28 April 1922 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

Michael Glendinning died this morning¹

Went to Edin. at 10.29. Travelled to Gala with Hamilton², Murray³ + in the same compartment was a man who was pointed out to me at Gala as Smith the laird of Broomhill⁴. In the train with me to Ed. were Rodger⁵ + a very voluble person, Tait⁶, a painter + decorator in Gala to whose daughter McKenzie [?] of Kirkhope⁷ was engaged. Walked out to see Jean⁸ via Young’s⁹ and the Meadows¹⁰. It was a fine day + seemed warmer than here. Took tram back to Princes Street. Got lunch at the Picture Ho. Left my gold watch at H. + I.¹¹ + attended meetings of Insur^ce Sub Com^ttee + Branch Council from 2.15 till 6. Went to Pict. Ho. + the new P.H.¹² + came out by last train. It was agreed to hold annual meeting of Branch Com. at Galashiels¹³.

¹ Michael Glendinning died at Peelburnfoot, 29 April 1922, death certified by Dr J S Muir M.B.; a retired farmer, tenant occupier, house and garden at Peelburnfoot, Caddonfoot parish [1919 + 1920 Valuation Rolls] and formerly the tenant at Williamhope [1905 V.R.], he was the son of William Glendinning, shepherd, and Alison Glendinning née Scott and widower of Euphemia Riddle (about 1837-1915)

² Hamilton is unidentified

³ Murray is unidentified

⁴ Walter Smith proprietor of a house and garden, plantation and part of the farm Broomhill and proprietor of the farm St Helen’s, all in Selkirk [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/386, Selkirk County, page 386 of 611]

⁵ Rodger presumably refers a member of the Rodger family of Selkirk that included Dr Muir’s wife Andrina who had died in 1902

⁶ Perhaps George Hope Tait (1861-1943), master painter, poet and bailie who married, 11 June 1897, Catherine Isabella Riach and had four daughters (allegedly five): Catherine Taylor Tait (1898-), Christina Gordon Tait, later Hunter (1901-1969), Leonora Hope Tait (1903-) and Edith Helen Tait, later Imlah (1905-1979).

⁷ It has been impossible to identify a McKenzie (assuming the reading is correct) who fits this description

⁸ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter, possibly still at Lutton Place, Newington

⁹ Young’s is presumably an Edinburgh business

¹⁰ Dr Muir has travelled in the direction of George Heriot’s School and the University before walking through The Meadows to Newington

¹¹ Hamilton & Inches, celebrated Edinburgh silversmiths

¹² Picture House rather the Public House presumably

¹³ Perhaps Dr Muir is referring to the Scottish Rural Practitioners’ Sub-Committee of the British Medical Association (B.M.A.)

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