A SCIENTIST, Scotch whisky distiller, businessman and Burnsian has been appointed as an ambassador of the Robert Burns World Federation.
Well-known in his native Dumfries and Galloway as the owner of Annandale Distillery, and The Globe Inn – Robert Burns’ “favourite howff” – in Dumfries, Professor David Thomson’s career in science and research has taken him all over the world.
He is the founder and president of MMR Research Group, one of the world’s largest independent market research organisations, which employs more than 600 people across 10 countries.
A visiting professor in the School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy at the University of Reading, he has also published papers on sensory science, conceptualisation and emotion during his academic career.
In addition to these career achievements, Thomson and his wife and business partner,
Teresa Church, bought Annandale Distillery in 2007, saving and transforming it into a five-star attraction producing single cask single malt Scotch Whisky.
They describe themselves as being “custodians” of the distillery and The Globe Inn.
The couple reportedly loved Robert Burns’ world-famous “favourite howff” so much that in 2018 they bought it, to preserve the historic landmark so future generations can experience it.
A lifelong Burns enthusiast, Thomson said: “The reason we bought The Globe was undoubtedly to preserve the Burns Rooms and to secure them for posterity. The Globe Inn is an historical treasure.”
The Burns Rooms have been restored to let visitors understand the history of the place and the spirit of the Bard.
As an ambassador for the Robert Burns World Federation, Thomson is looking forward to working with Burns enthusiasts all over the world to promote the life and legacy, poetry and works of Robert Burns.
“Robert Burns is a true Scottish icon whose influence reaches out across the globe,” he said.
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