Centre a fitting tribute

Regarding the recent feature by Caroline Lindsay in The Courier’s Weekend magazine, Frank Galloway has been in touch with his own story: “We visited the new Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre during a short break in the area.

“It was quite amazing how the vision of power from natural water resources was such a great success in bringing electricity to so many communities and so enhancing their way of life.

“The exhibition and hands-on models have been set up in a perfect location overlooking the great dam and loch. The balconies make ideal viewing platforms and will attract thousands and thousands of visitors to this part of Perthshire which has always been a great tourist attraction.

“The short film showing the construction of the many dams during the late forties and early fifities by the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board (NSHEB) portrays the highly difficult and back-breaking work of the gangs of Irish, Polish, and of course the hardy Scots, in achieving the great civil engineering structures that are still viewed with wonder seventy years later.

“These powerful men – who toiled seven days a week – were christened The Tunnel Tigers, symbolised by a 12-shovel tribute in the exhibition.

“One personal memory of the Pitlochry Dam was that my father – Frank Galloway – was an employee of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board after his demob from serving with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during the war.

“He assisted in the commissioning of the turbines and we had many happy holidays there.

“One of the conditions of the dam being built in its location was that the grandstand and facilities – where Loch Tummel is now – was rebuilt to the exact specifications in its present location today. An exhibition well worth a visit and an excellent restaurant to round off the viewing.”

Do any other readers have relatives who worked on the project?