THE KNIGHTHOOD TO DR DAVID STEWART.

DEMONSTRATION AT ABERDEEN

By command of Her Gracious Majesty the Queen, Dr David Stewart of Banchory House had the honour of being summoned to Balmoral Castle on Saturday for the purpose of receiving the honour of knighthood.

Dr Stewart left Aberdeen by the 9:30 morning train for Ballater, en route for Balmoral. New one accompanied him, but at Ballater station he was met by Dr Profeit, commissioner to Her Majesty the Queen, who drove him to the Castle. Here Dr Stewart was entertained at luncheon, and afterwards was knighted in usual form by the Queen. Sir David was the only one at this time to receive the distinction at the hands of Her Majesty. In the afternoon the new knight left the castle, Dr Profeit driving him back to Ballater. The weather was magnificent, and the drive to and from Balmoral was greatly enjoyed by Sir David, who was in the best of health and spirits.

Sir David’s return to the city was the occasion of a most gratifying popular demonstration. it had been generally thought that on his return from Balmoral the newly created knight would leave the train either at Cults or Holburn, the nearest points to Banchory House; and, therefore, any thought that had been entertained of an organised reception was given up. But as the 7:15 from Ballater on Saturday evenings during the summer runs direct from Crathes to Aberdeen, Sir David rather perhaps than impose any possible inconvenience to the traffic on so busy a day by causing the train to be stopped at Cults elected to journey all the way to the city.

The news was not long in getting abroad in the vicinity of the Joint Station that he was in the train due at 8:50. The crowds arriving by the North and South trains which reached town about the same hour were also very speedily informed of what was on the tapis, and, mingling with those already in waiting, they completely thronged the spacious platform.

The approach of the Deeside train was signalled by the explosion of a detonator, which, as a mark of honour, the station officials had placed on the line to herald the knight’s approach, for Sir David, as is well known in this neighbourhood, is a director of the Great North of Scotland Railway.

No sooner had this thunderous report ceased then from the College Street siding a perfect feu de joie was fired, and thus amid this skillfully contrived imitation of musketry, and the respectful salutations of his fellow citizens, the laird of Banchory, to his great astonishment but nonetheless evident gratification, alighted on the platform.

The unusual noise and stir brought several guardians of the peace with amusing, but admirable, promptitude to the scene; But finding, to their intense relief no doubt, that no shooting case was on hand, they fell to in keeping a passage clear for the distinguished arrival. Mr Duguid, superintendent, under whose instructions of course the volley of welcome had been fired, met Sir David at the carriage door, and took occasion to congratulate him on the honour he had that day formally received at the hands of Queen Victoria. Not the least delightful feature of this thoroughly spontaneous ovation was the heartiness with which old and young shook hands with Sir David on his way down the lane which had been formed for his convenience, and as he passed the people they formed up behind and respectfully followed him to the exit. Accompanied by Mr Duguid and Mr McNicol, assistant stationmaster, Sir David easily got his way to a Hansom, which speedily bowled along to Banchory House.

Source : The Aberdeen Journal, 8th June 1896