Fairlie food pioneer met Gandhi

As well as a writer, Dugald Semple was at the forefront of vegetarianism, and in 1953, wrote some prophetic words: ‘Most people do not die, they kill themselves with their knives and forks.’ Born in 1884, Semple took up a strict vegan diet when he was 20, adopting a ‘back to nature’ lifestyle, and was known as ‘The Hermit of Linwood Moss’, He toured the west coast in a caravan, spreading the word about simple living, and earned money from writing newspaper articles and books on diet.

Prior to the Great War, Dugald had conducted lecture tours as far south as Southampton, talking to local Food Reform Societies about vegetarianism and simple living.

In one of his books, Dugald wrote: “The First World War broke out in 1914, and though a pacifist for religious reasons, I nevertheless felt it my duty to offer my services in a civil capacity to help my country. My view was that no one was exempt from the sins of his fellows, and should, therefore, do something, both in peace and war, to shoulder one’s social obligations.

“First of all, I obtained a Government permit to give lectures on “Food Economy” along the Ayrshire coast, provided my caravan had no lights shining and was removed inland at night.“ In 1916, he married Cathie Amon, a widow from Kilmacolm, and after staying in London for a period, moved to Beith to a farmstead where they hoped to establish a colony of like-minded people living off the land.

It was in 1917 when Dugald was secretary of the London Vegetarian Society that he met Gandhi who was a previous member of the group, and sought refuge during World War One in one of the buildings owned by the society at that time.

Local historian Mazda Munn, who lives in Millport said: “We believe Gandhi came on a mission to stop the war, and Dugald got to spend some time interviewing him, and the story features in one of his books ‘Joy of Living’ - and tells the story of how Ghandi ate milk products. Dugald encouraged Gandhi to have soya milk and nut butter so he didn’t have to eat animal products to get protein.” Dugald featured on Canadian tv in 1958. Mrs Margaret Alexander from Edwards, Ontario, wrote to her parents in Largs and said: “Dugald featured in a programme where they interview different kinds of people and always have someone interesting. He had just arrived in Toronto and they asked him if he was seasick. He said he had fasted for two days before the trip and it had been one of the worst ever. They were three days late in arriving owing to the storm. The furniture had been hurtled about everywhere while people had been thrown out of their bunks. He told how he started being a vegetarian and talked about his friendship with Gandhi and also mentioned Fairlie.” In October 1960, Dugald gave a lecture on ‘How to Grow Younger’ at The Melmore Restaurant (now Room) in Largs.

He quoted Swedish philosopher Emmanuel Swedburg’s words, “The older the angels in heaven appear the more they appear like little children.” Mr Semple said that body cells were constantly being renewed. It used to be thought that the body changed completely once every seven years but he said that current wisdom suggested it was every three years.

He said: “Man was born for life, not death. We should be able to put off disease and old age. Man is spirit, and as we become more spiritual, death as we know it, will disappear. To prove immortality is to live by that part which is immortal. The true spiritualist lives such a pure life that the spiritual eye becomes open so he can see the future.” Semple spoke about a Dr Barbara Moore who was motorcycling on the southern slopes of the Himalayas and came across two remarkable men who were then 116 and 119 years old and survived on one meal a day for 80 years, while centenarians in America in ‘The Longevity Club’ in Chicago stated that fruit juice and vegetarian lifestyles increased life chances.

“Health is not only physical but moral and spiritual,” said Dugald.

“Man is the apex of evolution and should be an example to the rest of creation. For a real health state it is necessary to have fresh air (with deep breathing), sunshine (sun baths), water treatment to keep the body clean and for drink when thirsty.” After his wife died, he continued to write books and articles for the press, eventually retiring to Fairlie.

Dugald, who stayed in Rose Cottage, Fairlie, passed away in January 1964, and left a will of £19,302. For more than 30 years, Mr Semple was a contributor to the Largs and Millport Weekly News, and lectured at home and abroad on the health-giving qualities of simple food and advocated healthy living.

It was reported after his death that there was to be ‘windfalls’ for old folk’s associations in Fairlie and Largs with Haylie House and Fairlie Old Folk’s Welfare Assocation set to benefit. Fairlie Old Folk’s Welfare Association was formed primarily to help Haylie House, to which Fairlie people were eligible for admission. The Semple Centre in Fairlie is named in Dugald’s honour.