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MFA Newsletter - June 2015
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A Letter from London
Dear Cousins and Friends,
Welcome to this edition of the new quarterly MFA Newsletter, the first of what I hope will be many. This is the third manifestation and this particular revival makes me very proud because, along with the collation of a full database of email addresses, it was a priority for me to revive the Newsletter, when I took over the Chieftaincy. I have to say, however, that none of this would be possible without the amazing work of Aroha Merrilees in New Zealand, ably supported by her wonderful family. You have my personal thanks Aroha for volunteering so willingly and following through with everything so ably.
I hope that this Newsletter will grow in the future, and to that end I am asking all of you, first of all, please re-send it to anyone in and out of the family who may be interested in reading about what’s going on. Also, please send us your news and stories - the triumphs and tragedies of your family, both past and present, so that we can share our history. Don’t forget births, deaths and marriages and we would particularly like to hear from those with unusual or interesting professions and hobbies. ‘A Day in the Life’ always makes interesting reading. You will find various ways to contact MFA at the bottom of the newsletter, so start scribbling now. Also let us know if there’s anything you would like to see as a regular feature in the Newsletter.
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Hospitality Exchanges
Now that we have a regular forum going again it would be great to use it to get a hospitality exchange going. For many years Cynthia and I have been doing home exchanges for holidays. We have swapped homes and cars with people all over the world – all strangers to us at the time - from Sydney to Chicago, Canada to Hawaii and the experience has always been wonderful. We’re about to do it again, swapping for 3 weeks with a family in Marbella, Spain.
Now, I’d like to set up a scheme in which MFA family members use the Newsletter to both petition and offer hospitality for those who are travelling, especially the young people in our family. It will not only help them to see the world without breaking the bank, but also they may be able to meet cousins of the same age and this will only help to promote the development of the MFA for our future generations.
If you are willing to offer hospitality - I suggest that means bed & breakfast - just send us something for a “Small Ads” section along the lines of ...
Hospitality offer: (city, country) for (maximum no. of people)
for (maximum duration of stay in weeks) in (season or month, year).
Name of family offering + email address.
You may also wish to add the ages of the people offering the stay. Also, if you are looking to visit other countries and want to meet family members, this Newsletter is a great way to advertise your presence – make sure you give name, time and duration of visit and e-mail address. Cynthia and I are currently in the process of selling our house in London and hopefully moving to southern Spain permanently, but as soon as we have a new base we will be offering accommodation for those who want to visit.
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Merrylees Cottages
As you may know, recently we looked at the possibility of the MFA buying one of the Cottages, which are near Edinburgh and could be a great resource for us both as a holiday venue for MFA members, but also a rental for other tourists in order to pay the costs. We received a number of cash pledges from all over the world, but sadly they were not enough for us to proceed with an offer.
However, we’re not leaving it at that and we are now investigating how to put together a scheme that might enable us to buy one of the cottages if they come up for sale again in the future. We hope to have the help and expertise of an entrepreneurial Scottish family member and I will try to get you more information on this for the next edition.
http://www.merrileesclan.org.nz/HPMerryleesCottages.html
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New Chieftain - USA Mid-West
I am very pleased to announce that I have asked Iain Russell Mirrilees, son of Mike & Bunny, our first Chief and his Lady, to become Chieftain, USA Mid-West and he has agreed to do so. Still in his 20s, Iain is a recent graduate of Wheaton College, Illinois, and now works in financial services. He grew up in the house where the MFA was born and fondly remembers the excitement of our global family being connected. He has been to many of the international gatherings and is looking forward to being part of many more in the future.
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Chieftain Vacancy - Australia
We need someone in Australia to be our new chieftain. If you wish to nominate someone or, better still, if you wish to volunteer yourself, then please contact me at themerrilees@gmail.com
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Another New Face
On a personal note, let me also proudly present the newest addition to my own branch of the family - and now a member of Iain’s USA Mid-West constituency.
Jude Arthur Merrilees was born in October last year to my son Andrew and his wife Sara, who now live in Michigan. He joins his brother Leo Maxwell to become the first brothers in my family for four generations, because I was an only son, as were my father and grandfather. My father and I had no siblings, but my grandfather was the middle one of 13 – all the rest were girls!
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So, that’s it from me this time – let us know what you think of the Newsletter and please send us your stories, pictures, messages, adverts and anything that you think would be of interest.
I wish you all the very best that you wish for yourselves. Until next time …
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Chief Bob Merrilees
London, June 2015
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Mirrlees Stories
By Bill & June Merilees, Canada
This three part ‘story’ began on January 27th 2015 when June and I were returning by ferry to Nanaimo. As I presented my credit card to purchase our tickets the gentleman behind the counter asked a fascinating question; Did I know that the ship we were about to board was powered by Mirrlees engines? I was somewhat stunned by his question, but the ticket seller was equally or more surprised when I replied – Yes I did! Thinking this coincidence might be of interest to our MFA ‘history’ I proceeded to prepare a short article. Before I knew it, one thing led to another and then another as I discovered there was also a Mirrlees Golf Course – and – a Mirrlees Fields Friends Group. These stories I just had to research as well. Here they are!
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#1 - Powering B.C. Ferries
In the early 1960’s the British Columbia ferry fleet was expanded with the construction of the M.V. Queen of Sydney and the M.V. Queen of Tsawwassen in 1960, and the M.V. Queen of Burnaby and the M. V. Queen of Nanaimo in 1964. Each of these new vessels was propelled by two, 3,000 horse power, Mirrlees diesel engines. However this is not story #1!
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The MFA newsletter (September, 1996) contains an account of the Mirrlees company that came into existence in 1848. Through various re-organizations and mergers the ‘Mirrlees’ corporate identity was lost, regained, and then lost for good in 2000 when it was acquired by MAN Diesel, an international corporation with its headquarters in Germany.
Evolution of the Mirrlees Company:
1840 – P & A McOnie
1848 – McOnie and Mirrlees
1858 – Mirrlees and Tait
1868 – Tait and Watson
1883 – Watson, Laidlaw & Company
1885 – Mirrlees, Watson & Company
1889 – Mirrlees, Watson, Yaryan and Company Limited
1899 – Mirrlees, Watson Company Limited
1906 – Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day Limited
1961 – Mirrlees National Limited
1969 – Mirrlees, Blackstone Limited
1977 – Mirrlees Blackstone (Stockport) Limited
1991 - Mirrlees Blackstone Limited
1997 – GEC Alstom Mirrlees Blackstone Limited
1998 – Mirrleees Blackstone Division of Alstome Engines Ltd
2000 – MAN B&W Diesel AG
Note: Mann Diesel’s address was Mirrlees Drive, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire, UK
In 1848 when John Buchanan Mirrlees became a partner, the company was dedicated to the manufacture of cane sugar machinery. Over the next 100 years they supplied the operational equipment for some 2,162 sugar mills located all over the world! It was during my visit to a sugar mill in Fiji in1964 that I first came across the name Mirrlees (see MFA Newsletter, March, 1999).
A big change for the company occurred in 1897 when an agreement was signed with Dr. Rudolf Diesel for an exclusive licence for the construction and sale of diesel engines in Great Britain. Business grew so rapidly that a large tract of land was purchased for a new manufacturing facility in Cheshire, at Hazel Grove, Stockport. This plant, about 40 miles south east of Liverpool, produced its first diesel engine in October, 1908. This first engine is now a museum exhibit.
Regarding the B.C Ferries mentioned above, the Queen of Sydney and the Queen of Tsawwassen have recently been decommissioned. The newer Queen of Burnaby and Queen of Nanaimo are still in service but nearing the end of their active service.
The number of Mirrlees Diesel engines still operating is unknown – but – there still remains a small service and repair facility at the previous manufacturing plant at Hazel Grove, Stockport. For Mirrlees, what a fantastic accomplishment for a once small company that had its roots in Glasgow!
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#2 – The Mirrlees Golf Club
Woodsmoor Lane, Hazel Grove, Stockport
This golf club was founded in 1925. We presume it took its name from the senior partner during the time the company was known as Mirrleees, Bickerton and Day ltd. It was a 9 hole course with a length of 5,944 yards. In 1951 it had a SSS of 69 and a Par of 70. Fees were 2 shillings and six pence on week days; 3 shillings and six pence on weekends and Bank Holidays. Its membership fluctuated between 250 and 300. The course record was set in 1956 when A.J. Brooks shot a 65!
An interesting recollection of the Mirrlees Golf Club from Edmund Wilkinson states “Although this [golf course] was owned and administered by the long established diesel manufacturers Mirrlees, Bickerton and Day Ltd. It was open to non employees. There was a splendid clubhouse complete with an impressive maple dance floor. The company has, over the past 30 years, had several takeovers and is now a shadow of its former self. The course is now abandoned and overgrown but recognisable.” It is believed the course was last in use about 1988.
In addition to the Golf Course there were also sports fields for team sports including a cricket pitch. These facilities were managed by the Mirrlees Sports Association until the late 1980’s when they wound up their operation.
http://mirrleesfields.org.uk/historypremirrlees.html
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#3 - Mirrlees Fields Friends Group
With the cessation of the golf and sporting venues the Mirrlees Fields became neglected and started reverting to nature. They also became a place where Stockport people could walk, enjoy and appreciate nature. Ensuring this green space, within the heavily built up area of Stockport, remained an attractive public amenity became a community challenge. This led to the formation of the Mirrlees Fields Friends Group in 2007.
This was an interesting challenge with an interesting ‘catchy’ acronym – SCRAM! This stood for “Sports Clubs and Residents Against Mirrlees”. The property owners had plans for residential development. However by working with the owners and the Cheshire Wildlife Trust, agreement was reached to ensure a sustainable future for the Mirrlees Fields as a community resource.
I and our Merrilees Family Association have both become members of the Mirrlees Fields Action Group. As a keen wildlife gardener and author of two books on this topic I look forward to sharing my knowledge with the MFAG and in passing along their progress to the MFA.
http://mirrleesfields.org.uk
https://www.facebook.com/mirrleesfieldsfriendsgroup
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