Author: rumblingclint

Dull day with a fine rain in the morning+ some sunshine after. Very pleasant temperature. Two operations at Viewfield = Mrs Kennaway¹ Colostomy and Mrs Malkin² Curetting. Saw some town cases. The D’Arcys from Haslemere³ who are staying at Clovenfords called. Very nice couple : sent them in the car to Yarrowford to walk over Minchmoor.⁴ Cycled to Lauriston, Bridge Street, Buccleuch Road, Pinegrove + Wellwood. Helen⁵ was over at Gala.

¹ Assume Sarah Paterson Kennaway née Murray (1878-1927), widow, living with her daughter Jane Graham Kennaway (1913-) and mother Jane Murray née Graham (about 1847-).
Sarah’s husband Alexander Kennaway (1879-1914), Private, Service No. 7514, 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, died 21 October 1914 and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium.

² Jeannie Clark Malkin née Christie, who had a baby in 1921, had been ‘under the doctor’ for a while. She was recorded at Viewfield nursing home in the 1921 Census while her husband Joseph, a motor engineer, and their children Jeannie May (1917-), Cyril J Leslie (1920-) and Frank (1921-) were at Linglie View, Selkirk.

³ The D’Arcys are so far unidentified (and may in fact be from Easebourne, Midhurst, West Sussex, see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 17 July 1923) but the connection is presumably that some of Dr Muir’s family did live at Haslemere, Surrey, where he and Helen were going on their forthcoming holiday.

⁴ The high point of the Minch Moor (at grid reference NGR NT358,330) is in a direct line between Yarrowford and Traquair.

⁵ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

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

Very pleasant day without much sunshine : Temperature less. Wind very slight, first S. and later N : almost thundery-looking in evening. Saw 9 cases walking + cycled to Heather Mill + Linglie Mill.¹ Worked out a run from Haslemere to Eastbourne = 61 [miles].² Had meeting of Cycle Club.³ Committee to choose badge + arrange runs.

¹ Heather Mill was at Riverside and Linglie Mill off Level Crossing Road, both Selkirk.

² The proposed journey from Haslemere, Surrey to Eastbourne, Sussex was about 61 miles one way. That is what Dr Muir has written and the distance fits but note that on 17 July 1923 Dr Muir cycled to Easebourne, Midhurst, West Sussex.
However, if it turns out that Dr Muir did also have a run to Eastbourne then return journey would be beyond anything Dr Muir has done since at least the First World War so he must have been planning a train journey one way. Dr Muir was fit. On 30 July 1916 he noted “Have not used the motor since June 17 & have cycled 776.4 miles.” and on 10 August 1918 he recorded “For the 2nd time in my cycling experience I did one hundred miles viz 100.2.” Though the day after that ride Dr Muir claimed that he “Felt wonderfully fresh after my 100 miles yesterday.” five years later and 20 miles further was almost certainly too much for a man approaching his 80th year.

³ The Cycle Club was a new one and they were evidently working out how best to operate.

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

Very pleasant day S.W. instead of S.E. + not sultry. A few drops of rain about 3. Saw 4 cases walking + went to morning service. Mr Davidson¹ preaching : didn’t hear him well. Wrote Mary² + the Secretary at Portsmouth³ re dinner tickets. Called at Thornfield⁴ for Jim Roberts + Emma + saw their son (aet 18) + daughter aet 14).⁵ Mrs Mack⁶ + Barbara⁷ came to supper.

¹ Mr Davidson is so far unidentified.

² Mary Jane Wallace née Muir (1836-?1933), widowed in 1922, who Dr Muir was going to see during his and Helen’s forthcoming holiday..

³ It seems that Dr Muir had a plan to attend some sort of dinner of the British Medical Association (BMA) when he was at Portsmouth as part of his holiday.

⁴ Thornfield, 25 Scott’s Place, Selkirk was the home of Charles Henry ‘Charlie’ Roberts (1877-1954), tweed manufacturer and brother of both John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), Dr Muir’s son-in-law, and James Alexander ‘Jim’ Roberts (above).

⁵ James Alexander ‘Jim’ Roberts (1879-1948), his wife Catherine Emily ‘Emma’ Downes (1884-1949) and their children John Edward Downes Roberts (1906–1985) and Dorothy Violet Roberts, later MacMillan (1909–),
A California Passenger List of 1929 gives a detailed description of Dorothy: Scottish, aged 20, single, birth 1909 at Dunedin, complexion dark, eye colour blue, hair dark brown, height 5 feet 3 inches [California Passenger and Crew Lists, 1893-1957].

⁶ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

⁷ Andrina Barbara Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg (1902-1996), Dr Muir’s eldest grandchild.

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

Another very hot sultry day : [illegible] heat haze : some thunder. S.E. [wind] Did a a [sic] town list walking in a pair of new tan shoes which were fairly comfortable. Motored to Hassendeanbank to vaccinate a child Renton, formerly Boose Mill.¹ Then to put off time I went via Minto + Greenhouse² + back to Lilliesleaf where at 3 I opened a sale of work in connection with the U. F. Church [illegible]. Got tea there. Wrote the Secretary re tickets for the B.M.A. dinner + Willie Muir.³ Mrs Mack presented me with two pairs Knicker Stockings + a pair of gloves!⁴ Helen⁵ had her Brownies for a treasure hunt.

¹ On 10 June 1922 Dr Muir had reported the birth of Jeanie Blair Blackie Renton, born 9 June 1922 at Boosmiln Cottage, Lilliesleaf, the daughter of Thomas Borthwick Renton, ploughman, and Jeanie Blair Renton née Blackie, married 1918 at Gordon, Berwickshire. They had evidently flitted in the meantime.

² The Editor suspects that Dr Muir means Greenhouse, grid reference NGR NT557,236.

³ Dr Muir was evidently planning to attend a British Medical Association dinner and was (separately) communicating with William Edward ‘Willie’ Muir (1872-1948), his nephew, probably in connection with his and Helen’s planned holiday to Surrey.

⁴ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk, Dr Muir’s extremely generous friend.

⁵ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

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

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]

Felt all right this morning after my run of 80½ miles yesterday + being up from 5 a.m. till 1 a.m. this morning. Saw some town cases motoring + went to Edinburgh to a Branch Committee meeting¹ with 12:55 via Peebles. Walked out to Youngs² about an ear apparatus but it wouldn’t do. Went to the meeting at 4 + came out with Somerville³ at 6. Bought a pair of Argosy Braces⁴ at Forsyth.⁵

¹ The local panel of the British Medical Association.

² Youngs is so far unidentified.

³ James William Somerville (1866-1934), one of the medical practitioners at Galashiels at this time.

⁴ Advertised as “Elastic without indiarubber” [sic] Argosy Braces comprised a fairly normal shoulder strap with a rather peculiar set of checks and balances around the waist which apparently made it “impossible by any strain to pull off a Button”. They were marketed as sportswear so perhaps Dr Muir had cycling in mind, or further intimacy with Mrs Mack.

⁵ R W Forsyth Ltd. trading as Forsyth’s Foreign & Colonial outfitters of Renfield Street, Glasgow and 30 Princes Street, Edinburgh.

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

Rose 5.10 : cycled to Gala Clovenfords + got the 7 train to Leadburn¹ where I had breakfast (very good ham + egg). From there I went on to the Broughton road for Lamancha² + turned off near Macbie House to West Linton : on to Dolphinton Station where I turned to Dunsyre + Newbigging. Then at a smithy I turned N to Auchengray + back to Carnwath + so home via Melbourne X Roads + Peebles. It rained from 1.30 till 3 + I had to Don my cape. Going up the hill into Carnwath the wire of the 2 speed gear broke + I had to ride all the way home in top gear which was very tiring. I met David³ near Raelees⁴ on his way to Peel⁵ + he told me he intending operating [sic] on Mrs Brown, Curror Street.⁶ I had a W+S [whisky and soda] at Peebles + another when I got home, some dinner + a hot bath + gave Mrs Brown Chlor[oform] getting to bed at 1 a.m.

¹ Leadburn, grid reference NGR NT235,555.

² Lamancha, NT202,521, presumably Macbiehill, NT184,515, West Linton, NT149,520, Dolphinton Station (North British Railway), NT113,478, Dunsyre, NT072,481, Newbigging, NT014,458, Auchengray, NS995,541, Carnwath, NS982,464, and Melbourne Cross Roads, NT087,442.

³ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

⁴ Raelees, Yair, Caddonfoot parish, area of NT461,324.

⁵ Peel, Caddonfoot parish, area of NT433,349.

⁶ Mrs Brown is as yet unidentified.

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

The easiest day for 3 weeks. Made only 10 town calls. Made out some factory accounts. It was a variable day S.W. [wind] strongish + a shower in the afternoon.

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

Rose at 4.30 dressed : packed my bicycle bag : had some tea + bread + butter + expected Jack¹ at 5.30. When he didn’t appear I ‘Phoned + learned that as there was some mist on the hills + slight rain he wasn’t going to motor! As a matter of fact it turned out quite a good day : dull, sunless + to the cool side but quite dry. So I read Agnes Logan’s book about Aunt Marion till breakfast.² Of course I had less to do + made only 10 calls including Lauriston³ + Shawpark⁴ Got divies [dividends] from B.A.U. + Teleph. Manufact G⁵, also quarter’s cheque from N.H.I.⁶ Helen⁷ supped at Viewfield.⁸

¹ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), Dr Muir’s son-in-law.

² The Editor cannot identify the book but assumes that it is privately printed. The author must be Agnes McIver Logan (about 1848-1928), daughter of Alexander Stuart Logan and Agnes Logan née Greig, thus Dr Muir’s cousin. Her subject is presumably Marion Stewart McClure née Logan (1822-1916), the younger sister of Dr Muir’s mother.

³ Lauriston, Heatherlie, Selkirk, home of the Smith family.

⁴ Dr Muir had been attending Shawpark, Selkirk from time to time to see John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), a civil engineer, who had a heart attack on 11 March 1923.

⁵ The dividends are presumably for one of the various companies called Buenos Ayers or Aires and quite possibly for the Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Company (later absorbed by Plessey). Dr Muir also held shares at this time in companies named Esparto Paper Mills Company (mentioned 3 April 1923), Bahia Blanca, Allen & Hanbury (pharma) and B. A. West.

⁶ The Editor assumes that the quarter’s cheque from “N.H.I.” was Dr Muir’s fees under the National Health Insurance Act 1920.

⁷ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁸ Viewfield Nursing Home. Presumably Helen was enjoying the company of the (female) nursing staff.

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

A dull but pleasant day. Roads very dusty. W. [wind] David came back this morning looking very well. He has had a splendid time. Motored to South Port + Ettrick Shaws returning to Muthag Street + Hospital. Dav.¹ came up at 6.30 + we talked over the work. Supped at Wellwood.² Jack³ is going to Mrs Steel’s funeral at Inverness on Tuesday⁴ + has offered to motor me there. I might stay with the Hayes.⁵

¹ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

² Wellwooders, sometimes Wellwoods, see also Muir “John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and their children Andrina Barbara Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg (1902-1996), John Stewart ‘Jock’ Roberts (1904-1950), Louisa Jane Roberts, later Rutherford (1906-1982), Stewart Muir ‘Little Stewart’ Roberts (1908-2003) and George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005).

³ John Roberts junior ‘Jack’ (1876-1966), mill owner and Dr Muir’s son-in-law.

⁴ Mrs Steel is unidentified but does not appear to refer to a member of the Strang Steel family.

⁵ James Hayes (1865-1939), retired medical practitioner and Jessie Geddes Thomson Hayes née Muir (1860-1930), daughter of Alexander Muir and thus Dr Muir’s niece. In the 1921 Census the couple were recorded at Craig Gowan, Duthil [Carr Bridge], Inverness-shire and the Valuation Rolls corroborate this [1921 Census 096/B1 4/ 1, page 1 of 6 and 1922 Valuation Roll, VR010300042-/1041, Inverness County, page 1041 of 1327].

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