Est. 1884

Cupar Burns Club

 

 

I was born and educated in Forfar, Angus and on leaving school I commenced a five-year apprenticeship as an Agricultural/Industrial Engineer. During this period I studied at Dundee College of Technology and was awarded a Higher National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering with distinction.

 

National Service in the Royal Engineers resulted with me serving in the Canal Zone, Egypt and in Jordan. There, as a Deputy Clerk of Works with the rank of Corporal, I was involved in the completion of a variety of engineering projects whilst supervising both servicemen and civilians.
On return to my civilian occupation I was promoted to Foreman Engineer and later to Service Manager. I also enlisted in a Territorial Army Regiment of the Royal Engineers and served for a number of years as a Warrant Officer - Clerk of Works, based at Royal Air Force Leuchars.

On deciding to change career, I became a Further Education Lecturer of Engineering in Barony College, Dumfries and was later promoted to Senior Lecturer. I then moved to Elmwood College in Cupar and was subsequently promoted to Head of the Engineering Department.
During my time in Further Education I became an Examiner of Engineering subjects with City and Guilds of London Institute. My experience in this work led to a British Council secondment to Accra in Ghana to teach examination techniques to Lecturers from Colleges and Universities throughout Ghana.

Having had a life long interest in the Works of Robert Burns, and, whilst in Dumfries, I attended Burns Suppers at The Hole i’the Wa’ Burns Club. On moving to Cupar in 1974, I became a member of Cupar Burns Club No. 62. To date, I have served as a Committee Member, Vice-President, Secretary (for sixteen years) and convener of the Schools Competitions. Throughout my membership of Cupar Burns Club, I have enjoyed being involved in organizing our Annual Anniversary Dinners, the St Andrew’s Night Ceilidhs, the Eventide Homes Burns Suppers, the annual Schools’ Burns Competitions, the Annual Outings to places associated with the Bard, the 1996 bi-centenary celebrations and the 2009-250th Anniversary of the Birth of Robert Burns.
I am honoured to be a past-President of the Strathmore Speakers Club and past- Convener of the Kirriemuir Branch of the Saltire Society. Currently I am President of the Fife Association of Burns Clubs and, of Kirriemuir and District Probus Club. I have been a Church of Scotland Elder for some 33 years, serving first in the Parish Church of Cupar Old and, currently, in the Glens and Kirriemuir Old Parish Church. When time allows, I enjoy gardening, D.I.Y., reading, bowling, hill-walking and studying literature pertaining to the Life and Works of Robert Burns and to Scottish History.

I have been happily married to Frances for 52 years, Her support throughout my endeavours cannot be measured. We are blessed with a daughter, two sons, four grand-sons and four grand-daughters.
 

Robert Stewart