FCA Magazine (FCAtoday) - Issue 26: August 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 26: August 2005
Articles
Are you Being Represented?
A report on the discussions during the AGM including the FC’s decision on notifying the FCA on deaths. Associate membership was considered and will be raised at the next AGM. The election of committee members was also raised.
Timber Jills
Betty Kirkland supplied a photograph of Timber Jills taken at Culford Timber camp, East Anglia in 1940.
Rail Memories… Keep Going
Bill Wittering recalls the original Santon Downham narrow gauge railway ran from High Lodge to a siding on the main line. It was built by Canadian loggers felling trees as part of the war effort. They lived in a hut which later became the beat office under Peter Kirby. The creosote plant was run by a small expatriate staff of Poles, who never caught colds as they were pickled in creosote!
Whitelee: An Oral History of a 20th Century Scottish Forest - Update
A good response to the request of Whitelee memories for the project.
Diverse Dunkeld – The AGM Tour
A report on the visit to Dunkeld, The Hermitage and Craigvinean. Charlie Taylor, District Forest Manager guided the walk through the area.
A Cabin in the Forest … a mystery solved
Ann McVeigh nee Henderson gives an update on the young women in the December 2004 article ‘The Cabin’ and says they still keep in touch.
Wartime Stories
Derek Smith who joined the FC’s Census and Working Plans Branch in 1938. He saw war service in the RAF and returned to the FC in 1946. He has memories of pre-war years at Savile Row, then when war came, Bristol – Camp House for the Forest Management Department and the restaurant in the department store for the Home Timber Production Department. Billet were in private houses, mainly in Cranbrook Road and Derek recalls some happy moments before they all joined different Services during the war.
Tools for Self Reliance (Tfsr)
Details of TFSR Cymru, the Welsh branch of Tools for Self Reliance, based in Crickhowell.
Getting to the Point
Bill Sutherland overcomes his scepticism and praises acupuncture.
Arnold’s Anagrams – Answers
Answers to Arnold Grayson’s anagrams in the last edition.
Mount Hua, China
Martin Fletcher is registered with British Executive Service Overseas, soon to be amalgamated with VSO. His first assignment was last November to the Sacred Mount Hua in Shaanxi Province for his client Huashan Tourist Development Corporation, who required advice on forestry problems. They also wanted a strategy for their Pine Protection Forest at 6,700 feet. Martin reports on the trip and is looking forward to his next assignment in Shanghai.
99 and Good for More
Bill Sutherland reports on his invitation to John Jackson’s 99th birthday party at Coylet Hotel, Loch Eck.
One Tree – The Finale
An analysis of the results of the One Tree travelling exhibition which finished over two years ago.
Oops!... A Lesson in Dealing With an Enquiry
Ken Broad tells an amusing story of a rowan tree.
Welcome to Retirement
Peter Dewey (Berkhamsted)
Keith Mills (Hawick)
Edward Morrison (Avoch)
L J MacIntosh (Fort William)
Thomas Brown (Crieff)
James Dalian (Lochgilphead)
David Armstrong (Bellingham)
Douglas Hughes (Machynlleth)
Douglas Archibald (Banchory)
Ian MacGillivary (Inverness)
Robert Gillies (Lochgilphead)
John Grieve (Oban)
William Walker (Glenprosen)
Mike Lofthouse (Dumfries)
Alan Walker ( New Galloway)
Mike Shuttleworth (Hexham)
Richard Davis (Ipswich)
William Barber (Brandon)
Christine Clark (Bournemouth)
Robert Murray (Southampton)
Carol Morgan (Southampton)
Jennifer Noel (Farnham)
Roy Burch (Rugeley)
Terence Sexton (Rugeley)
Derek Evans (Lydney)
Leslie Stirling (Ruthin)
Evelyn Edwards (Dolgellau)
George Williams (Rhayader)
James Voice (Neath)
Mairie Simm (Edinburgh)
Simon Hewitt (Aberystwyth)
Douglas Green (Edinburgh)
Roger Herbert (Edinburgh)
Obituaries
Jim Dewar reports on the death of Lionel Holmes.
Information has been gathered on Mary Lowry who died in March.
John Ogilvie has written an appreciation of Richard Chard.
John Keenleyside tells of Peter Mackenzie who was born in Strathconon and spent his whole life there.
John Waite recalls Tecwyn Roberts who died in January.
Bryce Reynard and John Keenleyside have put together memories of Frank Sutherland who was born and brought up in the last house in John o' Groats in Caithness.
Jenny, Harry Dickinson's widow, has recounted their lives together.
Ron Watkinson's wife has asked for his death to be noted.
Les Taylor's wife also asked for his death in October 2004 to be recorded.
David Chadwick has said that Wally Hammond's many friends were saddened to hear of his sudden death from a heart attack in March.