David Rioch Glen, 1909-1978.
Sadly, I never met Davie [Davy] Glen but I heard some wonderful tales about him when I was researching the history of Jock’s Road, Glen Doll. I also made this short film about this old drovers route.
The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection provides this account of Davie Glen:
David R Glen, known as Davie lived for thirty years in a converted railway carriage, named ‘Bachnagairn’ near Tealing, Dundee. Davie was the youngest of six – his father was killed with the Black Watch in 1917, his mother worked as a farm worker. Davie’s first job was at the age of 14 on a dairy farm. He started cycle racing in 1927, turning semi-professional during the 1930’s to ease the financial situation caused by the Depression. He climbed his first mountain, Beinn a’ Beithir (South of Fort William) in 1931 whilst working on a road building project. He signed up in 1940 to join the Royal Air Force, and in 1949, in remembrance of a friend lost at sea, started the annual Lochnagar Sunrise Expedition. He had an attack of spinal meningitis and suffered with an ulcer for many years. He was renowned for his waist length beard and worked on tunnelling projects, with the Forestry commission and as a warden at Langhaugh Youth Hostel, he also worked as a dry stane dyker. He was a founding member of the Carn Dearg Mountaineering Club, as well as forming other outdoor interests groups such as the ‘Good Companions’ and always assisted on Mountain Rescue call outs. He was an all round entertainer being proficient in the traditional musical arts of diddling and whistling. He performed the former on the Wilfred Pickles show, ‘Ask Pickles’ in London in 1955. He was also well practiced in story-telling and entered competitions for the telling of lies, the most convincing being the winner. Davie Glen died after a short illness in 1978.
To play an old BBC film about Davie Glen at the World Diddling Championships please click here.
Davie Glen as a boy [standing in front of his grandfaither]:
Davie’s grandfaither: Alexander Glen, 1849-1930:
Davie’s faither, Alexander Glen [born 1878, Tillytoghills]:
Davie’s faither, Alexander Glen, was killed in action, 3rd May 1917 [Davie was 8 years old at the time]:
1950, Davie Glen:
19 June 1953, The Courier and Advertiser:
Forfar and District Hill Walking Club:
8 March 1955, The Sunday Post:
25 March 1955, The Courier and Advertiser:
15 June 1955, The Courier and Advertiser:
5 March 1959, Kirriemuir Free Press and Advertiser:
16 March 1959, The Courier and Advertiser:
25 October 1962, Kirriemuir Free Press and Advertiser:
25 November 1965, The Courier and Advertiser:
1970, Bachnagairn: an old railway carriage that Davie Glen had converted as his hame:
16 June 1976, Dispatch and Herald:
4 April 1978, Press and Journal:
Sketches for badges for the Hill Walking Club, as drawn by Davie Glen:
A poem by Davie Glen:
