Miss Margret Jane Morrison was appointed Headmistress of Buckhaven infant public school on Tuesday 31st March 1885. She was appointed by the Wemyss School Board with a majority of four votes to three. There were originally 24 applicants. Her father was a headmaster and it is most likely that Miss Margret Jane Morrison had followed in her fathers footsteps to become a teacher. Miss Morrison died Friday 1st June 1917 at 10pm in her brother’s house – the Rectory in Dysart. Her brother was Reverent D.A. Morrison was the minister of the second charge at Dysart Parish Church. She was only 53.

The Chairman of the Wemyss school board said: “That the board place on record a sense of the loss they have sustained through the removal by death of one who had spent over thirty years of her life in their service. Miss Morrison was devoted to her work and took a most enthusiastic interest in all that tended to the spiritual and educational advancement of children under her charge.” A Miss Booth of Dorothy Public School was appointed as headmistress of Buckhaven Infant School after Miss Morrison’s death. Miss Morrison’s funeral took place at the family burial place on the 5th June 1917 at Dalry Ayrshire.

On the 22nd of February 1918 a memorial clock – in memory of Margret J. Morrison headmistress of Buckhaven Infant School – was placed in Buckhaven High School by Miss Morrison’s friends and colleagues. The clock was placed in the central hall of the school. The Headmaster of Buckhaven High School was present along with members of the public and school pupils. The clock was made by a local watchmaker called William Greig of East High Street Methil.

 If anybody has any additional information or photographs of Miss Margaret J. Morrison please bring them into Fife Archives where we would be happy to tell you more about them and will help us build up a fuller picture of Miss Morrison’s life.

The memorial clock was given to Fife Archives by Mr Richard Abbot in November 2002.  The clock was found in a store room in Fife House along with a shield and brass plaque presented by HMS Bellona, a wooden crest from HMS Fife and a cinefilm labelled “The unveiling of the town centre.”