Viewpoint
Photograph by David Foot, Surrey.
Can anyone name the viewpoint and any of the people? District Officers?
It may be in a South Scotland location.
Fine collection of cars - makes and models?
See list of comments and also location details in comments below.
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Groups: Groups of people
Group: Forestry Areas - 3222 pictures
13 Comments
Cars (L-R) Saab 95 Estate with a Carlisle registration, Hillman Avenger Estate with a Glasgow registration, Hillman Avenger saloon with a Northamptonshire registration and a Renault 16 with the hatch open.
Comment left on 28 May 2016 at 23:30 by Will Anderson
Could the person 2nd on the left, standing in front of the Avenger be Bill Norrie? I am sure I can recall him driving that white Saab Estate back in the 70s. Cannot help with the location, but may well be in the South somewhere, as Bill would be District Officer around that time.
Comment left on 18 February 2020 at 19:00 by Iain Gale
The Hillman Avenger Estate has an Argyll registration.
Comment left on 19 February 2020 at 11:02 by Andy MacNicol
I think that the location is somewhere in the English Lake District. My reason for making this suggestion is that I believe the person 2nd from the left, in profile, is David Danbury, BSc, ICF. He was deputy head of the forestry department at Newton Rigg when I attended the O.N.D. sandwich course 1975 - 1978. I believe that he left Newton Rigg and took up a research post in Australia, but where or when I have no idea. I do not recall the car that David may have driven, or whether he might of car shared.
The other figure that I recognise, is that of the late Alec George Pyman, M.B.E. N.D.F., 4th from left and in profile, who during my time at Newton Rigg was the head of the forestry department and sadly passed, suddenly in 1982. It was Alec that used to drive a cream/off-white Saab estate and always with a "good head of steam" in the pipe. An obituary to Alec was written by George D. Holmes, ex Director General of the Forestry Commission and a resume of his work in forestry written by E. H. M. Harris, both published in:
Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research, Volume 56, Issue 1, 1983, Pages 106–107, https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/56.1.106
Published:
01 April 1983
Both Alec and David contributed greatly to the knowledge and quality of forester who entered the forestry industry after the closure of the Forestry Commission's forester training schools in the early 1970's, up until the mid to late 1980's. In the above image they appear to be on a liaison meeting with FC staff, probably from both the practical and research sides of the FC organisation at the time.
If I have made any errors in my addressing of these people, I apologise and will make amendments where necessary, if notified. Thank you.
Comment left on 20 February 2020 at 23:10 by Bill Rayner
The other figure that I recognise, is that of the late Alec George Pyman, M.B.E. N.D.F., 4th from left and in profile, who during my time at Newton Rigg was the head of the forestry department and sadly passed, suddenly in 1982. It was Alec that used to drive a cream/off-white Saab estate and always with a "good head of steam" in the pipe. An obituary to Alec was written by George D. Holmes, ex Director General of the Forestry Commission and a resume of his work in forestry written by E. H. M. Harris, both published in:
Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research, Volume 56, Issue 1, 1983, Pages 106–107, https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/56.1.106
Published:
01 April 1983
Both Alec and David contributed greatly to the knowledge and quality of forester who entered the forestry industry after the closure of the Forestry Commission's forester training schools in the early 1970's, up until the mid to late 1980's. In the above image they appear to be on a liaison meeting with FC staff, probably from both the practical and research sides of the FC organisation at the time.
If I have made any errors in my addressing of these people, I apologise and will make amendments where necessary, if notified. Thank you.
Comment left on 20 February 2020 at 23:10 by Bill Rayner
I think Bill is right about David Danbury: I recognise that profile and beard. The CFR reported in 1987 that David was moving to Somalia: - https://www.jstor.org/stable/42608851?seq=1.
I also don't know the location; sorry.
Comment left on 17 April 2020 at 21:02 by John Cantrill
I also don't know the location; sorry.
Comment left on 17 April 2020 at 21:02 by John Cantrill
Good to see your post John, trust you and yours are in good health. Thank you for confirmation of my observations, it gives some reassurance that the eyes and grey cells are still comnnected!
After John's comment, I thought that a wee investigation of the image was worth a try and I now think that the photo was taken from within the forest to the north of the Whinlatter Pass, looking out over Bassenthwaite Lake (shrouded in mist) towards "The Dodd" or "Dodd Wood", along with the shoulder of Skiddaw to the north-east. Using Google Map, the view from the car park at Lat. and Long: 54.609471, -3.205004 taken in August 2018, appears to be very similar, with Thornthwaite tucked in amongst the trees in the foreground. See what you think. Bill Comment left on 18 April 2020 at 10:34 by Bill Rayner
After John's comment, I thought that a wee investigation of the image was worth a try and I now think that the photo was taken from within the forest to the north of the Whinlatter Pass, looking out over Bassenthwaite Lake (shrouded in mist) towards "The Dodd" or "Dodd Wood", along with the shoulder of Skiddaw to the north-east. Using Google Map, the view from the car park at Lat. and Long: 54.609471, -3.205004 taken in August 2018, appears to be very similar, with Thornthwaite tucked in amongst the trees in the foreground. See what you think. Bill Comment left on 18 April 2020 at 10:34 by Bill Rayner
In December 2020, before looking at comments thought that the 2nd from the L looked like David Danbury. I would agree with Bill that the photo is in/from Thornthwaite Forest. The staff at Newton Rigg were keen to use 'The Dodd' as an example when discussing forestry in the landscape...as I recall.
I would guess that its not a student visit, not with the head and deputy head of department in attendance, nor is there a big yellow Cumbria County Council minibus. Comment left on 11 December 2020 at 11:31 by John Burrow
I would guess that its not a student visit, not with the head and deputy head of department in attendance, nor is there a big yellow Cumbria County Council minibus. Comment left on 11 December 2020 at 11:31 by John Burrow
Hi. It is only pure chance that I stumbled onto this site. I'm not sure if my input is of interest but I recognise David Danbury (2nd from left). He was my boss at the forest research inst in Traralgon Victoria from 1969 to 1972.
From memory he had a Hillman minx station wagon. I was a lab assistant and helped out with the Pinus radiata breeding program collecting samples and analyzing sugar and starch content. David took us to his home at lunchtime on that famous day in 1969 to watch the moon landing on his TV. He was a great boss.
He also had a program breeding a parasite to attack the dreaded sirex wasp. Comment left on 31 January 2021 at 10:46 by Klaus Jungling
From memory he had a Hillman minx station wagon. I was a lab assistant and helped out with the Pinus radiata breeding program collecting samples and analyzing sugar and starch content. David took us to his home at lunchtime on that famous day in 1969 to watch the moon landing on his TV. He was a great boss.
He also had a program breeding a parasite to attack the dreaded sirex wasp. Comment left on 31 January 2021 at 10:46 by Klaus Jungling
Aye Klaus, thank you very much for your comment and insights into your and David's working relationship. Hopefully, you enjoyed having a rummage through the rest of the images and comments on the site. Good health, Bill Rayner
Comment left on 31 January 2021 at 20:32 by Bill Rayner
Comment left on 31 January 2021 at 20:32 by Bill Rayner
location is Noble Knott Whinlatter looking down to Bassenthwaite in the mist with The Dodd / skiddaw in the background
Comment left on 27 April 2026 at 18:38 by paul burke
Thank you for the location confirmation Paul. Good health, Bill Rayner
Comment left on 30 April 2026 at 22:11 by Bill Rayner
No problem Bill..in the early 1990's I covered Whinlatter forest as head ranger from Grizedale in between Mike Pearson leaving and Bill Wheeler starting. At Noble Knott we were having some new forest boundary signs put in to identify the new forest park designation. As we were crown exempt, signs would be designed made and installed at that point without needing planning permission ... Unfortunately it turned out the land to the right of that picture wasn't actually our land and the planners (LDNP) served notice on us which was a bit embarrassing for the FC...so I know the location well.
Comment left on 28 June 2026 at 14:49 by paul burke
Aye Paul, another wee faux pas! Those legal boundaries were a nightmare when they were being digitised into the GIS. We used to survey them in with an artillery director, on a good day and on a bad, forward and backward sightings, with a marching compass. Then hand plotted and drawn back in the office. Good health, BillR
Comment left on 29 June 2026 at 10:52 by Bill Rayner
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