Tillypronie Estate Staff circa 1958
Image courtesy of Bob McLaren, Logie Coldstone
It is thought this photograph of Tillypronie Estate staff was taken in 1958 but possible 1959. The location is in front of the Estate Office.
The names of the people as per the numbers:
1. Sandy Henderson (Keeper at Towie)
2. Jimmy Geddes (Forestry Worker later dozer driver)
3. Donald Mackie (Tractor Man)
4. Jock McCombie (Forestry Worker)
5. Willie Bruce (Gardener)
6. Sandy Robb (Joiner)
7. Bob McLaren (Forestry Worker)
8. Bob Henderson (Keeper at Deskry)
9. Donald Mackie (Sawmiller)
10. John Innes (Nursery man)
11. George Livingstone (Jr) (Farm Worker - Reinicharn Farm)
12. Bob McLaren (Bob’s father) (Forestry Worker)
13. Ronald Geddes (Tractor Man - Kinaldie farm)
14. George Chapman (Forestry Worker)
15. Ron Black (Keeper at Tillypronie area)
16. Adam King (Estate Handyman)
17. Sandy Cowe (Baillie Kinaldie Farm )
18. Sandy Leslie (Forestry Worker & Lorry Driver)
19. John Cowe (Tractor Man Kinaldie Farm)
20. George Livingstone (Sr) Grieve Reinacharn Farm)
21. Andy Miller (Head Gardiner)
22. George Thompson (Head Forester)
23. James Dickie (Estate Manager)
24. George Leslie Melville (Estate Factor)
25. Bill Taylor (Shepherd)
26. Willie Black (Head Keeper)
27. Charlie Grassick (Head Joiner)
28. Charles Smith (Farm Manager)
29. Charlie McKay (Foreman Forestry Squad)
Following the devastating gale of 1953 when 90% of the Estate’s timber was smashed down a programme was put in place to reinstate the forests. A nursery was established producing about 300,000 trees each year for planting the new forests and an annual programme of 150 acres planted over the following 12 or so years.
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Groups: Forestry Areas, Groups of people, Northeast Scotland
Group: Forestry in Action - 1908 pictures
15 Comments
Correct spelling is George Thompson
Comment left on 03 January 2014 at 20:30 by Douglas Thompson
Thanks Douglas for the spelling check and have corrected the name now. Any more forestry photographs of George would be very welcome.
Comment left on 04 January 2014 at 08:28 by Norman Davidson
Just had a very pleasant surprise when I was looking for info on Tillypronie Estate, I opened this picture to find my grandfather Charlie Grassick (no.27) looking back at me. I sadly never met him as I was born after he died although I did spend time at Tillypronie as my granny continued working as housekeeper, but this is a wonderful picture to see him with his fellow workers. Thank you.
Comment left on 28 July 2014 at 22:30 by Carol Anderson
I lived at Ladywell where my mother Janey Gerrie was housekeeper to William McLaren who was gardener at Tillypronie House. His son and grandson are the two Bob McLarens! I remember them well. We stayed at Knocksoul before moving to Ladywell. Very happy days with Mr. Mac at Ladywell.
Comment left on 13 January 2016 at 21:32 by Patricia.gerrie@skynet.be
I spent holidays with my brothers Gerry and Frankie Gibson at a farm in Tarland with Ronnie Black his wife Mary (who was my aunt Ellen's sister) and children Ronnie, Elizabeth, Colin and Roseann. I believe Mary and Ellen's father a Mr McDermott lived in a cottage at the top of the farm road.
Comment left on 20 October 2017 at 14:49 by Kathleen Murphy (nee Gibson)
Hello with regards to comment from Kathleen Murphy on 20/10/17 I am Betty Whyte (Elizabeth Black) My Mum and Ellen were sisters and maiden name was McDermott but they came from Hawick . It was Ronnie and Mary that lived at Keepers cottage Reinacharn at the top of the hill with us children plus a younger one Brian . Colin still lives there today. My Dad is number 15 and Grandad is number 26 in the above photo. The farm you mention was Reinacharn Farm and Dod Livingstone (20) lived there with his wife Meg and 6 children one of them was George (11) in photo. WE all used to play together so that is why you remember the farm. Hope you find this interesting .
Comment left on 20 January 2018 at 14:43 by Betty Whyte
Just spotted your comment, Betty. I'm staying in Tomnavuilin for a few days and heading to Tarland tomorrow to explore. My holidays in Tarland with Aunt Ellen and Uncle James were such a wonderful experience. There were pictures of myself and my brothers, with your family. I think Frankie has them. I remember paddling in a wee loch. I may chap Colin's door tomorrow. Kindest regards Kathleen Murphy
Comment left on 02 September 2020 at 22:05 by KATHLEEN MURPHY
If i remember correct George Leslie Melville often came to Lour Estate to visit Elisabeth Carnegie in the 1950s and would help out my father David Phillip the head forester at that time with tree felling and axe work.
Comment left on 03 September 2020 at 10:46 by leslie phillip
I am wondering if the Charlie Grassick shown (no.27)
was the same 'Charlie Grassick' whose name is on a memorial cairn above Cardlunchart Farm, marking a death there (at the site where the Cairn now stands) on 28 January 1961) Might be have been assisting at (almost) the last day 'at the Pheasants'? Comment left on 15 November 2024 at 20:55 by Mr P R Heron
was the same 'Charlie Grassick' whose name is on a memorial cairn above Cardlunchart Farm, marking a death there (at the site where the Cairn now stands) on 28 January 1961) Might be have been assisting at (almost) the last day 'at the Pheasants'? Comment left on 15 November 2024 at 20:55 by Mr P R Heron
Hello I am Betty Whyte (nee Black Reinacharn) in reply to P R Heron 15/11/24, yes sadly that is the same Charlie Grassick. He always helped in the beating and picking up the grouse. I was only 7 at the time and remember how sad it was. Charlie was the estate joiner. His wife Jessie was housekeeper to the laird Gavin Astor then and they lived in a house attached to the big house. As you can imagine everyone knew all the workers on the estate and a close community. Jessie was at our wedding in 1973 . They are both buried in Tarland Kirk Yard .
Comment left on 16 November 2024 at 09:15 by Elizabeth Whyte
Mr Heron, that is correct my Grandfather passed away on the hill and the Astors erected a cairn in his memory. I have not visited it but hopefully one day I will.
Comment left on 16 November 2024 at 20:43 by Carol Anderson
Hello Betty, I remember Ron Black, I think he retired to Culter.
We visited Adam and Nell, they were just up the back of the big house. She made lovely pancakes.
We visited and stayed with my granny at Tillypronie it was a great place when we were young, lots of room to run around in the lovely gardens. They had a tennis court I member trying to play with make shift rackets made of chair legs. This was only when the Astors weren't in residence ofcoarse.
I especially loved the ponies and Victoria the Donkey.
My grandparents and parents are buried at a kirkyard on Galton farm, it is off the main road on the left as you come from Dinnet to Logie Coldstone. Comment left on 17 November 2024 at 15:07 by Carol Anderson
We visited Adam and Nell, they were just up the back of the big house. She made lovely pancakes.
We visited and stayed with my granny at Tillypronie it was a great place when we were young, lots of room to run around in the lovely gardens. They had a tennis court I member trying to play with make shift rackets made of chair legs. This was only when the Astors weren't in residence ofcoarse.
I especially loved the ponies and Victoria the Donkey.
My grandparents and parents are buried at a kirkyard on Galton farm, it is off the main road on the left as you come from Dinnet to Logie Coldstone. Comment left on 17 November 2024 at 15:07 by Carol Anderson
To Mrs Whyte, and Carol Anderson
Thank you both for your very quick and most helpful responses I am very grateful.
Mrs Whyte: as I live near Tarland, my partner Ann and myself visted both the old Kirk and graveyard and the new one at Tarland - but could not see a stone marking Mr Grassicks resting place. However, it was a quick visit and we did not read the entire inscriptions on all stones - perhaps Mr Grassick is 'included' on a stone headed by a different surname.
Ms Anderson: thank you for the information that the Cairn was erected by Gavin Astor (Laird at that time). When I first saw the cairn some years ago it was as stated on 'Pastmap' accompanied by a 'quartz stone cross' laid out on the adjacent turf. That seems now to have been dismantled, and the stones placed somewhat haphazardly on the Cairn itself. The wooden fencing surrounding it is sadly much collapsed and decayed - I shall mention that next time I am working in that area in hopes that it could be repaired or the area re-fenced. Comment left on 17 November 2024 at 15:37 by Mr P R Heron
Thank you both for your very quick and most helpful responses I am very grateful.
Mrs Whyte: as I live near Tarland, my partner Ann and myself visted both the old Kirk and graveyard and the new one at Tarland - but could not see a stone marking Mr Grassicks resting place. However, it was a quick visit and we did not read the entire inscriptions on all stones - perhaps Mr Grassick is 'included' on a stone headed by a different surname.
Ms Anderson: thank you for the information that the Cairn was erected by Gavin Astor (Laird at that time). When I first saw the cairn some years ago it was as stated on 'Pastmap' accompanied by a 'quartz stone cross' laid out on the adjacent turf. That seems now to have been dismantled, and the stones placed somewhat haphazardly on the Cairn itself. The wooden fencing surrounding it is sadly much collapsed and decayed - I shall mention that next time I am working in that area in hopes that it could be repaired or the area re-fenced. Comment left on 17 November 2024 at 15:37 by Mr P R Heron
Hi Carol lovely to hear all that. Sorry I made a mistake it is Adam and Nell King that is buried next to my grandparents. I know where that graveyard is so will go visit it again. Oh yes happy memories of the ponies with Adam and going to all the local shows with them . Loved the freedom of growing up at Tillypronnie. Colin my brother still lives there so can go back anytime which is great.
Comment left on 18 November 2024 at 08:10 by Elizabeth Whyte
Thank you Mr Heron for the information on the cairn, and we would be very grateful if you could see if the fencing etc could be repaired.
I wrote to Philip Astor before he sold Tillypronie asking about visiting the cairn but sadly had no answer. We have a friend that knows the area, I think we will see about visiting sooner rather than later.
I bet there are a lot of changes around the 'big house' and grounds now Betty. It was a special place and I have fond memories of it. Comment left on 20 November 2024 at 17:19 by Carol Anderson
I wrote to Philip Astor before he sold Tillypronie asking about visiting the cairn but sadly had no answer. We have a friend that knows the area, I think we will see about visiting sooner rather than later.
I bet there are a lot of changes around the 'big house' and grounds now Betty. It was a special place and I have fond memories of it. Comment left on 20 November 2024 at 17:19 by Carol Anderson
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