Alex Bowie in the Bin Forest circa 1930
Photograph courtesy of Ron Bowie, Huntly.
This is an early photograph of Alex Bowie who started with the Forestry Commission in the Bin Forest in 1926 as a 16 year old when the Bin was first acquired by the Commission. He is seen here operating a large rutting spade or ‘rutter’ used to cut the sides of drains in softer peat conditions such as the Bin or Mortlach Moss. With sun on his face and the hill rising on his right had side this could be in the Bin Moss area but as the Bin Forest covered a number of blocks including Comrie, Brownhill, Garrowmuir and Dunbennan this location could be anywhere.
Alex was a charge hand or ganger during the timber control years and in time worked his way up to become assistant forester and then forester in the Bin until his untimely death in 1969.
Ron adds 'Whilst on Timber Controlduring the war years he worked out of Timber Control office across from the Filling Station {Banff Pole} and even had a car at his disposal. It was back to his bike after the war, the garage and Land Rover not arriving until the late fifties'.
Download Large Version (881kB)
Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Tools, equipment and clothing