The annual Scots Verse Competition
Scots is one of our native languages in Scotland, in addition to Gaelic, which today is mostly spoken in the Western Isles and Highlands. Scots is spoken by many folk in the lowlands of Scotland and there are linguistic variations from place to place. It is probably best known as one of the languages most used by our 'National Bard' (poet), Robert Burns, but there is a wealth of poetry written in Scots - both older and more recent. This may be because it is very expressive, full of words that seem to embody their meaning e.g. 'scunnered', 'wabbit', 'dreich'.
In 1986, on the 700th anniversary of the sudden death of Scots King Alexander III at Kingswood in 1286, the Community Council started a Scots Verse Competition for P1-6 classes at our local school. P7 pupils compete in a similar competition for the Rotary Club of Burntisland and Kinghorn.
Each year our Primary School pupils learn a bit about Scots verse (poems in Scots language) and are encouraged to learn one to recite. The finalists from each class P1-6 then perform before a judging pair from the Community Council. The six eventual winners then perform before an audience of family and community members in Burntisland Burgh Chambers and are awarded with a trophy (cup) to keep for a year and a medal to retain for themselves.
The competition helps pupils learn a little Scots, but also to learn how to make their young voices clearly heard, and how to perform with a little drama. It helps build self confidence. It has been running so long now that some of the parents of winners are past winners themselves. Perhaps soon we will have past winners who are grandparents too!
A list of recent winners and a list of the trophies follows below.
Scots Verse Competition Winners 2024
P1 The Marshall memorial Trophy - Rumi Shields
P2 The Macdonald Memorial Trophy - Arlo Pinkman
P3 The MacDougall Memorial Trophy - Lucas McBride
P4 The Gilbertson Memorial Trophy - Matthew Dow
P5 The Horn Memorial Trophy - Heather McDowall
P6 The Kerr Memorial Trophy - Isla Kerr
Scots Verse Competition Winners 2023
P1: Lucy Young; P2: Kathryn Mclean; P3: Max Blyth; P4: Brodie Haston; P5: Anna Fokina; P6: Joint winners! Holly Purves & Aria Craigie-Sharland
Scots Verse Competition Winners 2022 - presentations back in the Burgh Chambers!
P1: Kathryn McLean; P2 Hugh Couper; P3 Brodie Haston; P4 Malcolm Sharp; P5 Aria Craigie-Sharland; P6 Amelie Downie
Scots Verse Competition 2021 Again, due to the pandemic, the competition could was held at Burntisland Primary School and the trophies and medals presented there.
The 2021 Wiinners were: P1 Axel Craigie-Sharland; P2 Kali McLaren; P3 Ava Hutchison; P4 Rebecca Connor; P5 Elliot Wyllie; P6 Struan Yuille
Scots Verse Competition 2020: Unfortunately, in a year blighted by the Coronavirus pandemic, it was not possible to hold the competition as usual. Instead, it was held at Burntisland Primary School. The 2020 Winners were: P1: Brodie Haston; P2: Alexander Stevens; P3: Kenzi Van Kooten; P4: Oscar Morris; P5: Ida Cornwall; P6: Leah Murrie.
The Medals: Each medal bears the Arms of the Community Council. Awarded by the Lord Lyon King of Arms in 1997, the Arms are the legal property of the Community Council and can only be used with our permission. By presenting these medals today, we acknowledge our respect for each of the winners. The cups are held for one year at a time and are named in memory of people who are important to the Community Council and to Burntisland as a whole.
The Trophies
Primary 1 – The Marshall Memorial Trophy
Jock Marshall was the first Chairman of the Community Council in 1978. He was one of a small band of seven people who formed the original Community Council in Burntisland. Throughout his period of office he exercised great care to ensure that everyone who wanted to speak would be able to do so. He was courteous at all times but equally forthright when occasion demanded. It is fitting that the first trophy should reflect the first Chairman.
Primary 2 – The Macdonald Memorial Trophy
Margaret Macdonald was a long-serving Secretary and Vice Chair of the Community Council. Her attendance record at meetings was unparalleled. A former Policewoman, she was instrumental in ensuring excellent relations between the Community Council and Fife Constabulary. She was firm in seeking fairness for all, and being courteous in all of her dealings. She also in years past helped to judge the Scots Verse competition. Her diplomacy earned her great respect and this trophy is an excellent tribute to her skills.
Primary 3 – The MacDougall Memorial Trophy
John MacDougall represented Burntisland on Fife Council as an elected member and later became Leader of the Administration and also Provost of Fife. Born and bred in Burntisland, he moved away only in his later years when he became MP for Glenrothes. A strong supporter of an inclusive community, John excelled at bringing people together. One of his lasting legacies to the town was the Beacon leisure centre. He was a key player in negotiating land transfers and also finding the £3m needed to build the centre. He officially opened the present nursery in the grounds of Burntisland Primary School and was delighted when the opportunity arose to show the children his chain of office as Provost of Fife. This trophy continues his interest in supporting our young people.
Primary 4 – The Gilbertson Memorial Trophy
The Gilbertson family have played an important role in the community for generations. Christine Dewar represented the family as a member of the Community Council for several years, and her parents were both active in the life of the town. Margaret, for example, was also a member of the Community Council. Both Margaret and Christine were former winners of the Community Award. Christine was a strong supporter of Burntisland’s young people through the Youth Theatre Group, where the performers’ delivery is vital to their success.
Primary 5 – The Horn Memorial Trophy
Derek Horn was a long-service Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary of the Community Council, whilst his wife Betty was also a member for many years. Derek founded Burntisland Youth Theatre and first attended a meeting of the Community Council in that capacity. He requested we support an application to the Prince’s Trust for funding to buy stage lighting which was in use for many years. Later, he was persuaded to stand for election to the Community Council and served continuously as a member or office bearer. Skills in presentation and performance were the stuff of Derek’s life and it’s particularly appropriate that he should be commemorated through the presentation of this trophy.
Primary 6 – The Kerr Memorial Trophy
Douglas Kerr was the inspiration behind not only Burntisland Community Council but also the Scots Verse competition itself. He organised public meetings and actively sought out people who might be persuaded to help set up a Community Council in Burntisland. At the time, he was our elected member on the then Kirkcaldy District Council and fought very hard for the interests of Burntisland. He attended virtually every meeting of the Community Council during his period of office – and also for several years afterwards as a member of the public. Full of ideas and ingenuity, it was his proposal that we should mark the 700th anniversary of Alexander III’s death through a Scots Verse competition. So it’s entirely through his foresight that we are all here today, whether as members of the Community Council or as winners of the Scots Verse competition. He lived to the very grand age of 95 and throughout his time in Burntisland was never known to lose his temper or be rude to any person. Courteous and hard-working to the end, Douglas was an inspiration and an example to all of our young people today.
The people after whom the trophies have been named are distinct and varied. However, they all have one thing in common. They believed firmly in the value to the community of debate and discussion rather than conflict. They achieved results by respecting the opinions of others, without necessarily agreeing with them.
Scots Verse winners 2024
