At Gwydyr Forester Training School 1958
Photograph courtesy of Jim McIntyre, Balbeggie.
The photograph was taken while on the six week exchange course at Gwydyr, North Wales in 1958. Left: John Drewitt (Dean) and Jim McIntyre (Faskally). They are standing outside the 'billet' and about to go on a visit to some local forestry location. John went to New Zealand Forest Service after finishing at Dean.
22 Comments
John Drewitt was my roommate at Benmore Forestry school Argyll in 1958-59. I did my 6 weeks exchange at Gwydyr in 1959. However When I migrated to Australia in 1963 Forestry openings were limited and I changed careers for mining in Queensland.
Comment left on 06 February 2017 at 03:28 by Fred Carty
I was a student at the Gwydyr F.T.S. and qualified as a Forester in July 1958. During that time I made many friends and would welcome the opportunity of making contact should any remember me from those days?
Comment left on 29 August 2017 at 15:06 by Mike Russell
Comment left on 29 August 2017 at 15:06 by Mike Russell
I was at Gwydyr the following year. Among your instructors would have been Fred Purser, Alan Powell, Ted Waddilove. I look back at my two years with fond memories, and quite an experience.
Comment left on 05 July 2018 at 22:16 by John Griffiths
I was a student there from 63 - 65.
Great bunch of like minded young men who were fully enjoying life in the great out door
Gwyn Francis one year and Esmond Harris second year as senior tutors.
I wonder how they put up with us !
Anyway a great forest training experience.
23 of us started and 19 passed out successfully.
I went on after 3 years contract H & M in Clocaenog Forest to work for Tilhill Forestry (Marketing) Ltd with Noel Gore.
Then onto Forest Thinnings Ltd which became EFG Ltd
Finally my own company SJS Consultants Ltd
Where I still am after 60 years in H&M ! Comment left on 28 September 2019 at 14:25 by John Flack
Great bunch of like minded young men who were fully enjoying life in the great out door
Gwyn Francis one year and Esmond Harris second year as senior tutors.
I wonder how they put up with us !
Anyway a great forest training experience.
23 of us started and 19 passed out successfully.
I went on after 3 years contract H & M in Clocaenog Forest to work for Tilhill Forestry (Marketing) Ltd with Noel Gore.
Then onto Forest Thinnings Ltd which became EFG Ltd
Finally my own company SJS Consultants Ltd
Where I still am after 60 years in H&M ! Comment left on 28 September 2019 at 14:25 by John Flack
I was a student at Gwydyr 1956-58 exchange at Faskally. Mike Russell I remember, Malcom Hobbs, Ian Richardson, Dudley Hollis, John Gillette. Colleagues-since deceased-include, Basil Wilson, Jim Greer, Gerry Archibald, my best man Joe McQuillan{I married a girl from Dolgarrog}celebrated 61yrs last Feb. Dave Rushton, Ken Furnell plus other seniors and juniors.
I had "the best 2 years of my life" as I tell anyone who will listen- great bunch of colleagues, trustworthy, great" craic "etc.,I was under contract to return to NI forest service, did 2.5 yrs, red tape too much for me, joined Met Police - sawdust in my blood ,went to Private Estate in N.I. 3 yrs, Head forester Althorp 1965 joined EFG 1966, went self-employed 1972 in E.Anglia,Broadland Tree Services with my son since 1987, supplemented currently by my 2 grandsons.I finished swinging a chainsaw last year and am preparing to do as another of my colleagues at Gwydyr said some years ago "when the time comes, I will go up the hill and come down as effluent. Tutors were Don Plant,"Jumbo"James, Gwyn Francis, Bob Kemp Tinsley Bassett,Jim Bruce, Ted Waddelove{moral fibre} an excellent forester/ instructor. Anyone out there still "alive and kicking" Love to hear from anyone, now I have found this thread. Comment left on 12 September 2020 at 13:09 by Ken Anderson
I had "the best 2 years of my life" as I tell anyone who will listen- great bunch of colleagues, trustworthy, great" craic "etc.,I was under contract to return to NI forest service, did 2.5 yrs, red tape too much for me, joined Met Police - sawdust in my blood ,went to Private Estate in N.I. 3 yrs, Head forester Althorp 1965 joined EFG 1966, went self-employed 1972 in E.Anglia,Broadland Tree Services with my son since 1987, supplemented currently by my 2 grandsons.I finished swinging a chainsaw last year and am preparing to do as another of my colleagues at Gwydyr said some years ago "when the time comes, I will go up the hill and come down as effluent. Tutors were Don Plant,"Jumbo"James, Gwyn Francis, Bob Kemp Tinsley Bassett,Jim Bruce, Ted Waddelove{moral fibre} an excellent forester/ instructor. Anyone out there still "alive and kicking" Love to hear from anyone, now I have found this thread. Comment left on 12 September 2020 at 13:09 by Ken Anderson
Hello All...my father Thomas Mitchel Sharkey was one of the students (just recently demobbed from the British Army after WW2 as were many of the other students) in the first cohort to attend this Forestry Training School. I think it was 1948. Could anyone confirm the opening date of the School? And how long was the training. Did the Foresters that graduated get a diploma? And how long did the training take for each cohort? Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am writing up my fathers story. He built a little cabin on the east side of the road located between the school and the Ugly House so he could bring me and my Mom to be with him. He had fond memories of the School and the area.
Comment left on 15 September 2020 at 21:32 by John Sharkey
The course was for 2 years with 6 weeks exchange to another FC school between the two terms .Some on my course 1956-58 went to Dean or Benmore I went to Faskally We had a good time at Faskally great trees different forestry to give us wider experience At the end of the course, if we passed all exams ,including the final we were awarded a Forestry Commission Foresters Certificate That qualified for employment by the FC as an Assistant Forester. Some of my colleagues went into employment in the Private Sector, some went abroad . I had to go back to N.I Forest Service as they had sponsored me - for Two years. Two members of our course failed their final exam and did not qualify for a certificate.One was very successful and the last I heard of him he was in W.Australia.One student on my course was Ex-Army married-no family at that time- he had accommodation at The Towers, up above the Ugly House on the way to the Nant RHS he used to live out There were at least 3 married men on our course Two had families in Mid Wales and used to go home at lunchtime Saturday back on Sunday night Basil Wilson was from NI had 2 children back home It was a great strain He did very well- died some years ago We did supervised practical work Monday to Thursday,lectures Fridays and lectures or other workshops Saturday AM We did weekend and evening work- if we could get it to supplement our living Ken Anderson
Comment left on 16 September 2020 at 14:24 by Ken Anderson
Comment left on 16 September 2020 at 14:24 by Ken Anderson
Thanks so much for your feedback Ken, it's really appreciated:) By any chance do you remember the month you began and the month you ended the Certificate course?
During the first two years of the school that my father attended, students were not allowed to have their wives/families with them in the area but the instructors could. This annoyed my father to no end (after being away from his family for six years during the war!) so, breaking the 'rules', he fixed up a little cabin in a road construction site on the north side of the road between the training school and the Ugly House. He brought my mom and me their for the last year of the residency at the training school. I had never been in the country before as we'd just come up from London. I was about 5 and I really really liked it! That little cabin became a meeting place for my father's friends, especially on weekends, who loved being around my mother who was a wonderful host. Comment left on 05 October 2020 at 16:05 by John Sharkey
During the first two years of the school that my father attended, students were not allowed to have their wives/families with them in the area but the instructors could. This annoyed my father to no end (after being away from his family for six years during the war!) so, breaking the 'rules', he fixed up a little cabin in a road construction site on the north side of the road between the training school and the Ugly House. He brought my mom and me their for the last year of the residency at the training school. I had never been in the country before as we'd just come up from London. I was about 5 and I really really liked it! That little cabin became a meeting place for my father's friends, especially on weekends, who loved being around my mother who was a wonderful host. Comment left on 05 October 2020 at 16:05 by John Sharkey
My father Jeff Fairlamb went to Gwydyr from Sept 63 to July 65 I wonder if anyone remembers him? I have a few photos with names on the back I can share if anyone is interested
Comment left on 06 October 2020 at 09:01 by Joe Fairlamb
There is a "Bert Flack" noted on the back of one of the photos
Comment left on 06 October 2020 at 09:04 by Joe Fairlamb
Hi Joe your dad Jeff had a room in the same hut as me and we were good motorcycling pals.
Love to hear about Jeff
John.flack.sjs@btinternet.com Comment left on 06 October 2020 at 17:00 by John Flack
Love to hear about Jeff
John.flack.sjs@btinternet.com Comment left on 06 October 2020 at 17:00 by John Flack
Wow that's great John! Ive sent you an email. Cheers!
Comment left on 07 October 2020 at 09:25 by Joe Fairlamb
Here are the rest of the names on the back of the photo I have (as best I can decipher them):
STUDENTS
Jeff Fairlamb
Roger Muhl
D Anderson
D Jones
Bert Flack
Tony Emmerson
Mike Willinsham
Jed (Ted?) Stone
Pete Cliffe
John Collins
Paul Pitkin?
Roger Haselden
Geraint Davis
Harry Pannett?
Taff Ellis
Mike Bell-Scott
Terry Proctor
Mike Tinsley
Chris Walker
Ingoldby
Brian Hicks
John MacFarlane
Not Present: P Clapham, Ian Crellin
FACULTY
Benny Thompson
Mr Powell
Mr Robertson
Mr Geoff Clayton
Mr Dave Perry
Mr Harris (Principal)
Happy to share the photo, have previously submitted to this site but was told it needed to be Scottish focused so wasnt suitable Comment left on 09 October 2020 at 03:39 by Joe Fairlamb
STUDENTS
Jeff Fairlamb
Roger Muhl
D Anderson
D Jones
Bert Flack
Tony Emmerson
Mike Willinsham
Jed (Ted?) Stone
Pete Cliffe
John Collins
Paul Pitkin?
Roger Haselden
Geraint Davis
Harry Pannett?
Taff Ellis
Mike Bell-Scott
Terry Proctor
Mike Tinsley
Chris Walker
Ingoldby
Brian Hicks
John MacFarlane
Not Present: P Clapham, Ian Crellin
FACULTY
Benny Thompson
Mr Powell
Mr Robertson
Mr Geoff Clayton
Mr Dave Perry
Mr Harris (Principal)
Happy to share the photo, have previously submitted to this site but was told it needed to be Scottish focused so wasnt suitable Comment left on 09 October 2020 at 03:39 by Joe Fairlamb
Lovely to hear that so many students enjoyed their time at GFTS, but I suspect I enjoyed it even more as I grew up there! Arrived age 6 in 1958, and left when GFTS closed in 1970.
Football field, river, woods, lawns - my brother Gareth and I had a wonderful time, and so many of the students were so kind to us.
Happy days, and mum and dad loved it too!! Comment left on 29 December 2022 at 23:02 by Eryl Powell
Football field, river, woods, lawns - my brother Gareth and I had a wonderful time, and so many of the students were so kind to us.
Happy days, and mum and dad loved it too!! Comment left on 29 December 2022 at 23:02 by Eryl Powell
Don’t know how those question marks got on my previous comment. They shouldn’t be there - we all loved GFTS!!
Comment left on 30 December 2022 at 11:15 by Eryl Powell
Good to hear from you Ken, will always remember our boat trip at Faskally. Would be great to get in touch with anyone involved with the school between 1956-58. My current email address is hollisdc@bigpond.net.au
Best Regards to everyone
Comment left on 02 November 2023 at 06:02 by Dudley Hollis
Best Regards to everyone
Comment left on 02 November 2023 at 06:02 by Dudley Hollis
Just browsing and came across this GFTS page. I'm from Northern Ireland and was at Gwydyr from 1960 to 1962, exchange course to Benmore FTS in Aug/Sept 1961. There were two of us from NI - Doug MacAnally and myself. Sadly Doug passed away a few years ago. I spent my entire working life with the NI Forest Service - harvesting, establishment, soil survey and planning. The last 12 years a Timber Marketing Officer.
I recently made contact, via Facebook, with Gareth Powell who is the elder son of Alan Powell, one of our instructors. We hope to meet up sometime soon. I'd love to hear from anyone else from my time at Gwydyr. Comment left on 23 December 2023 at 20:29 by John A McEwen
I recently made contact, via Facebook, with Gareth Powell who is the elder son of Alan Powell, one of our instructors. We hope to meet up sometime soon. I'd love to hear from anyone else from my time at Gwydyr. Comment left on 23 December 2023 at 20:29 by John A McEwen
It just keeps snowballing, Alan Powell was another of the 57/59 class at Benmore with John Drewitt et al
Comment left on 24 December 2023 at 23:14 by Fred Carty
Hi Fred, I suspect the Allen Powell isn't the same Alan Powell who arrived as an instructor in Gwydy in 1958 with a young family. See Eryl Powell's post above.
Comment left on 26 December 2023 at 12:26 by John A McEwen
Hi, my dad was at Gwydr around 1961. His name was Tom Buchanan. He recognises many of the names on here and worked with Jim McIntyre. Does anyone remember him?
Comment left on 05 April 2024 at 19:29 by Katy Banks
I was at GFTS 1963-1965 (exchange course Faskally), and, of course, recognise all the names in the list above. I particularly remember a trip to Norfolk in Jeff Fairlamb's beat-up old car to visit an ex-girlfriend of his; and staying at Chris Walker's parents' house in Keighley (?) for a day or two.
A very enjoyable and informative two years in good company. Comment left on 09 September 2025 at 09:05 by Mike Bell-Scott
A very enjoyable and informative two years in good company. Comment left on 09 September 2025 at 09:05 by Mike Bell-Scott
I have just heard from friends in Australia that Dudley Hollis died a couple of days ago. Dudley was great company and I will miss him
Comment left on 13 October 2025 at 18:39 by Tim Sawyer
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