Alice Whitehead Robertson MBE

September 27th 2011 was a very sad day indeed when my wonderful Aunt Alice passed away suddenly at home.  Although she was 80, she didn't look that age and certainly didn't act that age - she was more like a 16 year old and lived life to the max!!  She would be delighted to think that she was now 'on the internet'!!

Alice Whitehead Robertson MBE 1931 - 2011

Death is nothing at all
I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other
That we are still
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way you always used
Put no difference into your tone
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort
Without the ghost of a shadow in it
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is absolute unbroken continuity
What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you for an interval
Somewhere very near
Just around the corner
All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost
One brief moment and all will be as it was before
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

This is her obituary that appeared in the Berwick Advertiser - many of the words are her own:

The 27^th September, 2011 was a truly sad day for Berwickshire, when news filtered round of the sudden death of Alice Robertson. Alice was a dedicated, inspirational, and generous person, in all aspects of her life, with a wealth of local knowledge. She knew everyone, and everyone knew her, so it was testament to her, that came as no surprise, that Foulden Kirk was packed, and many more were standing outside for her Thanksgiving Service on 14^th October 2011.

Alice’s tribute was read by the Rev. Norman Whyte and much of what follows is from this.

“I have always thought that it must be difficult for the Minister to have to visit relatives to find out about a person who has died – so always being different (as you all know) I have written this about myself. I was born the second of February 1931 on a very snowy day at Berrington Law. What a wonderful childhood I had, great days walking to Ancroft School, happy carefree days. Bowsden School was next with evacuees from Tyneside, as this was wartime. 1942 found us at Town Farm, Scremerston and school there.”

From there Alice went to St. Mary’s Convent and after gaining her School Certificate and Highers, left school, too young for college.  She carried on, “In September 1948 I began an emergency training at Mount Road School staying there until December when I went to teach full time at Duddo School. My first 3 months were UNPAID, because I was not 18.” Alice then spent 2 years at Alnwick Castle College 1952 – 54, then back to Duddo till 1955. By this time she was engaged to Tommy Robertson of Chirnside and she applied for a job in Berwickshire and was given the choice of Chirnside or Foulden.  Alice says, “and I chose Foulden, thank goodness, and began on 3^rd January, 1956”.

Alice and Tommy were married and set up home in Chirnside. In November 1970 she was given the Headship of Foulden Primary School.  Alice goes on to say “and I was proud to be given charge of educating the bairns. The next 18 years were wonderful, I was proud of every child, not one ever let me down. London visits, Blankenburgh with the teenagers, ceilidhs, bothy nights, parties old and young, projects for the N.F.U., the Highland Show, oh what fun we had. Yes kids you were the best.”

One of the highlights of these 18 years was the visit of H.R.H. Princess Margaret in 1971. Of retirement, Alice said, “1988 brought early retirement – what is retirement, I was never so busy.” Her former pupils were never forgotten with landmark birthdays, engagements and weddings remembered. Alice could even turn her hand to composing very clever, even thoughtful poems for all sorts of occasions. Alice Robertson was awarded the M.B.E. at a ceremony at Holyrood Palace in July 1978. After she retired Foulden still featured largely in her life and she lists, “Kirk Elder, Foulden Hall Committee [Chair] – New Hall too, who would believe Little Foulden could do it – but we did.” Sometime Chairman, Chirnside Horticultural Society, President Chirnside Bowling Club 1975, and she wrote, “kept my hand in at Heatherslaw Railway Society”. She was very proud of her stick dressing prowess and the camaraderie of “the men folk [at it].” Alice ended with, “No doubt many of you will have other memories – well we did have some super times. Thank you all for everything, keep smiling, laugh and have fun, but don’t shed a tear for me for I was a very, very lucky person and DIFFERENT.”