Alford Image Library

"Miss Wilken and Mr A G Wilken" were the children of The Guest, Mr George Wilken, born in 1872, and 1873, respectively. Miss Margaret Ann Wilken was my (maternal) grandmother, and married James Gorden Stephen (of Conglass, Inverurie) at Waterside Cottage in 1902. Family folklore related that Andrew George Wilken went to Canada around the time of the Yukon goldrush and was never heard of again, but a family memorial in 'The Kirkyard of Alford' bears the wording "Andrew George only son of George and Barbara Wilken who was accidentally drowned in Lake Atlin, B.C. 26 Dec 1901 aged 28". Mr W Wilken, one of the "The Friends of the Guest" was probably his brother Willam.