Sara Sheridan is an author who has written amongst other books, ‘The Secret of Blythswood Square’; ‘The Fair Botanists’ and ‘Where are the Women?’. In her talk ‘Exploring Where Scotland Comes From‘ she discusses how we represent our history.
Sara Sheridan is a Glasgow-based writer and activist. She writes historical fiction and creative nonfiction. She has written 6 novels based in the period 1820 – 1850. ‘The Fair Botanists’ set in Edinburgh 1822, has charmed critics and readers alike – the first edition sold out in under a fortnight and it won Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year in 2022 as well as being chosen for the Queen’s Reading Room series 7. Her latest, ‘The Secrets of Blythswood Square’ is just out in hardback. Sara’s remapping of Scotland according to female history, ‘Where are the Women?’ was listed as of the David Hume Institute’s most important non-fiction books 2019. It contains 1600 stories of mostly forgotten female achievement. Sara continues to campaign for more diverse memorialisation of women’s history. She is a regular contributor on BBC Radio Scotland and has also written two 5-part radio plays adapted from her own short stories – ‘On Portobello Prom‘ and ‘Robert Burns: His Psychotherapy and Cure’. Both have been broadcasted on Radio 4.
Saturday 26 October 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Thomas Clark is a writer, poet and translator working mainly in the Scots language. In his most recent and award winning book ‘Fower Legs Guid, TwaLegs Better!’, a Scots translation of George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’, he offers a fascinating journey through Orwell, Scots, and the language we use today asking if words still matter, if politicians can be trusted and if Scots still has a place in the modern world.
Sunday 27 October 11.30am to 12.30pm
Alex Renton, considers ‘Ayrshire, Burns, Slavery: a difficult legacy?‘Alex Renton, FRHistS, is an author and journalist living in Edinburgh. He works primarily in reportage and investigation for the BBC, The Times, The Guardian and the Daily Mail. His recent books include ‘Blood Legacy: reckoning with a family’s story of slavery‘ (about the Fergusson and Hunter-Blair families of Ayrshire) and ‘Stiff Upper Lip: secrets, crimes and the schooling of a ruling class‘. His most recent radio series, ‘In Dark Corners’, won multiple awards and is available on BBC Sounds.
Sunday 27 October 2.30pm to 3,30pm
Steven Veerapen is an author of historical fiction and nonfiction. His books include ‘The Simon Danforth murder mysteries‘ set in the Scotland of the 1540s and ‘The Wisest Fool: The Lavish Life of James VI and I’. In his talk ‘Historical Crime Fiction: from medieval murders to modernist mysteries’ he discusses historical crime fiction as a popular genre and how it is written – from conjuring up relatable characters to authentic backgrounds with ghastly and blood drenched incidents.
Steven Veerapen was born in Glasgow and raised in Paisley. Pursuing an interest in the sixteenth century, he was awarded a first-class Honours degree in English, focussing his dissertation on early modern representations of Henry VIII’s six wives. He received a Masters in Renaissance studies, examining the Renaissance-era visual and literary representations of the later Tudors. He then obtained a PhD investigating Elizabethan slander. When not writing, he teaches English Literature at the University of Strathclyde.
This event is in addition to the programme of free Highlight Talks.
Melvyn Gibson
Melvyn Gibson is a Volunteer at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and Coordinator of the Highlight Talks. he is also one of the main organisers of this event.
In a reverse Paddington move, the work of one of our spinning volunteers from Robert Burns Birthplace Museum has been featured on the cover of the South American cultural magazine ‘Aleph’ (the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet) which publishes articles in art, literature and philosophy.
Ana María González was so inspired by a photo of a sunset at Manizales in Colombia taken by Aleph editor-in chief, Professor Carlos Enrique Ruiz, that she spun and wove a tapestry. He, in his turn, was so impressed by her creation that he published it in the very next edition.
August 2024
SPINNING AND SINGING
A group of visitors were very, very surprised – not to say shocked – that we weren’t singing to our spinning. Certainly, the two seem to have gone together traditionally.
Robert Burns wrote the words for a song about a woman spinning, Bessy and her Spinnin Wheel. It was to besung to the tune of Sweet’s the lass that loves me. Bessy says: “I’ll sit me down, and sing and spin.”
She works outside in the sunshine and loves the trees, the pool and running water, and especially the birds around her. It brings her peace and pleasure. Today some ask us if it’s therapeutic.
Burns, in the eighteenth century, focuses also on the economic independence the spinning wheel brings women. It feeds Bessy and clothes her well, meeting all her modest needs.
Here’s how the poem starts:
O, leeze me on my spinning wheel Blessings
And leeze me on my rock and reel, Spindle and bobbin
From tap to tae that clads me bien, Clothes me nicely
And haps me fiel and warm at e’en Wraps me well
I’ll set me down, and sing and spin,
While laigh descends the summer sun, Low
Blest wi content, and milk and meal –
O, leeze me on my spinnin wheel
July 2024
VISITOR WALKS AYRSHIRE COASTAL PATH
Writer and storyteller Anna Greenwood from Yorkshire took a diversion from Ayrshire Coastal Path to visit Burns Cottage and Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. This was part of a project recording conversations with folk about spinning and weaving. Of course, we were delighted to oblige!
She was specially interested to see Robert Burns’ darned sock in the museum and to note the darn had been darned, several times over!
Of great interest to us, and to others around as well, was the special trailer on which she packed her camping equipment. She attached it to herself with a harness.
Just three or four weeks ago, with remarkable prescience, a visitor told us about how he darned his socks during his National Service. Born in March 1939 he was part of the last cohort to be called up. He served in North Africa and no doubt the properties of wool in absorbing sweat would help protect his feet from chafing and blisters.
22 May 2024
The Burns replica socks on our demonstration table have been attracting a lot of attention lately. Two volunteers in the group created them – one spun the green and buff wool and one knitted them.
They imitate the socks belonging to Robert Burns that are displayed in the museum. They’re size 9, darned and the darn is even darned, several times over.
An American lady and four ladies from Larkhall Women’s Guild had a lively conversation about darning techniques using a “mushroom”. One lady showed over her hand how the wool had to make a grid one way and then the wool was woven in and out at right angles. Some mushrooms had a cavity in the “stalk” to keep the darning needle safe and always at hand.
”The mother, wi’ her needle and her sheers,
Gars auld claes look amaist as weel’s the new.”
The Cotter’s Saturday Night
Another example of how Robert Burns still creates bonding across continents!
10 May 2024
A young woman from Northern Ireland was telling us about her granny’s spinning, a major activity that dominated the household for months. It all started with the grandpa shearing the sheep. Next, the children (the woman and her brother) would be sent out with scissors, a pair of gloves each and a basket. Their instructions were to cut nettles right down at the root and bring them home to be used for dyeing the wool. Wool and nettles were then boiled together in a big pot. Next day it was put into a shed for a week. Once Granny had spun all her wool she would set about the mammoth task of knitting blankets!
Come and see our Dyer-in-Chief’s display board. Here’s the result of her experiment with nettles (though she didn’t leave her pot in a shed for a week). We’re in the Temporary Gallery at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Murdoch’s Lone, Alloway every Thursday from 11am till 1pm.
April 2024
The biggest recorded number of visitors, 47, dropped in on the Spinning Group this week. We were kept busy showing the work that Agnes Burn, Robert Burns’ mother, would have done in the cottage when he was a boy.
Many of the visitors were American and one lady from Louisiana told us that she had in her family a pair of carders dating back to her Grandaddy’s time when he was a cotton farmer.
The draw took place today November 30th at the Museum.
As per tradition, the person selected to draw the winning ticket was the first person entering the museum after 12pm on St Andrews day. Today a couple visiting from Lincolnshire kindly agreed to help us with the draw.
The winning ticket was held by Eddie McMeehen of Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.
Thanks again to everyone for your support. Money raised will help us fund specific projects on site.
If you have any queries please contact us by email at info@friendsofrbbm.org.uk or leave a message on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/friendsofrbbm
Reopening of the Monument Garden Shop
July 31 2023
Update!
We had a great opening day at the Monument Shop. The shop may not look quite like Harrods but the sun was shining and the beautiful gardens surrounding the magnificent Monument were ablaze with colour. The little building where the shop is located was the original Entrance Kiosk to the Monument Gardens, situated at the ramp to the side of the Brig o’Doon Hotel.
The shop is run by friendly and enthusiastic volunteers – welcoming visitors and happy to give them a brief guide to the Monument gardens while they look around. The shop has a good selection of pieces of jewellery; local crafts; paintings and books. There are some good bargains among them!
We are very fortunate to have some great watercolour paintings donated by South Ayrshire artist Billy Hillen Hope. John Preston, a local photographer, donated some outstanding photos of Alloway and its surroundings. We also have a great collection of second handbooks donated by local volunteers.
We are now selling Raffle tickets for the 2024 Burns Supper which will be held in Burns Cottage on the 25th of January 2024. Each ticket (£1) gives you the opportunity to win 2 seats at the table with a Prize value of £500.
So next time you visit the Museum why not pop in and say hello – you might just grab a bargain.
July 26 2023
Good News!
The Garden Shop in Monument Garden will reopen on Friday 28 July at 11am. This enterprise, aptly described by a visitor as “adorable,” is run by Robert Burns Birthplace Museum volunteers to raise money for the benefit of the museum. They have been very busy sprucing up the little building, formerly the entrance kiosk, situated at the ramp at the side of the Brig o’Doon Hotel.
Jewellery, crafts and paintings will be on sale and there will be some bargains among them!
They hope to open regularly over the summer – always depending on availability of volunteers – so watch this space.
2022
Summer Picnic
SUMMER PICNIC
When: Saturday 3 September, 1pm to 4pm
Where: The field at Burns Cottage, “New Gardens”
You’re warmly invited to come to a relaxed, fun and sociable get-together at what William Burns called “New Gardens.”
Entertainment will be provided by John Rattenbury’s band Musical Friends playing from the stage of the outdoor classroom.
We’ll laze about, blether, socialise and enjoy the lovely environment with the newly-fruiting trees, the now well-established pool and all the gardeners’ improvements.
Please bring your own picnic, rug, chairs, etc. You’re welcome to bring friends and family but remember they will have to pay to get in at the kiosk if they are not National Trust members.
I hope you’ll come. We’re all looking forward to seeing you.
Alison
Big Band Night at the Museum
If you and yours have the night of Saturday 11 June free come and join me for Another Big Band Night at the Museum. This is a fundraiser run under the auspices of the Friends of Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. There will be the opportunity to dance to the music. Listening is fine too.
The night starts at 7.30pm and ends at 10.30pm. Entertainment is provided by the musicians and singers of That Swing Sensation Big Band. The Band play all over Scotland and the North of England and have featured on television and radio. A good night is guaranteed.
Tickets are £15 each.
The Bar will be open for refreshments and snacks.
All proceeds of the event go to support the work of the Museum.
PARP! PARP! Roger trundles along the Poet’s Path in the yellow buggy touching his cap, a white linen one on sunny days and a tweed one at other times, as he passes. Everyone on board is smiling. He tells them about “Alloway’s auld haunted kirk” and the Mousie and the story of Tam o’ Shanter. If they are lucky, he’ll regale them with the first part of the poem in his best Scottish accent. He asks the passengers where they come from and makes sure they know when the buggy will pick them up again. He is an unforgettable part of their visit.
Although he started as a buggy driver it wasn’t long before he graduated to buggy organiser, drawing up the rota and checking the mechanics. This wasn’t the least of his contributions to RBBM. Ever-willingly, he ran errands in the van, painted skirting boards, supervised the bouncy castle on gala days, generally helping whenever asked and wherever he could.
He was an essential element in the volunteer cohort, providing a sociable hub for exchange of news at or near the front door. He stood out in the cold selling Christmas trees and then professionally loading them into the buyers’ cars, trunk first. He belted out Christmas carols in a sonorous bass as part of the volunteer choir of the time. He took part in the performance group Burns Turns. His speciality from To a Mouse was the second stanza, declaimed entirely in English as is, of course, entirely appropriate: “I’m truly sorry man’s dominion…….”
Beyond the front door, he was a mainstay of Ayrshire Gifts an’ a’ That, the shop the volunteers had for a year in Alloway Street in the town, and he never minded manning the premises on his own. He served on the committee of the Friends of RBBM giving wise advice on the practicalities. He strongly supported other volunteers in their suggestions and activities, whether collecting supplies for the garden shop or acquiring pallets for construction of the book bank.
At Christmas last year, after surgery and subsequent rigorous treatment, it became clear that he would struggle to come back. Volunteers and staff held a “lift” to give him a present to thank him for his friendship and unstinting service to RBBM. Enough money was collected for a whole heap of presents – from a cosy rug to novelty golf balls containing whisky and, yes, to a new tweed cap. He put the cap on right away and it was a happy day for him.
We’ll all miss him.
Tea Time for Volunteers
Ten volunteers from Robert Burns Birthplace Museum enjoyed a scrumptious spread at one of the Tea Parties laid on as part of a National Trust for Scotland initiative to mark the return after the pandemic. Ian McLelland, Regional Manager for the South-West warmly welcomed over sixty people from NTS properties throughout the area to the barn at Culzean castle. He thanked them for their commitment and contributions.
A big surprise was the award of long service certificates and badges and several of the Alloway contingent were delighted to receive these. NTS Deputy President Caroline Borthwick made the presentations.
Then the socialising and laughter began in earnest. As no NTS tea party would ever be complete without them, scones and jam featured among the goodies to eat – as did lemon drizzle cake, chocolate cake …….
Thanks to all involved in the organisation. It was a lovely afternoon.
Alison Wilson
2021
A Tale of a Burns Supper
The first recorded Burns Supper was held at Burns Cottage in 1801 and our Supper follows the format of that event which continued to be held at the Cottage until 1809.
The Burns Supper was reintroduced at the Cottage on 25 January 2016 after a gap of 207 years. We, the Friends of RBBM, resolved to continue holding the event on that special date every year, supported by the National Trust for Scotland and we had no intention of having a gap year.
Last year, due to COVID restrictions, we were forced to go “Virtual” and rather than seeing this as a setback I saw it as an opportunity to reach out to a larger audience as we were restricted to having a maximum of only 24 guests in the Cottage. We sent out over 180 links to the event with viewers from as far away as Tasmania in the east to Hawaii in the west.
The event was a resounding success with glowing comments coming from around the world. I thank all the performers, the film crew, NTS staff who assisted, NTS USA Foundation, our own Facebook editors and the Gaeity Theatre.
Hugh Farrell
Here are some wonderful pictures from this historic event
Summer’s Supper 220th Anniversary
This year there is a special celebration on July 21st at 6pm at The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
The first ever Burns Supper was held in the cottage on the date of his death. This year we are commemorating the 220th anniversary of that first supper and the 225th anniversary of Robert Burns’ death.
Join us for an evening of first-class Burns speakers and a two-course meal just a few yards from where the first Burns Supper took place. We will be saluting Robert Burns with music, poetry and song. We shall also raise a laugh with other Scots poetry and tales.
For more detailed information for this event and to purchase tickets please visit the RBBM webpage https://www.nts.org.uk/burns
2020
Update Co-op Community Funding Update
Spinning Joy
The Friends of Robert Burns Birthplace Museum have been awarded the massive sum of £1,884.59 by the Co-op Community Fund for a Spinning Wheel Project. This brings some joy on the very day the museum must close again for three weeks during the current pandemic.
The amount given has been generated from the 1% earned by members buying selected Co-op branded goods and services locally in Doonfoot and Ayr. The Project was chosen as one of this year’s causes and the Friends of RBBM gratefully appreciate this generous support.
With spinning wheels purchased by the scheme, volunteers will now be able to learn the skills of using them. Then they’ll demonstrate the techniques to visitors to Burns Cottage and the museum nearby in Alloway. Imagine them sitting in Burns Cottage showing what Robert Burns’ mother Agnes used to do on a daily basis in that very house. After this, the group aim to roll out workshops with spinning and weaving activities to involve children and families and, later, local community and disability groups.
During the next few months volunteers will work away at home practising a heritage craft familiar to nearly every woman at the time of Robert Burns. A contemporary described Burns wearing a coat spun by his mother “aye, and dyed by her too, l se‘ll warrant.”
Last year, an interpretation programme at the Cottage included dyeing with locally growing plants, rag-rug making, weaving and rope-making. Not to forget the popular oat bannock making! So spinning will be an extension to the drive to make Burns Cottage a lively place to come to.
Alison Wilson
Story of the Founders of National Trust for Scotland Highlight Talk By Caroline Borwick
The history of the National Trust for Scotland was to the fore when Mrs Caroline Borwick gave an interesting talk on founder members of the NTS at the weekly Wednesday Highlight Talks at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. Her father Sir Jamie Stormont Darling was one of a quartet of men dedicated to the continued existence and development of the Trust for the benefit of the people of Scotland during the difficult post-war period. As a group, he and Sir John Stirling Maxwell, the Marquess of Bute and lawyer George Russell, clocked up a total of over 90 years of service to ensure the Trust survived on a secure footing.
Caroline illustrated her talk with some fascinating photos from the forties, fifties and sixties. Included was one of the first ceremonies of the handover of a property to the NTS in 1944: the House of the Binns with a kilted, teenage Tam Dalziel in the background. Also acquired during her father’s tenure as Secretary and Director from 1949 to 1983 were 5.6. & 7 Charlotte Square (Edinburgh), Canna, Iona, St Kilda, Inverewe and Staffa.
This postcard was drawn by Caroline Borwick in 2018 in memory of her father Sir Jamie Stormont Darling. It represents Canna, Iona, St Ilda, Interewe and Staffa.
Alison Wilson
Caroline Borwick was the chatelaine of Blair Castle in Dalry and until recently a National Trust for Scotland trustee. She is the daughter of the late director of NTS Sir Jamie Stormonth Darling,
The Highlight Talks, chaired by Melvyn Gibson (Volunteer), take place at 3pm on Wednesday (June – September) in the Museum building and are FREE to attend.
The Bachelor’s Club at Tarbolton
It was at the Bachelors Club at Tarbolton where Robert Burns learned to dance; launched the debating club and became a Freemason.
Following a very successful 2019, in which the Bachelors club brought back to life debates, music, poetry and prose, 2020 will see the continuation of these popular events.
On the First Tuesday of each month there is an Open Mic Night with music, songs and tales. The evening event start at 7pm. Enjoy the varied performances or feel free to take part with music, song, poetry or prose.
Turning the clock back to the year 1780 when Robert Burns launched the debating club on the 3rd Monday of each month, at 7.00pm, we will have a Debate Night with one subtle difference: it will be open for all to enjoy.
Don’t let the title “Bachelors Club” mislead you. You don’t have to be a bachelor and you don’t have to be a man!
All events are free to attend though any donations are welcome. These are used solely for the upkeep and development of The Bachelors Club.
Volunteers are planning new workshops to add to their repertoire of activities to bring Burns Cottage alive. These include showing how plants growing in the vicinity would have been used for healing purposes and also for beauty treatments. Regular story telling sessions will be introduced to echo the experience of the young Robert Burns at the knee of Betty Davidson, an old woman relative who stayed with the family and had a vast store of spooky stories. Soon volunteers hope to embark on learning to spin using equipment provided through the local CO-OP’s community support scheme. Meanwhile, pop into the Education Pavilion at Burns Cottage on Monday afternoons to see a rag rug being made and find out more.
Promotion Day at the Co-op
Farewell to the buggy service and welcome to “The Friends and Volunteers Information Hub”
For a number of reasons beyond our control, the much loved buggy service which has been running for some 7 years, has to be discontinued.
An exciting new initiative is “The Friends and Volunteers information Hub” situated behind the Admissions desk at the main entrance. The original idea was to provide much needed help and information for visitors and volunteers to the museum, and particularly those with limited access to the internet. We are also linking up with Visit Scotland and their new “I Know” programme which highlights all that is good in the wider community, as well as RBBM, so why not come along and check it out.
Volunteers Roger Alexander and George Lennie at The Friends and Volunteers information Hub
Burns Supper in the Cottage
In the summer of 1801 a select party of the friends of Robert Burns proposed to dine in the cottage of his birth, and to offer a tribute to the memory of departed genius.
This first known Burns Supper was held in the cottage in July 1801 on the fifth anniversary of the death of Robert Burns. It was agreed that the event should take place annually on the date of birth of the poet. The suppers were held in the cottage until 1809 after which the venue moved to the Kings Arms Hotel in Ayr.
The Friends of Robert Burns Birthplace Museum reintroduced the Supper to the cottage on 25th January 2016 and continue to do so, always endeavouring to have a direct descendent of Robert Burns present.
We have 24 guests, each paying £250, and through kind sponsorships, mainly from NTS, the 2020 Supper has raised £7,000 which has been donated to the Cottage Appeal.
We regard this as the world’s foremost Burns Supper, in the cottage of his birth and on his birthdate. We have had guests from the USA in the west to Germany in the east.
Hugh Farrell
Paintings Raffle
At 12.30 today, we had the draw for the Burns Monument Raffle. There were two prizes in the form of works of art that were donated by William Hillen, a local artist who has donated a great number of works of art for charity.
Hugh Farrell, Chairman of the Friends of RBBM invited the first person to enter the museum after 12.25, to draw the winning tickets. This was Robert Wisecup who was on holiday from Georgia, USA, and whose birthday matches that of Robert Burns. The winners were John Rattenbury of Ayr who chose the very atmospheric picture of Burns Cottage and John McCormick of Stonehouse, Lanarkshire who took the oil painting of Burns Monument.
The raffle has made a valuable contribution to the Burns Monument Refurbishment fund, and our thanks go to William for his generous donation of the pictures, and of course, to all who bought raffle tickets.
2016
Closure of our shop, Ayrshire Gifts an’ a’ That
After an extraordinary year, our High Street gift shop has been closed. We opened it as a pop-up shop at the end of August 2014, for the sale of Robert Burns related National Trust for Scotland stock and a dazzling array of crafts from our talented Ayrshire crafters. It was unique on the High Street, and with almost 50 crafters displaying their carefully created wares, there was lots for visitors and residents of Ayr to choose from. It was staffed by a wonderfully dedicated team of volunteers, who painted, managed, staffed and maintained the shop as one of the most attractive in town.
Why close it? Well, it actually stayed open longer than was intended, and there were a whole range of reasons why it was time to bring the project to a close. So many thanks to our volunteers, the many staff from Robert Burns Museum who gave so much help, support and guidance, and of course to the many customers who visited the shop and made it a success.
Hello readers! The RBBM Book Club has been in existence for over a decade. It meets at 2pm on the last Tuesday of each month in the Education Pavilion at Burns’ Cottage. The Club has a substantial membership and new members are always welcome.
We are very lucky to have our monthly reading material provided by our local library service. The books selected vary in genre and style, often extending our usual reading boundaries, giving opportunities for analysis and discussion of the texts in question.
Probably the best part of the afternoon is a very welcome cup of tea or coffee and a delicious scone or cake. All this for £2! Come along and make some new friends.
To find out more please contact the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum on 01292443700.
May 2025
Hello readers,
I hope you have all enjoyed our recent sunny weather.
Today, many of our members expressed how much they had enjoyed sitting out in the sunshine, in their gardens, reading the latest book, Queen Bee by Jane Fallon. Most readers felt that this book was light-hearted in the main, and perfect for a relaxing ‘in the garden’ read. A few book clubbers, who did not think that Queen Bee was the bee’s knees, pointed out that the storyline lacked plausibility in several areas which they found distracting. A discussion followed on this and it was felt by some that the storyline was meant to be comical, and as a result there were certain activities and behaviours that pushed believability to the limit. But, I’m glad to say, the underlying narrative, the saving of the threatened Stella from a cruel fate, had enough of a draw to keep even the few dissenters reading to the end.
Another aspect of the book, that most seemed to have enjoyed, was the fact that Fallon had taken a few pot shots at the lavish lifestyle of the extremely rich community which formed the backdrop to much of the story. Our readers particularly applauded Fallon’s descriptions of the over remodelled faces of the community’s female inhabitants. This led to much discussion of cosmetic surgery in general with the ‘trout lips’ and overstretched, expressionless faces of many celebrities being deemed less than attractive. Surprisingly, Joan Collins got off lightly, and was considered to be someone who had used facial, cosmetic surgery to good effect, and was, according to one of our members who had spoken to Miss Collins in a supermarket, looking good for a 92 year old. Well done Joan!
Moving swiftly on, and back to more bookish considerations, it was noted that the book, being written in first person and present tense, had a script-like feeling, which is not surprising as Jane Fallon is, or was, a television producer. Could this be another mini-series in the pipeline?
So, if you are looking for a fairly cheerful tale with a happy ending, look no further, make a beeline for your nearest bookshop and pick up a copy of Queen Bee by Jane Fallon.
Fingers crossed for many more ‘reading in the garden’ opportunities.
Novella Reid
April 2025
Hello readers,
I hope you all had a lovely Easter, and that your Easter bunny ears are safely packed away for another year!
I would like to thank the Book Club bunny for the chocolate eggs that were distributed to everyone at the April meeting : these are the touches that put a smile on our faces!
This month’s book , The Girl in the Photograph by Kate Riordan, has the same underlying theme as last month’s book: the lack of understanding of, and proper treatment for, postnatal depression. However, the two stories are very different and our readers did not find this to detract from their reading experience in any way.
Overall, members gave this book a mediocre thumbs up: at times harrowing but, for the most part, enjoyable. Most of our readers were shocked by one of the historical practices mentioned in the latter part of the story, and some debate followed on how actions that were quite acceptable in the past now seem macabre!
A few of our readers felt that there were weaknesses in the plot that gave rise to a certain lack of plausibility, so, again, these details were discussed at length.
One of our group, who had missed the discussion on America City, gave a quick appraisal of this novel which, although set in the future, is actually playing out now with alarming accuracy. The company all agreed that this book does make a spine-chilling read, and reminds us just how quickly technology is advancing in our world today.
So, another meeting at an end, do come and join us if you enjoy reading , light-hearted discussion and good company.
Bye for now!
Novella Reid
March 2025
Hello readers,
I can’t believe we are at the end of March already!
This month’s meeting was a bit special as it was the twelfth anniversary of the first meeting of the Burns Birthplace Book Club. A photograph, from the local press, of Club members at this first meeting twelve years ago was distributed for our perusal, and I recognised quite a few faces of folk who are still regular book clubbers. I’m sure they won’t mind me saying that they don’t look a day older now than then! Perhaps the answer to eternal youth comes not in a jar or tube but in joining a book club!
To celebrate this special occasion a magnificent chocolate cake took centre stage, thanks go to Evelyn for arranging this, and, just as we were debating who would actually ‘cut the cake’, two gardeners, Luke and Chris, who were working nearby, happened to come into the room, perhaps lured there by the tempting aromas of tea, coffee, scones and chocolate cake, kindly agreed to brandish a knife instead of a shovel and cut the cake. I’m sure Rabbie would have approved, and I wished afterwards that I had treated(or not) the company to the song, written by Burns, The Gairdner wi’ his Paidle. Ah well, maybe next time!
But to our book! The book under discussion this month was, A Mother’s Story by Amanda Prouse.
Initially, it was noted by a few readers that the word choice and language used were rather simplistic, but that any such considerations quickly became lost as the intensity of the storyline developed.
The storyline followed the life of the main character which descended from initial bliss to extreme misery. Many readers found this to be an extremely harrowing yet compulsive read. Most agreed that it was a ‘page-turner’ , and that Prouse engineered this through her alternating chapter strategy, enabling the reader to see the main character from two different perspectives. Prouse also built tension and dread through misleading and untruthful statements told by the main character and others.
Prouse was also applauded for raising awareness of an often misunderstood and overlooked female medical condition that is often not given the attention it merits.
So, overall, a thumbs up for this, at times, emotional read.
Just before I go, I would like to thank South Ayrshire Council’s Library Service for the brilliant job they have done in providing us with books, month after month, for twelve years, many thanks to all involved.
So, see you in a month’s time. Remember, keep reading, keep young!!
Novella Reid.
February 2025
Dear readers,
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend our February book club meeting which was very disappointing as I had been looking forward to hearing what our readers thought of the somewhat controversial book, American City by Chris Beckett.
However, all was not lost. I was able to call on some members who were present at the meeting for their thoughts on the proceedings, and, by all accounts, it seems I missed out on a very enthusiastic discussion indeed!
America City was first published in November 2017 and has been described as, ” a frighteningly convincing vision of the 22nd century “. Many of our members agreed that it is a frightening’ read, mainly because the time frame is out by a century, and that many of the issues mentioned appear to be happening right now!
Book club member, Kat A. Logue, made the following observations on the meeting, “Whilst not everyone ‘enjoyed’ the book, it certainly provided a focus for animated discussion. The book provided us with a glimpse into the future of an isolationist America where the effects of a previous regime and the enormous damage caused by climate change divided society. The group drew parallels with current political manoeuvres, particularly the expansion of national borders. All in all, a lively session!”
Many thanks, Kat for your eloquent summary of the discussion.
Another book clubber who came to my aid was Theresa Greene, and she commented that whilst reading the book she felt that some of Beckett’s plot was so prophetic that he must have some kind of super power! I would agree, Theresa, that some of the events depicted are unnervingly close to today’s reality.
So, to all readers out there, this is a book that begs an answer to the question, ” Is there such a thing as coincidence?” Why not have a read and see what you think.
If you would like to join us at The Burns Birthplace Book Club for such reading opportunities do come along on the last Tuesday of every month to the pavillion behind Burns Cottage at 2.00pm. New members are welcome at any time of year.
That’s all for now, happy reading!
Novella Reid
January 2025
Hello readers,
It seems a long time since our last meeting at the end of November 2024, and now, here we are at the end of January 2025! Although belated, I would like to wish you all only good things, including books, for this new year.
As always, our January meeting started with tea, cakes, scones and warm words of welcome from our group leaders to members existing and new.
With two new books up for discussion, we formed two separate groups to look at whichever book we had chosen to read at the last meeting. I was in the group that had been reading The Cut Out Girl by Bart Vanes. On the backdrop of the horrific plight of the population of Gaza, and the recently televised Holocaust Memorial Day, it made thought-provoking reading as it dealt with the life story of a Jewish woman, now 85, revealed through interviews and conversations with the writer, Bart Vanes.
It is never my intent to give away too much of the plot thereby spoiling the book for future readers, so I will say no more about the actual story at this point.
So, what did our readers think of this somewhat controversial read? As, one would hope for, there was a mixed bag of responses, ranging from those who thought it would be a rerun of Anne Frank’s diary, and after a few pages decided it was not for them, to those who found it extremely informative regarding the treatment of Jews in the Netherlands in World War ll.
The discussion opened the doors to consideration of other media on the same topic e.g. the film, The Children’s Train, the television coverage of interviews with Holocaust survivors, the children’s book, In My Pocket, written by Dorritt Sim who lived for many years in Prestwick, and the achievements of Nicholas Winton who rescued 669 children from Czechoslovakia, sparing them from the horrors of the death camps.
Finally, a teeny bit of a spoiler! Bart Vanes had a personal reason for the research he undertook, which he later published under the title, The Cut Out Girl. He was digging into his family’s past, and, as anyone who has done any work on their family tree will know, you do not always get the answers you expect or would wish for. So readers, I will leave you with that thought!
Whatever you are reading, enjoy!
Novella Reid
November 2024
Hello readers,
Perhaps it is too early to wish you all a merry Christmas, but, at the November book club meeting, we certainly had a fantastically, festive time with lots of seasonal good wishes in the air.
As well as our usual comestibles, the tables, resplendent with Christmas accessories, were laden with mince pies, sweets and festive nibbles! Thanks are due to the Christmas elves responsible for all of the above treats.
Did we have time to discuss any books in the midst of all the feasting?
“Oh yes, we did!”
This month was a ‘bring and tell’ opportunity where we could talk about our favourite books ; always a very popular activity. Our readers’ faces fairly shone with enthusiasm as they told us about books that had made a lasting impression on them. The Island of Wings by Karin Altenberg, Glasgow Boys by Margaret Mcdonald, The Country Girls by Edna O’Brien and A Prayer for Owen Meanie by John Irving were all mentioned, perhaps something there to add to your Christmas list.
Of course, no Christmas party would be complete without a visit from Santa Claus, and, because it is early in the Season, he managed to fit us in to his busy schedule! He was in exceedingly good spirits, and added much hilarity to the proceedings. We all received a gift, no doubt because we had all been so good, while Santa kept us entertained with stories, mainly to do with the names of people in his family, but, alas, that is a tale for another time.
And so, the meeting drew to a very merry conclusion. I have decided though, it is not too early for Christmas greetings! So…
‘ Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!’
See you all in January!
Novella Reid
October 2024
Hello readers,
A very BOOky Hallowe’en to you all!
This month we have had an unusual situation! The first group to read, You are what you Read, by Jodie Jackson, advised the second group not to read it! They said it was more like a lecture than a novel. So, it was agreed that we had all had enough lectures in our lives and did not want another one!
So, moving swiftly on, the toffee apple was won by, A man called Ove, by Frederik Buckman! Most of our readers enjoyed this book with a few finding it a wee bit depressing and grey in the style of many Scandinavian novels.
Some likened it to, One foot in the Grave, with the character of Ove being similar in many ways to Victor Meldrew. Most readers found these bungled plan incidents quietly amusing, not in a laughing out loud way, more of a gentle chuckle.
Some readers wondered if any of the character of a novel is lost in translation. Others noted that Swedish Social Work procedures for dealing with the elderly appeared to be significantly different to our own. Some commented on the difference that young people can make to an elderly person’s life, as happened to Ove.
Of course, it has been made into a film, A man called Otto, starring Tom Hanks, and the comparisons between the film and the book were considered at length with the film judged to have been a good representation of the book.
So, maybe, A man called Ove, is one to try. We would certainly give it a thumbs up.
Our book club takes place on the last Tuesday of each month (NOT December) from 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm in the Education Pavillion behind Burns Cottage. Please, feel free to come along and join in the fun. There is a small charge of £2 for tea/coffee and cakes /scones.
Happy reading!
Novella Reid
September 2024
It is hard to believe that September is coming to an end, and that another book club meeting has been and gone!
The book club operates on a two month, two book cycle. On the first month, our readers separate into two groups to discuss their chosen books, and on the second month everyone comes together to discuss both books. Our September meeting was the second month in this cycle so everyone came together to discuss both books.
We have already looked at Richard Osman’s first novel, The Thursday Murder Club, last month, but it was interesting to note that readers in the second group were a little more critical and thought that the book should be categorised as a ‘crime farce’. However, everyone agreed that it will be interesting to see the film which is due out next year.
The other book under discussion, another first novel, was The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer. This book deals with the disappearance of eight-year-old Carmel from a storytelling festival. Most of our readers thought that, although this book was about an abduction, it did not follow the expected course, instead, the plot, with its many twists and turns was unexpected and original. Readers also commented that the use of the past tense for the chapters spoken by Beth, Carmel’s mother, and the use of the present tense for Carmel’s, added to the overall successful portrayal of a mother’s despair, and the never-ending hope that Carmel had of being reunited with her mother.
It was also noted that, through Carmel’s distinctive observations and descriptions, characters and environments were brought to life in truly amazing detail.
Some of our readers felt that there were several aspects of the plot that would have benefited from further clarification, but overall, our readers felt that this is a book well worth reading.
Happy reading!
Novella Reid
August 2024
Our August meeting found me in the group charged with discussing Richard Osman’s first novel, The Thursday Murder Club. The ‘murder mystery’ genre proved not to be a favourite with everyone, but most of our readers conceded that Osman had created humorous scenes and witty dialogue through the antics of his elderly and sometimes outrageous characters.
The plot, with its many murders and twists and turns, which a few felt to be unrealistic, was judged to have been made more convincing by the inclusion of descriptions of the physical and mental health issues faced by the elderly characters and their loved ones.
Overall, our group felt that this was a light-hearted read that made a good case for living in a retirement village!
Novella Reid
Book Club Celebrates 11th Birthday
Members of the Book Club at Burns Cottage get stuck in to a mighty chocolate cake at their last meeting on the 29th of February 2024. They ‘re celebrating eleven years since they first started!
They meet on the last Tuesday of every month at 2pm in the Education Pavilion beside Burns Cottage. New members are always welcome.
The club works in partnership with the Carnegie Library and it’s free to borrow the books. There’s a charge of £2 for tea or coffee and cake or a scone.
One of the main criteria for the choice of book is that people are likely to disagree about whether they like it or not. That was most definitely not the case with one of the current books, Still Life by Sarah Winman. Everyone loved it! But all for different reasons – so the discussion was still lively.
Alison Wilson
2023 Book Club Christmas Party
It’s that time of year again and hasn’t this year gone quickly.
The members of the Book Club got together last week for the last meeting of the year and as usual we had a visitor wearing a beautiful red suit and a glorious beard. Gifts of selection boxes were handed out which were much appreciated by all the members..This year Santa ’s voice had a definite feminine tone. Who exactly was behind that beard?
Our Book Club continues to offer a wide choice of reading material and along with a scone and a welcoming cup of tea it’s a great way to spend the last Tuesday of the month.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE
The 10th Anniversary of the RBBM Book Club
Another celebration took place last week at the February meeting of the RBBM Book Club. The cutting of yet another beautiful cake marked our 10th Anniversary. Jennifer and Ann who were present at the very first meeting did the honours. Most of our members were there to hear Chris Waddell, the Learning Manager at RBBM, congratulate the club on its continued success.
Several new members have joined over the last few months. It’s always good to have different views and perspectives expressed during our discussions.
The club members also expressed their thanks to Evelyn (a founder member) for doing the most important task … organising the tea, coffee and scones and sending out information to members.
Gill Napier & Isobel Baird
Autumn 2023
2 Lady wizards joined our BURNS BIRTHPLACE BOOK CLUB on the 31st October to weave their magic and help to make the meeting go sweetly with lots of goodies to enjoy. A spell binding afternoon was had by all.
Autumn 2022
The Burns Cottage Book Club had a very special visitor yesterday. Santa managed to find time between his Christmas preparations and gardening duties to pop in to see the members and say Hello. On the promise of being good everyone was rewarded with a selection box and a cheery wave when he left. Many of the book club members carried on the Christmas spirit with an early festive night out to Cecchinis.
Book Club 7th Birthday
Today the Burns Birthplace Book Club celebrated its 7th Birthday in the customary style with a beautiful birthday cake. Chris Waddell RBBM’s Learning Manager came along to cut the cake wishing the Club continued success. The members thanked him for his support and taking time out of his busy schedule to join us.
Friends of Robert Burns Birthplace Museum 