The Family of Hugh Fraser Rankin O.B.E. (1868 – 1947)

Hugh Rankin enjoyed a colourful life and a varied career.  He was the first member of the 
Rankin family to attend University (Edinburgh) where he graduated as a teacher.  After a 
short spell teaching in Scotland, he set out for Amoy in South China where he helped 
establish the Anglo-Chinese College of which he was Principal for 20 years.  In 1915 he 
returned to Britain first as an inspector of schools and then, in the newly formed Ministry 
of Food, he became the Secretary of the Butter and Cheese Imports Committee.  He 
performed numerous roles in the Ministry which included a spell of some 9 years when 
he travelled regularly to Argentina where he was involved in discussions on livestock, 
wheat, fruit and dairy products.  He returned to the Ministry in 1939 to help the war effort 
before finally retiring in 1943.

He was a keen Gaelic speaker and wrote a haunting song – the English title of which is 
"Farewell to St Kilda".  (This piece of music was performed in 1995 by a choir 
(including Alasdair and Pam Rankin) in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England ).  He 
also regularly visited the Lochaber area in later life and climbed to the summit of Ben 
Nevis at the age of 70.  He is buried in Fort William.

He received the Order of the British Empire medal from King George V in 1933.

He married Margaret Elizabeth Ramsay and they had 3 daughters – Margaret and the 
twins, Molly and Sheila.  Margaret retired as Public Relations Manager of Standard 
Telephones and Cables in London.  Molly was an actress who was employed by BBC 
Radio and appeared as a regular cast member of the long-running "soap", Mrs Dale's 
Diary.  None of the girls married.