Cairnbaan Camp Argyllshire – Forestry Commission phase – People
The images are sourced with help from Janet Quarton (a one time resident in the camp during its forestry phase) and also other contributors. Thanks also to Douglas Dey, David Shepherd and Janet for some of the names.
This is the second use of this image and focuses more on the people and families who once lived in and worked from buildings in the camp. The camp operated as a large Forestry Commission base from around 1947 to 1971.
Cairnbaan Camp was a base for two Forestry Commission districts each headed by one or two District Officers and there were five admin staff members in 1967. This was also a base for Road and Mechanical engineers, built estate staff and joiners as well as some Forest staff.
In 1962 the following were reported as based at Cairnbaan:
District officers - George Dey, Iain Gillespie, J Gywnn (Estates) and K N V Townsend .
Civil Engineer (Roads) - G Ruthven.
Superintendent of Works - F A Shepherd and W Stark.
Civil Engineering Assistants (Surveyor and plan drawing) J Holden, W G Sturrock.
Clerk of Works (Estates) D L MacKellar.
In 1964 the names listed are :
District officers - Andrew Bearhop, Ken Cassels (Estates), Stan Forrester, Iain Gillespie.
Civil Engineer (Roads) G Ruthven, P A Thomas.
Super of Works – J J Campbell.
Civil Engineering Assistant (Surveyor and plan drawing) A Banks, I Turnbull.
Clerk of Works (Estates) D L MacKellar.
Names of families in various houses on the camp:
House No 1 may have been named Camphill (Building 14A)
Jock Chrystal and family prior to 1956
George Dey and family 1957-1964
Hostel for forestry workers from late 1960s
Jimmy Stewart (Road Squad) and wife with Donald and Ann circa early 1960s. Son Donald retired from FC about 2015.
Tommy (Road Squad) and Morag McKinlay with Diana and Isobel - hut 7
The Starks. Father was Iain and there was a son called David. The house number may not be correct - Hut No 8?
George Dey and family from 1954 -57 in Hut 9 (House no 12?)
Building No F – above the Joiners yard. The Keil (spelling?) family home at one time. The husband worked in Wilson’s sawmill on site.
Any more names, first names, details of houses and names of neighbours, of the mechanics and Workshop foremen, joiners, roads squad and other people who worked in the camp would be very welcome.
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Groups: Buildings in Forests, Forestry Areas