Raby Castle, Durham, location of 1951 course
Photographs are courtesy of John Keenleyside, Forres.
These are three students on the three month course at Raby Castle in 1951 but names are not recalled. John goes on to say ‘I was supposed to go to the three month course at Darnaway in 1951 but was sent to Raby Castle instead. The course was run by a newly retired Head forester from Kielder, a Mr Weir, whose son Alfie was with us at Glentress.
The course was excellent as we got a different task each week from nursery work to clear felling and sawmilling.We were allowed to operate the main circular saw which had a moving table very modern in those days. They received their first Cundey bark peeler for pit props whilst we were there and one of the photographs shows students looking on in amazement at this wonderful new machine’.