Rowan tree shows signs of failing vigour. Its foliage is poor.

A fair day but no warmth. Cycled to Linton Backfeus¹, Goodfellow², Ettrick Terrace, Forest Mill, Tinnis Cottage, Deuchar Mill, Yarrow Hall + Planting (Mrs Goodfellow³, formerly Cutkerwood). The girl Calder at Tinnis Cottage⁴ looked near the end. I was over at Viewfield several times in the evening seeing an old man Forbes⁵, father of Walker the organist’s wife⁶. He had serious cardiac symptoms. Message to see Mrs Lawson⁷. Distributed Communion Cards.

¹ This location is not identified

² It is not clear if this duplicates the reference to Goodfellow below

³ Dr Muir appears to have not known or (as is quite possible) used her maiden name under which he had previously known her but this appears to refer to Lizzie Mary Hogg née Goodfellow (1888-1963), daughter of George Pott Aitchison Goodfellow, agricultural labourer, and Eliza Goodfellow née Harkness who had married 1866 at Hutton and Corrie, Dumfriesshire; Lizzie was born at Cutcarwood, Yarrow and stayed there with her family until at least the 1901 Census, she may well be the Lizzie Goodfellow aet 22, working as a “housemaid domestic” for John V Lindsay at Whitehope, Yarrow, 1911 Census and she married William Hogg (at that time serving in France) on 4 October 1917 at Yarrowfeus; however, in spite of her marriage, by 1922 she appears to have been styling herself Minnie Goodfellow and occupying a house ‘Planting’ at Yarrowfeus, Yarrow; she died 6 June 1963 at Selkirk Cottage Hospital, usual residence Thornfield basement, Selkirk [parents’ marriage: 1866, 831/ 2, Hutton and Corrie; 1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/390, Selkirk County, page 390 of 611].

⁴ Ellen ‘Helen’ Henderson Calder (1900-1922), of Tinnis Cottages, Yarrow, the daughter of Robert Henderson Calder, farm worker, and Annie Euphemia Calder née McKenzie; her parents had married 1896 at Watten, Caithness, she was born at Leith, and the family was at Caddonlee, Caddonfoot by 1911 [parents’ marriage Calder, Robert Henderson and McKenzie, Annie Euphemia, 1896, 042/ 2, Watten, Caithness; her birth 1900, 692/2 1501, Leith South and her death 1922, 779/1 2, Yarrow]

⁵ Archibald Forbes (about 1844-1922), engine-fitter, husband of Jane L Forbes née Hardie, married 3 June 1864 at Linlithgow, West Lothian

⁶ William Henry Walker (about 1866-), organist, was Proprietor Occupier at Greenbank, 52 Ettrick Terrace, 1922 VR and married to Elizabeth Forbes (1866-); they had married in 1893 at Carlisle and by the 1911 Census were at Park Side, Selkirk, aged 45 and 44 respectively, recorded with Robert and Dorothy Forbes ‘Dolly’ Mansergh (1900-1986), Walker’s nephew and niece [through her sister Amelia Agnes Mansergh née Forbes (1873-1903)], and Grace Paulin (1865-1915), a domestic servant who was sister of Dr Muir’s sometime housekeeper Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (by way of corroboration of the identification Dolly Mansergh was previously mentioned in Dr Muir’s diary, on 14 June 1918) [sources: her birth, Jun Quarter 1866, Carlisle, Cumberland, 10b 474; marriage: Sep 1893, Walker, William Henry and Forbes Elizabeth, Carlisle 10b 737; Diary of Dr John Stewart Muir of Selkirk, Scottish Borders Archives SBA/657/21/34; sister’s marriage Sep 1895, Mansergh, Arthur Hassell and Forbes, Amelia Agnes (1863-), Carlisle 10b 739; sister’s death Amelia Agnes Mansergh Mar Quarter 1903, Lanchester, Durham, 10a 499]

⁷ Cecil Lawson née Mackinley (about 1827-1922), widow of John Lawson (about 1825-1898), married 1865, Govan, she was Proprietor Occupier of a house and garden ‘Knowe Park’, 25 Scott’s Place, Selkirk [sources: 646/1 125, Govan; 1922 Valuation Roll, Selkirk Burgh, page 260 of 644]

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

Complete + dismal change of weather. Heavy rain + fog obliterated all the scenes of last night. Left Woodbourne¹ after a very pleasant visit. Got the 11.30 to Central + the 1 from Queen Street, reaching Ed. at 2.40. Went to Forsyth’s + got fitted². Had lunch at the Picture House + went to the pictures but the place was crammed + a crowd standing. Got a seat for a short time + came out by the 4.20. Baptie³ met me. Found Helen⁴ well + Peter Allen⁵ with her. Had a lot of people at consultation hour. Met Jean⁶ at the station as she was going back to town. Baptie motored in + brought her here on Monday.

¹ Dr Muir had been visiting Margaret Forsyth Dubs, formerly Smith, née Arthur (1853-1935), at Woodbourne at Wemyss Bay, Inverkip, Renfrewshire – see diary entries for 24 and 25 July 1922.

² Dr Muir had been measured for a suit on 20 July 1922.

³ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.

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

⁵ Probably Peter Muir Spurgeon Allen (1914-2005), evidently a charge of Dora’s, who was recorded at Thorncroft, Selkirk, aged 7 in the 1921 Census [taken 19 June 1921] and noted by Dr Muir at Selkirk in his diary entry for 26 July 1922. Born 4 June 1914, Chorlton [Lancashire], the son of the Reverend Willoughby Charles Allen, sometime Principal of Egerton Hall (theological college) Manchester, was Archdeacon of Manchester (1909-1916 and Archdeacon of Blackburn (1916-1920), and Catherine Ellen Allen née Green; a head teacher (retired), he died 16 February 2005 at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, usual residence Hope Cottage, Stenton, Dunbar, East Lothian.

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

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

Took train to University after a very good breakfast at the Caledonian Hotel¹. The business of the A. G. M. was suspended to instal Sir W. McEwen² as President + elect as President for 1923-24 C. P. Childe F.R.C.S. Portsmouth³. I lunched with Dyer⁴ + left the afternoon at the end of the afternoon session took tram to the Central where I caught the 4.15 for Wemyss Bay⁵. Had a delightful journey the scenery from Dumbarton on was lovely⁶. Mrs Dubs⁷ met me with her car. She lives about ½ mile from station⁸. After lunch she took me for a run to Skelmorlie, Largs + Fairlie⁹ on the road Mousey + I went on our tour from Kirkcaldy 11 or 12 years ago¹⁰. A Mrs Harrower¹¹, wife of an Aberdeen Greek Prof., came on a visit. Saw the old Yair housemaid Marion¹². Beautifully clear + sunny all afternoon + evening.

¹ Dr Muir had been obliged to stay at the Caledonian Hotel the previous night, see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 24 July 1922

² Dr Muir was attending the 90th Annual Meeting of the British Medical Association, held in Glasgow in July 1922, see Annual Meeting At Glasgow: Programme.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 2, no. 3212, 1922, pp. 29–36. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20420664. Accessed 1 Jul. 2022

³ Sir William Macewen (1848-1924), CB, FRS, FRCS, Scottish surgeon, a pioneer in modern brain surgery and neurosurgery, and President of the British Medical Association, 1922-23 [“British Medical Association. Ninetieth Annual Meeting, Glasgow, July 25th, 26th, 27th, & 28th, 1922.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 1, no. 3202, BMJ, 1922, pp. 173–75, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20419990.%5D

⁴ Charles Plumley Childes (1858-1926), F.R.C.S., British surgeon, cancer researcher, public health activist, pioneering advocate of cancer education, and President of the British Medical Association, 1923-24 [“British Medical Association. Ninety-First Annual Meeting, Portsmouth, July 24th To 27th, 1923. Provisional Programme.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 1, no. 3261, BMJ, 1923, pp. 285–87, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20423935.%5D

⁵ Assume Edmund Eustace Dyer (1866-1933), M.B., C.M., medical practitioner, of Gladstone House, Alloa, Clacks.

⁷ Margaret Forsyth Dubs, formerly Smith, née Arthur (1853-1935), daughter of William Rae Arthur, engineer, and Margaret Arthur née Boyd; she had married, secondly, 1909, Frank Albert Dubs (1860-1920) – at around the time that he moved from Glasgow to Yair Mansion, Caddonfoot, Selkirkshire – and after his death (and sometime after 12 March 1921) she had flitted to a house called Woodbourne at Wemyss Bay, Inverkip, Renfrewshire

⁸ From the distance is seems that Dr Muir alighted Wemyss Bay (the terminus) not at Inverkip and Woodbourne is visible at the south end of Wemyss Bay Road on Ordnance Survey 25 inch Renfrewshire Sheet V.6, published 1913. Size: map 64.4 cm x 96.6 cm (25.344 S195,672, Largs NS204,592 and Fairlie NS210,551 Woodbourne at Wemyss Bay, Inverkip, Renfrewshire

⁹ Skelmorlie, North Ayrshire, grid reference NGR NS195,672, Largs NS204,592 and Fairlie NS210,551 –

¹⁰ The Ayrshire coast road is a long way from Kirkcaldy

¹¹ Rachel ‘Blanche’ Geddes (1860-1926), daughter of Sir William Geddes, Principal of Aberdeen University, had married, 1887, John Harrower (1857-1933), LL.D., Professor of Greek in Aberdeen University since 1886 [marriage, Harrower, John and Geddes, Rachel Blanche, 1887, 168/4 9, Old Aberdeen]

¹² Marion has not (yet) been identified

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

Marg^t1 gave me my breakfast early + I came up to Glasgow by the 7.50. Booked my bag at Queen Street. + took a tram to [illegible word] which only cost 1½^d instead of 3/6 or more for a cab or taxi. Taxied [?] from St Enoch’s, attended meetings² + had lunch + tea at University³ [?]. Intended taking the 4 something to Wemyss Bay but could not leave the meeting so wired to Mrs D⁴ that I would be down with the 6.10 but before I could get a taxi I was too late so took train to St Enoch’s + waited for the 7.10 + took [illegible] a return ticket finding when I went for the train that it ran only on Saturdays! So I went to the Caledonian Hotel. ‘Phoned Mrs Dubs: got a room + a good dinner with half a bottle of port + made the best of it.

¹ It is probable that Margaret is part of Dr Muir’s brother-in-law the Reverend James Rennie’s household at Ladyton, Prestwick, Ayrshire

² Dr Muir was attending the 90th Annual Meeting of the British Medical Association, held in Glasgow in July 1922, see Annual Meeting At Glasgow: Programme.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 2, no. 3212, 1922, pp. 29–36. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20420664. Accessed 1 Jul. 2022

² The Editor suspects that this word is used twice, here and where it says that Dr Muir had lunch and tea, but has no idea what it reads – suggestions welcome

⁴ Margaret Forsyth Dubs, formerly Smith, née Arthur (1853-1935) who lived at a house called Woodbourne at Wemyss Bay, Inverkip, Renfrewshire; she was the widow of Frank Albert Dubs (1860-1920), engineer, who had moved from Glasgow to Yair Mansion, Caddonfoot, Selkirkshire but she had flitted again back to the west of Scotland sometime after 12 March 1921

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

At Prestwick. This was a fairly good day with some sunshine + medium Temp. Calm + not very clear. Arran visible but not Ailsa [Craig]. Towards evening it became clearer. I walked along + called for Kitty¹ but they were all at church so I strolled round the shore. There was quite a crowd of people being Glasgow holidays². I saw + watched a swimmer a good way out doing various manoeuvres in the sea + to my surprise it turned out to be a woman. Ernest³ too [sic] Kitty, her father⁴ + me for a run to Monkton, Dundonald, Kilmarnock, Galston, New Milns, Darvel, Muirkirk + home⁵. It was quite enjoyable but Ernest is rather a – I wouldn’t say reckless – but just a little risky. Got back to supper at Ladyton⁶ at 7.30. Kitty + the others came along later + both Kitty + Ernest sang.

¹ Katherine Stewart Rennie ‘Kitty’ – sometimes ‘Kate’ – Muriel née Taylor (1883-1960), staying in Ayrshire while home from Shanghai

² The Glasgow Fair holiday dates from the 12th Century and starts in the second half of July

³ Hugh Ernest Muriel (1886-1979), banker and husband of Katherine Stewart Rennie Muriel née Taylor (1883-1960)

⁴ Edward Earl Taylor (1855-1929), husband of Jane Logan Rennie (1855-1915) Dr Muir’s niece

⁵ The party were at Prestwick north of Ayr and drove north-east to Kilmarnock and then due east along the Strathaven road

⁶ Ladyton, Prestwick, Ayrshire, home of the Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), described on his death registration as “Minister of the Gospel (Retired).”, Dr Muir’s brother in law – husband later widower of Catherine Stewart Rennie née Muir

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

Lovely day. Was delightful with the views from the University which stands high + overlooks some public gardens + the Art Gallery. Was interested to find that a row of trees at Kirklea Gardens are Service trees¹ + [illegible] as the one that Amy² + I differed about at the Black Down³. I walked down to the Bute Hall for the meeting at 9.30⁴. The chief business was the Hospital question. Dyer⁵ didn’t come up today. At lunch I had the great pleasure of meeting Doyley Grange formerly of Moffat⁶. The representatives were photographed in the East Quadrangle. I left the meeting at 6 + walked out to Lizzie’s⁷. It is about 1¼ miles. Said “good bye” as they all go off to Dunblane on Monday + got the 7.35 from St Enoch’s for Prestwick + got to Ladyton at about 9⁸. Kitty Taylor + her husband Ernest Mulier⁹ [sic] home from Shanghai came along in a Swift car¹⁰ + when Ernest was showing it to me a big motor bus banged into it + crumpled up the off front mudguard. I found Rennie very well but I had a lot of his old stories all over again¹¹ .

¹ The Wild Service Tree Sorbus torminalis

² Dr Muir had walked with Amy Kathleen Waldie (1889-1960), niece of James Wallace (about 1841-1922) Dr Muir’s brother-in-law (whose funeral he had attended in Surrey earlier in July) though there was no reference in that diary entry to a discussion about trees, see Dr Muir’s diary for 10 July 1922

³ Black Down, above Haslemere, Surrey, highest point 280m at grid reference NGR SU919,296

⁴ The meeting was that of the Representatives’ Body of the British Medical Association, held at Glasgow in July 1922, see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 21 July 1922

⁵ Perhaps Edmund Eustace Dyer (1866-1933), M.B., C.M., medical practitioner, of Gladstone House, Alloa, Clackmannanshire

⁶ William D’Oyly Grange (about 1851-1936), M.D. Ed. 1880, medical practitioner, born St Kitts, described in the Medical Directory as Medical Officer of Health and Major 3rd Volunteer Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers, he appears to have practised at Moffat in the 1880s and 1890s, wrote ‘Moffat & Its Medical Waters’ and, with his wife Lucy Burness, had children George Rochfort, Charles, James Burness and Harriet Lucy Kingsmill born Moffat 1884, 1887, 1890 and 1894 respectively; by the 1911 Census they were living in Bournemouth

⁷ Dr Muir had been staying with his niece Elizabeth Orr ‘Lizzie’ Guthrie Smith née Rennie (1858–1926), daughter of the Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister and Catherine Stewart Rennie née Muir

⁸ Ladyton, Prestwick, Ayrshire, home of the Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister, Dr Muir’s widowed brother-in-law

⁹ Dr Muir had misheard the name: this refers to Hugh Ernest Muriel (1886-1979), banker, and Katherine Stewart Rennie ‘Kitty’ – sometimes ‘Kate’ – Muriel née Taylor (1883-1960), daughter of Edward Earl Taylor (1855-1929) and Jane Logan Rennie (1855-1915), Dr Muir’s niece

¹⁰ The Swift Motor Company made Swift Cars in Coventry; Dr Muir (or the medical practice) had run one as a ‘workhorse’ car since he had acquired it some time before August 1914

¹¹ Rennie was a great talker, not always to Dr Muir’s pleasure – see for instance Dr Muir’s diary entry for 11 March 1922

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

Took a cab to the University where in the Bute Hall¹ the meetings of R.B.² are to be held. Met Steven³ who had very kindly reserved a seat in the 2^nd front row along with Comrie⁴, Pearson⁵ + himself. Meeting began at 10. The Bute Hall is a fine place but the acoustics are bad. Wallace Henry⁶ in Chair + beside him Bolam⁷ (Chairman of Council) + Cox⁸ (Medical Sec.). A man came late + sat on my left to turned out to be Dyer⁹ from Alloa, my old assistant + on his other side was the only lady member D^r Alice Estcourt Oswald¹⁰ of Colchester. We had lunch at the Student Union where I made the acquaintance of Morrison¹¹ from London who used to attend Jim¹². In the afternoon we discussed Prof. [Professional] Secrecy + the post-graduate course. I walked back to Lizzie’s¹³, dressed + then went to the Represent[atives’] dinner at the Central Hotel¹⁴. I was at a table with Steven, Legerwood¹⁵, Craig¹⁶, a man Boyd from Manchester¹⁷ + 2 others. Took a taxi home at 11. Could not hear the speaker at all well.

¹ The Bute Hall at the University of Glasgow is a magnificent Gothic revival building, built 1878-1884, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott (1811-1878), but executed by his son John Oldrid Scott (1841-1913) and Edwin Morgan; the Bute Hall was named for John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute, who had gifted the funds for its construction; it has a place in the Editor’s heart because his daughter had her graduation there

² Assume the Representatives’ Body of the British Medical Association, held in Glasgow in July 1922, see Annual Meeting At Glasgow: Programme.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 2, no. 3212, 1922, pp. 29–36. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20420664. Accessed 1 Jul. 2022

³ Assume John Stevens (1859-1930), M.A., M.D., F.R.C.P.Ed., Physician to the Edinburgh Western Dispensary; his obituary in the British Medical Journal notes that “After joining the British Medical Association in 1892, he devoted a very large share of his time and energy to its various organisations, and the work of the Association may be said to have formed the principal hobby of his life. For many years he served as a member of the Executive Committee of the local Edinburgh Division, becoming its chairman in 1922. He became honorary secretary of the Edinburgh Branch in 1914, an office which held till 1927, when he became its President. He attended every Representative Body of the Association from 1914 till the year before his death, and served as a member of the Central Council from 1926 till his fatal illness rendered attendance at the meetings in London impossible.” [“John Stevens, M.A., M.D., F.R.C.P.Ed., Formerly Physician To The Edinburgh Western Dispensary.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 2, no. 3630, 1930, pp. 196–196. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25336918. Accessed 10 Oct. 2022.]

⁴ Assume John Dixon Comrie (1875-1939), M.D., F.R.C.P., medical practitioner, Physician to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and author of History of Scottish Medicine, 2 Vols., 1932

⁵ Pearson is so far unidentified

⁶ Robert Wallace Wesley Henry (1868-1931), B.A., M.D., medical practitioner

⁷ Assume Sir Robert Alfred Bolam (1871-1939), M.D., F.R.C.P., medical practitioner, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and heavily involved in the British Medical Association and the General Medical Council [source: Br Med J 1939;1:953]

⁸ Cox is so far unidentified

⁹ Perhaps Edmund Eustace Dyer (1866-1933), M.B., C.M., medical practitioner, of Gladstone House, Alloa, Clacks.

¹⁰ Dr Agnes ‘Nancy’ Estcourt-Oswald, formerly Oswald, née Williamson (1874-1965), M.B., D.P.H., medical practitioner and ophthalmic surgeon, born Bengal, India, died Gipping, Suffolk, she was unmarried – British Army Medical Officer, Essex Voluntary Aid Detachment, Empire Force Doctor (Bacteriologist) Scottish Women’s Hospitals, D.O.M.S., served 1915-16 in the Scottish Women’s Hospital, Abbaye de Royaumont, France [sources include: https://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/arthur-charles-fox-davies/armorial-families–a-directory-of-gentlemen-of-coat-armour-volume-1-dxo/page-161-armorial-families–a-directory-of-gentlemen-of-coat-armour-volume-1-dxo.shtml; https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5151523; birth: 21 Apr 1874 in India, Select Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947 and 1939 Register; death: Estcourt-Oswald, Agnes, Mar 1965 Gipping 4b 966]

¹¹ Morrison is unidentified, see footnote 12

¹² Assume James Logan ‘Jim’ Muir (1834-1914), East India Merchant, brother of John Stewart Muir; he died 4 February 1914 at Prestwick, Ayrshire, death certified by William Forsyth M.B. of Prestwick, so presumably any reference to Morrison is from a different consultation this was a reference to a physician that Jim Muir had consulted perhaps some time previously (he was earlier in his life noted as a “commission agent, London”)

¹³ Dr Muir was staying with his niece Elizabeth Orr ‘Lizzie’ Guthrie Smith née Rennie (1858–1926), daughter of the Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister and Catherine Stewart Rennie née Muir

¹⁴ The Central Hotel is definitely what Dr Muir has written but the British Medical Journal notes that the Representatives’ Dinner was at the Grand Hotel, Charing Cross; there is no confusing the two …

¹⁵ Legerwood is so far unidentified

¹⁶ Perhaps Robert William Craig (1880-1952), medical practitioner, who was at the Surgery, Pathhead (Crichton Parish, Midlothian), 1920 and 1925 Valuation Rolls; presumably the same Robert William Craig (1880-1952), medical practitioner (physician), who was elected F.R.S.E. on 6 March 1944 [Source: Former RSE Fellows 1783-2002]

¹⁷ Boyd 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]

Dull morning with slight drizzle but cleared up to be a fine day. Left at 12.30 and motored to Edin. The view from Falahill was as fine as ever I have seen it. Got to Jean’s ¹ in 2 hours. Took her a lot of flowers, parsley, lettuce + strawberries. Got a cup of tea + went on to Forsyth’s where I got measured for a suit². Paid account at H. & I.³ + Elliot⁴ + left by the 4 for Glasgow. Reached Lizzie⁵ at 5.20. Found her as usual i.e. far from strong. John looking wonderful: Cathy + Nancy very well⁶. Spent a very pleasant evening + reminisced a lot.

¹ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter, who had a tea shop in Newington, Edinburgh

² Perhaps R W Forsyth, outfitters at Princes Street, Edinburgh

³ Hamilton & Inches, celebrated Edinburgh silversmiths

⁴ Elliot is unidentified

⁵ Elizabeth Orr ‘Lizzie’ Guthrie Smith née Rennie (1858–1926), daughter of the Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister and Catherine Stewart Rennie née Muir, thus Dr Muir’s niece, born, 12 Jan 1858, Dalkeith, Midlothian, married, 1883, Glasgow, John Guthrie Smith (1868-1923), W.S., she died 4 Jul 1926, Glasgow

⁶ Catherine Isabel Guthrie Smith (about 1888–1962) and Nance Tennant Guthrie Smith (1902-1993), daughters of John Guthrie Smith and Elizabeth Orr ‘Lizzie’ Guthrie Smith née Rennie

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

A really fair day : pretty constant sunshine + just the right temperature. N.W. [wind] I had almost nothing to do but Dav.¹ asked me to see Mrs Steven [sic], Bluecairn² + I cycled there leaving at 12.47 + getting back at 2.10. Paid several accounts. A girl Yule ³ staying with the Robertson⁴ at Lindean Herd House called with an abscess on her cheek which I opened. Guy⁵ walked to Greenhead Hill above the targets⁶ . I did my packing for the Glasgow trip. Letters from Jean + Dora⁷.

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

² Mary Amos Stephen née Halliday (1892-1978), wife of John Ritchie Stephen, lorryman and Inhabitant Occupier not rated at a house at Bluecairn, Selkirk; they had married 22 June 1921 at Peebles, at which time he was of Fauldshope and she of Lyne, and she had a baby, John Halliday Stephen, on 27 May 1922 [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/324, Selkirk County, page 324 of 611; marriage, Stephen and Halliday, 1921 768/ 23 Peebles]

³ Miss Yule is unidentified

⁴ The best match (not a particularly good one admittedly) would be Peter Robertson, farmer, Tenant Occupier of land at Lindean [1925 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/525, Selkirk County, page 525 of 611]

⁵ The Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir (1846-1927), Dr Muir’s brother

⁶ The Editor cannot identify Greenhead Hill but the targets are at approximate grid reference NGR NT485,286, see Ordnance Survey 6 inch Selkirkshire Sheet XII.NW, published 1900

⁷ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941) and Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), Dr Muir’s eldest and youngest daughters; Dr Muir had written to them on 12 July 1922

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

Signs of rain this morning but it turned out a fine day. I seem to be doing less + less. David¹ took Guy² + his father³ up Yarrow as far as Bengerburn. We had operation at Viewfield viz. a case of removal of a tuberculous testis in a man Montgomery⁴ + a child with adenoids. Cycled to Henhouse, Spionkop⁵, Hospital +c. Made out a route from Troon for Norman Durnford⁶ + took it with 2 maps to Elmpark⁷ at night. P.C. [post card] from Helen⁸ from Chorley. She is to be home Friday – Monday. Guy, David + his father all had tea at Deuchar Mill.

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

² The Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir (1846-1927), Dr Muir’s brother

³ The Reverend Dr John Anderson Graham (1861-1942), founder of Dr Graham’s Homes, Kalimpong, West Bengal, who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1931

⁴ Montgomery is unidentified

⁵ Spion Kop, Selkirk, where Dr Muir had been attending Mrs Margaret Kemp née Gibson (about 1858-1935), recorded as a “Special worker at work parties” when awards were made at the Victoria Hall of war service medals, see diary entry for 30 March 1922. Allegedly born Thornilee, Roxburgh, she lived at Spion Kop with four grown-up children Janet, Robert, James and John, all of whom worked in the textile industry, Janet for Edward Gardiner and the men for Gibson & Lumgair [1921 Census].

⁶ Norman Stanley Maton Durnford (1889-1965), husband of Agnes Watson Durnford née Harper (1888-197) thus Mrs Mackintosh’s son-in-law; an army officer and later a businessman

⁷ Elm Park, Selkirk, home Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), Dr Muir’s good friend

⁸ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter

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