News

Robert Burns Conference 2026

The Centre for Robert Burns Studies Team are delighted to announce that bookings are now live for the next Centre for Robert Studies conference, which will take place on Saturday 17th January 2026, between 9.30am and 4pm, at the  Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC) in Glasgow, in collaboration with the National Trust for Scotland  Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. 

This year, our conference theme is the Burns Supper, which celebrates its 225th anniversary in 2026. Delegates can look forward to updates on the latest directions in Burns studies, plus a musical performance by BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year in 2025, Ellie Beaton, to be followed by a reception. For more information about the programme, and to book your tickets, please visit our  Eventbrite page. Tickets are £25 each and include refreshments throughout the day, lunch, and a toast.

All extremely welcome

The Dumbarton Burns Club books relating to the life and works of Robert Burns are now housed within secured cabinets in the public area of Dumbarton Library, Strathleven Place, Dumbarton G82 1BD. The books are provided for the information of all persons using the library facilities.

The books are provided for interest, reference, and research purposes only and their removal from the library premises is not permitted.

The library provides suitable accommodation for users to have access to read for interest or research during the library permitted hours.

Members who are in possession of books property of the Dumbarton Burns Club are asked to return the book(s) to William Henderson, Lead Officer Local History and Archive at Dumbarton Library. Alternatively, any such book(s) can be returned to a committee member who will arrange for their delivery to the library.

David Vennard Synopsis (President of Glasgow & District Burns Association)
The following is a synopsis from a presentation given by David Vennard President of the Glasgow & District Burns Association (GDBA) at the Club’s Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday 24 May 2023.

Presentation
I (David Vennard) have been invited by your President to talk to you about the GDBA and the benefit it supports your club and members.

The GDBA was formed and federated in 1908 consisting of several local and regional Burns clubs. A year after its founding, there were twenty-three clubs under its banner, and the group grew to include forty clubs by 1914. It has been the backbone of Burns Clubs in the Glasgow and West Area. We currently have a membership of 11 Clubs.

Our goal is to highlight Robert Burns, his work in poetry and songs through our own organisations.

At present the GDBA has many annual projects consisting of Children’s Education packs, Aye Can, Children’s Concerts, Wreath laying, Cathedral Service, and other matters.

Education Packs
Past President of the GDBA Geoff De Pledge together with Marc Sherland our secretary created a range of Education packs. These packs are designed to be used to develop lessons for children aged 11 to 16 to pursue an interest in Robert Burns. They were never intended to provide in-depth knowledge but to provide a basis for interest and further study. The packs are primarily aimed at P7 and all secondary classes encouraging learning with exercises including responses to questions and topics for further research. They provide an understanding of Robert Burns and his works to anyone with little or no knowledge of Burns and as such will be of value to adults in their interest.

Vetting of Children’s packs are currently with the Burns Federation in Kilmarnock, and the packs are also being reviewed by Education Scotland and for circulation on the Robert Burns World Federation (RBWF) web site.

An article about the packs will be included in the Robert Burns World Federation quarterly magazine the Vision.

The GDBA always intended that these packs could be added, amended, and improved based on user’s experience.

AYE CAN!
AYE CAN is a two-day experience for children from P7 upwards who have an interest in Burns and the Scottish Language. Previous events have catered for as many as 25 children.

It was initially planned to be in conjunction with the Royal Conservatoire Glasgow and this was successful in the case of the first two years.

Covid prevented our proposed events over the last two years however, we plan to restart this year with an event based at the Novotel in Glasgow.

The 2023 two-day event will occur on Wednesday 12th (10am-4pm) and Thursday 13th July (10am-8:30pm) for up to 10 to 25 students.

The theme this year is the Jacobite’s specifically in respect of their universal society.

Tutors with experience will provide the children with a fun filled couple of days. Those taking part will have the benefit of an information pack on material relevant to the Jacobite’s.

The outcome of the two days will consist of a presentation to family and friends depicting their experience and knowledge gained on the course.

The aim of Aye Can is to create an audio-visual piece using Burns’ words – spoken and sung – to explore the planned theme. This would include a morning of songwriting with the participants, to explore issues they feel connected to, then work on the same to incorporate these messages into a final piece.

The outcome of the two days will be an immersive theatre piece, but it should be noted that the young folk must own the project and be able to accompany each other where possible at the ‘Concert Presentation’ to family and friends depicting their experience and knowledge gained.

The participants would be involved in deciding exactly what they put on, at the ‘Concert Presentation’ on the second day.

This initiative requires GDBA Clubs to participate by providing bursaries and resources, with club financed students. I look for your wholehearted support.

GDBA ANNUAL CONCERT
An annual concert is planned for 2023 with the intention of showcasing young Burnsian’s and participants from school events many of whom will have taken part in AYE CAN and other Club competitions.

Covid prevented the event taking place during the past two years however, as the previously held occasion was very successful with significant audience appreciation plans are in hand to ensure a return for 2023.

ANNUAL WREATH LAYING.
This yearly event is normally held in January on the Saturday closest to the birth date of Robert Burns.

Member Clubs assemble at 12 noon in the foyer of Glasgow City Chambers and then in procession proceed to the statue of Robert Burns in George Square where wreaths are laid.

The event is open to all GDBA members and after the wreath laying all involved proceed to the Merchants House to enjoy a small reception with food and a warm drink. Entertainment is provided by a school choir and/or professional singers and musicians.

The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Lord Deacon of Guild of the Merchants Hall, Glasgow and the Deacon Convenor of the Trades Hall, Glasgow attend.

COMMEMORATIVE GLASGOW CATHEDRAL SERVICE
A commemorative Service on the Sunday following the Wreath Laying is celebrated in Glasgow Cathedral. The Rev. Mark Johnstone chaplain of the Cathedral and also of the GDBA conducts a traditional church service involving aspects of Robert Burns life and works.

The Rev. Johnstone is an enthusiastic Burnsian, and his service is a joy involving attributes of Burns life, poetry, and song within the whole service.

All are invited and encouraged to attend.

OBJECTIVES OF THE GDBA
We consider it one of our objectives in the GDBA to help clubs to recruit new members. To this end we produced in the past a pamphlet detailing the activities of the various clubs in the GDBA These have been tried out but seemingly without much success however we will consider trying again if there is a need.

Two years ago, an evening inter-club event was hosted by GDBA and was a great success. To this end, Cumbernauld and Eaglesham have offered to organise a future event. We await detail of this event.

In 2022 the Glasgow Haggis Club held a successful St Andrews Night inviting all GDBA clubs to attend.

THE BIG MESSAGE
The big message I want to get across as President of the GDBA is like President Kennedy’s quote that is… ‘ask not what the GDBA can do for you but what you can do for the GDBA’ by supporting events and other clubs. You will only get out of the GDBA what you put in and, by supporting the events that I have mentioned will ensure their success.

Thank you, Mr President, Cronies and Gentlemen, for invitation and attention.

Moir Nelson is a well-known member of the club, and it was felt a suitable recognition should be recorded by way of a special presentation regarding his exceptional work dedicated to the club and all its members throughout his period as Honorary Secretary spanning twenty-three years.

J Moir Nelson Honorary Secretary 1999 – 2022
Joined Club 1980
Joined Committee 1988
Elected Vice President 1992
Elected President 1993
Elected Honorary Secretary 1999

Like his father before him, Moir’s interest in Burns led to him joining the club in 1980. He was elected to committee in 1988 and then elected President in 1993.

He edited the club Newsletter from 1995 until he became Secretary in 1999.

Moir was instrumental in liaising with Dumbarton District Council in co-ordinating a number of the events held during the 1996 Bicentenary of the Bard’s death and later chaired the sub-committee tasked with the 2009 commemorations for the 250th anniversary of the Bard’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the 150th anniversary of the club.

He is to date the longest serving Secretary in the club’s history.

President Andrew McCormick in recognition of the dedicated support and outstanding work for our club by Moir said the following.

“When Moir took over as secretary in 1999 the internet was operating. However, it was a dial-up process which meant if someone called you on your landline they could not get through.

If you talked about a tablet, you would be directed to the confectionery part of a store.

Moir has taken all these changes in his stride and mastered all the technology.

Those of us who have been on the committee or have been President realise the work that Moir performed behind the scenes. This includes seating plans and putting out the drink on top of a myriad of other tasks we all take for granted.

Moir even had a poem written about him and his favourite whisky by the late Ian McLean.”

Moir was presented with his scroll on vellum, a quaich, and a bottle of whisky.

Moir’s reply

President Andrew, gentlemen

I am both delighted and honoured to be given this recognition by the club for my term as Secretary.

I first attended the club when Bob Callander took me along as his guest in the late 1970s and as a result, I joined the club in 1980 when I was but a callow youth of thirty.

When I took over from Jim Hutton as Secretary in 1999 I little suspected that I would still be Secretary in 2022. I am in fact the longest serving Secretary in the history of the club.

As many of you will be aware, Ian McLean and I had planned our phased retirements over 2 years in order to ensure smooth handovers and transitions of the posts of both Treasurer and Secretary. Ian retired in 2020 as planned but sadly died within a few months. My own retirement was postponed until 2022 due to the covid pandemic.

The Glasgow and District Burns Association organise each year a wreath laying ceremony at the Burns Statue, George Square Glasgow on the Saturday nearest the annual date of Burns birth. This year the ceremony occurred on Saturday 21 January 2023.

The ceremony commences within the City Chambers and all dignitaries and club representative process to the Burns Statue in George Square to lay their respective wreath in memory of the Bard.

Immediately after the wreath laying all participants proceed to the Merchants house for warm refreshment and entertainment of Burns music and song. This year Pauline Vallance playing a clarsach sang several Burns songs and Alan Beck a well-known professional singer delighted the audience with his most recent recording of ‘Aye fond Kiss’. Alan is also the current president of the Robert Burns World Federation.

On the Sunday immediately following the wreath laying a church service is held in Glasgow Cathedral this year conducted by The Reverend Mark E Johnstone DL MA BD.

President Andrew McCormick represented Dumbarton Burns Club at both events.

The wreath laying and church service are open to the public and members are invited and encouraged to attend. The church service has a strong theme of Burns influence and this year ‘Holy Willie’s Prayer’ took centre stage within the sermon.

Photographs of both events are shown in the gallery.

The Glasgow and District Burns Association (GDBA) was founded in 1907 joining the Robert Burns World Federation No. 169 in 1908. The Association exists to encourage and promote the study and performance of the Bard’s works.

Membership of the GDBA comprises of Bridgeton Burns Club, Centre for Robert Burns Studies, Cumbernauld and District Burns Club, Dumbarton Burns Club, Eaglesham Burns Club, Glasgow Haggis Club, New Milne Burns Club, Paisley Burns Club, Partick Burns Club, Royalty Burns Club, Sandyford Burns Club and Trades House Burns Festival.

The Dumbarton Club representative on GDBA are Andrew McCormick and George Dunwoody.

Club Merchandise

Club Ties (Red and Blue) – £8
Badges – £5