Benmore Forestry Training School - June 1965
Last Class of students just before Benmore, Dunoon, finally closed as a FC forestry school in 1965. Back row L-R:Gilly Dunbar-Birnam; Dave Corner - London area; Jim Pratt - ?; Len MacRae - Fort William; Alex Herd- Glasgow; John Povall - Birkenhead; Brendan Jones - Hexham.
Front Row L-R: Pat MacAulay - Antrim; Jimmy Wilson - Instructor; Philip Gough - Principal; Ken Ellis - Donegal; Norman Davidson - Orkney.
The photograph was taken by Jim Pratt using either timed delay or Mrs Clark (School cook) to press the shutter.
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Groups: Groups of people
7 Comments
Jim Pratt in this picture, came from Pewsey in Wiltshire
Comment left on 13 January 2008 at 21:27 by Pat Mc Auley
Dave Corner started in the Class of 1962/64 with 'Fred' Waring etc.but finished in this 1965 Class after having his second year I think deferred due to family reasons.
Comment left on 12 August 2010 at 10:15 by Billy Barker
I have a photo of Dave in a football team with Bill Perks, otherwise known as as Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones.I think they were in the forces together. Maybe Dave could confirm this.
Comment left on 12 August 2010 at 17:46 by Pat Mc Auley
Dave Corner trained with me and Andy Little and Phil Risby at Alice Holt. Dave and I were late at Forestry School due to National Service. Dave and I travelled together fron Aldershot Station, Andy Little travelled on his motor bike. Dave had to re-start the course following a motorcycle accident. Last met him on a brushcutter course at Thetford early 1970's. Renewed aquaintance with Phil Gough in the Forest of Dean.
Comment left on 31 December 2010 at 19:45 by Mike Wearing
Dave Corner spent most of his career in South Wales, taking early retirement in the late 1980s. I last saw him some years ago at Glynneath, Neath Valley.
Comment left on 08 January 2021 at 17:21 by Ian Blake
Ian Cameron, Forestry Commission Mechanic in the 1960s recalls
'Jimmy Wilson was at Pitmedden forest at Auchtermuchty, Fife before going to Benmore, I knew him at Drummond Hill where he took up post after Benmore Forestry School. (Then Jim Webster took over Drummond Hill after the fire in Glen Lyon.) Apparently Jimmy had piloted Sunderland Flying Boats during the war and saw service in the Mediterranean. It seems he piloted the very last evacuation flight out of Crete with the Germans and the Italians rapidly closing in. His aircraft was so overloaded with troops that he only just made it into the air with a very long run on the sea and a considerable amount of coaxing. Fast gun boats were rapidly chasing him down but he did get airbourne and on his way safely to Egypt.' Comment left on 19 January 2022 at 10:31 by Norman Davidson (Website Curator)
'Jimmy Wilson was at Pitmedden forest at Auchtermuchty, Fife before going to Benmore, I knew him at Drummond Hill where he took up post after Benmore Forestry School. (Then Jim Webster took over Drummond Hill after the fire in Glen Lyon.) Apparently Jimmy had piloted Sunderland Flying Boats during the war and saw service in the Mediterranean. It seems he piloted the very last evacuation flight out of Crete with the Germans and the Italians rapidly closing in. His aircraft was so overloaded with troops that he only just made it into the air with a very long run on the sea and a considerable amount of coaxing. Fast gun boats were rapidly chasing him down but he did get airbourne and on his way safely to Egypt.' Comment left on 19 January 2022 at 10:31 by Norman Davidson (Website Curator)
Lovely to see a picture of students at Benmore. My father Philip Gough is in the lower centre of the piocture. He was Chief Education Officer from 1953 - 65 when the school closed. Thanks to his job at Benmore my family and myself enjoyed an idyllic 13 years living in Strone on the shores of the Holy Loch.
Comment left on 05 December 2022 at 12:27 by Chris Gough
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