James Peutherer (c.1886-1965)

PRESENTATION TO MR JAS. PEUTHERER

Winchburgh Tribute

The British Legion Hall. Winchburgh, was the scene last Friday evening of the largest public testimonial and presentation in the history of the village. Spontaneous and unanimous tribute was paid by almost every village organisation and the Winchburgh public generally to the services rendered over the years by Mr James Peutherer, J.P. who retired recently from the post of Works Manager at Niddry Castle Oilworks. Winchburgh. and the Works and Candle Factory. Broxburn. after years of service to the Scottish shale oil industry. Mr Pentherer's good works extended beyond the bounds of Winchburgh. and Broxburn organisations and people were also associated the presentation.

Associated with the presentation were the following Winchburgh organisations:—Lea Rig Burns Clith; Old Age Pensioners' Association; Albion F.C.; Scouts and Cubs; Unionist Association; Women's Rural Institute; Public Band; Parish Church organisations, Woman's Guild; Church Fellowship; Girls' Club, Girl Guides and Brownies; Boys' Brigade and Life Boys; British Legion (Men and Women' s Sections); Staff and Pupils of Winchburgh J.S. School; Staff and Pupils of Winchburgh R.C. School: Scottish Oils Employees; Union of Catholic Mothers. and many friends and business associates of Mr Peutherer. Broxburn organisation; listed were Broxburn Athletic FA. and Boxburn Bowling Club.

WII.I.ING SERVICE

A company of several hundred, including many Broxburn friends, attended the presentation ceremony when Mr Robert Keddie presided. Mr and Mrs Peutherer were, of course the guests of honour and took their places on a tastefully decorated platform with the chairman and members of the committee.

Following the chairman’s introductory remarks, he introduced Mr. J.B. George, M.A., headmaster of Winchburgh J.S. School, who presented a wrist watch and a pair of binoculars to Mr. Peutherer in these term:

The path through life has been described as an orbit of sunshine and shadow, where our emotions fluctuate between joy and sorrow. It is with such a mixture of conflicting feelings that we assemble here tonight to recognise publicly, though in a modest way, the debt we owe and the memories we cherish in regard to Mr. Peutherer. After a life time on industrious labour spend in the shale oil industry he has handed over the reins to a younger generation and is now enjoying a well-deserved rest. It is very satisfying for a man to know that he enjoys the goodwill of the people among whom he has worked so long and it is my duty to-night to tell Mr Peutherer that he has earned the goodwill and respect of this community to the highest degree.

This happy result was not accidental . It was the rich harvest of many years of willing service to the people among whom providence placed him. He might have chosen to remain aloof, to maintain a frigid reserve, and keep people at a respectful distance. But, in fact, he was a considerate and sympathetic manager who treated his workmen like human beings. Their troubles were his problems and they soon came to realise that, in him, they had a man of sensibility who was ready to listen to their worries and help them wherever possible. He was also a faithful member of the Christian church and, although he was a member of Broxburn West, his fellow members of the congregations of Winchburgh will be among the first to realise that when Mr Peutherer retired they lost and obliging and helpful member. He was also a good friend to schools and when any occasion required his help, our schools could confidently rely on his instant help.

In this terrible century in which we live, when two world wars and their aftermath have produced a feeling of frustration and dismay in the face of a steep lowering of moral values, it was refreshing and consoling to see the impact of Mr. Peutherer’s modest personality. In ancient Athens, during the age of Pericles, when citizenship reached its highest level, Mr. Peutherer would have been an honoured member. Because he possessed in a marked degree all the social qualities of good neighbourliness which were the characteristic sign of that great age.

The personality of Mr. Peutherer’s modest demeanour may be surprised to find himself the object of so much esteem and to be compare with a citizen of ancient Athens. But, even today there are some genial souls who see in service to their fellow men a Christian duty which they discharge with cheerful equanimity. This was the guiding light which Mr. Peutherer followed. As William Wordsworth said of John Milton “ So didst thou travel on life’s common way in cheerful Godliness.

I trust you will allow me at this point to introduce a personal note on behalf of my wife and myself, for we were next-door neighbours for 11 years. As you all know, many of the intangible and imponderable things of life are amongst our most dearly-prized possessions. We sensed in Mr. Peutherer’s house and air of friendliness which evoked similar feelings in ourselves. The sympathetic relationship increased as the years went by until it became part and parcel of our daily life. Now the link has snapped; the house stands silent and empty and we feel that something precious and irreplaceable has been taken out of our lives. It is. therefore, with admiration for his kindly virtues and regret at losing so helpful a friend that we salute him with " Hail and Farewell."

Sir. it is the hope of everyone present that Mrs Peutherer and you will be spared for many years to enjoy the evening of your day in health anti joy and peace."

Accept this, Sir. in the spirit in which it has been given by all your friends.

LONG SERVICE IN THE SHALE OIL INDUSTRY

Returning thanks for the gifts, Mr. Peutherer recalled his service in the shale oil industry, starting as a boy at Hermand works, West Calder, and continuing at Oakbank, Dalmeny, Hopetoun works, Niddry, and lately at Winchburgh. He had in fact spent two periods in Winchburgh, previous to the First World War as retort foreman at Niddry Castle works, returning September 1939 as Works Manager. He paid great tribute to the workmen at Winchburgh, saying that they had always prided themselves at Winchburgh saying that they had a very superior class of work men and people in Winchburgh. Recalling incidents and experiences in his career, he said that he had been especially proud at the time the German land mine was dropped on Niddry Castle Works and every man had turned out to help. Although he had no control over the miners, his relations with them had always been cordial and during snowstorms and other emergencies he had always found them ready and willing to turn out and work to keep the wheels turning.

Commenting on the his relations with chiefs under which he’d served, Mr Peutherer said the first of these had been the late A.C. Thomson , Oakbank, a man believed always in giving as high a wage as possible for a fair day’s work, a just and considerate master with whom he had always been on the friendliest of terms. These cordial relations had been maintained when he had come to serve under Mr. Robert Crichton and Mr. John Caldwell. He could honestly say that he had neither a wrong word from either and had always got understanding and consideration. It had been his intention to carry on for a while longer but in recent months he got several warnings from nature that the time for him to take thing easier was nigh. Mr Crichton had been most considerate and helpful when informed of his decision to retire.

HAPPY MEMORIES Mr Peutherer said that he and Mrs Peutherer had been most happy in Winchburgh and had many happy memories of the place and its people. Though now resident at Linlithgow. they still looked to Winchburgh as at least part of their home and they looked forward to maintaining many of their associations with the village. Thanking the villagers for their kindness and gifts. Mr Peutherer said that he had neither looked for or expected such a demonstration. Nevertheless, it was most gratifying and would form one of his most vivid and abiding memories. His philosophy in life had always been that of the song which said: “If I can help someone then my living shall not be in vain."

West Lothian Courier, 30th October 1953