Pictured above is Mrs Elizabeth Scott - stationmistress at Lundin Links during the 1930s. Born Elizabeth Smith Urquhart, her father and grandfather had both been railway men and she herself became the wife of Grantshouse stationmaster William Scott. When her husband died at an early age in 1922, she was able to take on the role herself. Soon after being widowed, Elizabeth was appointed stationmistress at Gilmerton, where she remained for eight years before moving to Invergarry station.
As the Berwickshire News (21 July 31) stated at the time of her move north: "the capable hands of women have stretched far into man's domains and there are now very few positions held by man that his "better half" could not capably fill." With her pet black labrador Jim alerting her to approaching trains, Mrs Scott thrived in her role and also enjoyed tending the station garden - winning prizes in competitions for her station's appearance.
Being a native of Kingskettle, Mrs Scott must have desired to return to Fife and made the move to Lundin Links in 1932. She remained at Lundin Links station throughout the 1930s and into the war years. However, she died suddenly on 15 September 1941 at the station house, aged 52. The Scotsman of 16 September reported that "she was one of the few women stationmasters in Scotland and was well-known to summer visitors to Lundin Links". The Fife Free Press of 20 September stated that "she was well known and liked by all who came in contact with her. She was of a cheery nature and could turn her hand to most of the jobs at the station and carried out her duties faithfully and well". Elizabeth was buried at St Boswells.
As the Berwickshire News (21 July 31) stated at the time of her move north: "the capable hands of women have stretched far into man's domains and there are now very few positions held by man that his "better half" could not capably fill." With her pet black labrador Jim alerting her to approaching trains, Mrs Scott thrived in her role and also enjoyed tending the station garden - winning prizes in competitions for her station's appearance.
Being a native of Kingskettle, Mrs Scott must have desired to return to Fife and made the move to Lundin Links in 1932. She remained at Lundin Links station throughout the 1930s and into the war years. However, she died suddenly on 15 September 1941 at the station house, aged 52. The Scotsman of 16 September reported that "she was one of the few women stationmasters in Scotland and was well-known to summer visitors to Lundin Links". The Fife Free Press of 20 September stated that "she was well known and liked by all who came in contact with her. She was of a cheery nature and could turn her hand to most of the jobs at the station and carried out her duties faithfully and well". Elizabeth was buried at St Boswells.
RSS Feed
