A selection of photos from past events on the Rest and be Thankful
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Andrew Davidson Memorial Service - 23 January
Story - Jim Paterson
 CCHMSC
members joined the Davidson family and friends for the Andrew
Davidson's memorial service at Arrochar church, overlooking Loch Long
on Friday 23rd January.
The showers headed over the Loch, as it
only can in Argyll, as we gathered in Andrew's local church to
hear the Rev Ian Miller recount the life of this very special man.
Club
members and classic car enthusiasts all remember Andrew as owner of the
Rest and be Thankful, and his enthusiasm to bring the hillclimb back
into use, reliving the heritage of past years. But there was much more
to Andrew than what we saw.
His early years were spent in the
RAF where he rose to the rank of Squadron Leader flying Canberra jets
and latterly Phantoms. His career took him with his family to many
parts of Europe and a 3 year spell in Cyprus, flying sorties to
maintain the security of airspace over the countries he was based in.
Pulling 5G in a turn at 250 feet with afterburners glowing was no
stranger to Andrew who was normally in the navigators seat, but could
just as easily take the stick and fly as fast and low as the best
of the pilots.
Leaving the RAF Andrew literally 'headed for the
hills', taking up hill farming and moving to Glen Croe. His love of all
things mechanical and cars in particular was highlighted when he was
replacing the engine in his Landrover Defender. When it refused to fit
back in he jumped up and down on the unit until it suddenly dropped
right into place. Reminds me of using a bigger hammer, if all else
fails!
As a birthday treat some years ago daughter Diane and her
husband Stephen organised a flight in the seaplane from the River Clyde
at Glasgow to Oban. Andrew soon slipped back into his aeronautical
days commenting on the route to be followed. His famous quip was always
to watch out for clouds with 'hard centres'!
 I
will always remember his smile at the hairpin, his favourite viewpoint,
usually holding a glass of champagne or the amber nectar. It delighted
him to see the cars at full throttle approach the hairpin, kick out
their tails and pile on the power for the final straight to the top. On
one occasion in my Lotus Elise I had just taken the hairpin, floored
the throttle to light up the afterburner which threw up a shower of
stones as the tail weaved to and fro. I recall looking in the mirrors
to see the stones head straight for Andrew's car thinking Oh no, that's
a few more stone chips on his bonnet!
Andrew's favourite
tipple was Bruichladdich, a bottle of which never went amiss when the
club visited the 'Rest.' Some years ago my son and I laid down a cask
of Bruichladdich on a trip to the distillery on Islay. With a few years
to go before it matures, my plan to gift a few bottles to Andrew has
been scuppered. However I'm sure Diane and Stephen will appreciate the
gift and we will all drink to the memory of this great man. Until then
we will have Andrew in our thoughts as we drive the 'Rest' knowing he
is with us 'in spirit' of one kind or another. God bless you
Andrew Davidson.
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Updated 25 January 2015
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