13 June 1923 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

Was knocked up at 3.20 a.m. to see Mrs Neil¹, Forest Road. She broke her leg when I was away. Gave her a hypo of Heroin for pain in back + again in the evening. It was fair today with a very strong + sharp N.W. wind : paid 18 visits walking + cycling + after lunch cycled to see Tom Mitchell², Ettrickbridgend. Went to Red X meeting at 4.30. Tina³ + Bessie⁴ arrived at 6. Sent Baptie⁵ to the Haugh⁶ to try + find Hutchinson⁷ – to whom Dav.⁸ paid a visit at Greendemains⁹ + who had left when I went there yesterday – but he couldn’t trace him.

¹ Assume Jane Neill née Laurie or Lawrie (1858-1929), widow of John Brown Neill, woollen factory manager. In 1923 she was the Proprietor Occupier of a house and garden at Hill View, Forest Road [Valuation Roll].

² Thomas Mitchell (1867-1937), master joiner was proprietor of the ‘tenants improvements gas engine’, ‘tenants erections’ and a hayshed at Ettrickbridgend, Kirkhope [1923 Valuation Rolls].

³ Tina is presumably Christina Robertson ‘Tina’ Patrick née Rodger (about 1846-1924).

⁴ Bessie was presumably Elizabeth Maud ‘Bessie’ Patrick (1881-1945), daughter of Christina Robertson ‘Tina’ Patrick née Rodger (above) and David Patrick, solicitor, of Hamilton.

⁵ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.

⁶ Assume Station Haugh at Selkirk which does not appear to be on any maps but to judge by the Valuation Rolls must be in the area of Ettrickvale Mill and Whinfield.

⁷ Assume Fred. J S Hutchison (about 1883-), born Utah, U.S.A., who was recorded living in a tent, with his wife and three children, at Deuchar Mill, Yarrow, in the 1921 Census.

⁸ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

⁹ Presumably Hutchison had been staying in the area of Greendemains, the stiff ascent (if travelling southwards) between Braw Gates and Brown Moor Heights, just before the Selkirk Ashkirk boundary and running through indicative grid reference NT471,252.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]