Forestry Memories

Benmore Forestry School Students circa 1933

Benmore Forestry School Students circa 1933

Date Added: 01 March 2012 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1933 Picture No: 1081

Photograph Courtesy of Bob Cumming who goes on to say:

'My father, John Cumming, who was born in 1909 in rural Perthshire and attended high school in Fort William, went through the Benmore Forestry School in the early 1930s (I am not sure of the exact dates). He then worked in the north west of Scotland, in the Loch Broom area. Sometime later (mid to late 1930s) he joined the Forestry Commission. He worked as a manger in Chopwell (just outside of Newcastle on Tyne) from the early 1940s until 1950 (The area is now the Chopwell Woodland Park). From 1950 until he retired 1972 he was a forester in North Yorkshire (based initially in Coxwold and later in Masham). He died in 1985'.

'I have the 4 pictures (attached) from my father's time in forestry in Scotland. Two of them are of his time at the Benmore Forest School. The other two are taken, to the best of my knowledge, in the Loch Broom area sometime in the mid 1930s.

In this photograph John Cumming is in the front front row, second from the right'.

The above photograph is the second one and shows the students in a more informal pose in front of Benmore Forester Training School circa 1933.

Monica Cameron has identified her father Alex H Cameron, who came from nearby Strone, in the front row second from the left. Alex went on to serve with the Forestry Commission in England and was Chief Forester at Thornthwaite prior to his retiral.

Groups: Forester Training Schools and Universities, Forestry Areas, Groups of people

3 Comments

Benmore Forest School. Submitted by Bob Cumming. Comment left on 01 March 2012 at 07:59 by
Please would it be possible to see the other photos mentioned. I'm trying to find information on my father's time at Benmore, which was very close to this. One of those in the published photo could be him and I'd be so grateful if I could see the others too. Comment left on 23 February 2013 at 18:07 by Monica Cameron
Thank you to the sender of this photo. I think I have identified my dad, John Chrystall, middle row, seventh from left. Comment left on 07 June 2017 at 12:24 by Christine McLoughlin
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