FCA Magazine (FCAtoday) - Issue 68: Winter 2019
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 68: Winter 2019
Articles
Dean Forester Training School Reunion
Gordon Griffiths, a Dean FTS student in the Class 1966-1968 gives an account of the Dean FTS Reunion. The gathering at the Speech House Hotel on 21st September 2019 was organised by Gerry Gissop and Martin Fletcher. Dean FTS student attendees were: - Keith Campbell 1969-71; Paul Cooper 1957-59; Ian Cox 1964-66; Dave Craze 1961-63; Peter Darch 1963-65; Roger Fitter 1956-58; Martin Fletcher 1966-68; Dick Gossling 1969-71; Bill Gregory 1965-67; Brian Greig 1957-59; Gordon Griffiths 1966-68; John Latter 1965-67; Dave Mackie 1958-60; Hugh Milner 1964-66; Peter Noot 1962-64; Harry Oram 1969-71; Dave Rogers 1969-71; Peter Schweiger 1966-68; Pat Smith 1969-71; Les Starling 1964-66; Derick Stickler 1969-71; Keith Wallis 1958-60; Roger Warn 1968-70 and Peter Webb 1959-61.
Details of FCA AGM 2020
The FCA AGM will be hosted by the north Wales Group at the Beaufort Park Hotel, near Mold, Flintshire on 12th & 13th May 2020. A visit to the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port is planned.
Centenary Event at High Lodge Thetford
Simon Malone reports on the Activity Day at High Lodge Forest Centre, organised by local forest staff in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Forestry Commission. In addition to displays by the Friends of Thetford Forest, the Norfolk Militia, deer stalking and archaeological exhibits and displays of modern forest machinery, the Breckland Group of the FCA was invited to take part.
Remembering a Celebration of 75 Years of the FC
Angela Dudley provided a photograph of personnel, messengers and Print Room staff celebrating 75 years of the Forestry Commission in 1994 at Silvan House. Included in the photograph are John McGough, Margaret Green, Susan McLeod, Moira Bardy, Theresa Andrew, Corina Kelly, Sylvanna Hewitt, Irene Gilbert, Liz Kirk, Mary Goldie, Kathleen Burt, Kate Fielding, Joanne Macauley, Walker Scott, Jan (print room), Alister Taylor, Marion Quigley, Cathy Johnston, Pat Sinclair, Lynn Carty, Elizabeth MacArthur, Marjorie, Muriel Stickle, Anne Stott, Angela Dudley, Lynne Rennie, David Niven, Coll Gardiner, George Prior, Gordon McLardy, Elizabeth, Sandra Lawrence, Chris Smith, David Taylor, Jack Reynolds (Messenger), Tom Edwards and Alan Craythorne.
Forest Name Signs
Brian Greig was interested in the photograph and mention of the old Forest Name Plates in the “Jamie’s Tool Collection” article in the FCA Today Winter 2018 edition. He also has a collection of the signs.
A Tale of Two Glider Pilots
Graham Hamilton writes about his friend and former colleague Finlay McRae who died in June 2014. His obituary was printed in the FCA Today Summer 2014 edition and was also published in Scottish Forestry Vol 69 (1) in 2015. Graham gives an insight into Finlay’s wartime experiences with the RAF which he joined in 1942 and he trained to be a pilot in Florida. Later Finlay transferred to the Glider Pilot Regiment and took part in Operation Varsity on 24th March 1945, a major operation to move British and American troops and supplies across the Rhine into Germany. Finlay’s memoir “A Tune in the Woods” described the event as the largest airborne operation in history. There is also an intriguing story by Rowena Smith, whose father Harry Grinham had also taken part Operation Varsity. Entries in a logbook indicate Finlay was Harry Grinham’s co-pilot.
The Centenary of the FC Celebrated at Glentress
Photographs show the FC celebrations on the 4th October 2019, at Glentress near Peebles. It was hosted by the new forestry body in Scotland, Forestry & Land Scotland (F&LS).
Mount Rushmore
Arthur Miller’s visit to Mount Rushmore shows there is more to see than the presidents’ carvings.
Forestry Centenary Event – Wales
Arthur Miller describes the events which Natural Resources Wales held to mark the Centenary of the Forestry Commission. Chris and Margaret Griffiths, together with David and Ann Williams were present at Gwydyr Uchaf, Gwydyr Forest. Chris was, at one time the F.D.M. there. John Morgan and Bob Farmer, both past Directors (Wales) were at Llanafan. In addition there was an event at Clocaenog Forest. The FCA were well represented with nine members: Eifion and Llinos Jones, Les and Sue Starling, Jean and Arthur Miller, John Roe, Andy Phillips and Phil Lloyd. They had all been involved in Clocaenog and the surrounding District over the years. Bruce Theobald and Ffion Hughes were thanked for arranging the day. Photographs of the events accompany the article.
Book Reviews
Walking Scotland’s Lost Railways: Track Beds Rediscovered by Robin Howie & John McGregor
An invaluable guide for walkers to discover over 375 miles of Scotland’s track beds that range from easy to adventurous walking. A general background history of the ‘Railway Age’ is provided along with detailed information, maps and numerous old railway photographs to recall these past times.
Lumberjills: Britain’s Forgotten Army by Joanna Foat
When war was declared in 1939, Britain was almost completely dependent on imported timber - but only had seven months of it stockpiled. Timber was critical to the war effort: it was needed for everything from aircraft and shipbuilding to communications and coal mining. The British timber trade was in trouble. Enter the Lumberjills. Lacking in both men and timber, the government made a choice. Reluctantly, they opened lumber work for women to apply - and apply they did. The Women’s Timber Corps had thousands of members who would prove themselves as strong and as smart as any man: they felled and crosscut trees by hand, operated sawmills, and ran whole forestry sites.
A Path Through the Trees - Mary Sutherland by Vivien Edwards
Mary Sutherland was a forester, botanist and women’s advocate. In 1916 he became the first woman forestry graduate in the world, graduating from the University College of North Wales. She was a founding member of the NZ Institute of Foresters.
Letters to the Editor
Norman Davidson sent a photograph taken on 12th May 1960, when plans were discussed to conserve the Black Wood of Rannoch. Duncan Menzies, a forester in Rannoch at the time named most of those in the photograph. As Prof H M Steven was chair of East Scotland Conservancy RAC, the meeting may have been partially for RAC information gathering. The people named are Willie J Riddoch, Frank Oliver, Pat Garrow, Prof Stevens, Sam Petrie and Davie Woodburn.
David Holloway, ex-Learning & Interpretation at Bedgebury Pinetum, enjoyed reading the articles in the Summer edition of FCA Today. In particular, the Thetford items (AGM report & Treasure Trove in Thetford), Dick Ayre's article on pest and disease import control, but above all, Graham Gill's account of the William's Cleugh Pine Pollinations 2013.
From the Editor
A comment from Richard Toleman.