By Frank R. Shaw, FSA Scot Email:
jurascot@earthlink.net
This is the time of the year that any Scotsman worth a
dram will pause and thank the Good Lord for the baby born on 25th
January 1759 in “the auld clay biggin” in Alloway. His father rode
into Ayr and brought back the Rev. William Dalrymple to baptize his
son, Robert Burns. Celebrated all over the world, Robert Burns is a
“Man For All Seasons”. He wrote only one book, Poems Chiefly in
the Scottish Dialect, which sold for 3 shillings in 1786.
Today, if you are lucky enough to find one for sale, you will pay more
than some people pay for the homes they live in. You should be so
lucky!
I have
asked my good friend, Anne Christie, to share her unusual Burns Night
experience with us. Anne is Director, Burke’s Peerage and Gentry
located in the United Kingdom, and you will enjoy her unique story and
the pictures that accompany the article. I met Anne several years ago
at an excellent Scottish Weekend in Moultrie, Georgia put on by our
esteemed Editor, Beth Gay. Anne is a talented lady, and we welcome her
to the continuing story of Robert Burns Lives!
Burns Night 2005
in
Prestonpans, Scotland
By
Anne
Christie, Director,
Burke’s Peerage & Gentry
When
Burke’s Peerage & Gentry’s team received the Baron of Prestoungrange’s
invitation to a Burns Supper at Prestonpans, we knew the evening would
amount to more than a plate of haggis and a few poems.
Baron of Prestongrange
Readers
of Burke’s Peerage & Gentry’s online magazine, Atavus, will be
familiar with the history of Prestonpans and the work of the
Prestoungrange Arts Festival, a regeneration initiative set up by the
Baron of Prestoungrange which ‘seeks in as many ways as possible to
share the history and create the future of the town through the Arts’.
Poets - J Lindsay and J Forster
The
celebration began with a gathering outside ‘The Burns Shelter’ in
Prestonpans to officially unveil the latest mural commissioned by The
Prestoungrange Arts Festival. Piper Lindsay Davidson was in
attendance, and following a welcome speech by the Baron, artist Kate
Hunter guided guests through the planning and design stages of the
artwork which tells the tale of Tam O’Shanter. Scots historians may
recognise one or two faces in the mural as Kate chose to incorporate
men who influenced Burns as well as characters from his poem.
The Mural and Artist Kate Hunter
Poet John
Lindsay amused the crowd with one of his own poems, and Jim Forster of
The Airt’s Burns Society spoke about the origins of the shelter which
until recently had been damaged by vandals. With speeches over, a
procession lead by the Prestonpans and District Pipe & Drums Band made
its way down to the town’s Gothenburg pub for supper. The Gotherburg’s
recently restored Arts and Crafts interior is adorned with artwork by
contemporary Scots artists and provided a wonderful venue for a Burns
evening.
Piper Lindsay Davidson
Pipers lead the way to the dining room and so began the traditional
Burns celebrations of toasts, readings and, of course, whisky, ‘neeps
and tatties. Guests stood as David Leckie piped in the haggis and
Andrew Waddell gave a spirited rendition of ‘Address to a Haggis’.
After dinner, Andrew delivered an informative and entertaining talk on
Burns’ life and work. John Lindsay continued the theme with poetry and
prose, and the ‘Toast to the Lassies’ was given by the Baron with a
reply of thanks for good food, drink and company given in Gaelic by
Carmel Daly.
Section of the Tam O'Shanter mural
by Kate Hunter. This scene depicts Tam drinking with friends, his
disapproving wife sits top left, and in the top right Tam is seen
riding his trusty horse Meg towards Alloway Kirk. [Click on it to get
a larger view]
It was a
wonderful evening with old friends and new acquaintances. Thank you to
everyone at The Prestoungrange Arts Festival and the Gothenburg,
especially Marketing Manager Adele Conn, Chef Andrew Laurie and Events
Manager Steven Cross.
To find
out more about the Prestonpans murals, the Prestoungrange History
Series and The Airts Burns’ Society, visit
www.prestoungrange.org
or contact The Gothenburg, 227 High Street,
Prestonpans, East Lothian. EH32 9BE Scotland, telephone (44) (0) 1875
819922.
Burke’s
Peerage & Gentry is online at
www.burkes-peerage.net
(FRS: 2/08/2005)
