Toilet seat tribute paid to poet

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7641907.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A hotel in south west Scotland has immortalised one of Robert Burns' most famous works - on a toilet seat.

The Selkirk Arms in Kirkcudbright, reputed to be the birthplace of the Bard's Selkirk Grace, has put the poem on the lids of all its lavatories.

The unusual toilet seats also feature an image of Burns along with a range of other characters from his verse.

Hotel co-owner Chris Walker said it was designed to "make customers smile" while raising awareness of the poet.

Mr Walker spotted a company called Loo Prints, which specialises in personalised toilet seats, when he was at one of the summer agricultural shows.

He decided it would be nice to use his hotel's connections to the poet to create a Burns edition featuring the Selkirk Grace.

Fellow co-owner and general manager Douglas McDavid said: "We're so proud of the history attached to the Selkirk Arms and the fact that Robert Burns stayed in this very hotel.

"We need to tell the world that Burns' memory is alive and well and here in Kirkcudbright."

Traditional recitation

Mr Walker said the move followed up the launch of a real ale called "The Grace" through Sulwath Brewers from Castle Douglas earlier in the year.

He said: "It's designed to make you smile at the end of the day and to raise awareness of the hotel's links with Robert Burns."

The Selkirk Grace is a four-line verse traditionally recited before food is served at a Burns supper.

It reads: "Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it, But we hae meat and we can eat, And sae the Lord be thankit."