Rev Hugh Mackay, Sea Scouts and teh Order of St John
Torphichen
The story of Seagull Trust Cruises in a way starts in 1927 in the village of Torphichen situated in the Bathgate Hills of Central Scotland when Rev Patrick Hugh Robson Mackay was appointed Free Church Minister and later Minister of the Church of Scotland when the congregations united.
Hugh was minister there until 1960 when he moved to Prenmay and Leslie in Aberdeenshire. He retired to North Berwick in 1972.
Order of St John
Torphichen Preceptory is a Church of Scotland and comprises the remains of the preceptory (headquarters) of the Knights Hospitaller of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in Scotland.
The Perceptory is in the keeping of Historic Environment Scotland. This plaque is displayed there.
During his ministry in Torphichen, Hugh Mackay re-established the Order of St John (The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem) in the area. He was appointed Sub-Prelate of the Order in 1987. The modern Order generally raises money for good causes. It is well known in England through its support for the St John Ambulance Brigade. In Scotland it extensively supports mountain rescue and disabled transport.
Sea Scouts
Whilst at Torphichen, Hugh Mackay (on the right) ran Sea Scouts on the Edinburgh Glasgow Union Canal at Woodcockdale.
Woodcockdale was canal's stables and workers' cottages, they were built around 1820. Above the stables there was storage for hay and grain. The horses for the fast passenger boats were changed and rested at regular intervals along the canal. The stabling coincides roughly with the passenger fare stages on the canal which are shown by 3 stage marker stones on the towpath, roughly 13 km apart, at Ratho, Winchburgh and close to here at the Avon Aqueduct. It is still used as a Sea Scout Centre.
This plaque in the centre of Torphichen commemorates Hugh Mackay
The plaque is located "The Loan" the main street through Torphichen near its junction with Fitzgerald Place.
In his notes for 1994 Norman Simpson (the first Treasurer of the Trust) wrote:-
The Year commenced in a very sad way for us. Our Founder, Rev Dr P Hugh R Mackay MBE, died at his home in North Berwick 12 days before his 93rd birthday. Hugh had lived a very full life, constantly among people and serving them selflessly and sincerely as a minister. He had many interests, being a West Lothian County Councilor, a Scout Leader who founded the 1st West Lothian Sea Scout Group in 1934 and a Chaplain to the Order of St John, Edinburgh. Another special interest, of course, was expressed in his founding of the Seagull Trust and he was proud of the progress it had made since 1978. He was also most grateful to the unpaid volunteers and everyone who supported the Trust over the years by giving cash or in kind.