The daughter of the founder president of Largs Cronies Burns Club was the guest speaker at the President’s Dinner at the Village Inn, Fairlie, last week.

Eileen Doris Bremner, who has returned to the town to live in the Broomfields home of her late father, Councillor Dan Doris, told the audience that he had passed on a love and appreciation of Robert Burns to her, writes Drew Cochrane.

A former producer with Grampian Television, Eileen focused on the entirely English poetry of the Ayrshire bard, having written a book on the subject.

She pointed out that more than a hundred of Burns’ poems were written in English because, even back in the 18th century, some people could not understand the Scottish and Ayrshire dialects. Today her gift book was popular, particularly with tourists.

She quoted, as an example, that the poem ‘Man Was Made To Mourn’ and the song ‘Flow Gently, Sweet Afton’ were entirely English. Famous English authors, the Brontes, John Keats and William Wordsworth were fans as was famous American president, Abraham Lincoln.

Eileen also illustrated that his many letters, written in perfect English, gave an insight into the man who was Robert Burns.

Cronies president, Robert Honeyman, thanked Eileen for her perceptive analysis and he introduced former professional singer and harpist Maggie MacInnes to underline the speaker’s address with renditions of ‘Ye Banks And Braes’ and ‘Ae Fond Kiss’ in both English and Gaelic.

Maggie, a fellow solicitor with Mr Honeyman, is the daughter of international Gaelic singer and musician, Flora McNeill.

The evening’s raffle raised money for the Cronies’ club annual schools’ Burns competitions. Vice-president David Gault revealed in his vote that he had gone to Largs High School with Eileen and they both attended a class of ‘51 reunion a few years ago. He thanked everyone for a successful and enjoyable evening.