An Interview With Robert Burns International Foundation

There seems to be a bit of story about how the Robert Burns International Foundation (RBIF) came into being, can you please tell us a little about that?

That’s true, the first Burns Supper in Budapest was organised in 1998, what started out as an event organised for friends and family eventually attracted a couple of hundred people, and there was some money left over at the end. Since the purpose of the event had not been to raise funds, or be left with any, it was suggested that we could donate this to a local hospital, which we did.

The following year, we took a different approach, and went to the hospital first, asking the doctors how we could help if we managed to raise a certain amount of money. They responded saying they could really use a new operating table. With the help of a company in Edinburgh we had an operating table delivered to Budapest (not yet paid for), and it was wheeled into the middle of the event hall. The guests were told that this was the target for the evening, to raise enough money to buy the operating table, which they duly did. The operating table was taken to the hospital, where it is still in use today.

That signalled the start of the fundraising efforts that have been synonymous with the Budapest Burns Suppers ever since.

How long have you been Chairman of the Foundation Board and what are your favourite aspects of the role?

I’ve been Chairman of the RBIF’s Foundation Board since 2014, and over that time it has been great seeing the foundation grow from strength to strength. We hold our main event, the Burns Supper, at one of Budapest’s finest 5-star hotels, the Corinthia, and the tickets sell out in a matter of days. To our knowledge it is the longest running charity event in Budapest, and it is great seeing the direct impact that our fundraising has on paediatric health care throughout the country. We get great support from the community, both expats and locals, and the donations we make play a crucial role in raising the standard of care at hospitals throughout the country, which are unfortunately underfinanced.

RBIF raises funds to benefit sick and underprivileged children in Hungary and Central Europe through a Burns Supper; how well are these Suppers received in Hungary? Is there a large Scottish expat community, and/or do locals join in with the fun?

Initially the Burns Suppers were dominated by expats, but as time went on we saw an increasing number of Hungarians attending, and they now represent the majority of our returning guests, as obviously the expats tend to spend a certain number of years in the country before moving on. It’s obviously quite a spectacle, especially for the locals who have never seen a pipe band up close and personal before, but the events are always well received.

There is a small yet active Scottish community in Hungary. We also have a St. Andrews Ball every year organised by the St. Andrews Association in conjunction with the British Chamber of Commerce, so we certainly play our part in promoting Scottish culture abroad.

Please tell us about the SME Sponsorship Scheme 2024, what was involved, and what do these vital funds help with?

The SME Sponsorship Scheme is a great way for small and medium-sized businesses to get involved in our fundraising. In the scheme we accept donations from SMEs that we double or triple depending on our current funding situation, then together we identify a worthy hospital project, generally outside of Budapest at one of the regional hospitals. These joint projects give the company a little more exposure with their donation, and it gives us the opportunity to support more projects.

In 2024 we are implementing three such projects, hopefully with a fourth to come in the autumn, so it is clearly a popular option for the local firms in Hungary. The money is generally used to buy medical equipment, for example we are helping to equip a relaxation and regeneration room at an association in southern Hungary that cares for autistic children, and we are supporting a department for premature babies in the south-west with various important devices.

How important is Scottish heritage and culture to you now that you live abroad? Is it something you’ve always been connected to?

It is very important to me. I’ve lived abroad permanently since 1998, and my three kids have grown up outside of Scotland, but I’m glad to say they are just as proud of their Scottish heritage as they are to be Hungarian. Living abroad we tend to see things from a different perspective, but we’re no less keen to nurture those Scottish roots, and never forget where we came from. Both of my sons chose Scotland for their university careers, and my daughter will soon be setting off on that journey too, which we were pleased about as it gives them the opportunity to experience first-hand that side of their lives, in a country which until that point was just a holiday destination to visit the cousins and grandparents.

We must ask of course, what is your favourite tartan?

The family tartan is the Lindsay tartan, which comes down from my father’s mother’s side, and I take every opportunity I can to wear my Lindsay kilt. However, during covid a number of us got together and designed the Celts of Hungary tartan, which is now a properly registered tartan. The idea was that anyone with links to Hungary but who also had ties with Scotland or Ireland, or just wanted to wear some tartan to one of our events, could do so knowing that this was a specially designed tartan enabling them to do just that! It reflects the blue of Scotland, the green of Ireland, and red and white being the remaining colours of the Hungarian flag.

Any good stories you’d like to add, perhaps from this year’s Burns Supper?

Ever since Brexit we have had real issues trying to get proper haggis for the Burns Supper, since it is no longer just a pick-up and delivery job. The paperwork required is mental, and even the slightest issue can result in disaster. Last year, a problem with the labelling meant that the German veterinary health authority, the first point of entry into the EU, threw out 80kgs of our delicious haggis! Learning the lessons this time round, thanks to a logistics company run by a Scot, we actually brought over haggis not only for our own event, but also for a smaller Burns Supper held at the local Scottish church in Budapest, and for the main Burns Supper in Vienna, so we fed over 500 people in January 2024 with the best Dingwall haggis!

Any other upcoming events you’d like to share? Are you already planning next year’s Burns Supper, or do you have a bit of a breather?

Well at the minute we are handling all the hospital projects, most of the money from January has been distributed and we are waiting for the medical equipment to arrive. We do have an end-of-summer BBQ though, this will be our 7th annual BBQ, and gives a chance for families to come and enjoy themselves before the schools start again. Once that is done, the planning for the forthcoming Burns Supper, the 28th annual event, will begin in earnest.

Thanks so much Dougie! Find out more about the Robert Burns International Foundation on their website here and find them on Facebook here.