Beggars mark founding of Bard’s Club

Allanton Jolly Beggars Burns Club is one of 300 worldwide, and this club has already provided four presidents for the Robert Burns World Federation - the late Abe Train and three others.

There was room at the Damside Inn available for Allanton Jolly Beggars Burns Club members and guests to install a plaque in commemoration of the founding of this club in the Damside Inn 60 years ago.

This was part of the Club’s diamond anniversary, and for the unveiling they invited an honorary president, George Anderson. George arrived accompanied by Enez, his wife, who is president of the Glasgow and District Burns Clubs.

George has a long and distinguished record in the Burns movement, and both he and Enez have been world president. They are both honorary presidents of the Robert Burns World Federation and both are also honorary presidents and members of a number of Burns Clubs.

George unveiled the plaque – now mounted in the pub where it all began – and delivered an impressive and interesting account of his own personal association with Allanton Jolly Beggars.

Having performed the unveiling task, the chairman for the occasion, Murdo Morrison, president of Allanton Jolly Beggars Burns Club, invited Kay Blair, president of the Lanarkshire Association of Burns Clubs, to address the assembled audience.

Kay spoke with great feeling about her own membership of the club and the stalwarts of yesteryear who had the vision to found the club.

Hazel Blair, a granddaughter of the founder, and a daughter in law of Kay, sang in her own inimitable style, and the listeners were entranced by the quality of her voice.

This was followed by a surprise unveiling, which at first sight was a genuine haggis.

Haggis it was not, but genuine it was – a work of art - a decorated celebration cake made specially for the occasion by Yvonne Brodie, the daughter of the Inn’s proprietor Catherine Allen.