On 25 January 1759poet Robert Burns was born.

Scotland's National Bard entered the world in a clay biggan at Alloway. Although born into a poor family, Burns's father enrolled him at a local school and the poet's love of language was born.

Today in 1915, Ewan MacColl, Scottish folk singer-songwriter and playwright was born. During the 1960s he was famous for his protest songs about various social and political issues, including the atomic bomb, Vietnam War, and apartheid. He composed and wrote the lyrics for Roberta Flack's best known hit, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face".

Today's recipe: no Burns supper would be complete without the 'Chieftan o' the pudding race'. Haggis with neeps and tatties.