FCA Magazine (FCAtoday) - Issue 21: December 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 21: December 2003
Articles
Dean School Centenary
Bart Venner describes the commemoration of the start of forester training at Parkend in the Forest of Dean in January 1904. During a tour of the Forester Training School, forty ‘old boys’ entered the rooms which had previously been dormitories. This was followed by a visit to the nursery at Nagshead. Then on to Beechenhurst recreation area, previously an old Dean coal mine, and several other venues of interest.
Attention All Tool Hoarders
An appeal for Tools for Self Reliance (TFSR).
Swedish Houses
Notes on house styles especially the houses built for forestry workers.
Still More on Bothies!...
Kerr Robertson, forester on Arran during his later years, tells of the life in bothies being tough but with a great camaraderie between most of the occupants. He believes National Service in the army was a piece of cake compared to some of the tough bothy life. He spent time in the Tulliallan, Strathyre, Glendoll, Cambusdhu and Corrow bothies.
A View from Afar
A quote from Gaius Petronius Arbiter in AD66 may seem appropriate today.
Bangor Forest Centenary Reunion, 18 – 20 June 2004
Notification of a reunion planned at Bangor for alumni, staff, partners and friends to celebrate 100 years of teaching forestry at the university.
North Yorks Moors 2004
The next AGM and tour will be based at Scarborough in May.
Life After Retirement
Jack Massey of Bristol tells of his interests and work after retiring at aged 63.
How Do You Do?
Lena Birchall describes a meeting of the Alice Holt Group where the members brought examples of their hobbies. These included a collection of coins by Ron Brown; music from his wife Christine, an organist; a portfolio of photographs by Ted Densham; miniature animal collection by Frankie Edwards and Joan Richardson; colourful thimbles by Wendy Lampard; Calligraphy by Betty Page and Deirdre Waddell who also brought a sculptured owl; Landscape paintings by Monica Hopkin, Betty Page, Frankie Edwards, Lena Birchall and Eric Hale; Frank Hales brought a wood carving and his wife Rhona had created an unusual picture; Sylvia Nichols brought knitwear; her husband, Nigel, crafted metal into a canon and paper knife; tapestry was featured from Anne Yeomans, Deirdre Waddell and Doris Thorne; a patchwork waistcoat was shown from Lena Birchell. A delicious cake by Joan Richardson completed the display.
From the Editor
A comment from Richard Toleman.
Welcome to Retirement
Monica MacGregor (Ely)
Hugh Price (Merthyr Tydfil)
Richard Varney (Bury St Edmunds)
Bob Hands (Dawlish)
Thelma Smalley (Farnham)
Brian Lloyd Jones (Brecon)
Martin Fletcher (Brockenhurst)
Griffith Davies (Carris)
RC Currie (Minnigaff)
John Cubby (Wigton)
John Budd (Alton)
Cyril Watt (Ludlow)
George Francey (Taynuilt)
Graham Robertson (West Calder)
Obituaries
John Zehetmayr writes of Ian Watt MBE, whom he knew for over 50 years.
Norman Brown tells of the death of Bob Irving.
Barry Teasdale has gathered information on Warren Henman from many of his friends.
George Stewart has memories of Peter Legard who died in March at Chester aged 86.
John Stevens remembers Junior Prior.
Stephen Ferrari and Ian Famelton recall the eventful life of former colleague Vilnis Grant who was born in Riga, Latvia.
Lena Birchall has told me about the deaths of Betty Burnaby aged 93 and Pat Marsh aged 75.
Obituaries for John Davies, Gordo Straughan and Bill Elliot will appear in the next issue.