Scots on the rock

It's a night for the gathering of the clans and Guernsey is no exception. Our Scottish community, and many more islanders besides, will be enjoying the chance to toast Scotland's national hero, Robert 'Rabbie' Burns, on his special night.

With Burns Night upon us, it's not hard to understand why the Scots love their homeland. Even their native dish, the hallowed haggis, gets a mention this week at suppers held both north and south of the border to honour the birthday of the country's favourite son, 'Rabbie' Burns.

Thanks to the balladeer and champion of the common people, haggis will be forever known as the 'great chieftain o' the puddin' race', and usually preceded into the room by the unmistakable sound of bagpipes. And Edinburgh-born Jon, who hails from about 90 miles away from Burns' Ayrshire birthplace, thinks that's only right.

'I love haggis,' he said. 'Lots of Scottish people do. It's great and we eat it all year round. It's part of our tradition.'

After just a few minutes chatting to Jon, who works at Bank of Bermuda, it's not hard to realise that this is a Scot who is genuinely proud of his roots.

He has only been in Guernsey since September last year, and admits to having had a few pangs of homesickness.

'It's hard to explain why,' he says. 'I lived in Luxembourg before coming here, so it's not as if I've just left Scotland. It's just something that you feel, that you keep with you.'

This year, although he celebrated Hogmany in Guernsey with friends and will be raising a glass to Rabbie tonight, no doubt his thoughts will turn to his native home.

'I'll be like lots of Scots. We are proud of our roots and aren't afraid to show it,' he said.

Such fierce national pride is just part and parcel of being Scottish, explains Jon. 'Because we are a very small country, we hold on fiercely to our traditions and roots. You can't understate the rivalry with England.

'It's because we are always getting bundled up with the English that we are fierce about it. We may be the smaller cousin, but we hold on to our own identity.'

So then, such a proud Scotsman must have the customary kilt, I venture.

'Yes - two actually,' he says matter-of-factly. 'I take them with me everywhere I move to.'

I can't help thinking that this must have raised a few eyebrows in Luxembourg.

'I just tend to wear them mainly for formal occasions,' he explains, 'like weddings and things.'

One place where Jon hasn't sported his beloved kilts yet is down at Guernsey Rugby Club, where the 6ft-plus second row has already claimed a first-team place. But you get the impression it could all be just a matter of time. He's already renowned for doing a great line in impressions of that other Edinburgh son, Sean Connery. Jon's name may have historic Irish roots - but the Scottish accent is unmistakable.

'Yes, people say I talk like Sean Connery,' he admits modestly.

'I don't do it on purpose, but it's great to think I sound like him a bit.'

I break the good news to Jon that this also puts his accent at the top of the voice league, according to a BBC poll to find the nation's favourite. Sir Sean's smooth Scottish burr has been rated our out-and-out voice of choice.

'That's very interesting,' he says slowly, sounding even more like Sir Sean to me now. 'I'd have thought it would have been Irish that won, but there you go. I'll make sure I hold on to this accent then.'

Well, if it's good enough for 007?

WHILE tonight may be the official time to celebrate Robert Burns, for vice-president of Guernsey's Scottish Association Fiona Naftel, Saturday will be party time.

This is when the group's big bash takes place at Beau Sejour. More than 200 people are expected to attend the special night of food, poetry, music and dance.

Fiona has been in Guernsey for 25 years but her roots, and her accent, still run as deep as any Scottish loch. She is one of a growing band here who remain true to their Celtic connections but have embraced the island as their new home.

While - just like Fiona's husband - her three daughters are Guernsey-born and bred, they have been brought up proud of their mum's homeland and their family heritage. And it's an easy mix, says Fiona, who thinks Guernsey's people are similar types.

'The Scots are very ?couthy? which means friendly and welcoming - which is how people are here, too.

'I think we have a lot in common.'

Fiona originally hails from Edinburgh and feels equally proud and privileged to have lived in both places. 'Guernsey is beautiful. I am very happy here - though I must say that a piece of my heart will always be in Scotland.'

Fortunately she manages the odd return visit. So, in between, do programmes such as the BBC's Monarch of the Glen make her happy or homesick? I ask.

'Well I do love that programme,' she laughs. 'I love the scenery in the Highlands and I do miss it. But the way I think is that I am surrounded by beautiful scenery here anyway. And Guernsey reminds me of there in many ways, particularly the island's west coast during winter.'

The association's Burns Night this weekend will also have strong echoes of the its native Scotland, though you don't have to be Scottish to attend. Everyone is welcome. So what will be Fiona's favourite part of the night, I ask?

'I really love it all,' she says, 'and the dancing. Though I've one tip for the ladies: wear flat shoes!'

TODAY the island's Scottish community accounts for an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 residents which could be why, says Rev. Graeme Beebee, he feels he can walk into pretty much anywhere in the island and hear a Scot.

Graeme arrived in Guernsey just 20 months ago to be the new minister of St Andrew's Church of Scotland in The Grange. But for him and his wife, Ailsa, the place already feels like home.

Like Fiona, Graeme agrees the two places have much in common.

'There is a lot of the island that reminds me of Scotland. The roads are similar, the folk are friendly and when you are out for a walk, people you don't know will talk to you.

'Because there are a lot of us here, you are hearing a Scots accent all the time.

'There are times, to be honest, when I can sometimes forget I'm not at home. But I do miss the mountains,' he says wistfully. 'We all miss the mountains.'

This island mix continues all the way through to Graeme's congregation.

He sums it up simply by saying: 'The Church of Scotland is the name above the door but we are quite a gathered congregation.' Some are Scots and some have Scots connections through marriage, but many remain from when it was the Presbyterian

Church of England, before 1972.

Just like Rabbie Burns, Graeme was born in Alloway, Ayrshire, and so feels a special affinity with the great man himself. He does admit, however, that Burns was a bit of a 'bloke's bloke'. 'I suppose he was part of an original ?lad's culture?,' says Graeme. 'He loved women - and a heck of a lot of women. He had a roving eye. But it's important to say that he was simply ?a man of his time?.

'He lived life in the fast lane, which is partly why he died so young. But that is also a reason why his memory and his work have survived for so long - he was a true character.'

Another reason for Burns' lasting popularity, Graeme believes, is the wide appeal of his poetry. Rabbie's was a world far removed from ours, but his poems still speak to people everywhere.

'A Man's a Man for A' That', written in 1795 on the themes of equality and merit regardless of birth or status, is a political anthem which has resonance today.

'He had a gift and was a genius,' says Graeme, 'because he was able to put these things into his own words.'

The words may not be that easy for everyone to understand: they reflect the particular west coast dialect of Burns' time. An Alloway lad, like Graeme, certainly has no problems, but even a huge fan base in China and Russia can recite a bit of Rabbie, such is his universal appeal.

Graeme's role at Saturday's supper will be to address the haggis, something he is honoured to be doing. The big speech of the night is always The Immortal Memory, which will be done by the association's Stuart Hardie. This is the all-important eulogy to the poet, done by someone who seriously 'knows his Burns'.

Although the first-ever Burns Supper was held in Tarrbolton and was an all-male affair, these days you're just as likely to see women at the gatherings. It can also be a bit of a marathon celebration: in Scotland, the Burns party season can last for a couple of weeks.

So why, I ask, does Graeme think the tradition has survived the test of time? 'I think there are several reasons. But the fact that it comes at the end of January - a pretty cold and miserable month - certainly helps. It's a very ?dreich? time of year (as we would say), so it's a good time to cheer everyone up.

'But basically, we Scots just love an excuse to have a party.'

* sheneghan@guernsey-press.com