25 February 1922 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

Tremendous S.W. gale which rapidly dried the roads but it was raining at night. The father¹ of Wilfred Lees (of the Fairnilea motor accident²) who came here yesterday with his wife had a bad attack of biliary colic³ but was better today. He is staying in Viewfield Lodge. I motored to Cramalt, eating at Deuchar Mill. On St Mary’s Loch the spray was being swept along in columns. We had to [use] a lot of 2nd speed⁴, but we came back in an hour. I had a letter from Patrick⁵. Dav.⁶ brought Mr Cornwall⁷ to call who is Treasurer in Ed. for the Anglo Indian Homes⁸.

¹ Wilfred Lees senior, wife of Alice Lees née Wilding and father of Wilfred Lees

² Lees Wilfred, junior (1900-1942), plumber, born Preston, Lancashire who was on a motorbike holiday when he collided with a car at Fairnilea

³ A very helpful and expert reader assisted with the reading of this entry, writing that Mr Lees was suffering from an attack of biliary colic and that “He probably had gallstones and the colic was the result of them. Very painful.”

⁴ This appears to refer to the use of low gears in the car whilst climbing to St Mary’s Loch

⁵ Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902

⁶ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

⁷ James Cornwall (about 1850-1922), Indian Civil Service, retired, see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 10 March 1922

⁸ This institution has not yet been identified but the fact that it is Dr Graham who is accompanying him may point to a connection with Dr Graham’s Homes in Kalimpong, India, the children’s mission established by his parents Dr John Anderson Graham and Katherine Graham née McConachie

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]