18 July 1921 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

High Street being tar Macadamed

This has been about as hot as Saturday week + every trace of the rain has disappeared: at night it was very sultry + not a breath of wind. Saw ¹/₂ doz. town cases + cycled to Faldonside where I gave Mrs Hall¹ a hypo of an auto… serum² for some chronic chest condition + also saw + presented for Ralph³. Addressed some of the County accounts. The Patons⁴ were here for lunch + tea + Dora⁵, Chrissy⁶ + Sally Campbell⁷ went to the Picture Ho. at night.

¹ Mrs Hall may have been the governess for the Dees family, Faldonside – see diary entry for 22 July 1921

² The exact name of this serotherapy has not been identified

³ Ralph Andrew Irwin Dees (1913-1988), son of Robert Irwin Dees and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson; the family had been occupiers at Faldonside since early 1920 but Phyllis Mary Dees his sister had died 2 December 1920 after a prolonged illness, the consequence of a car accident

⁴ The Patons were Isabella Clementina ‘Isa’ Paton (about 1838-1929) and Marion Agnes Paton (about 1841-1940), sisters living on their own means [1901 Census], formerly of Selkirk they had flitted to Galashiels in May 1918

⁵ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

⁶ Christina Robertson Rodger ‘Christy’ or ‘Chrissie’ Patrick (1891-1960), daughter of Christina Robertson ‘Tina’ Patrick née Rodger and David Patrick, solicitor, of Hamilton

⁷ Miss Sarah Campbell is unidentified

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]