Elphinstone Institute

Following today's extremely fruitful online-only day of the 2026 annual conference of The Folklore Society, delegates have started to send through some photos of this past weekend's in-person conference in Aberdeen. Thank you to all who have sent photos and kind messages.

We look forward in the years to come to building on the knowledge and international networks that were created from this important conference.

Following the sold-out Buchan Ballad Bus at the end of May, the Institute received an anoymous letter with a poem in tribute to the day out entitled 'The Greetin and the Awa' . The author is only identified as the 'Bard of Insch', and a subsequent note states 'wi a wee nod tae Alan Bell'. We reproduce the poem here:

The Greetin and the Awa

Fan erst we met gowk strangers were we,
We didnae ken if auld freends we cud be,
In nae time at a we'd tak tae each ither,
Wi sang and tale and bantering blether.

Lang roads we traikkit a oer the Broch,
a land o heather, gorse and loch
In kirkyairds and passin by yon Crimond Hill
We'll nae forget oor ballad bus thrill.

Sae here's tae ye and a folk dear.
Tae share wi ye a pairting cheer,
Raising a glass 'tae yous and tae us'
Fir the next day oot on the Buchan ballad bus.

A Celebration of the Life of Professor Ian Russell, MBE
18 June 2026

The Elphinstone Institute, on behalf of Norma Russell, invites you to join us in Aberdeen as we celebrate the life of Ian Russell, a life that resonates in the songs we sing and the communities that Ian so ably helped to build.

2:00 - Celebration, King’s College Chapel, University of Aberdeen
3:30 - Tea, coffee and a dram in the James MacKay Hall
4:30 - Wake, with music and song from Ian’s wide circle of friends
6:00 - Dinner in the Elphinstone Hall
7:30 - Ceilidh, Ian’s natural setting for sharing songs, stories, and reminiscences.

RSVP

All welcome to the Celebration. For those who knew Ian , please RSVP to [email protected] by 11 June to let us know if you

1) will be joining us for the meal (for catering numbers),
2) might like to share a song, a tune, or a story at the wake or ceilidh.

For those unable to attend, the event will be live streamed (e-mail for link).

We have been delighted this weekend to host the 2026 annual conference of The Folklore Society, the theme of which has been 'Folklore on the Move'. We have had brilliant speakers, delegates, and attendees from all round the world, and will no doubt share more photos in the days to come. Thank you especially to all of our brilliant student and graduate volunteers for your invaluable help!

University of Aberdeen LLMVC

A pucklie photaes at Riverbank and St Peter's Primary skweels recently wi Education Support Officers fae Aiberdeen City Cooncil as pairt o NUART wik.

Doric Leid Wirker Charley Buchan explored Doric wirds, street airt an poyetry wi the bairns and wis trickit bi the classes enthusiasm ti learn Doric.

University of Aberdeen LLMVC

The printed programmes are here!

We're very excited to be hosting the annual conference of The Folklore Society this weekend, 5–7 June, followed by an online day on 10 June. The theme this year is 'Folklore on the Move'. You can see the programme here: https://www.folklore-society.com/event/folklore-on-the-move-the-folklore-societys-annual-conference-2026/

University of Aberdeen LLMVC

Many thanks to our own Director, Tom McKean, whose David Buchan Lecture at the University of Aberdeen yesterday was a splendid overview of the concepts of community and culture in our everyday lives, also demonstrating the significance of reciprocal fieldwork when working with communities.

If you missed the lecture, never fear, as it is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLBzex2TSjY.

Thank you as well to our postgraduate students for their support in setting up and tidying and to Martin Hardie and Chris Surgenor from the media services team for recording. Finally, thank you to Highland Fine Cheeses for so kindly donating a delicious array of cheeses which fueled the enthusiastic discussion after the lecture.

We have some very exciting news - The Friends of the Elphinstone Institute have a new online home!

Visit the new website at www.elphinstonefriends.org

From vibrant festivals and conferences to musical gatherings, open evenings, and our vital Doric language initiatives—the Friends are at the centre of our public outreach work. They support our staff, bring our events to life, and help us in celebrating the culture and traditions of Northern Scotland and beyond.

Want to get involved?

For just £20 a year, you can join the Friends and directly support this wonderful work.

Visit the new website to explore our supported activities and find out how you can play a part:

🌐 www.elphinstonefriends.org

University of Aberdeen LLMVC

Why does culture matter? Who defines its value? How does community knowledge and experience help shape more confident, sustainable, and democratic futures?

Join us for our annual David Buchan Lecture, David Buchan Lecture, Wednesday, 27 May 2026, 5.30pm, where our very own director Thomas McKean will consider these questions and many more by discussing his own fieldwork experiences in Scotland, the United States, and Guatemala.

Book your free place: [email protected]. Followed by a reception with Scottish produce.

There are still a few places left on the Ballad Bus Outing on Saturday, 30 May (9.30am departure), organised by the Friends of the Elphinstone Institute.

Tickets are £15/£13 for Friends. We'll be taking a coach round the North-East to learn about and celebrate the stories and locations connected to the region’s celebrated traditional ballads. The bus will have plenty of brilliant singers, and this will be a most enjoyable way to learn about local traditional song. No doubt we'll be singing with more emotion this year, remembering Ian Russell (pictured singing during the James Madison Carpenter Collection bus outing in 2017).