Greenock Burns Club host workshop for local school pupils

Greenock Burns Club teamed up with the Beacon Arts Centre to teach Ardgowan Primary pupils about the life and works of Robert Burns and celebrate Scottish traditions.  

The youngsters spent part of the morning being shown around the club’s exhibition and archive room at Customhouse Quay in groups before being piped over to the Beacon for a series of engaging sessions focussed on Burns and the Scots language.

The workshops, which were the first the club has run for local schools this year, are part of the club’s wider education programme aimed at teaching local people young and old about the bard’s works.

Club member Grace McKelvie, who helped organise the sessions, told the Telegraph she was delighted to get underway with another year of activities.

She said: “This is the first workshop we’re having with the boys and girls this year and we’re delighted to welcome Ardgowan.

“Our workshops are different this year and that’s because of the feedback we’ve had from teachers in the schools last year.

“It’s a full day workshop split between ourselves and the Beacon, so we’re working in partnership with them.

“In the morning they’re getting a tour of the exhibition and archive room and then in the afternoon we’re playing traditional games, looking at Scots words and thinking about songs and rhymes that are traditional to Scotland.

“Any visit outside school is of benefit to the children, but here they’re working with people who have a deep love of Burns and are steeped in it.

“They can talk to them about it and learn from their knowledge.

“What we try to do with our workshops is tailor it and look at Burns’ connection with Greenock and Inverclyde, that’s very important to us.

“We’ve got Highland Mary and of course Burns was an exciseman and we’re based here in the custom and excise room.

“It’s wonderful having the boys and girls along and we hope they enjoyed their time here.”