Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

Fiddler, Burns Night, Glasgow

This evening, I attended a Burns Night Supper in Glasgow arranged by the local centre of Scotland’s National Trust.

The programme was as follows:

• There was a lad
• Fiddle selection by Hugh MacGilp
• The Immortal Memory
• Songs by harpist, Pauline Vallance.
• Toast to the Lassies by Iain McGillivray
• Green Grow the Rashes
• Fiddle selection by Hugh MacGilp
• A rendition of Tam o’Shanter by George Robertson
• Songs by harpist, Pauline Vallance
• Vote of Thanks by John Foote
• Auld Lang Syne

Sangs and Clatter, Burns Night, Glasgow

Toast to the Lassies, Burns Night, Scotland

Reply for the Lasses, Burns Night, Glasgow

Harpist with Clasarch Harp, Burns Night, Glasgow

An enjoyable and convivial evening.

Town Centre, Dumfries, Scotland

This evening, I am focusing on Dumfries, the largest town in South-West Scotland which has a long history. The name may derive from a combination of Dun (fort) and praes (thicket) which could indicate settlement dating back to the Iron-Age (about 2000 years ago). A summary of the last 1000 years is provided below.

• Established as a small village in AD1100 in the then separate Kingdom of Galloway. Subsequently grew in size and importance to become the Royal Burgh of Dumfries within 100 years.
• Castle founded in 1185 and replaced by a stone castle in the 1260s.By the 13th century three more castles had been built.
• In February 1306 Robert the Bruce stabbed John Comyn to death in Greyfrairs Church, an act which facilitated Bruce’s control of the Scottish Crown.
• Seven Trade Guilds established  by the late 1500s.
• From earliest times the town was empowered to hold two weekly markets.
• In the 17th century, Dumfries was embroiled in the religious strife linked to covenanting
• In the 18th century  (Dec 1745) the army of Bonnie Prince Charlie occupied Dumfries and demanded a fine of two thousand pounds.
• Dumfries prospered on the back of a diversity of trades and industries including tanning, leatherworking, shoe-making, clog making, saddlery, brewing, distilling and milling. Hatmaking  prospered briefly but failed by the 1860s. Hosiery and tweed manufacture were also important in the 19th century.
• During the early part of the 20th century a motor car industry flourished. There was the Arrol-Johnson car and then the Galloway car.
• Perhaps the town’s best claim to fame is via the Robert Burns connection. The poet visited Dumfries in 1787  to purchase a farm and moved into a new house there in 1789. Burns died at Dumfries in 1796 age 37 years. Below is an image of the Globe Inn where Burns was a regular customer. 

Globe Inn, Dunfries, Scotland

I usually include a visit to Dumfries in my tours of the Scottish Borders.

James Watt Display at Kelvingrove

This evening, I am focusing on James Watt, a Glasgow based inventor and mechanical engineer who, through his refinement of the steam engine, was a key influence on the rise in global prosperity as a function on the Industrial Revolution.

Watt’s life spanned the years 1736-1819.  It was during his time making instruments at Glasgow University  that Watt made a design improvement to the Newcomen Steam Engine by addition of a separate condenser which greatly improved the efficiency of the engine which went on to power the Industrial Revolution and thereby create a huge rise in wealth and living standards.

The catalyst for his invention occurred whilst strolling on Glasgow Green  in the form of a ‘brain wave’.  Glasgow Green remains an open space and public park today.

Watt teamed up with a business partner named Boulton to form Boulton and Watt in order to commercialise his invention. This firm proved a success with Watt living to a good age of 82 years by which time he had accumulated substantial peersonal wealth. 

Glasgow Green, Glasgow, Scotland

Nelson's Monument, Glasgow Green, Scotland

There is a statue of James Watt in George Square, Glasgow and a small section dedicated to him at Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. Clearly, one of Glasgow’s most famous sons.