The Eskdale Burns Club was founded in 1886 and joined the Robert Burns World Federation in 1913. The federation’s mission is ‘to promote, educate and celebrate the life and works of Robert Burns and Scotland’s heritage, language and culture’. It was established in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, in 1855, with Kilmarnock Burns Club being listed as number 0 out of an initial eight. Eskdale is number 217.

‘Rabbie’ Burns was a poet and lyricist who at different times was also a farmer and exciseman, travelling widely through Dumfriesshire. It is unknown whether he visited Langholm.

Outside the war years, the Eskdale Burns Club met monthly, hosted occasional talks and held an annual Burns supper around the time of his birthday (25th January).

The chairman in 1914 was Clement Armstrong (1869-1943), coal agent, and the secretary was William Pendreigh (1847-1915), also a coal agent.

The 1914 annual supper was held at the Crown Hotel with the main toasts being proposed as follows:

• Imperial Forces: Hugh Robson, customs and excise officer.
• The Immortal Memory (of Burns): Robert Hamilton, rector of Langholm Academy.
• Town and Trade: Rev John Seaton, Episcopal Church minister.
• The Lassies: John Young Mackie, teacher.
• Our Local Poets: Clement Armstrong.

A large repertoire of musical performances and recitations followed, concluding with Auld Lang Syne.

< Eskdale and Liddesdale Archaeological Society … Langholm Library >