A very special guest visited the three primary schools in Maybole recently. None other than Rabbie Burns himself was spotted in the High Street on his way to the schools. The cries of “How’s it gaun, Rabbie?” and “Mind yur step!” could be heard as the Bard chanced his luck crossing the busy High Street, at one point stopping traffic to have his photo taken at the cross in the road marking the old mercat cross where his mother and father first met at the market Fair in Maybole in 1756.

The school children at Cairn, Gardenrose, and St. Cuthbert’s were more taken with his person than his poetry it would have to be said. “Are you the real Rabbie Burns?”, “Is your skeleton still in your box?” and “ How did you get here?” were just a few of the incredulous questions thrown at the poet who had to juggle with his 250 year old memories to respond. Rabbie also visited the grave of his old pal Baillie William Niven in the  cemetery at the foot of the Kirkwynd before taking leave of Maybole. The good news is that the Bard is scheduled to make another two visits to walk about Maybole – at the Market Fair and the Gala Parade.