Robert McPheat

Robert McLean McPheat (1933 - 1990)
Robert McPheat was born in Airdrie in Scotland on the 13th November 1933, the third child in a family of six. In 1947 a Mr Wilding had gospel meetings in the nearby village of Greengairs and a school friend of Robert, John Clelland, attended and was saved. He then spoke to Robert at school about his salvation and having expressed an interest in this matter they both went into the school gym where Robert accepted the Lord Jesus as his Saviour at the young age of fourteen. He was subsequently baptised in Hebron Hall, Airdrie and received into fellowship at the nearby assembly at Plains.

During his early years at Plains, he appreciated the help given by the saints there and in particular by brother John King, of whom he spoke lovingly as his spiritual father. In 1951 he moved to Newtongrange in Midlothian, which at that time was a large coal- mining area and started work at the Lady Victoria Colliery, travelling home each weekend.

He married Margaret (Greta) Robertson, who was in fellowship at Plains, in January 1953 and they were commended to the assembly at Newtongrange two months later, setting up home in Mayfield, a nearby village were the assembly is now located. Robert served faithfully as an overseer in the assembly and his guidance and care were greatly valued when the testimony was faced with many difficult problems.

He made numerous visits to assemblies in the UK, Canada and the U.S.A. His full heart shone in his sermons; his preaching was both direct and powerful; his tears plentiful; his wisdom great; his life transparent; his mind discerning. He wrote only one small book, "Joseph, a Fruitful Bough." He passed suddenly into the presence of his Lord on 25th July 1990, while on holiday in the Island of Jersey.