6 July 1923 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

Warmest day of the year to date. Temp. in shade of window 82°. In bedroom up 5°. Slight S.E. breeze. Delightful in evening. Breakfasted 7.30 as Helen¹ was going to Edinburgh with Mrs Mack.² Saw some 9 town cases including including Brown + Allan³ + Hospital + Beechwood + cycled to Castleside + Burnfoot.⁴ Attended meeting of Red X [Cross] Committee in Town Hall at 4.14. Wrote for Railway Vouchers for Portsmouth.⁵ Helen secured seats for Sunday week.⁶

¹ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

² Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

³ Brown and Allan, spinners, were at Riverside Mills, Dunsdale Road, Selkirk [Thanks to a reader for spotting the Editor’s oversight.].

⁴ Both of theses are in Ashkirk: Castleside, grid reference NGR NT462,209 and Burnfoot NT458,201 (though there were historically two places, named Easter and Wester Burnfoot, the latter, at area of NT457,193, was no longer there by 1917).

⁵ The vouchers appear to have been issued by the British Medical Association (B.M.A.) for delegate’s travel..

⁶ Dr Muir and Helen were planning a summer holiday with relatives in Surrey.

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