Wreath Laying in George Square Glasgow

23 January 2010

Following my attendance at the St Mungo’s Day Liturgy in Glasgow Cathedral earlier in the month it was a pleasure to return to the ‘Dear Green Place’ at the invitation of the Glasgow and District Association of Burns Clubs to lay a wreath at the Burns Statue in George Square on behalf of the Federation. We met in the City Chambers and after an introduction by President of the Association, Jane Jack, and a welcome from Deputy Lord Provost, Baillie Allan Stewart, we were led across the Square by piper Dougie Melvin.

I had the honour of saying a few words before the laying of the wreaths and chose as my theme words from Burns’ song The Sodger’s Return.

For gold the merchant ploughs the main,
The farmer ploughs the manor;
Bur glory is the sodger’s prize,
The sodger’s wealth is honor!
The brave poor sodger ne’er despise,
Nor count him as a stranger,
Remember, he’s his country’s stay,
In day and hour of danger.

After the ceremony we were treated to a cuppa and sandwiches in the Parish Church Hall and royally entertained by the winners of the Glasgow Association’s children’s competitions. Masterful recitations from Fraser Kent and Leona Logan were complemented by lovely singing from the Wellshot Choir (who also sang at the monument as pictured), and the afternoon rounded off appropriately with a spirited rendition of Auld Lang Syne by the hale company.