Honorary members 1972 to 1977
1972 Rev. Alex Macara, Edward Heath, Lord Dalkeith, Herr Willy
Brandt
1974 Winifred Ewing, Wendy Wood
1975 David Murison, Alex. MacMillan
1976 Nigel Tranter, Prof. Ian A Gordon, G Ross Roy, Dr Robert B Taylor
1977 Sir John Betjeman, Jane Burgoyne, James Callaghan,
Maurice Roeves, Professor Toshio Namba, Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani, Henry A Kissinger
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| His life & work: |
< biography to follow > |
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His letter, written from The Manse, The Old Parish Church of Irvine, on Monday, January the third, 1972: |
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| Dear Mr Hood, |
The letter, to Hon. Secy Andrew Hood, is on the notepaper of The Old Parish Church of Irvine, The Manse. |
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| His life & work: |
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His letter, written from 10 Downing Street, Whitehall, on 15 January, '72: |
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| Dear Mr Hood, |
On headed notepaper, the letter is wholly in his own hand. |
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| His life & work: |
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His letter, written from Eildon Hall, Melrose, Scotland, on 4th January 1972 |
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| Dear Mr Hood, |
The addressee is Hon. Secy. Andrew Hood. |
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| His life & work: |
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His letter, written from the office of Der BundesKanzler (the Federal Chancellor), Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn, on den 14 März 1972: |
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Sehr geehrter Herr Hood, |
Dear Mr Hood, Andrew Hood was Hon. Secretary of Irvine Burns Club at that time. |
| On the photo enclosed with
his acceptance is the salutation, “Dem Irvine Burns Club mit freundlichen
Grussen“ |
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| Her life & work: |
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Her letter, written from 52 Queen's Drive, Glasgow, on 8/1/74: |
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| Dear Mr Hood,
Burns season is upon us
again. I shall be speaking at two suppers in Elgin and Llanbryde. |
Andrew Hood was Hon. Secretary of Irvine Burns Club. Her letter is on the headed paper of the Scottish National Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Moray and Nairn. |
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| Her life & work: |
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Her letter, written from 31 Howard Place, Edinburgh, on 9/1/74: |
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| Dear Andrew Hood, They say 'it's love that makes the World go round', but it is Rabbie's lovability that has made him go round the World. |
Andrew Hood was Hon. Secretary of Irvine Burns Club. We do not have the 'stated reason' for the nomination, nor do we yet know whether she managed to visit the Club. |
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His letter, written from 27 George Square, Edinburgh, on 6 January 1975: |
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| Dear Mr Hood, |
Andrew Hood was Hon. Secretary of Irvine Burns Club. Charles Masson was Club President 1974-75. This letter is on the headed paper of The Scottish National Dictionary, of which he was Editor. |
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Alex Macmillan, previously a teacher of English at Ayr Academy, came to Irvine in 1953, when he succeeded James Porter as Rector of Irvine Royal Academy. In 1956-57, he served as President of the Robert Burns World Federation. Interestingly, Irvine Burns Club did not invite him to serve as President for another decade (he filled that role in 1969-70). His nomination as an Honorary Member was not only for his contribution to Burns activities but also for his sterling efforts to preserve the Doric language of Scotland and to encourage its use in Scottish classrooms. His obituary in the 'Burns Chronicle' of 1979 speaks primarily of the man rather than his achievements: "We recall that wonderful smile which in itself could express fun, satire, friendship and, at times, all the world of experience . . with practical sense and pawky humour, he could bring folks back to reality. Listen again to his report as Convener of the Literature Sub-committee - every word in the Doric, every word understood and the whole ranging from appeal through condemnation to realism." It continues: "The real and true Alex Macmillan chose his companions for their own worth - not the learned academicians and stars from the world of learning and the arts. Rather with his cronie, Tommy Boslem, a Lanarkshire artisan who never enjoyed the benefits of university education: but a man so devoted to Burns that he was a walking dictionary of the poet's life and work. It was the Tommy Boslems in life that the 'Auld Schilmaister' most admired; between them they made up the best of the Burns movement." It ends: "We shall treasure the privilege of having walked and talked with this gifted 'lad o' pairts'. Alex Macmillan continued as Rector when Irvine Royal Academy moved, under its new name of Ravenspark Academy, to new premises in 1969, and retired in 1970. In retirement,he undertook the task of writing a new history of Irvine (McJannet's being of 1938), but, though he did prepare, in two typewritten volumes, a revised version of McJannet, death prevented completion. (Andrew Hood subsequently picked up the challenge, but death again intervened, in 1982; John Strawhorn completed the task in 1985.) As a writer and poet, Alex Macmillan served as a member of the executive of the Scottish National Dictionary and, under a pseudonym, co-published a book of children's poems * - 'Bairnsangs - Nursery Rhymes in Scots by Sandy Thomas Ross' (first published 1955, re-published since) of which he was the 'Sandy' in the triumvirate. He died in May 1978, aged 72, hailed as "a leading authority on Scots literature and language". [Notes compiled by IJD, who started his teaching career under Rector Macmillan] * Example: The Wee Rid Motor: |
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His letter, written from 13 Kilwinning Road, Irvine, in January 1975: |
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| Dear Andrew, |
Andrew Hood was Hon. Secretary of Irvine Burns Club. This letter is on the headed paper of The Burns Federation Scottish Literature Committee, of which he was Convener. |
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On his 90th birthday in 1999, Nigel Tranter, in his home in Gullane, East Lothian, said: "I don't know what all the fuss is about". Yet one columnist (Allan Massie) wrote: "Nigel Tranter has undoubtedly taught many Scots the only history they know." After 130 books, which included the multi-million selling Bruce trilogy, a novel about the removal of the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey, westerns published under the pseudonym Nye Tredgold, and a five-volume set "The Fortified House in Scotland", he was still writing! From 1940 till 1998, he lived in Aberlady. His biographer Ray Bradfield has said: "He had this fantastic gift of a vivid visual imagination, which lasted him right to the end." He would jot down his ideas, in miniscule handwriting, on waterproof paper, as he walked and type up the notes immediately on returning home in case he forgot what he wanted to write.
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His letter, written from Quarry House, Aberlady, East Lothian, on 3rd January, 1976: |
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| Dear Mr Hood, |
Andrew Hood was Hon. Secretary of Irvine Burns Club at that time. Alex Rubie was Club President 1975-76. |
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< biography to follow > Prof. Gordon lectured in the Irvine Burns Club on 28 May 1979. |
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His letter, written from 91 Messines Road, Wellington 5, New Zealand, on 6 January 1976: |
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| Dear Mr Hood, |
Andrew Hood was Hon. Secretary of Irvine Burns Club. Irvine Burns Club had been founded in 1826. |
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Emeritus Professor G Ross Roy was a world authority on Robert Burns, but did not care for that description! The G Ross Roy Collection of Burns books and manuscripts was begun by his grandfather, totalled 1,500 volumes when he inherited it and consists of nearly 15,000 volumes of which nearly 5,000 are on Burns. He himself founded, in Alabama in 1963, and for nearly 50 years was sole editor of, the journal "Studies in Scottish Literature", which gave a first publishing break to many young scholars.With his love of his subject, he took Scottish scholarship across the world, inspiring many. He visited Scotland as a boy aged 8, brought by his grandfather, and throughout his life kept the pocket edition of Burns from that visit - starting his lifelong interest. On his visit to Irvine Burns Club in August 2008, he presented the Club with a facsimile of the 1799 edition of "The Merry Muses of Caledonia", boxed with his book on "Robert Burns and the Merry Muses" (Wellwood library ref.s 1722/23). The Club honoured his visit with a Tribute delivered by Kenneth Simpson, an appreciation of Burns by Janet Elsie-May Coom, a great-great-granddaughter of Anna Park through Betty Burns, a recitation by John Inglis, and music by Court of Equity. Colin Hunter McQueen presented Ross Roy with a cast of Robert Burns' skull. William McIlvanney thanked the Club on behalf of the visitors. Born in Montreal, he taught at the University of Alabama, then the University of Montreal and Texas Tech University, before moving in 1965 to the University of South Caroline as professor of English and comparative literature, retiring in 1990. |
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His letter, written from Department of English, University of South Carolina, Columbia, on January 10, 1976: |
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| Dear Mr Hood, |
Andrew Hood was Hon. Secretary of Irvine Burns Club. |
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< biography to follow > Dr Robert A Taylor, President 1959 |
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His letter, written from 34 Kirkgate, Irvine, on 10th May, 1976: |
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| Dear Andrew, |
The addressee is Andrew Hood, Hon. Secy. The letter is, excepting the signature, typed. |
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His life & work: |
An English poet traditional in form, accessible in sentiment and often apparently parochial in his concern with English social and domestic life. The seriousness and accomplishment of Betjeman's poetry has often been obscured by its popularity. His "Collected Poems" (1958, rev. 1962) was a best-seller. Poet Laureate (the reason for his nomination as an honorary member) from 1972, Betjeman was also a broadcaster and an idiosyncratic architectural critic. WC |
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His letter, sent from 29 Radnor Walk, London on 26th January, 1977: |
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| Dear Mr Hood, |
Only the signature is handwritten. Andrew Hood was Hon. Secretary of Irvine Burns Club at that time. |
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Born Jane Lymburn at Coylton, Ayrshire, she was dux medallist both at Coylton Primary School and at Ayr Academy, proceeding to graduate from Edinburgh University with First Class Honours in French and German. Teaching at Speirs School, Beith, she met her husband, married in 1925 and had one daughter. She had a lifelong interest in Burns, using her linguistic talents to produce a sensitive translation of the biography of Burns by Hans Hecht (in 1936) and of an 1893 French biography by Auguste Angellier. Jane Burgoyne played a leading part in Burns activities in Ayrshire and was honorary president of several clubs, including Ayr and Alloway. In 1959, Jane was elected an honorary vice-president of the Burns Federation. In 1970, she became the first lady President of the Federation. It was through Jane Burgoyne that the wider Burns movement came to know Professor Toshio Namba, who also accepted honorary membership of the Irvine Burns Club in the year 1977. Although unable, for health reasons, to attend meetings in her later years, she continued a prolific and world-wide correspondence until her passing at the age of 90. |
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Her letter, sent from Cairnston Farm, By Ayr, 24th January, 1977: |
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| Dear Mr Hood, |
The addressee is Andrew Hood, Hon. Secy. |
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Born in Osaka, of parents from Yokohama, Toshio Namba graduated from Osaka Music University, with interests in Scottish song, then graduated in English Literature at Nihon University, Tokyo (the largest university in Japan), then gained a Masters degree in the same subject at the same university. He was appointed a Professor at Nihon University in Tokyo, and was also a Lecturer at Aoyama Gakwin University in Shibuya, Tokyo. In 1936, he studied at the University of Edinburgh. During the war years, as a young school teacher, he was never in the Japanese Army. He lived near a prison camp and as Allied prisoners returned to their camp at night after forced labour all day, their hearts were gladdened by seeing a photograph of Robert Burns attached to the wall or fence at the end of his garden. In 1965, he did research in Scottish Literature, as a British Council scholar, at the University of Edinburgh, and during his time in Scotland immersed himself in the works of Robert Burns and the places Burns had visited; he also made many friends in Scotland. He wrote: "Scottish language is the most characteristic and beautiful one, far beyond our imagination. . . Burns himself courageously adopted his mother tongue in 'Poems, chiefly in the Scottish dialect', as its title tells us. The pronunciation is the soul and life of Scottish dialect, in other words, Scottish poems are dialectically inspired. . . . Scottish is not a language barrier; on the contrary, it has much attraction for us Japanese" (A Study of Robert Burns' Poetry, 1975, p.231). Toshio Namba celebrated the songs and poems and life of Burns in several books in the 1970s, published in Japan. Toshio Namba visited Irvine in 1981. John Inglis escorted him around all the places he wanted to see. He was delighted to walk the same streets which his hero Robert Burns had walked - he regarded Burns as "a true poet of the people". An Emeritus Professor of English Literature at Sophia University, Tokyo, (Peter Milward, 1925-2017) wrote: "Here in Japan the name of Robert Burns is inseparably associated with that of Professor Toshio Namba. What he doesn't know about Burns is hardly worth knowing. The lifelong devotion of this Japanese scholar to the Scottish poet is both moving and impressive." |
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His letter, of 19th November, 1977: |
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| Dear Sir, |
Prof. Namba sent both an acceptance in beautiful Japanese calligraphy and the translation, written with the same pen. The reference to Brown refers to Browning. |
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James Leonard Callaghan, Baron, a British statesman, was Prime Minister from 1976 to 1979 (the reason for his nomination as an honorary member). He entered Parliament in 1945 and succeeded Harold Wilson as Labour Party leader in 1976. He is the only Prime Minister to have held all three major offices of state - Chancellor of the Exchequer (1964-67), Home Secretary (1967-70) and Foreign Secretary (1974-76). He is also the second post-war Prime Minister never to have won a General Election. Callaghan's tenure was marked by negotiations with David Steel in the Lib-Lab pact, and strife with the trade unions culminating in the 'Winter of Discontent'. He was defeated by Margaret Thatcher in 1979 and became a life peer in 1987. WC |
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His letter, sent from 10 Downing Street on 7th February 1977: |
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| Dear Mr Hood |
The "Dear Mr Hood" and the "Yours sincerely, James Callaghan" are handwritten onto the typed letter. |
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Sheikh Yamani was the public face of Saudi oil policy for 24 years, from his appointment as Saudi oil minister in 1962 to his dismissal by King Fahd in 1986. The most media savvy of Arab politicians, he was urbane and articulate, could speak English and French, and was a formidable negotiator. As the leading strategist within Opec (the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries), he was considered responsible for the near-quadrupling of international oil prices during the 1973 Arab boycott of oil exports to countries deemed too favourable to Israel during the arab-Israeli war. He travelled the globe as Saudi Arabia emerged as an oil-market superpower, and owned homes in London, Surrey and Geneva. Danger was never far away. In 1975, King Faisal, shot by his nephew, died in his arms. Within a year, gunmen led by Carlos the Jackal gave him 30 minutes to write a will. From then on, he kept a retinue of former-SAS bodyguards. After his dismissal (learned of from television) in 1986, he was placed under virtual house arrest, but later founded the Centre for Global Energy Studies, collected Islamic manuscripts, and perfected the Arabic skill of making perfume. In the years after the embargo, Sheikh Yamani, believing that it was in Saudi Arabia's long-term interest to prolong global dependence on affordable oil, resisted demands from Iran and Iraq for big price increases, fuelling their allegations that he was pro-American. It was probably at this point that he was nominated for Honorary Membership of Irvine Burns Club. |
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His letter, sent from the Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia, on February 12, 1977: |
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| Dear Mr Hood: |
The addressee is Andrew Hood, Hon. Secy. The letter is, excepting the signature, typed. |
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At the time of the Irvine Burns Club approach, Heinz Alfred ('Henry') Kissinger had demitted office as U.S. Secretary of State, having played a major role in U.S. foreign policy from 1969 to 1977. He has since been condemned as an alleged war criminal by many journalists, political activists, and human rights lawyers, as well as venerated as a highly effective U.S. Secretary of State by many prominent international relations scholars. He pioneered the policy of détente with the Soviet Union, orchestrated the opening of relations with the People's Republic of China, engaged in shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East to end the Yom Kippur War, and negotiated the Paris Peace Accords, ending American involvement in the Vietnam War. After leaving government, he formed Kissinger Associates, an international geopolitical consulting firm. Kissinger has written over a dozen books on diplomatic history and international relations. The Presidents he served were Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Kissinger launched so many initiatives that he became the go-to person in the White House, and his schedule was full not just with very public mediation in foreign crises, but with the unseen grind of back-channels negotiation and networking, diplomatic talents of which he was a master. A double-brained, owlish professor, he was voted by 'Playboy' bunnies in 1972 as the man they would most like to date. On foreign policy, he converted his theoretical works on the national interest into a reality. He challenged the fossilised wisdom of the State Department with gusto. The power-hungry diplomat captivated Playboy bunnies and world leaders alike. In 2019, aged 96, Kissinger wrote about the implications of artificial intelligence algorithms destabilising the decision-making processes of humans. In 2020, aged 97, he analysed the Covid-19 pandemic and called for greater international cooperation. His contributions on world matters continued to merit consideration by governments. Kissinger had gone to the USA in 1938, fleeing the Nazi persecution of Jews and was naturalised as an American citizen in 1943. He received a BA summa cum laude at Harvard College in 1950 and MA and PhD at Harvard University in 1952 and 1954. |
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His letter, sent on 3/9/77: |
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| Dear Mr Hood |
The addressee is Andrew Hood, Hon. Secy. |
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Born in Sunderland, Maurice Roëves grew up in Scotland from the age of five or six, having to "learn Glaswegian fast because I was fed up having seven bells knocked out of me every day for being a wee Sassenach". The mental-survival training he received during national service, when attached to the SAS help him "survive the ups and downs of an actor". After studying at RSAMD in Glasgow (and winning a gold medal there), he went to work as an assistant stage manager at the Citizens Theatre, where his first acting role, as Lorenzo in 'The Merchant of Venice', found himself getting what he called 'the Beatles treatment' - girls screaming for him when he came on stage. Roëves' many roles, on stage and film and TV, included the character Vince Diver in 'Tutti Frutti', and star roles in 'Doctor Who' and 'Star Trek'. The Burns connection is his warm representation of the Bard in the one-man show 'There Was A Man', though this gains no mention in the main obituaries. This one-man play, written by Tom Wright, was performed in the Demarco Gallery at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1977. Maurice Roëves was also at one time with Borderline Theatre in Irvine, and performed the show while with Borderline. Throughout his long career, which continued right up to the part of Lenny in episode 1 of the BBC Scotland drama 'The Nest' in 2020, Roëves moved with ease between stage, TV and movies, notching up credits in a wide variety of titles while never quite becoming an A-list star. (Some of the above details are from 'The Times' obituary of 17/7/20.) |
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His letter, sent from The Richard Demarco Gallery Ltd, Monteith House, 61 High St., Edinburgh, on 2nd September 1977: |
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| Dear Brothers in Burns, |
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