[Edinburgh Evening News 15 May 1897]
When the solicitors’ firm of Thomas Blair & son closed in Dunfermline in 2016, it was reported as one of the oldest Fife firms in existence, having started in 1840.
The firm was started by a Cairneyhill man, Thomas Blair (pictured above) born in 1822 in Cairneyhill to Andrew Blair and Isabella Wilson.
The report of Thomas’ death tells a lot about his career and interests:
Death of an ex-Baillie – Dundee Courier 13 May 1897
‘Mr Thomas Blair, solicitor, died yesterday morning at his residence in Viewfield Place. The deceased, who was a native of the neighbouring village of Cairneyhill, was a well-known public man, having been a member of the Dunfermline Town Council for the long period of twenty-five years. For a considerable part of that time Mr Blair was a burgh treasurer and after a magistrate. The deceased, who was seventy-four years of age, leaves a widow and family.’
Thomas Blair is buried with his family in Cairneyhill graveyard:
Cairneyhill People and History 