Forestry Memories

Davie Robertson’s Retirement Event

Davie Robertson’s Retirement Event

Date Added: 14 March 2013 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1984 Picture No: 1714

The photograph is courtesy of the family of George Dey. George took many forestry photographs in his forestry career and many are now shown on this web site. Check under ‘Groups’ and George Dey Collection.

Sandy Calder (Assist Conservator North Scotland) is handing over a retirement gift to Davie Robertson who was the Chief Forester in Skye for many years.

Can anyone elaborate on Davie’s forestry career as it seems he was a Chief Forester from around 1968?

The PDF shows more of the presentation event and people involved. Can anyone provide names particularly of the couple who also handed over gifts?

Later addition - Marie Stewart, Aberfeldie, has kindly collected the following information on Davie and his wife Jean:
‘Davie worked from 16 years of age at Onich forest. During the war, he served in Burma and the Middle East. Returning he went to forestry school (presume Benmore?) and his first posting in 1947 was to Fort Augustus where he was put in charge of the nurseries ('and forty women').
It was while there that he met Jean, who came from Clydebank and was a member of the WTC during the war. She worked at Bamff estate near Aylth and Roughmount near Brechin. After the war Jean continued to do forestry work, first at Gargunnock (Lady Stirling) then Corrour (Sir J S-M). She then moved to Invermoriston and worked at Foyers and Invermoriston, where she met Davie. They were married in 1949.

David was already posted to Glenmore, when they got married. As Frank says, he was under Jakey Fraser and then when he retired Davie was given head forester status. They moved to Glengarry in 1961 and Torrachility in 1967. I am not sure when he got to be Chief. After Torrachility, they moved to Skye in 1974, retiring at 63 in 1984. Jean still lives in Dingwall.’

Download PDF (388kB)

Groups: George Dey Forestry Collection, Groups of people

2 Comments

I think Davie Robertson first forester post was in Glenmore(Queens Forest) where he was assistant to Jakey Fraser.On Jakey's retirement he succeeded him.This was in the 1950s Comment left on 14 March 2013 at 19:17 by Frank Thom
John Norman Morrison is the gent giving the presentation to Davies Robertson.

The lady presenting the lamp to Jean Robertson is Toots Macfarlane office clerk at Portree.
Comment left on 15 November 2020 at 00:10 by Neil MacAskill
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