July 2026
Symphonic Pride in Full Colour
I had a great visit to the City Halls in Glasgow. It was for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra’s Symphonic Pride hosted by Bryan Burnett. What a fantastic night and such a feel good atmosphere.
Bryan was in great for with his chat. My favourite tune was a full-orchestra Pink Pony Club. It was nice to see the rainbow colours on the musicians.
From Farm To Fork
I was visiting the Jack & the Beanstalk Farm in Dumbarton with GLASCHU Head Chef Conner Magee. Connor was looking at all the fresh produce the farm has on offer. GLASCHU was having a one-night dining experience celebrating the farmers, growers and artisan producers the Royal Exchange Square restaurant has on its doorstep. There was so much great produce on show. It is really true that the more local and home grown really does taste better.
Strike a Pose
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for their Honorary Graduations is always a great day with such a buzz in the room. Christopher Bruce CBE with his Honorary Doctorate from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with graduates from the RCS School of Dance. They all, when asked, did strike a pose.
The Burns Supper 225 Years Old
I didn’t know but Two hundred and twenty-five years after the first Burns Supper was held at Burns Cottage in Alloway, Scotland, a new study of the celebrations was held during the anniversary year shows that the tradition, now marked around the world, retains many of the customs established at the original supper.
The research by the University of Glasgow, The Burns Supper at 225 Years: Scottish Tradition, Global Reinvention – draws on more than 1000 Burns Suppers held across 75 countries and all seven continents during this anniversary year.
Like the first Burns Supper, held on 21 July 1801 by nine admirers and friends of Robert Burns to mark the 5th anniversary of his death aged just 37, the traditions established more than 225 years ago continue to unite the poet’s enthusiasts. Pictured in Burn’s Cottage are Research Associate Dr Cleo O’Callaghan Yeoman with Professor Pauline Mackay, Director of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies at The University of Glasgow.
It did seem very different with having haggis and a Burn Supper in July but I thought a nice picture of Professor Pauline Mackay with Chris Waddell, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum’s Learning Manager reading his book of Burns in the background in the gardens of the Cottage with the huge Robert Burns figure in the distance.
