Delivering firewood at Strathyre Forest
Photographs courtesy of William Fleming, Polmont.
William spent two years on a Forestry Commission apprentice scheme in Strathyre Forest living in the hostel with about 16 other young lads who worked along side the local longer term forest workers.
Firewood to the hostel was delivered by the forestry lorry seen her being unloaded by Willie MacLeod and Mary MacLeod. William recalls that Mary had been a Timber Corps girl during the war and now she operated the ex army lorry at Strathyre Forest often delivering firewood to the office and hostel as well as the working men to the more far flung forests. The apprentices also attended night classes during the week and she delivered them to the class room in Callander.
Willie MacLeod was no relation to Mary but he worked the little single bench sawmill at Strathyre and spent quite a bit of time cutting firewood but also assume cross cut and pointed posts.
William remembers other names of the regular forestry staff at Strathyre;
Bob McGeachie (Asssistant Forester)
Peter McCallum
Jimmy Houston
John Sinclair
Peter Grant (Trapper)
Bruce Purdie
Peter McGregor
Norman Grant
Sandy Cruickshank (Forester at Stank Glen)
Bobby Johnston
Tommy Smillie (Felling Contractor)
Donald Kennedy (Glen Ogle Bogle)
Does anyone remember them?
Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Other Vehicles and Machines