Burns Check

Almost 50 years ago the late Baron Marchand of Messrs George Harrison & Co. of Edinburgh explained to E S Harrison of Johnstons of Elgin, how the Burns Check came about. He related that he had been approached by a friend from 'The Scotsman' newspaper with the suggestion that he create a Robert Burns tartan. The first idea had been to base it on the Campbell - a clan with which the Burns family were connected - but after much discussion it was decided more appropriate to model it on the Shepherd's Check. The overcheck introduced 'the hodden grey and a' that' and a little flavour of green fields was added. There was thought of calling it the 'Ayr Tartan' but that was discarded in favour of the present name which more aptly celebrated the bicentenary of the poet's birth. In June 1959 the Burns Federation accepted the design.