A Canadian whose family came from Kirriemuir have donated part of his collection of Robert Burns books to the school where his ancestors were taught.
William Beaton (91), from Ottawa in Ontario, has spent his lifetime building up a collection of books by and about the Bard.
On Thursday, a significant part was passed on to Southmuir Primary School pupils by Robert Stewart, junior vice-president of the Robert Burns World Federation.
Kirrie resident Mr Stewart said he was contacted by Mr Beaton, who passed on copies of several documents relating to his Angus relatives.
He expressed the wish that his Burns collection be distributed in Scotland, with part of it going to Southmuir Primary.
“He has been a Burns enthusiast all his life,” said Mr Stewart. “Over that long lifetime he has gathered a big collection of books about Burns and Burns’ works.
“Some of it has gone to Castle Douglas. Mr Beaton’s siblings and parents went to Southmuir and he wanted to give some of his collection to that school.”
Mr Stewart visited the school to pass on the gift.
“Mr Beaton’s mother and grandmother were both power loom weavers in Kirrie,” he said. “His parents were married in the South Parish of Kirrie on October 8, 1918.
“His uncle was in The Black Watch and was killed in France during the first world war. His name, Lance Corporal Jim Beaton, is on the Kirriemuir war memorial.”