Dull day + coldish. Some rain in the evening. All I did was to see 4 town cases, Hospital + Gib. + Lum.¹ I was in the house all afternoon. Wrote several letters, to Helen², Tom Alexander³, Mrs Dubs⁴, Mrs Passy⁵ (who sent me a lot of Devonshire cream) + to the Local Gen. Sec. of the Glasgow meeting⁶. Got a letter from Amy Waldie⁷ telling me that Jas. Wallace⁸ was seriously ill + I wrote Mary⁹. Dora Thomson¹⁰, Backrow ill. Dora¹¹ + the boys¹² were at Elmpark¹³ for tea.

¹ Gibson & Lumgair Ltd., woollen textile manufacturer, at St Mary’s Mill, Selkirk

² Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

³ Tom Alexander is unidentified

⁴ Margaret Forsyth Dubs, formerly Smith, née Arthur (1853-1935), widow of Frank Albert Dubs, who had flitted after her husband’s death from Yair Mansion, Caddonfoot, Selkirkshire to a house called Woodbourne at Wemyss Bay, Inverkip, Renfrewshire sometime after 12 March 1921 (c.f. Dr Muir’s diary entry for 12 March 1921)

⁵ Mrs Passy (whom Dr Muir had met in early June 1922) was Dr David Graham’s sister Margaret Alexandra ‘Peggy’ Passy née Graham (1893-1973), who had married Frederic Harry Burn Passy, Indian Army in 1914 at Kidderpore, Bengal, India; they later lived at Blachford, Cornwood, Devon

⁶ The meeting of the British Medical Association (B.M.A.)

⁷ Amy Kathleen Waldie (1889-1960), born Bothwell, Lanarks., Scotland [1911 Census]. daughter of James Francis Waldie, colliery manager, and Ann or Annie Maria, later Massie, Waldie MS Cowan, married 1884, Dundalk, Co. Louth [1884, Jul-Aug-Sep, Dundalk, Ireland, Volume 2, Page number 671, FHL Film Number 101254]; Amy was at Scotstoun(e), Haslemere in 1911 recorded as James’s niece and in the 1939 England and Wales Register Amy K Waldie lived at Rowallan, Haslemere with William and Logie Muir

⁸ James Wallace (about 1841-1922), born Carrickfergus, Ireland [1911 Census], husband of Dr Muir’s sister Mary Jane Muir; they had married 25 September 1866 at 15 North Fort Street, North Leith [her home], at which time he was a wool salesman, of Charlotte Place, Edinburgh but by 1901 they were at Scotstoune, Haslemere, Surrey; evidently he had been ill for a while because in April 1919 Dr Muir noted “Letter from May Atkins if Dora could go + nurse Jas. Wallace.”

⁹ Mary Jane Wallace née Muir (1836-1933), daughter of Francis Muir (1797-1871), presbyterian minister, and Jane Muir née Logan, thus Dr Muir’s sister

¹⁰ Dora Thomson is presumably Dorothy ‘Dora’ Thomson (1860-1928) who lived at Back Row, Selkirk in 1911 with her sister Margaret Thomson (1865-1943), weaver [1911 Census 778/ 4/ 5, page 5 of 17]

¹¹ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter.

¹² Cyril Ross Baxter (1915-1997) and Erik Sandeman Baxter (1919–1999), sons of Lily Birgitta Baxter formerly Lindback and Harold Ross Baxter, manager, of 47 Södra Vägen 50, 412 54 Göteborg, Sweden [Consular Returns 1915, 164/CL 161 and 1919, 164/CL 407]; they are the brothers of Enid Gordon Baxter, later Thorn (1917-2013) who appears in Dr Muir’s diary on a number of occasions in May 1922

¹³ Elm Park, Selkirk, home of Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946)

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

Fair day. Cool. W. wind. Not a single message. Cycled round town + to Haining Henhouse¹: then to Whitlaw to see Wm Wood². Left my bicycle at Half Crown Corner³ + walked to Whitlaw + then to the Kips⁴ where I had a glorious view. Got back at 3. David⁵ asked me to go to Cotfield⁶ to see Wm Welsh⁷ at 8 O’Clock. Left at 8.14 + cycled to Cotfield without dismounting (except at Volunteer Hall) in 48m + returned in 52. The Patons⁸, who are staying at Wellwood⁹, called. The caravan which has been standing in the park for several weeks left today¹⁰. Dora¹¹ + the boys Baxter¹² went to Ettrickbridgend to the Douglas Browns¹³ + [illegible] went with Mrs Mack¹⁴ to the Picture House.

¹ Henhouse, The Haining, Selkirk, home of the Laidlaw family

² William Wood was Occupier at Over Whitlaw Farm, Galashiels (Canmore ID 341862), grid reference NGR NT517,300 as opposed to Nether Whitlaw (ID 100153), NT513,296

³ Half Crown Corner, Lindean Moor, ENE of Selkirk, grid reference NGR NT501,296

⁴ Whitlaw Kips is north west of Whitlaw at grid reference NGR NT508,303 (the Borders Abbey Way passes below its summit)

⁵ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

⁶ Cotfield, Lilliesleaf, grid reference NT532,226, near Harelaw and just south of the Drove Road which heads in a generally WNW direction from the intersection at Harden Cottage just south of Esdalelaw, crosses the A7 at Grundistone Heights and eventually leads to St Boswells, see Ordnance Survey 6 inch Roxburghshire Sheet XIX, published 1863

⁷ William Welsh, ploughman, was Inhabitant Occupier not rated of a house at Cotfield, Lilliesleaf [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011600033-/884, Roxburgh County, page 884 of 993]

⁸ The Patons were Isabella Clementina ‘Isa’ Paton (about 1838-1929) and Marion Agnes Paton (about 1841-1940), sisters living on their own means at Selkirk until May 1918 when they had flitted to Galashiels

⁹ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, home of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir and their children Andrina Barbara Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg, John Stewart ‘Jock’ Roberts, Louisa Jane Roberts, later Rutherford, Stewart Muir ‘Little Stewart’ Roberts and George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts

¹⁰ On 12 May 1922 Dr Muir noted that “Somebody with a 2 horse caravan is in the park close to the farms.”

¹¹ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

¹² Cyril Ross Baxter (1915-1997) and Erik Sandeman Baxter (1919–1999), sons of Lily Birgitta Baxter formerly Lindback and Harold Ross Baxter, manager, of 47 Södra Vägen 50, 412 54 Göteborg, Sweden [Consular Returns 1915, 164/CL 161 and 1919, 164/CL 407]; they are the brothers of Enid Gordon Baxter, later Thorn (1917-2013) who appears in Dr Muir’s diary on a number of occasions in May 1922

¹³ There is nobody in the Valuation Rolls that matches, though Dora Muir did attend the marriage at Ashwood, Galashiels on 17 September 1918 of her nursing friend Margaret Meikle ‘Peggy’ Donald of 2 Melville Street, Edinburgh, to James Douglas Brown (1888-) of Galashiels who was at that time Lieutenant K.O.S.B. attached R.A.F. and British Expeditionary Force; Dr Muir noted at the time that “Dora was at the wedding of her friend Miss Donald to one of the Ashwood Browns.” [Dr Muir’s diary entry for 17 September 1918, Heritage Hub Reference No. SBA/657/21/48]

¹⁴ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

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

Saw 4 town cases cycling. Left at 11.15 with Mrs Mack¹ in a hired car Nancy, Barbara² + a cousin of Mrs Mack’s cousin, Miss Helen³ + went to an open air service in Yarrow Church Yard. Dr Playfair⁴ of St Andrew’s – whom I have met at the Clark Coupers⁵ – preached the sermon. There were not many there. Ad. Brunton⁶ was Precentor⁷ – very quaint with his tuning fork⁸. After the service we went on to St Mary’s Loch + had lunch in the little Glen below the church yard⁹. Mrs Mack did us well. Except for a slight shower it was a fine day. Will Jack Lindsay¹⁰ passing in his car joined us. We got home about 7.

¹ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

² Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter and Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996), her eldest daughter

³ Miss Helen is unidentified

⁴ The Reverend Patrick Macdonald Playfair (1858-1924), minister of Holy Trinity Church, St Andrews

⁵ The Clark Couper were Mrs Christina Jane Couper née Clark (about 1850-1925), a descendent of the Clark family founders of T & T Clark publishers and the widow of the Reverend David Couper (1839-1913), and her daughters Evelyn Susannah Clark Couper (1872-1927) and Edith Hylda Hope Clark Couper (1878-1930); they had lived at Selkirk in the 1910s but then flitted to Orchardmains, Traquair

⁶ The ‘best guess’ is Adam Brunton of Catslackburn, Yarrow who was a tenant of a cottage owned by Yarrow Parish Council

⁷ The Dictionar o the Scots Leid defines “PRECENTOR, n. Also -ter, presenter, presenttor, prezentor. Sc. forms and usage, in the Presbyterian churches: an official appointed by the Kirk Session to lead the congregational praise. The office was freq. held by the parish schoolmaster. The precentor is still occasionally to be found in the remoter areas of Scot., esp. in the outer islands, in churches where there is no instrumental accompaniment to the singing, and in the smaller Presbyterian denominations where instrumental music is disapproved.” while William Bell, 1838, ‘Dictionary and Digest of the Law of Scotland’ states “Precentor in the Presbyterian church, is a person whose duty it is to lead the congregation in the singing of psalms. He is, in the ordinary case, appointed by the Kirk-session. … Precentors are removable at pleasure. Although in country parishes, the same individual is frequently precentor, schoolmaster and session-clerk, there is no necessary connection between these offices; and a party holding one of them cannot be compelled to do the duties of any of the others, unless by special engagement. There is no general provision for the precentor’s remuneration, but in practice he usually receives certain fees.” [https://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/precentor accessed 2022.05.29]

⁸ The precentor with a tuning fork had been routine in the Church of Scotland but it was a relative anachronism by the 1920s hence Dr Muir’s comment

⁹ It seems likely that Dr Muir is referring to the quite deep cutting made by the (unnamed?) burn that runs to the west of St Mary’s Kirkyard though it looks like a rather gloomy place to picnic where it would seem a little unlikely that Jack Lindsay would have noticed them

¹⁰ Assume John Vassie ‘Jack’ Lindsay (1891-1975), M.C., of Whitehope, Yarrow, later farmer at Torwoodlee Mains, Galashiels; the deletion adjacent to his name suggests that Dr Muir had mistaken him for his elder brother William Fisher ‘Willie’ Lindsay (1887-1951)

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

A little drizzle in forenoon but otherwise + since dry, though not warm. Jas. Hislop¹, Mill Street, had his left arm badly hacked with a revolving belt + was taken to Viewfield where under Chlor[oform] Dav.² did the best for it. I got a message to Miss Taylor³, Mt Benger School, + motored there. I fear she is going mad. She was very excited + almost incoherent. Cyril Baxter⁴ went to Elmpark on his own + begged from Mrs Mack⁵ telling her she had given Enid⁶ money. She gave him a shilling most of which he spent on cherries! He + Pouky⁷ made their way to the caravan + the latter became chummy with the owner⁸.

¹ James Hislop, spinner, was Tenant of a house at Mill Street, Selkirk but is otherwise unidentified though it may be possible to identify him when the 1921 Census is published later this year [1922 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/328, Selkirk Burgh, page 328 of 644]

² David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

³ Miss Jessie Taylor, teacher, Mountbenger School and tenant at the schoolhouse, Mountbenger [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/340, Selkirk County, page 340 of 611]

⁴ Cyril Ross Baxter (1915-1997), son of Lily Birgitta Baxter formerly Lindback and Harold Ross Baxter, manager, of 47 Södra Vägen 50, 412 54 Göteborg, Sweden

⁵ Mrs Mack was Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), Dr Muir’s close friend, lived at Elm Park, Selkirk

⁶ Enid Gordon Baxter, later Thorn (1917-2013) had stayed at Selkirk in May 1922; born 1 Nov 1917 at Gothenburg, daughter of Lily Birgitta Baxter formerly Lindback and Harold Ross Baxter, manager and informant of the birth, of 47 Södra Vägen 50, 412 54 Göteborg, Sweden

⁷ Pouky [if that is the correct reading] Baxter is almost certainly Erik Sandeman Baxter (1919–1999), younger of Lily Birgitta Baxter formerly Lindback and Harold Ross Baxter, manager, of 47 Södra Vägen 50, 412 54 Göteborg, Sweden

⁸ The caravan and its owner are unidentified

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

A dull calm rather heavy sort of day: wet pavements in morning but fair till 7 p.m. when there was a shower. Walked to Spion Kop¹ + Hospital: gave gas for 2 cases of tonsils at Viewfield: cycled to Rockville² + Henhouse + then to Bridgelands + Upper Faldonside³. Met Tom Connochie⁴ who had come across the Ford⁵ walking up to see a cow. Terrible news of the murder of Field Marshall Sir [gap] Wilson by 2 Irishmen⁶. They shot him at his own door as he returned from Unveiling a Memorial to men in the employment of [gap]⁷. Helen⁸ left for Altrincham⁹.

¹ Spion Kop, Ashybank, Selkirk, where on 3 July 1922 Dr Muir had attended Mrs Margaret Kemp nee Gibson (about 1858-1935), 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. Margaret Kemp had been honoured 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.

² Dr Muir had been visiting Rockville, Selkirk to attend to Robert Currie junior (about 1847-1923), woollen hosiery manufacturer, see for example diary entries for 30 April, 12 May, 14 June and 19 June

³ Perhaps to attend Mrs Montgomery, the cook at High Faldonside who was mentioned in Dr Muir’s diary entries for 29th May and 15th and 16th June 1922

⁴ The Connochies were veterinarians and dipsomaniacs in Selkirkshire and this appears to be Thomas Dixon Connochie (1862-1939), veterinary surgeon, sometime of Braeside, Galashiels

⁵ This may well refer to the ford which crosses the River Tweed just downstream of Abbotsford Ferry Station and the ferry passage

⁶ Field Marshal Sir Henry Hughes Wilson (1864-1922), 1st Baronet, GCB, DSO, was assassinated on 22 June 1922 outside his front door at Eaton Place, Belgravia by two members of the Irish Republican Army, Reginald Dunne and Joseph O’Sullivan, as he was returning from unveiling the Great Eastern Railway war memorial at Liverpool Street Station

⁷ The Great Eastern Railway War Memorial at Liverpool Street Station was unveiled by Sir Henry Wilson on 22 June 1922; a substantial marble plaque, it reads “To The Glory Of God And In Grateful Memory Of The | Great Eastern Railway Staff Who In Response To The Call Of Their | King And Country, Sacrificed Their Lives During The Great War | list of names | 1914-1919

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

⁹ There was a strong connection between Dr Muir’s family and the area between Manchester and Cheshire

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

It rained nearly all day + I couldn’t cycle. Motored to Faldonside to see Weatherston¹, Jessie Boyd’s gardener² + then to Ettrick Mills + right up to Tibbie Shiels to see a tramp who was thought to be mad. He was a man Ritchie³ from Walkerburn who had certainly been a bit off his head but was all right when I saw him. Called at Cutkerwood + Deuchar Mill + got back a little after 2. Dora⁴ arrived at 4 with Cyril and Pouky [?] Baxter, two delightful wee boys⁵. We had a hunt after a rabbit in the garden with Kelty⁶ who was no good. A cable announced Mrs John Roberts death⁷.

¹ John Weatherston was gardener and Inhabitant Occupier not rated of a house at Faldonside, Galashiels, Proprietor Miss Jessie Milne Brack Boyd. He may, just conceivably, be the John Weatherstone [sic], aged 25, born Galashiels and living with his wife Alexandrina Weatherstone [sic] née Wight (married 31 December 1920) at her parents’ house at 13 Victoria Crescent [1921 Census] though, by the time of the birth of his son George Alexander Macdonald Weatherston in 1926, he was a motor mechanic domicile Flint, Michigan, U.S.A. His Outward Passenger List on R.M.S. Saxonia travelling Southampton to New York, 26 September 1923, records him as of 13 Victoria Crescent, Falkirk [sic].

² Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener

³ The 1921 Census does not help to identify the individual referred to.

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

⁵ Cyril and Pouky [if that is the correct reading] Baxter are almost certainly Cyril Ross Baxter (1915-1997) and Erik Sandeman Baxter (1919–1999), sons of Lily Birgitta Baxter formerly Lindback and Harold Ross Baxter, manager, of 47 Södra Vägen 50, 412 54 Göteborg, Sweden [Consular Returns 1915, 164/CL 161 and 1919, 164/CL 407]; they are the brothers of Enid Gordon Baxter, later Thorn (1917-2013) who appears in Dr Muir’s diary on a number of occasions in May 1922

⁶ Kelty was a dog that Dr Muir records taking for a walk very infrequently since at least 1917 but either someone else must have been his regular walker or he was not their dog

⁷ Louisa Jane Roberts née Kettle (1848-1922) died 22 June 1922; born Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand, she was the wife of Sir John Tonkin Roberts (who was born in Selkirk but made his life in New Zealand) and mother of John Roberts junior, Dr Muir’s son-in-law (who was the opposite)

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

Branch meeting at Galashiels. Motored over at 12. Three Edin. men arrived by rail but the majority motored. We lunched at the Douglas Hotel¹ + then split up. Most went golfing: 9-10 (including Menzies², Hiddleston³ + me) motored to Dryburgh. A man Thorburn⁴ took me + 2 others in his car. We had a heavy shower at Bemersyde + another as we got back to Gala, returning via Bowden Toll + Darnick. The meeting was held in the Technical College after tea + I was installed by the President. Dav.⁵ motored me back. Hamilton from Roslin, my cousin’s son was there⁶. The whole thing passed off very well but I wish it had been a nicer day. McMillan⁷ got the first golf prize + Crutchlow⁸ the 2^nd.

¹ Assume the Douglas Hotel, 49-57 Channel Street, Galashiels

² James Morris Menzies (1871-1926), M.B., Ch.M. Edin., 1894, M.D., 1902, medical practitioner, of Ettrick Lodge, Selkirk

³ John Murray Hiddleston (1891-1954), L.R.C.P.S., L.R.F.P.S., medical practitioner, invalided out of the Royal Navy in 1916 he purchased the Selkirk Panel and Private practice of Dr John Wilson (about 1873-1916)

⁴ Thorburn is unidentified

⁵ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

⁶ Dr William Hamilton (1886-), M.C., M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner Proprietor Occupier of a house Stanley Lodge, Roslin, Lasswade, Midlothian; he was the son of William Hamilton, farmer, and Amelia or Aimie Wilson Hamilton née Muir (about 1850-1920), daughter of John Muir, draper, and Charlotte Muir née Fleming

⁷ Assume John James McMillan (1879-1953), M.D., M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner, of St John’s, Melrose.

⁸ Charles Adolphus Crichlow (1882-1966), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner, born Trinidad, W.I., son of Thomas Crichlow, general merchant, and Mary Margaret Crichlow née Achong, he qualified after “a distinguished academic career” at Glasgow University (awarded the Sir Thomas Beatson prize for surgery), after resident posts at Edinburgh and Glasgow he was Assistant Medical Officer, later Medical Superintendent, to Roxburgh District Asylum, Melrose, 1911-1922, and Deputy Medical Superintendent to Edinburgh District Asylum, Bangour, Dechmont, West Lothian, 1922-1947 [“C. A. Crichlow, M.B., Ch.B.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 1, no. 5502, 1966, pp. 1547–1547. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25408239. Accessed 15 Apr. 2023.]

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

Message to Willie Mitchell¹, Newburgh. It was drizzling + a strong S.W. wind so I motored up calling at David’s² request for Mrs Forsyth, Kirkhope Cottage³ + Mrs Steven [sic], Bluecairn⁴. Spent the rest of the day reading up Dryburgh + Melrose Abbeys in view of the drive there with the Edinburgh Branch⁵. There was heavy drizzle above Singlie but it cleared up to a fine afternoon.

¹ William Mitchell (about 1849-1931), ploughman, of Newburgh, Ettrick, died 22 July 1931 at Selkirk aet 82 [1931, 778/ 66, Selkirk]

² David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

³ Mary Forsyth, spinster and domestic servant, was an Inhabitant Occupier not rated at a house at Kirkhope, Kirkhope [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/371, Selkirk County, page 371 of 611]

⁴ 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]

⁵ There was a meeting of the British Medical Association branch (which covered Edinburgh and the south east of Scotland) at Galashiels on 21 June 1922, see Dr Muir’s diary entry for that date

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

A pleasant cool day + no dust. S.W. breeze. Cycled to Forest Road, Currie [illegible] + Rockville¹ + at 1.45 to Clifton Road, Bridgelands, Fairnilea Cottages + Galashiels via Hollybush² where there was a meeting of the sub-committee in charge of arrangements for the meeting of the Branch³ on Wednesday. Somerville⁴ showed me round his place, which was once the Manse⁵. The roads were delightfully free from dust.

¹ Rockville was the home of Robert Currie junior (about 1847-1923), woollen hosiery manufacturer, the fourth of five generations at Selkirk with the given name Robert

² It is not obvious why a meeting of medics would have been at Hollybush, Galashiels (grid reference NGR NT482,337) on the ‘back road’ into Galashiels from the Rink / Boleside area arriving in the town down the hill of Elm Row, so the suspicion must be that Dr Muir means that the B.M.A. will be at Gala and that Dr Muir only went there via Hollybush (this appears to be confirmed by the diary entry for 20 June 1922)

³ The Edinburgh and South East Scotland Branch of the British Medical Association (B.M.A.)

⁴ Somerville James William (1866-1934), medical practitioner

⁵ The Editor has been unable to reconcile the sources to make sense of this because the old parish church manse ‘The Grange’ was on Church Street not Tea Street which is Dr Somerville’s address on the 1920 Valuation Roll; some local knowledge would be welcome

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

Still the same coldish N.W. wind till the afternoon when it veered to W. It was sunny + bright till then [?] but dull after + some nice showers. I was all dressed + ready for church when a note came from Jessie Boyd¹ asking me to see the cook². I motored there + found she had hemiplegia! Flo³ + D.C.A.⁴ we’re spending the weekend there. Wrote Jean⁵ for her birthday tomorrow. Went with H.⁶ to evening service. Jack, Nancy, Barb.⁷ + Agnes [?] Thomson⁸ came to supper.

¹ Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener

² It is unclear whether this refers to Mrs Montgomery the cook at High Faldonside who was mentioned in Dr Muir’s diary on 16 June 1922

³ Jane Florence ‘Flo’ Turnbull (about 1878-1962), wife of David Carnegie Alexander, married 25 April 1899, Edinburgh at which time her address was recorded as “Faldonside Melrose” and one of the witnesses was James William Brack Boyd (1871-1916), army officer and brother of Jessie Brack Boyd, killed in action 16 July 1916

⁴ David Carnegie Alexander, ‘D.C.A.’ or ‘Carnegie Alexander’ (1856-1928), solicitor

⁵ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter

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

⁷ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir and their eldest daughter Andrina Barbara Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg

⁸ Dr Muir seems to have had a problem with Miss Thomson’s name (see diary entries for 15th, 16th and 17th June 1922) but in any case she is unidentified and over this series of entries may (in the absence of evidence) actually refer more than one individual

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