Provost Jim Todd met recently with three young winners of the St Petersburg Forum ‘Knowledge of Scotland Competition’.

The Robert Burns World Federation enjoys links with the Forum, a charity set up in the mid-nineties to establish educational, social and cultural links with the people of St Petersburg, Russia and Scotland. One of its major initiatives was to organise school competitions with a Scottish theme and the ‘Knowledge of Scotland’ competition invites 15-16 year old Russian pupils to research and learn about a Scottish topic and then to answer questions on it posed to them by a judging panel. Presentations are judged on knowledge of topic, spoken English and artistry.

Anna Balakhova presented her topic about ‘The Wars of Scottish Independence’; Natalia Ermakova researched ‘Robert Burns, Farmer and Poet’ and Pavel Espovich focused on Alexander Selkirk.

During their visit, the young people enjoyed a tour of Dean Castle in Kilmarnock and lunch in the Visitors’ Centre.