FCA Magazine (FCAtoday) - Issue 20: July 2003
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 20: July 2003
Articles
Room at the Top - Aviemore 2003
News from the AGM held at the Highlander Hotel, Aviemore. A coach outing followed, supervised by David Jardine, FDM Inverness, who took the party initially to Loch Morelich. Amongst other places on the itinerary was a journey on the funicular railway to the summit of Cairngorm Mountain.
Wartime Stories
John North, a retired head forester from the Dean, remembers the time immediately after the war, when he joined a forest workers training scheme for returning servicemen. He joined in 1947 and reported to Coreton Hall, Near Bridgnorth, followed by Aston Hall, Aston on Clun, near Craven Arms. The ganger in charge was Tom Attenborough. John tells an amusing story which occurred while he was working there.
Woodcraft Teaching
Stiles and Bates, wood turning and hardwood suppliers near Dover, are inviting anyone interested to attend a craft teaching workshop.
Any Old Photos of Old Machinery?
Wil Jones of Wales, recently retired from Forestry Civil Engineering (FCE), is putting together a museum and is looking for old pictures of machines working in the forest.
Buildings You Cannot Miss!
Recommendations of ‘must see’ buildings.
Aerial Mast Ranger Bridges
Descriptions of modern bridge designs.
Master of Swing
Bill Powell joined the FC in 1971 and worked in Research until he retired in 1987. He tells of his time spent running a dance band.
Tree Aid
Tree Aid had major media exposure at Christmas as part of the Independent’s Christmas Hope for Africa Appeal. The dire situation of a decimated landscape in Burkino Faso was highlighted.
High Performance Vehicles
As an aid to FC vehicle recognition, Doug Petty, the Conservancy Mechanical Engineer in NE England sent a not too serious memo to all drivers of FC vehicles.
Who’s Who? …
A photograph from Fred Hummel features 35 senior staff. It was taken in Scotland in 1969 in connection with the FC’s 50th anniversary. Fred also supplied a list of those in the photograph. They are: - R.B. Verney; H.J. Watkins; A. Watt; Major Sir William Strang Steel; J.A. Dickson; L.A.W. Jenkins; M. Compton; Alderman E. Gwynfryn Davies; F.C. Hummel; G. Forrest; T.H. McGeorge; G.W. Backhouse; J.Q. Williamson; L.H. Williams; J.P. Lenman; J.J.V. Summers; C.A.J. Barrington; H.A. Maxwell; E.R. Macmillen; J.E. James; J.W.L. Zehetmayr; J.S.R. Chard; J.H. James; G.D. Holmes; D.H. Phillips; G.I. Mackenzie; B.W. Holtam; E.G. Richards; G.D. Rouse; P.F. Carthwaite; D.R. Johnston; D.A. Mithen; G.G. Stewart; G.E. Godwin; J.R. Booth.
From the Editor
Comments from Richard Toleman include details of his role as a newly appointed Sustrans Ranger for the cross Scotland Clyde to Forth Cycle Route No. 75.
Welcome to Retirement
Brian Baud (Towcester)
Frank Bebb (Llanymynech)
Roger Boswell (Fleet)
William Braithwaite (Langholm)
Simon Malone (Thetford)
Clifford Thomas (Soudley)
James Wardlow (Fochabers)
Obituaries
Many friends contributed to Mike Locke’s obituary.
George Mower’s wife would like her husband who had worked in Thetford Forest for over 33 years to be remembered.