Jim Brown

The Chairman for the Mearns Connections Dinner is well-known wit and raconteur Jim Brown .

Jim was born, brought up and is still living on the family smallholding at Fettercairn . He was educated at Fettercairn, Laurencekirk, Mackie Academy and then on to Aberdeen University

He taught science in Dundee and Arbroath before the call of the land took him to the Land Agency in Morayshire. He went on to become Resident Factor on a rural estate at Huntly before returning to join his brother in the Grain Trade at Stracathro where he has been site and seed manager for some 30 years

Jim’s sporting interests include rugby and highland games. Every year at the Drumtochty Games, Jim can be seen announcing, organising or socialising. Other interests  include Burns and Lewis Grassic Gibbon.

Jim is Chairman of the Grassic Gibbon Centre in Arbuthnott, a post which he fills with his own inimitable wit and charm. The opening event in the Mearns Connections Festival will be in very capable hands 

Dougie MacLean

Dougie MacLean makes a highly anticipated visit to the land of Sunset Song, the inspiration for one of his much - loved CDs.

Dougie’s concert is only one of the exciting activities planned for this special weekend to celebrate Joan Eardley and Robert Burns as well as James Leslie Mitchell himself.

Dougie has a huge following at home in Scotland and abroad and is particularly well-known for his song Caledonia which was the anthem for Scotland’s Year of Homecoming in 2009. 

Fiona Kennedy
Fiona Kennedy is the daughter of Scottish and Gaelic singers Calum Kennedy and Anne Gillies.

Fiona followed her parents into show business and became a successful singer which developed to radio broadcasting and then TV and theatre appearances and will be appearing on the afternoon of Sunday 8th August at 2pm. She will be in conversation with Jim Brown in the first half and will sing a whole range of songs of Scotland in the second, with a distinct flavour of Robert Burns in the land of his fathers.