Montrose Its People - The Montrose Society

Montrose
|
ITS PEOPLE
CONTENTS
Town Life
1-10
Sport
11-14
Schools
15-18
Personalities
19-46
Work
47-51
Ceremony
52-55
Montrose
|
ITS PEOPLE
THE MONTROSE SOCIETY
Objective
The objective of The Montrose Society is to present a meeting point
for people interested not only in the present and the future of the
Burgh, but in the promotion of its historical and cultural importance.
The Montrose Society maintains a vigilant watch over local
development, and promotes the conservation of important and
interesting features of the Burgh’s buildings, environment and history.
In so doing, The Montrose Society is frequently and regularly
consulted by Angus Council on important developments within
the Burgh.
Structure
The Montrose Society normally has approximately 60 members who
bi-iennially elect a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary.
They are supported by at least six other committee members. During
the winter months, the Society runs a series of talks on a wide variety
of topics of local historical or cultural interest. Throughout the year the
committee meets at monthly intervals to promote all relevant aspects
of the Society’s business. Recent and current activities include an
ongoing Buildings at Risk survey, a complete photographic survey of
Montrose townscape and a project for the refurbishment of Montrose
Closes. Annual Civic Awards are given to builders, architects and
property owners who have carried out new works or renovations
enhancing the appearance of Montrose. The Award ceremony is an
important element of the Society’s year.
The Montrose Society goes to great lengths to assess public opinion
on planning matters affecting any of the historic buildings of the
Burgh. If there is a strong enough majority view on any proposed
developments then the Society will make the appropriate
representations. However, the Society is also pragmatic enough to
realise that unless there is a very strong case for retaining a building on
the grounds of historic or architectural merit, then changes will take
place. It works closely with Angus Council and have successfully
encouraged programmes for restoration of buildings, shop fronts and
closes. The Society publishes leaflets, books, and a newsletter which it
hopes will encourage awareness of the wonderful historic heritage of
our town and involve as many of our residents as possible.
Conservation is not about mothballing the town at any given time,
or preserving a building at all costs just because it was built a hundred
years ago. Montrose has to be able to adapt to changing circumstances
if it is to thrive in the future and it has to be prosperous to generate
the funds needed to restore and preserve the historic heart of the
town. All our members are dedicated to this end and the committee
give many hours of their spare time to achieve this.
INTRODUCTION
The success of Montrose, Past and Present led the Society to
consider other aspects of Montrose’s more recent history. Past and
Present was mainly concerned with Montrose’s buildings and it
rapidly became clear that Montrose’s people comprised its obvious
complement, hence this volume.
Montrose has its fair share of luminaries, in the Arts, Science and
Business. Some have achieved national, if not international repute;
others are important in a local context. It may be that some of them
are not so well known nowadays as they should be and we hope their
appearance herein will serve to revive their reputations.
However, the majority of the Montrose people in these pages are
those who were, and are, the lifeblood of the Burgh. They are seen
here at work and at play over the last hundred years - some will be
known to the reader, others are their ancestors.
This publication has been compiled jointly with Angus Council and
this has enabled the Society to take advantage of the Council’s
Archive of photographs as well as making use of its own. The Society
is indebted to the Council for its contribution of the text and the
pictures for the majority of the well-known Montrosians herein.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
The Society is grateful, again, for the grant given by Awards for All towards the cost of
this publication.
The Society is grateful also for the financial help given by Angus Council.
Thanks to the staff of Angus Council Cultural Services for their hard work in compiling most
of the images and biographies in the Personalities section. Angus Council also gave
permission to use the following images:
Bailie Glorianna Dorothy Dinah Adams, George Beattie, Louis Black, Sir Alexander Burness,
Susan Carnegie, George Paul Chalmers, James Christison, Quartermaster James Coull RN,
Sir James Duke, Duncan Fraser, Joseph Hume, James Irvine, Violet Jacob, William Lamb,
James G Low, Fionn MacColla, Hugh MacDiarmid, William Mudie Jamieson Paton,
Peter Pucci, Provost George Scott and Professor Robert Silver.
The Society thanks Mrs Betty Doe for typing much of the text and for her constructive
comments on its content.
Thanks go to Mr Joe Wishart and the Montrose Amateur Operatic Society for
their assistance.
Thanks to DC Thomson for giving permission to use the photograph of
Helen B Cruickshank.
Thanks to all others who have given enthusiastic support.
© The Montrose Society, 2004
TOWN LIFE
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Town Life
The people of Montrose are as enthusiastic as any in the activities which give
life its variety and interest. They volunteer, they take part, they contribute in all
sorts of ways. Many of the societies and organisations seen here still exist and
are as important today as ever; they show Montrose at its best.
Here we see the first Masonic Dance to be held in Montrose for 30
years. The date is 10th February, 1951 and the venue is the Recreation
Hall in Mill Street, demolished in the late 80’s or early 90’s.
Everyone is having a good time in the Grand March; present are
Alex Coutts, George Kemp, J Stevenson, R Livingstone with, in the
front in the kilt, T Buick and RP Mackenzie.
1
The Town Improvement Association must have existed in the late
40’s, or the 50’s, judging from the cars. They held a cavalcade and
pageant - why?
Are these Royal Company of Archers members we can see? We
wonder if their efforts bore fruit in terms of town improvement.
There used to be a pageant with the Gala Queen of the Year. The
lady here is thought to be Maureen Rennie, the year 1953 and this is
the occasion of her Coronation, in Rutland Crescent.
Judging of the sand castle competition on Montrose Beach in 1909
was clearly a very serious affair, to the extent that the Police were
involved, presumably to ensure fair play for all.
In this photograph are left to right: Police Constable Oliphant,
J Laing, from the Dundee Advertiser; Councillor Johnson, later
Provost; G Leslie Smith, Dundee Courier; John Lindsay, slater;
and Inspector John Mackie.
2
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Town Life
Here are the Montrose children in 1951 at Cllr Glory Adams’ Guiser
Party for 10-year-olds. Not all the children are in costume but some
have clearly made an effort. We think the best hat belongs to Cllr
Adams. The locale is probably the Angus Hall, above today’s Carpet
Shop in New Wynd.
3
A Montrose Society event - March 1976 - to mark the Society’s
20th Anniversary, in the Library Reading Room.
Clearly, what Trevor Johns had to say was extremely serious and has
caused his listeners to pay attention.
Those present were from left to right: Trevor W Johns, President;
Mrs Geddes, Captain Gordon Graham, Miss Hogg nee Edith Burrow,
Miss Mary Smith, Miss Dora Russell and Mrs Mary Chalmers.
This is a Montrose Society Awards evening in the early 90’s held in
the Sports Centre. Amongst those present are Ian Taylor, Jamie Pert,
Mike Moran, Rick Brown and Andrew Welsh.
This photograph was in the Montrose Standard, part of Montrose
life till the 1970’s. The Montrose Society Committee is seen here, in
April 1960 and several prominent Montrose personalities are present.
The Society had been in existence for four years.
4
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Town Life
The locale is Rossie Island and we think the date is probably the
1920’s. The Montrose people have turned out again in force and are
showing great enthusiasm. This might be a regatta but we do know
that the boat’s owner is Mr A Buchan, the boat is the Lizzie and he
also owned the Maggie. Mr Buchan was famous for never changing
his clocks for Summer Time which had been introduced during the
1914-1918 War.
5
Montrose at play - whatever the age. This is the Old Age Pensions
Association day trip, probably in the 1950’s.
Present in no particular order are Mr John Mill, Mrs L Mearns,
Mrs A Findlay, Mrs M Scott, Mr W Morton, Mrs Ross, Mrs Edwards,
Mr Strachan Pert, Mrs Stephen, Mrs A Davidson, Mrs Norrie,
Mr Whyte, Mrs L Paton, Mrs Carnegie, Miss M Henderson and
Mr Gordon.
The Ladies of the VAD are seen here, March 1958. This organisation
was clearly important to the ladies of Montrose - when did it finish?
The venue is the Congregational Church Hall. We have no names
for the ladies but there are some familiar faces - Willie Johnston is one
of them.
Electioneering in Montrose in the early 1970s. Jo Grimond, the
leader, is doing his best to persuade people to vote Liberal. Peter
Stevens, Honorary Member of the Montrose Society, seems to be
almost persuaded. The locale of the meeting is easily recognisable,
although the businesses seen here are long gone.
6
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Town Life
No precise date for this but pre-1914. The townsfolk have turned
out in force for the Lifeboat Day Procession which is turning from
North Esk Road into Rosehill Road. Note the Bervie line railway
cutting on the right. In the background - only fields.
7
The Good Hope lifeboat can be compared here with the pre-1914
example. Montrose can be proud of those who give their services
unstintingly.
Present are: Iain T Smith, A Nicoll, R MacIntosh, Captain Gordon
Graham, Cox Supt James R Paton, Mechanic W Sorbie, Dr Barrie
Brown, N West, A Mowat, George (Dod), D Keay, W Kydd, D Strang
and Hon Sec JMD Smith
This shows a meeting of the Montrose Ministers’ Fraternal in 1961.
Surrounding parishes were also represented and present were back
row left to right: Rev JF Wilson (Melville-South), Rev J Cribbin
(Methodist), Rev JG Fraser (Laurencekirk), Rev DM Gordon, MA
(Congregational), Rev JW Sinclair, MA (Hillside), Rev G Doig (St
Cyrus), Rev WG Pritchard (Ferryden UF); front row: Rev AJ Fraser, TD
MA (St Luke’s and St John’s), Rev F Kennedy, BD (Montrose Old), Rev
JAC Mathers (St George’s and Trinity), Rev D MacDonald (retired), Rev
A White (Aberluthnott), Rev JW Garnett, AKC (SS Mary and Peters’s).
The Montrose Burns Club is seen here in 1934 (possibly) and, of
course, it is still going strong. Unfortunately we have no names of
those present but we thought it important to recognise the Burns
Club’s place in Montrose life. Is this the Star Hotel?
8
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Town Life
Amateur dramatics are important in the Montrose life. The
production is The Chalk Garden and the company is the Kaims
Players. Those on stage are: Elsie Roberton, Margare Wegner, John
Tomlinson, Judith Robertson, Helen Scott Robinson, Marjorie
Campbell, Kenneth Blythe, Liz Whitson and Winifred Armstrong
9
More Montrose dramatics with Ladies in Retirement. This was a
1951 production prior to the formation of the Kaims Players. The cast
were: Louise Johnston, Bessie Coull, Margaret Blake, Kenneth Blythe,
Dora Milne, Maureen Rice and Francis Dow. The producer was EM
Heslop and the stage managers were Alex Smith and Ron Hardie.
MONTROSE AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY
Music has been important in Montrose for many years. Between the
World Wars there were two musical societies in the Town. The Singing
Millies were a group directed by a local music teacher and Montrose
Opera were led by the late Wilson J Spence who was a hairdresser.
Both groups performed regularly in the Burgh Hall, situated behind the
Old Church Hall.
In 1936 the Burgh Hall burnt down and the groups disbanded, there
being no alternative venue. However, this changed in 1962 when the
Town Hall was opened.
In 1963, the late John Butchart convened a meeting of interested
people and Montrose Amateur Operatic Society was formed. John
Butchart was the first President; the first production The Merry Widow
was staged in 1964.
In 1996 the Junior Section was formed; their performing name is
Class Act and they first performed in 1997.
Montrose Amateur Operatic Society thrives today, thanks to its
many members and its backstage experts and other helpers. The local
community supports it enthusiastically.
Here we have scenes from The White Horse Inn (above) with
Ron Miller and Connie Paton, and Showboat (above left) with Ron
Stewart and Catherine Brown, early productions of the Montrose
Operatic Society
10
SPORT
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Sport
Montrose people participate in football, rugby, golf, bowls, cricket and other
athletic pursuits. We have examples here of most of these, none, regrettably,
showing action but some showing that Montrose has had a share of success,
albeit in the past.
The Ladies Golf Club of 1932 outside their club house which we
believe is now the current Rompers. This must have been a special
occasion given the presence of several male invitees.
Those present were back row left to right: Brig Duncan,
Roland Fletcher (Letham Grange), Miss Dolly Woodward,
Budge Miller of Craig House, Margaret Miller (Rosemount),
Audrey Miller (Rosemount), Lt Col MacGregor, Provost Thomas Lyell.
Middle Row: Mrs Dickson (Sunnyside House), Mrs Conway Fletcher
(Letham Grange, Mrs Ella Lyell (Provost’s wife), Miss B Lyell of Hillside.
Front Row: Miss MHH Balfour (Mall House) Mrs MacGregor (nee
Wodward), Robert De Pass (Fithie) and Miss Ethel Woodward.
11
Montrose Golf has been important for many years. This was taken at a
tournament about 1920 and we have some important people here where are their clubs?
Second from left Dean of Guild R MacFarlane and extreme right Burgh
Surveyor SL Christie. Seated at the back is Captain Thomson.
A variety of poses by Montrose worthies before, during, or after a
foursome around the end of the 19th century - we know it is prior to
1906. Bob Dow, the professional, wears the top hat.
Also present left to right are WM Jamieson Paton, Kennedy Erskine
(Laird of Dun) and Captain Campbell (Adjutant of the Fr K Militia).
Another part of Montrose sporting activity, taken in the old Knox’s
United Free Church which became the Empire Theatre. In turn this
was the premises of the Montrose Amateur Athletics Club.
Boxing was an important element of the MAAC, witness this
photograph from the 1950’s.
12
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Sport
Here is Montrose Football Club 1929-30 season. We do not know
which division they were playing in then but they certainly look
determined.
A pointer to the times is the absence of initials for the players, only
the officials were gentlemen; no sponsorship either.
Back row: Nicol (trainer), Hamilton, Mackenzie, Gerrard, MacKnight,
Letham, Mr DB Purvis (secretary), White and Wilkie.
Front row: Gentles, Muir, Baird, Williamson and Breslin.
13
Montrose Academy football team in 1908-09. They were champions
of the Forfarshire Secondary School League - in those days Montrose
was in Forfarshire - when did Forfarshire become Angus?
Back row left to right: Mr Miller, R Macauley, G Fisher (Captain),
HW Cowper, J Moir, A Macaulay and W Anderson,
Middle row: M Dunn, JJ Milne, J Paul, W Davidson and A Muirden
Front: G Muirden
Rugby is played in Montrose, too. Here is the XV, sometime in the 60’s,
some with new shirts, some with somewhat faded shirts, but mostly a
cheerful team.
Back row left to right: I Mathers, J Wilkie, J Normand and D Hill
Middle row: K Dorston, R Milne, G Mackie, I Salmon, J Officer and J Forbes
Front row: A Jessop, D Cargill, J Milne, R Meikle and D Officer.
Here are four important people outside the old West End Bowling
Green, probably in the very early 20th century.
The occasion is not known but there is an air of quiet pleasure and
satisfaction.
Present are from left to right: James Mitchell, choirman at St Mary’s;
Jamieson Paton, John Taylor and possibly Mr Muir, school inspector.
14
SCHOOLS
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Schools
There have been many changes in education over the years and Montrose has
lost some of its old schools. Young hopefuls from some of these long-gone
establishments are depicted herein along with some, more recent, from today’s
Academy. Some of the long-ago staff are pictured here too, demonstrating the
stern demeanour and pride in appearance associated with them in those days.
This is the class of the Academy Elementary School of the mid to late
1930’s. The building is still used by the Education department of Angus
Council, but there is no longer an Academy Elementary.
The names of these cheerful and apprehensive children are,
back row left to right: Henry Howes, Jimmy Valentine, Ken smith,
David Jolly, Arthur Christieson, Jimmy Gibson and Jimmy Smeaton.
Second back row: David Calder, Doris Aitken, Sheila Walker, Grace
Murray, Mary Fleming, Betty Smith, Rosemary Johnston and Ben Reid.
Second front row: Ann McIntyre, Alma Watson, Jean Watson,
Winifred Edwards, June McCullogh, Flora MacInnes and
Margaret Cuthbert.
Front row: John Jardine, Eric Rogers, Donald Menzies, David White
and Boyd Jolly.
15
Here is Mr W Dougal, gym teacher. He is included because we
considered him to be an imposing figure who must have fulfilled an
important role in what appeared to be a sports day.
This photograph was found in the North Links School by the
janitor, Mr Low, probably in the 50’s or 60’s. We have no names can anyone help?
Here are the Montrose Academy prizewinners of 1961. What
a well turned-out assembly.
Back row left to right: Michael Cook, Robert Thom, - ,
Peter Stewart, Bryden Stephen and Alastair Chalmers.
Middle row: -, Joe Nicoll, - , Myra Young, Margaret Tough,
David Easton and Nancy Ley.
Front row: Davina Wardrop, Franz Mizera, Peter MacIntosh,
Anne Fleming, Axel Young and Carol ?
16
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Schools
This is included to recognise the old Townhead School which was
situated near the Northern Vaults. The date is 1903-04 and it is highly
likely that some of these boys were lost in the Great War.
The names are, back row left to right: Mr Allan MacDougall
(Headmaster), W Gordon, D Proudfoot, H Cowie, J MacKenzie,
A Simpson and C Gordon.
Second back row: D Douglas, J Butchart, G Rae, J Porter, G Clark,
A Cowie and J Duncan
Second front row: T Nicoll, A Langlands, E Aitken, J Hunter, J Milne,
W Jack, G Wilson, J Jackson and J Selby.
Front row: J Duncan, S Kinnear, A Leonard, W Clark, J Fiddes
and E Orcutt
George Howie, on his appointment as Rector at the Academy, lst
November, 1950. George was from Rutherglen, Glasgow. He piloted
the Academy through the ROSLA period and was well respected.
17
This is, probably, the senior class at Southesk School in 1950 or
thereabouts.
We have no names for this photograph but are confident that many
readers will recognise themselves.
Here is a figure of real authority, James Beattie, the Janitor of North
Links School. He also taught gym and played the cornet. Behind him
is the swimming pool of the School, the air vents can be seen. Note
the cap on the knee and the officer’s rings.
18
PERSONALITIES
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Personalities
Montrose’s people of note stand comparison with any. The mini-biographies
given herein are proof positive of their contribution in their particular fields.
BAILIE GLORIANNA DOROTHY DINAH ADAMS
She was a lady known to all as Glory Adams, celebrated in
Montrose for her dedication and determination to do what she
thought was right.
We do not have the space here to do justice to Bailie Adams’
achievements; she was the first woman to be elected to the Town
Council, the first to be a local magistrate and the first to be
nominated for the Provostship.
Originally a Unionist, in time she shunned all party lines and
simply spoke for what she saw to be right or against what she saw to
be wrong.
She was famed for how she went about her business; she was
suspended twice from Council sittings and her exploits were read
about in war-torn Tobruk by the Army.
Above all, she was a benefactor and a lady of great kindness,
particularly to the young and the old. Her annual Halloween Guiser
party for 10-year-olds which she instituted in 1936 continues to
this day.
Thousands lined her funeral route to pay their respects and to
grieve. She rests in Sleepyhillock.
19
EDWARD BAIRD
Edward Baird was born in 1904, the son of a sea captain. After
finishing his education at Montrose Academy he studied at Glasgow
School of Art, which was building a reputation for producing artists
working within the tradition of strong figurative art. Baird would often
be referred to as one of the Glasgow Boys despite his difference in
style.
After a year’s scholarship in Italy where he was strongly influenced
by the Renaissance painters, he came back to Montrose and began
his artistic life with enthusiasm, although he was to be dogged with
ill-health and chronic asthma for the rest of his life. He worked very
slowly and his paintings show an immense attention to detail,
Montrose from Ferryden, which he painted in 1941 is good example,
with every pebble on the wide shingle beach separately painted.
Baird was always extremely interested in the lives of working
people, incorporating some of them in his paintings, which include
portraits, as well as surreal works like The Birth of Venus. He died in
1949 having produced only 39 paintings during his lifetime, and is
still today a relatively unknown artist.
20
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Personalities
GEORGE BEATTIE
George Beattie, New Wynd, Montrose, was a poet and a solicitor.
His most famous poem was the epic John O’Arnha, of which an
illustration is shown on the left, about John Findlay, a Town Officer
and near neighbour who told tall tales. Reputedly Beattie would
eavesdrop on Findlay’s conversations in a local inn and write down
material to use in his poem. He had an unfortunate romance with
Miss William Gibson, daughter of the farmer at Stone of Morphie with
whom he fell in love in 1821. In 1823 Miss Gibson inherited a large
fortune from an uncle. She was soon the target of fortune hunters, in
particular William Smart, corn merchant. Beattie was no longer
suitable and she broke off the engagement. She also publicly ridiculed
him for his attempts to win her back and he became a broken man.
Beattie committed suicide in St Cyrus kirkyard on 29 September
1823. The new Mrs Smart had a very unhappy marriage.
21
LOUIS BLACK
Louis Black was a native of Brazil and came to Montrose in his
youth as the slave of Alexander MacKay of Broomley. MacKay had
mercantile in interests in Rio de Janeiro and Liverpool through his firm
of MacKay & Co. When MacKay returned to Scotland around the mid
1830’s he brought Louis with him. Louis was sent to school in
Montrose and he soon became well known and a great favourite in
the town. MacKay later returned to Brazil but Louis chose to remain
in Scotland where he was free. A return to Brazil would have equalled
a return to slavery. MacKay did not forget Louis. On his death Mackay
left Louis an annuity for his lifelong maintenance. Louis also worked
as a gardener. He was frequently employed in the town to serve at
public dinners and also at private dinners in the area.
In his private life, Louis was a strong churchman, a Tory and an avid
angler. Golf was another passion.
His portrait was painted by local artist James Irvine (1833-1889)
and was donated to Montrose Museum in 1953. Louis Black died on
24 October 1886, aged 66.
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Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Personalities
ROBERT BROWN
Robert Brown was born in 1773 in an old 17th century house
which stood on the present site of Montrose Library, at the top of the
High Street. His father, the Reverend James Brown, was a great
character and an ardent Episcopal minister at a time when Episcopacy
was still viewed with deep suspicion. Robert attended the Grammar
School of Montrose and later Marischal College, Aberdeen. In 1789
he moved to Edinburgh with his family where he trained as a
surgeon.
He joined the army as an assistant surgeon but soon tired of the life
as his interests had turned to scientific research. He joined the crew
of HMS Investigator bound for Australia on a four year voyage where
he collected 4,000 specimens of plants. On his return, he became
one of the country’s foremost scientists.
He is best remembered today as the discoverer of Brownian
movement, a very important discovery as it allowed Einstein to prove
the existence of molecules and the kinetic theory of heat. Brown
became the Librarian of the Linnean Society in London and Keeper of
Botany at the British Museum, where admirers of his work included
Charles Darwin and Alexander von Humbolt. He died in 1858.
23
SIR ALEXANDER BURNESS
Born 16 May 1805 to Provost James Burness and his wife Elizabeth
Glegg in Montrose, one of nine children. Alexander was son of a
provost, grandson of another provost and a distant relative of Robert
Burns. Educated at the Trades School in Montrose but he lamented
that he was not much of a scholar as he never won a prize. Through
his father’s friendship with Joseph Hume, MP and former employee
of the East India Company, a cadetship was purchased for him in the
company’s army. He sailed for India in 1821 when he was 16-yearsold. Alexander was accompanied by his elder brother James, who was
embarking on a medical career where he would rise to the position of
Physician General to the Bombay Army.
Alexander quickly demonstrated a solid grasp of languages, learning
Hindustani and Persian. He was promoted quickly, becoming a
lieutenant by the age of 19. He also took any opportunity to study
local customs and habit. He was also a great traveller and made
detailed reports of his findings. In 1829 he was gazetted from the
army to the Political Branch. In 1835 he disguised himself as an
Armenian and travelled into Afghanistan to investigate possible
Russian influence. Around 1835 he came back to Montrose and
was given a public dinner in his honour. On his return to India, he
was posted to Kabul, but times had changed for the worst. On 2
November 1841 his house in Kabul was surrounded by a mob
and Burness, and his brother Charles, attempted escape wearing
native clothing. He was spotted and murdered.
The reputation of Burness has both supporters and detractors. A
fitting quote may be the following:
‘It was the hard fate of Alexander Burness to be overrated at the
outset and underrated at the close of his career’
24
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Personalities
SUSAN CARNEGIE
Born in 1744, Susan Carnegie was a woman with a mission in an
era when women were not expected to take part in public life. Susan
was the daughter of the Treasurer of the Bank of Scotland and the
wife of George Carnegie of Pitarrow. They lived at Charleton House
which George had purchased with money he made as a merchant in
Sweden. Despite a large family, Susan was a passionate philanthropist.
She believed that the poor needed help and that the better off should
help them.
Montrose was the main beneficiary of many of Susan’s benevolent
projects. She encouraged the congregation of the parish church to
give more in the collection. She also set the Female Friendly Society
in 1808 to help poor women and the Montrose Savings Bank in 1815
with the assistance of two parish ministers. Her greatest achievement
was in the establishing the first mental hospital in Scotland, situated in
Montrose. Before this, there had been no provision for the mentally
ill, who had been kept in the tolbooth in dreadful conditions. The
Asylum was built on the Links and opened in 1781. Patients were
treated humanely and encouraged to spin yarn, sew, knit, read, paint
and garden. Susan lived to a ripe old age and died in 1821.
25
GEORGE PAUL CHALMERS
Born in a house in Duncan’s Close, off Castle Street in 1833,
Chalmers was nearly 20 before he managed to raise the money to
enrol as a painting student at the Trustees Academy in Edinburgh.
James Irvine, another well-known artist and a close friend of Chalmers
is usually credited with encouraging his application to the Academy.
Chalmers came back to Montrose in 1856 after three years,
remaining in the town until 1859 when he returned to Edinburgh to
begin his professional career as a painter. Slowly he began to be
recognised as an artist of note, gaining membership of the Royal
Scottish Academy in 1871. He was very critical of his own work,
constantly reworking subjects until he was satisfied. Although to our
eyes his paintings appear to be gloomy and dark, amongst his
contemporaries his reputation for lavishing great care on even the
smallest sketch, ensured that he was greatly valued as an artist,
influencing many up and coming younger artists with his subtle use of
colours and light.
Walking home from a Royal Scottish Academy meeting in
Edinburgh in 1878 he was murdered in suspicious circumstances. At
his funeral, which had streets lined with weeping mourners, thirty
women students from the Royal Scottish Academy school scattered
white petals onto his coffin as it was lowered into the grave.
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Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Personalities
JAMES CHRISTISON
James Christison was born and educated in Montrose. He was the
son of David Christison, a clothier. James followed in his father’s
business while serving as part time librarian of the Trades Library. In
1904 he was appointed as librarian to the new Public Library. He was
the first and only librarian to occupy the librarian’s flat incorporated
into the library.
Christison had a great love of books and believed that librarians
should not be mere distributors of books, but guides.
He was a great friend to writers, such as Violet Jacob, who sought
his opinion on their work. He delivered many lectures, all over the
county, to a variety of societies on a number of literary topics. He was
also actively involved in preserving the history of the burgh by seeking
out material, printed, photographic and archival, for the Local Corner.
This material has formed the basis of the present day Local History
Collection and the Archive Collection. Christison’s interests and
activities were numerous and varied.
He was a president of the Burns Club, a convener of Dorward
House, a director of the Royal Asylum, a Justice of the Peace and a
trustee of the Savings Bank as well as being active in the Library
Association and the Society of Antiquarians (Scotland). He served as
both burgh and county librarian until he retired in 1941 at the age of
74. He died on 20 July 1945.
27
QUARTERMASTER JAMES COULL, RN
James Coull was born in Ferryden in 1786 and died in Montrose
in 1880.
He went to sea as an 8-year-old cabin boy on the brig Christina
(Montrose). Later he was apprenticed to the brig Concord (Montrose).
While Concord was at Copenhagen he was pressed into the RN
Ship Centaur and in her took part in Nelson’s victory at Copenhagen.
He was at Trafalgar as an Able Seaman and in 1813 was on HMS
Shannon, as her quartermaster, during her famous action with the
American frigate Chesapeake. During this British victory James was
seriously wounded in his left arm which resulted, three years later, in
the amputation of his left hand. (HMs Shannon’s sister ship, HMS
Trincomalee still exists, at West Hartlepool.)
After discharge from the RN with a pension which he drew for the
remainder of his life, he served as a cook on Montrose whaling ships.
In retirement he lived at 1 Academy Square with his two nieces, a
popular and much loved man. His portrait, by James Irvine, was
exhibited at the Academy in Edinburgh in 1875.
It is of interest that a pressed seaman could have a worthwhile
career in the Royal Navy and be treated no differently from
a volunteer.
28
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Personalities
HELEN B CRUIKSHANK
Helen Cruikshank was born on the 15th May, 1886 in Hillside. Her
father was the house-steward for the Sunnyside Hospital and her
mother the daughter of a Montrose master-plumber.
She was educated at Hillside and, at ten years of age, was sent to
Montrose Academy, walking there and back every day, there being no
public transport. At the academy she learned to love poetry and to
develop her likes and dislikes. Other than the content of the history
curriculum she had nothing but praise for the academy’s teaching little wonder when she carried off ten prizes on her last day. With no
money to fund a University place she sat the three-day Civil Service
exam in Aberdeen, passing in seventh place and took an appointment
in the Post Office in West Kensington in 1903. She transferred to
Edinburgh GPO in 1912 and then to the new National Health
Insurance Scheme. During these years she started to write poetry
and towards the end of the First World War her work was finding
acceptance.
In 1924 she met Hugh MacDiarmid for the first time and bought
her house in Corstorphine to accommodate her widowed mother her poetry helped to finance this.
Following the formation of the Scottish PEN in 1927 by
MacDiarmid many Scottish writers visited Helen and stayed at her
Edinburgh home - she became the PEN honorary secretary. The list of
visitors is a roll-call of the Scottish literary and artistic establishment of
the day.
She retired from the Civil Service in 1944 and supplemented her
pension with income from her writing albeit needing occasional help.
In 1971 Edinburgh University conferred an honorary MA on her, richly
deserved by this lady of letters.
Ten days before her death in 1975 she was still writing poetry. You
need read only Shy Geordie to appreciate her work.
29
PUMPHY DAVIDSON
This wonderful portrait of Pumphy Davidson is by Edward Baird. It
was begun in l937, was almost complete when war broke out in
September 1939 and was subsequently added to when Pumphy joined
the LDV (forerunner of the Home Guard) - one of the first to do so.
The finalised picture was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1941.
James ‘Pumphy’ Davidson was a casual labourer, wild fowler and wellknown poacher. He became friends with Edward Baird when they met
at Montrose Harbour some time before the war.
It must have amused both Pumphy and Baird when Pumphy modelled
for Baird as a gamekeeper. Baird was a meticulous and slow worker and
it was in 1940 that Pumphy arrived at his studio in Bridge Street wearing
his LDV armband. Baird immediately incorporated this and thus was
Pumphy immortalised in a way he could never have contemplated. The
then Ministry of Information bought the rights to reproduce the painting
and Pumphy was used as propaganda in the Middle East to demonstrate
that the mother country was determined to fight on.
Pumphy was the subject of another Baird work, a head and shoulders
of him in uniform entitled Home Guard. But Pumphy didn’t just pose in
uniform; he acted as well, achieving local hero status by attempting to
down a Luftwaffe bomber with his shotgun.
Surely Pumphy can have no better epitaph than what was written
about the painting: It shows the strength of determination of Scotland
and the part she is playing in the national effort.
30
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Personalities
WILLIAM DORWARD
William Dorward was born in 1765 at 109 High Street. His father
was a packman and William, with his brother John, followed in his
father’s footsteps. The brothers sold soft goods, they bartered and they
lent money.
Eventually, their father purchased property at 210 High Street and
from there the brothers sold winceys and worsteds to the sailing
community.
William traded from the shop until his death but his fortune also
grew from his finance activities. He lent money to the landed gentry
and invested in feus, tolls and property. His ships were part of the
whaling fleet during the boom time of the 1820’s.
William amassed wealth to distribute to the needy. Unlike some, he
gave the money away during his lifetime and in 1838 he built
Dorward House of Refuge for the Destitute. He declared ‘the said
Institution shall not be held to be a Poor’s House’; he provided
£26,000 for its upkeep.
William Dorward was a philanthropist and a man of compassion. He
died in 1848.
31
SIR JAMES DUKE
James Duke was born in Montrose on 31 January 1792, the son
of a local merchant. He spent his childhood in the burgh before
embarking on a career in the civil department of the Royal Navy.
By 1819 he had left the Navy for commerce and politics. He
held many prestigious posts including those of Sheriff of London
and Middlesex, deputy Lieutenant of Lincolnshire and a Sussex
magistrate amongst other offices. In 1837 he was knighted and
was also elected as MP for Boston. In 1848 he became Lord
Mayor of London.
He never forgot his hometown during his glittering career. He
presented Montrose Academy with a silver medal for the Dux. He
also presented a fine portrait of himself, resplendent in his
mayoral robes, to the town.
32
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Personalities
DUNCAN FRASER
Duncan Fraser was born in Glasgow in 1905. A graduate of Glasgow
University, he taught for several years and contributed to educational
publications. He was a founder member of the Scottish Educational
Film Association.
The family of his wife, Dora, owned Standard Press, based in
Montrose. They met when he was on holiday in Montrose and after
their marriage spent some years in Glasgow. Subsequently, he joined
the family business in Montrose and was appointed editor of the
Montrose Standard in 1937, its centenary year.
The business later went into publishing, many of their offerings
being Duncan’s own work. He produced sixteen books about East and
Central Scotland, illustrated with his own photography, including
Discovering East Scotland and East Coast Oil Town.
He was a well known speaker, President of the Montrose Society
and the Burns Club and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.
Duncan Fraser died in 1977.
33
JAMES GRAHAM, 1ST MARQUIS OF MONTROSE
James Graham was born in 1612, a long awaited heir for the
wealthy Graham family. His actual birthplace is not known, some
sources say it was at the family mansion at Old Montrose, others at
the Grahams’ town house at Castlestead, Montrose.
Despite his wealth and privileged position, James grew up unspoilt
in temperament, loyal, generous and good tempered. He married at
the age of 17, Magdalene Carnegie, youngest daughter of Lord
Carnegie of Kinnaird Castle. They enjoyed only a few short years of
peaceful family life before James became involved in the political
turmoil engulfing Scotland.
Although a supporter of King Charles I, James was also a Calvinist,
and when Charles tried to impose a new Prayer Book in Scotland in
1637, he joined the leaders of the National Covenant. In 1639 he led
an army to Aberdeen, forcing the city to accept the Convent, moving
on to Newcastle in 1640 to cut off the coal supplies for London, so
Charles had to call a truce.
When James realised that some of the Covenanting leaders were
considering deposing Charles to further their cause, he was outraged,
and switched sides to support the King. James was made a Marquis in
1644 and appointed King’s Lieutenant in Scotland by Charles in
gratitude for his support. A brilliant military campaigner, he used
speed and surprise to sweep across the Highlands before disaster
struck in 1645 when he was defeated at Philiphaugh near Selkirk.
Sent into exile abroad he was still there when Charles I was executed
in 1649.
Despite the risks he returned to Scotland with a small army of men
in support of Charles II. He found little help and was betrayed for
£25,000 by McLeod of Assynt. There was no proper trial, the
sentence was hanging and quartering, like a common criminal, and
the execution was carried out on 21st May 1650. An English
bystander recorded his serene bearing and dignity before the
sentence was carried out. ‘It is absolutely believed that he hath
overcome more now by his death in Scotland, than he would have
done if he had lived. For I never saw more sweeter carriage in a man
in all my life. I would write more largely if I had time, but he just now
is a turning off the ladder: but his countenance changes not...’
34
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Personalities
JOSEPH HUME
Joseph Hume was born in 1777 in Montrose. He attended school
in Montrose before being apprenticed to a surgeon in 1790. He
proceeded to study medicine in his own right and became a member
of the College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. In 1797 Hume obtained a
post with the East India Company on the recommendation of David
Scott of Dunninald, MP and a director of the East India Company.
Hume made a great deal of money in India and retired from the
service, returning to Britain in 1808 to travel and study.
In 1812 he entered Parliament as MP for Weymouth, although he
was not re-elected in 1813. He then devoted a considerable time to
the study of working class conditions.
He re-entered Parliament in 1818 and remained there (except for
1841) representing various constituencies until his death. Hume was
keen on exposing extravagance, and abuse and he was a great
supporter of the 1831 Reform Bill, schools, saving banks, repeal
of the Corn Law in 1834 and free trade.
Hume gifted a series of panels to the incorporated trades in
Montrose, Brechin and Arbroath, commissioned from Robert Munro
the first Art Master at Montrose Grammar School; the seven
incorporated trades in Montrose, who had supported him in 1818 in
his bid to become an MP. He died on 20 February 1855 and is buried
in Kensal Green.
35
JAMES IRVINE
Irvine was an accomplished portrait painter who captured the
images of many of the middle classes of Angus. He was born in the
parish of Menmuir in 1822, the eldest son of John Irvine, a wright.
James attended the local parish school but he demonstrated
sufficient artistic talent to be apprenticed to another famous Angus
painter, Colvin Smith. After further training in Edinburgh, Irvine
returned to Angus to work in the Arbroath/Montrose area where he
established himself as a successful portrait painter.
He painted many portraits of society notables, the newly powerful
middle class and characters including the former Brazilian slave Louis
Black who settled in Montrose. On the many instances that he
exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy, he is listed as having
working in Edinburgh, Arbroath and Montrose. Irvine was a great
friend of the famous Montrose painter George Paul Chalmers.
If Irvine’s work is not as well known as his friend’s, it is probably
because Irvine only occasionally painted subjects other than portraits,
which he did very well, making thoughtful pictures of people he
knew. Irvine died in 1889, at Brunswick Cottage, Hillside
36
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Personalities
VIOLET JACOB
Violet Kennedy-Erskine was born in 1863 at the House of Dun, the
ancient seat of the Erskine family. She grew up in the Angus
countryside absorbing the language and the stories of the area. She
would later use this in her poetry and in her novels.
She married Major Arthur Otway Jacob and they spent the early
years of their marriage in India. Her diaries from that period have
been published and include watercolour studies of Indian fauna.
Violet and Arthur’s only son was killed at the Battle of the Somme,
1916. Violet returned to Angus in her later years, settling in
Kirriemuir.
She was a regular visitor back to Montrose and kept in touch
with many of the poets and artists living in the town in the 1930’s.
William Lamb included her in his series of heads, along with Hugh
MacDiarmid, Edward Baird and Fionn Macolla. Edinburgh University
awarded her an honorary LLD in 1936. She died in 1946.
37
WILLIAM LAMB ARSA
William Lamb was born in 1893 the youngest of six children, living
in a house, long demolished, in Mill Street. His father had been a
merchant skipper out of Leith, but left the sea to work in Paton’s Mill.
Educated at the North Links School then Montrose Academy, he
showed particular ability at art, but left school to work as an
apprentice stonemason and monumental sculptor with his brother
James. His art was not neglected however, and while studying with a
mason in Aberdeen, he attended night classes in drawing, anatomy,
modelling and classical sculpture at Gray’s School of Art.
Seriously wounded twice during the First World War, his right hand
was badly injured and he had numerous operations to repair the
damage. He had to retrain himself to work with his left hand, which
he managed successfully, but his injury troubled him for the rest of his
life.
In 1921 he left to return to France, studying at the L’Ecole Des
Beaux-Arts under Boucher. In 1922 he cycled round Europe covering
3000 miles, drawing and painting as he travelled, before returning to
Montrose in 1924 to be ‘among my ain folk’.
From his studios, firstly in Bridge Street, then eventually in Market
Street he continued to experiment with different mediums, bronze,
wood, and stone, using as his models local people although he was
invited by the Duchess of York to sculpt the heads of herself, and her
two daughters Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose, during
the 1930’s. A familiar figure in the town who disliked the limelight,
his legacy of sculptures, etchings, drawings and watercolours can still
be seen in his studio in Market Street, bequeathed to Montrose by his
sister on his death in 1951.
38
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Personalities
JAMES G LOW
James G Low was a Bailie of Montrose Town Council who took a
keen interest in the history of the burgh. In 1880 he founded the
company of Low, Scott & Co, which sold ladies and gentlemen’s
clothing. The partnership lasted ten years before it was dissolved after
which Low ran a draper’s business in his own name. Increasingly his
interests tended towards the literary and the antiquarian. Part of his
business was later given over to the sale of antiques. Low spent a
great deal of time trawling the large collection of Montrose burgh
records for material for his books.
His lasting work is The Closes of Montrose accompanied by his own
watercolours. Low was also actively involved with Dorward’s House
of Refuge, sat on the Library Committee, was an elder of the Parish
Church, and a Director of the Montrose Natural History and
Antiquarian Society. In 1910 he was elected to Montrose Town
Council and held various offices until 1918 when he retired from the
Council. In his later years he moved to Trinity, Brechin where he died
in 1944.
39
FIONN MACCOLLA
(THOMAS DOUGLAS MACDONALD)
Fionn MacColla was the pen name of Thomas Douglas Macdonald, one
of Scotland’s most remarkable authors. He was born in Montrose in 1906,
the son of strict Plymouth Brethren parents. His father was a cobbler and
originally a Gaelic speaker from Inverness. MacColla trained as a teacher
and after spending three years in Palestine from 1926-929 he finished his
studies in Glasgow reading Gaelic. He converted to Roman Catholicism in
1935 and married Mary in 1936, the mother of his ten children. The
family lived in Outer Hebrides until 1960 when they moved to Edinburgh
where they lived until MacColla’s death in 1975.
As a young man MacColla lived two doors along from Christopher M
Grieve, better known as the poet Hugh MacDiarmid and the pair spent
several long nights setting the world to rights. Montrose was then the
centre of a resurgence of literature in the Scots tongue, the birthplace also
of Helen B Cruickshank and Willa Muir, who stayed in the town at this
time with her Orcadian husband Edwin. The presence of the acclaimed
sculptor William Lamb and artist Edward Baird added to this period of
creativity in Montrose’s history.
Fionn MacColla published only two novels in his lifetime. The
Albannach was begun in 1929 while he was lodging with Hugh
McDiarmid in London and was published in 1932 and re-published in
1971. This satirical novel on the effects of religious repression on the
Highland character merited high critical acclaim, and in 1985 John
Garth’s 7:84 Theatre Company staged a production. Perhaps the most
famous of Fionn MacColla’s works And the Cock Crew, the tale of a
community during the clearances, was published in 1945, and
republished three times in 1962, 1977 and 1995.
Amongst Fionn MacColla’s other publications are Scottish Noel
published in 1958, and Ane Tryall of Hereticks published in 1962. Both
were incorporated into Move Up John begun in 1941 and published
posthumously in 1994. The Ministers was started in 1957 and published
posthumously in 1979. He began At the Sign of the Clenched Fist in 1965
and it was published in 1967. Mein Bumpf in Essays followed in 1973
and Too Long in This Condition, his autobiography, appeared two weeks
after his death in 1975.
In his writing, indeed for his life, Fionn MacColla’s goal was ‘to be a
pilgrim of truth and magnanimity’. Three themes ran through all his work:
the oneness of man, ‘Yea-saying’ not ‘nay-saying’ and the ‘Betrayal’ of
Scotland, for example, suppression of Gaelic and the Scots tongue; loss of
independence and nationhood; ascendancy of Calvinistic attitudes.
Recognised internationally, MacColla deserves greater appreciation in his
native Scotland.
40
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Personalities
HUGH MACDIARMID (CM GRIEVE)
Christopher Grieve was born in Dumfriesshire. He worked on a
number of local newspapers including the Forfar Dispatch and the
Montrose Review for nearly ten years during the 1920’s. Grieve
thrived on being busy and in the thick of things. He not only had a
full time job and a growing family, he undertook the offices of
councillor on both the Town and Parish Council, edited and
published a variety of magazines while contributing to many others
journals and newspapers. He was also very active in a number of
other national organisations.
He was very involved in the Scottish Centre of PEN, an organisation
of poets, playwrights and novelists through which he met Helen B
Cruickshank. He was also a passionate and dedicated Nationalist and
a founder member of the National Party of Scotland. His character
was one of extremities. Indeed his friends said he was extreme on
principle. MacDiarmid wore his contradictions like campaign medals.
He was also an intellectual snob who desperately wanted to be
accepted by the literary establishment.
1922 was a very important year for Christopher Grieve. He became
a Town Councillor and Hugh MacDiarmid published his first poem.
While Grieve had written poetry in English, MacDiarmid wrote in
Scots. Grieve published and reviewed the work of MacDiarmid as
though they were separate people. He even threatened to sue anyone
who suggested that they were one and the same. While in Montrose
he wrote and published his greatest work A drunk Man looks At The
Thistle in 1926. A year earlier his poem Sangshaw had started a
literary revolution. In Montrose MacDiarmid honed all of his skills and
matured as a poet. He left the town in 1929 to take up a post in
London. Before he left he burned all of his letters and papers in a
bonfire outside his council house on Links Avenue.
41
LOLA MONTEZ - UNCROWNED QUEEN OF BAVARIA
Irish born Maria Dolores Eliza Rosanna Gilbert, or Lola Montez, had
a brief but memorable connection to her stepfather’s hometown of
Montrose. In later life she became notorious as an actress and mistress
of King Ludwig of Bavaria but when she was about 8-years-old she
was sent to Montrose to be educated. She only stayed for only eight
months. Lola was rebellious and chafed against the restraints of life in
a small burgh. According to local legend, she scandalised the
Montrosians by running out of Holly House naked and into the High
Street. Her grandfather, Provost John Craigie, was horrified and sent
her away. She returned to Montrose only once, after she had become
notorious as the King of Bavaria’s mistress. She admitted that
Montrose was a lovely town but that she didn’t like the people.
Lola had been born in Limerick but lived in India with her widowed
mother and her new husband Captain John Craigie of the Indian
Army, son of Provost Craigie of Montrose.
After her husband deserted her, Lola embarked on a stage career
that took her all over Europe. In Bavaria Lola was created the
Countess of Landesfield by King Ludwig, over whom she exerted such
a great influence that she was dubbed the uncrowned queen. She lost
everything when the king was overthrown in the revolution of 1848.
For a number of years she continued to make a living by acting,
singing, dancing and lecturing.
Her health broke down and her wealth disappeared. She died in
New York on 17 January 1861, penniless. An old school friend, one
Mrs Buchanan, formerly Miss Thomson of Montrose, took pity on her
and nursed her for the last two months of her life. She is buried in
Greenwood Cemetery, New York.
42
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Personalities
WILLIAM MUDIE JAMIESON PATON
William Paton was born in Broughty Ferry in 1854 and died in
Montrose in 1906.
His father was a mill-owner and after completing his education at St
Andrews, he came to Montrose to manage the Company’s Chapel
Works which he did with considerable ability.
Montrose sport owed much to him, he was prominent in the rugby
club, in golf and in rifle-shooting. He was Captain of the Royal Albert
Golf Club for several years, winner of its Medal competition and in
1904 gifted to Montrose the Mercantile Golf Club.
William Paton was a Director of the Royal Lunatic Asylum, served
on the Harbour Board and commanded the Local Artillery Company.
His generosity is exemplified by his paying for the damage caused
by the fireworks display in 1887, Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee - he
had engaged the man responsible.
He is commemorated by the William Mudie Jamieson Paton park in
the Mid-Links; he had contributed to Provost Scott’s project.
43
PETER PUCCI
Peter Pucci was born in 1883 and died in 1965. He came to Britain
from Italy in 1905 sponsored by Mr Tom Canale who had a
confectioner’s shop in the High Street. In 1910 he married Mr
Canale’s sister, Elizabeth; their first shop was in Laurencekirk and their
six children were born there.
They moved to Montrose, Ferry Street, then to Murray Street,
eventually to No 30 Murray Street.
He was one of the unfortunate immigrants who were interned at the
outbreak of the Second World War - back to Laurencekirk for fourteen
weeks.
Pucci’s are still at 30 Murray Street, long may the Pucci name
continue.
44
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Personalities
PROVOST GEORGE SCOTT
Provost Scott created a lasting legacy for the people of Montrose in
the development of the Mid-Links. He was a native of Kincardineshire
and came to Montrose in 1859 after working in many notable
gardens around Scotland. In 1853 Scott won two medals from the
Edinburgh Horticultural Society for designs of kitchen and flower
gardens. In Montrose Scott took up a career as a wholesale merchant
and later, in 1868, he was elected to the Town Council.
Scott lent his professional knowledge of horticulture to a new town
project: the beautification of the Mid-Links, transforming it from a
disorganised jumble of paths and grass into an elegant garden area.
The Mid-Links Improvement Committee was instituted in 1879 and
the work continued for many years. Scott was elected Provost in 1887
and died in office in 1890. He did not live to see the completion of
his project.
45
PROFESSOR ROBERT SILVER
Robert Silver was born in Montrose in 1913. At only 16 years of age
he went to Glasgow University, graduating in Arts (1932) and Natural
Philosophy (1934).
His interests were many and varied. In his third year at Montrose
Academy, he had a popular dance tune issued in sheet music; he was
also knowledgeable in politics, literature, cinema and fly-fishing.
Following graduation he worked in industry, notably with ICI, G&J
Weir and John Brown, until 1962. Higher degrees were awarded
during this time.
He left industry in 1962 to pursue an academic career at the
Heriot-Watt until 1966, returning then to Glasgow University where
he was Professor of Mechanical Engineering until 1979.
He published many works; his textbook on Thermodynamics (1971)
being particularly important but he is best remembered for his work
on desalination which brought him world-wide acclaim and the
Unesco Prize for Science in 1968.
Robert Silver was also a playwright and a poet; The Hert O Scotland
was broadcast and produced for the Edinburgh Festival in 1991.
Robert Silver loved Scotland and Montrose particularly. In
retirement, he moved back to Montrose in 1989, following the death
of his wife, Jean. He died in 1997.
46
WORK
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Work
Businesses come and go and it is regrettable that some of those we show here
have gone. Boat-building, ship-building, flax mills have been replaced by oilrelated activity which has the benefit of keeping engineering alive in the burgh.
Some local businesses still thrive after many years.
Jack Smith, until the mid-80’s, editor of the Montrose Review. Jack
was very well-known in Montrose: he was on the beerie boat (which
carried beer from Montrose to Newcastle) before joining the Review
and was married to Helen Carnegie who had the fashion shop in
John Street.
This wonderful photograph is of Miss Marnie who we think was a
resident of John Street. She is here at work, during the 40’s, in the
Chapel Works, Paton’s Mill - a great study in concentration.
47
Here is Joseph Maiden, the founder of the Harry Maiden business,
outside his old premises in New Wynd. This is a rare example of a
business which is still running. Joseph was born in 1868 and died
in 1945.
The still-room at the Lochside Distillery - another business gone. We
do not know the identity of the gentleman; the year is 1959-60.
48
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Work
Aitchison & Taylor were based in Victoria Bridge with a machine
shop and a foundry. They made components and castings for a variety
of customers. Here we see Bill Godfrey at his lathe. The company was
taken over by Lewis, a shipyard in Aberdeen. Before this it had been
Chae Fitchett’s diary. The last company to use this premises was
Montrose Concrete Products in 1996, and on the day this company
relocated the building was demolished by Guthrie Bros to allow more
show space for cars.
Montrose people at work in the early 60’s. This is included as a
tribute to the Arbuthnott Company and we have a lifeboat here built
of aluminium alloy. Montrose people could build boats - and ships.
49
Barrel Scott and his niece in his shop at 100 High Street. This was a
tobacconist’s and we see them here in the back shop. There is a
mysterious quarter face at the extreme right. The shop closed in the
late 70’s.
People at business in the Old Mart; cattle are being bought and sold.
This is another business which has disappeared, the Mart being burnt
down in the early 90’s. The auctioneer, Hugh Smith, is in the middle of
the photograph.
50
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Work
WW PERT CONSTRUCTION LTD
WW Pert and Co Ltd, Building Contractors was established in 1965
by Bill Pert, WS Ruickbie and Fred Scott. The Company originated
after the demise of R Pert and Sons Ltd and commenced by employing
a number of local tradesmen who had worked extensively with R Pert
around Scotland and the outer Islands.
The Company was initially based at the old brickworks at Pudgeston
on the outskirts of Montrose but shortly after moved to a joinery
workshop and office premises at 86 Baltic Street.
In the early years the company carried out major renovation works
and house modernisations at Craigo Mills and Craigo village.
Residential development plays a significant part in the business; one
of their houses at Hillside being opened by the Queen Mother in the
early 70’s as the 1,000th house built in Scotland under the NHBC
warranty scheme.
In 1989 Bill Pert retired as Managing Director and was succeeded
by his son, Jamie, who introduced a plumbing division and moved the
Company to new premises on Broomfield Industrial Estate in 1998.
The Company changed its name to WW Pert Construction in 2003
and now employs around 60 people, predominantly from Montrose.
WW Pert Construction Ltd is another excellent example of a family
company continuing to flourish in Montrose and the North East with a
wide variety of customers and contracts.
51
CEREMONY
Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Ceremony
Every so often, momentous occasions occur, both national and local. Examples
of these are given in this section and we are fortunate in being able to name
many of those taking part.
The Montrose Pipe Band parades at the opening of the Montrose
Swimming Pool, we think in 1962. Pipe Major John Shepherd can be
seen with his Sergeant’s stripes.
Note the boys in short trousers and the girl drummer with the
tenor drum.
Tree-planting for the Coronation in June, 1953, at Dean’s Green.
Who did the digging? Present are Bailie Mrs Ann Baird,
Mrs JC Cameron, Provost JC Cameron, Town Officer DD Robertson,
PC Charles Johnston and Sgt Hutcheon.
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Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Ceremony
Dignitaries at Dorward House - probably Governors. The urns are
no longer there - where have they gone?
Present are Rev McLauchland, T Lyell and A Middleton.
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Ceremonial Montrose in 1910 - the proclamation of the accession
to the throne of King George V. All the worthies are present, led by
Provost Dr Valentine Stone, reading the official document.
Also present from left to right are Herbert Hall, Bailie (later Provost)
Cuddy Wills; Town Clerk.
This is the unveiling of the memorial to James Mather, Architect,
in Dorward House on 28th November, 1945. James Mather left the
balance of his estate, through his daughter, to Montrose Infirmary,
Montrose Library and Dorward House.
Present from left to right are William Lamb; sculptor,
Bailie Whitson, Bailie Coull, Provost Bailie Birss,
Dean of Guild Cameron.
Proceedings at the Council Chambers in the 1930’s. We do not
know the reason for the cake-cutting - nor what everyone seems to
be very happy about but it might have been King George V’s Silver
Jubilee. Bailie Piggins was known for achieving two Silver Weddings.
Present from left to right are Mrs JG Livingston, Miss Nellie
Drummond, Mrs J Drummond-Smith, Bailie AR Beattie, Mrs JM
Piggins (Alice Young), Mrs Soutar; cutting cake, Mrs Leslie Shewan;
wife of police inspector, Bailie JM Piggins; celebrated silver wedding
twice, Mrs AR Beattie, Provost Hugh H Soutar, Bailie and Mrs DB
Mackay. Part hidden is the Hospitalmaster ES Gardner and Mrs
JM Law.
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Montrose
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ITS PEOPLE
Ceremony
What is the connection between the Duke and Duchess of York and
Southesk School in 1926, the year of the present Queen’s birth? The
Provost is WD Johnston and we can see that three cheers are being
given but we are completely at a loss to understand this - presumably,
though, the Duchess has just been given a bouquet. What we do
know is that there were two gentlemen named William Douglas
Johnston who were Provost. William Douglas Johnston junior, in the
photograph, was Provost from 1925 until 1931.
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