The following is a tribute to Rosemary Hall a much loved Elder of Stobo Kirk, Clerk to the General Kirk Session from 1992 till March this year and Moderator of Melrose and Peebles Presbytery for the 2009/2010 session who died on the 29th of May 2011.
Rosemary was born Rosemary Johnson xxxx years ago in Aberdeen. Rosemary was always very secretive about her age, even when the family wanted to give her a special party for her 80th it was only on condition that it be held in Montrose and that no one from hereabouts was to know.
It was in Montrose that she grew up, her family involved in the fish processing industry. Rosemary always retained a deep affection for Montrose and read the Montrose Review every week, often contributing her two pe’narth to discussions. Such was her knowledge she probably knew more about what was going on in Montrose than the average Montovian.
Educated at Montrose and then Cranley in Edinburgh it was wartime and the school was evacuated to Grantown on Spey where Rosemary absolutely loved it. Rosemary kept in touch with many of her school friends throughout her life and indeed some are here today.
On leaving school Rosemary went to Dugdales Secretarial School in Edinburgh. Once en route to a meeting with Rosemary we drove past Edinburgh Zoo and Rosemary told me she had a life membership, a gift from her father when she went to college to keep her out of mischief. I couldn’t help thinking that the words mischief and Rosemary would not very often appear in the same sentence.
On leaving College Rosemary went to work for Bruce Walker where she was PA to one of the partners James. Her amazing attention to detail and meticulous preparation made her a brilliant organiser and this talent was put to good use in organising conferences Rosemary even attending a conference for conference organisers where she learned skills that would be put to good use throughout her life.
In 1952 she married Eric Hall and Rosemary stopped working for a living but she by no means stopped work for that continued throughout her life. When visiting her in Hay Lodge just the other week she was determined to discuss Church business rather than how she was faring.
Rosemary was always a devoted Nationalist and her skills were put to good use for many years when she was Organising Secretary for the SNP. One of her proudest days being when she travelled to London on the Tartan Express, she had of course organised, in 1967 to see Winnie Ewing take her seat in the Commons. It was a great delight to her to hear from her hospital bed that SNP had achieved an overall majority at the last election.
When first married Rosemary and Eric set up home at Carlton Hill, Edinburgh before moving to Dunbar until Eric retired in 1982 and they moved to Lyne Station where they enjoyed a very happy retirement if that’s the right word until Eric died in 1999. Rosemary continued her involvement with many organisations her ceaseless energy making her a vital asset to any organisation .
Apart from the Church which she served at local, Presbytery and National level and the SNP, Rosemary was also involved with CND, the campaign against Torness and almost anything to do with animals. During her life she owned a succession of top class pointers and at one time had her own horse which she kept in livery at Dunbar.
Sadly Rosemary and Eric were not blessed with children but her extended family was very important to Rosemary and she kept track of how each was faring and what they were up to. If anyone needed information Rosemary was always the first port of call.
She was phenomenally widely read and that formidable almost photographic memory of hers meant she had a depth of knowledge few could even hope to emulate. Dates, personnel and facts were stored away and could be recalled at a moments notice.
Her family had a tradition of supporting the community financially and Rosemary continued this philanthropy always done quietly and anonymously, for to take any credit for doing so would have been complete anathema to her.
I count myself very lucky to have known Rosemary and worked with her for these last two years although I am sure my lackadaisical approach to admin must have caused her some anguish at times.
We remember now that it was God who shaped so much of Rosemary’s life, who inspired her, and who she worshipped and loved with heart and soul and mind..
Congratulations
to Rev Bob Milne and his wife Shiela who became proud grandparents to Connor Robert Steven Reid on the 4th March 2011. Congratulations also to parents Kiera and Darren.