Richard Rennison led to the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1939, which outlawed the process of "irregular marriages". When the new law came into force in 1940, Rennison had performed 5,147 marriages. His role then changed to a symbolic one, "blessing" marriages and acting as caretaker of the forge. He also regularly appeared at court to ensure the marriages he performed were judicially recognised. Richard Rennison Richard Rennison (29 October 1889 – 5 August 1969) was the last "anvil priest" at Gretna Green, Scotland. Between 1926 and 1940, he performed "irregular marriages" of couples over the anvil at the Old Blacksmith Shop, where the
Gretna Margaret Weste Gretna Margaret Weste Gretna Margaret Weste (September 5, 1917 – 2006) was a leading scientist noted for her work in plant pathology and mycology, specifically with "Phytophthora cinnamomi." Gretna Margaret Weste was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland in 1917, to Australian parents, arriving in Australia aged two years. Her schooling was completed through scholarships, at Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne and later the University of Melbourne, attaining a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in 1938 and Master of Science (MSc) in 1939. She was awarded a PhD in 1969 and a University of Melbourne Doctor of Science (DSc) in 1984 for her published