COLDSTREAM BRIDGE CEREMONY

On May 7^th 1787 along with his pal Robert Ainslie, Robert Burns during his visit to the Borders crossed the Tweed Bridge in Coldstream for his first visit to England. It was reported that on Leaving Scottish soil and entering English land Burns went down one knee at the Tweed Bridge and recited the last two verses of ‘The Cotters Saturday Night’ which begin O Scotia!  My dear, my native soil!....

On Sunday 10^th May 2009, 222 years later, Coldstream Burns Club to celebrate this 250^th anniversary year of the birth of Robert Burns re-enacted that very event on the banks of the Tweed Bridge. Over 100 members and Friends of the Club including myself and fellow ‘Howffers’ Treasurer David Baird, Past President David Miller, Secretary David Smith and Honorary member Jane Brown, we joined the procession from the centre of the Borders Town to walk behind the two pipers and the Coldstream Burns Club banner across the Bridge into England and assembled under the Bridge awaiting the arrival of ‘Robert’s, Burns and Ainslie’. Arriving to loud cheers ‘Robert Burns’ dis mounted his horse kneeled on one knee and proceeded to read the lines from ‘The Cotters Saturday Night’ After Toasts to Robert Burns and To Coldstream Burns Club it was back over the Bridge where, I on behalf of the Howff Club laid a wreath at the plaque commemorating Burns ‘arrival in England’.

An absolutely brilliant afternoon of entertainment was then laid on at the towns’ community centre where after an inspirational address by World President Bill Dawson, many members and friends of the Coldstream Burns Club entertained.

Chairman Rob Smith extended a welcome to many guests from the Robert Burns World Federation and neighbouring clubs and asked for a ‘special welcome’ to the members of the Howff Club! Rob said they were honoured that we (Howff Club) could attend and be part of their special afternoon. We has Howff members could only insist that the pleasure was ours at once again being invited and to be part of a very special celebration.

This concluded my second engagement in my first 10 days as Howff President. Sunday 3^rd May was the Langholm Ladies ‘Literary luncheon’ in the Buccleuch Centre Langholm on the ‘songs of Burns’ which was most enjoyable and friendly and before the trip to Coldstream along with many other Howff members  I attended the Theatre Royal in Dumfries to watch the Dumfries Musical and Operatic Society in the performance of ‘Red Red Rose’ a musical jointly written and directed by John Cairney and Geoff Davidson. Well done to the DMOS for a most enjoyable performance.

JOHN M CASKIE

HOWFF CLUB PRESIDENT