15 June 1922 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

An absolutely sunless but not unpleasant day. Little or no wind: once a threatening of rain. I saw 4 town cases + Hospital + cycled to Upper Faldonside to find that the cook¹ was away to Gala. Got a drink from Jessie² + went on to Melrose, Newstead, Leaderfoot + Cove³. Went up the road to the quarry + left my bike + walked up one of the crags that run towards Smailholm + took my tea. It was very delightful though the distant views were hazy. Walked along to the highest one above Brotherston. Got back at 5. Changed + went to the Colonial Bussin’.⁴ Tom Ballantyne⁵ in the Chair + he got me on my feet. Dora⁶ + Brown⁷ went to [illegible] Corporation Bussin’ in the Victoria Hall + Helen⁸ went with Barb.,⁹ Mrs Mack¹⁰ + Louis Thomson¹¹ to the [illegible] soldiers.¹²

¹ Mrs Montgomery was the cook at High Faldonside but is otherwise unidentified

² Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener

³ Though Dr Muir’s route there is not clear this probably refers to Cove House, Earlston, grid reference NGR NT628,379, which has a quarry nearby from which Dr Muir presumably walked in the direction of Boghouse and Brotherstone – see Ordnance Survey 6 inch Sheets Berwickshire XXVI (and extension XXV) and Roxburghshire IX, both published 1862

⁴ The Colonial Bussin’ is part of the Selkirk Common Riding

⁵ Tom Ballantyne is not (yet) identified

⁶ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

⁷ Miss Brown is unidentified

⁸ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

⁹ Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg (1902-1996), Dr Muir’s eldest granddaughter

¹⁰ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

¹¹ Louis (Louise?) Thomson is not identified

¹² Presumably part of the Common Riding but not identified

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