John M. Sime

Notes:

John was the son of James and Jessie (Morrison) Sime.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

John married Jessie Munro on 11 Aug 1899 in Urquhart, , Moray, Scotland. Jessie (daughter of William Munro and Margaret Allan) was born on 13 Jul 1876 in Grange, , Banffshire, Scotland; died on 28 May 1961. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From a Scottish newspaper column sent by Ina Donaldson with letter postmarked 29 September 1998:

The Moray area lost one of its real characters this week with the death of retired police officer Willie Sime only four days before his 90th birthday. Willie was a no-nonsense bobby of the old beat. His verbal rebukes were always more effective than the handcuffs and the baton. His mode of transport was the bicycle and, during his lengthy spell in Findhorn over the war years, he was regarded as the chief constable. But Willie's favourite posting was Rothes.

When he was on late-night duty (which was more often by design then delegation), he made it his personal task to visit the town's various distilleries--just to check up on security, of course. It was only after he retired that he admitted: "On a caul nicht, you could aye guarantee you wid get a guid gargle."

Many is the good gargle I have had with Willie in Elgin's old Grand Bar (now long gone) during the 1960s and 1970s. He was a great storyteller. Trouble is, you had to take half the stories Willie was telling you with a pinch of salt. I'm sure the members of the old Scottish North Eastern Counties constabulary didn't get up to some of the antics Willie used to portray.

Here is another Willie Sime story:

From: "Alan C. Morrison"
To: "Jim Munro"

Between Jan 1965 - October 1966, I was a trainee manager in Woolworths in Elgin, Morayshire. I lodged with a retired policeman and his wife...YES Willie Sime! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! I still can't believe it!

Willie was a hell of a man to drink, and many nights, when Jean was out, Willie would open a bottle of illicit booze he had acquired from a visit to Rothes. This spirit was clear in colour, probably over 100% proof. 2 glasses of that stuff, and you passed out! He had a terribly sore back, and he said that the whisky helped it. Every 4 weeks or so, he would disappear to Rothes for more supplies!

I left there to move to Glasgow, but every time we visited the North of Scotland, my wife and I would visit Willie & Jean in Abbeyfield House in Forres. They had their own room in this old people's home. I suppose that the last time I saw them was about 1991. I thought that they must be dead, because we hadn't had a Xmas card from them for about 7 years. Willie was one huge larger than life character, and was a fund of stories from his time in the police force in Rothes, Grantown, and Elgin. I was sorry to hear that he had passed away, but I shall raise a glass to him tonight. Alan

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Died:
News of Willie's death came in a letter to Neva and Jim Munro from Ina Donaldson, dated 8 July 1998. She said that he had been in Dr. Gray's in Elgin. The report in the paper said that there would be no service since he had gifted his body for medical research.

Family/Spouse: Jean Fraser. Jean was born about 1910; died on 26 Jan 1995; was buried in Aberdeen, , Aberdeen, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

SOURCE: Ina Donaldson says in her letter of 3 January 1990, that Jessie Munro, Mrs. Sime, had one son and two daughters, Willie in Forres; Carrie, in Aberdeen; and Annie died in 1968.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]