My Father Davie by David Dryburgh

David Dryburgh, born and bred in Falkland, remembers with affection, his father, Davie, who died in 2006 aged 96.  At the time of his retirement at the age of 93, Davie had worked consistently at the historic Falkland Palace Estate (which was once a hunting lodge for Scotland’s kings) from 1928 until 2003.  He loved his job, working first as a forester, as his father, grandfather and great grandfather had done before him, and later, after the Second World War, as a groundsman on the estate.  Throughout his working life he took the greatest of pleasure in the dignity of hard labour and in a job well done.  On his retirement, he had become the last full time employee on the estate.

 Davie was one of twelve children and the family lived at the Pillars of Hercules in a small cottage with a caravan in the garden to extend the accommodation.  Davie married Janet from Strathmiglo and they lived at the Stables on the Estate for the rest of their lives.  Davie and Janet had one son named David, after his father.  It is David Dryburgh Junior who has provided the information and pictures for this record.