Faskally Forester Training School 1964-66 Class
Photograph is part of Bill Stoddart’s collection of images taken when he was a lecturer at several Forester Training Schools. The photographs were handed in by his daughter Lilian Allan at the Forestry Memories drop in day at Huntly on 11 June 2010. There is limited information with the images and any help to identify people in them, the year and sometimes location would be very welcome indeed.
I am grateful to Brian Stanger, Insch for the following details:
‘Passing out photo of 1964-66 Faskally group (all seniors), taken in July ' 66 I think.
Back row L - R: 1.Ian Arnold, Glasgow, (West Scotland) but latterly joined BSW as Harvesting Manager; 2.Ian Dale, Alnwick, Northumberland, FC deceased 1974; 3.Neil Bunyan, Selkirk,(South Scotland) Golden handshake and retired to Selkirk; 4.John Grieve Glasgow, (West Scotland) latterly Strathclyde Cons(Oban) now deceased 2020; 5.Sandy Sandilands, Scone, (East Scotland); 6.Willie Baird, Irvine, (North Scotland) Retired to Black Isle Charleston-Munlochy area; 7.Duncan Henderson, Lochgoilhead, (West Scotland) Golden handshake, Red Deer Commission and retired to Taynuilt; 8.Ian Grant (Jock) Port Gordon, (East Scotland) but left soon to join EFG - latterly self employed consultancy; 9.Jack Nixon, Selby Yorkshire, Salesman with Husqvarna I think ,have lost track off completely.
Front row L - R: 10.Graham Drennan-Smith, Blairgowrie (SWOAC) , have lost track of him completely; 11.Jim Cramb, H/Forester Instructor HM (early work with first skyline cable crane extraction in W(S) Retired in Perth; 12.Roddy Macdonald DO1 Head Instructor,deceased, early '70's I think; 13.Norman Tulloch, Head of School at Faskally, Moved to Inverness Tech after closure of Faskally. Retired Inverness - since deceased; 14.Bill Stoddart H/Forester Instructor FM; 15.Brian Stanger (Head Forester Bennachie and District Forester Harvesting Buchan and Kincardine)
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Groups: Forester Training Schools and Universities, Groups of people
Group: Buildings in Forests - 216 pictures
26 Comments
Roddy MacDonald was second in command at Benmore Forester Training School under Phillip Gough and on the closure in July 1965 of the Benmore FTS (or possibly a little prior to closure) moved over to Faskally FTS. His main subjects if I remember correctly included, soils, geology, geography, plant indentification and site type indicator species, tree indent as well as some FC Policy
Comment left on 12 July 2010 at 17:13 by Norman Davidson
Norman,
I seem to remember him being the expert on Fire Protection as well. Comment left on 17 July 2010 at 19:43 by Pat Mc Auley
I seem to remember him being the expert on Fire Protection as well. Comment left on 17 July 2010 at 19:43 by Pat Mc Auley
Graham Drennan Smith is unfortunately no longer with us.
I met him in 1989 in Malta and came to know him well.
If anyone should be interested I could provide more details. Comment left on 14 February 2014 at 08:47 by Keiron Clapcott
I met him in 1989 in Malta and came to know him well.
If anyone should be interested I could provide more details. Comment left on 14 February 2014 at 08:47 by Keiron Clapcott
I had known Duncan Henderson in the early 60s as he was Forestry Commission game keeper at Lochgoilhead - I myself worked as a operative and lived in a wooden hut called Corrow hostel. As this area was a large holiday complex, I had good times and remember Duncan (also remember John Grieve.)
Comment left on 17 December 2015 at 15:19 by Ken middleton
I am Graham's daughter, Sallyanne and I would be very grateful for any details about him. After his death in 1998 my mum and I found out that a lot we had thought we had known about him was untrue. If anyone can give me any info that would be great, thank you.
Comment left on 13 January 2016 at 20:47 by Sallyanne McKechnie
Corrow Hostel Lochgoilhead does any one remember this wooden hut in the early 60s good times and hard work.
Comment left on 10 March 2016 at 15:52 by Ken Middleton
Yes Ken, I remember staying in a bothy a little north of Brackley Farm across the loch from LochGilphead village. I only stayed there a few weeks about 1957 or so. My sole job was hand draining deepvery wet peats with the rutter and spade. It rained a lot. I think there was a small crew of 4-5 of us living in the bothy. We of course, walked to Lochgilphead to pass the time. Although one chap crossed the loch by canoe to do his shopping.
Comment left on 11 March 2016 at 00:29 by Alexander Robertson
Yes Alexander this was a little before my time 60s was when I was in Lochgoilhead if I remember. Bothy was full my time there 2-3 years. Then started work with the Glasgow Corp felling trees using the high line and dragging with the horse. The name of the cook Tommy ? That's about all for now best wishes to and yours. p.s. I am 74 years old and also a radio ham.
Comment left on 31 August 2016 at 11:33 by Ken Midddleton
I was a pre-school forestry student in Lochgoilhead in the late '60s and Corrow Hostel had been closed. We stayed in an FC house in the village - Daisybank - which housed up to 6 FC employees at a time and were looked after very ably by May Robertson. May had two daughters - Jackie and Ann who worked in the squad and the forest office. Jackie later married the Forester Ian Arnold.
During my time there (Gerge Francey was Head Forester) I recall the resident list included Hugh Mitchell, Paul Burdon, Peter Walker, Mike Read, Ian (Ugg) Paterson, Sanny ("Don't call me Sandy!") Ireland, Stevie Irvine, Martin Jones - sorry for missing anyone out.
Our Foresters included Pat Delap, Bill Kinsey and Ian Arnold. Comment left on 10 November 2016 at 09:39 by Peter Ford
During my time there (Gerge Francey was Head Forester) I recall the resident list included Hugh Mitchell, Paul Burdon, Peter Walker, Mike Read, Ian (Ugg) Paterson, Sanny ("Don't call me Sandy!") Ireland, Stevie Irvine, Martin Jones - sorry for missing anyone out.
Our Foresters included Pat Delap, Bill Kinsey and Ian Arnold. Comment left on 10 November 2016 at 09:39 by Peter Ford
Thanks for coming back to my letter of the 10th March 2016. Yes Peter I remember them well May Robertson and her two children Jackie and Ann at that time ran the P. head stores, also the head Forester was George Francey, Ian Paterson from Knightswood, Glasgow, Sanny Ireland with his golden lab dog, also remember Ian Arnold the Forester. So thanks for that information you posted all past memories. I myself live in market town called Lochmaben in Dumfries and Galloway.
Comment left on 11 November 2016 at 10:05 by Ken Middleton
Hi Pete and Ken, You didn't mention Andy Afghan. I was a young boy living in Lochgoilhead at that time. My mother still lives there.
Comment left on 12 December 2016 at 21:28 by Alan Boyd
Did you have a motorbike Pete?
Comment left on 13 December 2016 at 08:32 by Douglas Boyd
Ian Dale came from Alnwick in Northumberland (not Blaydon, Newcastle) and he died in 1974. I am his sister, erstwhile Barbara Dale.
[Dear Barbara, please accept apologies for the tardy update of your late brother, Ian Dale's details that you so kindly provided for us. I trust that the No.613 image notes are now in order. Good health, Bill Rayner, 2021/01/09] Comment left on 10 March 2017 at 17:11 by Barbara Vardag
[Dear Barbara, please accept apologies for the tardy update of your late brother, Ian Dale's details that you so kindly provided for us. I trust that the No.613 image notes are now in order. Good health, Bill Rayner, 2021/01/09] Comment left on 10 March 2017 at 17:11 by Barbara Vardag
I was a pre school student at Lochgoilhead, in 1968 to to 1969, I remember many of the names mentioned, with happy thoughts, I am at present retired on the Mull of Kintyre in Campbeltown
Comment left on 30 October 2017 at 15:05 by Mike Read
I attended Faskally FTS 1966-68 but sadly there’s no group photo as I can recall. The Staff were the same as in this photo, although one of our seniors Mike Shuttleworth returned as an instructor during our last term. I believe Bill Stoddart retired to live with his daughter in Australia where he sadly died in a car crash. Happy days at the School which closed in 1969.
Comment left on 08 January 2021 at 17:38 by Ian Blake
When I started at Tillhill Forestry Stirling Office 1990 Graham Drennan-Smith was the Harvesting Manager at Old Sauchie. Was an amazing springboard from Uni, the Head Office was in a converted castle. He was a bit of a **** actually, my boss Vaughn Hammond called him " THE DREADED SMITH" lol. He had a stuffed wildcat in his office which was really cool. That's it.
Comment left on 05 March 2022 at 21:19 by Duncan park
I regret to tell you my husband John Grieve died on
4 April 2020 after a few years of ill health. John was posted to Oban area in 1977 and remained in the area until he retired.He had spells in planting, harvesting and for the final 15 years private woodlands. With private woodlands he covered from Mull of Kintyre to Appin and some islands.
Comment left on 12 April 2022 at 21:45 by Sandra Grieve
4 April 2020 after a few years of ill health. John was posted to Oban area in 1977 and remained in the area until he retired.He had spells in planting, harvesting and for the final 15 years private woodlands. With private woodlands he covered from Mull of Kintyre to Appin and some islands.
Comment left on 12 April 2022 at 21:45 by Sandra Grieve
Sorry to hear about John Grieve, I had known him for many years , many fireside stories I can recall, a very talented and friendly soul.
Comment left on 13 April 2022 at 14:40 by Mike Read
Dear Sandra, I am very sorry to read of your loss in John's passing. Whilst I didn't know him very well, we were both involved in assessing potential forestry schemes in his patch. John's extensive pragmatic forestry knowledge and genial manner made our sometime difficult job easier and I will not forget his observations that confirmed or disputed my youthfull suspicions. I hope those who benifitted from his time and advice, as I did, grow their trees to be his worthy legacy. My kind regards, Bill Rayner.
Comment left on 15 April 2022 at 22:34 by Bill Rayner
Saddened to hear of John's passing, we had many site visits together whilst he was inspecting FE sites in Argyll which led me to shadowing him as I looked at becoming a Woodland officer which thanks to John I did and spent 15 happy years as a WO in Yorkshire. I learnt an awful lot from him.
Comment left on 04 June 2022 at 22:34 by Chris Grice
Dear Sandra,
I am so sorry to hear of John's death. He was a great friend, and best man, to my brother, Ian Dale, and I know Ian was close to him before his own death many years ago. They kept in close touch even after leaving Pitlochry. John was great fun with a wonderful sense of humour as well as being a great supporter of Airdrie. It must be very sad and hard for you even with the passing of time. With my most sincere sympathy. Barbara Vardag Comment left on 05 June 2022 at 10:55 by Barbara Vardag (Dale)
I am so sorry to hear of John's death. He was a great friend, and best man, to my brother, Ian Dale, and I know Ian was close to him before his own death many years ago. They kept in close touch even after leaving Pitlochry. John was great fun with a wonderful sense of humour as well as being a great supporter of Airdrie. It must be very sad and hard for you even with the passing of time. With my most sincere sympathy. Barbara Vardag Comment left on 05 June 2022 at 10:55 by Barbara Vardag (Dale)
Graham Drennan Smith became
Provost of Blairgowrie in the 1970s Comment left on 26 October 2025 at 19:24 by Colin Bain
Provost of Blairgowrie in the 1970s Comment left on 26 October 2025 at 19:24 by Colin Bain
I think it might have been Graham Drennan-Smith’s father who had been the Provost of Blairgowrie. I recall that the family may have had a Post Office / shop in the town.
Comment left on 02 November 2025 at 10:00 by Tom McLellan
I graduated in June of 1965
I wonder if there are any classmates of that year other than me still alive and ticking? ! I am now 82
I am also a resident in BC, Canada but miss Scotland
Dr. Robin Gardner Comment left on 05 September 2026 at 08:41 by Robin Gardner
I wonder if there are any classmates of that year other than me still alive and ticking? ! I am now 82
I am also a resident in BC, Canada but miss Scotland
Dr. Robin Gardner Comment left on 05 September 2026 at 08:41 by Robin Gardner
Cramm and Tulloch signed my Forester Certificate & and I still have a note from Norm that indicated I probably was unlikely to come to much!
That turned out to be a little pessimistic, having earned 3 Master of Science degrees and a Doctoral degree in various fields
At Faskally, I had preferred to party with the now long-departed Bill Morgan Comment left on 05 September 2026 at 08:51 by Robin Gardner
That turned out to be a little pessimistic, having earned 3 Master of Science degrees and a Doctoral degree in various fields
At Faskally, I had preferred to party with the now long-departed Bill Morgan Comment left on 05 September 2026 at 08:51 by Robin Gardner
I wonder how active this site is since, in reviewing the dates, it seems to be quite some time since others posted
Comment left on 05 September 2026 at 08:59 by Robin Gardner
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