Reminiscences of Kilrenny 1898

David Lumsden, the author of the papers printed on these pages was a native of the village of Kilrenny, near Anstruther, in the county of Fife. He was born in 1827, and died at Anstruther in December 1909, in his eighty-third year. After receiving his early education in the village school, he became apprentice to his uncle, a watchmaker in Pittenweem. He was subsequently for a short time in Edinburgh, and thereafter settled in Anstruther, where he carried on business for many years until he retired in 1896. In 1880, Mr Lumsden entered the Town Council of the burgh of Anstruther Easter, and was a magistrate for several years. He also became a member of the School Board. One who was well acquainted with Mr Lumsden, in paying a tribute of respect on his decease, speaks of him as a well-known and striking personality in the old burgh, and characterises him as upright, independent, and fearless, possessed of unusual intellectual vigour combined with solid common sense, and endued with a saving grace of humour, a shrewdness of outlook and a charity in judgment of character and motive which helped to increase the high esteem in which he was held by all who were acquainted with him. Mr Lumsden's interest in his native village remained unabated throughout his long life, and the volume has been compiled with the object of bringing together in print for the benefit of friends and others interested certain articles he wrote reminiscent of the Kilrenny of the 1800's.

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