Writing about him more than fifty years after his being elected second President of tile Society, the "Folha de Sao Paulo" in an article on the popular mountain resort of Campos do Jordão, informs its readers that the "agrimensor escocês" John Robert Reid, formed a commercial- residential nucleus called Vila Nova shortly after the railway link with Pindamonhangaba was completed in 1914. It goes on to tell in a somewhat garbled, but basically correct, manner how our man changed this name soon after to Abernessia.

An old member keeps the record straight by recalling that Robert Reid was born in Inverness and educated in Aberdeen. On his arrival in Brazil he settled in the then wilds of Campos do Jordão where he built a hydroelectric plant.

The settlement referred to by the daily paper followed soon after and wishing to perpetuate the name of his birthplace and the city where he went to school, he joined the two. Hence Abernessia and, today, a felicitous reminder of home for Scots on holiday in Robert Reid's beloved Campos hills.

He is also remembered as appearing at all the Society's early Banquets in full Highland regalia.