FCA Magazine (FCAtoday) - Issue 57: Spring 2016
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 57: Spring 2016
Articles
Retirement in Devon
David West writes about his gun dog training and managing a twenty acre private wood in Devon.
Bringing the World of Books to You
When Arthur Miller retired from the Forestry Commission aged 55 years, he was introduced to a different, but interesting lifestyle we he got a job as a mobile library relief driver.
Further Recollections of Pre Forestry School Work 1964-1966
Martin Fletcher recalls the first 18 months of his pre FTS training, which were spent working in Bucklebury Forest where the Head Forester was Ron Watkinson and Paul Cooper was his assistant. Martin’s co-forest work was Wilf Lawes. Other postings followed and a placement at Thetford Chase, including being a creosoter at the Santon Downham plant.
Breckland Group Activities 2015-2016
Simon Malone reports on the Breckland Group activities for 2015-2016 and includes photographs of the Group on visits.
Up a Tree Without a Harness
Tony Butcher, now residing in New Zealand, writes about the cabbage tree growing in his garden.
FCA 2016 AGM Details
The FCA 2016 AGM will be held in the Speech House Hotel, Coleford.
North Wales Group Activities 2015
Arthur Miller gives details of the North Wales Group activities during the past year and includes photographs taken by Les Starling of the Group members on the visits.
Truck Driving at Gwydyr
Don Amer says the photo in the Winter edition of FCA Today, of the Lynford 1951/52 forestry students on a lorry whilst on an exchange course at the Gwydyr FTS brought back memories of his time at Gwydyr in 1950/52. He believes it was the old Bedford truck which he was destined to drive fellow students to working locations and on forest visits.
Gwydyr Staff and Seniors photograph July 1963
Included in the photograph are Mostyn Pugh, Len Billington, Sandy Surman, John Roe, George Harrison, Roger Mitchell, Brian Pulford, Joe Kingsmill, Brian Lloyd Jones, Chris Caistor, Ash Brown, Sammy Wilson, Frank Stanbridge, Paul Rashidi, Geoff Rose, Alan Powell, Bob Kemp, David Perry, Gwyn Francis, Geoff Claydon, Cypriot Instructor, Arthur Miller and Dave Craze. Messrs Powell, Kemp, Perry and Claydon were all Instructors. Gwyn Francis was Education Officer.
Yorkshire Group Activities
The AGM in February 2016 was attended by 19 members and the group had an active and enjoyable 2015 with seven visits. Sadly the Yorkshire group have lost six members this year. They were Libby Capstick, Arthur Frankland, Brenda Jackson, Adrian Hartley, Rosaleen Barker and Muriel Goldsworthy.
Letters to the Editor
Eric Rogers says fifty members and their families of the East Anglian branch of the FCA enjoyed a New Year lunch on 7th January in the Lynford Hall Ballroom.
Peter Ford read the article about the Cashel Hydro Electric Scheme and recalled working in the area.
From the Editor
A comment from Richard Toleman.
Obituaries
Ian Blake recalls a sunny day in January 2016 when family, friends and former FC colleagues gathered together at Brecon Cathedral to celebrate the life of David Morgan Hughes, the former Chief Conservator, FA (Wales). David had died suddenly, in his sleep, in December 2015, whilst visiting family in New Zealand.
David Foot recalls Gwyn Francis who died in Edinburgh in November 2015. The obituary is written by David Foot, with contributions from John Morgan, Graham Hamilton and Roger Busby, all former colleagues of Gwyn Francis, and past students from the FTS.
Boyd Glen knew Eddie Arthurs well. Eddie died aged 74 in December 2015 in Spain after a short illness.