Robert Burns World Federation Limited www.rbwf.org.uk 2003 Spring The digital conversion of this Burns Chronicle was sponsored by Daniel Rodger McKoy of California The digital conversion was provided by Solway Offset Services Ltd by permission of the Robert Burns World Federation Limited to whom all Copyright title belongs. www.solwayprint.co.uk Solway Offset the Printers, Heathhall, Dumfries. Tel. 01387 262960 LIFE PRESIDENT JIM VISITS CANADA Left: Eileen and President Jim with Gordon MEMBERSHIP Hepburn organiser of the Burns Supper in Toronto, Canada. Below: President Jim with left to right, Tom FOR PROVOST McIlwraith, Jim Cunningham, Dr. Jim Connor. Left: President Jim Robertson presenting President Jim (without his chain) May Provost of East Ayrshire, James Boyd with Crawley (Niagara Burns Club), Eileen his Life Membership Medal for outstanding Robertson and Alex Crawley. Bottom Picture: Top table at the Burns service to The Robert Burns World Supper in Toronto. Federation, the event took place appropriately in Dean Castle, Kilmarnock. Below: President Jim and Provost James with a framed cartoon by McCormick of the Provost who recently retired after distinguished service with East Ayrshire Council. Main Sponsor of The Robert Burns World Federation 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 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 ANDREW McKEE, 27 Balfron Road, Ralston, Paisley. PA13 3HA. HONORARY PRESIDENTS Mrs. Stella Brown, Charles Murray, Lew W. Reid, George Irvine, Professor G. Ross Roy, Archie McArthur, William Williamson, Murdo Morrison, Lawrence Burness, 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] 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 James Gibson, John Skilling, Joe Campbell, Bob Dalziel, Moira Rennie Dunsmore, Andrew McKee, Murdo Morrison, 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, T. McIlwraith, George Anderson, Mollie Rennie, S. K. Gaw. 1 BURNS CHRONICLE SPRING EDITION 2003 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 Tam o’ Shanter Ballet ...............................3 YET MORE STATUES Gavin Hamilton Mauchline ......................5 In the last issue we reported on the unveiling of the Jean Armour statue in Mauchline and in this Robert Burns: Scottish Poet or Poet issue we record the unveiling of a bust to Robert who happens to be Scottish? ..................10 Burns in far away Texas, USA (see front cover and article on page 29). Later this year a further statue to Robert Burns, Honorary Bonie Jean will be unveiled in Dumfries. We are all Burgess of Dumbarton ...........................14 aware of the world-wide fame of the Poet and this comes to light to find that in 1976 the world Monkland Friendly Society premiere of a ballet entitled Tam o’ Shanter took place in Lodz, Poland. Our Federation have received Burns’ Experimental Library ...................18 a wonderful gift of the musical score, designs etc. for the ballet see story opposite and sketch by our Fingerprint in Time, Dr Henry benefactor William Donachie on the back cover of Faulds, Scottish Pioneer .........................22 this issue. You may be aware that the Chronicle is now published three times per annum. We are Robert Burns Day in Houston, anxious to know if this change is welcomed by the Texas ......................................................29 membership, or do they prefer the single annual Chronicle? Please contact me at the above address Out and About – Dumbarton with your views and any suggestions as to layout Castle ....................................................31 and content. Used postage stamps from around the world are still required, many thanks to those who Snuff-Box fit for a King ...........................33 have already supported this cause. Peter J. Westwood, Tam o’ Shanter Inn ................................36 Editor The Robert Burns World Federation Limited does not accept any People, Places, Events ............................41 responsibility for statements made or opinions expressed in the Burns Chronicle. Contributors are responsible for articles signed by them; District Reports ......................................46 the Editor is responsible for articles initialed or signed by him, as well as for those unsigned. Articles, photographs, items for review and all correspondence should be addressed and forwarded to the Editor at Club Reports .........................................48 the above address. Articles offered should be in typescript with double spacing and on the one side of the sheet. A stamped addressed envelope should be forwarded for return of articles and photographs. Obituaries ..............................................51 © THE ROBERT BURNS WORLD FEDERATION LIMITED 2 TAM O’ SHANTER BALLET GENEROUS GIFT TO FEDERATION n 23 April, my husband Jack and I travelled to Saleilles in the South of France at the invitation of William Donachie and his wife Monique. This Owas a very important trip, as I was receiving on behalf of the Federation a quite remarkable gift. In 1976 the ballet Tam o’ Shanter was commissioned by the Polish Ministry of Culture, and had its world premiere in the Opera House of Lodz. William Donachie was the librettist and scenic and costume designer for the ballet, and the music composed by Leighton Lucas, a composer with the Royal Academy of Music. The Choreographer was Vassilie Trunoff. Leighton Lucas and Vasillie Trunoff are now deceased and Mr Conachie had in his possession the full musical score, the synopsis and all the designs for costume and decor, together with a model of the set. The designs include a series of pictures which were projected into the scene to illustrate that part of the story – like the chase over the Brig o’ Doon - which could not be performed on stage. This work has now been presented to the Federation by William Donachie, and is indeed a real treasure. We look forward to seeing the ballet in production, hopefully in the not too distant future. Mr Donachie was born in Edinburgh and studied at Edinburgh College of Art. with Post Graduate studies in Paris and Italy. He is a member of the Real Circulo Artistico of Barcelona, and his paintings have been exhibited in Le Salon de Paris, The Royal Scottish Academy, the Society of Scottish Artists and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in London (see examples of William’s sketches on back cover of this issue). Ballet, music and dance has always been the inspiration and artistic motive of William Donachie.