Wet in morning but fair after. No sunshine: misty. Went at accounts from 10 till 2.30 when I motored to Gala to meeting of Panel Committee, calling at Faldonside as I came back. Got Phyllis¹ up for the first time.

¹ Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Dense fog. It continued raining up till 2 p.m. Very dull, damp + cheerless. Very little to do. Motored to Dovecot, Curror Street + Faldonside. Miss D.¹ not making progress. Got a beginning at the monthly accounts. Helen had a letter from Dora². One of the Webbs³ has died.

¹ Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside

² Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s housekeeper, and Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse; they were Dr Muir’s third and youngest daughters respectively

³ Isabella Reid Webb, fundholder, died 23 September 1920 at 11 Priestfield Road, Newington, Edinburgh, aged 57, of encephalitis, born 1863 at Aberdeen, she was the daughter of Edward Webb, hatter, and Eliza Webb née Goldsmith; she and her unmarried brothers and sisters had been at that address since at least the 1911 Census

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

A day of incessant heavy rain from S.E. Ettrick in heavy flood. Motored to Ettrick Road (Mrs Paterson¹, epistaxis) + Kilncroft. Then to Curror Street + Faldonside – at 1 motored to Colin’s Bridge. Oakwood [?] Deloraine + Crook Cottage getting home a little after 5. David [Graham, co-partner] got back at 11. He got a message yesterday to Shankend² + went to Miss Beust³ via Eskdalemuir. He went + saw Louise⁴ yesterday.

¹ Mrs Alison Paterson, widow, was at 3 Ettrick Road around this time (though this could refer to a wife of James Paterson, gardener, who was at 4 Ettrick Road) [1920 Valuation Rolls]

² Shankend (not to be confused with the location and viaduct in Cavers Parish) is between Hopehouse and Thirlestane House, Ettrick Parish, approximate grid reference NGR NT292,162, and visible on the Ordnance Survey 6” Selkirkshire Sheet XVIII.NW, published 1900

³ Alexina Margaret Buist (1853-1936), see diary entry for 3 October 1920

⁴ Louisa Jane ‘Louise’ Roberts (1906-1982), Dr Muir’s granddaughter who was at school at Brampton, Cumberland

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Strong cold S.E. wind but dry up till 7 when it rained. David + Norah¹ left to visit Miss Beust²: Norah going on to London from Carlisle tomorrow + Dav. to see Louise³ at Brampton near where she is at school. I had almost nothing to do + was twice at Church: …. Services. A Mr Watt preaching splendidly + the choir singing an anthem. Helen + I supped at Wellwood + after getting home I had to go down to see Mrs Paterson⁴, Ettrick Road.

¹ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner, and his wife Norah Campion Graham née West (1887-1971)

² Alexina Margaret Buist (1853-1936), the tenant of Viewfield prior to Dr Muir’s purchase who moved to Fergushill, a Victorian Gothic Revival house at Kirklinton, Cumberland

³ Louisa Jane ‘Louise’ Roberts (1906-1982), Dr Muir’s granddaughter

⁴ Mrs Alison Paterson, widow, was at 3 Ettrick Road around this time (though this could refer to a wife of James Paterson, gardener, who was at 4 Ettrick Road) [1920 Valuation Rolls]

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Raining all forenoon: calm [wind] S.E. mild. Saw 7 town cases walking. Motored to Dunsdale, Faldonside + Hospital. At 3 gave Peter Peden¹ chlor[orform] + extracted 7 or 8 teeth at Viewfield. Mitchell, Wellwood Stables² out riding with Jock + Tim³ on Headshaw Moor⁴ fell off his horse + broke his right forearm + collar bone. Tim rode in for me + I met Mitchell coming in at Henny Knowes. Gave him chlor[orform] + set the arm. Helen + Nancy⁵ had tea at Bell Harkness’⁶. Fancy parade for funds of Junior Recreation Club.

¹ Not identified

² Alexander Mitchell, chauffeur, “Inhabitant Occupier, not rated” at Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, John Roberts junior, manufacturer, Proprietor [1920 Valuation Roll]

³ John ‘Jock’ Roberts (1904-1950) and George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005), two of Dr Muir’s grandson

⁴ Headshaw is the area north of Ashkirk and the Woll

⁵ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s second and third daughters respectively

⁶ Isabella ‘Bell’ Harkness née Lockie (1859-1929), daughter of Hugh Lockie, woollen millworker, and Helen Lockie née Fairbairn, married John Harkness baker; their daughter Ella Fairbairn Harkness (1893-1915), woollen millworker, died 1915 aged 22 at Curror Street, Selkirk of phthisis pulmonalis 18 months, certified by Dr John S Muir

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Rained nearly all day, not heavily: dull: calm [wind S.E. to E. When it faired about 4.30 I cycled to Faldonside but got rain coming back. Miss D’s¹ Temp. normal but had a bad night. Saw a few town cases in forenoon + then sat at ledger. Dyspepsia persistent + appetite poor. Helen [Muir] had Norah² at tea. Letter from Margaret Gillan³ to say their trip North was off.

¹ Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside

² Norah Campion Graham née West (1887-1971), wife of Dr David Charteris Graham (1889-1963), medical practitioner

³ Assume Margaret Douglas Gillan née Ord Mackenzie (1891-1973), daughter of Montague Allan Ord Mackenzie and Frances Gordon ‘Fanny’ Ord Mackenzie née Rennie (and thus Dr Muir’s great-niece); she married, 1917, (James) Angus Gillan (1885–1981), Olympic gold medal rower and colonial administrator; see also diary entry for 29 September 1920

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Not quite as dull as yesterday [and] some sunshine after midday. [Wind] S.E. Cycled to Mavisbank, Faldonside, Ettrickbank Mill. Arranged some accounts + paid several + finished up quarter’s day book. Paid 9 Guineas for Bella’s¹ stay at Viewfield. Helen was at Shawpark helping to entertain the McCall kids² who were there to tea. P.C. from Girty³ saying they were coming via Darlington + Corbridge. Sent them a P.C. [postcard] about route from Corbridge to Selkirk.

¹ Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-?1952), Dr Muir’s housekeeper

² Assume Mabel Mona McCall (1911-), John Grice Armstrong McCall (1913-), Alan George McCall (1914-) and Arthur James McCall (1916-), the children of the Reverend James George McCall and Mabel Lovat McCall née Armstrong (c.1878-1917) who had died after a stillbirth (they had married at Southsea, 1908)

³ Assume Margaret Douglas Gillan née Ord Mackenzie (1891-1973), daughter of Montague Allan Ord Mackenzie and Frances Gordon ‘Fanny’ Ord Mackenzie née Rennie (and therefore Dr Muir’s niece); she married, 1917, James Angus Gillan (1885–1981), twice Olympic gold medal rower

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

A dull but dry day: Misty hardly a glint of sunshine. Cycled to Oakwood, Beechwood (coachman), Yair (Mrs Dubs), Fairnilee S Lodge + Faldonside. Did not get back till nearly 3. Saw some town cases after. Mrs Dubs¹ has bought a house at Wemyss Bay. Phyllis Dees² not satisfactory: pretty much at a stand still. Got a wire from Gyrty (Mrs Gillan³) putting off their visit (which was to have been on Friday) till Tuesday.

¹ Margaret Forsyth Dubs, formerly Smith, née Arthur (1853-1935), widow of Frank Albert ‘F A’ Dubs (1860-1920), had moved to a house called Woodbourne at Wemyss Bay, Inverkip, Renfrewshire by 1925

² Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside

³ Assume Margaret Douglas Gillan née Ord Mackenzie (1891-1973), daughter of Montague Allan Ord Mackenzie and Frances Gordon ‘Fanny’ Ord Mackenzie née Rennie (and thus Dr Muir’s great-niece); she married, 1917, (James) Angus Gillan (1885–1981), Olympic gold medal rower and colonial administrator; see also diary entry for 1 October 1920

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Lovely day + in the sun quite warm. S.E. [wind]. Misty at night. I am feeling a pain probably rheumatic [illegible] somewhere about my left Ilium or hip joint. Motored to Gala + met Ernest Muir¹ at 11.9. Came round by Gattonside Bridge to Faldonside. Fiff² again has temp. over 102. After lunch Ernest + I sat + smoked in the garden + I showed him Viewfield. He left at 2.40+ he sails for India on the 1st to take up work in Leprosy + Tuberculosis for 2 years under Government. After he left I walked to Smedheugh. Nancy³ + Vera Brown⁴ came to tea. David was at ? + Deloraine + had to go up to Ramsaycleuch at night.

¹ Not identified but very likely a relative of Dr Muir

² Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), persistently ill after a car accident; she was the daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside

³ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s daughter

⁴ Vera Watson Brown (1900-), daughter of William Brown, banker, and Henrietta Brown née Watson

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

New oil driven road Roller at work, on Dunsdale Road

A dull windy dusty day + cooler. Dav. was hurriedly summoned to Rodono to see a son of Stark¹, coal agent + found him with appendicitis. He was operated on at Viewfield between 2 + 3 + the appendix was beginning to necrose. I cycled to Thirladean + Faldonside. Miss Dees’ T. [temperature] was 102.4 without any apparent reason². I went down to Bridgelands with Dav. at 12.30 + gave Miss Scott³ gas for a P.Y. Helen [Muir] went to a concert by the Glasgow Orpheus Choir⁴ with Mrs Mc.⁵ + Vera Brown⁶.

¹ Assume Rodono at Ettrick though why the patient was there is not obvious: Robert Stark had a house at Mill Street and coal depot and office nearby at Station Road, Selkirk

² Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), persistently ill after a car accident; she was the daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside

³ Not identified

⁴ The Glasgow Orpheus Choir (1906-1951)

⁵ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

⁶ Vera Watson Brown (1900-), daughter of William Brown, banker, and Henrietta Brown née Watson

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]