A nicer day again with some sun + no wind to speak of. I started a little after 9 + cycled to Forest Road, Wellwood (Louisa¹, sore back) + Curror Street. Then I motored to Beechwood² + stopped Minty’s³ hydra[…]. Dav.⁴ had diagnosed emphysema but he was wrong. From there I went to Yair + Bogle House, returning by Beechwood + Yarrow Terrace. Saw Roy Dees + his father⁵ at 4 in surgery + then motored over to Lilliesleaf to see old Leitch⁶ + back in time for concert. Helen⁷ had her “Brownies” in + she + Barb.⁸ (in Girl Guides uniform) went along to County Hotel.

¹ Louisa Jane ‘Louise’ Roberts, later Rutherford (1906-1982), one of Dr Muir’s granddaughters

² Beechwood, Linglie Road, NNE of Philihaugh Saw Mill, see Ordnance Survey 25 inch Selkirkshire Sheet XI.8, published 1899

³ Miss Jemima Colville (1857-1932), presumably known as Minty, was occupier of a Villa and ground ‘Beechwood’, Linglie Road, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/326, Selkirk County, page 326 of 611]; born Lanarkshire, she was the daughter of David Colville, steel maker, and Jane Colville née Barr, and died 1932 at the Crichton Royal Institution, Dumfries, usual residence Beechwood, Selkirk

⁴ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

⁵ Robert Irwin Richardson ‘Roy’ Dees (1904-about 1988), son of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson

⁶ Bella Scott Leitch was tenant of a house and garden at Lilliesleaf 1920-1922 [sources include 1922 Valuation Roll, VR011600033-/887, Roxburgh County, page 887 of 993]

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

⁸ Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996), Dr Muir’s eldest grandchild

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Lovely day up till 5 or 6 when it became cloudy + the wind from E. felt much colder. In the morning the Sun heat [sic] was delightful. Cycled out to + back by Castle Street + Backrow: then to Heatherlie, Forest + Tweed Mills, Faldonside + Hospital. At Faldonside I saw a maid, Jessie Lile [sic]¹ + 2 kids, nephew + niece of Mrs Dees². Read the Scotsman in the bower³ after lunch. Dora⁴ + Enid⁵ in the car, Helen + Barbara⁶ cycling went to Lilliesleaf + had a tea pic-nic in a field at Easter Lilliesleaf. I got a note from Walt. Dunlop⁷ asking me to be a pall bearer at his father’s funeral tomorrow. I went to Kennedy’s⁸ last lecture on Tuberculosis at Knowepark School⁹.

¹ Jessie is unidentified though it may be possible to identify her when the 1921 Census is published later this year

² Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson (1872-1948), wife of Robert Irwin Dees; the Dees lived at Faldonside but both of their families were from Northumberland

³ Dr Muir had a bower in his garden at Thorncroft, 16 Scott’s Place, Selkirk

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

⁵ Enid Gordon Baxter, later Thorn (1917-2013), 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 [Consular Returns 1917, 164/CL 233]

⁶ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper and her niece Andrina Barbara Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg (1902-1996), Dr Muir’s eldest granddaughter who had spent some time in Paris at the end of 1921

⁷ Walter Dunlop (1871-1941, born Bingley, Yorkshire, the son of Charles Walter Dunlop, who had died on 6 May 1922, and Edith Dunlop née Sugden

⁸ William Nicol Watson Kennedy (1888-1961), O.B.E., M.D., D.P.E., medical officer of health and school medical officer for Selkirkshire circa 1921 but by June 1921 recorded in a similar role in Croydon, Surrey (1921 Census taken 19 June 1921).

⁹ Knowepark Primary School, between Curror Street and Anderson Road, Selkirk (Scottish Borders Archives at the Heritage Hub, Hawick holds a good series of log books and admission registers for this school)

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

Penielheugh Gate to Maxton 2.15
Maxton to St Boswells 2.5
St Boswells (Green) Selkirk 8.7
13.35¹

Warm at last – at least warmer Strong S.W. + N.W. wind but not cold. In some places it felt quite balmy. I had in a real Indian from Broncho Bill’s Circus² with Cystitis. a splendid man 6ft 6 at least with long hair + typical dress. Cycled to Curror Street, Hospital + then to Tower Street + Castle Street. Finally to Henhouse³, Riddell (where I saw Mark⁴ at the door) + on by Cotfield, Rapierlaw [sic], Belses, Rawflat, Pinnacle, Sandystones to Penielheugh⁵ where I took my tea + enjoyed the glorious view.

¹ This looks like Dr Muir’s route home from Penielheugh Heugh, N.N.E. of Monteviot House, grid reference NGR NT650,258 and Maxton, E.S.E. of St Boswells, NT613,301; the distance from St Boswells is about right, if the reading of Selkirk in Dr Muir’s increasingly poor handwriting is correct

² The circus was Broncho Bill’s Great Wild West Exhibition and Mammoth Circus which was at Victoria Park, Selkirk 8 May 1922 (also Kelso 4th, Jedburgh 5th, Hawick 6th, Galashiels 9th and Peebles 10th May) and included “The World’s Funniest Clowns” and “Indians! Prairie Mustangs!” [advertisement in Southern Reporter 4 May 1922]

³ Presumably to see William Braid Laidlaw (1902-1985), whom Dr Muir had been attending for what may have been Diphtheria; the son of John Laidlaw, saw miller, and Agnes Laidlaw née Taylor, brother of John Laidlaw (1904-) and Robert Braid Laidlaw (1906-), all living at Henhouse, The Haining, Selkirk at the 1911 Census

⁴ Assume Mark Sprot (1881-1946), landowner and army officer, of Riddell, Lilliesleaf, 1920 Valuation Roll

⁵ Cotfield, Lilliesleaf, grid reference NT532,226, Raperlaw NT552,234, Belses NT571,249 (indicative only), Rawflat NT582,247, Pinnacle NT589,253 and Sandystones NT594,265

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

Damp misty morning + strong S.W. wind. Cleared up + was sunny all afternoon. Not so cold but by no means warm. Motored to Henhouse¹ before church. Communion service at which I was not required officially. Saw some cases afterwards + motored again to Henhouse before evening service + took little Enid Baxter² with me. Mrs Mackintosh³ came to supper. Got news from her of Chas. Dunlop’s death⁴. Replied to Lady Napier’s⁵ letter + returned Dr [two illegible words]⁶.

¹ Presumably to see William Braid Laidlaw (1902-1985), whom Dr Muir had been attending for what may have been Diphtheria; the son of John Laidlaw, saw miller, and Agnes Laidlaw née Taylor, brother of John Laidlaw (1904-) and Robert Braid Laidlaw (1906-), all living at Henhouse, The Haining, Selkirk at the 1911 Census

² Enid Gordon Baxter, later Thorn (1917-2013), 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 [Consular Returns 1917, 164/CL 233]

³ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk, daughter of Sir John Watson, 1st Baronet and Agnes Watson née Simpson

⁴ Charles Walter Dunlop (1846-1922), merchant (stuff dealer) of Whitmuirhall, Selkirk had died there the previous day, see diary entry for 6 May 1922

⁵ Clarice Jessie Evelyn Napier née Hamilton (1881-1951), Lady Napier, daughter of James Hamilton, 9th Lord Belhaven and Stenton and Georgina Hamilton née Watson (thus Mrs Mack’s niece); she had married, 1899, Francis Edward Basil Napier (1876-1941), 12th Lord Napier and 3rd Lord Ettrick

⁶ The Editor cannot see a recent reference in Dr Muir’s diaries to an incoming letter from Lady Napier nor is the person or item referred to immediately obvious

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

Motored to Haining Henhouse morning + evening. Willie Laidlaw¹ certainly has pneumonia. Came round by Ettrick Road + Forest Road + attended [?] Mrs Walt. Turnbull², Kilncroft who had a S. [son] at 9.15 p.m.³ – her 4^th child – all of whom I brought into this world as well as herself + her husband⁴ . It was a blowy, showery day. Chas. Dunlop died today⁵.

¹ Presumably William Braid Laidlaw (1902-1985), son of John Laidlaw, saw miller, and Agnes Laidlaw née Taylor, brother of John Laidlaw (1904-) and Robert Braid Laidlaw (1906-), all living at Henhouse, The Haining, Selkirk at the 1911 Census

² Mrs Elizabeth Scott Ingles Turnbull née Brown (1885-1946), wife of Walter Turnbull (about 1880-1963), millworker, married 13 September 1910 at Selkirk; in spite of an exhaustive search it has not been possible to find Walter’s birth though he is recorded as having been born in Selkirk in the 1881, 1891, 1900 and 1911 Census returns and his siblings were certainly born there, his death registration is also quite in order [marriage 1910, 778/ 31, Selkirk; Walter’s death 1963, Selkirk, 778/71, page 24 of 32]

³ George Brown Turnbull, born 6 May 1922 at 16 Kilncroft, Selkirk [1922, 778/ 47, Selkirk]

⁴ The other children were Janet Scott Turnbull (1911-), Walter Turnbull (1914-) and Jane Shepherd Turnbull, later Ford (1917-2002)

⁵ Charles Walter Dunlop (1846-1922), merchant (stuff dealer) of Whitmuirhall, Selkirk, died 6 May 1922, at Selkirk, aged 76, buried Ashkirk Parish Churchyard [death 1922, 778/ 43, Selkirk]

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

Strong N.W. wind + not quite so cold. A lot of sunshine + some showers. Cycled out to Henhouse first thing. Willie Laidlaw’s temp. 102¹: suffering some pain in left chest: probably pneumonia. Gave him a hypo of morph. Saw him in evening temp. 103.2 [so] repeated the Morph. Cycled down to Hosp. + took some swabs + then to Beechwood, Philiphaugh Sawmill + Newarkburn where I found Sandy Baillie² aet 90 digging his garden! The patient was his granddaughter, Victoria Keeling³. H.⁴, D.⁵, + Enid⁶ had tea at Elmpark.

¹ Presumably William Braid Laidlaw (1902-1985), son of John Laidlaw, saw miller, and Agnes Laidlaw nee Taylor, brother of John Laidlaw (1904-) and Robert Braid Laidlaw (1906-), all living at Henhouse, The Haining, Selkirk at the 1911 Census

² Alexander ‘Sandy’ Baillie (about 1831-1928), retired, was at Oldwark, Bowhill, Selkirk in the area of Newark [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/324, Selkirk County, page 324 of 611]

³ Victoria Ann Keeling (1887-1922), daughter of Mary Potts Baillie and John Keeling; her mother was the daughter of Alexander ‘Sandy’ Baillie, carpenter, and Ann Potts and her father was from Ingestre Village, Staffordshire and at his marriage in November 1884 he was described as “Usher of the Hall Domestic Servant” (very possibly at Ingestre Hall, a house belonging to the Chetwynd-Talbot family, Earls of Shrewsbury and Viscounts Ingestre) [Victoria’s birth June Quarter 1887 Stafford 6b 24]

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

⁵ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

⁶ Enid Gordon Baxter, later Thorn (1917-2013), 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 [Consular Returns 1917, 164/CL 233]

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

Sunshine + showers but still ungenial [sic]: perhaps a little less cold. Saw Fairleigh¹ + Hogg², Backrow before breakfast [and] attended Mrs Heatlie³, Ettrick Road who had a F.S. [?] at 10.30. Cycled to Elmrow, Curror Street + Hospital + then to Henhouse + Southport. Was not out again till 7.15 when I saw Fairleigh T.105. Jock, Louise, Stewart + Tim⁴ called, the 3 boys to say goodbye as they go back to school tomorrow, Tim to Moffat⁵ + the others to Merchiston. Helen⁶ had Dawn Boyd Milne⁷ + Mrs Smith⁸ to lunch + she, Dora⁹, Norah¹⁰ [?] + Mrs Mack¹¹ went to the Picture House.

¹ Fairleigh is unidentified, though it may be possible to identify her when the 1921 Census is published later this year

² There were several households called Hogg in Backrow

³ Thomas Heard Heatlie born 4 May at 11 Ettrick Road, Selkirk, son of William Sandilands Heatlie, butcher, and Janet Mathieson Heatlie née Heard, married 17 April 1913 at Selkirk

⁴ John Stewart ‘Jock’ Roberts (1904-1950), Louisa Jane ‘Louise’ Roberts, later Rutherford (1906-1982), Stewart Muir ‘Little Stewart’ Roberts (1908-2003) and George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005)

⁵ The Editor believes this must be St Ninian’s School, Moffat (1879-) a preparatory school attended it seems by all of the Roberts boys

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

⁷ Dawn Gordon Belle Brack Boyd Wilson or Boyd-Wilson, later Milne (1894-1980), who was to change her name to Dawn Gordon Bell Brack Boyd Wilson Milne, 31 October 1924 [London Gazette, 8 December 1924] at which time she was of the Belvedere Hotel, Grenville Place, London; in ‘Notices Under The Trustee Act, 1925’ Dawn is noted as being of Flat 7, 1a Queen’s Gate, London SW7, a spinster and her date of death as 2nd August 1980

⁸ It is likely that this refers to Mrs Alice Smith née Paterson (1863-1943), of The Firs, Selkirk, the wife of Patrick Smith (1858-1930), advocate and sheriff-substitute

⁹ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

¹⁰ Assume Norah Campion Graham née West (1887-1971), wife of Dr David Charteris Graham (1889-1963), medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s co-partner

¹¹ 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]

Colder than yesterday: hoar frost: much less sun W. to S.W. : a little drizzle in afternoon. Cycled to Hospital, Beechwood + [word deleted] Castle Street. David¹ motored me to the meeting of the Div. at Newtown². McLagan³ took the chair vacated by Henderson⁴. There were 13 present including Drever⁵. I was appointed Representative at Glasgow Meeting⁶ + got instructions!

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

² This was the meeting of the Edinburgh Branch, South-Eastern Counties Division and the second image below is the note of the meeting as reported in the British Medical Journal [“British Medical Association. Ninetieth Annual Meeting, Glasgow, July 25th, 26th, 27th, & 28th, 1922.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 1, no. 3202, 1922, p. 175. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20419990. Accessed 25 Jul. 2022.

³ Probably Patrick Alexander Maclagan (1877-1949), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner, in general practice at Ayton, later at Biggar

⁴ Assume Percy James Henderson (1871-1935), M.B., medical practitioner at Church Street, Galashiels; had chaired the 16 November 1921 meeting, see Dr Muir’s diary entry for that date

⁵ James Richan Drever (1873-1956), medical practitioner and administrator, M.A., M.B., F.R.C.P.Ed., born Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, M.A., 1893, M.B., C.M. (Glasgow), 1906, Scottish Medical Secretary of the B.M.A., 1919- [“J. R. Drever, M.A., M.B., F.R.C.P.Ed. Late Scottish Medical Secretary, British Medical Association.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 1, no. 3772, BMJ, 1933, pp. 725–26, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25351306.%5D

⁶ This refers to the meeting of the Representative Committee of the British Medical Journal Association at its Ninetieth Annual Meeting at Glasgow in July 2022 [“British Medical Association. Ninetieth Annual Meeting, Glasgow, July 25th, 26th, 27th, & 28th, 1922.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 1, no. 3202, 1922, pp. 173-75. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20419990. Accessed 25 Jul. 2022.

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

Some hoar frost early this morning. It was a better day: plenty sunshine but with the same biting N. + N.W. wind + a very few drops of rain. I cycled down to Green Terrace + then to Curror Street, Hospital, Melrose (where I cashed a cheque of McMillan’s¹ for 21/- at the Royal Bank) + Newtown to see Oliver² about the question of the Branch meeting³. Then I went across the foot bridge to Dryburgh + walked up to see the Wallace Monument⁴ – quite a pretty walk) + back by Mertoun Bridge. Dora⁵ arrived with little Enid Barker⁶. Went down to Elmpark⁷ with Dora to thank Mrs Mack for her kindness in bringing me from Edin. 2 shirts + a supply of Littlejohn’s beans⁸.

¹ Assume John James McMillan (1879-1953), medical practitioner, in general practice at Melrose (though it is conceivable that the meeting might have been attended by Hugh Agnew Macmillan (1890-1950), medical practitioner, Kirkhope-born, in general practice in Methil, Wemyss Parish, Fife from around 1925, but working for his M.D. (1923) at this date)

² Presumably Matthew James Oliver (1863-1951), M.B., C.M., D.P.H., medical practitioner and Medical Officer of Health; at Hawthorndenes, St Boswells, e.g. 1914, 1925 and 1930 Valuation Rolls

³ Assume The Edinburgh Branch of the British Medical Association (which includes the Scottish Borders area) held its previous A.G.M. in June 1921

⁴ The Wallace Statue, Canmore ID 71817, grid reference NGR NT 59156,32697, the first statue of Wallace to be erected in Scotland,; RCAHMS records that “It was built for David Stuart Erskine, Earl of Buchan, c.1814. The sculptor was John Smith. The urn is inscribed with the following lines:
Sacred to the memory of Wallace | The peerless Knight of Ellerslie [sic] | Who wav’d on Ayr’s Romantic shore | The beamy torch of Liberty | And roaming round from Sea to Sea | From Glade obscure of gloomy Rock | His bold companions call’d to free | The Realm from Edward’s Iron Yoke.” see Canmore: Dryburgh, Wallace’s Statue And Ornamental Urn

⁵ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

⁶ Enid Gordon Baxter, later Thorn (1917-2013), 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 [Consular Returns 1917, 164/CL 233]

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

⁸ The Editor assumes Dr Muir means coffee beans in which case a reasonable guess is Robert Bertram Littlejohn, restaurateur, who was Tenant Occupier of a shop at 149 St Leonard’s Street, Edinburgh and this hypothesis seems to be supported by the fact that the Proprietor was Thomas Johnston of Havana, Cuba [1925 Valuation Roll, VR010000503-/296, Edinburgh Burgh, page 296 of 319]

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

Entrance to Dovecot Park from Beechbank being made

A miserable May Day. Cold + drizzling rain up till the afternoon when it cleared. No wind to speak of N.E. Went over to Viewfield + altered the clamps on Peter Lamb’s truss¹. Walked to Ettrick Road + Hospital where I took a lot of swabs + sent them to Kennedy². Two cases of Diphtheria admitted from Simpson’s Square = Heatlie + Laidlaw³. Spent the afternoon arranging files of B.M.J. for 1918-19-20 + 21.

¹ Peter Lamb is presumably the previously unidentified Mr Lamb who consulted Dr Muir for an “enormous Hernia” at Viewfield 2 March 1922 when Dr Muir noted that he was “a connection of the Blaikies of Comiston”

² William Nicol Watson Kennedy (1888-1961), O.B.E., M.D., D.P.E., medical officer of health and school medical officer for Selkirkshire circa 1921 but by June 1921 recorded in a similar role in Croydon, Surrey (1921 Census taken 19 June 1921).

³ James Heatlie and Isabella Laidlaw, both millworkers, were at Simson’s Square, Selkirk but they are not recorded in the same document – see Valuation Roll for 1922 (Laidlaw) and 1923 (Heatlie)

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