LIKE every village, town and city, Dollar had its fair share of characters – two of these were Robbie Guild and Willie Stewart.

Robbie was well-known in and around Dollar and was made to feel welcome in the homes of its citizens

He delighted in getting a book to read, especially the bible, but he had issues with his reading capabilities.

Sometimes he would reach a certain word in a sentence he could not get past and would sit and repeat then repeat again the half sentence until he worked out what the word could be.

Perhaps rather unkindly, Robbie was often asked to read as the locals found it funny.

It was not only reading that Robbie would be stuck at. Often, he would be out walking and suddenly stop.

This would be because of a stone, or a piece of straw, or grass would be in his way, so after some time staring at it as if trying to decide what to do with it, he would pick it up, carry it to the side of the road, then go on his way.

Young boys in the village would tease him about his peculiar ways and it was said he got very angry with them

On the whole though, he was a mild mannered man with a harmless disposition.

He was treated kindly by most of the people in Dollar. He died on March 17, 1841, aged 75.

Another well-known character was Willie Stewart. Like Robbie Guild, he was a simple and kind hearted man. He too was teased by the boys and because of this, his life was made a misery.

Willie used to take messages for people and deliver them throughout the village. He would also do little jobs for a number of local families

He was often seen walking around the Dollar, so he was an easy target for the school boys. He was a thick set man with a stubborn temper, and the boys would always try to get a rise out of him.

If he had given as good as he got, the boys no doubt would have left him alone.

Instead, he would rather run than stick up for himself.

One night as the Dollar Academy boys were heading home from school, Willie was heard saying to himself that he had seen 'the rude laddies coming again' so decided to go 'awa' up the high road and no' be tormented' by them.

Willie died in 1857, aged 70.