Burns in Bo'ness

The Sonic screwdriver does it again!

The Bard and I visited the delightful small town of Bo'ness on the banks of the River Forth today. We were in Kinneil Primary where an enthusiastic group of p4-7 were given the Bard's life story. They were already well informed especially p7 who are currently covering this in some detail but also the younger ones, one of whom managed to recite To a Louse in a very convincing manner! Indeed the whole class joined in with the bulk of the poem in a very enthusiastic way.... Well done to all concerned ;o)

Auld Lang Syne

As ever a big thanks to the teachers for taking the photos....

Burns in Cardenden

The Bard and I visited Cardenden Primary today (currently sharing premises with Denend School) here in Fife to talk to a group of around 50 enthusiastic young people.

This town hosts the Burns Club I am currently president of - Bowhill People's Burns Club - so it was great to see the young people well informed and able to list a good range of works of the Bard. These pupils take part in the annual competition run by the Club and it was wonderful to be able to give them some new ideas for songs and poems.

As ever the Mouse and Twa Dugs were a hit....

....but Lousey caused many laughs this time too!

A classic Burns piece and one well worth the learning for any budding competitors.
The pupils were especially enthusiastic during the singing so well done to them all for that! Finally, a big thanks to the teachers who took the photos for me too.

Burns in Blairgowrie

The Bard and I visited Rattray Primary in Blairgowrie today to talk to around 100 very interested youngsters and some interested teachers too! The pupils were very well behaved and sat on a hard floor for well over an hour listening most attentively and joining in where invited.
P5 at the front were especially vocal during the singing and their enthusiasm was well appreciated by yours truly!

Keen to answer questions and fairly knowledgeable these young people did the school proud.
Hopefully we have given them some enthusiasm for the bard and they will go onto some further study of RB's life and works. Thanks to John for the photos and to the canteen staff for lunch!
As ever the mousey and the Twa Dugs elicited a BIG awwwwww and were well received by young and old.

His hair, his size, his mouth, his lugs, Shew'd he was nane o' Scotland's dogs
But whalpit some place far abroad, Whare sailors gang to fish for cod.

Burns in Wormit

Wormit Primary: P6 & 7

The Bard and I were delighted to visit the charming village of Wormit in Fife, today.

With a delightful view over the River Tay, this school seems a wonderful place to learn. The children were very well behaved and the staff very friendly. We spent a very pleasant hour and a half talking about Scotland's Bard. The youngsters - from P6 & 7 - proved quite knowledgable and very enthusiastic. They also sang well and scored a 7/10 on my totally arbitary scale.

Moosey proves a hit again...as did the Twa Dugs and even the cuddly louse!
The cup of coffee after was very welcome too.....and a huge thanks to the teacher who took the photos for me.

Auld Lang Syne

Burns in Donibristle: Fife

The Bard and I travelled to Doibristle Primary school today to deliver a show in front of a large crowd! Over 200 youngsters enthusiastically listened to RB's story with off-shoots into the Jacobites and Bannockburn..

The Twa Dugs steal the show

The youngsters were well informed about Bannockburn having re-enacted it last year! Their knowledge of Burns was a little patchy but they showed much enthusiasm joining in songs with gusto. The behaviour in such a large group was superb and they are a credit to themselves and the school. Well done all!...and a special thanks to the teacher who took the photos for me...

Burns in Abernethy...again!

The Bard and I were delighted to return to the village of Abernethy. This time to visit the primary school.

P6 & 7 were an attentive audience in this new (2002) school.

The Twa Dugs steal the show (again)

Although needing some prompting to join in the singing(!) their knowledge of some of Burns work was not bad at all: especially Tam O Shanter, the story of which they managed to tell me in detail.

Auld Lang Syne with enthusiasm!

A big thanks to Ian and Abernethy Burns Club for sponsoring this event and also for taking the photos....

Burns in Carnock: St Andrew's Day

The Bard and I spent St Andrew's Day at the lovely village school in Carnock, Fife, after some initial problems finding the way into the school car-park ("Go back OUT of the village and turn into the housing estate....."). In a well decorated hall, with many pupils sporting some tartan for the day, Burns story once again entertained and educated.

The pupils listened well and joined in with the singing enthusiastically. Several in particular were keen to answer questions, with P4/5 doing especially well about the Jacobite period.

It was great to see all the tartan for St Andrew's day and always a pleasure to work with an enthusiastic group of young people, who also asked some interesting questions at the end. With special thanks to the teacher who took the photos.