FCA Magazine (FCAtoday) - Issue 22: March 2004
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 22: March 2004
Articles
The Story of the Lone Cyclist
John Taylor recounts his retirement history, especially his love of cycling and his work with the Scottish committee of the Cyclists’ Tourist Club (CTC) and many other cycling groups and achievements.
Help for Hazel Coppice
Alan Waters from Chichester is starting a hazel coppice project and is interested in techniques. He is looking for a copy of the 1956 edition of Bulletin No 27 "Utilisation of Hazel Coppice", now out of print.
Does Anyone Remember?
Cedric Quayle, an independent forester in Wyre Forest, is asking whether anyone knows of World War II Victory Plantations. He has seen two, but none since 1970. A "V" was planted in contrasting greens on a visible hillside. EIIR was planted on a hillside near Knighton.
Castle Howard Arboretum
A suggestion for delegates attending the AGM to visit the Castle Howard Arboretum. The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers have created a Furniture Makers’ Walk in the arboretum.
Rail Memories…
A recent article in Slasher gave details of a replica narrow gauge tram, positioned on the line of the old Rhymney to Talybont tramway at Talybont Forest. Jock Low recalled a forestry light railway in the Dovey Valley. Betty Kirkland nee Saunders, recalls earlier rail use. She worked in Alice Holt from 1947 to 1956. Prior to that and towards the end of the war, she was in the Woman's Timber Corps. In 1947 she was posted to Wiveliscombe, Somerset, and in one location a woodland was being felled at a distance from a road. A short narrow gauge railway was laid across the fields to extract the timber, and she became the diesel engine driver. Her friend drove the spade-lug tractor which dragged the timber to the rail head. Pictures show a narrow gauge railway for extracting timber in Somerset 1944 - 46, the ‘gang’ at Wiveliscombe and the Women’s Timber Corps in Somerset, 1940.
Swedish Timber Houses
Russell Bruce has received replies to his appeal for interesting stories, which may be included in future issues.
Life After Retirement
Jack Massey tells of his interests and work after retiring.
Tools for Self Reliance
Martin Fletcher is encouraging others to donate unwanted tools to the Tools for Self Reliance (TFSR) charity that he supports. He works with engineers at the TFSR HQ in Netley Marsh, Southampton, where the tools are refurbished.
Stress Laminated Timber Arch Bridges
Geoff Freedman gives details of Innovative Engineering in the Countryside (InTeC), which began three years ago as an initiative to increase the sale of timber to the structural markets in the U.K. A conference was held at BRE in Garston to launch the initiative, with the focus on timber bridges.
Forestry Training Schools
Harry Smith has sold all 125 copies of the FTS book. More can be printed if there is further demand.
2004 AGM and Forest Tour notification
The AGM will be in Scarborough in May. The tour destination will be the North York Moors.
Freebie…
FCA members qualify for free FC car parking and free use of Forest Drives. Passes are distributed to members by Group secretaries.
From the Editor
A comment from Richard Toleman on obituaries.
Welcome to Retirement
Cyril Wait (Brimfield)
George Francey (Taynuilt)
Conwyl Phillips (Llandogo)
Michael lngoldby (Preston)
Graham Roberts (Abergavenny)
Elma Wilson (Cairnbaan)
Obituaries
Jamie Galbraith will be well known to many who have practised forestry in Scotland as the Head Factor of Buccleuch Estates.
Jim Walsham, has enjoyable memories of David Murray, former nursery forester. He worked at Ae in the late 30s and after war service, returned to Fleet around 1947.
Roy Carlaw was well known to foresters, both within and outwith the FC, as a person with extensive forestry knowledge, who would never shirk from stating his opinion, would enliven any meeting with his comments and was a regular correspondent of forceful letters to the Glasgow Herald.
Although not a member of the FC, David Kinloch will be known to many ex-Bangor students.
Thomas Kipling's wife Brenda told me that he died in August 2003, aged 86 years.
Gwyn Francis has brought together contributions about Bill Elliott who died on 7 September 2003, aged 82 years.
Steve Quigley has many reminiscences of Colin Turquand who joined the Forestry Commission in late 1974.
Andy Little and Giles Davies recount John Davies' eventful life.
Many people have contributed to John Mcgarva's obituary who died in September.
Dick Jackson recalls Fred Donald.
Howard Embleton remembers Gordon Straughan, a true Northumbrian.
John Taylor died peacefully at Oakfield Nursing Home, Bath on 25 September 2003, aged 81.
Dave Tracy, of Forest Research Cairnbaan, has informed us about the death of his father Cecil Tracy in Elgin in November 2002.