FCA Magazine (FCRA News) - Issue 16: March 2002
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 16: March 2002
Articles
Forester Turns Farmer
Martin Fletcher writes about his visit to Tony and Mary Joslin’s 1000 acre farmland in Manitoba, Canada.
FCRA AGM May 2002
Details of the forthcoming FCRA AGM.
Betty’s Pics ….again!
Betty Kirkland (nee Saunders) has come up with another photo to jog the memory. It was taken at the Royal Show at York.
Where Are They Now?
Dave Watts wants to contact ex-students from the Dean FTS 1962/63.
Bothies and School Vacations
David Paterson recalls his time as a Glasgow schoolboy when his first summer job was in the midge-infested backwoods of Argyll. Subsequent jobs over the next few years followed before he started his first day as probationer DO in 1955.
What’s in a Name?
More suggestions for a name change from FCRA News.
Talking Taproots
A reminder of this book by Ann Moules published in 1998. It contains a collection of anecdotes by FC members from 1933-68.
Monkey Puzzle is Forest Puzzle
Jock Low is wondering about the fate of a Monkey Puzzle plot at Hafren.
Globe Trotting House Adds Miles!
Derek House estimates the mileage he has travelled across the world during his retirement as 48,000. He also mentions the activities planned during the Airborne Forces day in Souilly, north east France.
Faskally Reunion
A reunion is suggested for the 1963-65 Faskally FTS intake.
Tony Burns It Up for Retirement
Tony Burns tells of his energetic life in retirement.
You Are Still Eligible For the CSMA
The benefits of joining the Civil Service Motoring Association.
From the Editor
A comment from Richard Toleman.
Welcome to Retirement
Ron Elliott (Edinburgh)
Alex Cameron (Fochabers)
David Davies (Carmarthen)
B Hopkins (Rhondda)
John Johnston (Aberfoyle)
William McKie (Newton Stewart)
D Winsland (Bournemouth)
Derek Benoy (Edinburgh)
Pauline Newell (Farnham)
Godfrey Savage (Woodbridge)
Dennis Rogers (Bridgend)
Douglas Stansfield (Fort William)
Duncan Cameron (Taynuilt)
John Armour (Colwyn Bay)
Cuthbert Adamson (Aberystwyth)
Edward Arthurs (Lasswade)
Fredrick Eckton (Builth Wells)
Charles Campbell (Campbeltown)
William Edgar ( Moffat)
Desmond Cresswell (Leominster)
Farewells
Stanley Drew (Cinderford) aged 81 retired 1972
Hugh Jones (Pentraeth) aged 80 retired 1984
Alexander Lennon (Elgin) aged 47 retired 2000
John Paton (Narborough) aged 84 retired 1982
William Ross (Lochgilphead) aged 70
Oswald Williams (Llanrwst ) aged 62
James Cameron (Bonar Bridge) aged 89 retired 1977
David McCulloch (Peebles) aged 67 retired 1988
Thomas Bell (Lockerbie) aged 73 retired 1993
Reginald Elliott (Horsham) aged 73 retired 1973
Thomas Griffin (Moffat) aged 76 retired 1988
James Henderson (Aberfoyle) aged 78 retired 1988
Victor Holt (Warminster) aged 87 retired 1973
James McArthur (Bradford) aged 81 retired 1977
Alexander McDougall (Aberfeldy) aged 80 retired 1985
Hugh McGregor (Lochgilphead) aged 71 retired 1987
Maurice Raven (Thetford) aged 62 retired 1993
Mr Wade (Newark) aged 77 retired 1988
James Walsh (Blaenau Ffestiniog) aged 75 retired 1990
Thomas Winter (Newcastleton) aged 81 retired 1978
Nelson Young (Thetford) aged 81 retired 1982
James MacRae (Kyle of Lochalsh) aged 71 retired 1995
Obituaries
Bart Venner remembers Jeff Carter who attended Benmore FTS and was posted to the Borders. He transferred to the Dean to work with Forest Research in 1963 and helped create the first team of Field Surveys in the area. He was posted to the Dean on a beat in 1966 and later was 4 years on production. He became Forest Warden in charge of Recreation from 1975 and transformed the camping, caravanning and school visits system. However Jeff is best known for his organisation and running of the Royal Show stand at Stoneleigh.
Henry Smith of Winchester recalls Andy Devine who died in 2000. He was born in 1917 and attached to Dean FTS in 1951/53.
Norman Jones of Shrewsbury has many stories of George Evan Jones known to friends as George bach y Forestry. He died aged 76 last July. having spent all his life in Gwel Ystwyth, Llanafan moving into a new house in 1953.
Norman Brown of Peebles has gathered stories of Maurius (Maurice) Carruthers from Margaret Gebbie, Andy Liddell and Archie Paul.
David Mobbs and Alan Catchpole wrote about Mike Webb who died in early September. After National Service in the Military Police. Mike went to the Dean Forestry School and joined the Forest Surveys Branch (then part of Research Division).
Don Furness tells of Fred Noble who died in August. After training as a vehicle mechanic in the RAF he joined the FC at Shilton Forest, Yorkshire in 1960. He drove a timber wagon as well as operating a lorry-mounted wood chipper which entailed travelling throughout the whole of north England and south Scotland. During this period he was also a member of the Conservancy Ploughing Team.