Irvine
Burns Club has an unbroken history stretching over 175 years back to 1826,
when twelve men of this old Scottish Royal Burgh founded the Club. Our
first President was the doctor who had attended Robert Burns' father in
his last illness, Dr John Mackenzie; and our first Vice-President was
David Sillar, who had been a friend of Burns from his early twenties.
Photo of top table office-bearers and guests in January 2002
Irvine Burns Club is one of many strong organisations in the town. Our Museum possesses some unique displays and original manuscripts. This part of our site details who we are, but other rooms on our site can give you a taste of what you will find if you call in person.
Irvine Burns Club, "Wellwood", 28 Eglinton St., Irvine, KA12 8AS
In
the Directors' Room, round the large table, visitors are shown some of
the Club's unique possessions. This room is also the business room. Our
current Directors and officials (2007-08) are:
President - Iain
Doole
Vice President - Billy Dickson
Secretary - Hugh Hutchison
Treasurer - Robin Campbell
Immediate Past President - Provost
Drew Duncan
Directors - Fr
William Boyd, Matthew
Brown,
Jim Burns, James Butler, Joseph
J Caldwell, William Cowan, Ian J Dickson, Hugh Drennan,
Raymond Fitzgerald,
Samuel K Gaw, Robert H Haswell,
Andy Howat,
John Inglis, Jack Lovie, Peter McGlone,
Michael Murray, William A Nolan, Eric L Park,
Malcolm M Rae, Duncan Rennie, George W Watson, Robin R Whyte, James Wilson,
OBE, Ian H Y Wood
Club Stewards - David Smith and Ian Wight
The lapel badge shown here was designed by Past President
Jim Butler
but the animation is only on the website, not on the badge! The badge
also appears on the Club tie.
Two Directors are Past Presidents of the World Burns Federation - Sam K Gaw in 1979-80 and John Inglis in 1984-85.
Webmaster's r eminder to himself: pages needing annual update at the end of January are whoweare (this one), newsandprojects, honorary (list of acceptances), and ourhistory (list of Presidents)
Irvine
Burns Club enjoys good fellowship with other local Burns Clubs, in particular:
Eglinton
Burns Club (Eglinton Arms Hotel, High St., Irvine)
Irvine Lasses Burns Club (c/o Irvine Burns Club, Eglinton St., Irvine)
Irvine Royal Academy Burns Club (Irvine Royal Academy, Kilwinning Rd.,
Irvine)
Greenwood Academy Burns Club (Greenwood Academy, Dreghorn, Irvine)
It also maintains
contact with:
Irvine Incorporated Trades (c/o Irvine Burns
Club)
Harbour Arts Centre (Harbour St., Irvine)
Irvine Carters Society
and many other local organisations.
The Club maintains a healthy membership, mainly of Irvine residents. Activities vary from year to year, the main time for meeting being the Annual Celebration dinner on the Friday nearest to the anniversary of the poet's birth, 25th January.
Membership can be applied for at any time of the year (ask us for the current subscription rate). Most new members join at the Annual Celebration, which is open to members, guests and any others who would like to attend our celebration or our other events.
