Robbie Burns Day
January 25, 2008

This past January the Elgin County Museum celebrated the 250th anniversary of Robbie Burns’ birth. Celebrated throughout the world, the anniversary launched a year long “Homecoming” in Scotland highlighted by the largest clan gathering in history in Edinburgh in July. The County Museum’s program was a little more modest.

Dr. Ian Hunter, a St. Thomas resident and Burns scholar, spoke about the life and work of Robbie Burns. Museum volunteer Alison St. John, a native of Glasgow, read a selection of his works. The event also served as the opening for an exhibition of “Burns quilts” created by St. Thomas native Marion Tews who was inspired by her interest in Burns’ poems. She is also a direct descendant of Burns’ friend and lawyer, Gavin Hamilton. The tall case clock which was once in Hamilton’s Mauchline home was on display with the quilts.