A retired minister who has spent a decade in Sri Lanka has revealed the magic of Robert Burns’ poetry was as spellbinding as Bob Marley during his trip, but it was always a fun challenge to find haggis for a Burns Supper!

Rev. John Purves was the minister of St Andrew’s Church of Scotland in Colombo and had been involved in the international relief effort by directing monies to crucial local causes following the tsunami in 2004.

Mr Purves, 65, who was Chieftain of the Caledonian Socicety of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2012, said the key to Burns’ enduring success is Auld Lang Syne, “an international song of human brotherhood and friendship.” The Largs man featured in a BBC2 documentary “The Commonwealth of Burns” looking at how Burns Night is celebrated around the globe. He believes the impact of the Alloway born poet is far reaching, comparing him to reggae star Marley, who he heard as well during his travels to Africa and Jamaica.

Rev Purves said: “When I lived in Jamaica in the 1980s, shortly after Bob Marley died, everywhere you travelled, be it in a taxi, hotel or cafe, you would always hear Bob Marley in the background. He has a universal status and his music is recognised and appreciated around the world. I feel in the same way Robert Burns has contributed to world culture, not least in the words of Auld Lang Syne but also ‘My Love is like a Red, Red Rose’ which is one of the world’s best love songs and seems to have followed me around wherever I have been, particularly at weddings. That has come from the pen and mind of Robert Burns, and it has been sung in the United States, Caribbean and South Asia. Burns is also big in Russia where he is very much a poet of the people. and he appeared on a stamp in the days of the Soviet Union long before he appeared on a stamp in the UK.” So how did Rev.Purves, prepare for a Burns Supper in Sri Lanka, and of course, acquiring the haggis in a far flung part of the world?

“Well the first thing you need is a dedicated committee which was made up of Scots and Sri Lankans and people from other countries.” revealed the retired minister, who said: “The second thing you need is a sense of adventure to overcome difficulties - we had to explain that oatcakes weren’t cakes, and shortbread wasn’t bread! Thankfully - everyone knows whisky - you don’t have to explain that!” “Haggis is always an interesting challenge - sometimes we would get the hotel to make it if we could get a particular chef, and use a mince beef recipe and over the years, we have actually had some very nice haggis. And on occaison, we bring haggis in ourselves pre-cooked and sealed - and sometimes I bring some over from one of my returns to Largs at AD Paton’s.” “On some occasions, people didn’t realise you had to cook so it appeared just as a lump for me to address! When I cut open the haggis it was anything but warm, reekin’ or rich!

“On another occasion, the chef swore that he knew how to make haggis and on the day of the supper when he came to make the haggis he used porridge oats instead of rolled oats- so we ended up with a haggis brownie! That is all part of the adventure.

“In my role, I also helped organise the annual St Andrew’s Ball in November and the Ceilidh in June each year.” Asked about Burns and the issue of Scottish independence, Rev. Purves said: “I think Burns ran with the hares and hunted with the hounds on issues relating to UK. He was supportive of Scotland as independent nation through songs like Scots Wha Hae, but he also served as a revenue officer with the British government very difficult to say what he might say at the present time.

“In the outlying Commonwealth - Sri Lanka is a small country next to a big country - India. Scotland is also a small country next to a bigger country shall we say. I think certainly some Sri Lankans emphathise with the felt need in Scotland to present our own separate identity - of course can you maintain your own identity as part of the UK or you can present it better as independent.” Looking towards the Commonwealth Games, Rev. Purves, who lives in Hollywood in Largs, said: “We will be following Sri Lanka’s progress with interest. Myself and my wife Patricia have both volunteered as Clydesiders for the Games and we are waiting to hear back. It is going to be a magnificent event for Scotland.”