Victory Common Riding 100 riders went round in heavy rain + came back drenched1. I went over to the Hall at 6.45 + saw Nancy Buss the Colours2. Jack3 introduced me to Munro the M.P. + I walked down with him in the procession4. Stood on the footbridge + saw the gallop to Linglie, brought him back + showed him the library &c. + then he came here till breakfast which we didn’t get till 11.20 as Jack, Nancy, Mr [John] + Jas Pollok5 (who was the Standard Bearer) had to go home + change. I sent the Polloks down in the motor. The breakfast was a great success. Charlie Herdman6 unexpectedly turned up + made 19 with 4 from Wellwood, D + N, 4 from Elmpark, 2 Polloks, Dundas, Charlie Roberts, Muir [?] + Jorroks7. The rain stopped + after 1 the sun was shining + most of them went out to the races. I was left all alone with nothing to do. Called for Mrs Lawson + Isa Henderson + at 5 cycled down to see Isaac Piercy8 + called at Wellwood. Dav. [Dr David Graham, co-partner] was at the races for a little + then went up to Ettrick Shaws [Tom Anderson]. Mousey [Helen Muir] had everything well arranged except having the bath room window open which allowed the blind to drift + smash the glass of the under sash.
1 Selkirk Common Riding was as wet as June 100 years later it seems
2 Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter and married to Jack, the Provost; the Provost’s wife traditionally bussed the colours but the Southern Reporter 19 June 1919 noted that she had “… the distinction of being the first Provost’s wife to ride the Marches.”
3 John Roberts junior ‘Jack’ (1876-1966), mill owner and Provost of Selkirk
4 Robert Munro, 1st Baron Alness (1868-1955), Scottish lawyer, judge and Liberal politician, served as Secretary for Scotland 1916-1922 and as M.P. for Roxburgh and Selkirk 1918-1922
5 James MacLaurin Pollok (1890-1975), ex-soldier and son of John Pollok; the Southern Reporter 19 June 1919 noted that he “… won golden opinions by the way in which he discharged the office of Standard Bearer.”
6 Assume Charles William Herdman (1880-1956), at this time at Friarshaugh, Melrose but who later lived in Gloucestershire
7 Guests are four of the ‘Wellwooders’, Dr Muir’s daughter, son-in-law and children living at Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk; D and N are Dr David Graham and his wife Norah; the residents of Elmpark; John Pollok, Procurator-Fiscal and his son James; Dundas may be William Claxton Dundas, solicitor, of Edenhill, Selkirk; Charlie Roberts; Muir [?] and Jorrocks [unidentified]
8 Isaac Piercy, Market Place, aged 23 (1911) or Isaac D Piercy, aged 2 (1911) at Dunsdalehaugh
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 