jan-11 - Lochwinnoch Online

The Laird Who Never Was
The son of a rich Lochwinnoch
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 1911, 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.
Lochwinnoch 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
Lochwinnoch 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 Lochwinnoch 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