Click here for photos: Wreath Laying and Cathedral Service 2024
Sheriff Seith Ireland as this year’s President had the honour to represent the Club at two ceremonies on the two days immediately after our Supper.
On Saturday 20th January he attended a reception at the City Chambers, with all the other Presidents of the Glasgow and District Burns Association, and thereafter to lay a wreath, on behalf of all in Partick Burns Club, at the Robert Burns statue on George Square.
Following that ceremony he and the other Presidents were entertained to lunch at the Merchants Hall. The lunch was an opportunity to meet the other Presidents and hear about their Clubs’ histories planned or completed Suppers. It is pleasing to report that despite challenges all the Clubs continue to prosper in honouring the memory of Robert Burns and celebrating his verse and songs. All present were further entertained by the singing of the children of New Cumnock Primary School and the playing of the clarsach and the singing of Burns songs by the award winning songwriter/singer, Pauline Vallance. Thanks are due to Seith’s wife Elizabeth for taking the photographs
On Sunday 21st Seith and Elizabeth attended the service at Glasgow Cathedral, which marked the work and life of the Glasgow and District Burns Association. A number of members of our Club were present in the congregation. The Presidents, including Seith, resplendent in their chains of office, formed a procession behind the beadle and the Minister at the commencement of the service. The Reverend Mark E Johnstone, a noted Robert Burns enthusiast and speaker, in his learned but also entertaining Sermon, drew parallels between the teaching of the Gospels and Burn’s verses and songs as being, too, directed to all humanity and commended us to see ourselves as others see us and expressed the hope, as had the Bard, “That Man to Man the warld o’er shall brithers be for a’ that”. He commended the work of all the Burns Clubs present in keeping alive the spirit of Robert Burns. Over tea and coffee all had a further opportunity to strengthen bonds with the other Burns Clubs present
Sheriff Seith Ireland