I’ve been told that blog entries should be short and punchy so here goes.  The Treasure Hunt on 14^th July was memorable for several reasons but was conducted in an atmosphere of good humour and a violent thunderstorm. As one of the invigilators, I had to stay off the sauce but congratulations are due to the winning team for their prowess in deciphering the cryptic clues and spotting the deliberate misteak. Thanks also due to Gordon Johnston and David Baird for compiling the clues. David Miller was sadly missed.  The Globe Inn “Jacobean Night” on 15^th July was great fun and the Hog Roast was delicious. The following night was the annual dinner and muster of the Royal Dumfries Volunteers in Burns‘Room, under the genial chairmanship of Col. Arent De Peyster (AKA Chris Lyon) and the induction to the Corp of David Miller whose soubriquet is the Rev. Babington.  The dinner was what we have come to expect from the Globe and some strong drink was taken. This included copious quantities of red wine and as a result, the latter stages are now a mist.  David Baird was obliged to lay off the sauce as he had to drive to Ayr and Alloway on the following morning to attend the Ayrshire commemorative events, representing the president of the RBWF. I successfully gave that a body swerve this year. The Brow Well Service was held on 21^st July in beautiful weather although the turnout was poor in comparison with last year. Mike Duguid delivered the oration, attending his first official engagement since his serious accident and David Baird presided for the last time as president of the SSCBA. The Rev. Neil Campbell conducted the devotions and the social evening at the Bruce was enjoyable and well MC’d by Jane Brown. Saturday 24^th July was a day of events in Edinburgh held by the Edinburgh Association of Burns Clubs marking Burns’ death and started at 10.30am with a ceremony at the Burns Monument at Calton Hill which included an address by Professor David Purdie and some songs for others.  The party were bussed to the City Chambers for a reception by the Lord Provost and then bussed to Lodge Liberton 1001, for a reciting competition when the competitors included Gordon Johnston who delivered Burns’ “The Inventory”. A simple meal of haggis, neeps and tatties followed and a social evening took place until club delegates retired to their digs at the foot of Liberton Brae. Bright-eyed and bushy tailed on the following morn, the president and Librarian returned to Dumfries and the Treasurer and Secretary journeyed to Kilmarnock to attend the commemorative event at Kilmarnock Cross at 2.00pm. At least, that was the plan but the diversions due to road works meant that unscheduled visits were made to Muirkirk, Newmilns and Mauchline before reaching Kilmarnock at 12noon when several mugs of strong coffee at Witherspoons were consumed. The ceremony was notable for a scurrilous reference by the president of Kilmarnock Burns Club who claimed that “Ayrshire nurtured the poet and Dumfries killed him” but Mr Baird put him right in no uncertain manner during his speech to the company afterwards. Leaving Killie, it was intended to call in at the Globe’s BBQ in the Close in the afternoon but by this time, your blogger was fatigued and decided to head for home.

An approach was made to the Alloway Trust in 2008 for permission to make facsimiles of the window panes from the Globe Inn with inscriptions by Burns in time for the Globe’s 400^th anniversary in 2010. The panes had been removed from the Globe in the 1830’s and found their way to the Alloway Museum. They were less than helpful initially and the Museum was acquired by the National Trust for Scotland in 2009. After 18 months of negotiation, they agreed to a visit by club officers to inspect the panes and agree the best way to make copies.  Accordingly, on 30^th July, the president and secretary travelled to Hopetown House, South Queensferry, to the NTS conservation workshops were the panes were being “conserved” and met up with a specialist glazier from a firm in Glasgow. The NTS staff was reluctant to allow the glazier to make a tracing of the inscriptions but agreed to digitally photograph the panes which meant manhandling the fragile glass on to a board with a heavy camera mounted on a stand above. What fun. Our glazier, Matt Sempie , from Hurry Bros. was enthusiastic and promised an early result. Hopefully, the facsimiles will be ready for display this year. Wednesday 4^th August, out to Radio Solway with the librarian to listen to a magnetic tape recording of a club function in 1965. Previous attempts to play the tape were unsuccessful but Radio Solway agreed to try it on the studio equipment. This worked and the tape of a St. Andrew’s Night Dinner was hilarious. Things don’t change much over the years as the chairman was long winded and there was much background noise but this is an important club historical artefact and it is hoped to convert the tapes to minidisc. Saturday 14^th August, the club outing to Cockermouth and Whitehaven, 14 members and friends were conveyed by luxury minibus to Jennings Brewery for a guided tour which included three half pints of different strength ales. The beer was excellent and the tour fascination. This was followed by lunch on the premises before travelling to Whitehaven to the Beacon Centre for a visit and a walking tour of the historic Harbour area, by a local tour guide. Another highly enjoyable afternoon in first class weather. The return journey included a stop near Carlisle at “John’s Plaice” for a mammoth fish & chip supper. An excellent day with thanks and congratulations due to Neil Johnston for organising the itinerary.  A meeting of the Renovations Sub Committee on Monday 16^th August when good progress was made in the programme to upgrade the clubroom and anteroom. The club’s Fish Supper Night was held in the Globe Inn on Thursday 19^th August and proved to be an outstanding success for the excellence of the fish & chips from Peter Domicelli at the Midsteeple and the awesome entertainment which included a performance of a parody of Burns’ “Twa Dugs” by Gordon Johnston and David Miller with narration by David Baird. Gordon who played the posh dug, sported a bowler hat which made him a dead ringer for Stan Laurel. The highlight of a superb night was the magical accordion of James Coutts. Neil’s year goes from strength to strength. On the following morning, the treasurer, librarian and secretary foregathered to calculate the income and were pleased to report a modest profit with thanks to the Globe Inn for their input.  Saturday 21^st August, assisted with the street collection for Children 1st and enough said except an enjoyable lunch in the Globe afterwards. On the way back to Gordon McKerrow’s office with the cans and things, Ted Murray who still had a balloon, made towards an urchin and offered her said balloon but fortunately she ran off which perhaps was just as well.   A welcome break from the Executive Committee in July and August but all good things come to an end and the next meeting is due on 30^th August.  DS