Agatha "Agate" Henrietta Noel-Paton

After the death of her father Alexander Balfour, Agatha moved to Edinburgh and then to Dawyck. She worked in Lambeth in 1895-6 in one of the earliest "settlements". After marriage to Diarmid Noel-Paton they lived in Glasgow. During the war years Agatha helped to start, and worked for, several charitable organizations. She organized and ran the sphagnum moss depot in Glasgow and ran a Y.M.C.A. hut.

After her husbands death in 1928 she lived in America with her son and travelled widely. She was always interested in the work of Highland Home Industries and when over 65 she learned to weave in order to help some families in USA who were in great need of an industry. In Vancouver she taught many people to spin.

After returning to Scotland in 1939 she worked again with the organization of sphagnum moss collection which was made into hospital dressings

After 1940 Agatha spent most of her time in Argyll with her daughter Mrs Keir Campbell and her son Donald at Lochaline where she started the local branch of WRI.

She learnt to swim when over 60 and celebrated her 85th birthday by dancing a 16-some reel with the captain of the ship on which she was returning from a trip to India.

She and a friend were the first women to cross the Forth Bridge when it was nearly completed and before it was open to the public. She could repeat long pieces of Byron and other poetry with great zest and enjoyment.