John Potter

Newspaper References

BROXBURN

ORDINATION OF ELDERS

At the midday service on Sunday in the East United Free Church the following were ordained to the eldership, viz;- Alex. Fleming, John Maclean, Alex. Marshall, and John Potter.

Linlithgowshire Gazette, 6 February 1903

BROXBURN COUPLES DIAMOND WEDDING

Mr and Mrs John Potter

On Tuesday first, Mr and Mrs John Potter, 20 Albyn Cottages, Broxburn, are to celebrate their golden wedding in rooms in Great King Street, Edinburgh, where a company of thirty to forty guests will be assembled. Mr Potter, who is 84 years of age, was born at Muirhousedykes in the parish of West Calder and Mrs Potter (formerly Miss Hannah Forrest) who is four years his junior, was born in Glasgow. The wedding took place in St. Leonard's Street, Lanark, the officiating minister being Donald McIntosh of the Free Church of Scotland.

The couple had a family of eight, 4 sons and 4 daughters, of whom 2 sons and 3 daughters, all married, survive. They have ten grandchildren and one great grandchild. Mr Potter has followed the occupation of plumber. He started work with the West Calder Oil Company, and was three years in Addiewell with Youngs CoY. For five years he was a journeyman plumber with Brown and Young, Bath Street, Glasgow. In 1880 he came from Glasgow to Broxburn where he filled the post of foreman plumber in the oil works for 49 years, serving under managers, the late Mr N. M. Henderson, Mr Wm. Cuthbertson, and Mr R. D. Danks. in 1929 he retired. Much of his work in the Oil Works lay in repairs at the acid works, which were erected by Cairns and Laing, Glasgow, round about the year 1886. He is pleased to recall the days of the 25 per cent dividends at Broxburn.

Mr Potter is a devoted churchman. For 58 years he has been connected with what was formerly Broxburn United Presbyterian Church, and is now St. John's Church of Scotland, and in 1903 he was elected an elder, a post which he still retains. Along with his wife, he was present at the laying of the foundation stone of the Church.

Mr Potter has had a very long connection with the Broxburn Co-operative Society, having been its vice-president, and later on, its president on two separate occasions. Those were the days when quarterly meetings were not, as now, of the "drawing room" type. Mr Potter's pleasures have always been of a quiet and simple kind. Work in the garden was a hobby. In earlier years he took an interest in music, and sang in the Church Choir and in the Broxburn Choral Union, when the late Mr T. E. Gledhill was its conductor. The gist of his fellow office bearers is to take the form of a mantlepiece clock.

Mr and Mrs Potter enjoy wonderful health, though the latter gets about with difficulty, and the former occasionally has to "cup" his ears. Their mental faculties are unimpaired, and both are bright and cheerful. Their exemplary manner of living has led to their being held in the very highest esteem, and has been reflected in their family, all of whom have "made good" and been a credit to their parents.

West Lothian Courier, 10 August 1938.

BROXBURN

DIAMOND WEDDING

Royal Congratulations for Broxburn Couple

At the celebrations of their diamond wedding in Edinburgh on Tuesday night, Mr and Mrs John Potter, received a telegram of congratulation from the King and Queen, sent from Balmoral, and among many other messages of good wishes were six cables sent from relatives in different parts of America and a basket of flowers from their grandchildren in New York.

Rev Matthew Shields, St John's Church, Broxburn, presided, and Mr R. D. Dank presented Mr and Mrs Potter with a handsome clock from the kirk session and managers of St John's Church, of which Mr potter was for many years president and is now a senior elder. Mr Potter, aged 84 years, is a native of West Calder district, and Mrs Potter, who is 80 years of age, was born at Lanark. The couple had a family of four sons and four daughters. Two sons and three daughters survive. There are ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Midlothian Advertiser, 19 August 1938.

DIAMOND WEDDING

Royal Congratulations for Broxburn Couple

At the celebration of their diamond wedding in Edinburgh in Tuesday night, Mr and Mrs John Potter, Albyn Cottages, Broxburn, received a telegram of congratulations from the King and Queen, sent from Balmoral, and among many other messages of good wished were six cables sent from relatives in America and a basket of flowers from their grandchildren in New York.

Re. Matthew Shields, St. John's Church, Broxburn, presided, and Mr R. D. Danks presented Mr and Mrs Potter with a handsome clock from the kirk sessions and managers of St. John's Chuch, of which Mr Pitter was for many years president and is now senior elder.

A photograph of Mr and Mrs Potter appeared in last week's issue.

West Lothian Courier, 19th August 1938.

A Record of Outstanding Events in and Around Broxburn - A Good Year

August

Broxburn couple, Mr and Mrs John Potter, celebrate diamond wedding. Congratulations from King and Queen.

West Lothian Courier, 6 January 1939.

DEATHS

POTTER - on 13th September 1944, suddenly, John Potter, late of Albyn Cottages Broxburn, beloved husband of the late Hannah Forrest, and father of Mrs Wylie, 34 Holybank Terrace, Edinburgh - Interred Uphall Cemetery.

West Lothian Courier, 22nd September 1944.

BROXBURN

FAITHFUL CHURCH WORKER

At the noon service in Broxburn St. John's Church on Sunday, Rev. M. Sheilds made reference to the passing of Mr John Potter, who died in his 91st year. He was ordained to the eldership in 1st February, 1903, and both before and after this time was a faithful, loyal and devoted servant of the church, whos godliness and Christianlike kindness left us a worthy example.

DEATH OF A NONAGENARIAN

The death occurred at this home in Edinburgh last week of Mt John Potter, foreman plumber in Broxburn Oil Works for over half a century. He retired over 20 years ago. He was in his 91st year, and up to three years ago resided at Albyn Cottages, Broxburn. in his day he was an enthusiastic member of Boxburn Co-operative Society, Ltd, ad for several terms president. Keenly interested in church affairs, he was ordained an elder of Broxburn St. John's Church in February, 1903, a position in which he served faithfully and well. His wife predeceased him several years ago. He is survived by a family of sons and daughters.

West Lothian Courier, 22 September 1944.

BROXBURN

Mr John Potter, formerly foreman plumber at the oil works, has died at his home in Corstorphine in his 91st year. He retired over 20 years ago. A sincere church worker, he was an elder for 41 years.

Midlothian Advertiser, 29 September 1944