Schools, nurseries and youth groups across the region have signed up for what is proving to be a popular free fun and educational resource for the January Burns season in Dumfries.
Sessions are being hosted by Dumfries and Galloway Arts and Museum’s Service this month so that youngsters can “meet” national bard Robert Burns, and his wife, Jean Armour, at their former home in the town which is now Burns House Museum.
The Meet Robert Burns initiative sees Dumfries historian and storyteller, Tom Hughes, become Burns while Claire Falconer from the museum brings Jean to life.
The poet died in the property in 1796 aged 37 and his family lived there until the 1830s. Burns House has become a place of pilgrimage for enthusiasts from around the world and the school sessions will run until the end of the month.
It is the chance for young people to look around the house which is dressed for the 1700s and they will get to handle historic objects and see rooms used by Burns and his family.
His study, where he wrote some of his best-known songs during last the three years of his life, is there and the window where he scratched his signature with his diamond-tipped stylus.
The sessions with Burns include exploring Jean’s cookbook and finding out about the foods that her husband liked – and didn’t like.
And young visitors get to hear him talk about his experiences in Dumfries and family life in the past. There are also opportunities to dress up and try on clothing from the past as part of the visit.
As Burns is buried in Dumfries not far from Burns House Museum, school groups can also ask for access to his mausoleum to lay a wreath and the children from Gatehouse-of-Fleet Primary School were amongst the first to enjoy the Burns House and mausoleum experience.
They also fitted in a visit to the Robert Burns Centre to see the exhibition and display of the poet’s life and its fascination for him since.
And they got to perform it too.
