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Friends of Crieff Cemetery, Ford Road, Crieff (2026)

16/06/2026

Roundelwood will be another of Crieff’s buildings that will be familiar to local residents.

The building was originally built in 1885 by Glaswegian architects Honeyman and Keppie, for retired merchant William Millar.

Originally from Airdrie, William came to Crieff after attending university to work with his uncle John Millar at his draper’s business in the High Street.

In 1932, David MacBrayne, of the MacBrayne shipping family who owned Caledonian
MacBrayne (also known as Cal-Mac), bought the house. In keeping with the buildings history MacBrayne retained Honeyman & Keppie to add further rooms to the house.

In 1945, a very prominent doctor created a nursing home in the property lodge, a first for Crieff, specialising in end-of-life care.

Dr Gertrude Brown’s history can be traced back to her education at eleven years old when she
and her family moved from Essex to London, where her mother and sisters converted to
Seventh-Day-Adventism.

Gretrude herself, although originally resistant to her family’s new faith, adopted these beliefs and was baptized at 14 years old.

After failing to secure a scholarship at a prestigeous school in the West End of London in 1893, she was accepted at another school and graduated two years later, despite battling chronic health problems.

Moving to work at the Basel Sanitorium in Switzerland, it was at this time she met Dr John Harvey Kellogg, co-inventor of the breakfast staple cornflakes.

Kellogg invited Gertrude to work at his Battle Creek Sanitorium, which was fullfiled 26 years
later to which she became Matron in 1922.
Her husband Ted, whom she married in 1906, joined her eventually at Kellogg’s establishment in Michigan U.S.A, famed for unorthodox health treatments and water therapies.

The couple florished at Battle Creek while taking medical study, and would eventually take their medical knowledge to Crieff, when they bought the lodge at Roundelwood, naming it Akaroa.

Their nursing home eventually evolved into a health centre for the town, perhaps another first for Crieff preceding the purpose-built one created in 1970 in King Street?

Ted died in 1966 with ill-health, and the following year the British Union Conference took over Akaroa, Gertrude continuing to serve as director.

Upon her death in 1974, Dr Brown gifted her health centre to the Seventh Day Adventist Church who was to continue her work under the auspices of the Good Health Association. The Castle itself continued to stay in the hands of the MacBrayne family as the link passed from David MacBrayne to Lady MacBrayne, who lived in the house until the late 1970s when it was purchased by the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

The Church chose to operate both the Castle House and the Lodge together as Roundelwood Health Spa whose existence in the town of Crieff continued until December 2007.

Having worked until the age of 93 upon her death, Dr Brown was one of the longest serving medical practitioners in the United Kingdom.

Gretrude was laid to rest beside her beloved Ted in Crieff Cemetery in 1974.

Sources:
British Newspaper Archive
British Education.org.uk
Knock Castle Hotel & Spa
Historic Enviroment Scotland
Encylopedia of Seventh Day Adventists

14/06/2026

Balgowan Sawmill near Madderty will resonate with many Strathearn residents, as will the
McAinsh Family who owned the mill in past times.

Thomas McAinsh is memorialised on the featured headstone in Crieff Cemetery, and his family created one of the biggest saw mill and timber trading conglomerates in Scotland in the 1920’s, with sawmills in Dundee, Findogask, Tibbermore and “The Highlandman” near Crieff.

In a Courier article titled “Boxes for the Troops” in 2017, Harry Dye wrote:

“McAinsh of Crieff, established by Thomas’s father Peter McAinsh, would buy timber rights
throughout Scotland and further afield, but most notably in Perthshire at locations such as Loch Earn. Sometimes as part of the ‘timber deal’, properties would also be purchased but they were not really interested in them – only in the timber.”

“Really busy times for the timber and boxmaking industries were leading up to and during the war years when prodigious numbers of all types of boxes were made for the troops and munitions industry.”

The Langlands and McAinsh Sawmill in Dundee specialised in making crates and boxes for aerated water manufacturers, distillers, shipping companies and many other industries.

Such was the size and magnitude of their associated companies, they had influence where and when forests and woodlands would be planted, and the Balgowan mill was able to produce hardwood fence panels and flooring with imported timber straight off rail carriages, as the mill was located on the Crieff to Perth line.

Thomas McAinsh died at Hawkshaw Cottage in Comrie Road in 1944, leaving £111,343 in his
estate, adjusted for average inflation would render an amount of approximately £6 million
pounds in today’s money, proving the timber industry very lucrative.

Sources:
British Newspaper Archive
www.forestrymemories.org.uk
Historic Enviroment Scotland
The Courier

13/06/2026

This week we are remembering a Crieff minister who was involved in the many battles preceeding the Dunkirk evacuations of World War Two.

The Reverend Theodore Douglas Emslie was chaplain to the British Expeditionary Forces when they were mobilised to France in September of 1939 after Germany declared war and began their advances and occupations in Northern Europe.

Attached to the 51st Highland Division, the Reverend succumed to wounds after the Battle of St Valery.

During the battle, the division were cut off by the advancing German forces denying them the chance to evacuate to Dunkirk, and were ordered to surrender.

10,000 of the 51st that survived were taken prisoners of war.

Although the evacuations at Dunkirk were deemed succesful, Prime Minister Winston Churchill cautioned; "Wars are not won by evacuations."

After the 51st Highland Division were re-constituted for the D-Day invasions, they liberated the town Valery-en-Caux on 1st September 1944 four years after their initial defeat.

Theodore is buried at the nearby British-Franco cemetery.

Photo courtesy of Associations of Scottish Military Museums.

10/06/2026

After very frequent blustery showers during the day, the weather settled down this evening for some more weeding of the cemetery entrance.

Thank you also to the Bereavement Service Team for their repair of the pillar at the boundary wall, you have done a fab job! 💪

FoCC. Xx.

09/06/2026

The inscription reads:

In loving memory of Andrew Campbell M.A.
Died 8th August 1938
for 43 years minister of
St. Michael's Parish Church Crieff
And of his wife
Frances Maitland Dorothea
Only daughter of
Sir Colin George MacRae
Died 6th June 1949

Born in the village of Catrine, Ayrshire, Andrew Campbell and his parents later moved to Balfron in Stirlingshire where he was educated at the Parish School.

Attaining an Orr Ewing Bursary which enabled him to enter Glasgow University to begin divinity classes, he completed his courses with excellence.

Marrying Frances, the only daughter of prominent Edinburgh lawyer Sir Colin MacRae, Andrew settled into his role of Minister at St. Michael’s Parish Church in Crieff.

Within the church there is a stained-glass window dedicated to the Reverend and his 43 years of service to the congregation.

Andrew also saw service in the Great War as chaplain, and published Crieff in the Great War, a comprehensive 279-page historical account of the town's involvement in the First World War.

On the 31st August 1915 while stationed at a re-inforcement camp in Rouen in the rear-guard of the frontlines in France, Andrew sent a letter to The Strathearn Herald, the letter reads as
follows:

An Appeal, (to the Editor of “The Strathearn Herald”) 3rd Infantry Base Depot, Rouen, France
31st August 1915.

SIR- I shall be such obliged if you will allow me, through the medium of your widely read
newspaper, to make an appeal on behalf of the soldiers among whom I work with here. I have
been posted as a chaplain to the Re-enforcement Camps at Rouen.

I need not detail the different duties that I am expected to perform. There is, however, a branch of work which I wish to bring specially before your readers. When soldiers of any of our Scottish regiments are send up from the camp to the fighting line, I am always notified of the fact, and I make a point of going down to the station to see them off.

Once they are entrained, I get into their compartments and say a few words of good cheer to them. My predecessor used to give each of them a little packet of ci******es or to***co, which had been sent to him for that purpose by friends in Scotland, and as I know how highly that the soldiers value the little gift, I am eager that the practice should be continued.

I cannot expect that all that sent to him will continue sending to me (although several are doing so). And so I venture to appeal to the readers of your paper to help me. I know how well the people of Perthshire have responded to the claims made upon them since the outbreak of the war, but I hope they will not look on this appeal I make as a burden.

The ci******es that the men seem to
appreciate most are the “Wild Woodbine.” They are made up in little penny packets of five, and
can be purchased in small boxes containing fifty packs. Their favorite to***co is the ordinary black to***co. I also put into the carriages plenty of literature, so that newpapers or magazines that may be sent will be welcome.

But, indeed, any little gift is welcomed by the men- little packets of fruit-raisins & dates etc, which they can divide amongst themselves, are greatly appreciated.

The Church of England chaplains attend to the English regiments; I look after the Scottish
regiments. And as this letter is only for the eyes of Scotsmen, I may say I always feel I have the best of it when I see the men with their kilts come marching into the station to the stirring music of the bagpipes.

I am not permitted to say which regiments I come into contact with. The other day I was told so many men belonging to a regiment in which I feel a special interest were entrained.

They all happened to be in the corridor carriage, and when I entered the carriage I shouted out- “Any men from Strathearn here?” “No,” was the reply; “but that’s a fine view you hae frae the Knock o Crieff”; where upon memories of holidays spent there in the third week of July brought forth cheers for Crieff, and they were rewarded for their enthusiasm by receiving a double supply of ci******es and to***co.

I am struck by the excellent spirit displayed by all the men. They all seem eager to take their
place in the fighting-line, and as the train moves off and smiling faces beam upon you from the carriage windows, the thought that is uppermost is these men are worthy of all the kindness that can be shown them.

I shall gladly aknowledge any parcels that may be sent to me to the above address- I am yours faithfully.

ANDREW CAMPBELL.

Sources:
British Newspaper Archive
Nancy Johnston

05/06/2026

*Message from the Chair*

As we mark Volunteers’ Week 2026, it’s a perfect opportunity to reflect on how far our group has come.

One of my roles as Chair is to log all volunteer hours, and to date, that total stands at an incredible 906 hours.

While these hours can be counted in a practical sense, I certainly don’t see them as just numbers, a commodity, or something to be accumulated.

Instead, I see them for what they truly are:
a gift from the community, for the community.

To every single person who has been involved with our group past, present and future,
thank you.

You have been, and always will be, the inspiration that keeps this going.

Well done!!!!!
Mark
Chair, FoCC. Xx.

31/05/2026

The inscription reads:

Sacred to the memory of
George Irvine
Private Gordon Highlanders
Who fell in action in France
15th June 1918
Aged 19 years
Caroline Irvine
Died 13th April 1925 aged 33
Their father James Irvine
Died 16th February 1927
Aged 62
And their mother
Caroline Lyall Clark
Died 22nd December 1937
Aged 74
Jeanie Irvine
Died 9th August 1954
Aged 69 years
And their eldest son
James Irvine
Died 26th April 1958
Aged 64 years

George Irvine was born to James and Caroline Irvine of Hazelwood Cottage, James Square in
Crieff, and before enlisting for the Great War he was employed as a postman with the Crieff Post Office.

He was posthumously awarded the Military Medal for his actions at the Battle of the Lys, where his battalion, the 1st Gordon Highlanders, part of the 51st Highland Division were dug in during a defensive battle with the German 6th Army.

The objective of the German forces was to push back the Allied lines and flank them to cut off re-supply lines and potential evacuation routes back to the English Channel.

This was part of the German Spring Offensive of 1918, and the Gordon Highlanders had endured a four and a half hour artillery barage before the 6th Army advanced on their positions.

The offensive was eventually called off as the German forces suffered horrendous casualties.

George has no citation for his Military Medal, as there are conflicting accounts of his actions that earned him the award. This is unfortunately common as the nature of warfare is confusing and accounts can vary, but
certainly does not deminish the bravery and sacrifice of those personel involved.

James and Caroline received George’s medal on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle by
Lieutenant-General Sir F. W. N. McCraken K.S.B.

His family inserted verses into the newspaper notification of his death that were commonly
used in obituaries of the Fallen in the First World War, the verses follow:

“Though buried in a distant grave,
Amidst the shot and shell,
For country’s sake his life he gave,
He stood his trials well.”

We little thought when he left home,
That he would no more return,
He slumbers now in a soldier’s grave,
And we are left to mourn.”

George is remembered at the Loos Memorial in the Pas de Calais, St Michael’s Parish Church
and the Crieff War Memorial.

He was only 19 years old.

Sources:
Crieff Remembers
British Newspaper Archive
Gordon Highlanders Museum

29/05/2026

The inscription of the headstone reads:

In memoriam
James Wilson
For 25 years Professor of
English Literature
In the General Assembly's Institution
Calcutta
Born at Glasgow 2nd Sep 1836
Died at Tighnabruaich
7th Sep 1894
His daughters
Bessie Hester Katherine
Born at Crieff
24th June 1870
Died at Helensburgh
27th Dec 1871
Mary Edith
Born in Calcutta
12th Jan 1869
Died at Crieff 3rd April 1890
His wife
Katherine B. MacGregor
Born at Coatbridge
3rd May 1840
Died at Edinburgh 31st Aug 1900

Preaching from the pulpit in St Michael’s Church, the Reverend Paterson spoke at length of the recently deceased James Wilson, elder and Sunday School teacher of the Parish.

Of the muliple plaudits given to James from the Reverend that was most notable was James’s Sunday School "responsibilities which were only reluctantly laid down when the hand of death came upon him."

Originally from Glasgow, James entered Christian missionary teaching and achieved a 25 year tenure beginning in 1862 at the General Assembly’s Institution in Calcutta.

The Institution had been established in 1830 by Dr Alexander Duff, the first overseas missionary teacher commissioned by the Church of Scotland.

As referenced in the eulogy given in St Michael's in Crieff, James excelled with his teaching career in Calcutta.

He was also connected to the literary culture of his time.

A newspaper clip indicates that he presided over a literary association event at which William Frost, founder of Ardvreck School, delivered a lecture on The Colour of Animals, a work by Sir Edward Bagnall Poulton published in 1890.

This detail hints at an active intellectual and cultural life in the Crieff area during the late nineteenth century, and raises intriguing questions about the existence and nature of local literary societies during this period.

Please comment below if you know of any such societies or associations in Crieff's past?

FoCC. Xx.

Sources:
British Newspaper Archives
Free Church of Scotland

25/05/2026

The inscription of the headstone reads:

Erected by John McGregor
Slater Dunblane
In loving memory of his wife
Margaret Millar
Who died 10th Dec 1930
Aged 69
The above John McGregor
Who died 18th March 1936
Aged 73
And their daughter
Helen Clarke Douglas
Who died 21st Oct 1975
Aged 86
And her husband
C.S.M Robert M.Douglas
Who died of wounds 6th May 1918
Buried at Arras

John McGregor and Margaret Miller were married in Crieff in 1887. John originally from
Gilmerton, and Margaret from Crieff.

John’s obituary lists that he worked for Messrs P & P William Slaters of Dunblane, later to
become self employed.

He died of pneumonia in 1936, to which many other cases had been reported in the town at that time.

John’s son-in-law Robert held the rank of Company Sergeant Major with the 9th Black Watch, who died of wounds and is buried at Arras in France.

Robert served along side the Indian Contingent as part of the Indian Expeditionary Force who
arrived in France in 1914.

The Indian Expedititionary Force were comprised of the The Indian Army who supported the Allies to counter the German advances at the Western Front.

The 9th Black Watch, a Perth raised battalion, had so many casualties from the 1918 Spring
Offensive that they had been reduced to a cadre strength, which was typically around 10
officers and non-commissioned officers and 45 men of other ranks, and subsequently amalgamated with other units.

Sources:
Scotland’s People
British Newspaper Archive
The Red Hackle

23/05/2026

The inscription reads:

Sacred of the memory of
Bessie S. Scott
The beloved wife of
The Rev. J. F. MacHardy
Born at Banff 14th Sep 1862
Died 25th Jan 1896
Also Agnes Duff Scott
Died 15th April 1905
The above Rev. J. F. MacHardy
Died 13th May 1916
Interred at Kinnettles Forfar
And his son
David
Killed in Action 1st July 1916
James
Elder son
Died 25th May 1967

As the minister for Crieff Congregational Church during the period of 1884 to 1896, the
Reverend James Farquhar MacHardy’s last sermon in Crieff was met with sadness and regret, not only from himself, but also the congregation such was the reverence he was held in throughout the community.

Moving on to Kinnettles Church near Forfar becoming the minister there, his health declined years later and suddenly died on 13th May 1916.

Only a matter of weeks later, his son David was killed in action on 1st July during the inititial
Somme Offensive.

David was born in Crieff, but later schooled at Forfar Academy and would eventually work for the Dundee Electricity Company.

Enlisting with the City of Dundee Royal Engineers a month after the Great War broke out, he was mobilised to the front, later to receive a commision of 2nd Lieutenant with the 16th Battalion Highland Light Infantry.

David’s elder brother James, similarly worked with the Dundee Electric Company, and joined the Mechanical Transport Corp.

James survived the war passing away naturally in 1967 at his home in Leaverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire.

By contrast, David died on the bloodiest day in the British Army’s history, along with 19,240
other service personnel at the First Battle of The Somme at Picardy in France.

He was only 20 years old.

Sources:
British Newspaper Archive

Friends of Crieff Cemetery

16/06/2026

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