John McMillan, Provost for East Lothian, visited the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh to lay a wreath down in memory of Robert Burns.

The wreath laying ceremony was organised by Edinburgh & District Burns Clubs Association with Mr McMillan joining the provosts from Midlothian and Edinburgh in laying wreaths.

Mr McMillan took part in a ceremony held at the gallery which celebrated the life of the Scottish poet.

After the ceremony Mr McMillan said: “It was a very moving ceremony.

“I made reference to East Lothian’s links with the Burns family in East Lothian including the fact that Robert Burns’ mother’s grave is in Bolton and his brother Gilbert was an elder at St Mary’s in Haddington.

“I also made mention of the fact his work is internationally recognised with Auld Lang Syne sung the world over.”

Mr McMillan also stood below the arms of Mary, Queen of Scots to recall the Auld Alliance and Scotland’s links with France.

He said: “I was very proud to lay a wreath on behalf of East Lothian Council at the National Portrait Gallery in tribute to Robert Burns and to stand below the arms of Mary, Queen of Scots to recall the Auld Alliance and our links with France.”