The two RBs
Ask any Scot to nominate the two most iconic Scots of all time and the two RBs, King Robert Bruce (1274 -- 1329) and Robert Burns (1759 -- 1795) will feature strongly.
Both have very strong associations with Annandale!
Robert Bruce, King of Scotland, victor at the Battle of Bannockburn (a landmark battle in Scottish history) and signatory to the Declaration of Arbroath (which declared Scotland's freedom from England in 1320), was in fact, the 7th Earl of Annandale.
Robert Burns, Scotland's best known poet and legendary bon viveur, womaniser and consumer of Scotch whisky ('usquabae'), ended his short but highly productive life working as an exciseman in the Nithsdale and Annandale region of Dumfries-shire.
Burns is probably best know for writing 'Auld Lang Syne' (sung all around the World at New Year celebrations), 'Tae a haggis' (for addressing the haggis on Burns' night -- 25th January), 'A Man's a Man for a' That' (famous for its expression of egalitarian ideals) and above all, the epic 'Tam o'Shanter'.
Burns' association with Annandale is embodied in the song 'The Diel's Awa wi' th' Exciseman', which he wrote on one of the many occasions he stayed in Annan whilst working as an exciseman.
