Grouse Beating At Glenhead In The 1950s

A Memory of Glenhead Lodge.

I have fond memories of being a beater in the late 50s. Major Houston had the shooting, I imagine rented from Airlie Estates or their forerunner. Keepers, dogs and beaters were driven up the Glen on twisting, narrow roads prior to thé construction of the Backwater Dam, in a 1920s vintage shooting bus driven, with much crashing of gears, by the Major's chauffeur, Eddie Thayre. Other personalities were the Keepers: David Garrow, Will Fenton, Jim Smart and Jock Annand. Jock and his family had lived during the war in the keeper's cottage at the very remote Lodge but by the late 50s they were in a house at Dykends. Another character was Wull Callender who drove the ponies whose panniers carried lunches and cartridges for the "guns" and the grouse, tied in braces, which had failed to escape the guns. Wull lived in one of the small farms which would disappear under the waters of the Dam in the 1960s.

There were usually about 6 guns including the Major and his nephew who was Major Andy. The local MP, Sir James Duncan, was a frequent gun as was, I believe, Field Marshal Montgomery (tho' I may have that wrong).

Gathering at the remote, unoccupied Lodge, with the wind soughing through the pine forest just behind gave a mixture of emotions: peaceful and quiet in the remote hills yet bustling with dogs and people in the anticipation of the day's sport.

Our reward after a day of healthy but tiring walking many miles up and down hill and across burns pushing the grouse towards the waiting guns was to line up to receive from the hands of David Garrow a crisp new one pound British Linen Bank note. Riches indeed for a youngster for the pleasure of a stroll in the hills. Then back into the Shooting Bus to trundle home.

Major Houston also had the shooting at Balintore Castle - less remote, possibly more attractive architecturally, if anachronistically given its Disney look, and just as abandoned. At time of writing, January 2015, I understand Balintore Castle is being refurbished. Would that Glenhead Lodge could be given the same opportunity for resurrection - but I suspect its remoteness and lack of visibility make that much less likely.

Happy memories indeed. As a footnote, David Garrow was my grandfather and Janet Annand, Jock's daughter, was one on my teachers at Reform Street Primary School in Kirriemuir

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