Politicians and dignitaries pay tribute to Robert Burns

(Image: Charlie Gilmour) They laid wreaths at the poet's statue in the town centre at noon on his birthday, Thursday, January 25.

(Image: Charlie Gilmour) The annual event celebrates the Alloway-born lad who became famous around the world for his astonishing body of work before his untimely death at the age of just 37.

(Image: Charlie Gilmour) Photographer Charlie Gilmour was there to bring us these pics of the wreath laying ceremony.

(Image: Charlie Gilmour) The Burns birthday celebrations continued later that day. Garth Knox, a devoted volunteer with the disaster relief organisation GlobalMedic, received the prestigious Burns Humanitarian Award, sponsored by South Ayrshire Council.

(Image: Charlie Gilmour) (Image: Charlie Gilmour) (Image: Charlie Gilmour)