Dull morning but after 12 a most glorious day, calm, bright + the verdure everywhere most [text deleted] lovely [?]. I cycled to W Park, Buccleuch Road¹ + Hospital + in the afternoon had to go twice to the Henhouse to see Johnny Laidlaw² who, I thought, had some peritonitis. I asked Dav.³ to see him at night but he didn’t think there was anything serious. I finished Hospital Report. Helen⁴ cycled with Peter⁵ to Abbotsford.

¹ William Park, grocer, Occupier of a shop at 75 Buccleuch Road, Selkirk (though he appears to have lived at ‘Glenesk’ The Glebe, Selkirk) [1922 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/336, Selkirk Burgh, page 336 of 644 and VR007900012-/336, Selkirk Burgh, page 336 of 644].

² John ‘Johnny’ Laidlaw, sawmiller, of Henhouse, The Haining, Selkirk [1911 Census; 1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/378, Selkirk County, page 378 of 611].

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

⁴ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁵ Peter Allan was evidently a charge of Dora’s but is not (yet) identified.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

A calm sunless day but only a few drops of rain once. Walked to Viewfield + Hospital + went to morning service where Dr Ross¹ gave a eulogy of Mrs Lawson² + the Dead March in Saul was played³. I had quite a lot of Strawberries + brought some in to Helen⁴. Many are mouldering. I did some work at the Hospital report + Helen + I supped at Wellwood⁵. Joan Robertson⁶ is there.

¹ Assume the Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland clergyman who moved to Selkirk in 1903 and was there until his retiral with the exception of a period in early 1918 when he was in France with the Scottish Churches Huts.

² Cecil Lawson née Mackinlay (about 1837-1922), widow of the Reverend John Lawson, minister of the First United Presbyterian Church, had died 26 August 1922 aet 85 at Knowepark, Selkirk; she was the daughter of James Mackinlay, East India Merchant, and Isabella Mackinlay née Murray.

³ The Dead March from Act III of the oratorio Saul (1738) by G F Handel initiates the funeral rites of Saul and Jonathan.

⁴ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁵ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of the Roberts family.

⁶ Joan Robertson’s arrival in Selkirk was recorded in Dr Muir’s diary of 30 August 1922 but she is (so far) unidentified.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Still raining this morning but kept fair after 11: dull + sunless N.E. calm. Walked to Elmrow, Rosemount, Kirkwynd, Glebe Terrace, Forest Road, Cannon Street + Hospital. Began my Annual Hospital Report. David¹ looked in. He says things are very slack. He has been ordered to attend Ovens, Peel². Little Geo. Heard³ was brought in from W Essenside again with a suspicious throat. They had sent for Dickson, Hawick + his locum went⁴. Heard⁵ came in with his boy + was very apologetic. He declared I was to be their doctor in future! Helen⁶ + Peter⁷ cycled to Lilliesleaf. Letter from Mary⁸ + a parcel – dinner jacket +c.

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

² William Roberts Ovens (1846-1936) was Proprietor at the Peel, Williamhope, Peelburnhead, Peelburnfoot, and Hawthorn, all Caddonfoot [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/359, Selkirk County, page 359 of 611].

³ George Heard junior (1917-2006), of Essenside, Ashkirk had been ill at the turn of the year, see for example Dr Muir’s diary entry for 4 January 1922; he was the son of George Heard, farmer, and Lizzie Davidson Heard née Bulman, married March 1914, Hawick [birth, 1917, 773/B 4, Ashkirk; parents’ marriage, 1914, 789/ 27, Hawick].

⁴ Charles James Whitehead Dixon (1867-1925), M.D. Edin., medical practitioner, of 19 North Bridge Street, Hawick.

⁵ George Heard, farmer, see footnote 3 above.

⁶ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁷ Peter Allan was evidently a charge of Dora’s, but is not (yet) identified.

⁸ Mary Jane Wallace née Muir (1836-?1933), Dr Muir’s recently widowed sister.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

September has come in badly as regards weather. It was a misty morning + there had been a heavy dew but the sky didn’t clear like yesterday + rain fell, very heavily at times, from 11 o’clock. I cycled to Hospital, Tweed Mill + Forest Road. Forsyth’s cutter came at 11.30 + refitted my suit¹. His name is Runciman² + he told me he used to run at the Selkirk + Hawick Common Riding Games. I gave him some lunch + he left by the 12.55. I had intended cycling to Ramsaycleuch but David³ was going to Hindhope + he did it. I was in the house all the rest of the day. Wrote Dora⁴.

¹ Forsyth was an Edinburgh tailor (perhaps R W Forsyth, outfitters at Princes Street) whom Dr Muir visited for fittings of a new suit on 20 and 26 July 1922 and who had asked Dr Muir to mark up his suit himself and send it in, something Muir refused to do (see diary entry for 10 August 1922).

² Runciman is as yet unidentified.

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

⁴ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

A dull drizzling morning which gave little hope of improvement + yet ultimately turned out a fine day. By midday the sun came out + it was quite pleasant. Saw a few town cases including Heather Mill + Hospital. Left at 1.30 in a charabanc of Amos¹ with 17 V.A.D.s², Helen³ + Peter⁴, nurse Mann⁵ + Effie Amos⁶ from Viewfield + went to Galashiels where we picked up Miss Ella Connochie⁷ + went on via Gattonside, Bemersyde, Mertoun Bridge + Maxton to Penielheugh⁸. We had some difficulty getting water for tea + had to carry it from Eddington⁹ [sic] the keeper’s cottage fully ½ mile where I also got the key of the tower. After tea we went up the Tower + had a glorious though not complete vista. We returned via Lilliard’s Edge + St. Boswells. They all enjoyed the outing. It was about 8.30 when we got back.

¹ Andrew Amos (1896-1975), motor bus proprietor at Selkirk [Valuation Roll 1925] after war service with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers was later in business with Harry Brook as Messrs Brook & Amos, motor bus proprietors but apparently turned to farming later in life, perhaps made possible by his marriage to a farmer’s daughter; the son of William Amos, shepherd, and Isabella Amos née Turnbull, and husband of Agnes Esther Wilhelmina Dalgliesh (1896-1971) of Traquair [sources: Private Andrew Amos of Caitha Toll, Bowland, Stow, discharge date: 9 Sep 1919, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, Pension Record Ledger 1/MA/2894; Tenant Occupier, house ‘Kirkbrae’ 16 Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, 1925 Valuation Roll, VR007900013-/65, Selkirk Burgh, page 65 of 315: Kennington, Fred (2022), ‘‘Mystery’ Double Decker Running Between Spittal And Berwick In June 1922’ http://www.berwickfriends.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Double-deck-bus-in-Berwick-in-1922.pdf%5D.

² Dr Muir was the Commandant of the 2nd Selkirkshire Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) which evidently continued to meet and hold events.

³ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁴ Peter Allan was evidently a charge of Dora’s, but is not (yet) identified.

⁵ Nurse Mann is not (yet) unidentified.

⁶ Assume Euphemia Thripland ‘Euphie’ Amos (1897-1954), daughter of Walter Rutherford Amos, powerloom tuner, and Charlotte Amos née Yule, married 1896 at Galashiels.

⁷ Assume (based on the reference to Galashiels) that this refers to Ellen Laidlaw ‘Ella’ Connochie, later Dun, later Tod (1897-1969), daughter of Thomas Dixon Connachie and Agnes Murray Connochie née Hope but note that her cousin Ellen Laidlaw ‘Helen’ Connochie, daughter of William Dixon Connachie and Janet Johnstone Connochie née Crosbie, was born at Selkirk in 1898 [birth birth, Connochie, Ellen Laidlaw, 1897, 775/ 202, Galashiels; Connochie, Ellen Laidlaw, 1898, 778/ 49, Selkirk; death, Ellen Connochie, later Dun, later Tod, 1969, 685/5 799, George Square].

⁸ The party has visited the Penielheugh Monument, also known as the Waterloo Monument, at Crailing, Roxburghshire, Canmore ID 56965 and grid reference NGR NT65367,26304.

⁹ Assume James William Rennie Edington (1882-1968), gamekeeper, who was Inhabitant Occupier of a house and land at Penielheugh, Crailing; he was born in Hampshire, married Ann Mitchell Swanston at Edinburgh 14 April 1914 (at which time he was of Ivy Lodge, Mellerstain) and died at Croydon, Surrey, and in his Short Service Attestation dated 1915, Regimental Number 91141, The Royal School of Artillery, he was recorded as of Woodside, Monteviot, Ancrum Roxburghshire [birth: Mar 1882 New Forest 2b 714; marriage: Edington, James William R and Swanston, Ann Mitchell, 1914, 685/3 97, Canongate; British Army World War I Service Records, 1914-1920; 1922 Valuation Roll, VR011600033-/834, Roxburgh County, page 834 of 993; death: James W R Edington, aged 86, Oct Quarter 1968, Croydon, Greater London, 5a 748].

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Cloudless sky + touch of frost. Lovely all forenoon. Saw the half doz. cases on my list. Sat + read in the garden + then did some clerical work, chiefly on the record + Summary cards. Jack¹ + the children² left for Alnmouth, Jock on his motor bike + the rest in the car.³ Joan Robertson⁴ arrived at Wellwood.⁵ Wrote Jean.⁶ After being only barely a fortnight empty a case of Scarlet was admitted to Hospital today from Ettrickhaugh Road.⁷

¹ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), husband of Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.

² By this date it is not clear that all of the young people would have gone (Barbara in particular had already travelled abroad independently and later diary entries suggest that this was a ‘boys’ only holiday) but the ‘children’ were 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 The Editor has emended this text after working on Dr Muir’s diary for 24 September 1922 where it is clear that it was John Stewart ‘Jock’ Roberts (1904-1950) who was riding the motorbike.

⁴ Joan Robertson is (so far) unidentified.

⁵ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of the Roberts family (see footnotes 1 and 2).

⁶ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter.

⁷ Diphtheria and Scarlet fever had been prevalent locally for a long time by late August 1922 though latterly the outbreak had almost completely stopped.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Nice day but coldish S.W. [wind]. Saw a few town cases in the morning. Got payment of Dees¹ account of £48. Banked over £60. At 5.30 got ‘Phone to see Miss Brunton, Ramsaycleuch². Motored up. Had to give her an enema. Got back at 8.30.

¹ Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923), landed proprietor, formerly a marine engineer, son of James William Dees and Eliza Jane Irwin, he inherited a large sum from his uncle Robert Richardson Dees (about 1814-1908) and had taken on the tenancy of Faldonside, Galashiels, in 1920.

² Assume Jane Lauder Brunton née Amos (about 1849-1938), the postmistress at Ramsaycleuch, Ettrick [Valuation Roll, 1919].

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Nice calm day with a good deal of sunshine. Towards the wind which was E. brought up some mist. Baptie¹ began delivering the accounts. I made 2 town calls + started at 12 for a run. Went via Gala Water foot + Gattonside to Birkenside where I took the road on the right side of Leader to the upper bridge². I thought I could go over to Boon without re-crossing the river but was told at the old mill³ that it was impracticable so I went on by the main road⁴. Had my tea beyond Boon + then went on the Greenlaw road + back by Rumbleton Law to E Gordon + Earlston⁵ = 49 miles + I was more tired than after my 95⁶ on June 1^st.

¹ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.

² Dr Muir has headed up the east side if the Leader Water from Birkenside Toll (Legerwood parish), NT564,422, to Galadean Old Bridge, NT559,431.

³ The old mill must be Bridgeheugh Mill, NT557,433, just north of Galadean where Dr Muir must have thought be could cut through to Boon via Whitslaid, NT561,445, but instead he had to cross the Leader Water back towards Galadean [see Ordnance Survey 6 inch Berwickshire Sheet XXVI.NW, published 1900].

⁴ Dr Muir must then have followed the west bank of the Leader Water on what is now the A68 and re-crossed the Leader Water at Boon Bridge, NT557,455, just south of its junction with the Boondreigh Water, to reach Boon Farm, NT572,455 [see Ordnance Survey 6 inch Berwickshire Sheet XX.SW, published 1909], before joining the Greenlaw Road at (presumably) Pyatshaw, NT584480.

⁵ Dr Muir has travelled on to Greenlaw on what is now the A697 before retracing his route to the junction at NT673,463 where he turned south through Rumbleton Law (Gordon parish), NT677,454, before heading back through Gordon and Earlston.

⁶ On the 1 June 1922 Dr Muir had travelled 95 miles taking in the Hadrian’s Wall Roman road and recreating (in reverse) a route he had done in 1908 (a “disastrous run on June 22 1908 after which I was ill + had to leave off work for a month”).

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Nothing to do. Saw only 4 town cases. Began to make out accounts for quarter ending June 30 I actually didn’t see a single patient except 2 in the Surgery. Went to morning service but didn’t hear well. I fear the hearing has quite gone from my right ear. It was rather a nice day + no rain.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Felt much better + the pleurodynia almost gone : but the exterior muscles of my thigh very sore from the walking on Thursday¹. This was a lovely warm sunny day till afternoon when it clouded over + by 9 p.m. it was raining again. I walked walked to Viewfield, Knowepark (Mrs Lawson died at 4²), Gib. + Lum.³, Buccleuch Road, Forest Road + Chapel Place. Read a little while in the garden + later did some work at record cards. Mrs Mackintosh⁴ came to dinner. Baptie⁵ took Mary, Marjory⁶ + Peter⁷ in the car to Yarrow Show⁸.

¹ See Dr Muir’s diary entries for 23, 24 and 25 August 1922.

² Dr Muir’s own certification actually states 5.30 as the time of death aet 85 of Cecil Lawson née Mackinlay (about 1837-1922), widow of the Reverend John Lawson, minister of the First United Presbyterian Church, at Knowepark, Selkirk; she was the daughter of James Mackinlay, East India Merchant, and Isabella Mackinlay née Murray.

³ Gibson & Lumgair Ltd., woollen textile manufacturer, at St Mary’s Mill, Selkirk.

⁴ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

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

⁶ Mary and Marjory are unidentified.

⁷ Peter Allan (if that is a correct reading) was evidently a charge of Dora’s, but is not (yet) identified.

⁸ The Yarrow & Ettrick Pastoral Society staged its inaugural show at the Gordon Arms in September 1906 – Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service holds records of both the Yarrow & Ettrick Pastoral Society (SBA/845) and its predecessor the Selkirkshire Farmer Club (SC/S/69 and SBA/45/1).

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]