John Mearns Taylor (1868 – 1932), doctor who served the communities of Skelmorlie, Wemyss Bay and Inverkip.

John Cole Mearns was born in 1868 in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, the youngest son of parents Captain Andrew Mearns, a Master Mariner, and Ann Sales. His father owned two houses in St. John’s, the second being tenanted by his friend Captain Taylor.

Dr Taylor in Skelmorlie

John moved to Scotland and went to the Royal High School, Edinburgh before attending Edinburgh University to study medicine. A keen rugby player he gained the rank of Captain at both school and University in the Rugby fifteens.

Having restyled his surname as Mearns-Taylor, possibly in memory of Captain Taylor, John began working as a General Practioner (GP), covering the communities of Skelmorlie, Wemyss Bay and Inverkip in 1898. On 9th November 1898, he married Sarah Osborne Mann in Glasgow.

Dr Mearns-Taylor continued to be enthusiastic about sports. He was a member of the Skelmorlie Golf Club, serving as club captain for several seasons, before being appointed president. He also played lawn bowls and was president of his local club. Following World War One, along with Rev. D. Bruce Nicol, he formed the Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay Amateur Athletic Association whose hall was in Upper Skelmorlie. He was also the driving force behind the erection of two public tennis courts in Skelmorlie.

In public life he served as chairman of the Skelmorlie School Board, as trustee of both the Public Library and the Workmen’s Rest, and Honorary President of the Social and Debating Society.

During World War One he served as a medical officer at the Smithston War Hospital in Greenock and later at the Ardgowan Auxiliary Hospital in Inverkip.

Dr John Cole Mearns-Taylor died on Sunday 21st February 1932, 1.30pm, at Craigmore, Skelmorlie from acute pneumonia, aged 64. He was survived by his wife Sarah, who died in 1955 aged 83.

His funeral was held on Wednesday 24th February at the Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay North Parish Church (formerly the Wemyss Bay United Presbyterian Church), with the service being conducted by Rev. J. H. Chambers Macaulay. In his will Dr Taylor left behind £11,953 (roughly £600,000 in today’s money.)

Following his death, £464 was raised by public subscription to erect a brass memorial tablet in Skelmorlie North Church, of which the balance of £400 was invested in a memorial fund to support the local institutions in which Dr Mearns-Taylor had been involved with.

The unveiling ceremony took place on Thursday 11th August 1932. Rev. J. H. Chalmers Macaulay of Skelmorlie North Church conducted the service, along with Rev. Douglas Fraser of Skelmorlie South Church, and Rev. William Crawford from Inverkip. Amongst those attending the service were Lord Inverclyde and Lady Alice Shaw Stewart.

His widow, Sarah Mearns-Taylor, unveiled the brass memorial tablet which was inscribed “To the glory of God and in memory of John Cole Mearns Taylor, M.B, C.M. (Edin.), born Newfoundland 1868, died Skelmorlie 1932. This tablet is erected and a memorial fund has been founded by patients and friends as a token of affection : in gratitude for one who for 34 years gave devoted service to Skelmorlie, Wemyss Bay, and Inverkip : and in recognition of his skill as a physician, loyalty as a friend, courage, sympathy, and a happy disposition, wise counsel and tireless zeal for the welfare of the community, which won for him admiration, trust and love. – ‘Who went about doing good and healing.’ – Acts x., 38.”