Was called up at 12 for Mrs Anderson¹, Craighill + got back before 4. Was late for breakfast.

A fine day with sharpish NW wind … Mild morning making inside walls + windows damp. Had operations at Viewfield viz Agnes Wallace² (double hernia), child Rigg”³ T + A⁴ + John Elliot⁵, Ladylands papilloma of hand. Tom Alexander⁶ was there for a while also Alice Smith⁷ + girl Hogg⁸. I did nothing else but walk down to hospital. Dora⁹ + I dined at Whitmuirhall¹⁰. Dunlop¹¹ wonderfully well + as cheery as ever. He gave us (or rather one as Tom doesn’t take Port) a bottle of Offley’s ‘96¹². It was colder at night.

¹ Grace Linton Anderson née Davidson, had a baby on 1 August 1921 at Craighill, Ettrick; the second wife of John Laidlaw Anderson, shepherd, they had married 7 March 1919, at Ettrick

² Agnes Wallace has not (yet) been identified

³ The child is not identified but Mrs Jeannie Rigg, widow and ‘residenter’, was at 20 Forest Road, Selkirk [1921 Valyation Roll, VR007900012-/171, Selkirk Burgh, page 171 of 644]; a residenter being one of long residence in Scotland and the north of England, a word used by Sir Walter Scott in ‘The Fortunes of Nigel’, 1822

⁴ Tonsils and Adenoids

⁵ John Elliot, retired forester, is recorded as tenant at the Old Tollhouse, Kingcroft, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/334, Selkirk County, page 334 of 611]

⁶ Tom Alexander is unidentified

⁷ Alice Barbara Stewart Smith (1892-1970), of the Firs, Selkirk, daughter of Patrick Smith, advocate, and Alice Smith née Paterson; a medical practitioner, M.B., Ch.B. (Edin. 1920), M.D. (Edin. 1929), Diploma in Public Health, Dublin, 1922, Diploma in Tropical Medicine, Kolkata, 1931, Alice worked in a number of medical instructions but spent most of her adult life in India and died 31 January 1970 at Amherst Cottage, Kodaikanal, South India

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

⁹ The child Hogg is not identified

¹⁰ Whitmuirhall was east of Selkirk, just beyond the racecourse, grid reference NGR NT504,274

¹¹ Assume Charles Walter Dunlop (1846-1922), merchant, of Whitmuirhall, Selkirk but conceivably one of his sons

¹² Offley was established in 1737 by William Offley as a wine trading company but it soon began to produce its own port, as it still does

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

Dull misty morning + no sunshine. Went for a run in Bryson’s Argyle¹ with Dora² + Tom Alexander³. Left at 10.30 + went via Merton Br.⁴ to Smailholm Tower + village, Stichill, Orange Lane, Union Bridge, Norham Castle (where we lunched), Twizel Castle, Etal, Ford, Crookham, Wark, Sprouston, Roxburgh Castle (where we had tea) + home at 6. It was mild but hazy. We saw the near views. It was especially fine from Roxburgh Castle looking out to Springwood Park + Kelso. I had some dyspepsia all day. The Rowan tree completely cleared when we returned. Was called up at 12 by Mrs Anderson, Craighill⁵ + got back before 4. Was late for breakfast.

¹ Bryson had a motor business in Selkirk and their Argyll hire car was a Scottish-built vehicle

² Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

³ Tom Alexander is unidentified

⁴ The party took a big clockwise loop out through Roxburghshire and deep into Berwickshire to cross the River Tweed between Hutton and Fishwick via the Union Chain Bridge, grid reference NGR NT933,510, before running back westwards on the south side of the Tweed finally re-crossing that river near or west of St Boswells

⁵ Grace Linton Anderson née Davidson, had a baby on 1 August 1921 at Craighill, Ettrick; the second wife of John Laidlaw Anderson, shepherd, they had married 7 March 1919, at Ettrick

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

Wind S.W. + strongish: dull in the morning + at night but fair betw sunny in between. Cycled to Sunderland Hall Lodge and General’s Bridge. Completed the returns for Scott. Board of Health¹. Baptie² took Tom Alexander³ for a run to Walkerburn + back by Ashiestiel⁴ to Fairnilee⁵ where he had tea. Stewart, Louisa + Tim⁶ came up to say goodbye. Nancy takes the boys to Moffat today + Louisa to Brampton tomorrow⁷.

¹ The Scottish Board of Health; Dr Muir was the Medical Officer of Health from 1877 onwards

² Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

³ Tom Alexander is not identified

⁴ Ashiestiel, Caddonfoot, grid reference NGR NT427,352

⁵ Fairnilee, Caddonfoot, NT457,330

⁶ Nancy, Stewart Muir ‘Little Stewart’ Roberts (1908-2003), Louisa Jane ‘Louise’ Roberts, later Rutherford (1906-1982) and George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005)

⁷ The boys appear to have been at St Ninian’s Preparatory School for boys and Louisa was at a school at Brampton, Cumberland

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

Had a quiet day. Made a doz. calls in town (including Lizzie Bell¹, Linglie Cottages) walking. Jas Brodie², Curror Street, was unconscious when I called + died soon after. He has been ill for a year + a half. In the afternoon Tom Alexander³ + Dora⁴ motored to Kirklea⁵ (+ I cycled) to tea. Geordo⁶ goes to school at Weatheral⁷ on Monday.

¹ Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Bell (1866-), Tenant Occupier of Magdalene Cottage, Linglie Road, Selkirk, 1921 Valuation Roll; daughter of John Bell, tweed designer, and Joan Bell née Scott, sister of George Bell (about 1874-1913), sometime bookseller and stationer, with whom she had shared the house

² James Brodie, woollen pattern weaver, died 20 September 1921, aged 59, at 1 Curror Street, Selkirk, of neurasthenia 18 months, certified by John S Muir M.B. +c; he was married to Mary Millar

³ Tom Alexander is not identified

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

⁵ Kirklea, Ashkirk was the home of William Henry ‘W H’ or ‘Will’ Ogilvie (1869-1963), poet, author, journalist and one of Australia’s great Bush poets, and Katherine Margaret ‘Madge’ Ogilvie née Scott Anderson (1879-1965) and their two children Margaret Deloraine Ogilvie (1909-2003) and George Thomas Anderson ‘Geordo’ Ogilvie (1912-1995)

⁶ George Thomas Anderson ‘Geordo’ Ogilvie (1912-1995)

⁷ Wetheral, Cumberland had a boys’ preparatory school, called Lime House School, from 1899 until 1946 when it moved to Dalston [https://www.limehouseschool.co.uk/about/history-ethos]

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

Left Alnmouth at 8.40. It was a nice morning but not nearly so clear as yesterday. The wind was still N.E.+ therefore in my favour. It is 5 miles to Alnwick where I got a Daily Mail. Turned off the Eglingham road 4¹/₂ miles from Alnwick¹ + joined the Morpeth road at Glanton making it 3 miles miles more to Wooler. From Wooler I came via Mindrum + Holefield to Kelso. Again I had no food from breakfast till I had a W & S.² + a biscuit when I got home at 5.30. Tom Alexander³ arrived.

¹ It appears that Dr Muir turned off the Eglingham road and headed south west through East Bolton, grid reference NGR NU130,162, Bolton and West Bolton to come near but probably not into Glanton, NU069,144, from due east to travel up the A697 (Roman Road, Devil’s Causeway) before turning westwards at Wooler through Kirknewton to Mindrum, NT850,336, and Holefield, NT807,345

² Whisky and Soda

³ Tom Alexander has not been identified

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

Rose 5: breakfast 6: left at 7.13 + cycled to Alnmouth. Went via Kelso (18.65), Sprouston¹, Wark, Learmouth, Wooler, Ilderton, Bewick, Eglingham. = 63.1 miles. Arrived at between 2 + 3. It was a fine day: pretty clear with a slight N.E. wind which did not impede me. Nancy² overtook me on her way down for Louise + Stewart³ at Ilderton Bridge⁴ + gave me some Selkirk Bannock⁵ besides which I had nothing till tea at 4. Jack⁶ has a nice little farm Ho. standing above the village. Nancy left about 5.30. Alec Roberts⁷ arrived. The road from Wooler was practically new to me though I may have done it long ago.

¹ Dr Muir appears to have crossed the River Tweed at Kelso and travelled through Sprouston, grid reference NGR NT756,352, Wark, NT826,386, East or West Learmouth, area of NT855,378, Wooler, NT993,281, Ilderton, NU016,219, area of Old or New Bewick, NU068,208 and Eglingham, NU106,194

² Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter

³ Louisa Jane ‘Louise’ Roberts, later Rutherford (1906-1982) and Stewart Muir ‘Little Stewart’ Roberts (1908-2003), two of Dr Muir’s grandchildren, presumably on holiday or with friends

⁴ Assume Lilburn West Bridge, Ilderton Parish, Northumberland, grid reference NGR NU018,237

⁵ Selkirk Bannock is that town’s famous rich and buttery leavened tea bread

⁶ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), Dr Muir’s son-in-law, a mill owner and three time Provost of Selkirk

⁷ Assume Alexander Thomas ‘Alec’ Roberts (1885-1972), son of Thomas James Scougal ‘Tom’ Roberts and Hyndmer Rutherford Roberts née Crawford, and husband of Evelyn Laura Henderson

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

Quite a change. Dull sunless day with a bitter E wind. What a contrast to yesterday. Feeling much better + enjoyed my food. Saw 10 cases including Bell Lizzie Bell¹, Linglie Cottages, walking + cycled to Hospital. Made preparations for a possible run to Alnmouth tomorrow (U.P.)². Made some progress with the return for Scott[ish] Board of Health³. Dora⁴ went with Nancy⁵ to “Mr Pim Passes By⁶.

¹ Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Bell (1866-), Tenant Occupier of Magdalene Cottage, Linglie Road, Selkirk, 1921 Valuation Roll; daughter of John Bell, tweed designer, and Joan Bell née Scott

⁴ The meaning of this abbreviation is not clear

⁵ Dr Muir was the Medical Officer of Health for many years

² Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

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

⁶ ‘Mr Pim Passes By’ is a 1921 British silent comedy film directed by Albert Ward and starring Peggy Hyland, Campbell Gullan and Maudie Dunham. It was based on the 1919 play of the same title by A A Milne [Source: Low, Rachael. History of the British Film, 1918-1929. George Allen & Unwin, 1971]

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

Was sick when dressing this morning but improved after. I had almost nothing to do so I walked to the Eildons¹. It was an absolutely perfect day with a cool N.E. wind + perfectly clear atmosphere. I spent 1¹/₂ hours on top + saw everything possible. In the rock area chair [?] it was sheltered + warm. I had a little chocolate + that was all I had between breakfast + dinner except a W. + S.² when I got home. A good many people at night.

¹ The Eildon Hills, Melrose

² Whisky and Soda

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

Very miserable with dyspepsia. Nice day: cool. Cycled to Synton Mill where I renewed acquaintance with Jas. Elliot¹ + his wife: saw also Lambert² who contracted Malaria in Mesopot[amia]. Called at Kirklea for Geordo³ who has symptoms of Chorea⁴. In afternoon cycled to Sunderland Hall Lodge + Faldonside where Mrs Dees⁵ gave me two cucumbers + some tomatoes. Had to trail down to Buccleuch Road after I got back to see Henderson’s child⁶.

¹ Presumably James Elliot of Flex, Hawick, who was also tenant at Shielswood, Ashkirk, in which case his wife was Isabella Douglas Elliot née Amos [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/302, Selkirk County, page 302 of 611]

² Assume John Lambert, labourer, who was at Ashkirk in the early 1920s

³ George Thomas Anderson ‘Geordo’ Ogilvie (1912-1995), son of William Henry ‘W H’ or ‘Will’ Ogilvie (1869-1963), poet, author, journalist and one of Australia’s great Bush poets, and Katherine Margaret ‘Madge’ Ogilvie née Scott Anderson (1879-1965); the family lived at Kirklea, Ashkirk

⁴ Chorea is an abnormal involuntary movement disorder

⁵ Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson (1872-1948), daughter of the Reverend Canon Dr. James Henderson and Jane Lowrey, born 7 April 1872, the Vicarage, Ancroft, Northumberland, died 8 March 1948, The Manager’s Residence, Rustenburg Platinum Mine, Rustenburg, Transvaal, South Africa

⁶ Henderson’s child is not identified

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

Dull drizzling forenoon but faired later. Saw a doz town cases walking + Gibson + Lumgair¹. Ellie Adams², Ettrick Lodge looks like going melancholy mad. Began to make out returns of income + expenditure, +c +c for Scottish Board of Health.

¹ Gibson & Lumgair Ltd., woollen manufacturers, of St Mary’s Mill, Selkirk

² Ellie Adams was presumably living with her mother, Janet Adams, who was tenant at Ettrick Lodge, Ettrick Terrace, 1921 Valuation Roll; Ellie Adams (about 1881-) was described as a student teacher of Commercial Bank House, Selkirk on the 1911 Census

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