FCA Magazine (FCRA News) - Issue 5: March 1999
FC staff Retirement Association magazine. The content summary below was very kindly compiled by Diane Birkett, Bedfordshire. See PDF attachment below the text to view the full document. A total of 77 issues were completed between 1997 and the final issue in 2023.
Issue 5: March 1999
Articles
Long May They Exist......
Tony Butcher, currently residing near Biggleswade tells of his twenty two years as a forester in the lowlands of East Anglia, with its attendant complications, being situated in an area of high population. He left the FC in 1976 after a period at Lynford Hall, Wigsley, The Depot, Santon Beat then Ampthill.
From Our “Man in Toba”
Readers will recall that Tony Joslin emigrated to Manitoba, Canada in March 1998, together with his wife and elder son. He wrote this article in December 1998.
Millennium Forest Awards
The Millennium Forest for Scotland (MFS) recently launched the Millennium Forest Awards with grants for a woodland project which will benefit the community.
Life After Retirement
Malcolm Macpherson retired as FDM from Lorne in 1986 and tells of his subsequent employment.
When Alan Low retired as Chief Conservator Scotland in 1996, he received an invitation to act as forestry adviser to the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) Department of Agriculture. He relates his experiences.
Mark Yorke retired a FDM from Dolgellau in 1992 having served in the New Forest, South Lakes and Cowal. He describes his retirement from the FC as being full of diverse activity.
Tales of Yesteryear
Charlie Greenlees sent in a tale of forest life by Daisy Bell of Lochgilphead. She was a forest worker in Knapdale Forest until retirement. Currently attending Charlie's Adult Education Classes in English Literature and Communication, she recalled an old fellow giving a talk on his favourite subject “rats” and his theories on why the rats which infested an island, disappeared during the Winter.
Fred Remembers
Fred tells an anecdote concerning Edinburgh member Mike Locke when he was in Mensuration Branch in Alice Holt during a visit by Heathcote Amery, the Minister for Agriculture.
Jog Your Memory
In the August 1998 issue, Paul Shillito asked whether anybody could recall Phillip, his grandfather, who died in 1989. Bart Venner contacted Paul and put him in touch with John Perkins, head of the SW England Civil Engineering Division in the 1960s and Ray Howells, a dozer driver in the Dean. Bart also remembered working with Phillip on road alignments in the Dean.
Berry Good
In a previous issue, John & Betty Zehetmayr announced success with growing figs. In order to keep in the FCRA News they now announce success with josterberries - 7 lbs so far last year! Easier and larger to pick than blackcurrants, and no gooseberry spikes. How about some tales from the Edinburgh Allotment Antiquarians, our local native earth diggers.
AGM notification
The 1999 FCRA AGM will be held at Thetford in May.
From the Editor
A comment from Richard Toleman.
Welcome to Retirement
Sheila Nelson (York)
John McLaren (Inverness)
Howard Embleton (Lochgilphead)
Christine Chamberlain (York)
Jim Williams (Market Rasen)
Mary Binney (Ae)
Jeremy Charles (York)
Jack Reynolds (Edinburgh)
Robin Khan (Bristol)
Eileen Tilling (New Forest)
John Paul (Inverness)
Ken Dacker (York)
Ashley Manis (New Forest)
David Foot (Edinburgh)
Farewells
Gerard Fell died aged 75. (Barry, S. Wales) Retired 1983
Nora Sims died aged 83. (Bournemouth) Retired 1977
John Stones died aged 84. (Scarborough) Retired 1978
Paul Kelly died aged 39. (Bridge of Allan) Retired 1993
Leonard Spencer died aged 77. (Llanrwst) Retired 1982
Duncan Kennedy died aged 91. (lnvergarry) Retired 1972
Mabel Tudor died aged 97. (Shrewsbury) Retired 1962
Kenneth Kerr died aged 73. (Dumfries) Retired 1986
Lionel Vickery died aged 68. (Farnham)
James Perratt. died aged 68. (Arrochar) Retired 1992
Thomas Devine died aged 72. (Oulton Broad) Retired 1971
Alexa Telezynski. died aged 88. (Glencoe) Retired 1975
David Dymond died aged 66. (Pontrhydyfen) Retired 1992
Norman Thomson died aged 74. (Dalbeattie) Retired 1983
James Gould died aged 77. (Ecton, Northants) Retired 1984
"Sandy" Walker died aged 74. (Peebles) Retired 1985
James Hendry died aged 66. (Ballachulish) Retired 1978
Colin Campbell died aged 87. (Beauly) Retired 1976
Mr James died aged 84. (Lydney) Retired 1974
Kenneth Clark died aged 74. (Moffat) Retired 1988
Hughie Jones died aged 77. (Llanwrtyd) Retired 1985
Donald Grayer died aged 75. (New Milton, Hants).Retired 1982
Stanley Jones died aged 74. (Oswestry) Retired 1988
Raymond Foulsham died aged 87. (Swaffham) Retired 1976
Dorothy Mciver died aged 78. (Pickering) Retired 1984
Paul John died aged 55. (Aberystwyth) Retired 1997
Raymond Nicholson died aged 70. (Ripon) Retired 1984
John Mackenzie died aged 73. (Ludlow) Retired 1985
John Nicholson died aged 84. (Tomnavaulin) Retired 1975
Thomas McJannette died aged 73. (Castle Douglas) Retired 1973
George Rogerson died aged 67. (Haverthwaite)
Linda Marshall died aged 42. (Edinburgh) Retired 1996
Robert Welsh died aged 73. (Kilwinning) Retired 1984
Richard Parker died aged 74. (Dolgellau) Retired 1988
Charles Allan died aged 86. (Chester) Retired 1977
David Prichard died aged 68. (Rhayader) Retired 1989
William Dixon died aged 78. (Faversham)
James Vincent died aged 67. (Saxmundham) Retired 1995
Henry Earsman died aged 89. (Bellingham) Retired 1975
Obituaries
Jean Balfour remembers Gunnar Godwin who was born in 1915 of Icelandic and Danish parentage. He died at his home in Glenalmond in August 1998.
Duncan Campbell remembers Dame Sylvia Crowe who died in June 1995.
George Holmes recounts the working life of Maurice Nimmo who died at Haverfordwest aged 89.
Graham Jeffrey writes an appreciation of Sandy Walker who died in Peebles aged 75.
Dick Richards recalls Rod Hewitt who died in January 1998.
Groups: Forestry Commission staff magazines