Who We Are

for our current office-bearers and Directors - see below

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 Dr John Mackenzie, who had attended Robert Burns' father in his last illness, and our first Vice-President was David Sillar, a friend of Burns from his early twenties.

We welcome visitors from home and abroad. Special visitors during 2009 included members and partners of the Burns Club of Atlanta (reported here) and during 2010 Chrys Ballantyne, President of the Robert Burns Association of North America (RBANA, on our contacts page), with her husband Ron.

The Club maintains a healthy membership. 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. The 183rd Annual Celebration, in the 250th anniversary year of the poet's birth, in 2009, was attended by 248 members, friends and guests. It is open to members, guests and any others who would like to attend.

Membership can be applied for at any time of the year. Liife membership costs £20 (foreign rate, including badge and booklets, £30). Application can be made (a) in person at the Annual Celebration (b) by post to the Honorary Secretary, Irvine Burns Club, 'Wellwood', 28 Eglinton Street, Irvine KA12 8AS or (c) by payment through our support page.

Directors and officials for 2012-13

President - Tim Swan
Vice President - Roger Griffith
Secretary - Hugh Hutchison
Treasurer - Billy Dickson
Immediate Past President - Michael Diamond

Directors - Fr William Boyd, Matthew Brown, Jim Burns, James Butler, Joseph J Caldwell, Robin Campbell, William Cowan, Billy Dickson, Ian J Dickson, Iain Doole, Hugh Drennan, Drew Duncan, Raymond Fitzgerald, Samuel K Gaw, Robert H Haswell, John Inglis, Jack Lovie, Peter McGlone, Bill McGregor, Michael Murray, William A Nolan, Eric L Park, Malcolm M Rae, George W Watson, Robin R Whyte, James Wilson, OBE, Ian H Y Wood

Club Stewards - Ian Wight & Graham Hyslop

The lapel badge shown on the left was designed by Past President Jim Butler
but the animation is on the website only, 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.

Some photos

		four photos from 2010 - click to enlarge (photos by Past Pres. Jim Burns)
At the statue on Sun. 24th Jan. 2010	Pres. Billy Dickson, Lasses B.C. Pres. Anne Kennedy, and Eglinton B.C. Pres. George Watson; Trades Deacon Convener Bill Black and Carters' Captain Danny Kerr also laid wreaths			2009-10 Pres. Billy Dickson with 2010-11 Pres. Bill McGregor

Irvine Annual Celebration top table 2006

four photos from 2006 -
click to enlarge
(the two group photos are courtesy of 'Irvine Herald')

Annual Celebration 2005
top tables - a typical mix of local 'worthies' (named below)

The top table at the Annual Celebration in 2005 (click for the larger picture)

Church Service trio 2005 After the 2005 Burns Sunday service - Vice-President (2004-05) Jim Burns, Rev. Robert Travers and President Fr. Willie Boyd

(Official positions stated are those as at the time, 25 Jan. 2005)
Front row: David O'Neill (Councillor); Moira Ewing (President, Irvine Lasses Burns Club); Bill Frew (Deacon Convener, Irvine Incorporated Trades); Janey Gorman (Depute Provost, North Ayrshire Council); Willie Boyd (President), Irene Oldfather (MSP), Jack Carson (Councillor); Brian Donohoe (MP)
Middle row: ....; Hugh Kerr (Captain, Irvine Carters Society); Rev. Robert Travers, Bobby Campbell (Vice-President, Rotary Club of Irvine Seagate); Fraser Murray (President, Rotary Club of Irvine), Judith Storm (Head Girl, Greenwood Academy); ...; Christine Maguire (Head Teacher, Greenwood Academy), James Wilson (Director), Hugh Hutchison (Hon. Secretary)
Back row, Andy Howat (Past President); Raymond Fitzgerald (Vice-President-Elect), and others including personal guests