SWINDON'S Scottish community came together at the weekend to celebrate Burn's Night.
More than 100 members of the Swindon Caledonian Society packed the Goddard Arms in Old Town to mark the birthday of Scottish poet Robert Burns.
Swindon mayor Derek Benfield and his wife Pamela also paid a visit and were given a traditional Scottish welcome with bagpipe music.
Gordon Wilson, secretary of the society, which formed in 1929, said: "Robert Burns is so well-known around the world that Scots gather each year to mark his birthday.
"The society seeks to promote Scottish literature, music and dance."
The poet died in 1796 aged 37. One of the most famous poems is Address To a Haggis a poem celebrating the traditional dish of oatmeal and offal.
Coun Benfield said: "We have had some great Scottish imports in Swindon. Some 45 years ago, when I worked for Rover, we were extremely short of toolmakers and the Scots came to the rescue. I have good Scottish friends as a result."
After a formal dinner including haggis the mayor talked about his hopes for the town.
He told the society: "Years ago we had men of vision who took the town forward. I would like to think that these people are being replaced and the council is turning things around."
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