| Robert Cunningham |
| born 19th September 1922 |
In the RAF, World War II. Robert Cunningham is standing, right.
|
| Robert Cunningham |
| born 19th September 1922 |
In the RAF, World War II. Robert Cunningham is standing, right.
Robert Cunningham was born on the 19th of September 1922, at 24, Polwarth Street, Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Polwarth Street, Galston
Back from the war - Bobby and Matt at home in Girvan in 1946
| Documents |
| Brothers and Sisters |
Matt, the twins, and Bobby at South Beach, Troon, c.1930
Robert Cunningham is the first, and last surviving, of five children.
A sister, Isabella Yeudall Cunningham, was born on the 14th of May 1925, at 7pm, at 1, Duke Street, Galston. The informant was Isabella's father, Thomas Cunningham, who had been present at the birth. Isabella died at the same address on the 28th of September 1925, at 8.10 pm, aged just four months. The causes of death were certified as acute gastroenteritis and teething. It is recalled that her mother, Isabella Paton, was deeply affected by the loss of her first daughter and never got over it.
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Left: Matthew Paton Cunningham in Naval Cadet uniform. |
It should however be noted that while the present Robert Cunningham recalls that his brother's full name was Matthew Haddow Paton Cunningham, he appears as Matthew Paton Cunningham on his birth and marriage certificates.
The handwritten inscription on the back of this photograph reads: 'Neta, Christine & Matt
114 78th St, Niagara Falls, N.Y., USA
August 28. 1945'The lady is understood to be Neta Oakley, a distant American cousin. Christine was presumably her daughter.
Always known as Matt, he attended Glasgow University after war service in the Far East and became a veterinary surgeon.
He was married to Margaret Mitchell Fleming at Alloway Church on the 16th of February 1956, and had three sons; Tom, born 1957; Adam, born 1961; & Matthew, born 1967. The family emigrated to East Africa in 1959, where Matthew worked for EATRO (East Africa Tropical Research Organisation) in Uganda until 1967. The family then moved to Kenya, where he worked for UN, FAO (Food and Agricultural Org). In 1977, he became Deputy Director of ICIPE (International Centre of Insect Physiology & Ecology), his last position.
Matthew Paton Cunningham died in Kenya of a heart attack on the 3rd of August 1985. He was fondly remembered by the two brothers and sister who survived him as an exceptional character, and as a brilliant but wayward scholar, who had a passion for bird-watching and fishing.
A twin sister and brother, Mary Reid Cunningham and Thomas Paton Cunningham, were born at Galston on the 17th and 18th of February respectively (a few minutes on either side of midnight) 1929. Right: Thomas Paton Cunningham
Thomas Paton Cunningham, who never married, died at home in Ardrossan during the early hours of Monday, the 9th of May 2005, after a long battle with cancer. His funeral took place three days later, at the Holmsford Bridge crematorium, near Dreghorn, on Thursday, the 12th.
Mary married William Wilson in Girvan on the 27th of December 1952, and they had three daughters, Isabel, born 1953; Agnes, born 1956; & Mary, born 1959. The family removed from Girvan to Ardrossan in June 1964. Left: Mary and William Wilson, with daughters (l - r) Agnes, Mary and Isabel at the family home in Vicarton Street, Girvan, c. 1962
He is fondly recalled as the original instigator of this study of the family history, and it is partly as a tribute to his memory that this work now continues.
Mary Reid Wilson died of old age at 9.00 pm on the 21st of December 2010, at home in Ardrossan. Her funeral took place, also at Holmsford Bridge, on Friday, the 31st.