British Ambassador Iain Lindsay Introduces Scottish Budapest

Hi! I’m Iain Lindsay the British Ambassador. Today, the 25th of January, we celebrate the life and works of the Scottish poet, Robert Burns, one of the world’s best-loved and best-known poets. Today I will take you on a quick tour of Scottish Budapest with some words from Rabbie (Robert Burns) , the Scottish Petőfi as we go around.

Okay, let’s go!

“O my Luve is like a red, red rose

   That’s newly sprung in June;

O my Luve is like the melody

   That’s sweetly played in tune.”

(Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns)

I am in Clark Ádám Square at the Buda end of the famous Chain Bridge. Clark Ádám was born in Edinburgh and was the Scottish engineer in charge of the construction of the bridge. He also designed the famous Buda tunnel. The Lánchíd was the first permanent bridge across the Danube in Hungary, completed in 1849.

“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men

Gang aft a-gley, [often go awry]

An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,

For promised joy.”

(Robert Burns: To a Mouse)

I am standing on Jane Haining rakpart in Pest. Jane, who was born in southern Scotland, was a missionary of the Church of Scotland, the Scotish Reformed Church.  She was the matron of the girls’ home hiding women and children at the Scottish Mission Church in Pest before and during the Second World War.  Arrested by the Gestapo in April 1944 she died in Aushwitz in August that year. This brave woman is Scotland’s only holocaust hero.

“For a’ that, an’ a’ that,

It’s coming yet for a’ that,

That Man to Man, the world o’er,

Shall brothers be for a’ that.”

(Rober Burns: A Man’s A Man For A’ That)

And this is the former Scottish Mission Church in Pest, where Jane Haining looked after the children, known nowadays as St Columbia’s Church. Uniquely, it’s part of both the Reformed Church of Hungary and the Church of Scotland. Established in 1841, it has just celebrated its 175th anniversary. Many congratulations!

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And days o’ lang syne!”

(Robert Burns: Auld Lang Syne)

And finally at the end of our tour of Scottish places in Budapest, we come to the only Scottish pub in the city, the Caledonia in Pest. On a cold winter day like this it is time for a dram of Scotland’s national drink, whisky.

Uisghe Bag! Cheers! Bye!

Do you remember the names?

1. Scotland’s only holocaust hero.

2. The Scottish Petőfi.

3. He designed the famous Buda tunnel.

4. The British Ambassador in Hungary.

5. The only Scottish pub in Budapest.

Key

1. Jane Haining

2. Robert (Rabbie) Burns

3. Adam Clark

4. Iain Lindsay

5. Caledonia