FCA Magazine (FCAtoday) - Issue 71: Winter 2020
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 71: Winter 2020
Articles
Concessions to FCA Members
Details of members’ concessions.
Forestry Commission Association – What Lies Ahead
Charles Dickens and Richard Toleman share their thoughts on the future of the FCA.
Forest Commission Association – The Way Ahead
Feedback from the FCA Groups has been considered in the decisions for the way ahead for the FCA.
Forestry Commission Association Facebook Group
Ian Blake gives details of the FCA Facebook that he runs for the members.
Bats at Windy Pits
Nick Gibbons tells of his disappointment at a planned visit to see bats at the Windy Pits not being allowed by the landowners. But with Brian Walker, visits to the ‘Old Fat and Past It’ and Newclose Rigg pits showed bat activity.
FC 100th Anniversary Commemorative Planting – An Update
Simon Malone gives an update on the commemorative planting in Lynford Arboretum.
Trees (in a Nut-Shell)
Don Grant gives some interesting historic tree facts.
Get on Yer Bike!
Ted Baldwin has memories of bikes (BSA Bantam, Vincent 1000cc) and other vehicles including an MG sports car and an ancient pre-war Austin 7 (spare engine and tyre carried) which were possessed by his fellow students at the FTS at Lynford Hall in 1951.
Some Happy Memories of Dean FTS 1965-67
Simon Malone continues his reminiscences about his career with the FC and includes a photograph from his time at the Dean FTS during 1965-67. Among the students in the photograph are: - J. d’Arch Smith; S. Malone; T. Coxwell; D. Davies; G. Waygood; T. Joslin; J. Goodwin; H. Jones; R. Twallin; J. Niles; I. Ledgard; K. Vunisasari; M. Steward, S. Turuva; D. White (hidden); D. Whitaker; M. Stone; B. Gregory; M. Blud; M. Taylor; D. Case. R. McKinley; M. Mason; R. Newborough; K. Pestana; H. Milner; M. Mungloo; J. Latter; I. Cox; S. Rousetti; D. Gregory; R. Venkatasamy.
Tales from the Gwydyr Woods
Arthur Miller reviews and quotes excerpts from the book by James Lynburn Shaw, who took charge of Gwydyr Forest as head forester in 1925. The book is based on his father’s notes and stories, and tells of times long past.
Retirement
Eric Rogers shares his interests and details of his travels since leaving the FC.
The Gwydyr Forest
Cycling enthusiast Arthur Miller tells of his membership of the Cyclists’ Touring Club (now entitled British Cycling) and his association with his local group, the Chester and North Wales. He remembers one of his fellow cyclists, Dick Bellingham, who had attended Gwydyr Forester Training School, just after the war. Though Dick didn’t pursue his career with the FC, he produced an article The Gwydyr Forest for the Chester and North Wales group magazine Awheel in November 1952. It is reproduced in this edition of the FCA Today magazine.
Ten New England Sawmill Units in Scotland 1917-1918
Norman Davidson relates the start of the historic event by G. Howard (Happy) Reed of Acton, Massachusetts who pushed the levers and started the saw running, allowing Burpee Steele of Broxboro to cut the first board by an American sawmill manned by American men from New England working in the north eastern part of Ross-shire (Strathcarron) close to Ardgay village. This sawmill and the ten felling teams, were each manned by just over thirty men, working to provide desperately required timber for the war effort against Germany.
Letter to the Editor
Norman Davidson appeals for images of Scottish forestry signs for the Forestry Memories website.
From the Editor
A comment from Richard Toleman.
Obituaries
John Roe has written that David Legge, whose career with the Forestry Commission started in late 1947 after demob from the army, died at home in July.
Rob Guest was told that Neil Cooper has died, aged 93 in Rangiora, New Zealand. Neil trained at the Dean FTS, then worked in the Forest of Dean as a junior forester, living in Edge Hills Lodge.
Douglas (Doug) Pringle's daughter reports his death in November. Douglas was born in Edinburgh in 1931, and went to Roseburn primary school and Boroughmuir where he played rugby at the school’s playing fields at Meggetland.