Two interesting photographs

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Here are a couple of old photographs from my neck of the woods that you might find interesting.



The date is 1934 and this is the funeral procession of Sir John Forbes* of Craigievar who was the local laird here at that time. They are on their way to St. Meddans Churchyard just half a mile from here. Immediately following the coffin is his son, William, carrying his father's war medals on a cushion. His widow, Gwendolen, was Welsh**. And, on her right, is her elder daughter , the Honourable Margaret (aged 29) and, on her left, the younger daughter, Elizabeth (aged 22).

Now, I guess you might find the attire of the daughters interesting. Forbes tartan, of course. Remember, this is roughly within the first ten years or so of the kilt being worn by women. other than for dancing. Slightly surprising for the time, the girls have kilts fastening on the right. They are wearing thick (female) stockings. The kilt pins are quite high up. They are wearing waistcoats, Balmorals and sporrans – quite unacceptable cross-dressing in Scotland nowadays (!) except in pipe bands. And at least Elizabeth has a belt OVER the waistcoat.

In 1944, Elizabeth graduated in medicine at Aberdeen University, setting up as a general practitioner in Alford. So what’s the link with this second photo - dated 1952.



Maybe the belt over the waistcoat is a giveaway. Yes, Elizabeth had “come out” as it were as Ewan in order to marry his housekeeper, Isabella. He said he always knew himself to be male. Nobody batted an eyelid locally, he was such a lovely man. I remember being at Scottish concerts in the ‘50s when he was MC and, yes, he had a high voice but was full of enthusiasm for all things Scottish. There was more of a legal stooshie because his brother had no children so Margaret would have inherited the title had he not changed but it was amicably sorted out in the end and he died in 1991 as the Honourable Sir Ewan Forbes of Craigievar. Just an interesting variation on LGBT matters which was of no concern whatever to the local Aberdeenshire community

* In my young day, Forbes was still pronounced as For-bis

** Her maiden surname was “Prodgers” i.e. originally Ap Rodgers. “Ap” is the p-Celtic equivalent of Irish “Ob” or “O’” roughly = Mac/Nic in Scots Gaelic. So names like “Prichard”, "Preece”, "Price" “Parry”, “Bowen” etc. are all of Welsh origin. Thought you might not know that.


Alan