Her acceptance, a typescript basis for a promised written letter:
To all the members of Irvine Burns Club,
I am absolutely delighted, honoured and
proud to become an Honorary Member of your distinguished Historical Society.
Growing up in Aberdeen in the 1950s and
60's, I was very aware that Robert Burns held a special place in the consciousness
of the local community and the Scots nation as a whole - not only at home,
but across all four corners of the globe.
For Aberdonians, Robert Burns has been a
constant presence, especially since the inauguration in 1892 of a dark
bronze statue cast in his likeness, which still stands enigmatically upon
a tall granite pedestal in the city centre above Union Terrace Gardens.
I used to pass this historic landmark every day
on my journey to school, and habitually checked to see whether the daisy
held in Burns's left hand had been dislodged by some inebriated youths
during the previous night. Despite the fact that the statue was cast in
bronze, the poor daisy was still a fragile thing.
Over the years it became a regular target
for delinquent night revellers, which always tended to offend me, as it
felt disrespectful towards such a legendary figure as the noble Bard.
Looking back now, I suspect Burns might
have found it somewhat hilarious that the local town council has had to
keep replacing the wee, modest, crimson tipped flow'r, its slender stem
crushed amang the stoure . . not by the plow, but by glaikit foo loons.
Thank you so much for such a special recognition.
I'm deeply touched to receive it.
Yours truly
Annie Lennox
the Aberdeen statue referred to in the letter