MID CALDER PROFESSOR OF SCOTS LANGUAGE DELIVERS LECTURE AT HOLYROOD

MID CALDER PROFESSOR OF SCOTS LANGUAGE DELIVERS LECTURE AT HOLYROOD

Angela Constance MSP for Almond Valley was proud to sponsor a 250^th Anniversary Tribute Lecture on the Paisley poet and song-writer Robert Tannahill, in late April, hosted at the Scottish Parliament.  

The Lecture was delivered by Fred Freeman, a Professor of Scots Language & Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.  Fred has lived in Mid Calder for over 20 years and has had the honour of delivering several lectures across the UK. Fred was recognised by the Association for Scottish Literary Studies in 2014 with a lifetime Hon Fellowship for his outstanding contribution to Scottish literary studies and, in 2015, he delivered a lecture on Burns to the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Moreover, the lecture celebrated both the poet’s anniversary and the release of Fred Freeman’s 5^th and final CD volume in his “Complete Songs of Robert Tannahill” which was recently launched in February 2024 at Celtic Connections to a standing ovation.

The lecture concentrated on Tannahill, the “radical” weaver poet and multi-culturalist, staunchly anti-sectarian, abolitionist, outspokenly anti-war, something of an 18^th century Hamish Henderson (who had been a long term friend of Professor Fred Freeman)

Commenting after the event the local MSP said “I was very honoured, and privileged, to be able to sponsor this Lecture by my constituent Professor Fred Freeman .  We enjoyed a wonderful evening full of poetry, stories and song, to honour an international figure. We heard fascinating stories and music about Robert Tannahill, and the 50+ guests and MSPs in attendance thoroughly enjoyed the lecture.”

Professor Freeman added “I was delighted to be able to reflect upon the 250^th anniversary of Paisley man Robert Tannahill and share my passion for history, poetry and song. This year is shaping up to be very busy for me personally, with my next lecture to be held at the Royal Society of Edinburgh on 17/5. It is always an honour for me to lecture at Holyrood. Given the subject and the setting, this was an evening of monumental significance. “

Photo attached – Professor Freeman being welcomed to the Scottish Parliament by Angela Constance MSP

More details can be found here - ​Paisley's weaver poet, Robert Tannahill - Paisley.is

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