‘Man of the woods’ Gavin Davidson hangs up his logging boots

In 1984, after leaving Newton Rigg College where he studied forestry, Gavin joined Forest Thinnings as a trainee harvesting manager, based in Inverness. In 1986 he moved to what was known then as Thames Harvesting, later to become Iggesund, part of the Swedish Holmen Group.

He is a well-known face in the forestry and timber sector throughout Scotland and England and he was instrumental in building up increased timber supplies to the Iggesund mill during the last decade.

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During his long and illustrious career, Gavin has been president of the United Kingdom Wood Products Association and later became a board member of the Confederation of Forest Industries.

When in the woods, Gavin is always guaranteed to have a dog by his side. For nearly 20 years he and his wife Shelagh have provided homes and training for guide dogs in their early ‘career’ stages.

Stuart Booth, Gavin Davidson, Sandy Nelson, David Sulman, Dorothy Sulman, Ewan MacDonald and Shelagh Davidson. (Image: Supplied)

To celebrate Gavin’s retirement, a surprise dinner was held in Stirling in September. A group of 46 of his friends and colleagues met up to await Gavin, who thought he was going to meet two friends of his wife. His surprise was incredible and for once in his life he was lost for words. 

All at the dinner wished Gavin a long and happy retirement in which he’ll have all the time he wants to walk his dogs in his beloved forests and mountains.