Deaths
Norah Isobelle Richardson 1927--2010.
Obituary.
Norah was born at Whuphill, in Wigtonshire, on the 2nd of September 1927. She was the second child of Robert and Ellen Little and a little sister for Elizabeth and Sheena.
School days were spent at Dalbeattie Primary and many holidays were spent with their uncles in Garleston.
When she left school, Norah worked in Greys the grocer in Dalbeattie. Greys was an old-fashioned grocer, where butter had to be cut into pats and wrapped in brown paper and sugar had to be weighed and put into pokes. It was at this time Norah met Alexander Little-John McClumpha Richardson. Alec worked with his father on their farm and Norah became a frequent visitor. Norah and Alexander were married in Dalbeattie on the 5th June 1947. They set up home at Greenhill farm and Norah left the shop and threw herself into being a farmers wife. She worked extremely hard. She milked the cows, she reared chickens, she did the accounts, she kept house for Alec and his father, she cooked and baked and baked and cooked.
On the 5th December 1948 Norah gave birth to her first son, Keith Alexander. The family moved to Meiklecloak farm, in Colven Parish, where they continued to farm beef and keep dairy cattle.
On the 25th May 1953, the family were blessed with another little boy, Kenneth, then on a snowy night in March 1958 David McClumpha appeared into the world. Five years later, Norah’s joy was complete when Alan Charles came along.
When the family were grown, Norah loved to go abroad. She loved the warmth of the sun, new places to visit and all the new people she would meet there. Alec and Norah were trail blazers to holidays in the south of Spain long before it was fashionable. They enjoyed the freedom to relax and escape the hard work of the farm.
In 1988, together they made the dramatic decision to move to the East. Norah and Alec came to Upper Samieston, in the Oxnam Valley. Together they planned and built the bungalow, The Beeches. Norah threw herself into Oxnam life. She went to the church, the guild, the rural. She was welcomed and loved by the community.
She fought so gamely to stay. She fought to be here with the ones she loved. When she knew she could fight no longer, she asked God to forgive her and went to be with him and those she loved who had gone before her. She died on her 63rd wedding anniversary.
5th September. 2009.
George Thompson White, Blair Avenue, Jedburgh.
29th June 2009
Rev. William Moffat Drew Thompson, Beech House, Etal.
The Session was greatly saddened to learn of the death of Bill Thompson at the end of June. Bill was Minister in Oxnam for 50 years and even following his retirement to Etal several years ago his heart always remained in the valley. Both Bill and Vida were greatly missed when they left but they remained loyal supporters of the Kirk and local events. They also enjoyed keeping in touch with their many friends in Oxnam.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill’s family and especially Vida. We wish her well as she continues to recover from her fractured leg.
Hugh Fraser, Session Clerk
24 June 2007
Betty Thomson (nee Dodds), formerly Hardenpeel, Jedburgh
30 July 2007
Walter John Dagg, formerly Samieston Farm, Jedburgh
09 August 2007
Win Myers, formerly Oxnam Cottage, Oxnam, Jedburgh
2008.
Mary Marchbanks Henderson, formerly of Cappuck.
Annie Allan, formerly of Marchcleugh.
Elizabeth [Betty] Forster, formerly from Netherwells.
Helen [Nellie] Brown Dodds, formerly of Hardenpeel.
Ena Richardson, formerly of Oxnam Neuk.
Obituaries
George Thomson White
Born on the 27th November 1926, George Thomson White was the second son of Jean and Charlie White and a little brother for Jock. They lived at Woodside when Dod was born, but moved to Lochside and later Loch Tower, just outside Yetholm. Early school days were at Yetholm school but when the family moved to Crailinghall, Dod attended Pleasants and Oxnam schools. Dod’s first job was at Middleknowes working for Danny Taylor, but when Charlie White took Sheilstock Braes Farm, Dod and Jock worked the farm together alongside their father. Dod loved working on the land but for some strange reason never took to Morebattle [of course he was a Yetholm laddie]. On the 21st September 1957 George Thomson White married Mary Elizabeth Queenan in Oxnam Kirk. Bill Thompson married them and Vida played the organ. Their first home was at Crailinghall were Dod was now shepherding. They moved to Oxnam Row then to Pirnie where Dod continued to work as a shepherd and then Hassendean for a few years but wherever home was Dod and Mary were members of Oxnam Kirk and attended regularly. Dod and Mary were very much part of the Oxnam community and supported the Harvest Suppers, the coffee mornings and the goings on. Then came the move to Swinnie Toll where Dod worked for Thomas Johnston and Dod and Thomas and Cathy and Mary became good friends. It was here that Dod discovered a love for gardening and he and Mary worked side by side in the garden making Swinnie a joy to the eye of the traveller on the Bonchester road. Flowers and vegetables filled every inch. The garden was a riot of colour. Dod built himself a greenhouse then another greenhouse then put an extension on the greenhouse. Every spare minute was spent in the garden. Although not a dancer, Dod would sing. He would sing in the garden and sing in the house and sing on the hill. It was with great sadness that Dod moved into the town. He loved to feel the earth under his feet and feel the breeze in the trees. Mary still worked out in Oxnam so Dod would take a hurl up to Oxnam with her and walk the valley while she worked. He would walk all day if he could although now there was no dog at his heel. Twice a week he was back in his heartland in the cathedral of nature. Friends were soon made in the town, but church life was still Oxnam. Latterly, illness brought limitations to Dodd’s enjoyment of life. He was frustrated that he could not walk the length he wanted to walk. He was angry with himself when his mind would not allow him to say the things he was trying to say. He passionately hated being in hospital. He actively hated being parted from Mary. But he never once complained – never once!
WILLIAM MOFFAT DREW THOMPSON
Bill was born in Dundee on Christmas Day 1922. An only child, his mother too was an only child and his father an only son. He spent much time and many holidays in the company of his grandparents, but though often alone, he was never lonely. His early memories, as recounted by Bill to his grandchildren, were of the red hot iron and the hissing water in the blacksmith’s forge, the taste of wild raspberries, guddling for trout in the river, and visits to neighbouring households with their often strange and elderly occupants.
After school in Angus, Bill was enrolled as Kitchener scholar at St. Andrews University in 1941, where he took a degree in Classics three years later, denied an honours degree by the rationing of the war years. One of Bill’s professors was Sir d’Arcy Thompson, a brilliant Greek scholar, naturalist and mathematician, whose book “On Growth and Form” was later described as “the finest work of literature in all the annals of science that have been recorded in the English tongue”. He described Bill as his most able student, with the potential to be the greatest classicist of his generation. Endowed as he was with daughters, he apparently wished Bill had been his own son, and he tried to dissuade him from entering the Church. But Bill had always been clear in his own mind that he wanted to be a minister, and after taking a year out to teach at Strathallan school, he embarked on a course in divinity at St Mary’s College in St. Andrews in 1945.
It was at St. Andrews that Bill met Vida, who was reading history at the university. They were engaged to be married in 1946, after a romantic proposal at midnight at the end of the St. Andrews harbour pier, and they were married in August 1948. Bill then volunteered for a one-year ministry on the remote island of Stronsay in Orkney, and the following year he was assistant minister at St. Giles’s Cathedral in Edinburgh. In 1950 he was inducted to the parish of Oxnam where he ministered for 49 years, adding along the way the parishes of Crailing, Eckford and Roxburgh, with an interlude as temporary minister at St. Andrew’s Church of Scotland in Rome in 1955.
Bill adored Vida above all others. She was his Venus de Milo, with the skilful hands which played the organ for his services over so many years. He was incredibly proud of her, he worshipped her, and she gave him the family of children in which he rejoiced. David, Edward, Jane and Harriet were four much loved and treasured children, throughout their childhood and into their adult lives, followed by fifteen grandchildren, altogether spanning a whole generation from eldest to youngest.
Bill was a family man, tender-hearted, eager to play, fun to be with, a fantastic father. He took his children seriously and was excited by what they were learning. He was ambitious for each one of them, but not for himself. As a family they led a frugal but loving life. Bill was very giving of himself, but always setting a high standard for human behaviour. Christmas was a double celebration and a cause for great excitement. There was ski-ing at Murren, and annual holidays at Achatelisaig between Morar and Arisaig, next door to Jimmy and Anne Price and their children, with a temperamental stove, intermittent water and no fridge, but huge fun.
Bill was not a practical person, but he was infinitely resourceful. He had the ability to assimilate information and ideas and to remember them. His range of knowledge was vast, on topics often unknown to those closest to him. He was quick to tune in to the wavelength of others, he found out what was of interest to them, he made them feel good about themselves, and he could motivate them with ideas and with his infectious intellectual curiosity. He was perhaps at his best in a one-to-one situation, but he nevertheless played a role in public life, sitting as a councillor for many years, and in the days before he had a car, bicycling to Kelso to catch a bus to Edinburgh for committee meetings. He was at one time the youngest ever clerk to the presbytery, but he was not interested in Church politics and he never sought preferment for himself.
Bill had a deep and unshakeable faith. There was a certainty in his spiritual life, which served as a beacon for his parishioners and friends. He did not thrust his belief on others, but readily discussed religion if asked to do so. His guidance, to himself as well as his family, might be found in a verse from the Book of Micah: He hath showed thee O man what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Bill personified the essential Christian concept of forgiveness. He understood, he was there when he was needed. He believed in the inner conviction of the individual, telling a young couple in their marriage service that there is no human law, which may not sometimes require to be broken, citing Nelson’s blind eye as an example. Listen to your inner voice. Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, and inner peace.
For Bill parish work was paramount. There was not a baptism, marriage or funeral but he was there, often interrupting his own private time to attend. He worked hard for his parishioners and he was well liked. Everyone mattered to Bill. He knew their life story and their family’s roots in the community. He followed the practice of visiting his parishioners, and they in turn attended his services. To be prepared by Bill for confirmation or marriage, and to stand and be welcomed into Oxnam Church must have been an experience of the most profound spiritual significance.
Bill loved poetry and literature. This was evident in his skill with words, in his prayers and sermons. His prayers were a conversation with God, in which we participated through Bill. His sermons, which he regarded as a form of journalism, explored the relationship between God and mankind, and dwelt on the meaning of mortality, happiness, goodness, always informed by Bill’s deep understanding of human nature. To quote Bill, “The mark of a good man is that he makes it easier for other people to be good. He brings out the best in others. He introduces others to their better selves and puts them on better terms with themselves.” Bill was a good man.
Bill was a strong contrast. He combined his brilliant scholarship with the simplicity of life and rigour of his chosen calling to the Church, and a love of the arts in every form, an appreciation of beauty, of colour, a brilliant eye for interior design, and above all a love of humanity. He had an exceptional mind, he was unshockable, he was flexible, he was humorous, he was a loyal friend, to the outside eye always calm, gentle, patient, ready to help, he could endure acute physical discomfort, yet he adored life and took intense joy from everything around him. Life was a rich seam to be mined. One of his closest friends was Mark Oliver who lived with Helen and their children nearby at Edgerston. Mark was much older than Bill, but they enjoyed much in common. He was a connoisseur of beautiful things and lovely pictures, fine wine and delicious food, and when Edgerston was sold, Bill catalogued the library which had been built up over many generations and helped with the sale of the books, which were another of his loves.
Throughout Bill’s life, Vida was the caring, rock-solid base for him and his family, his muse, his musician, helping to generate an atmosphere of serenity in the beautiful home and garden they created together, and handling whatever life threw up, especially that move to Rome in 1955, with three small children and Harriet on the way. Sheer heroism. We noticed when she was not there, as one Sunday at Crailing when Bill’s stand-in organist was unavailable and he arrived at the church without his sermon. A member of the congregation was despatched to the organ loft with instructions to keep playing whilst Bill drove off in a cloud of dust to fetch the missing text.
I will end, as end I must, with a fragment of a lost poem by an unknown hand:
His laughter paid the dues of God
We should have lit a ship
An enigma, but so was Bill. He was a huge human being and for that we loved him.
“…. Finally, I should like to say how much I love this place, where I have lived and ministered for over fifty years; the river, the sky, the scudding clouds as they chase their shadows at midnight across my lawns, the always voices of the birds, pigeons and the calling of rooks and crows, and this small white church, this kirk on the hill. And the enormous loyalty and good nature and forbearance of my friends, my most true friends, the people of this place; their great natural abilities, their outspokenness, their down-to-earthness, their strong commonsense, their countryman’s cheerfulness and their quiet observant kind neighbourliness. I have loved it since the first day I saw it and its primroses in the damp orchard grass. I love it now, and I shall love it always.”
From WMDT’s last address at Oxnam Sunday 31st August 2003
KIRK SERVICES
6th December 2009 Sacrament of Communion
Usual Hospitality Afterwards
20th December 2009 Christmas Family Service (4th Sunday in Advent)
Sunday School
You are invited to bring a decoration for the Christmas Tree
24th December 2009 Family Candlelight Carol Service at 6.00 p.m.
A special collection will be held as usual
3rd January 2010 New Year Service
Festive Hospitality Afterwards
17th January 2010 Sunday Service
Sunday School
31st January 2010 Sunday Service (5th Sunday)
7th February 2010 Sunday Service
Usual Hospitality Afterwards
21st February 2010 Sunday Service
Sunday School
7th March 2010 Sunday Service
Usual Hospitality Afterwards
21st March 2010 Sunday Service
Sunday School
4th April 2010 Easter Sunday Service
All services start at 10.30 a.m. unless otherwise stated
Winter Beauty
When it’s winter in the Valley
and my breath hangs in the air,
The snow will crunch beneath my feet
and glisten in the air.
The stars at night light up my world
so I never walk alone;
It’s clear and crisp and beautiful
in the Valley I call home.
Oxnam Parish Church of Scotland
Registered Charity No. SC010593
AWHS
Mary Henderson
Mary March Banks Hendry was born in Lanarkshire on the 19th Feb 1917. Mary met and married James Henderson who was a dairyman. They were married in Mary’s family home at Kirkmuir Hill. Mary worked alongside her husband in the dairy. In December 1948, they moved to Cappuck, where they were to stay for 19 years. Mary was a quiet soul and kept herself to herself. She felt very welcome in the Oxnam community and enjoyed regular visits to the guild. The next move was into the town and to 26 Hartridge Crescent. Both Mary and James now took work in Manetti and they loved their work there. When James died Mary carried on. She was a fit, strong woman and when ill health over-took her she fought to be independent to the last. She was a content woman who was loved by all her family.
Nellie Dodds
Helen Brown Borthwick was born on the 20th January 1921 at Synton Mains. Nellie started her school days in Ashkirk, but later continued in Glendouglas Primary, when the family moved to Langlee. What she loved more than anything was to play rugby with her brothers in the field at Langlee! She was rugby daft, even to her dying day. She kept up to date with the local and national scene. On the 30th April 1943 Helen married Thomas Dodds, in Boston Blackfriars church in Jedburgh. Married life began at Hardenpeel, where Tom’s family farmed. Nellie loved it here. She attended Oxnam church and the woman’s guild. She made good friends. When Tom died in 2001 Nellie missed him terribly. Family and good friends were close by and were a tower of strength. In June 2006 the move to Queens Court was like a breath of fresh air to Nellie. She relished being so independent. She loved the freedom of the town and she loved being able to keep an eye on the movements of ‘her boys’ as they flew past in their various contraptions. Nellie was a tower of strength and had a fantastic sense of humour. She was always there for her children and her grandchildren. She was part of the very fabric of the Oxnam Valley community.
Betty Thomson
Betty was born at Hardenpeel on 9th January 1931. She was a little sister for Tom, Rob, Madge. Jim and Nessie, a sixth child for Nancy and Andrew Dodds.
She attended Pleasants School and later Jedburgh Grammar, she was also a regular attendee at Sunday School. On leaving school she went to Galashiels, but returned to Hardenpeel in 1949 to help on the farm.
Betty married Jock Thomson in Jedburgh Old Parish Church in November 1958 and married life began at Howcleuch Sheil where Jock farmed. They had two children, John and Nancy. Betty became heavily involved in Roberton WRI and the local agricultural show, which was held on the farm. She also loved to sing and dance old time Scottish dances.
Jock died in November 1985 and Betty never stopped missing him, however, her close family was a great comfort to her, especially her grandchildren. In November of last year Betty became unwell and sadly died on 24th June 2007.
Ruth Wright
Ruth was born in Leith on 7th May 1915. She was a new little Sister for May, Jim, Beth, Tom, Nan and Isa. Isa was only ten months older than Ruth and was more like a twin. While Elizabeth was pregnant with Ruth her husband was listed as missing and although Elizabeth never gave up hope, Ruth never met her father.
During the WWII Ruth joined the Land Army and was posted to the Scottish Borders and to Oxnam Row. She embraced farm life and loved working with the horses and driving the tractor.
Ruth kept in touch with her family and her Edinburgh friends and when the War was over returned to the city. She took a job working in Blairs and soon became a buyer of coats. She then moved to Wilkies as a buyer and had great fun travelling to London twice a year and modelling fur coats for Mr. Wilkie.
When her mother died Ruth bought a flat in Brunton Gardenns, Edinburgh and went out to New Zealand to visit her sisters, Nan and Isa. It was whilst in New Zealand she became a house mother to a boys school and later a girls school.
When she returned to Scotland she moved into her flat and worked in a remand home for girls in the city. This was a hard and at times traumatic job for Ruth and it was at this time she bought a flat back in the Borders where she had been so happy. She lived in Jedburgh and continued to work in Edinburgh. The draw to Jedburgh became too strong and she left the remand home to live permanently in Jedburgh where she worked as a receptionist in a Lawyers and finally in the gift shop.
For the last four years, Millfield Gardens was her home and Ruth was very happy there. She always retained her sense of fun and her elegance.
Grant Dagg
Grant was born in Selkirk on 18th January 1929, the first son of Walter and Margaret (May) Dagg. His first home was Middlesknowes. Later the family moved to Harwood-on-Teviot, Hawick, then came the livestock price crash of the thirties which forced a move to Whitecloserigg, Longtown, Cumbria where Grant attended Shankhill school. On leaving school Grant worked alongside his father to rebuild the family finances. Grant was a member of the Young Farmers Club and he took part in livestock judging and other activities. He also competed at pony club events and competitions.
The family returned to Scotland in 1957 on the purchase of Samieston Farm, Jedburgh and a partnership was formed with father, Grant and brother Eric. On the untimely death of their father in 1961, Grant and Eric took brothers Arthur and Alan into the partnership.
Later, Alan left the partnership to go to Australia, but Grant, Eric and Arthur continued at Samieston until 1996 when they retired to Kelso.
Grant enjoyed his retirement, especially his visits to brother Alan’s farm at Craighouse.
Holidays were enjoyed at Seahouses where, with Brothers Eric and Arthur, he owned a static caravan. He also enjoyed bus tours and holidays to various destinations on the South Coast. He liked to visit his sister, Betty and family in Leuchars, Fife and also long-term friends from Cumbria. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
Duncan Riddell
Duncan Riddell was buried at Oxnam on 13th June 2007. Although not a member of our congregation, he was a great help to Rev. Bill Thompson around the manse and frequently used his cabinet making skills in the Kirk. His wife, Yvonne, attended Church with us and continues to live a Mossburnford.