University of the West of Scotland was delighted to host alumni and friends for the annual Burns Celebration recently at UWS Paisley Campus.

Following a welcome drinks reception, guests were seated in the Chancellor’s Hall to enjoy haggis, neeps & tatties, poetry and musical performances.

Dr Billy Kay, renowned Scottish writer and broadcaster from Ayrshire who has dedicated his career to celebrating Scotland’s cultural heritage, performed Burns’ ‘Tam o’ Shanter’ to an enthralled audience. Known for his work on Scots language and literature, Billy has spoken extensively on Robert Burns, including a prestigious lecture at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Billy was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from UWS in 2009.

As tradition dictates, the haggis was piped into the hall by UWS piper Jody Young, who also recited ‘Address to a Haggis’ – a poem written by Robert Burns in 1786.

Guests were then treated to musical performances from BA Commercial Music students Lorna Lynne and Morrie Dolan. Lorna joined the celebration fresh from her first ever tour with the band Pistol Daisys, playing two shows in the legendary Barrowland Ballroom with Callum Beattie. 22-year-old Morrie Dolan has just released her debut EP “Disaster” and is on track to release her second EP at the end of March 2025.

The evening was brought to a close with UWS graduate, poet, performer and Scriever at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway, Simon Lamb. His role celebrates Burns’ legacy and Scottish literature through the creation of new work.

Simon performed his poem ‘Friday Night Treat’, a nod to Scotland’s second favourite supper; fish and chips, to round off a fantastic celebration of Robert Burns.