Harkness – MacGillivray Stories

This is a PDF version of my mother Rhoda’s family photo albums from before 1940. This is downloadable.

My mother, Rhoda Campbell Harkness, nee MacGillivray, was an avid collector of family photos and other family memorabilia stretching back to the early 1900s.

She married Alexander Whitecross Harkness, a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). The photo album thus includes some of his relations, such as his cousin, Sir Peter Heatly, the renowned Scottish international diver and swimmer.

My mother’s mother, Morag Campbell, was born on the Isle of Eigg in western Scotland, so the photo album also includes a photo of her, and her father, my great grandfather, Ruaridh Campbell, the Ferryman of Eigg.

There is also a Harkness wedding photo from the 1920s, showing my father as a young boy, and his mother and father.

His mother was Georgina Hume (Sir Peter Heatly’s auntie). Both my father and his father were electrical engineers (and my brother, Alistair); so one of the photos shows my grandfather, Alexander Whitecross Harkness, sitting on a gunboat with his wife, Georgina, anchored at Rosyth Naval dockyard where he worked during World War One.

Another photo shows the Whitecrosses in Wick or Orkney – the grandparents of my father – but the information gets a little hazy here.

Here is a description for each photo/slide in the album:

Slide 1

The first slide shows my mother sitting intimately with Ian McKinnon, – her boyfriend on the Isle of Eigg in the 1930s.

Slide 2

The second slide shows my second cousin, James Whitecross Harkness, as a baby in 1939. I accidentally came across him on the Internet around 2010 – and he has since filled me in with lots of interesting details about the Harkness family.

Slide 3

The third slide shows my grandmother, Morag MacGillivray (nee Campbell) feeding the chickens on the Isle of Eigg in the 1930s.

Slide 4

Also shows my grandmother with my mother – the smallest girl, and my mother’s cousin, Eileen Johnston MacGillivray, wearing the sailor’s cap. The photo is probably taken at Acharacle in Argyllshire, where my grandfather, Hector MacGillivary, was born. 

Slide 5

“Mysterious wedding photo of the Harknesses – 1920s”

I have not been able to identify who got married here – but my father, Alexander Whitecross Harkness, can be seen as a boy in short trousers. His parents are also visible in the photos.

Slide 6

Shows my mother with her Auntie Flora on the Isle of Eigg in the 1930s. 

Slide 7

Shows my mother and grandmother in a studio photo, probably taken around 1921 or 1922 – more than 100 years ago!

Slide 8

Shows my great grandfather “Ruaridh Ruadh”, this is Gaelic and means “Roderick the Red”, due to his large red beard. He was said to be descended from the Vikings. He was the ferryman of Eigg, as can be seen by his ‘Captain’s Cap’. This is also a studio photo, probably taken in Glasgow around 1920, when he was visiting his daughter. 

Slide 9 Writing on the back of a photo of Peter Heatly.

Slide 10 My father’s three cousins. One died in the war, while another was a conscientious objector.

Slide 11 Granny Harkness’s parents. This is another mysterious photo. My father’s grandmother was called Whitecross – her parents lived in Wick or Orkney – more investigation needed here!

Slide 12 1905 wedding photo of my father’s uncle. 

Slide 13 A photo of Sir Peter Heatly – my father’s cousin, and a champion Olympian diver and swimmer. He bears a striking resemblance to my father.

Slide 14 This photo shows my father visiting the Heatlys when he was 14 years old around 1930. Peter Heatly is one of the small boys.

Slide 15 Shows my father when he was 22 years’ old. He is smiling – he had a positive outlook on life.

Slide 16 The next photo is quite astounding! It is the only photo I have of my father’s parents together (Alex and Georgina) But the photo hides a long and interesting story. It is probably taken during World War One. My grandfather was an electrical engineer, so was not obliged to serve in the armed forces, as he was working in the “war industry” – in other words, the photo was probably taken at Rosyth Naval Dockyard aboard a gunboat he was perhaps servicing. Interesting in this context is that my father also worked as an electrical engineer at Rosyth Naval Dockyard. My brother Alistair also worked in the electrical trade. Moreover, my nephew, Alexander Whitecross Harkness, is also an engineer who has patented tools for the defence of the United States. In other words, engineering, and the connection with national defence, is a family tradition – stretching back one hundred years and more.

Slide 17 Shows my father as a boy – around 1920

Slide 18 Shows my Auntie Flora when she was about 16.

Slide 19 My grandfather

Slide 20 Writing on the back of a photo about the mysterious “Whitecrosses.”

Slide 21 Photo probably taken in Acharacle, Argyllshire. My second cousin, Ted Moyes, informed me that Flora Johnston passed away between Christmas and New Year aged 94 (2024/2025). She had spent a nice Christmas with her family. Flora was one of Uncle John’s daughters. Flora is the small blonde girl in the middle.

Slide 22 Georgina Harkness (nee Hume) with her dog – photo probably taken in early 1930s. 

Slide 23 Another photo of Georgina and her dog. One wonders who took the photo – perhaps my father. The dog was probably dear to Georgina – as her husband had died some years before. 

Slide 24 Georgina Hume as a young attractive woman.

Slide 25 “Grandad Whitecross from Wick” Another mysterious photo of one of my father’s relations – more investigation needed!

Slide 26 Writing on the back of the photo

Slide 27 My father’s uncle and cousin, and his grandmother, and my second cousin.

Slide 28 My grandfather, Hector MacGillivary

Slide 29 Hector MacGillivray – somewhat older

Slide 30 Hyde Park School, Glasgow – the school my mother attended as a young girl.

Slide 31 Photo of my mother’s school class. She had a good memory and could remember all the kids in her class in the 1920s – even though she was in her late seventies.

Slide 32 Close up of school photo – my mother is in the bottom row in the middle wearing white socks – she was very cute! An amusing point here is the size of the class – 50 pupils! No wonder they had corporal punishment – it must have been the only way to keep discipline. 

Slide 33 Same photo as above.