Author: rumblingclint

A little hoar frost this morning, colder, fine on the whole: hail shower in afternoon. Cycled to Mauldsheugh. Saw one or two in Heatherlie including Dav Lumgair: first time I have been in Priory since Lumgair died 8 years ago. Went on to Weatherhouse, Oakwood, Thirladean & Beechwood. Got letter from Dr Yellowlees announcing that he has stopped visiting Miss Coalville. Looked in at Mauldsheugh again + met Major McDonald [?]. Worked at [illegible] Sold. + Temp Recd [?] accounts. Fowler [?] + Johnstone came + saw about the piece of wall [illegible] the Bowling Green¹. Jack + I went to meeting for men [?] in Victoria Hall. Poor turnout addressed by McDonald, Gala.

¹ In the editor’s judgement Dr Muir’s handriting has deteriorated somewhat; time will tell if it is a permanent change

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

A delightful Spring like day, clear with a S W wind. Some rain during last night + again in the evening. Was called at 3.30 to Mrs Wotherston, Pembroke Cottages, who had a d [daughter] at 4.30. Got back to bed at 5.30 + did not get up till 8.30. Cycled round town + after tea to Longmoss returning via Clarilawmuir. Views lovely. Cheviot snow clad stood out in sunshine. Letter from Jean [Muir] + May. Catherine Smith came to tea + had a talk with me about Jim. Miss Burton + two McCall children were also at tea¹. Helen [Muir] + I went to the service in evening.

¹ This will be the children of the Reverend John George McCall, rector of St John’s Episcopal Church, whose wife Mabel Lovat McCall had died 22 May 1917

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

A dry coldish day with twice a minute sprinkling of rain. A little sun in the morning. Saw 14 town cases cycling. Dav [Dr David Graham] was at Yarrowford, Fairnilea + at night had to go down to Bridgelands to see a child of Hardie, the gardener. Finished making out the D.D.M.S. accounts to the number of 57 + the value of £20 8 6. Wrote McDonald, Dumfries, that I would be unable to join him + Kate at the Isle in [sic] the end of May². This was the Spring holiday but I had a lot of people in [to surgery] at night.

¹ Deputy Director Medical Services

² Assume Katherine Macdonald or McDonald and her husband James C R Macdonald, writer to the signet, of 1 Newall Terrace, Dumfries – Dr Muir has referred to them previously c.f. diary entry for 17 September 1918 – and the Isle is the Isle of Whithorn

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Slates + pavement wet this morning but it was a fine forenoon + no rain: duller + colder afternoon. Dav [Graham, co-partner) + I saw Isa Anderson together + I saw some more town cases but could not get to morning service. Dav went to Ettrickbridgend to see Mrs Rob. Mitchell. Went to the united service in connection with re-dedication in the Parish Church with Helen [Muir]. Jack [Roberts] came to supper.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Dull dry day + rather colder. Roads drying. Cycled to one or two in town + down to Mauldsheugh. Norah [Graham] is in London. Dav [Dr David Graham] is attending Dav Lumgair who has pneumonia. They asked a Consult[ant] + he intercepted Edwin Bramwell¹ at Castle Douglas by motor + he came here about 8.30 at night. I was in the house all afternoon finished the D.D.M.S. account² all but ? (which I had as form) + got on with posting of March [accounts].

¹ Professor Edwin Bramwell (1873-1952), F.R.S.E., P.R.C.P.E., L.L.D., Scottish neurologist and President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh 1933-1935

² Deputy Director Medical Services

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Thick fog at first + then a delightful sunny day the most spring like yet. The crocuses for [illegible] were a fine display. I intended cycling to Lilliesleaf but word came that William Bunney was dead! I saw a I cycled to Hospital, Goslaw Green + walked was walking to Briarbank when Jas Rid I was sent [for] James Riddell, took him back to the surgery + swabbed his throat. There was a message to Mrs Harvey, Yair, which Dav [Dr David Graham] did. He was also a [sic] Thirladean seeing D.C. who returned home yesterday. Attended meeting of War Memorial Committee in Town Hall at which 3 sub com^tees were formed 1 Roll of Honour, 2 Reception [and] 3 Memorial. I was put on the latter.

¹ William aka Alphonse or Alphonso Bunney (birth registered as Alphonso Bonny at St Austell, Cornwall Registration District, September Quarter 1844 but recorded as Alphonso Bunney at Coombe, St Stephen Parish, Cornwall in 1851 Census), retired butler, died 4 April 1919 at Lilliesleaf, aged 74; in the 1891 Census he is a butler at Riddell House, with Agnes Bunney his wife (probably both working for the Sprot family) but by the 1911 Census he is retired and living in the Cross Keys at Lilliesleaf – he was born in England [sic], she was from Lilliesleaf and they had married at Riddell in 1870

² David Carnegie Alexander aka ‘Carnegie Alexander’ or ‘D.C.A.’ (1856-1928), solicitor; he had been at Wells, presumably Somerset, see 1st April 1919 diary entry

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Distinctly milder with a very slight W wind: no drouth [dryness – see ‘Dictionar o the Scots Leid’]. A very little drizzle once. David [Graham, co-partner] met Jeffry at Ettrickshaws early. Motored to various mills, Buccleuch Road (where Mrs Brownlee had twin sons yesterday¹). Called at National Bank + invested £200 in War Bonds making a total of £3198 11 1. I motored to Lilliesleaf + saw Mr Bunney who was much worse². Met a nephew + niece of his wife³ [word deleted] grandchildren of the old groom at Riddell – Davis – witnessed Bunny’s signature to a document giving his house to Mitchell with whom he boards. Came back by Longmoss + Shawmount. Recited at a concert given by Federation of Soldiers + Sailors⁴. Gave ‘Macfarlane’s Dugout’⁵, ‘The Pike’ [?] + ‘A Farmer’s Soliloquy’⁶. Helen [Muir] went to a women’s meeting in the Lawson Memorial.

¹ Ross Brown Thomson Brownlee and Walter Renwick Brownlee, sons of James Brownlee, woollen millworker, and Dora Matilda Brownlee née Thomson, born (five minutes apart) on 2 April 1919 at Buccleuch Road, Selkirk; their parents had married on 10 March 1911 at Selkirk

² William aka Alphonse or Alphonso Bunney, retired butler, died 4 April 1919 at Lilliesleaf, see diary entry for 4 April 1919

³ Agnes Bunney née Davis (about 1835-1918), recorded in 1841 census, aged 8, with parents William Davis, groom and Janet Davis née Glendinning, and living at Riddell South Lodge, Lilliesleaf and in 1851 as a house servant for Francis Somerville, Sheriff Substitute, at Knowepark, Selkirk

⁴ The National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers (NFDDSS), a British veterans’ organisation

⁵ By Joseph Johnston Lee (1876-1949), journalist, editor, poet and artist; while a soldier he published two First World War poetry collections ‘Ballads of Battle’, 1916 and ‘Work-a-Day Warriors’, 1917

⁶ Conceivably ‘The Farmer’s Soliloquy’ by Robert Charles O’Hara Benjamin (1855-1900), journalist, author, lawyer, educator, civil rights activist and poet the first stanzas of which reads “Oh! for a thousand tongues to sing | My great Redeemer’s praise: | The glories of my Lord and King, | The triumphs of His grace.” | “Oh! for a thousand cedar posts | To fence my garden ’round. | To hinder the neighbors’ pigs and goats | From rooting up my potato ground.”

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

A better day on the whole but still cold. Wind round to W slight. Sunny morning no snow visible except some drifts on Peat Law and Foulshiels¹. Expected a day at books but Rob Grierson’s daughter Mrs Hardie turned ill + kept me going back + forwards till 5 when she had a daughter². Dav [Dr David Graham] went to Lilliesleaf to see William Bunney³. He had £127 11s + 7d as per contract of co-partners + I shall invest £300 in War Bonds. Helen, Jack + I went to meeting in Victoria Hall in connection with Rededication … which was addressed by Dr Ogilvie moderator of Church of Scotland⁴ + Sheriff Orr. Had another letter from Harvey + wrote Dora [Muir]. Letter from May Atkins if Dora could go + nurse Jas Wallace.

¹ Peat Law, grid reference NGR NT443307 and Foulshiels Hill, NT427303, both Selkirk Parish

² Muriel Jean Hardie, daughter of David William Hardie, mechanical engineer and Driver, Service No. 2845, Australian Engineers and Margaret Jean Hardie née Grierson, was born 2 April 1919 at Douglas Cottage, Elm Row, Selkirk; her parents had married 6 April 1918

³ William aka Alphonse or Alphonso Bunney, retired butler, died 4 April 1919 at Lilliesleaf; in the 1891 Census he is a butler at Riddell House, with Agnes Bunney his wife (probably both working for the Sprot family) but by the 1911 Census he is retired and living in the Cross Keys at Lilliesleaf – he was born in England and she was from Lilliesleaf

⁴ The Very Reverend James Nicoll Ogilvie (1860-1926), M.A, D.D., Scottish Church of Scotland minister. He was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 1918/19.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

A spell of light from the rising sun was soon hidden by a dense snow shower. All day there were blasts of hail + snow + altogether it was a bad day for April 1^st. I motored to Lilliesleaf + saw Bunney + then attended John Scott’s funeral¹. There was quite a procession of motors after the hearse from Lilliesleaf to Ashkirk. Large congregation neither Jim Scott nor Paul Cochrane were able to be present² nor D.C.A. who is at Wells³. Fortunately it was nearly fair at the grave. Got home at 2.15. Helen [Muir] busy Spring cleaning dining room. Got National War Bond Dividends amounting to £28 15 0. Shook hands with Jim Marshall, Lord Geo. Scott⁴ and [unfinished].

¹ John Corse Scott (1854-1919) of Synton, Ashkirk, died 29 March 1919, aged 64

² The editors are not sure of the identities of these two but a Paul John Cochrane, a retired captain, was at Whitriggs, Cavers in the Valuation Roll 1920

³ If this reading is correct it probably refers to David Carnegie Alexander aka Carnegie Alexander or D.C.A. (1856-1928), solicitor

⁴ Possibly Lord George William Montagu Douglas Scott (1866-1947), O.B.E., D.L., Scottish cricketer and soldier, and brother of John Montagu Douglas Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Ground white but no more snow during the day + it all disappeared. There is still plenty on the hills however. The storm has been much worse in the north. Expected to have a whole day at books but had to go to Lilliesleaf to see William Bunney¹ + then to Hopehouse for Mrs Moffat whom I found nearly moribund². She is 93. Dav [Dr David Graham] was at Boleside and Fairnilea. He came up at night + we finished entering the quarter’s visits.

¹ See entries for 2nd and 4th April 2019

² Sarah Moffat, daughter of Robert Wilson, farm manager, and Elizabeth Wilson née Patterson, and widow of Adam Moffat, gamekeeper, died 31 March 1919 at Hopehouse, Ettrick, aged 92, death certified by Dr J S Muir

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]