I. 



MEMORIAL NOTICE OF 

 ROBERT TURNER, 



PRESIDENT, 1890-92. 

 (Read 2nd May, 18Q4.) 



By the death of Mr. Robert Turner the Society has to deplore 

 the loss of one who was amongst its earliest and ablest members, 

 who did yeoman service for it, who filled its highest offices in the 

 worthiest manner, and who so recently as 6th December last was 

 added to its short list of honorary members. In the kindly note 

 acknowledging election to this position, written from what turned 

 out to be his death-bed, Mr. Turner expressed the hope that he 

 would still be able to do further work for the Society ; but this 

 was not to be, for he passed away on the 20th March last after a 

 prolonged and painful illness, aged 45. Those who had the 

 privilege of visiting him during his long illness, can never forget 

 his resolution, cheerfulness, vivacity and hopefulness in spite of 

 prolonged and acute sufferings. 



Robert Turner was a Lanarkshire man, born and brought up 

 on the verge of the Upper Ward, where (to quote his own words 

 written in another connection) "there are ample solitudes of 

 moorland and hill, where wildness is all in all " {Annals of 

 A. N. S., page 1, 1893). Born on 29th December, 1848, at Wide 

 Close, Strathaven, he was educated at Crosshill Parish School 

 there, and at an early age showed those intellectual and scholarly 

 qualities which always distinguished him. When only 15 years 

 old he taught a large country school at Drumclog, lodging in 

 turn with the farmers in the district, thus gaining an early and 

 lasting acquaintance with the country which he loved so well, and 

 making many friendships. He, however, gave up teaching ; and 



