Robert Burns World Federation Limited www.rbwf.org.uk The digital conversion of this Burns Chronicle was sponsored by Sponsored by Angus Middleton, Past President of the RBWF 2006-2007 World Federation Winter - 2006 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 BURNS CHRONICLE WINTER 2006 The Robert Burns Limited Edition Chess Set is a journey through both his life and his works and celebrates his loves, his humour, his irony and his lasting mark on the world of literature. More importantly, it celebrates his legacy to generations past, present and future. Crafted entirely in pewter, this is a remarkable set. Every single piece is different, each one reflecting either one of Burns' works or someone who played a part in his life. It is not difficult to imagine Burns as the King on the Light Side or the Devil as the King on the Dark. Thereafter, throughout the set, there is a mixture of the obvious and the not so obvious. The Robert Burns Chess set comprises: • 32 different playing pieces INDIVIDUAL PIECES • 20 page booklet are available in the • 21” playing board original metal finish, • FREE x three CDs featuring separately boxed, Burns’ words, music and song and ready to give as souvenirs – ideal as Robert Burns Chess sets are hand-made keepsakes for Burns to order. Some items are held in stock club members or but you should allow 28 days for delivery. gifts for speakers. The Robert Burns Chess Set is £699+VAT Auld Lang Syne (no VAT outside the European Union) and shown actual size includes door-to-door delivery worldwide. e: [email protected] James Thomson Memorial - Hawick telephone: +44 (0) 7977 26 1314 www.robertburnschessset.com “The Star of Robbie Burns” A ROBERT BURNS WORLD FEDERATION PUBLICATION ITEMS FROM THE FEDERATION SHOP STOCK LIST COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS . £19.50 COMPLETE WORKS (TARTAN PAPERBACK) .............. £9.95 DELUXE CASEBOUND EDITION (TARTAN SLIPCASE) ............... £24.95 COMPLETE LETTERS ................. £29.50 2 VOLUME SET........................... £49.00 3 VOLUME SET........................... £75.00 BAIRNSANGS ................................ £3.00 BURNS FOR BAIRNS ..................... £6.50 ROBERT BURNS THE FARMER ..... £1.50 A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS .......... £6.00 LIFE OF JEAN ARMOUR ............... £5.00 BICENTENARY CHRONICLES ...... £8.00 LIFE OF BURNS ............................ £1.95 MINIATURE TARTAN POEM & SONGS ...................................... £5.00 GENEALOGY BOOK ..................... £4.00 LOST POEMS ................................ £5.00 RESOURCES PACK FOR SCHOOLS ................................. £4.00 MENU CARDS (100) ................... £30.00 PLACE CARDS (100) ..................... £8.00 BURNS NAPKINS (BLUE/WHITE) (250) .............. £19.00 POSTERS (LARGE) ........................ £2.00 POSTERS (SMALL) ........................ £1.00 ARMORIAL BADGES ..................... £1.50 TARTAN PAPER ............................. £9.00 BURNS CHECK BOW TIES ......... £10.00 MOUSE MATS ............................... £3.00 FRIDGE MAGNETS ....................... £1.00 BURNS CHECK TIE £10 SONG SHEETS .............................. £0.15 BURNS NAVY TIE £10 CHRISTMAS CARDS (PACK OF 10) ............................ £4.00 POSTCARDS (PACK OF 8) (ALL ITEMS (SCENES FROM PLUS POST AND PACKING) TAM O’ SHANTER BALLET) ....... £3.00 THE BURNS FEDERATION, DEAN CASTLE COUNTRY PARK, 01387 262960 Printers, Heathhall, Dumfries. Tel. DOWER HOUSE, KILMARNOCK. KA3 1XB. the Tel: 01563 572469. President Angus Middleton (2006-2007) Solway Offset Motto — “A man’s a man for a’ that” THE ROBERT BURNS WORLD FEDERATION LTD Company Registration No. 196895. Scottish Charity No. SCO29099 (Formerly THE BURNS FEDERATION) Instituted 1885 www.worldburnsclub.com 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 AND CONVENERS ANGUS MIDDLETON (President), “Red Gables”, 38A Skelmorlie Castle Road, Skelmorlie, Ayrshire. PA17 5AL. Tel: 01475 522 722. E-mail: [email protected] JOHN F. HAINING (Vice-President), 115 Ralston Avenue, Paisley. PA1 3BY. Tel: 0141 883 2059. E-mail: [email protected] WILLIAM DAWSON (Junior Vice-President), 4 Riverview, Claremont, Alloa. FK10 2DF. E-mail: [email protected] WILSON OGILVIE (Heritage Convener), “Lingerwood”, 2 Nelson Street, Dumfries. DG2 9AY. Tel: 01387 264267 MARGARET SKILLING (Schools Convener), 16 Craigstewart Crescent, Doonbank, Ayr. KA7 4DB. Tel: 01292 445230. E-mail: [email protected] HARRY McGUFFOG (Conference Convener): 30 South Edge, Shipley, West Yorkshire. BD18 4RA. E-mail: [email protected] MURDO MORRISON (Marketing Convener), 110 Campbell Street, Wishaw. ML2 8HU. Tel: 01698 372638. E-mail: [email protected] JOHN PATERSON (Past President), Newlands, 35 Shorncliffe Road, Folkestone, Kent. CT20 2NQ. Tel: 01303 256670 WALTER WATSON (Finance), 7 John Street, Biggar, Lanarkshire. ML12 6AE. Tel: 01899 220708. E-mail: [email protected] SHIRLEY BELL (Chief Executive), “Inveresk,” Kelton, Dumfries. DG1 4UA. Tel/Fax: 01387 770283. E-mail: [email protected] A. MacARTHUR IRVIN (Director USA), 40 Brighton Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30309, USA. E-mail: [email protected] MAY CRAWLEY (Director Canada), 25 Pine Street, St. Catherines, Ontario. L2N 4T2. Tel/Fax: 001-905-934-9169. E-mail: mayandalex@aol JIM O’LONE (Director Pacific Rim), 14 Marine Terrace, Fremantle, 6160, W. Australia. E-mail: [email protected] 200 Club Organiser: MOIRA RENNIE DUNSMORE, 5 Southwark Close, Stevenage, Herts. SG1 4PG. Tel: 01438 228366. E-mail: [email protected] OFFICIALS Chief Executive/Secretary: SHIRLEY BELL, “Inveresk,” Kelton, Dumfries. DG1 4UA. Tel/Fax: 01387 770283. E-mail: [email protected] Clerical Secretary: MARGARET CRAIG, Dean Castle Country Park, Dower House, Kilmarnock. KA3 1XB. Editor: PETER J. WESTWOOD, 1 Cairnsmore Road, Castle Douglas. DG7 1BN. Tel: 01556 504448. E-mail: [email protected] Hon. Legal Advisor: DAVID STEVENSON. Auditors: SMITH & WALLACE & CO. MacMillan and Associates Burns Society Construction T.C. Society ~ London FEDERATED 1997 Burns Club FOUNDED 1986 C M T I CO SERRIS SUCCURRERE DIS “CancerC doesn’t care - We do” SPONSOR FEDERATION’S NATIONAL SCHOOL CHILDREN’S COMPETITION 1 SPONSOR FEDERATION’S NATIONAL SCHOOL CHILDRENS COMPETITION Incorporated with the Robert Burns Worldwide Federation. St Bartholomews Hospital Childrens Cancer Research Sponsors to The Benevolent Fund of the Lighthouse Club MacMillan Nurses Sponsor to various charities Founder: John MacMillan www.ctc-burns.co.uk BURNS CHRONICLE WINTER EDITION 2006 Editor: PETER J. WESTWOOD, 1 Cairnsmore Road, Castle Douglas. DG7 1BN. Tel: 01556 504448. E-mail: [email protected] Advertising Manager: MURDO MORRISON, 110 Campbell Street, Wishaw, ML2 8HU. Tel/Fax: 01698 372638. E-mail: murdo.morrisonmmpr@btint EDITORIAL CONTENTS Robert Burns and Mrs. McLehose were A LIFETIMES RESEARCH related to each other ................................4 Original Burns poem goes on display at BURNS Clubs, Federated Members and Edinburgh’s newest museum ...................6 Burnsians in general may well be aware that Editing Heron Ballad Second ..................14 the late Lawrence R. Burness gifted to the Federation his entire collection of material The Canongate Burns: Misreading Robert Burns and the Periodical Press of the related to his genealogical study of Robert 1790’s ...................................................21 Burns, his ancestors, descendants and Burns on the Fringe - The Culture and the associates. Apart from his service during Comic....................................................24 the last war the remainder of his life was devoted to researching the genealogy of the The Cottage leaves the Palace far behind: Pastoral Idealism and Social Change “The Poet and studying his life and works. Cotter’s Saturday Night” ........................26 Having had the good fortune to have worked with Lawrence on a number of Burns and Adelaide, South Australia .......31 projects and in receipt of items for my Robert Burns Banffshire Connection .......33 own archives, it was his wish that some The Family, Relations and Close Friends of day he would publish his work. Sadly, his Robert Burns ..........................................35 untimely passing made this impossible. Robert Burns Diamond Stylus ................39 However, in this and future issues of the Burns Chronicle we will carry out some of Unveiling Statue to James Thomson .......50 his wishes by publishing a series of articles, Historic Museum - Lodge Tarbolton the first two of these being “Robert Burns (Kilwinning) St. James No. 135 ..............53 and Mrs McLehose were Related to each other” New Kay Park Monument ......................59 and “The Family, Relations and close friends Treasures of the Chronicle ......................62 continued on page 3 The Robert Burns World Federation Limited does not accept any 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 as for those unsigned. Articles, photographs, items for review and all correspondence