75th Anniversary of Forestry Commission

Date Added: 16 March 2017 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1994 Picture No: 3614

Edinburgh Castle, Great Hall - WERE YOU THERE?

The photograph taken by Douglas Green the Forestry Commission photographer on the 10 Nov 1994 was at the gathering of people invited to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Forestry Commission by Right Honourable Ian Lang MP then Secretary of State for Scotland. Invitees had the opportunity to take part in a short tour of the castle and to view Scotland’s crown jewels.

The image is courtesy of Graham Hamilton, Inverness, who along with David Foot (Surrey) provided the names on the list below against the numbers added to the photograph. Many have still to be named and your help would be welcomed to help fill in all the gaps and to correct any mis- identifications and name spellings. See large photograph image via small button on bottom right of photograph shaped like a magnifying glass.

1 Gwyn Francis, former DG
2 Howard Hart (See Comments)
3 ?
4 Peter Murray (timber merchant based near Glasgow)
5 ?
6 ? (Caledonian paper timber buyer)
7 ?
8 David Henderson-Howatt (HQ)
9 ?
10 ?
11 Bob Selmes - I/C Forest Surveys (See Comments)
12 ?
13 ?
14 George Stewart, retired Commissioner
15 Jim Cordiner, Timber Merchant Aberdeen and Banchory
16 ?
17 Jean Balfour? (See Comments)
18 ?
19 Arthur Barlow? Deputy Surveyor New Forest (See Comments)
20 Derek Rutherford, Commissioner Admin
21 ?
22 ?
23 Rod Leslie
24 Stuart Housden – RSPB in Scotland
25 Peter Wilson (See Comments)
26 ?
27 ?
28 Bill Brack – Forest Craftsman Ae Forest - Union Representative
29 Colin Bancroft Forestry Authority Wales? (see comments)
30 Roger Bradley, Commissioner
31 Chris Robinson? FDM Cannock (See Comments)
32 Tim Rollinson, HQ
33 ?
34 Sir Hector Munro MP, Forestry Minister
35 ?
36 Norman Davidson, FDM N(S)
37 Hugh Clayden FDM Aberfoyle S(S)
38 ?
39 ?
40 David Grundy, HQ
41 George Holmes, former Director-General
42 Bob MacIntosh, HQ
43 ?
44 ?
45 David Parsons FDM Gwent? (see comments)
46 Alan Bloomfield, Caberboard, Cowie
47 Alexander J Dauncey? (see comments)
48 ?
49 ?
50 Gordon Waugh - Ransfords timber buyer? (see comments)
51 Raymond Johnston, Chairman of FC (forgotten his first name)
52 Robin Cutler, Director-General
53 Ian Lang MP, Secretary of State for Scotland
54 ?
55 Roger Busby, Regional Director W(E)
56 ?
57 Christina Tracey? FDM at some point in South Scotland?
58 Andrew Christie-Miller Private Landowner – Timber Growers Assoc
59 ?
60 Frank McCulloch, Area Engineer N(S)
61 Sid House, FA Perth
62 Richard Smith, possibly Operations Manager E(E)? (see Comments)
63 ?Ronnie Williams – Timber Growers Assoc?
64 ?
65 ?
66 ?
67 Bill Mason? (See Comments)
68 R Herbert, HQ
69 Brian Giddings? (See Comments)
70 Willie Prest, Finance Division HQ
71 ?
72 Graham Hamilton, Regional Director N(S)
73 ?
74 ?
75 ?
76 Malcolm Wield, FDM N(S)
77 Richard Britton (See comments below)
78 J Morton Boyd, Environment Advisor
79 ?
80 ?
81 John Gell, Area Land Agent N(S)
82 Roger Turner - RSPB
83 Louise Batchelor, Environment Correspondent BBC
84 Kenny Murray, Trade Union rep
85 Eddie Arthurs, Head of Computing HQ
86 John Pollock – Former FC Commissioner
87 ?
88 Robin Adam, Director, Scottish Woodlands
89 Bob Dunsmore
90 ?
91 Peter Ranken, Estates Division HQ
92 Alan Low, FA(S), Glasgow
93 ?
94 Alec Morris - Forest Surveys (see Comments)
95 ??
96 George McRobbie, Fountain Forestry, currently non executive FC Commissioner
97 Rachel Thomas, Chair of W(E) Regional Advisory Committee (See Comments
98 Alan Betts – Conservator South England
99 Huw Davies – Head of FA in Wales? (See Comments)
100 Andy Neustein, regional Director N(E)
101 David Foot, CEO FE
102 John Morgan, Regional Director Wales
103 ?
104 ?
105 A timber merchant, possibly Perthshire. Name gone
106 Fraser Lindsay, Head of Publicity FC
107 Andy Phillips, TGWU rep from Clocaenog? (see comments)
108 ?
109 Possibly Keith Glidden, Accounts, HQ ?
110 ?
111 John McSorley, Audit, HQ
112 Doug Pringle, HQ
113 Terence Mallinson - non-executive Commissioner
114 Steve Quigley, Director H&M, HQ
115 the 9th Duke of Buccleuch? (see comments)
116 Jamie Galbraith – Factor Buccleuch Estates
117 Gordon Cowie, Regional Director S(S)
118 ?
119 Professor Hugh Miller, Aberdeen University
120 ?
121 John Firn – Forest Industry Consultant – Past Chairman of FICGB
122 ?
123 ?
124 Douglas Malcolm, Edinburgh University
125 Mike Garforth, HQ
126 ?
127 ?
128 ?
129 Kevin Lyden, Shotton Paper CEO
130 David Hughes - FDM Wales or John Maisey (See Comments)
131 Dallas Mithen, Commissioner
132 John Maisey FDM Newtown FD (See comments)
133 Sir David Montgomery, ex Chairman FC
134 Arthur Miller, FDM, N(E)
135 Peter Clarke, Secretary FC
136 ?
137 John Everard, Forest of Dean Deputy Surveyor W(E)
138 John Spittal, probably union duties. Foerter in Lorne district N(S)
139 Jim Dewar, Director Research
140 David Evans, FDM, Wales

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Groups: Groups of people

13 Comments

No 69 looks like Brian Giddings who owns a large sawmill at Bartley on the edge of the New Forest. The Giddings family recently sold their sawmilling business to BSW Comment left on 19 March 2017 at 21:27 by Bruce Rothnie

No 77 Richard Britton, now Head of Forest Services Delivery in England. Not sure of his role at time of photo Comment left on 19 March 2017 at 21:30 by Bruce Rothnie

I confirm that I, Richard Britton, am No 77, and was Conservator Greater Yorkshire at the time.
Peter Wilson is at 25.
Chris Robinson is at 31.
No.67 looks like Bill Mason.
No. 17 looks like Jean Balfour.
No.2 is Howard Hart Comment left on 13 April 2018 at 22:21 by Richard Britton

19. Looks like Arthur Barlow, Deputy Surveyor New Forest
31. Chris Robinson, FDM Cannock
62. Was Richard Smith Chief Conservator FA (E) by this time?
97. Rachel Thomas, Chairman of W(E) Regional Advisory Committee
99. Huw Davies
130. David Hughes Comment left on 01 November 2019 at 16:37 by Roger Busby

I can see my Dad Doug Pringle in the photo-he wrote the book-The Forestry Commission-The first 75 years. He retired in 1991-does anyone know what his job title was at that time?
Thank you! Comment left on 10 November 2020 at 09:43 by Anne Pringle

130 - Is John Maisey he was FDM Newtown FD at the time this photo was taken. Comment left on 12 November 2020 at 15:34 by Richard Siddons

Anne, I have only been able to find the following in the 1992 annual report ' OBE was awarded to Douglas Pringle, who held a senior position in the Commission's Secretariat Division before his retirement in June 1991'. Perhaps someone will elaborate on the role of the Secretariat but assume the Division may have included a role in communication and liason between Commissioners and Forestry Ministers and with many other bodies. Comment left on 12 November 2020 at 18:54 by Norman Davidson

Thank you so much Norman for taking the time to comment, that is very helpful and interesting. I don't know if you knew my Dad, but he sadly passed away on the 6th November this year aged 89. Comment left on 12 November 2020 at 21:59 by Anne Pringle

That's a bit frustrating. I was definitely there!
Not sure if I am in the photo, possibly number 47.
Alec Dauncey - FDM Ceredigion.
Is 50 Gordon Waugh - Ransfords timber buyer?
29 could be Colin Bancroft Forestry Authority Wales.
Pretty sure 107 is Andy Phillips, TGWU rep from Clocaenog.
I think 45 could be David Parsons FDM Gwent? Comment left on 22 August 2021 at 00:46 by Alexander J Dauncey

115 is probably the 9th Duke of Buccleuch? Comment left on 22 August 2021 at 00:54 by Alec Dauncey

Norman,

94 is Alec Morris who was in Forest Surveys at the time. Also I was not there.

Best,

Bill Mason Comment left on 27 August 2023 at 11:37 by Bill Mason

My apologies 132 is John Maisey, FDM Newtown FD. Comment left on 27 August 2023 at 19:24 by Richard Siddons

Number 11 could be Bob Selmes who might have been in charge of Forest Surveys at the time Comment left on 28 August 2023 at 09:12 by Bill Mason

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