Forestry Memories

James Thom retirement presentation

James Thom retirement presentation

Date Added: 01 May 2007 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1963 Picture No: 190

Picture courtesy of Gordon Thom retired ganger.
Retirement of James Thom who worked at Clashindarroch Forest from 1932 to 1963. Some of those present at Dalraddie, Gartly are:(1)Peter Whyte,Trainee forester; (2)Mr Horne, Assist Conservator; (3)Gordon Thom (son of James); (4)Charlie Greenlees, Trainee forester; (5) Jean Charles, Clerkess; (6)Davy Anderson, Head Forester; (7)Jock MacConnachie, Keeper; (8)Pat Paterson, Lorry driver; (9)Robbie Rose, Tillathrowie squad member; (10)James Thom, Tillathrowie sqad member; (11)George Cruickshank, Ganger Tillathrowie squad; (12)Willie Garioch, Rhynie squad member; (13)John Morrison, Mytice squad member; ((14)Brian Mearns, Gartly squad member; (15)Charlie Mair?; (16)Jimmy Craig, Ganger Huntly squad; (17)Robbie MacGlone, Huntly squad member; (18)Fred Donald, District Officer; (19)Bill Fraser, forest handyman; (20)Jimmy Fraser, Assistant Forester. The two Africans were forestry students from Uganda. Just been told the gentleman at the very back beyond No 3 is Ian Grant.
Incidently James's son Gordon(in photo) retired in 1999 with 50 years service (includes 2 years national service). As a family they had 80 years service with the Commission spanning the years 1932 to 1999.

Download Large Version (496kB)

Groups: Groups of people, Northeast Scotland

3 Comments

I'm looking for information on my father's mother, as far as I know she died in the early eightys. Her married name was Elsie Fraser. She was married to James Robert Fraser who was a forester at Gartly. We Are doing a family tree and would love to find out we're my grandmother and James are buried so that we can visit. Hope there is any records of James and my grandmother on your records of the time they were at Gartly.
Regards
James Reid Comment left on 23 May 2016 at 11:04 by James Reid
I am hoping to connect with Charles Greenlees, I believe he is #4 in this picture from 1963. We met at Aberdeen University in 1963 or 1964. He took me to a hill race that he ran. We've lost touch. Any information or hints are appreciated! Comment left on 26 February 2022 at 02:19 by Bob Thurston
Dear Bob Thurston,

I am sorry to write that I believe Charles V. Greenlees passed in 2018 in Lochgilphead, Argyll. I used to work with "Charlie" when working as an FC Site Surveyor/Forestor covering Scotland from the Perth Office and Charlie was an FC Crop Surveys Forestor in the Lochgilphead area. Once he retired from the FC, he and his Finnish wife continued to carry out crop and other surveys as private contractors. He, his wife and other members of the family's details are recorded in the UK Electoral Registers & Companies House Directors register 2002-2013. Whether Charlie's wife and family remain in the Lochgilphead area now, I do not know. Others may be able to offer more specific information than I. But if you wish, I can forward the information available from the Scottish National Archive and the National Records Archive. An enquiry to the office of Forest and Land Scotland in Lochgilphead, might also provide some information of a possible contact, if that is what you and they (Greenlees family) would wish.

My kind regards, Bill Rayner Comment left on 27 February 2022 at 02:08 by Bill Rayner
Form Goes Here