| Notes |
- Birth: Registration: 1923-410/1-049
Name: Charles Wilkie
Born: 23 January 1923, Burns, Collessie, Fifeshire, Scotland
Male
Father Name: Andrew Wilkie, Ploughman
Mother: Mary Ann Edmonds
Date & Place of Marriage: 14 October 1921 at Dunbog, Fifeshire, Scotland
Informant: A Wilkie, Father
Registered: 09 February 1923 at Ladybank, Fifeshire, Scotland
Charlie also worked on the same farm as his father Andrew -
Gospentry Farm Cottages. He, like his father, received a recognition award in the agricultural line for his farming skills.
Charlie never married. After his fathers' death, he remained at Gospentry and continued to look after his mother, who was a Type I diabetic. After his mothers' death, he took a long holiday to Australia.
Charlie died suddenly about 1991 and Aunt Jenny Mills wasn't notified so doesn't know too many details. He used to visit them regularly but upon his death there was no one who would notify the Mills family - Aunt Jenny and Nancy. They noticed a short clipping in the newspaper.
EXTRACT FROM NEWSPAPER 1988
OFF AFTER 51 YEARS
Charlie Wilkie knows every square inch of Gospentry Farm like the back of his hand - but he should, having worked the land west of Milnathort for no fewer than 51 years.
Yesterday, however, Charlie (65) retired with plans of discovering a new land.
"Later this year I hope to go to see relatives in Australia," he said after being presented with a wallet and notes by farmer Stanley Bayne of the well-known Fife bakery chain.
"It has long been an ambition of mine to go to see the three cousins I have never met before," he said. Charlie has lived in the same cottage all his life, his late father Andrew being grieve at the farm on the northern most tip of Fife.
On leaving Auchtermuchty primary School in 1937, he immediatley began working with the farm's cattle herds - filling almost every job over the years, including ploughman and tractorman.
"I have turned my hand to everything," he continued, "and have loved every minute of it. My favorite moments involved working with the Clydesdale horses which used to do many of the tasks before the days of tractors".
Charlie was excused war duties because of his work in agriculture, but it did not prevent him trying to join up. "My friend and I went over to volunteer in Dundee," he said, "but we were turned down because of our work with the farm.
"My father had been a prisoner of war after being wounded in the Great War - I still have his cap badge, postcards he sent while on service and many other memontoes - and I too wanted to serve my country.
"But the authorities decided that I could contribute more by working the land. "Instead I did serve with the Home Guard in Milnathort."
Charlie is well-known in local horticultural circles for his success with both vegetables and flowers. "I must admit I have won a few cups over the years for my efforts," he added.
"When I come back from Australia I hope to spend more time in my garden."
Will the long flight pose any problems to someone so used to life in the wide open spaces of the Fife countryside?
"The only time I have ever flown before was on a pleasure flight during a holiday in Blackpool many years ago," said Charlie, "but I am quite looking forward to the new challenge of flying halfway round the world in one go."
Picture shows Charlie (right) receiving his gift from Mr. Bayne.
Death - Charlie WILKIE
Source: 1991-418-106
Place; 103B Waverley Drive, Glenrothes, Fife, Scotland
Date: Dec. 21, 1991**
Sex: male
Widower: Single
Father: Andrew Wilkie
Mother; Mary Ann Edmonds
Cause of Death: Cardiac Arrest, Myocardial Ischaemia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Informant: Annie Edmonds, Friend, 14 Milburn Place, Fruchie or Frechie
** June 2015 research in New Registry House, I have noted the date of Death as 27 Dec 1991 at 2242 hours.
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My Scottish "Wilkie" Family
1923 - 1991 (68 years)