FCA Magazine (FCRA News) - Issue 6: September 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 6: September 1999
Articles
Don Amer “Sees the Big Picture”
After Don read the "Life after Retirement" articles in recent issues, he wondered if other ex-FC employees started unusual businesses. He gives details of his work after retiring in 1989 having served forty-two years with the FC, thirty years of which were spent with the Radio and Electronics Branch.
North Wales Members Go-Go-Go!
David Williams tells of the start of this branch.
Are you the Tenant of an ex Forestry Commission House?
Advice on FC houses and tenants.
Life After Retirement
Geoff Rouse, now 87 and living in Bristol, gives a fascinating account of early FC days and his retirement.
Is Bill Wittering the Wicker Man?
Bill remembers joining the FC in 1950 with instructions to report to the Chief Research Officer, Malcolm Laurie, at Alice Holt. A mishap on the first day has remained in his memory.
Fred Remembers
Fred remembers a lesson learned when he was giving a talk on mensuration during a course being run at Northerwood in the New Forest for private growers.
Tales of Yesteryear
Betty Maul, a forester’s wife, recounts an amusing incident in Argyll caused by a misunderstanding.
Engage Scotland
A three year initiative managed by Age Concern Scotland to encourage and support older volunteering.
From the Editor
A comment from Richard Toleman.
Welcome to Retirement
Shona McKenzie (Dumfries)
Bob Smith (Edinburgh)
Graham Pyatt ( Roslin)
Ian Embry (Canterbury)
Molly Weir (Edinburgh)
Farewells
Doris Aplin died aged 89. (Burnham, Somerset) Retired 1969
Gordon Axten died aged 79. (Thetford) Retired 1983
Malcolm Bain died aged 90. (Carbost, Skye) Retired 1973
Freda Bishop died aged 86. (Stourbridge) Retired 1976
Joseph Brekon died aged 88. (Pickering) Retired 1981
James Cameron died aged 68. (Acharacle) Retired 1993
Alexander Campbell died aged 74. (Castle Douglas) Retired 1980
John Davenport died aged 67. (Dolgellau)
Alice Deacon died aged 93. (Lymington) Retired 1973
Ian Ellis died aged 76. (Bishops Waltham) Retired 1987
William Frampton died aged 74. (Tregaron) Retired 1983
Sheila Gibbs died aged 72. (Weston-Super-Mare) Retired 1986
Wilfred Lee died aged 84. (Emsworth, Hants) Retired 1979
James Naismith died aged 75. (Aberfoyle) Retired 1986
Christopher Shillibeer died aged 47. (Yelverton) Retired 1988
W H Glidden died aged 85. (Norwich) Retired 1977
Frederick Hubbard died aged 84. (Lincoln) Retired 1973
David Jenkins died aged 89. (Aberystwyth) Retired 1973
Trevor Jones died aged 84. (Dolgellau) Retired 1978
James Mackay died aged 70. (Tongue by Lairg) Retired 1993
Angus Mackinnon died aged 71. (Glenlivet) Retired 1985
James McMillan died aged 76. (Fettercairn) Retired 1968
Donald Macleod died aged 73. (Beauly) Retired 1977
Thomas Murdock died aged 76. (Haxby, York) Retired 1985
Gwilyn Pierce died aged 74. (Caernarfon)
James Powell died aged 68. (Presteigne) Retired 1987
Margaret Ross died aged 85. (Dornoch) Retired 1978
John Spencer died aged 79. (Northampton) Retired 1983
John Scott died aged 73. (Morpeth)
Len Thomas (Llandudno) (Alice Holt)
Ivor Turley died aged 73. (Blakeney) Retired 1989
Dennis Williams died aged 70. (Chirk) Retired 1993
Fredrick Wilson died aged 91. (Wirral) Retired 1986
William Woods died aged 84. (Portsmouth) Retired 1978
Obituaries
Graham Semple sent in an appreciation of Brian Holtam who died in February aged 80 years after a short illness.
From Inverness comes news of Bill Gibson's death at age 88. Better known as Irish'', he studied agriculture at Queen's University, Belfast. After a year he transferred to the forestry course at Aberdeen and thus entered a life-long occupation through which he found his true satisfaction.
Frank Henderson remembers Ian MacIver, who died on 15th February. He was secretary of the Mid Scotland Branch of the FCRA for many years.
Donald McDonald's obituary appeared in the Glasgow Herald and a summary is reproduced. He had joined the FC in 1950 and died at his home in Kinlochard aged 92 years.
Roger Hay recalls John Dishington, who died in January aged 68 years. Born and raised in Edinburgh, John was a noted athlete and rugby player when he was a young man.
Davie Riddell died in November 1998 and his wife Primrose writes to say thank you to all his friends and colleagues who came to pay their last respects at his funeral at Galashiels. Davie started forestry life at Crieff and retired in 1986 as Foreman on the Roads Squad based at Ae.
John Thomas tells of Eugeniusz ("Gene") Gize's death at Taunton in January, aged 86. His initial forestry surveying career was in Poland, from 1932 to September 1939.
The demise is reported of the Corstorphine Sycamore. Age - unknown, but well over 400 years. she had suffered a little internal rot. But who wouldn't after such a long life. She fell in the great storm of 26 December 1998. but the FC had already taken a few cloned copies of her. So, in spite of the current cloning controversy she will live on in her sprouts, for she never produced seeds.