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Free talk on Burns’ legendary romance in Bathgate

by Rebecca Garrett 25 January, 2012

You are invited to a free talk by a top Rabbie Burns scholar in Bathgate Partnership Centre.

Professor Gerard Carruthers, of Glasgow University, will speak about Burns pledging his love to Mary Campbell – or Highland Mary - as part of West Lothian Hidden Literary Connections.

The event marks the restoration by Bathgate Historic Conservation Society of the town's marble Victorian statue depicting Robert Burns pledging his love to Highland Mary.

Professor Carruthers will speak about some of the recent discoveries and research which has shed some light on the mystery and myth surrounding Burns' romance with Mary Campbell.

Executive councillor for culture and leisure, Jim Walker, said: “We are delighted that Professor Carruthers will speak at this event which is both close to Burns’ birthday and the restoration of the Victorian statue depicting Robert Burns and Highland Mary.

"West Lothian’s Hidden Literary Connections is an innovative way to enable local people of all ages to gain an insight into the impact that West Lothian has had on the written word.”

The one-hour talk will take place on Friday, January 27, at 1.15pm.

The event is free, but pre-booking is recommended.

To book a place or for more information, contact localhistory@westlothian.gov.uk or 01506 282491.


25 January, 2012 | 3:59:36

Rebecca Garrett says

Keeping with the Burns theme, Bathgate’s famous 130-year-old sculpture of the Bard has been restored to its former glory and unveiled at a special Burns Day event in the town.

The marble monument was gifted to Bathgate town council in 1952 and put on public display, but by the 1970s vandals knocked off the heads and broke off the arms and legs, and the monument was put in storage.

Back in 2009 it was found in Kirkton Park, and a local fundraising campaign got underway to help bring the sculpture back to its former glory.

The fully restored sculpture of Scotland’s most celebrated Bard has now found a new home in the garden of West Lothian Council’s new Bathgate Partnership Centre.

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