Donny Gault — mobile mechanic

Date Added: 05 August 2016 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1986 Picture No: 3378

The photograph is courtesy of John Ireland with FC based at Lochaber.

Donny was based in Longman workshop, Inverness, and here seen working in Glenurquhart / Fort Augustus area. As indicated by the Eskimo tins he is perhaps carrying out the annual check and top up of antifreeze in all the District machines and vehicles.

Can anyone say what is the base vehicle for the van and who made the bodywork?

The van typically carried large gas bottles for cutting metal just seen in the shade on the left, a mobile welding set which can just be noted in the middle alley way, hydraulic pipe end crimpers, heavy tools, hammers as well as the usual hand tools and spares. Note the metal vice fixed to the floor at the rear and the starter cables above the head.

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Groups: Forestry in Action, Other Vehicles and Machines

6 Comments

Suspect the van may be a Leyland Sherpa variant. Previous to these vans, I recall FC mainly using Ford vans, speciifically the Transit and Escort models.
The other Mobile Mechanics that I remember operating out of the Longman depot at the same time as Donny Gault were Ally Campbell and Donny Macintosh. Comment left on 07 August 2016 at 20:09 by Billy Mackay

Cant help with the body maker but DVLA throws this up
Vehicle details,
Vehicle make-FORD
Date of first registration-18 November 1981 Year of manufacture-1981
Cylinder capacity (cc) 1996cc
Fuel type-PETROL
Vehicle colour-GREEN
Wheelplan-2 AXLE RIGID BODY
Revenue weight-3100kg
Hasnt been taxed since 92 so looks to be a goner Comment left on 12 August 2016 at 23:27 by Bob

Hi Peem jnr here. It was a Sherpa van I think it came after a few Ford transits. Great photo thank you john Ireland �‘� Comment left on 18 January 2017 at 22:15 by Michael gault

My brother informs me it's the last transit he had before the Ldv high top Comment left on 18 January 2017 at 22:24 by Michael gault

I remember dad's Forestry van when we were at Farigaig around 1958-59. It was a Bedford, the registration was OLD 69
Comment left on 19 January 2017 at 13:29 by Ron Evans ( jnr)

I remember that one as well I think it was the first forestry vehicle that dad had Comment left on 20 January 2017 at 09:58 by Callum Evans

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