Readers' Enquiries

Published on Saturday 9 January 2010 10:21

Q I am writing a biography of John Grant, Edinburgh resident throughout the 1900s-1950s; a tax-collector and composer of bagpipe music, most notably The Pipes of War and The Royal Collection of Piobaireachd. I am hoping a descendant will read this and contact me at [e-mail]. Dr. Alan Armstrong, professor of music, Mount Olive College Mount Olive, North Carolina, USA.

Q David Thomson says: I would like to trace the Cuthill family – Patricia, Joyce and Harry who were all placed in care at the Dunforth Home, Park Place, Newhaven in the early 1950s. Can anyone help in finding out what happened to them after after their mum's death in 1953?

Q Grace Lilienskold is looking for relatives of her maternal grandmother Jane Glen Murray McMahon, who was married to Henry McMahon, a sergeant in the Gordon Highlanders. They left Scotland for Canada in the late 1800s. She had a number of sisters; Leslie Murray of Edinburgh; Jane Murphy; Jessie Hill of Perth; Isabel Cunningham of Midlothian; and Mary or Ann Hughes of Glasgow. Contact Grace at Box 152, Brownvale, Alberta, Canada.

Q Further to another query: I have an early childhood memory (about 1952-54) of a miniature railway in the Meadows, approximately opposite Argyle Place to Marchmont Road. Can anybody confirm and does anybody have any photos?

A Alexander Mullay says: I can confirm that there was a temporary railway in the Meadows around that time. There were parallel tracks and at least one locomotive, styled like an American diesel. There was correspondence in the SRPS magazine about this about 15 years ago. Their archivist may be able to look this out for you. Hope this is helpful.