Benmore Forester Training School students

Benmore Forester Training School students - c1959

Date Added: 09 May 2017 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1959 Picture No: 3682

This one of a set of images from photocopier scans and is courtesy of the staff at Glenbranter Forest Office.

Little was known of the details of the people apart from a couple of names written on one of the images but one former student Bob Boyd has been tracked down to Northern Ireland and has provided the following information:

‘This photograph titled "Loch Eck" is all students of the 1958 intake.
Back row from left;
1. Ben Seniscal (sitting on gate)
2. Andy Orr
3. Fred Carty.
4. Maurice Clements.
Middle row;
5. Bill Mason.
6. Walter McCloskey.
7. Bob Cuthbertson
8. Bob Boyd
Front row;
9. Brian Pedder.
10. Ian Reid.

These photos are most likely to have been taken by Bill Mason although Ben Seniscal did have a camera and also took photos.’

The trainee foresters are obviously out on a work exercise but little indicate what they were doing. Can anyone identify the location on Loch Eck side?

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Groups: Forester Training Schools and Universities, Forestry Areas, Groups of people

7 Comments

The picture was taken at the bottom of Loch Eck on the west side of the loch. (56°02'19.5"N 4°59'14.1"W approx) Comment left on 09 May 2017 at 12:19 by Andy MacNicol

As I recall, Bert Mitchell took the photo, the site is a couple of miles from the school on the west side of the lake at the forest boundary. We were still technically inside the school boundary. Comment left on 05 July 2017 at 07:30 by Fred Carty

My dad, Ben Sensical, still alive and in his 90th year in 2023, was delighted when we found this photograph on the website. He has continued to be a keen photographer all his life. The photograph was taken about a mile north of Benmore on a forestry track that went along the west side of Loch Eck towards Strachur. The photograph was taken by one of the instructors, dad thinks it was Mr Gough. Comment left on 02 December 2023 at 18:13 by Gilliain MacDonald

Great to hear that Ben is still among us, what about a ring around and have a roll call I know from earlier comments that Bill Mason and Ian Reid have unfortunately passed on, how many of us are left? Anyone know? Comment left on 04 December 2023 at 01:57 by Fred Carty

I spoke to a Bill Mason (Forest Research NRS) last Wednesday and certainly he is very much to the fore. Comment left on 04 December 2023 at 08:01 by Norman Davidson

This photo was taken by instructor Bert Mitchell in the Autumn of 1958, we were first year students and involved in the erection of a post and wire fence.
Of the 10 students I know for sure that Bill Mason and Brian Pedder are deceased, Bill died approximately 8/10 years ago and Brian died on Christmas Day 2017 and is buried in Kilmun Church graveyard. Norman, the Bill Mason you refer to is not the Bill Mason in the photo. Fred, Iain Reid is still alive although in poor health, I spoke to him on the phone yesterday.
Great to hear that Ben Seniscal is alive and well, I wish you well Ben and hope you have many years of life and good health to come. I read your book “On the road to anywhere” some years ago and you seem to have had an interesting and adventurous life. I recall that you were a prolific photo-taker when at Benmore, it would be good to see some of them on Forestry Memories.
Regards to a roll call I know that of the 10 in the photo Bill Mason and Brian Pedder are deceased, the remainder are alive, although I have no firm information on Bob Cuthberson having lost contact with him several decades ago. Comment left on 07 December 2023 at 13:11 by Bob Boyd

Great news there Bob. especially as Bob C and I are the babies of the pack and well into the 80's.
Comment left on 08 December 2023 at 03:28 by Fred Carty

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