Sadly the Covid pandemic has curtailed research on J McNeil  but there have been interesting developments.  At the time of the 1841 census, timber merchant Rodney McNeil was living in Back Street, Gatehouse with his six sons. His wife Mary Watt, daughter of Andrew Watt, had died earlier that year. Andrew Watt was a lint miller in Skyreburn but also owned number 17 High Street, Gatehouse.  Rodney and Mary’s second eldest son was James, born in 1830.  The McNeils owned the house which today is 21 Catherine Street.  However, the house was sold in 1842 and in that year a Rodney McNeil married in the Isle of Man. It is difficult to search Isle of Man records online so we do not yet know what happened to Rodney.  But what happened to his children? 

The new Gatehouse playpark is up and running after an incredible £100,000 community fundraising campaign and a major effort by many local residents.  The new park at Riverbank Wynd features new all-inclusive play equipment and is already being well used and enjoyed by local children.

A small group of people assembled at the Gatehouse of Fleet War Memorial on Saturday 15th August to remember VJ day. 

A document providing up to date information information and advice for individuals, families, businesses and charities is available here. 

ate of release: 3 June 2020.

Topics covered:

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE

OTHER SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES

OTHER INFORMATION FOR BUSINESSES

INFORMATION FOR CHARITIES

Public Forum

The Community Council will be holding a "virtual" meeting due to the Covid-19 restriction. Consequently, public attendance is not really feasible. If any members of the Gatehouse community have any issues that they wish to raise that are within the remit of the Community Council, could they please send an email to the Chairman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. outlining the issue in question.

Gatehouse Horticultural Society held its annual show on Saturday 31st August. It was held, as usual in the Community Centre and proved to be a very successful day, which was surprising after the wild weather the previous two days. It was great to see more new residents entering the many different classes available to them (some even winning prizes), along with the usual exhibitors who come along and make a great effort every year. The show seems to be a great opportunity for all ages to catch up with folk they haven’t seen for a while, and to have a chat and laugh while walking around and admiring the many exhibits on display.

Dumfries and Galloway Doors Open day this year will be held over the weekend of 7 and 8 September.

The Mill on the Fleet is planning to hold a Community Pop-up Museum over the weekend.  The sort of items that the Mill is hoping to display include Gala week programmes, photographs of local people and places, Gatehouse of Fleet souvenirs and memorabilia, and tools and household equipment from the last 230 years.  Does anyone have a pair of Gatehouse clogs or any items relating to old Gatehouse of Fleet industries and trades?  Any items lent for the weekend will be safely looked after and returned. 

Robin Alderslowe went to London last month to receive his Cycling UK Outstanding Young Achiever award from Jenny Graham, the Scottish round-the-world cycling record-holder.  He received his award for encouraging people in our community to get on their bikes.

The Community Council was pleased that more people completed the recent questionnaire about the town than did the last time one was presented for comments, a few years ago. Many of the answers reflect the topics that the Council has been pursuing regularly – the state of the garage site being the most mentioned. The Survey Report is now available in the Gatehouse Store, the Spar and the Library for anyone to read and to discover how hard the Council has been working on your behalf.

Number 1 High Street officially opened on the 4th of May, after 6 weeks of hard graft, providing a new home for TGB Gatehouse.  TGB was formed and is supported by the Community Church for the benefit of our community and our move was made possible through a three-year grant by the National Lottery’s “Young Start” programme.  This is funded from dormant bank accounts, a fact not lost on us as we took over dormant bank premises!