FCA Magazine (FCAtoday) - Issue 25: March 2005
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 25: March 2005
Articles
Delta Dan
Phil Ratcliffe (aka Delta Dan), a previous Head of Wildlife Research and Environment Branches, left the FC in 1992 to establish Ecological Land-Use Consultancy. He also pursued his musical interests and collected early vintage acoustic guitars. He plays and sings the acoustic blues and ragtime music of the 20s and 30s. He has been a fan of Mississippi John Hurt since the 1960s and tells the story of the successful search for him. Phil is writing a book and offers to perform songs at gigs if required.
Dean FTS Reunion Dinner
A report on the FTS Reunion dinner in October 2004.
More on that ‘Cabin in the Forest’
The brother of Charlie Mitchell (who sent in the ‘Cabin in the Forest’ article) has more to add to the girls’ story. He took the photograph of the girls at Durran ‘Dump’, a timber yard by the lochside. He remembers the girls well. He adds to their story and has earlier memories of his family’s connection with the area.
Rail Memories…again!
Martin Fletcher recalls the noxious days of Thetford with its Hot Tank Creosoting Plant at Thetford Chase. A railway was required to transport the quarter of a million stakes per annum around the site.
Letters
Referring to the Cabin in the Forest, Stan Forrester of Strathcarron says the cabin was still there in 1945, although not then used by the land army girls. A new contingent was housed in lnverliever Lodge, a Victorian shooting lodge. The cabin had been demoted to a wet weather shelter, and was used for the weekly payment of wages.
Arnold’s Anagrams
Arnold Grayson used to make anagrams of FC staff names to pass time while he waited at airports. A selection is included with the answers in the next edition.
Knock on the Door
Bart Venner tells of a visitor he hadn’t seen since 1956. Peter Sanders, was on a visit from his home in British Columbia. Bart gives an update on Peter’s life in Scotland and subsequently in Canada.
Whitelee: An Oral History of a 20th Century Scottish Forest
A project is under way in Scotland to explore the social and landscape history of Whitelee Forest, mainly from oral sources, but also from archives and old maps. Ruth Tittensor and Professor Chris Smout have appealed for participants who have memories of Whitelee Forest to contribute to the project.
Notifications of Deaths
Information on notifications.
From the Editor
An amusing comment from Richard Toleman.
Welcome to Retirement
Anne Baxter (Edinburgh)
Roy Burch (Rugeley)
Terance Bexton (Rugeley)
William Barber (Brandon)
Alan Walker (Castle Douglas)
Christine Clark (Bournemouth)
Robert Murray (Southampton)
Carol Morgan (Southampton)
Leslie Starling (Farnham)
Jennifer Noel (Ruthin)
Derek Evans (Lydney)
Douglas Archibald (Banchory)
Obituaries
Mike Whitlock recalls John Parker who died in November aged 58 after a short illness.
John Martin and John Keenleyside have told me about Bill Falconer who died in November.
John Thomas and Jock Low remembers Bernard Hughes who died in July.
John also mentions Fali Nadirshah who joined the FC at the Bristol office as Clerical Officer in 1970. He died in June aged 80.
Barry Griggs has written about Hywel Thomas who died just before Christmas.
Groups: Forestry Commission staff magazines