Cairneyhill People and History

A Cairneyhill Journalist

FALKIRK HERALD, FRIDAY 30TH OCTOBER 1987

DEATH OF FORMER HERALD JOURNALIST

A former assistant news editor and chief editor of the Falkirk Herald, Mr George Roan, has died in Strathcarron Hospice, Denny.

Mr Roan, who was married with two of a family, had been in indifferent health for a number of years. He lived at 38 Forest View, Polmont.

Born in Cairneyhill, Fife, Mr Roan joined the Falkirk Herald in April 1955 and, following a spell at the newspaper’s Grangemouth office, he was appointed chief reporter of the Herald in August 1957, and transferred to Falkirk.

In November 1966, he was appointed assistant news editor of the newspaper but, less than a year later he was forced to resign because of ill health.

After a period of recuperation, he and his wife, Mollie, took over a store in Grahamsdyke Street, Laurieston, a business the couple ran for a number of years.

He later obtained a job with Lothian Regional Cuncil social work department based at Bathgate where he remained for eight years.

A quiet-spoken Fifer with ready wit and a dry sense of humour, Mr Roan was a popular member of the Falkirk editorial staff and through work and socially, made many friends in Falkirk District by his pleasant manner.

He was an active member of the former Falkirk Toastmasters’ Club and then Falkirk Speakers’ Club. In addition he was a keen angler and also loved to potter about his garden.

Mr Roan was a member of Brightons Church, whose minister, the Reverend Charles Heriot, officiated at the funeral services in the Co-operative Parlour, Kerse Lane, Falkirk, and later at Grandsable Cemetery, Polmont.

He is survived by his wife Mollie, a married son, William, and an unmarried daughter, Dorothy.

Career of Rev Bob Henderson

SOUTHERN REPORTER, THURSDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 1984

HOSPITAL’S STAFF AND PATIENTS BID CHAPLAIN FAREWELL

Patients and staff at Dingleton Hospital, Melrose said their farewells last Thursday to their chaplain for the past eight years, the Rev Bob Henderson.

And to mark their appreciation, Hospital Administrator Mr Tom Skinner, presented the Rev Henderson with an engraved carriage clock.

‘The Rev Henderson came to the borders in 1973 and has been chaplain here for eight years’ he said, ‘and during that time he has been coming to visit us on a regular basis.’

‘He joined us having done war service and worked all over Scotland’ Mr Skinner continued, ‘and we will certainly miss him, as over the years, he has built up such good relations with our patients’.

In thanking everyone for the gift, the Rev Henderson said: ‘There is not much to be said for parting, although it is nice to hear that people are going to miss you.’

‘I have greatly enjoyed my time here, and I must thank Melrose and the Hospital Board for making my work so fruitful and happy.’

The Rev Henderson (58), has spent 11 years in Melrose as minister of St Cuthbert’s Church, and leaves on February 14 to take up a new post at Cairneyhill/Limekilns in Fife.

The Rev Kenneth Thomson from Newtown St Boswells, has been appointed temporarily to the hospital.

During his time in the Borders, the Rev Henderson has been actively involved in a number of organisations including Melrose Festival, Melrose R.F.C., the Rotary Club, the Army Cadets and the Historical Association, and is well known in the area as an after-dinner speaker.

Rev Henderson’s wife, Charlotte, is also involved with the church as chaplain at Saughton Prison.

Death in Cairneyhill

GLASGOW COURIER, SATURDAY 6TH MAY 1848

WILLS

The late Sir John Halkett, Bart., of Pitfirrane, Fifeshire, in North Britain, son of the late Admiral Sir Peter Halkett, Bart., has devised his estates in Scotland and England, as are not entailed, with the estate of Pitfirrane, to his eldest son, Sir Peter Arthur Halkett, Bart., and the feus in the villages of Crossford and Cairneyhill, acquired either through succession or purchase, and the townslands and barony of Earltown, Walltown, Houghhead, Spencerfield, Yarrelside, and Fawns; and has settled £15,000 upon younger children; and, £15,000, part of a sum of £25,000, to Lady Halkett, his relict, together with other property; all other property to be equally divided between Lady Halkett and her children; and bequeaths to Lady Halkett the furniture at Pitfirrane, and all books in which he has written her name, and the pictures which were brought by him to Pitfirrane House upon his succession to the estate, as well as those purchased since, and his carriages, horses, wine, and such plate as she may select for her use, besides that which had belonged to her; and, after satisfying all claims, the estates, whether in England, Scotland, or elsewhere, subject as aforesaid, are left to Sir Peter Arthur Halkett, Bart..

The will is made in the Scotch form, dated 15th of March, 1842, with three codicils, in 1843, 1845, and 1846. Sir John died at Southampton, on the 4th of August last, and the dispositions were registered at Edinburgh on the 9th of the same month, and were proved in London on the 12th of April, by the relict, Lady Amelia Hood Halkett, formerly Conway, the executrix; a power reserved to Captain the Hon. Arthur Duncombe, R.N., Major Thomas Sydenham Conway, C.B., and Lieutenant Hector Loring, R.N., the trustees and executors. This Scotch Baronetcy was created in 1671, by Charles II.

DUNDEE COURIER, FRIDAY 25TH DECEMBER 1914

CAIRNEYHILL PRIVATE KILLED IN ACTION

Private Charles Lockhart, of the Gordon Highlanders, who belongs to the village of Cairneyhill, near Dunfermline, has been killed in action.

He was 23 years of age, and had been in the army for 2 1/2 years.

DUNDEE EVENING TELEGRAPH, THURSDAY 21ST MARCH 1940

MINISTER’S WIFE LAID TO REST

The remains of Mrs William Forbes, wife of Rev. William Forbes, Cairneyhill, and joint clerk of Dunfermline and Kinross Presbytery, were interred to-day in Torryburn Cemetery.

Mrs Forbes, who was 65 years of age, had been ailing for a long time. She is survived by her husband and three sons.

Cairneyhill Property

DUNFERMLINE PRESS, THURSDAY 25TH AUGUST 1859

PROPERTIES FOR SALE IN CAIRNEYHILL AND CROSSFORD

To be sold by private bargain, the following properties, which belonged to the deceased John Henderson, weaver, Cairneyhill.

1st, that dwelling-house and shop, with stable, lying on the south side of the Turnpike Road, in the village of Cairneyhill, with garden behind, all as lately occupied by the said John Henderson.

2d, these two dwelling-houses, with byre, and garden, and ground behind, lying on the east side of the Turnpike Road leading south from the village of Crossford.

For particulars apply to James McFarlane, Writer, Dunfermline, who is in possession of the title-deeds, and will receive offers.

Dunfermline, August 24, 1859

DUNFERMLINE SATURDAY PRESS, SATURDAY 27TH MARCH 1880

CAIRNEYHILL

To let, a house in Cairneyhill, with 24 falls of ground. Yearly rent, £3.

Apply at 99 Pittencrieff Street.

CAIRNEYHILL – HOUSE TO LET

Self contained house, of six apartments and scullery, with garden ground. Rent moderate.

Apply at 8 Bridge Street, Dunfermline; or to Joseph Howieson, Cairneyhill.

Soiree in Cairneyhill

FIFESHIRE JOURNAL, THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 1857

CAIRNEYHILL – SOIREE.

A soiree took place at Cairneyhill on Friday evening, 6th inst. – the Rev John More in the chair; but being obliged to retire early, Mr John Bruce took his place.

Addresses were delivered by Mr Ross, teacher, who spoke on ‘Education’; Mr P C Duncanson took ‘Industry’ for his subject; and Mr McLeish took the word ‘No!’ for his text, which, he showed, for want of moral courage to utter it, was the cause of much misery to many.

The evening was enlivened by several excellent songs from Miss Janet Cook, Mr J L Miller, and Mr Gillett, of Dunfermline. Miss Cook is a singer of great promise, and, with a little practice, is likely to rival some of our prima donnas. Mr J L Miller gave a short history of the ‘Marseillaise Hymn’, in addition to his singing. Whatever this gentleman tries, either speaking or singing, is sure to be a master-piece. In bringing forcibly before his audience the effects which the singing of this piece had upon the French people, he seemed an impersonation of the god of war himself. Mr Gillett accompanied the songs on the harmonium, and sang some songs. Mr Hutcheson, the new precentor, and some others, sang several songs.

The Committee are entitled to thanks for their excellent arrangements. The evening was spent most happily, and the school was well filled, which will realise a good sum for prizes to the scholars – the chief subject for which the meeting was got up.

Music in Cairneyhill

FIFESHIRE JOURNAL, THURSDAY 28TH JANUARY 1851

NEW MUSIC

We have seen a song entitled ‘Break! Break! Break!’ the music composed by Miss Jane More, of the Ladies Seminary, Cairneyhill. The words by Alfred Tennyson, published by permission. The melody is very expressive, and beautifully adapted to the poetry. Amateurs allow that the piano accompaniment is very effective and displays great taste. The song is illustrated by a pictorial sea scene, drawn by the author, on stone, from a design by J Noel Paton, Esq, to whom the song is dedicated.

ST. ANDREWS CITIZEN, SATURDAY 27TH JUNE 1874

DUNFERMLINE – PRESENTATION

The Cairneyhill Musical Association met in the school-room at Cairneyhill, on the evening of Friday, 19th instant, when Mr J Keir presided, and Mr David Wilson, of Rimmelton Farm, presented Mr Wm Hutchison, leader of psalmody in Gillespie U.P. Church, their conductor, with a purse of sovereigns as a mark of their esteem. Mr Hutchison thanked them in an appropriate manner for their kindness. This society has been in practice for the past six months, and has made great progress in musical culture. The evening was afterwards spent very happily. Songs and sentiment prevailed. Miss Wilson’s rendering of ‘Edinboro Toon’ drew forth a hearty encore.

Icy Road Conditions

Dear blog reader

Two personal coincidences appeal to me in this story: John Kewley lived extremely close to where my current flat is and he skidded just west of my first school ….

Best wishes

Jacqueline

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

EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS – MONDAY 5TH DECEMBER 1949

CAR OVERTURNED AFTER SKID

Two accidents in quick succession resulted from the icy road conditions on the Cairneyhill-Crossford road, near Dunfermline, this morning.

John C Kewley (33), electrical engineer’s agent, residing at 15 Victoria Terrace, Dunfermline, is in Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital with shoulder injuries sustained when the car he was driving developed a skid just west of the Crossford School, mounted the embankment, overturned, and rolled over several times. Kewley was found on the embankment a few yards from the car. The vehicle was extensively damaged.

A few minutes later a lorry and a dust-cart were in a collision a short distance away. No one was injured.

Royal Navy Armament Depot

Dear blog reader

A bit of self-indulgence this week as there’s not often anything about the Royal Navy Armament Depot which was very close to Cairneyhill and I recently spotted something interesting.

Jacqueline

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

EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS, MONDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 1948

VACANCIES, STOREHOUSE, AND LABORATORY BOYS, R.N. ARMAMENT DEPOT, CROMBIE

Vacancies for storehouse and laboratory boys exist at R.N. Armament Depot, Crombie; Entrance will be by short examination to be held early December 1948; Boys entered will be trained up to age of 20 in all aspects of storage and supply of ammunition to H.M. Ships, or work in connection with repair and examination of such ammunition; after training, there will be ample opportunity for volunteering for service in many interesting parts of the world where H.M. Ships are based; there are good prospects of future promotion to higher grades.

Write for full details to Superintending Armament Supply Officer, R.N. Armament Depot, Cairneyhill, Crombie, Dunfermline.

Cairneyhill Court Appearance

FIFE HERALD – THURSDAY 13TH OCTOBER 1859

DUNFERMLINE: SHERIFF COURT

On Tuesday, Elizabeth McAninie was charged with a breach of the peace, having, on Saturday the 8th current, broken a pane, or tow panes, of glass in the window of a public house in Cairneyhill, kept by Mr McPherson, and had likewise acted in a riotous manner at the door of said public house.

The prisoner hesitated for a time, whether to plead guilty or not. She had got great provocation. This was the first time she been brought up, and she hoped they would be merciful to her. At last she pled guilty, and Mr Aw. Beveridge explained that the prisoner had been shoved to the door by the publican’s wife, while her husband, who was very drunk at the time, was kept in within and supplied with whisky, and that, in her endeavours to get him out, she had thrust her arm through a pain of the window by mere accident. Since that time her husband had left her, and she had not a farthing in the world to pay a fine with.

Sentence – imprisonment for 24 hours.

Philanthropy in Cairneyhill

DUNDEE COURIER, WEDNESDAY 20TH DECEMBER 1871

DUNFERMLINE: LIBERALITY.

Sir A P Halkett has given instructions to Mr P Thomson, factor on Pitfirrane estate, to ascertain the deserving poor in the villages of Crossford and Cairneyhill, with the view of giving each a cart-load of coals.

DUNFERMLINE JOURNAL, SATURDAY 1ST JANUARY 1887

CAIRNEYHILL: SEASONABLE BENEVOLENCE

Santa Claus has this week been exceedingly kind to the poor of Cairneyhill. Through the kindness of Sir Arthur Halkett, Bart, of Pitfirrane, Mr Dalgleish of Keavil, and Mr Hodge, draper, Glasgow (late of Cairneyhill), the poor have been supplied with a quantity of coals, numerous articles of warm clothing, and some New Year provisions. A sum of money has also been placed in the hands of Rev Mr Moir for distribution among the poor by Sir Arthur.