History of the Club

Early Years:- On 8th February 1923, a company of sixteen gentlemen met in the Lesser Temperance Hall in Mauchline for the purpose of forming a Burns Club. The meeting was called by and presided over by the late James MacIntyre. In his remarks, Mr MacIntyre pointed out that Robert Burns had written much of his best work while resident in the Parish of Mauchline and, in view of that, he felt that Mauchline should have a Burns Club which would study the works of the poet as well as foster and encourage a love of his poems and songs. The Meeting unanimously decided to form a Club and that it should be called The Mauchline Burns Club. The first President was the late Mr John Taylor Gibb, the Mauchline photographer, author and local historian.

Since that time, many well-known and respected members of the Community have held the chair of Mauchline Burns Club. Men like the late Mr James Dunlop, who was also the Club Secretary for over twenty years. Another notable President was the late Mr J Kevan McDowall, the prominent Glasgow Lawyer, who as Vice President, was invited to become President in 1940 on the death of the President, Mr Steven Cosh. Mr McDowall remained in office until 1946. During these war years, he failed to attend only two meetings, both times due to illness, in spite of having to travel from Glasgow in all kinds of weather during the blackout.

A notable feature of the Club Meetings – and it should be pointed out that the Club meets twice a month, from October to April - is the high standard of talks given to Members.These talks cover every aspect of the Scottish culture and history. In the past there have been talks associated with what are now former industries such as coal and cotton.

The highlight of each session is, of course, the Annual Celebration, which, until it outgrew the venue in 2002 was held in The Loudoun Arms on 25^th January.

The first two Dinners held by the Club in 1924 and again in 1925, were both broadcast – the first time such a thing had been done. The Club has been fortunate in having speakers of note at these annual gatherings. In 1959, for example, to commemorate the bi-centenary of the poet’s birth, we were indeed honoured by having as our principal guest, Dr David Daiches, the well-known authority on Burns. On this occasion, the Toast List bore the names of five Past Presidents, and at least two of the founder members were present.

The Club’s Minutes over the last half-century continue to enhance this proud record.

Several features of the Club stand out impressively. One is the continuity of members and office bearers. From 1950 to 2000 there were;

2 Secretaries. W Bee (1951/1965) and I Lyell (1965/2000)

3 Directors of Music. H Lorimer, W McIntyre, A Thom.

5 Treasurers. A McEwan, A MacPherson, J McWhirr, P Konopka, J Strawhorn.

1986 –The Printing of Mauchline in Times Past. 1988 –The Robert Burns-Jean Armour mock wedding. 1996 –A Concert and a wreath laying procession. 2000—Help with the refurbishment of the Loudoun Spout. 2002—The highly successful Mauchline Holy Fair. 2002—Unveiling of the Word’s First Statue of Jean Armour which is situated at Mauchline Cross.

The Club’s greatest efforts so far, have been directed to the Burns House Museum in Castle Street, from lying empty and vandalised in the late 1950’s to an impressive and interesting display under the new ownership and management of East Ayrshire Council.

Again our two Secretaries Messrs Bee and Lyell put great time and effort into helping to run such an important building, while at the same time the Club raised considerable money for it’s support.

Mauchline Kirkyard contains the graves of many of Burns’ famous contemporaries. From 1927, when the Club donated one guinea to the regular cutting of the Kirkyard grass, this has been another area benefitting from the Club’s care of grave markers. The Club sponsors a pamphlet of ‘Welcome to Mauchline Parish Church’, which is available at the Church to interested parties. As well as the Church history, there is a map of the graveyard showing where the historically important gravestones are and giving a brief description of the famous people buried there. At present, we are working with Partick Burns Club to replace a damaged marker for Gavin Hamilton’s grave placed there by them in 1919. We have also started work on a major project to save for future generations many of the Kirkyard gravestones - with Burns and other historical connections - from destruction by the weather following years of neglect.

All these activities -along with our annual programme of fortnightly Meetings- have accorded to the Club some status outwith Mauchline. Proof of this is in the number of TV and radio broadcasts in which the Club has participated and the famous names who have been guest speakers. e.g. Dr T Honeyman, the Earl of Roseberry, Jack House and more recently William McIlvanney and Edwin Morgan.

The unveiling of our Jean Armour Statue is another truly memorable example of the Club’s consciousness of Mauchline’s unique place in the international Burns World. The members are proud of the Club’s record, which has more than justified the enthusiasm of the small band who met in the Lesser Temperance Hall almost eighty years ago.