16 November 1920 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

Still blowy + showery but less violent. David [Graham] + I went down to Faldonside and D. did a lumbar puncture¹ with much less pain to the patient than when “Spoof”² operated. While we were there Baptie³ took Ailie Boyd Wilson⁴ up to Thorncroft⁵. Came back by Mill Street + Forest Road. Opened rectal abscess for Hugh Gallocher⁶. Was called out in evening to Ross⁷, Glenlora + then to Hogg⁸, Elmrow. Examined a man Towns (nephew of the Provost T.) for Scottish Widows⁹. Went back to Faldonside at night. Phyllis had [illegible] day T.99. but pulse 140 + weak. Ailie + Helen had tea at Levenlea¹⁰ + went to the Pictures. Voting took place on the licensing parties [illegible] at Victoria Hall. Wrote Dora [Muir].

¹ Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside; she had been involved in a car accident near Berrybush while travelling between the Gordon Arms and Tushielaw

² Spoof may be Scott Skirving – see diary entry for 9 November 1920

³ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

⁴ Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson or Boyd-Wilson, later Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson Milne (1890-1955)

⁵ Thorncroft, 16 Scott’s Place, Selkirk was Dr Muir’s home

⁶ Hugh Gallocher (1876-), shoemaker and husband of Mary Ann Wood, was tenant at 68 Forest Road, Selkirk, 1920 Valuation Roll

⁷ Sinclair Ross (c.1870-1948), Caithness born solicitor, was proprietor at Glenlora, Viewfield Park, Selkirk, 1918 Valuation Roll

⁸ Henry Hogg, millworker, was at 2 Elm Row,Selkirk, 1920 Valuation Roll

⁹ David Towns (1857-1949), master house painter, was at West Port, Selkirk; originally from Fettercairn, Kincardineshire, he had a couple of brothers and it is not possible to identify his nephew with confidence

¹⁰ Levenlea, Philliphaugh, Selkirk was the home of John Harrison junior, manufacturer, 1920 Valuation Roll

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]