© Karen Gavin Horsburgh Malcolm © Karen Malcolm 4 © John Delaney © Karen Malcolm © Barbara Gavin Horsburgh © Barbara © John Delaney © Barbara
The Laird Who Never Was The son of a rich <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> land-owner turned his back on a life of luxury on a family estate to become a backwoodsman and environmental pioneer in Canada. James Shand Harvey was in line to inherit the prestigious Castle Semple mansion and woodland policies where he learned about birds, wild animals, plants and trees during his boyhood. But he had other ideas and emigrated to Canada in 1905. This was just two years before the sale of Castle Semple and its farm tenancies in 1907. So James was known as 'the laird who never was.' He lived for the rest of his long life in a log cabin in the western province of Alberta. There he earned a living as a trapper, forester, gold prospector and packer on the Transcontinental railway. His cabin was dwarfed by the snow -capped Rocky Mountains and encircled by mighty conifer forests, vast lakes and torrential rivers. Wolves, caribou, lynxes and vultures were everyday sights. He mingled with pioneering surveyors, railroad engineers and land-hungry immigrants eager to buy farms where they could bring up their families. After working as a scout for the Alpinian Club Smithsonian scientific expedition in 19<strong>11</strong>, he became the first district ranger for the 4000 square miles Athabasca Forest Nature Reserve in 1912. He lived among the Cree Indians, learned their language and defended their territorial rights against acquisitive government land-grabbers. He refused to enforce game laws which would make the Indians go hungry. And, for their own benefit, he refused them access to alcohol because of the damage it would do to their health. In 1940 James was appointed assistant chief ranger for the massive forest park. But by then much of the wilderness atmosphere had disappeared with the coming of more roads, telephone lines, railways. bridges and mechanised transport. But he remained loyal to his environmental principles. He lived a simple, uncomplicated life at his log cabin until he died in 1968. Today the spirit of James Shand Harvey lives on at his ancestral home at Castle Semple which is now a country park - albeit on a smaller scale than the one managed at Athabasca by 'the laird who never was.' Derek Parker Derek Parker worked as a countryside ranger at Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park from 1985 until 1999. <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Group needs volunteers and guests Contact the Elderly is a national charity which provides a lifeline of support to lonely older people over the age of 75 who live alone in their own home. Since 1965 we have provided much needed companionship to thousands of socially isolated older people, and now have over 380 groups nationwide. Our service is entirely free. 5 How do the groups operate? We have volunteers drivers, who collect one or two older ‘guests’ once per month on a Sunday afternoon. They drive them to a volunteer host’s home, where the group meet for afternoon tea and friendship. What do we need volunteers for? We currently require more volunteer hosts for the <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> group. Hosts provide a warm welcome, a friendly atmosphere and a simple afternoon tea for 6-8 older people and the volunteer drivers once or twice a year. You would need to have a downstairs toilet, few or no steps into your home, and enough seating to accommodate the group. Please contact Margaret Oliver, contact details below. Do you have any spaces in the group for members? Yes, the <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Group currently has spaces for older people over the age of 75 who are socially isolated. If you, or someone you know, could benefit from attending a monthly outing, please contact:- Margaret Oliver Contact the Elderly PO Box 5207, DUMBARTON G82 9AP Tel No. 01389 605915 Email: margaret.oliver@contactthe-elderly.org.uk
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