John Macpherson

John (known as Jack) was the son of Alexander (Alex) Macpherson and Mary Macpherson nee Snow.His father was an architect and had a practice, Macpherson and Richardson, at Tennant Street, Derby. He designed a significant number of public and private buildings in Derby including the Children's Hospital (now demolished), Bemrose Grammar School on Uttoxeter New Road and Littleover Old Hall and Lodge.Alexander (b. Roswallow, Forfar) married Mary Snow (b. Devon) in 1890 (marriage registered A/M/J Reading, Berkshire). They had three sons: John (birth registered 1891, J/F/M Nottingham), Duncan (b. 1894, O/N/D Nottingham) and Ronald Macpherson (b.1897, O/N/D Nottingham).In 1901 Alex (50) and Mary (33) were living at 31 Ratcliffe Road, Carrington, with their three sons, Jack (10), Duncan (6) and Ronald (3) with two live-in servants, Mary Kinsey (19) a cook, and Emily Horner (21) a housemaid.By 1911 Alex and Mary were living at 34 Magdala Road, Mapperley Park, with their two sons, Jack (20) a student (architect) and Ronald (13). They now employed two maidservants, Florence Noble (20) and Ada Bocock (20). Their second son, Duncan (16) was at Oundle School (Sidney School Boarding House, Milton Road, Oundle, Northants). 34 Magdala Road was to remain the family's home until sometime after Alexander's death in 1935.Jack's brother, Duncan, an architect in his father's practice, volunteered for the army on 7 August 1914. He had been in the Oundle OTC and joined as a private in the RAMC but was discharged as medically unfit for further military service on 10 November 1914 after serving for 90 days.Ronald served in the Northamptonshire Regiment and as a second lieutenant successfully completed his flying qualifications on a Maurice Farman Biplane at the Military School, Brooklands, on 6 August 1916. (No 3312, GB Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificates).Alexander Macpherson died aged 80 on 17 Decenber 1935 and his widow Mary on 2 April 1938 at the age of 74. Mary was living at 1a Burns Street, Nottingham, when she died; probate was awarded to her two surviving sons, Duncan who was an architect and Ronald who was an artist.Duncan died on 22 February 1952. His home was at 20 Mabel Grove, West Bridgford. Probate was awarded to his widow, Minnie Mildred Macpherson, and Charles Duncan Macpherson, a dental surgeon. Another son, Alexander, served in the Sherwood Foresters during the Second World War and there was a report in the local paper on 13 October 1943 that he had been reported missing. However, there is no record of his death on the CWGC register, so it is to be presumed that he survived the war.