Robert Wilson Bisset (1895–1971)
Robert Wilson Bisset was born on 4 March 1895 in Pittenweem to his parents Mr and Mrs Alexander Bisset from Kilrenny, Anstruther. Robert attended school in Anstruther, where he is recorded as having received nomination for a bursary in 1911. Robert came to St Andrews for his first year in 1914 as a student of General Latin and Mathematics in the Faculty of Arts in United College. He is noted as being a Student in training under the St Andrew Provincial Committee for the Training of Teachers, and a William Thomson bursar. In 1914, Robert joined the Royal Army Medical Corps at the rank of a private. During the war, Robert wrote home to his Aunt – Miss Bisset – in West Anstruther. He is also listed in the 1921 census as living in Anstruther, possibly with this Aunt. Robert returned to St Andrews for his fourth year at United College in 1920 to study English Honours, English Language and Philology Honours, and Modern History Honours. Although he is not listed in the class lists before 1920, it is assumed that he must have returned to St Andrews before this. He achieved a Master of Arts (Ordinary) in October 1921. On the 24th of July 1929, Robert married Lilias Catherine Spalding in the Imperial Hotel in Arbroath. Nothing is known about him until his death on the 20th of November 1971 in Cheshire, meaning the couple must have moved here at some point. His death notice notes him as the “dear father of Winnie”.
This extract was researched and written by Louisa Stevens in May 2026.