The club has been paying tribute to the Bard in an unbroken history spanning more than 200 years, since it was first formed in 1820.
But Miller Caldwell, club president, says a dwindling membership and a difficulty in enlisting committee members has put the club in crisis.
Mr Caldwell, a successful local novelist, said: “We’ve been struggling to attract new members to join the club for some time. And for people to step up and join the committee. Covid has not helped either.”
It has seen its membership fall by half, from 70 members to about 35, he said.
Indeed, the club was forced to cancel all events from March last year as the pandemic took hold.
And this year the club has fared little better. A tribute to mark the poet’s birthday took place at the Burns Statue in Dumfries in July.
But last month’s St Andrew’s Day dinner set for the town’s Cairndale Hotel was cancelled at the 11th hour due to low numbers.
As a direct descendant of the poet himself, through Elizabeth Burns, Mr Caldwell said he felt particularly sad.
“Young people just don’t seem to be interested,” he said.“I do feel sad. Burns is part of Scottish culture. He is our Bard, part of our identity. He is revered around the world. And he’s buried here in Dumfries.”
The club’s Burns Night is set to go ahead on January 21. But it is likely to be its last, he said, with an emergency meeting to close the club being considered for February.
That is unless there is a surge of support for Burns and the club.
“There’s still a chance for the area to step up and get involved. It’s not too late,” Mr Caldwell said – he is pictured above.
Anyone interested in supporting the Dumfries Burns Club contact him by email on [email protected]
