Chirnside's famous sons include the Philosopher David Hume of Ninewells, Henry, Ralph and Ebeneezer Erskine, who contributed greatly to the religious history of Scotland, and, much more recently, Jim Clark, World Champion Racing Driver, who farmed at nearby Edington Mains.
David Hume of Ninewells (1711 - 1776, the world renowned moral
philosopher and historian, went to school in Chirnside until he was
twelve, before going to study law at Edinburgh University. His family
home was Ninewells estate, to which he would often return in later
years.
His first and most important philosophical work, 'Treatise of
Human Nature', was published when he was only 28 years of age. Through
his many writings, his influence became widespread, and he is still
regarded as the greatest philosopher that Britain has ever produced.
A search for 'David Hume' in Google produces over 100,000 results but the Philosophy Pages website is a good place to start.
In October 2009, the
Chirnside History Group heard an interesting talk on David Hume.
The Erskine Family was prominent in the history of the Presbyterian
Church in Scotland. The highly regarded Henry was parish minister of
Chirnside in the 17th Century, during which time he was imprisoned for
his covenanting beliefs.
On a national level, his son Ebenezer broke
away from the established Church of Scotland in 1733, forming the
Secession Church which stood out against the power of patronage in a
parish. Both Ebenezer and his brother Ralph are regarded as among the
best preachers ever to have been heard in Scotland.
Jim Clark OBE, whose family farmed locally at Edington Mains, won the
F1 World Championship on two separate occasions, and in 1965 he became
the first Briton to win the Indianapolis 500 in the United States.
Sadly, Clark was tragically killed in an accident in 1968 on the
Hockenheim Circuit in Germany at the age of 32.
The clock which you can
see in the centre of the village stands as a memorial to his
achievements, and his grave, in the local churchyard, is frequently
visited. The Jim Clark Room in Duns, which is dedicated to his short but
successful career, is home to many of his trophies and awards. Each
summer, the Jim Clark Rally, the only 'closed roads' race on mainland
Britain, takes place, using many of the minor roads around the village
as special stages.
For more information on Jim Clark visit www.grandprix.com.
For details of the Jim Clark Rally visit the official rally website.
“Be a philosopher; But amidst your philosophy, Be still a man.”
2011 marks the tercentenary of David Hume's birth and Chirnside mounted a major festival of philosophy to mark the event.
David Hume - 1711-1776
Henry Erskine, father of Ebenezer, was minister at Chirnside Church...
...which is, also, the location of Jim Clark's grave.
The plaque on the Jim Clark memorial clock
The name stones on the roads into Chirnside acknowledge Jim Clark's importance to the village