail: [email protected] President: JIM ROBERTSON, 4 Hunter’s Close, Dunnington, York. YO1 5QH. Tel: 01904 489201. E-mail: [email protected] Senior Vice-President: H. WILSON LOGAN, 64 Ballyhampton Road, Larne, N. Ireland. BT40 2SP. Junior Vice-President: WALTER N. WATSON, “Dreva”, 75 Peartree Close, South Ockenden, Essex. RM15 6PR. Tel: 01708 857509. E-mail: [email protected] Clerical Secretary: Mrs. MARGARET CRAIG, Dean Castle Country Park, Dower House, Kilmarnock. KA3 1XB. Editor: PETER J. WESTWOOD, 1 Cairnsmore Road, Castle Douglas. DG7 1BN. Tel/Fax: 01556 504448. E-mail: [email protected] before and during his term as Provost. mendous contribution to the Federation Honorary Legal Advisor: DAVID STEVENSON. Auditors: SMITH & WALLACE & CO. CONVENERS 200 Club: MOIRA RENNIE DUNSMORE, 59 Beechwood Court, Dunstable, Beds. LU6 1QA. Tel: 01582 705671. E-mail: [email protected] Schools Competitions: ANNE GAW, 7 Highfield Place, Girdle Toll, Irvine. KA11 1BW. Tel: 01294 217481. Scottish Literature: JOHN G. PATERSON, Newlands, 35 Shorncliffe Road, Folkestone, Kent. CT20 2NQ. Memorials Committee:WILSON OGILVIE, “Lingerwood”, 2 Nelson Street, Dumfries. DG2 9AY. Marketing/Advertising: MURDO MORRISON, 110 Campbell Street, Wishaw. ML2 8HU. Tel: 01698 372638. Conference Committee: MOIRA RENNIE DUNSMORE, 59 Beechwood Court, Dunstable, Beds. LU6 1YA. Tel: 01582 705671. PAST PRESIDENTS This was the first award of its kind, and it agreed that Provost Boyd most deserving of the accolade bestowed James Gibson, John Skilling, Joe Campbell, Bob Dalziel, Moira Rennie Dunsmore, Andrew McKee, Murdo Morrison, in recognition of his tre Federation, Council, was awarded Life Membership of the Robert Burns World Provost James Boyd (left), East Ayrshire David C. Smith, John Morrison, Charles Kennedy, Donald Urquhart, Hutchison Sneddon, C.B.E., J.P., Anne Gaw, Enez Anderson, J. Connor, M.D.I.R.C.P. (Edin), L.R.F.P.S. (Glas)., D. Wilson Ogilvie, M.A., F.S.A.Scot., John Inglis, Illustration on back cover from left to right: May Crawley (Canada), MacIrvin (USA) and Jim T. McIlwraith, George Anderson, Mollie Rennie, S. K. Gaw. O’Lone (Australia) pictured at the Cairn after the unveiling ceremony. BURNS CHRONICLE WINTER EDITION 2002 Editor: PETER J. WESTWOOD, 1 Cairnsmore Road, Castle Douglas. DG7 1BN. Tel/Fax: 01556 504448. E-mail: [email protected] Editorial Consultant: Professor RAYMOND GRANT, University of Aberta, Edmonton, Canada. Advertising Manager: MURDO MORRISON, 110 Campbell Street, Wishaw, ML2 8HU. Tel/Fax: 01698 372638. E-mail: murdo.morrisonmmpr@btint EDITORIAL CONTENTS Colin Hunter McQueen ...........................4 A WORLD FIRST FOR BONIE JEAN The New Bardolatry .................................9 It has taken over 169 years since her death to Camera Obscura ....................................16 raise a statue to Jean Armour, devoted wife of Robert Burns. Nevertheless it is most appropriate that this should have been made possible by the foresight of Who Really Did Receive the members of Mauchline Burns Club who over a few “Geddes Burns” .....................................22 years planned and raised finance, which has culminated in the unveiling of a life size bronze Newark Castle........................................25 statue (Jean at the age of 23) at Mauchline Cross on Saturday 30th November, 2002. The statue see cover of this issue, was the work Robert Gilfillan.......................................27 of sculptor Ruaraig Maciver of Beltane Studies, Peebles and unveiled by Lady Alexander of Service of Dedication to Mauchline. It is interesting to note that a further Victims of Terrorism ...............................29 statue to Jean is to be raised in Dumfries next year, where she spent the last 38 years of her life. A full report and pictures on the Mauchline The Plaid and Tartan in unveiling appears on pages 59, 60 and 61. Robert Burns’ Poetry ..............................41 An equally impressive highlight in the Burns world took place on 11th September, 2002 when a Cairn was dedicated in Dean Castle Country Park, Why Should we Idly Kilmarnock in memory of the victims of terrorism in Waste our Prime ....................................47 the United States of America. See report and pictures on page 29. Burns News at the The Robert Burns World Federation Limited does not accept any Stirling Smith .........................................49 responsibility for statements made or opinions expressed in the Burns Chronicle. Contributors are responsible for articles signed by them; the Editor is responsible for articles initialed or signed by him, as well Auld Lang Syne ......................................54 as for those unsigned. Articles, photographs, items for review and all correspondence should be addressed and forwarded to the Editor at the above address. Articles offered should be in typescript with double World’s First Statue to spacing and on the one side of the sheet. A stamped addressed envelope should be forwarded for return of articles and photographs. Jean Armour ..........................................59 © THE ROBERT BURNS WORLD FEDERATION LIMITED 1 2 JAMES ROBERTSON PRESIDENT OF THE ROBERT BURNS WORLD FEDERATION was born in Edinburgh but have lived most of my life in England. The last 33 years in the beautiful City of York. I have the honour of being a Past President of the St Andrew Society of York and also I a Past President of Yorkshire District, but to me the greatest honour of my life was in September at Erskine Bridge Hotel when I was honoured with the Presidency of the Robert Burns World Federation. From the moment the chain of office was placed around my shoulders, I have felt the great responsibilities of being President, and very aware of the great traditions of the Federation. I will do my utmost to follow the great Presidents that have gone before me and to spread the name of the Robert Burns World Federation. I thank all members and clubs for their support as I prepare to meet the new challenges that lie ahead in the year 2002-2003. I think we have made some great steps forward over recent years but there is much work still to be done. The Burns Federation is all about people and I know that I can rely on your support throughout the coming year. Our Federation was founded on friendship and the love of Robert Burns, long may this continue. I look forward to my year in office with keen anticipation and hope to meet and make many new friends. To enable this to happen I am more than willing to travel to wherever I can be of any help. Here’s freedom to them that wad read, Here’s freedom to them that would write. There’s nane ever fear’d that the truth should be heard, But they whom the truth would indite. My sincere greeting to you all. President —————————— AN HISTORIC OCCASION AT MAUCHLINE Right: Lady Etain Hagart-Alexander (whose husband Sir Claud is related to the “Bonie Lass of Ballochmyle”, Wilhelmina Alexander pictured with Bonie Jean’s great,great,great granddaughter, Lavinia Drew, prior to the unveiling of the statue to Jean Armour (see story on page 59.) Photo by John Keachie 3 Second in a Series of Interviews on the lives of well-known Burnsians COLIN HUNTER McQUEEN ——————— The friend of man, the friend of youth, The friend of age, and guide of youth, Few hearts like his - with virtue warm’d, Few heads with knowledge so inform’d. RTIST, Cartoonist, Sculptor, Modelmaker, Painter, Author and Burnsian, born in AGlasgow in 1942 and educated at North Kelvinside School. Attended evening classes at Glasgow School or Art where he excelled at life Colin at the age of 16 (note the hair style!) drawing and sculpture. Against his parent’s wishes he left school at the age of 15 to become an apprentice patternmaker in Yoker, followed by incidentally his knowledge and work on swords a period with a Monumental Sculptor who and targes is very impressive. encouraged Colin to attend art classes on There was only one place that Colin could Saturday mornings without any loss of earnings. have met his future wife, Alison and surprise, By now his talents were being acknowledged and surprise that was in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, it comes as no surprise to find him working for where else! They were married in 1968 (Not in the Art Galleries and Museum in Kelvinside, the Art Gallery) and their equally talented son, where he was to remain for 30 years becoming a Douglas was born in 1971.