|
Our
history |
The club has an unbroken history dating back to its formation on 2nd June 1826. Of the twelve founding members of the club five were known to Robert Burns, two of whom were close friends of the poet (see "Club Founders"). Our continuous list of Past Presidents is printed on this page. This page also records the Founders Day lunch of 1976, when the Directors met to celebrate not only the 150th anniversary of the Club but also the re-opening of the Irvine Burns Museum.
The club is situated in 'Wellwood', Eglinton Street, Irvine. The building comprises a unique display (the Burns Room), a library, meeting room, and concert room.
Irvine Burns Club was formed in Milne's Inn, (now The Crown Inn) High Street, Irvine, Ayrshire on 2nd June 1826.
The original minute reads:
"The subscribers agree hereby to form, and do now form ourselves into a Committee for the purpose of establishing a Club, or Society for Commemorating the birth of Robert Burns the Ayrshire Poet - and we agree to meet at an early day to get the preliminaries of the Club properly arranged."
The document is signed by the following twelve men:
John
Mackenzie, M.D. David Sillar, Bailie William Gillies, Grain Dealer John Peebles, Convener of Trades James Johnston, Town Clerk Robert Wyllie, Harbour Master John Orr, Merchant James Allan, Merchant Maxwell Dick, Bookseller William Shields, Sen., Merchant John Fletcher, Surgeon Patrick Blair, Writer |
Five of the signatories were friends of the poet, the first two, Dr. John Mackenzie and David Sillar, very much so. Dr Mackenzie, being a doctor in Mauchline, attended Burns' father at Lochlie in 1784. He married one of the "Mauchline Belles" and later moved to Irvine. David Sillar, a friend from teenage years, was a member of the Tarbolton Bachelors Club set up by Burns, and later became a grocer, and a Council Bailie, in Irvine. |
The
home of Irvine Burns Club is 'Wellwood', 28 Eglinton Street, Irvine.
This spacious and imposing building of Ballochmyle red sandstone was built in 1903.
It was bequeathed to the Club in 1962 by two bachelor brothers Mr. Robert and Mr. J. Graham Paterson, in memory of their father John Paterson, Esq. Provost and Councillor in Irvine, 1854-1877.
The club renovated the top floor front room into a concert room with a seating capacity of 100. Ground floor rooms include the library and the "Burns Room".
Also displayed in the building are many artefacts relating to the Royal Burgh of Irvine (1372 - 1975), including the Burgh Weights and Measures and one of the Burgh Drums.
Each President's term of office ends in January with the weekend of the Annual Celebration Dinner, the Burns service in the Parish Church and the Wreath-laying ceremony at the Robert Burns statue at Irvine Moor.
1827
John MacKenzie, M.D. * death of Queen Victoria |
1888 T. R. Stuart ‡ war period |
1952
Archd. Green |
Founders
Day 1976
We
print here the letter to Directors from Hon. Secretary Andrew Hood,
followed by the list of toasts given at the lunch.
Dear Sir,
I
have to inform you that a meeting of Directors will be held in the Crown
Hotel (formerly Milne's Inn), High Street, Irvine on Wednesday, 2nd. June,
1976, at 12.30 p.m.
The Toast List is appended overleaf and
I have to advise you that the intent of the meeting is to celebrate the
founding of our Club, in the above mentioned premises, by our Founder
Members on June 2nd., 1826.
Luncheon will be served at the meeting and
I append the Menu for your perusal. Mine Host. Mr. John McAtamney, has
promised a bowl of his finest Whisky Punch to whet the appetite.
Menu
SHEEP'S HElD BROTH
-0- -0- -0-
SOUSED HERRIN FRAE LOCH FYNE
-0- -0- -0-
PRIME AIBERDEEN ANGUS BEEF, ROASTIT,
WI' CLAPSHOT, TATTlES BAKED IN THEIR JAICKETS
AN' A WHEEN GAIRDEN GREENS.
SERVED GUID AN' WARM WI' A GILL
OR TWA 0' CLARET FRAE THE CHATEAU FUNROQUE (1970).
-0- -0- -0-
FLUMMERY DRAMBUIE
OR
A GALLIMAUFRAY O' FRUIT, SHERRY
AN' A PICKLE CREAM
-0- -0- -0-
BANNOCKS AN' CHEESE WI' A
TASSIE 0' COFFEE
The President,
Mr. Cowan, earnestly requests your presence at this historic moment in
Club history. He extends also his felicitations and invitation to you
and your good lady to attend the re-opening of our Museum and extended
premises by Mr. J. Norval Murray on the evening of the same date at 7.30
p.m.
Now it would appear that copious libations
of a very rare Claret are to be dispensed throughout the afternoon and
Mr. Cowan has expressed to me his concern of 'wounds received' of the
severity that could prevent Directors attending both meetings. Man of
vision that he is, he has also expressed equal concern that a goodly number
of Directors in the 'walking wounded' category are at the evening meeting
to make their presence felt. Indeed, in his beneficence, he offers first
aid and spiritual assistance to all who shall require such treatment until
the late hour of ten o'clock p.m. I trust you will find the time and date
convenient and that you will enter into the spirit of the meeting from
each and every direction.
Yours sincerely, Andrew Hood, Hon. Secretary
The Toast List:
| 1 | The Founder Members of Irvine Burns Club | President | William
Cowan |
| 2 | The Royal Burgh of Irvine | Past President | Ex
Provost Alexander Rubie |
| 3 | Robert Burns and Irvine Burns Club | Past President | Charles
Masson |
| 4 | Bawbees | Past President | James
Wales (manager, Bank of Scotland) |
| 5 | Scots Law and Scottish Lawyers | Past President | J
Norval Murray (solicitor) |
| 6 | The Federation of Burns Clubs | Past President | Samual
K Gaw |
| 7 | Hon. Membership of Irvine Burns Club | Past President | Dr
Robert B Taylor |
| 8 | Scottish Art and Artists | Past President | John
M Ramsay |
| 9 | The Golden Smokey Age of Steam | Past President | William
Brown |
| 10 | Law and Order within the Royal Burgh | Vice President | John
Inglis |
| 11 | Damned Taxation | Past President | T
Martin Cameron (Burgh Treasurer) |
| 12 | The Medical Profession | Past President | Dr
James Montgomery |
| 13 | Commerce and Trade within the Royal Burgh | Past President | Harry
A Gaw (jeweller, Irvine) |
| 14 | The Fair or Unfair Sex | Past President | David
B Shaw |
| 15 | In absentia (or America) | Past President | Alex
MacMillan |
| 16 | Our American Relations | Past President | Hon.
Treasurer William Lockhart |
| 17 | Absent Friends | Past President | Hon.
Secretary Andrew Hood |
