Robert Herron receives his Knighthood

THE DUNFERMLINE SATURDAY PRESS, AUGUST 27, 1887

A PROSPEROUS CAREER

A fortnight ago we stated that Mr Robert Herron, a native of Cairneyhill, was one of those who had been selected by the Queen for the honour of Knighthood, and we are pleased to observe that on Tuesday this week the honour was formally conferred by His Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, at the Viceregal Lodge.

Sir Robert Herron is the third and last surviving son of the late Robert Herron, Cairneyhill. On completing his education at the Dunfermline High School, he left for Ireland, and at the age of seventeen commenced a business training in the firm of Alexander Findlater & Co, Kingstown. Sir Robert has been a member to the Kingstown Township Board since 1869, and became chairman for the first time ten years afterwards, being appointed justice of the peace same year.

Sir Robert Herron

Re-elected chairman in 1880, he filled the chair when the new Town Hall was opened, on which occasion he invited Earl Cowper, then Lord Lieutenant, to perform the opening ceremony. Sir Robert’s arrangements were of a very elaborate character, and the banquet and ball which he gave – at which nearly a thousand guests were present – reflected great credit on the township. It was generally believed that he would receive the accolade, but that morning a telegram was received by Earl Cowper announcing his mother’s death, and he was unable to go to Kingstown.

At the close of that year Sir Robert was presented with a magnificent service of plate, valued at £300, and was entertained at a banquet. He was again elected chairman in 1883, and the honour was repeated at the beginning of the present year. Sir Robert’s wife died four years ago, and he lost his only son just three months since. Sir Robert is a Presbyterian, and has been hon. treasurer of that body for 21 years. He qualifies as an ex officio guardian of the Rathdown Union out of his Kingstown property, and for the same position in the South Dublin Union out of his property in the city. He has large bakery and flour establishments in Dublin, Kingstown, and Rathmines. In politics Sir Robert is a progressive Conservative – more popularly called a democratic Tory – but he is very popular with all sections of the people.

It may interest the members of the ‘Craft’ in Dunfermline and West Fife, that Sir Robert also takes a lively interest in all that concerns the progress and prosperity of Free Masonry. He was some time ago appointed as representative from Washington, USA, to the Grand Lodge of Ireland. He is also a Grand Officer of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Ireland, and Grand Warden of the Northern Counties.

Sir Robert has been kind enough to forward to us a most striking and highly artistic cabinet likeness of himself in Court costume; and certainly the man does no discredit to the portrait as a work of art.

Cairneyhill Railway

Dear blog reader

I hope you enjoy this ‘two for the price of one’ – 2 separate articles about the railway at Cairneyhill.

Jacqueline

*********************************

PERTHSHIRE ADVERTISER, MARCH 5, 1932

COUNTY NEWS OF THE WEEK: BRIDGE OF EARN

RAILWAY CHANGE

Owing to the retiral of Mr Alexander Young, stationmaster, at the end of the month Mr Dower, stationmaster, Torryburn, Cairneyhill and Culross, has been appointed in his stead.

Cairneyhill Railway Station

THE COURIER AND ADVERTISER, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1938

FIFE RAILWAYMAN KILLED BY TRAIN: RUN OVER WHEN OILING POINTS

A Cairneyhill railway surfaceman, David Morgan (52), Mansion House Buildings, was killed at Valleyfield, near Dunfermline, yesterday, when he was struck by a mineral train.

The accident occurred in the neighbourhood of Valleyfield Colliery. Morgan had been oiling the railway points.

It is understood no-one saw the accident, but it appears Morgan was run over by waggons during shunting operations.

Tragic Weaver’s Wife

THE DUNDEE COURIER & ARGUS, SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1872

DUNFERMLINE

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

On Tuesday afternoon, Louisa Balfour or Reid, aged 43, wife of John Reid, weaver, Cairneyhill, cut her throat with a razor in the weaver’s shop.

Mrs Reid has been labouring under mental aberration for some weeks past, and has been closely watched in case of doing herself any injury. Her husband had only been out for about five minutes when she committed the act.

Cairneyhill Main Street

A young girl, thirteen years of age, saw her bleeding at the throat, and gave the alarm.

Dr Morris was called in, and sewed up the wound. He gave it as his opinion that the windpipe was slightly cut.

Hay Cart on Fire

EAST OF FIFE RECORD, SEPTEMBER 7, 1906

HAY CART ON FIRE

Excitement was occasioned near Cairneyhill on Saturday by a cart of hay gong on fire.

A cart belonging to Mr Charles Beveridge, farmer, was proceeding along the highway, and when near to Cairneyhill the hay was observed to be on fire.

The Torry burn, Cairneyhill

Before the flames could be extinguished the hay, valued at £3 10, and the cart at £14, were both destroyed.

The fire is supposed to have been caused by a match having been thrown amongst the hay.

Career of a Cairneyhill Policeman

EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1957

NEW INSPECTOR AT DUNFERMLINE

Sergeant James Bell, Dunfermline, who has been 26 years in Fife Constabulary, has been promoted inspector at Dunfermline.

Hilton Lane, Cairneyhill

A native of Montrose, Sergeant Bell joined the Fife Police at Cupar in 1931. He has served at Kelty, Lumphinnans, Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly, Cairneyhill, Methil, Freuchie and Thornton. He was promoted sergeant in 1952 and went to Cupar. He was transferred to Dunfermline in 1955.

Trespass at Muirside

EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS, THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1957

TRESPASSED ON FARM IN SEARCH OF GAME

John M Harley, butcher, 7 Watson Place, Dunfermline, was fined £2 at Dunfermline Sheriff Court today, and Harold L E Mason, caulker, 14 King’s Place, Rosyth, was fined £1.

They admitted trespassing on Muirside Farm, Cairneyhill, in pursuit of game. Harley admitted one previous conviction.

Muirside Lane

It was stated that accused were headed off by a keeper. They had 2 shot guns and 35 cartridges.

Each accused was ordered to pay 13s 9d expenses.

School Presentation

FIFESHIRE JOURNAL, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1846

PROVINCIAL

DUNFERMLINE

PRESENTATION

Mr George Morris, student of Divinity, and teacher of the Subscription School at Cairneyhill, on Christmas last, or on a day about that time, received from his pupils a present of books, in testimony of the respect and esteem in which he is held both by them and their parents.

Cairneyhill Church

The present consisted of ‘Payne’s Lectures on Sovereignty etc’, ‘Baine’s Exposition of the New Testament’ in three volumes, and ‘Gregory’s Evidences, Doctrines, and Duties of the Christian Religion’.

As Mr Morris has not only been faithful in the discharge of his duties as a teacher, but has been peculiarly successful in his arduous work, it is with great pleasure we now notice this mark of the gratitude of his scholars and employers.

A Proposed New Railway

THE STIRLING OBSERVER, AND MIDLAND COUNTIES ADVERTISER – JUNE 3, 1881

DISTRICT INTELLIGENCE

ALLOA

PROPOSED NEW RAILWAY BETWEEN ALLOW AND KIRKCALDY

An endeavour is presently being made to get the Caledonian Railway Company to construct a new line for passenger and goods traffic between Alloa and Kirkcaldy.

Plans have been prepared of the undertaking with a view to their presentation to the railway company, who are said to be favourable to the scheme. Starting in connection with the new bridge at Alloa, the proposed railway will touch en route at Kennetpans, KIncardine, Culross, Cairneyhill, Crossford, Dunfermline, Crossgates and Auchtertool.

Cairneyhill Train Station

The Fife coal-owners are taking considerable interest in the concern, and it is also proposed to construct a 17-acre tidal harbour at Kirkcaldy, and ultimately to continue the railway to Leven should anything like adequate support be given.

The proposed new railway line is not nearly as circuitous as the present North British. In the case of Dunfermline alone, the distance from it to Kirkcaldy will be loosened by 12 miles.

James Morris Biography

THE FIFESHIRE JOURNAL, THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 1887

DUNFERMLINE MEN WHO HAVE RISEN FROM THE RANKS: DR JAMES MORRIS, PARK AVENUE

Of all the learned professions there is none to the student who has ambition within him, and a desire to make a name for himself in the world, no sphere which affords more simple scope for the development of character than that of a physician. The medical faculty live in an atmosphere of their own in the world, and no men or set of men have more opportunities in life of studying human nature in all its phases than medical men.

The round of life of a doctor is daily one of great strain on his mental powers, but the amount of effort made has to him some compensating return. In having to study the force of will, and the variety of temper of his patients, his sympathies were drawn out, and who whole nature drinks in every cardinal virtue that ought to adorn the character of a gentleman.

Indeed, your ordinary doctor ought to have prudence, discrimination, zeal, and all that degree of tact and forethought which is so requisite and essential to those who have to come in between the living and the dead. No men live more for others than our doctors, and no men make more sacrifices than they do. They fear no danger, and shrink no duty, and as a rule they are men of honour, whose highest motive seems to be to do their duty to their patients, and to revive the good name of their high profession.

It is thoughts and facts such as these that bring us face to face today with the subject of this sketch – Dr James Morris of Dunfermline.

The doctor was born in the village of Cairneyhill, which is situated three miles from this town. The village then was in its palmy days. The handloom manufacture of linen and damask goods was the staple industry of the place, and from end to end of the village a good few dozen of the inhabitants found comfortable employment. Then it was that many weavers’ sons came to Dunfermline every morning as shop boys, and Cairneyhill has furnished to the world more drapers, chemists, lawyers, etc than any village which has situated on any of the many reaches of the Forth.

Doctor James Morris

James Morris after receiving a liberal education was sent to Dunfermline, where he became an apprentice chemist with the late Mr Gavin Stiell, whose premises were then at the west end of Bridge Street. If there was one quality more than another that formed part and parcel of Mr Stiell’s character, it was the faculty he possessed of discerning merit and drawing out the ambition of those under him. It was soon seen that the growing chemist had an aim in life., and that he intended to take the tide at its full flood. Mr Stiell gave him every assistance, and after the usual period at college, young Morris secured his diploma and began practice in Dunfermline.

It was not long before he made his mark in the town, and has retained ever since the full confidence of the entire community. The outbreak of cholera gave the inhabitants a special opportunity of knowing of what stuff the young doctor was made. At that time and repeatedly since then the doctor has rendered special services to the town and district. For a long series of years he has been medical doctor for various collieries, and besides being Medical Officer for the Burgh and Police Surgeon, he holds the important post of Parochial Surgeon. In this latter sphere he has rendered important help to the poor all over the town, not only by his gratuitous services, but by rendering with his purse aid to many deserving people. To the inmates of the Dunfermline Poorhouse he has given great attention. His annual gifts and the punctuality of his daily visits to the house all bespeak the noble and busy life he leads.

For a long period the doctor has been an office-bearer in Queen Anne Street Church, and has rendered many services to the Church and congregation. He is president of the Dunfermline Property Investment Society, and holds several other offices in the town. A few years ago the doctor built a splendid mansion on Park Avenue. He has been twice married, and has a large family.

Such then is a somewhat brief sketch of the career of Dr Morris,, of whom the people of Dunfermline ought to be proud. His whole life has been a striking example of what self-reliance and perseverance can do. We have spoken only of the doctor’s public career and with that we might well be done. No spot or flaw marks his life, but to know the full measure and standard of the man, one has to know him privately.

In the home circle, at a friend’s fireside, and even in his many interviews with the dying, one can get a glimpse of the higher qualities which adorn his character, and which are entwined around all his actions. Just praise cannot be flattery, and the writer of these lines knows a few out of the many, who have got ‘a lift’ in life from the doctor, whose career has been honoured by the length of days, which has given him the privilege of showing, to his fellow towns-men, that the good we do here is worth doing well.

Education in Cairneyhill in 1855

THE SCOTTISH PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1855

Wanted for Cairneyhill Village School, a teacher qualified to teach the several branches of a good English education, with Latin and the elements of Greek and Mathematics.

Apply, with certificates of character and qualifications, to Mr F Duncanson, Mason, Cairneyhill, by Dunfermline, previous to the 15th of September.

Cairneyhill Main Street

THE SCOTTISH PRESS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1855

Wanted, by a young lady who has received her education in Mrs More’s seminary, a situation as a nursery governess in a pious family, in which she will endeavour to make herself generally useful.

Apply to Mrs More, Cairneyhill Manse, by Dunfermline.