Esther Hunter (later, Menzies) (1895-1983), MA 1918
Esther Hunter [1913-UC1-033] was born in Lundin Links, Fife, and received her school education there, before moving to the Leven Higher Grade School, and then to Waid Academy. In 1913, aged 18, she matriculated in the United College at the University of St Andrews. In 1913 and 1914, she was following the training of the St Andrews provincial committee for the training of teachers, and was awarded the Wood of Orkie Bursary or Scholarship. She ultimately graduated with an MA in 1918.
In 1922, she married John Donald Stewart Menzies [1913-UC1-047], who had also begun teacher-training at St Andrews in 1913; his education was interrupted by military service, and he had only graduated in 1921. The couple moved to Montrose, where he taught at Montrose Academy. They had at least one child, a daughter Helen who later studied medicine.
After her husband’s death in 1941, Esther Menzies returned to Fife, and taught at Leven school until her retirement. Her memories of her childhood in Lundin Links were published in the local newspaper in 1974. She died in 1983 and is buried at Largo, in Fife.
This summary was written in May 2026 by Lola Lam, then a first-year MA student of International Relations and History at the University of St Andrews. Additional information added by Aileen Fyfe.
Sources: USALM archives; Findagrave.com; ‘Old Lundin Mill’ at the Vintage Lundin Links and Largo blog (15 Aug. 2014)