Crofter and fish merchant David Petrie his son David Petrie jnr. with their horse Kate. Their croft Millersmires was at Balgownie, Bridge of Don.. David jnr. and his three brothers William, James and Herbert established their firewood merchant business in 1935.. In the run up to WW2 three of the
brothers went to war leaving David, who due to injury was not fit for the call up, and continued from a horse and cart throughout the war as all lorries were commandeered for the war effort.
brothers went to war leaving David, who due to injury was not fit for the call up, and continued from a horse and cart throughout the war as all lorries were commandeered for the war effort.
William Petrie with his lorry that the government supplied after the war because his was commandeered before.. Luckily all three brothers survived the war.
Herbert Petrie with his lorry. The four brothers worked together from a yard at the Bridge of Don between Seaton park and Old Aberdeen, two men in each lorry, David and William in one and Herbert and James in the other.
Now there is only me left Herbert Petrie jnr. last in the line of Petrie Firewood Merchants. I have two lovely daughters doing well for themselves no sons to carry on the tradition. I would not have advised them to anyway as there are a lot of easier ways to earn a living these days. I enjoy it as it is more a way of life than a business ,with customers more like friends.
tel. 01224 771655
