From the Kilmarnock Standard, Friday, August 10, 1940

DEATH OF GALSTON EX-PROVOST. On Friday (actually Thursday) of last week ex-Provost John A. Yeudall, J.P., Galston, passed away in the 78th year of his age. He had been in failing health for some time, and the death occurred at the home of his elder son, Mr. Abram Yeudall, 22 Barr Street, Galston. Although he had been living in retirement for a good many years, the memory of ex-Provost Yeudall’s work on behalf of the community in which he had spent his whole life is still fresh in the minds of the people. And his memory will long be cherished as that of one of Galston’s most public-spirited citizens. A son of the late Mr. Abram Yeudall, joiner, ex-Provost Yeudall was born in the house in Barr Street in which he breathed his last, and he was trained to the joinery business in his father’s firm. To this he eventually succeeded and for many years he was head of the joinery and undertaking business of J. A. Yeudall and Sons. He retired from business in 1932. His public life began on the old Town Commission, which he entered in 1896, and continued uninterrupted until his retiral from public life in 1921. From the old Town Commission he gravitated into the reconstituted Town Council, and in 1906, while holding the office of Junior Bailie, he was elected to the chair in succession to the late ex-Provost Wm. Allan. He thereafter held the office of Provost until 1921 – a period of 15 years. As evidence of the confidence which his fellow-citizens and Council colleagues reposed in him it may be mentioned that only once in the 25 years that he served the community as Commissioner and Councillor did he require to stand election. Mr. Yeudall’s services to the community perhaps reached their high water mark during the years of the Great War. No one who lived through those times can ever forget the part he played as friend and counsellor of all who were in any way connected with H. M. Forces. When Belgium was overrun by the Germans and refugees came pouring into this country, Galston was one of the places where they found a particularly warm welcome, and at the head of an influential local committee Provost Yeudall did everything in his power to provide food, clothes, comfort and asylum for those unhappy people. For services rendered by him in that connection he received a medal from King Albert of the Belgians. He also did notably good work in connection with Galston’s War Loan effort. Galston’s contribution then was an outstanding one and, proportionate to the population, was far ahead of that of neighbouring towns. During those exceptionally busy years Provost Yeudall did not spare himself in service to the community. In addition to his normal civic duties he was chairman of nine war-time committees, all of which demanded a fair share of time and attention. In times of peace Provost Yeudall employed himself no less usefully and energetically. It was during his term of office that Galston Town Council introduced a modern sewage disposal and purification system, and also overhauled the town’s gravitation water supply, part of the overhaul – which generally effected a vast improvement – being the substitution of an 8-inch for a 5-inch pipe on the line of track from Newmilns to Galston. It was due also to Provost Yeudall that a radical reform was made in Council procedure by the adoption of the committee system, which resulted in a marked saving of Councillors’ time and increased efficiency of administration. A Businesslike Administrator. From first to last his leadership of the Council was businesslike, and by his example in verbal economy he succeeded in putting a check on the loquacity of others. At all times he exercised his authority with impartiality and fairness, and his lengthy term of office was marked by harmony and well-ordered progress. It was no more than a just reward when, on the occasion of his retiral in 1921 his services were tangibly recognised by the presentation to him of a handsome gold watch, suitably inscribed, along with a wallet of Treasury notes. Earlier expression of public appreciation was also made in 1911, when Provost and Mrs Yeudall celebrated their silver wedding and were publicly honoured. At the time of his death ex-Provost Yeudall was chairman of the Galston Gas Co., having been appointed to that office in 1930 in succession to the late Mr. John Hendrie. He had been vice-chairman since 1922, and had served on the board of directors since 1904. When the Caledonian Gas Corporation assumed control of the local gas works some time ago he was invited – and consented – to continue as chairman of the local board. As a staunch Churchman and a member of the congregation of Galston Old Parish Church, he was ordained an elder in 1894. From 1928 until December of last year, when he resigned for health reasons, he had held the office of Session Clerk. He was also Convener of the Works Committee of the church for several years. As a young man he was a keen florist and horticulturalist, and a frequent exhibitor at important shows throughout the country. Poultry breeding was another of his hobbies in which he achieved a fair measure of success – brown leghorns being his speciality. At one time he was an enthusiastic bowler, and had held office as president of Galston Bowling Club. An ardent advocate of the cause of Temperance, he gave long and valuable service to the Vale of Irvine Tent of the Independent Order of Rechabites both as a member and an office-bearer, and also acted for fourteen years as District Secretary of the Order. Ex-Provost Yeudall was a Justice of the Peace of the County of Ayr. In January, 1936, Mr. Yeudall and his wife celebrated their golden wedding. His wife’s death about three months ago was a severe blow to him. The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon at Galston Cemetery and was of a semi-private nature. Members of the general public were invited to meet the cortege at the cemetery gate, and a goodly representation of friends and former associates in public life did so. The services at the home and at the graveside were conducted by the Rev. Walter Davidson, Galston Old Parish Church. Of a family of three sons and three daughters the deceased is survived by two sons and two daughters. All are married. The two daughters, Cecilia (Mrs McCrone) and Grace (Mrs Park) are resident in the U.S.A. and New Zealand respectively, while the sons, Abram and John, are associated in the firm of Messrs J. A. Yeudall & Sons. The second son, Matthew, fell in action during the Great War. General sympathy is expressed with all the surviving relatives. (Note – the first of the three daughters, whose existence is referred to in the first line of this paragraph, was also Grace, and she died in infancy). Pulpit Tribute. The noon service in Galston Old Parish Church on Sunday was conducted by the Rev. T. R. S. Campbell, Fenwick, who read the following tribute by the minister, the Rev. Walter Davidson. To-day (wrote Mr. Davidson) we mourn the passing of one of our two senior elders, ex-Provost Yeudall, who was ordained to the eldership on 18th March, 1894, over 46 years ago. Both in Church and in public life he has served his native town long and faithfully, and no citizen was better known. For a quarter of a century he served with zeal and ability on the Town Council, being the civic head for fifteen years until his retiral in March, 1921, though for the rest of his days he was still known to us all as “the Provost.” As Session Clerk from October, 1928, till last December, when increasing infirmity caused him to resign, I inevitably saw more of him than any other member of this church, and I owe much to his wise guidance through his long and varied experience in the conduct of business. From him, too, I learned much of fascinating interest connected with the life of this church away back to the days of Dr. Stirling, more than sixty years ago. As Provost during the years of the Great War, from the innumerable duties and meetings he had then in hand, not least those connected with the Belgian refugees in Galston, his self-sacrificing labours in the national cause must have been equalled by few. But while we are proud of his public record, we shall remember him best for the long years of faithful and devoted services rendered to this church. Its success was ever dear to his heart, and his practical interest in its varied activities was life-long. We shall miss him greatly. While his place in the public life of this town, and in what meant more to him – the welfare of this congregation – will be difficult to fill, may his splendid example be an example to our young men to take up the task that has fallen from his hands. While a double bereavement is more trying for the family, there is this touchingly beautiful thought that after over 54 years of happy wedded life, only three short months between their deaths should have separated Provost and Mrs. Yeudall from that reunion in the heavenly home which will never more be broken. Our united and sincerest sympathy and prayers are with their children here and across the seas in their great sorrow and loss.