Courier Country folk scattered around the world plan to celebrate the bard

A Dundee man serving as the UK’S ambassador to Bahrain will lead the lifting of a glass to the bard at a massive virtual Burns supper for colleagues around the globe.

Roddy Drummond is to address the huge Teams meeting to which more than 17,000 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office staff around the world have been invited for today’s Burns celebration.

And he will be joined in the virtual event by Courier Country colleagues serving in embassies from Iceland to Peru.

Scots working for the UK Government in countries including Bahrain, Chile, China, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Pakistan, Peru, Tunisia, and Turkey are among those participating in the virtual Burns supper.

Mr Drummond, who joined the Foreign Office in 1985, said: “Burns Night is usually pretty busy.

“There’s a big Caledonian Society here in Bahrain and we do the full thing with lots of poetry and maybe a bit of singing.

“Last year we held a special dinner for some Bahraini friends, who are very fond of Scotland.

“This year will be a quieter affair online – with maybe a wee dram.”

Colin Gray, from Perth, deputy head of mission at the British Embassy in Peru, said: “I’m really sorry that I’ll be missing out on the Caledonian Society’s Peruvian twist on haggis, neeps and tatties this year, but we can still all raise a glass to the bard and hopefully get together in person again very soon.”

Lisa Waugh, from Glenrothes, the UK’S deputy high commissioner in Reykjavik, Iceland, said: “There’s a strong Scottish connection here.”

One vital ingredient to the Icelandic celebration will, however, be missing,

She said: “I’ll not be having any haggis because it’s not something that’s readily available here, despite everything else Icelanders tend to eat. I’ll be having mince ‘n’ tatties.”