“I’m beginning to wonder what’s going to happen next on this side of the world! How strangely things work out; it becomes more and more obvious that everything happens for a purpose.
Dad died the day after I last wrote to you, in that beautiful place, Fort William. Mum has doubtless told you how wonderful the people there were. We drove down from there with Uncle John and Ida the same day by Loch Leven, where the MacDonalds’ burial isle lies, and through the grand and historical Pass of Glencoe where the Campbells came down on the MacDonalds; then on by Lochearnhead, Pass of Lennie, Callendar, Bridge of Allan, to Alloa and Clackmannan. Willie Kinross* and Donald Kinross’s* widow were a great help. We had tea at their place. Donald’s photo was in the lounge and the likeness to Dad when young was stunning. Then when the baby appeared, you would have thought Dad as a baby had stepped out of a photograph!
The day of the funeral was a beautiful sunny summer’s day, and the Ochils, which you’ve heard Dad mention looked glorious! They stand looking over the cemetery and Clackmannan and Alloa. In spite of the sadness, all was peaceful and we could not but help feel and admire the beauty all around. I never imagined that my first visit to Dad’s boyhood haunts would be under such circumstances. Alloa and Clackmannan are very industrial. They lie in a coalmining district which seems to extend from Edinburgh to Glasgow and miles around. The great slag heaps, like pyramidal hills protrude ludicrously from the quiet farmlands.
We drove back to Blairgowrie in the beautiful evening, and stayed on there until Sunday. We both felt very much at home there, and would to have stayed longer, but Ida has her relations staying with her through August. I didn’t do much walking as I had only my court shoes with me that I’d taken to Aberdeen for the weekend and I’d blistered my heel. Mum was well but very very tired, and stayed in bed a few days. I called on my friends again at the plough Inn. I expect I or Mum have told you about them. We met Mrs Johnston on the Loch Tay bus trip with friends of hers from Aberdeen, and again on the Edinburgh bus trip. Mrs Johnson offered to make some enquiries about work in Blairgowrie for me, but as I’ve told you, there wasn’t anything worth while to be had. Mr Johnson is the ex-pilot for Aberdeen harbour, previously a shipmaster, and on retiring they bought the Plough Inn in Blairgowrie as a business for their young young son. She’s a charming woman, and they’re a fine family, so I enjoy visiting them.”
*Willie and Donald Kinross were Jean’s half cousins. They lived and worked the farm “Hillend” at Clackmannan which had long been in the Kinross family – Jean’s father’s half sister married Donald Kinross Snr in 1895, she died giving birth to her 9th child in 1911.
Jean’s letter to her sister Mary, written from Stonehaven, 31st July 1951
