Midlothian archives

David Sharp

Name of creator

The Sharp family of Loanhead.

Biographical history

Most of the items in this collection belonged to Mr David Sharp (1900–1981) and his family. David’s father worked at Springfield paper mill until he was injured. He then spent a short time as a warder at Rosslynlee Hospital. He wrote newspaper articles about his work and places of interest in the local area, and established a successful business selling household china from a horse and cart. The Sharp family lived at 4 High Street, Loanhead which later was the site of Loanhead Post Office.

His son, David Sharp, was a good school student and at fourteen years old he took a job at the British Linen Bank, 95 Clerk Street, Loanhead. He later moved to the bank’s head office in Edinburgh where he reached the position of head clerk. In total, he worked with the bank for over fifty years and from 1930 he lived in a flat above the Loanhead branch. He retired in 1965 and later worked as a part-time bookkeeper with Hunter’s Coaches, Loanhead.

As a young boy he trained in semaphore and was conscripted into the Army in 1918. He served as a signaller in the Highland Light Infantry and in the British Army of the Rhine from March 1919. However, his military service was curtailed for family reasons. His elder brother, Alexander, a pharmacist, caught Spanish Influenza and his mother was bedridden with arthritis, so David was given special dispensation to return home. Between the wars, he was a principal in productions of the Loanhead Station Ironworks Choir. He was organist at Loanhead West Church, a loyal church elder and helped to organise a children’s choir.

In 1949, he married Elizabeth (Betty) Robertson, who also worked at the British Linen Bank in Edinburgh. The couple met while fire watching at the bank premises during the Second World War. Although an incomer to Loanhead, Betty became a stalwart member of the Women’s Rural Institute and later treasurer. She helped to establish the Over Sixties Club in Loanhead and organised the WRVS ‘Meals on Wheels’ service. In 1952, their daughter Janet Helen was born. She attended local schools and was a member of the Brownies, Girl Guides, and church organisations. In 1964, she was Mistress of the Robes at Loanhead Children’s Gala Day. She studied at the University of Edinburgh and became a teacher. David died suddenly at home on 9 June 1981 and Betty on 19 February 1990. Both are buried in Loanhead Cemetery.

Physical description

One box.

Scope and content

13 photographs of David Sharp and his colleagues of the Highland Light Infantry during the First World War and the British Army occupation of the Rhineland & postcard book souvenirs of the Rhineland and Germany, c.1919; photographs of Loanhead; 6 photographs of Loanhead Children’s Gala Day; interior photograph of Loanhead East Church and certificate; misc. programmes, photographs and sketches of backdrops from Loanhead Station Ironworks Choir, c.1925; 8 photographs of the Loanhead Girl Guides visit to Dalum, Denmark c.1966; newspaper cuttings of Loanhead groups; and other miscellaneous items.

Archival history

The collection was donated to Midlothian Local and Family History Library by Janet Storey in August 2015.

System of arrangement

Ref	Subject	Date
DS/1	Military photographs	1918–c.1920
DS/2	Souvenirs of the Rhineland and Germany	1918–c.1920
DS/3	Loanhead photographs	1914–1970
DS/4	Loanhead Children's Gala Day	1932–c.1958
DS/5	Loanhead East Church	c.1958
DS/6	Loanhead Station Ironworks Choir	1922–c.1931
DS/7	Loanhead Girl Guides	c.1966
DS/8	Newspaper cuttings	c.1963–c.1966
DS/9	Miscellaneous	1844–1970

Access and Conditions governing use

There are no restrictions on access to or conditions governing use of the collection.