Honorary Members 1997 - 2003
1997: John Inglis, Earl of Elgin & Kincardine
1998: Jackie Stewart, Dr Anne Lorne Gillies, Rt Hon Tony Blair
1999: Sir Jimmy Shand, John Mason
2000: Donald Dewar, Andrew Motion, Seamus Heaney, Arnold Palmer
2001: Jim Telfer, Michael Martin, J J Caldwell
2002: Tony Benn, Henry McLeish, Craig Brown, Eric Caldow
2003: Rhona Martin & Olympic Curling Team, Adam McNaughtan, David Steel
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| His life & work: |
Born in New Cumnock, John Inglis was brought up in the very heart of the Burns Country and oft times 'paidled in the burn frae morning sun till dine'. Roving many a day among its lofty neighbouring hills, up Glen Afton and around the many places associated with the Bard, John became a Burns addict at an early age. Two years as a coalminer were followed by National Service in the Scots Guards, mainly in the Canal Zone before Colonel Nasser nationalised Suez. On demobilization, he joined the old Ayrshire Constabulary, retiring in 1986 with the rank of Detective Chief Inspector in the Strathclyde Police, after 31 years service. He then worked for William Hill Ltd as Security Manager, keeping an eye on all the firm's betting shops north of the Border. John served Irvine Burns Club as President in 1977-78, chaired the organising committee for the 1981 Conference held at the Magnum Centre in Irvine, thereafter hailed as 'one of the most successful events in recent years', and served as Burns World Federation President in 1984. He attended many Burns events as a reader and as a speaker, particularly in proposing the 'Immortal Memory'. His deep knowledge of the Bard and his works, coupled with his love of books, inspired the Federation to decide to publish a new edition, for the bicentenary of the Kilmarnock Edition in 1986, of the 'Complete Works', and his driving force and enthusiasm, as President of the Burns Federation in that year, helped ensure its success. |
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His letter, written from 'Dalhanna', 16 Berry Drive, Irvine on 1:1:1997, on the headed paper of "The Burns Federation", Dick Institute, Kilmarnock: |
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| Dear Mr President, |
The letter is addressed to Club President Duncan Rennie. The quotation is the fourth line of "The Cotter's Saturday Night", one of John Inglis' many favourite poems, where 'meed' means 'reward'. |
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| His life & work: |
< biography to be added > Andrew Douglas Alexander Thomas Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin, 15th Earl of Kincardine |
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His two letters, written from Broomhall, Dunfermline, Fife, on 15th and 16th January, 1997: |
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| On 15/1/97, in his own hand: Dear Mr Rennie And on 16th January, 1997, typed apart from the beginning and the end: Dear Mr Rennie, |
The 1997 Club President was Duncan Rennie. |
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| His life & work: |
< biography to be added > |
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His letter, written from 10 Downing Street, London SW1A 2AA, on 20 June 1997: |
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| Dear Mr Rae, |
Only the "Dear Mr Rae" and the "yours sincerely Tony Blair" are hand-written. The headed paper bears the crest, the address, and "THE PRIME MINISTER". |
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| His life & work: |
< biography to be added > |
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His letter, written from Stewart Grand Prix, Milton Keynes, on 19 November 1997: |
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| Dear Malcolm Rae |
Only the signature is hand-written; Jackie Stewart, as a dyslexia sufferer, has done much for dyslexia charities. |
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| Her life & work: |
A Mod Gold Medallist at the age of 17 in 1962, Anne Lorne Gillies signed off her poetic acceptance of our nomination with the Gaelic phrase meaning “With every good wish”. As a singer, a teacher and an academic, Dr Gillies has devoted her career to promoting Gaelic culture and Scottish literature and song. Her awards include being designated Speaker of the Year 2005 by the Association of Speakers Clubs of Great Britain, gaining the Ratcliff Prize 2006 for 'Songs of Gaelic Scotland' (hardback), her contribution to the study of folklore in Great Britain and Ireland, and the September 2008 award of a Fellowship by the UHI Millenium Institute. Her 1989 Doctorate was in Gaelic Education, and she was hounoured with an Honorary Degree by the University of Edinburgh in 1993. In October 2009, she was appointed as the Scottish Government’s Gaelic Language Ambassador. The letters after her name form a biography in themselves: M.A., Ph.D., L.R.A.M., P.G.C.E., Dr.h.c., F.R.S.A. Anne was delighted to be nominated - on her website she mentions being an Honorary Member of "the venerable Irvine Burns Club (one of the very few women to be so honoured)". |
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Her letter, written from her home in Glasgow on 13 January 1998: |
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| Dear Mr. Rae, I'm fair excited! There's ne'er a Ne'er Day M.B.E., Leis gach deagh dhurachd. |
"moran taing dhuibh" = "many thanks to you" “Leis gach deagh dhurachd” = “With every good wish”. |
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| His life & work: |
< biography to be added > |
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His letter, written from Windyedge, Mournipea, Auchtermuchty, Fife, on 11th January, 1999: |
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| Dear Mr Haswell With reference to your generous offer of honorary membership of the Irvine Burns Club, I regard it as an honour that you have considered me for this and will accept accordingly. Please thank your members on my behalf and I look forward to an enjoyable relationship with you all. Yours sincerely Sir Jimmy Shand MBE MA |
Bobby Haswell was President of the Club that year. Sir Jimmy signed the typed letter, his hand being a touch shaky. |
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His life & work: |
John Mason, MBE (in 1987), Musical Director and Principal Conductor of the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, which he helped found in 1980, and Senior Partner of the offices of Waddell and Mackintosh, Solicitors, Troon, summarised his life and work in his letter of acceptance. |
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His letter, written from his home in Troon, on 1st February, 1999: |
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| Dear Sir, |
John was born in Kirkwall, Orkney. At High School in Newton Stewart he and friends formed a skiffle group. Later he joined Wigtown Silver Band. He also created a bugle and drum band for Wigtown Boys Brigade. John Mason's letter, addressed to the Secretary, is on the official paper of the SFO The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra (Patron: Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal), with the footnoted names being led by John M Mason, MBE, BL, FEP, NP, Musical Director. The video, now in DVD form, of John Mason's lecture on "The Music of Burns" can be ordered from our online support page. |
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| His life & work: |
I had the pleasure, as a first year university student, of witnessing Donald Dewar (then in the final year of his law degree course), in full flow at Glasgow University Union’s Friday evening debating competitions. It is easy to remember his tall, lanky frame, untidy hair and his wonderful “debater’s stammer”. There were many other great debaters among his contemporaries, such as John Smith, Jimmy Gordon and Menzies (“Ming”) Campbell. Donald was born in August 1937, the only child of elderly, well to do parents, who did not enjoy the best of health. At the age of two and a half he was sent to a small boarding school in Perthshire and at the age of nearly five he moved to another boarding school near Hawick. He then moved back to Glasgow, at the age of nine, to attend Moorpark School. This was not a happy experience for Donald but around this time the Dewar family started a long series of happy holidays at a farm in Aberdeenshire, where he started a lifelong friendship with Charlie Adam, whose parents owned the farm. Charlie who was the same age as Donald is reported as saying that he cried only twice in his life-once when the local minister refused to allow his father a church funeral and on hearing the report of Donald’s death. Donald moved from his unhappy experience at Moorpark to Glasgow Academy where the imperatives of sporting excellence passed him by! However, despite finding it difficult to make friends in the school, he saw himself as a “happy misfit”. This description was typical of Donald’s self-deprecating humour. When Donald went to Glasgow University he came into contact with a group of young men who influenced the direction that his life would take, none less than John Smith, who was to become the leader of the UK Labour Party. As well as those mentioned at the beginning of this piece this group included Ross Harper (who was to set up one of Scotland’s largest law firms), Donald McCormack (who became a prominent political broadcaster) and Derry Irvine (who became Lord Chancellor). In those days Law students were obliged to first complete another degree before studying for the law degree and Donald’s first degree was an MA in history. His love and great command of Scottish history and culture stood him in good stead as he later campaigned for the formation of a Scottish Parliament. He was passionate in his desire to eradicate inequality and poverty. Donald had an encyclopaedic knowledge of Scots literature, history and
art and possessed a wonderful collection of books and paintings related
to these interests. It is said that his reading of Burns, Hume and Cockburn
provided “fodder for his mind” and his training in Law and
history “helped form the radical mind inside the crumpled suit”.
Donald was not known for his elegant dress sense! Donald was relentless in his (and John Smith’s) dream of the formation of a Scottish Parliament. That dream became a reality in 1999 when, after nearly three hundred years this Parliament met in Edinburgh. He was recognised as “The father of the nation” and his legacy to Scotland cannot be easily ignored. This legacy is often summed up in words Donald wrote: “There shall be a Scottish Parliament”. Donald died on 11 October 2000. He was of course the first First Minister and since there can be only one first First Minister his place in History can be assured. Michael Murray (President 1999-2000) |
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| His letter, written from the Scottish Executive, St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh, undated: |
| Dear Mr Murray, |
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| His life & work: |
When considering the possibilities for honorary membership for 2000, it was pointed out to me that it was traditional to offer membership to the Poet Laureate. Since Andrew Motion had been appointed as only the 19th Poet Laureate late in 1998 I duly invited him to be an honorary member, without knowing very much about the man. However when I started to research his life and works, I was very pleasantly surprised. Here is a man chosen by the establishment but by no means a puppet of that establishment. As well as being an acclaimed poet he is also a very well respected biographer (eg Philip Larkin and John Keats). His Larkin biography won a Whitbread Award in 1993. His poetry publications include “The Pleasure Steamers” (1977), “Secret Narratives” (1983), “Dangerous Play: Poems 1974-1984” (1984), ”Selected Poems” (1998). Andrew is married to Jan Dalley, a journalist and they have three children. He has written a book - “Love in a Life”, which is about his marriage to Jan. When he was sixteen years old, Andrew’s mother was involved in a riding accident, which left her in a comatose state until she died ten years later in hospital. Her death (obviously) had a profound effect on Andrew and helped to shape his ambition to be a writer. He often brought her into his writing “as another way of keeping her alive”. Indeed his poem, “The Letter”, which is about her won him the Avron International Poetry Competition in 1981. People who know him well describe him as “a sensitive man who writes sensitive poetry about love and loss and a sad childhood who speaks in a soft and beguiling voice”. Indeed the more the author of this modest piece reads of him the more determined I am to study his works and perhaps revisit this task and do a much more comprehensive appreciation of the man. Michael Murray (President 1999-2000) Footnote: Andrew Motion is the first Poet Laureate to have a set term of ten years - previously the office was held for life. His successor Carol Ann Duffy was appointed in 2009. |
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His letter, written from his home in London on 20th July 1999: |
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| Dear Michael Murray, Andrew Motion |
Unlike most honorary members' acceptances, Andrew Motion's is typewritten. |
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His life & work: |
Seamus Heaney was born in County Derry in 1939, the eldest of nine children. His father had a small farm but was more committed to cattle dealing. His mother’s maiden name was McCann and her family was more connected with the industrial than with the rural economy of the Heaneys. One side of Seamus’ family was connected with the cattle-herding Gaelic past and the other side with the Ulster of the Industrial Revolution. Seamus considers his formation as a poet to have been greatly affected by the tension between speech and silence in his family life. Whereas his dad was “sparing of talk” his mother was notably ready to speak out and Seamus believes that this contrast between his parents has been fundamental to the “quarrel with himself” out of which his poetry rises. Although Seamus has travelled widely, and now has his home in Dublin, rural Derry is the “country of mind” where much of his poetry is still grounded. His poetry first came to my notice when I visited a third year English class in St Andrew’s Academy. The class was studying the Poem “Digging” and I was immediately impressed by the total concentration of the youngsters in this class, which was not the top section in the year group. This experience made me buy a box set of his poetry a few weeks later. The box set comprise of four volumes “Death of a Naturalist”, “Door in the Dark”, "Wintering Out”, and “North”. Although “Digging” is still one of my favourites among his prodigious output, there are many others of his poems which stand out like the great works of Robert Burns. His poem “Mid-Term Break” is a simple but very moving account of his being brought home from boarding school for the funeral of his four year old brother who had been killed by a car. This very human human-being has been a professor of English at Oxford and Harvard as well as lecturing at Queens University, Dublin, Carysfort Teacher Training College, and Berkley University, California. He has won many awards throughout the World including The Whitbread Prize (in 1996 for 'The Sprit Level' and in 1999 for his translation of 'Beowulf'), The Southbank Prize and Commandeur De L’Ordre des Arts et Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture. However his most outstanding award was that of Nobel Prize for Literature in 1995 - the citation read: "for works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday miracles and the living past". Michael Murray (President 1999-2000) |
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His letter, written from his home in Dublin on 27th July 1999: |
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| Dear Mr Murray, |
Although Seamus Heaney could not attend the function in 2000, he visited the Club in March 2004, and was the President's guest at the 2004 Directors' Dinner. |
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Arnold was born in the small town of Latrobe in Pennsylvania USA. His home as a child was near to the Latrobe Country Club Golf Course, where he spent a great deal of his formative years playing with clubs, which were cut down to size by his dad, who was the professional and course superintendent at the golf club. From the age of eleven much of his time was spent caddying and performing lots of tasks about the club and very early on his ability as a player showed through. He was able to beat many of the older caddies and by the age of seventeen became the Western Pennsylvania Amateur Champion (he repeated this feat four more times). He began to perform well in national events and went to Wake Forest College where he soon became top player in the golf team but he was so affected by the death (in a car accident) of a golf team mate and closest friend that he left college and joined the US coastguard service for three years. After completing his three years with the coastguard service he returned to complete his education at Wake Forest and in 1954 became the US Amateur Champion. Shortly after winning this prestigious event Arnold became a golf professional and then married Winifred Walzer. The young couple travelled together to tour events until their first child reached school age. He soon achieved success in the highly competitive US Tour and between 1960 and 1963 he won twenty three titles. In three of these four years he was the leading money winner and twice represented his country in the Ryder Cup. He made the supporters feel important and he was followed by huge groups, who soon became known as “Arnie’s Army”. In the UK he helped to breathe new life into the Open Championship, when many of his American colleagues did not see it as important enough to leave US to participate. He is acknowledged by many as a major reason for the fact that the best players from all over the world to try to win this tournament. Arnold won this twice and also won The Masters four times, US Open once. In his career he won a total of ninety two national and international competitions. His company has designed or remodelled over two hundred golf courses and he has become as successful as an entrepreneur as he was a golfer. His business interests have involved auto and aviation interests as well as every conceivable aspect of golf equipment. He has received many honours during his life and has contributed a great deal to a large number of charities related to children’s and women’s health. Indeed he has set up a foundation “The Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children”. Arnold was married to Winifred for forty five years until she died of cancer in November 1999. Arnold had successful surgery for prostate cancer in 1997 and he has done much to publicise and support early detection and cancer research. Arnold graciously accepted the invitation to become an honorary member of Irvine Burns Club in 1999/2000. When the club was organising the “Dear Mr Burns” exhibition, Arnold was asked for a photograph for publicity material. This request was met with an immediate response, despite the fact that (as was discovered later) Arnold was heavily involved in the organisation of the Annual World Golf Hall of Fame awards ceremony. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009 and was awarded an Honorary Degree by St Andrews University in 2010. Michael Murray (President 1999-2000) |
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His letter, written on a personal postcard, unaddressed & undated: |
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| Dear Michael, |
Michael Murray, Club President that year, is himself a keen golfer. |
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| His life & work: |
< biography to follow > |
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His letter, written from his home in Galashiels, Selkirkshire, on 27/12/00: |
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| Dear Hugh, |
The letter is addressed to Hugh Hutchison, Club President that year, himself a keen rugby player. The teams mentioned are the Glasgow Caledonian Reds, later Glasgow Warriors, and the Edinburgh Reivers, later Edinburgh Rugby. |
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| His life & work: |
The Rt Hon Michael J Martin, M.P. . . < biography to follow > |
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His letter, written from Speaker's House, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA, on 22nd Jan 2001: |
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| Dear Hugh, |
The letter is addressed to Hugh Hutchison, Club President that year. |
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| His life & work: |
The following appreciation appeared in "The Herald" on 10 Jan., 2013, under the heading "Hotelier and host to the stars". Joe Caldwell was a kenspeckle figure in his native Ayrshire where he was "mine host" at the Eglinton Arms Hotel in Irvine for almost 50 years. He was more than a publican or hotelier, for his interest in people and music meant his hotel became a magnet for musicians, singers and entertainers, as varied as Billy Connolly, Anne Lorne Gillies and Acker Bilk. He even managed to persuade the flamboyant American pianist Liberace to drop in for a late-night drink when in the area, a visit that caused problems for the local police who were unaccustomed to pink Cadillacs double-parking in Irvine's High Street. In what was the golden age of the Scottish pub, the Eglinton Arms was at the heart of the Irvine community and, within an industry then full of characters, Mr Caldwell was much respected and liked by his licensed trade peers across Scotland. Among his earliest initiatives on arriving in Irvine in 1960 was the Eglinton Burns Club which staged the town's first mixed Burns Supper. Such a break from tradition may have raised eyebrows but it is a tribute to Mr Caldwell's vision and high standards that the Eglinton Burns Club shortly celebrates its 53rd anniversary. In the 1960s Irvine grew and Mr Caldwell was one of the innovators behind an ambitious expansion of the historical Marymass Fair by introducing a 10-day Folk Festival. Local sceptics feared the worst but the festival was an instant success with often three or four packed concerts running simultaneously in different venues each night. Folk legends including Matt McGinn, Alex Campbell and Josh McCrae were joined by then youngsters such as Gerry Rafferty, Barbara Dickson, Archie Fisher, The McCalmans and Aly Bain. Mr Caldwell's musical tastes were catholic and he helped Bert Whyte, the then town clerk, found the Irvine Music Club which still meets regularly and attracts classical musicians and singers from the Scottish Conservatoire and beyond. But Mr Caldwell's musical interest and network soon discovered more constructive opportunities when he supported his wife, Ann, in fundraising for Action Medical Research. They were successful in raising tens of thousands of pounds across Scotland for their adopted charity. When Mr Caldwell asked anyone to speak or perform at Action events, there were few who refused, for people were happy to appear free for someone who asked little but constantly gave something back. He became involved in the Irvine Burns Club, was its president in 1979 and continued afterwards as a director. In 2001 he was made an honorary member and in his acceptance letter, with typical modesty, admitted to being absolutely flabbergasted but completely delighted. Almost single-handedly, he revived the Irvine Skinners, eventually becoming its deacon, and then Deacon Convener of the Irvine Incorporated Trades. Not content with local involvement, he joined the Trades House of Glasgow, became deacon of the Incorporation of Skinners and Glovers and served on its master court for more than 20 years. His interest in football is well-documented, less so his interest in golf and rugby but, of all his leisure pursuits, his love of sailing was probably paramount. To paraphrase Robert Burns, he was "the social, friendly honest man who filled great nature's plan" and he did it with a big grin, a twinkle in his eye, a laugh in his voice and a welcoming hand of friendship. (W.A.N.) |
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His letter, written from his home at 51 Kirkgate, Irvine, on Saturday, 06 January 2001: |
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| Dear Hugh, |
The letter is addressed to Hugh Hutchison, Club President that year. |
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| His life & work: |
< biography to follow > |
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His letter, written from his home in Mauchline, Ayrshire, undated: |
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| Dear Hugh, |
The letter is addressed to Hugh Drennan, Club President that year, himself a footballer and football commentator. |
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| His life & work: |
< biography to follow > |
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His letter, written from The Scottish Parliament on 17.1.02: |
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| Dear Sir, |
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| His life & work: |
< biography to follow > From "The Times" on 16 Jan 2009: |
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His letter, written from his home in Ayr on 26th December 2001: |
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| Dear Hugh, |
The letter is addressed to Hugh Drennan, Club President that year, himself a footballer and football commentator. |
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| His life & work: |
< biography to follow > |
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His letter, written from his home in London, on November 28 2001: |
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| Dear Mr Drennan and the typed ‘appendix’ letter of the same date: Dear Mr Drennan, |
The letter is addressed to Hugh Drennan, Club President that year. Tony Benn's grandfather, Daniel Holmes, accepted Honorary Membership from the Directors of 1913. You can read his biographical entry on the 1908-1921 page of our Honorary Members. Tony Benn did indeed visit on a later occasion, on the weekend when he was guest speaker at the Directors' Dinner in March 2003. |
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| His life & work: |
< biography to follow > |
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His letter, written from his home in Glasgow on 12 October 2002: |
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| President Willie McPike,
Adam J. McNaughtan |
The individuals named in the 2nd stanza are Directors of Irvine Burns Club, Bill Cowan, Jack Lovie, Sam Gaw, Joe Caldwell and Bill Nolan, a motley crew indeed. The reference in the 4th stanza is to our encouragement of honorary members to accept in handwriting. |
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| His life & work: |
< biography to follow > |
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His letter, written from The Scottish Parliament, [the office of] The Rt Hon Sir David Steel KBE MSP, The Presiding Officer, on 22 October 2002: |
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| Dear Mr McPike, Thank you for your letter of 2 October. I would be delighted to accept your kind invitation to be an Honorary Member of the Irvine Burns Club. I am also happy to accept your invitation to attend the Club’s annual celebration of the Poet’s birthday on 23 January 2003. Perhaps you would let me have further details nearer the time. Yours sincerely |
The three paragraphs are typed. |
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| His life & work: |
The Olympic Curling Team, Rhona Martin, with Debbie Knox, Janice Rankin, Fiona McDonald, Margaret Morton . . . < story to follow > |
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Her letter, written from her home in Ayrshire: |
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| Dear Mr Park, |
The letter is addressed to Eric Park, the Past President who had made the personal approach to Rhona and her team. |
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