The 2nd Annual Craig Sharp Memorial Lecture will take place this year on Friday 29 November 2019. The lecture, which is co-hosted by the Centre for Robert Burns Studies and the Robert Burns World Federation, is held in honour of Professor Craig Sharp (1933-2018). 

Born in Glasgow in 1933, Professor Sharp qualified as a veterinary surgeon and early in his career worked at Mossgiel Farm where the poet Robert Burns had once been a tenant in the 18th century. It was here that Sharp’s interest in the poet and the Scots language was awakened and he became a life-long enthusiast. Sharp later went on to become a pioneering sport scientist who guided several world class athletes.

This year’s lecture will focus on the Scots language with contributions from two speakers. The first, Professor Jeremy Smith, is a Professor of English Philology at the University of Glasgow. He has researched and written extensively on Anglo-Saxon, Middle English, the Scots language and has a particular interest in the development of literacy. Among his more recent publications is Older Scots: A Linguistic Reader (2012). The second speaker is noted poet Rab Wilson from New Cumnock, Ayrshire whose works include a free translation of The Ruba’iyat of Omar Khayyan (2010) and Burnsiana in collaboration with artist Calum Colvin. Wilson has also been a campaigner on Scottish health issues and is current convener of the SLC Council.

The lecture will be held from 16.30 until 18.30 pm on Friday 29 November 2019 at Glasgow Club, Kelvin Hall 1445 Argyle Street, Glasgow. The event is free but those wishing to attend are advised to be sure of seats by booking in advance at Eventbrite by following this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/craig-sharp-annual-memorial-lecture-tickets-71035132995