Homecoming Burns Chronicle commemorating 250th anniversary of the Bard's birth, by Peter J Westwood A chance remark in a London park led to a body which today ranks as the oldest national literary association in Scotland. That the idea of forming a Federation of Burns Clubs should have first been expressed somewhere furth of Scotland is significant in itself, for, from the outset, the body which has become the official Burns movement, has been no narrow national organisation but one embracing the whole world. Little did the handful of men who met in Kilmarnock in July 1885 to form the Burns Federation realise that they were founding an organisation which today boasts of affiliated clubs in numerous countries around the world. Thousands, nay millions who congregate each January to pay tribute to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns, Scotland's ploughman poet whose worldwide appeal lies not only in the timeless quality of his many songs but also in the sentiments of democracy and universal brotherhood which he advocated. This book is the story of many of the clubs and people who are part of the Burns family in the Burns Federation Peter Westwood is a lifelong Burns enthusiast who is one of the leading authorities on the Bard. He has written numerous books all of which have received a world wide distribution and recognition. For many years he was the Editor of the Burns Chronicle which is the oldest literary magazine in Scotland and contains articles from many Burns Federation Members and Academics. Peter was made an Honorary President of the Federation in recognition for tireless work in the promotion and the protection of the works of Robert Burns.