IRVINE Burns Club marked a historic moment last week when President Peter Latham presented long-serving director Bill Cowan with the Hon President Medal at a special dinner in the Wellwood Burns Centre & Museum.
The surprise announcement was warmly received, and Bill was delighted to accept the honour during the club’s bicentenary year.
Bill is the club’s longest serving director and only the second person in its 200-year history to hold the title of Hon President.
The first was James Wilson OBE, appointed in 2019. Like his father, philanthropist Clement Wilson, James had previously served as club president and was an honorary member.
It was Bill - himself an honorary member - who originally proposed that James Wilson receive the distinction.
The evening also welcomed new members into the fold. President Peter presented membership certificates to John Millington and Colin Gunn.
John currently serves as Master of Lodge Irvine St Andrew No. 149 - the same office held by Dr John McKenzie, the club’s first president, when the club was founded in 1826.
Colin is a past master and the Lodge’s current secretary.
In recognition of the historic ties between the two organisations - eight of the club’s founder members belonged to the Irvine Lodge - John and Colin presented a commemorative plaque marking the 200-year connection.
The principal speaker for the evening was the Hon Adam Robert Bruce WS, whose father, the Earl of Elgin, is one of the club’s honorary members.
Now aged 102, the Earl sent his warmest good wishes to the club in its bicentenary year.
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