Robert Burns World Federation Limited www.rbwf.org.uk 2010 The digital conversion of this Burns Chronicle was sponsored by The Chesterfield and District Caledonian Association 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 It Could Only Be BURNS Manor Kingdom CHRONICLE SPRING 2010 Photograph for reference only reference Photograph for Freephone 0800 804 8082 Printers, Dumfries. Tel: 01387 262960 Tel: Printers, Dumfries. the www.manorkingdom.com The Globe Inn, Dumfries 400th Anniversary Solway Offset Solway Offset A ROBERT BURNS WORLD FEDERATION PUBLICATION Betty has enjoyed many special events during her ‘Burnsian years’ but perhaps the Motto — “A man’s a man for a’ that” highlight over the years was her Presidency of the SSCBA during the commemorations of 1996. This was a particularly busy year and she carried out her duties with dignity and aplomb. Attending a Dinner with Prime Minister John Major and his wife Norma THE ROBERT BURNS WORLD FEDERATION LTD at Shambellie House Dumfries was memorable as was taking part in the Parade on 21st Company Registration No. 196895. Scottish Charity No. SCO29099 July 1996 to mark the Bicentenary of the death of Robert Burns when at the Mausoleum (Formerly THE BURNS FEDERATION) Instituted 1885 wreaths were accepted by Lord Clyde from people and organisations from many parts of the world. The Dinner in the evening was a grand affair and ably chaired by President HEADQUARTERS: DEAN CASTLE COUNTRY PARK, DOWER HOUSE, KILMARNOCK. KA3 1XB. Betty Haining. 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 MICHAEL DUGUID (President), Braeside, 51 Main Street, Twynholm, Kirkcudbright. DG6 4NT. E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01557 860040 WILLIAM DAWSON ( Past President), 4 Riverview, Claremont, Alloa. FK10 2DF. E-mail: [email protected] ISA HANLEY (Schools Convener), 24 Kirkland Road, Heathhall, Dumfries. DG1 3RN. Tel: 01387 255182. E-mail: [email protected] DAVID BAIRD (Vice President), 3 Urquhart Court, Calside, Dumfries. DG1 4XE. Tel: 01387 267794. E-mail: [email protected] JIM SHIELDS (Junior Vice President), 31 Little Road, Edinburgh. EH16 6SH. E-mail: [email protected] JOE McGINTY (Conference Convener): 5 Morris Street, Largs, Ayrshire. KA30 9HR. Tel: 01475 674986. BILL DUNCAN (Heritage Convener): 13 Broadwood Park, Ayr. KA7 4XE. Tel: 01292 442924. E-mail: [email protected] JOHN HAINING (Archivist), 115 Ralston Avenue, Paisley. PA1 3BY. Tel: 0141 883 2059. 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. Betty and her guests for Dinner, Prime Minister John Major and his wife Norma. E-mail: [email protected] Pictured during the 1996 Bicentenary Celebrations in Dumfries, 200 Club Organiser: SAM JUDGE - Federation Office. E-mail: [email protected] There are few people of whom it can be said that they attended most of the significant OFFICIALS events in the Burns calendar for the past forty years – Betty Haining has either attended Chief Executive/Secretary: SAMUEL JUDGE - Federation Office. E-mail: [email protected] the events or in many cases helped organise them. She, above all others is instrumental Web Manager: KEVIN THOMPSON, 27 Craigennochie Terrace, Burntisland, Fife. KY3 9EN. in keeping alive the Tam O’Shanter Competition which is a must in the September Tel: 01592 874471. E-mail: [email protected] calendar of events. Office Administrator: MARGARET CRAIG, Dean Castle Country Park, Dower House, Kilmarnock. KA3 1XB. We could go on forever listing her achievements and involvement with organisations i.e. treasurer of the Friends of Ellisland, treasurer and Vice President of St. Michael’s Editor: PETER J. WESTWOOD, 1 Cairnsmore Road, Castle Douglas. DG7 1BN. Burns Club, Secretary of Dumfries Ladies Burns Club No. 1 and Member of the RBWF Tel: 01556 504448. E-mail: [email protected] Literature committee for many years. Suffice it to say she is a weel kent and much Hon. Legal Advisor: DAVID STEVENSON. Auditors: SMITH & WALLACE & CO. admired Lady in the world of Robert Burns. See article on page 285 of the Homecoming 2009 Burns Chronicle. BURNS CHRONICLE SPRING EDITION 2010 Editor: PETER J. WESTWOOD, 1 Cairnsmore Road, Castle Douglas. DG7 1BN. Tel: 01556 504448. E-mail: [email protected] Media Relations and Advertising Manager: MURDO MORRISON, 110 Campbell Street, Wishaw, ML2 8HU. Tel/Fax: 01698 372638. E-mail: [email protected] EDITORIAL CONTENTS Pretty Nancy .................................4 HE Homecoming 2009 The Tears of Robert Burns ...........6 Burns Chronicle has now Burns and Slavery ........................8 been published and become T (Part 2) .....................................14 the largest book by the Federation (Part 3) .....................................19 since its foundation 125 years Poetry of Burns 1859 ..................25 ago. The Board of Directors Ode on the Departed Regency decided that the price per copy Bill ............................................38 to Clubs and members would be A Corner for Poets ......................42 on this occasion AT COST £20, in Mabel Irving, MBE .....................46 consideration of their loyalty over the years. International Literature .............48 My thanks to the Scottish In Memorium ..............................59 Government for £5000 towards Burns International Editorial and Publishing expenses, Conference ...............................64 and all those who contributed Burns Federation Minutes .........68 and subscribed, in particular to Presidents Tour of Australia our printers Solway Offset who and New Zealand .....................82 assisted and advised me during 2010 Schools Competition the 48 weeks work on the book. Winners ....................................94 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 should be addressed and forwarded to the Editor at 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. © THE ROBERT BURNS WORLD FEDERATION LIMITED 1 PRESIDENT MIKE complete without a visit to the Inn, PAT DUGUID and FAMILY sit in the Poet’s chair and enjoy a wish to thank all Clubs and refreshment and meal. Friends for their kind thoughts and Get Well Wishes, after Mike’s RETIRAL recent road accident. Mike is IT is with some sadness that still in Hospital and as such will this issue of the Burns Chronicle be unable for the time being will be my last as your editor. Now to carry out some of his many that the 250th Anniversary of the engagements. Birth of Robert Burns is over and All enquiries regarding I have just completed 20 years in Mike’s progress please phone this Office, it is time for a change. our Head Office in Kilmarnock, Some of you may remember Telephone 01563 572469. that I have retired twice before, I draw your attention to pages but this time it is for real. 82 to 90 in this issue on Mike’s It has been an honour for me recent Tour of Australia and New to edit the Burns Chronicle after Zealand, as our President fulfilling taking over from the late James the Federation’s Worldwide Mackay. association with Clubs and The Burns Federation is Members overseas. the oldest National Literary Association in Scotland and since 400th ANNIVERSARY its foundation the Chronicle has Front cover illustration – The never missed an issue, even during historic GLOBE INN, 56 High the two World Wars. Street, Dumfries, the favourite I take this opportunity of haunt of Robert Burns. Established thanking all those who contributed in 1610. The Inn is now owned by articles over these many years, the McKerrow family who have for the used postage stamps and long and loyal connections with for the friendships gained by the Burns Federation. M. Henry myself and Anne which are very McKerrow and his son George important to us both. both Presidents of the Federation. All articles photographs etc. Today Gordon and Maureen are for inclusion in future issues of the current Landlords. The Inn the Burns Chronicle should be is also the headquarters of the forwarded to the Head Office Dumfries Burns Howff Club. in Kilmarnock. No visit to Dumfries would be Peter J. Westwood 2 WORLD PREMIERE FOR DUMFRIES The Film Theatre at the Burns Centre in Dumfries was the venue for the first public showing of two remarkable drama documentaries on DVD, entitled “The Father of the Bard Project”, on the life and times of William Burnes, father of Robert Burns. The Project is an Aberdeenshire Council initiative supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund to explore Burns’ father’s early life and filmed with a cast featuring peo- ple with learning difficulties but with professional help. The private screening by invitation was enjoyed by a small but enthusiastic audi- ence drawn from members of local Burns Clubs, on 13th February, the 226th anniver- sary of the death of William Burnes. The first DVD, “The Mearns Years”, covered the family’s early life in Glenbervie in rural Kincardineshire until grinding poverty drove William Burnes to seek a better life in the south. The second DVD, “The Ayrshire Years”, told of the family’s arrival in Edinburgh in 1748, when William was employed as a landscape gardener and helped to lay out the Meadows, the famous open park in the city centre, enjoyed by generations of citizens.