Burns Night Memories

Updated
1 March 2008

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The 46th Annual Burns Supper and Dance Will take place
in early February 2009 at the Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet ballroom in Cranston RI.

Seating is limited to the first 500 paid reservations.

Note: THERE ARE NO TICKETS AT DOOR!

For further information about the future events or for for reservation information please contact

To burns2008@cox.net.

Highlights from the 44th Annual Burns Night on 3 February 2007

A curious bit of news found on the World Wide Web .
This link has been added this here as this may be of interest
to everyone interested in the story Robert Burns' life...
A small movie production company once announced a few years ago that a movie about the life of Robert Burns' was in the planning stages...
All was silent, until November 2004 when a new press release was made to
announce this project is very close to being a reality.
It is anticipated a release date will be announced someime in 2005.
For more information visit the offical movie website at:

http://www.robertburnsmovie.com/press.htm

Haggis and Whisky

Photo: Burns Anniversary Archives

Photo: Burns Anniversary Archives

In February 1962 when Jim Thomson, secretary of the Providence Caledonian Society, suggested contacting 3 other Providence area Scottish societies to inquire as to their interest in joining together to sponsor a celebration in honor of Robert Burns. The Daughters of Scotia, Daughters of Argyle and Clan Cameron #7 O.S.C. responded with interest in coordinating a joint venture to celebrate BurnsÕ birth. The Burns Anniversary Committee of Rhode Island was formed from two members of each society and included John MacLean, Vice President of the Caledonians, who was elected Chairman and who has served in this office since that time. Original officers also included James Thomson of the Caledonians, who was elected Secretary, and Annie Wilcox of the Daughters of Argyle who was elected Treasurer. Other Committee members were Alexander Malcolm and Harry Aiken of Clan Cameron, Margaret Thomson and Elva Urquhart of Daughters of Scotia and Clara Worthington also representing the Daughters of Argyle.

Photo by:J. Herrald

HRH Queen Elizabeth II's personal piper, Pipe Major Jim Motherwell MBE with his rendition of the Burns classic Auld Lang Syne January 2003.

Each society contributed a loan of $25.00 to help defray expenses for that first Burns Night held in February 1963 at Eileen Darling's Restaurant in Seekonk, MA. Admission for the evening was $3.50 and 55 people attended. The Committee paid back its original loan and has been largely self-supporting since. All monies raised are used for operating expenses and to help defray the cost of the evening. Occasionally, surplus revenues may occur which permit support of worthy Scottish and American charities and scholarship funds. In 1997, the Burns Committee awarded the first annual Alexander R. Glen trophy to the Novice Piper of the Day at the Tam O'Shanter Games and Festival. The trophy is awarded in the honor of Alexander Glen, former Pipe Major of the Rhode Island Highlanders and long time supporter of the Burns Committee. Since then, the Committee has awarded this trophy four times to the Novice Piper of the Day at either the Tam OÕShanter Games or Maine Games.

After many years, the Daughters of Argyle withdrew from the Burns Committee and in 1976, the St. Andrews Society of Rhode Island was invited to participate. Since then, the Burns Committee of Rhode Island has become affiliated with the Robert Burns Association of North America and Robert Burns World Federation of Kilmarnock, Scotland. Committee members have traveled to annual conferences held in Canada, Scotland and the United States. Over the years, the Committee has sponsored speakers and performers from Scotland, Canada and the United States to deliver the immortal memory and entertain the crowd on Burns Night. Since 1963, Burns celebrations have been held in 10 different venues, with attendance as high as 650 people. The most recent event was held in the beautiful ballroom at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet. Thanks to the continued dedication of the Burns Anniversary Committee of Rhode Island, more than 500 people gathered on February 1, 2003 to celebrate the birth of ScotlandÕs greatest poet, Robert Burns (b. January 26, 1759).

Photo: The Robert Burns Memorial Monument taken from the "keystane" of The Brig O' Doon, made famous in Burn's epic poem Tam O' Shanter.
Link above updated 22 January 05

Located in Burns National Heritage Park, in Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland.