A chance remark in a London park over a hundred years ago led to the formation of a body which today ranks as the oldest national literary association in Scotland.  That the idea of forming a Federation of Burns Clubs should have first been expressed somewhere south of Scotland is significant in itself for, from the very outset, the body which has become the official Burns movement has been no narrow national organisation, but one embracing the whole world.

A Federation of Burns clubs and societies was first mooted at the unveiling of a statue to the Bard in London in 1884. Since the early 1800s, Robert Burns had been commemorated by groups in many communities throughout Scotland. Colin Rae Brown was a member of Greenock Burns Club: the first such club to be instituted (1801) and (now a successful London publisher) it was through his enthusiasm and that of a small group of like-minded friends, that the Burns Federation was established. An initial meeting was held in London in 1885 to explore ideas and the first formal meeting of the new organisation took place in Kilmarnock on the 17th of July that year.

Today, The Robert Burns World Federation extends worldwide and serves to connect clubs, societies and inviduals who cherish the works and memory of Robert Burns.

In Scotland, Burns is viewed as more than just a poet. He is recognised as an exceptional visionary whose birthday is celebrated widely - not just in Scotland and the UK but his fame has created great interest in countries such as Japan and Russia and thus, Burns Suppers are celebrated everywhere the poet is revered.