Forestry Memories

Weeding hooks at Strathyre Forest

Weeding hooks at Strathyre Forest

Date Added: 23 February 2013 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1958 Picture No: 1603

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.

On the early summer work in the forest keeping the young trees clear of weeds with grass hooks are James Waddell, Norman Crowe, James Stuart and Sandy Robertson (now living in Canada.

Willie adds 'This photo was taken by myself one night following a day’s bracken cutting (ticks and all) when the lads decided to cut the grass round the hostel and I got them to pose for the camera after their exertions. As you look at the photo the person on the left is James Waddell in front of the woodwork structure, on his left is Norman Crowe, on his left is James Stuart'.

Download Large Version (417kB)

Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Groups of people, Tools, equipment and clothing

6 Comments

Remember well useing the grass hooks or shucks as we called them with the Forestry in Glenfinart area and Ballochyle Sandbank with Economic Forestry. Sometimes when we got a bit fed up we used to have shuck throwing competitions off a cliff to see who got the furthest the only problem was finding them afterwards. Comment left on 23 February 2013 at 20:54 by John McIntyre
I seem to recall the odd accident when the trees could sometimes lose their heads. Comment left on 25 February 2013 at 12:16 by Pat Mc Auley
Hi Pat, we called it Sheffield Blight. Comment left on 25 February 2013 at 18:17 by John McIntyre
Sandy Robertson is on the left Comment left on 28 August 2013 at 00:01 by Alexander Robertson
I'm not going to argue with Alexander Robertson about who is James Waddell and who is Sandy Robertson, but when I read it with Waddell on the left, that seemed correct. And as the face on the right is covered up, it's hard to tell. Preston as Mr Waddell was known (the only Englishman in the village) was a mountaineer with a solid build. On the other hand, he didn't smile much so I give up on this one.

Just to be sure, was Sandy Robertson the guy who sat on his bed with a guitar, playing a chord or two from Raunchy?

And if so, how do I get in touch? Comment left on 10 March 2014 at 09:39 by David Balfour
Hi David good to get in touch with you after all those decades. No it is not me on the right And was never tousle-haired like the chap in the photo. And no, I have I have never played a guitar. But decades later I took up the Bagpipes and one of my favourite tunes is FINLAY McRAE Composed for Finlay McCrae MBE who did so much for preserving the Caladonian Pine Forest and of course, piping societies. Comment left on 31 March 2014 at 17:24 by Alexander Robertson
Form Goes Here