FCA Magazine (Forest Forum) - Issue 75: Summer 2022
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 75
Forest Forum – Summer 2022
The Forest Forum edition features: -
Articles
The Future of the FCA
Charles Dickens became the Treasurer of the Forestry Commission (Retirement) Association in 1997. In this article, he outlines the future of the Forestry Commission Association and the intention to close down the FCA-Today website in August 2023. The FCA will continue and communication between the members will continue via Facebook which was set up by Ian Blake several years ago.
Forestry England Extension of Concessions to FCA Members
A three year extension has been added to the agreement with Forestry England (FE) allowing FCA members free use of FE car parks, access along forest drives and free entry to the Westonbirt and Bedgebury arboreta. The concession agreement only applies to England. It does not extend to Wales or Scotland.
North Wales Group Activities
Arthur Miller reports on the North Wales Group’s lunch at the Eagles Hotel in Llanuwchllyn in April 2022 after a long break due to the pandemic. The Christmas meal has been booked for December at the same venue. Members met for another lunch at the Griffin Hotel in Llanbedr. Les Starling took a photograph which showed Gordon Griffiths, Margaret Searson, Neil Francis, Eleanor Francis, Marion Griffiths, Alison Evans, Karen Tonge, Ken Searson, Phil Lloyd, Ken Tonge, Jean Miller, Carol Jones, Arthur Miller, Gill Wells, John Roe and Sue Starling.
Breckland Group Activities
Simon Malone has written about the Breckland Group Activities, which included a visit to Bressingham Gardens and Steam Museum. In mid-July the local Forest District held an Open Day in celebration of the first plantings in Thetford 100 years ago this year. The first plantings took place at Swaffham to the north of what became the main area of Thetford Forest. The Breckland Branch was invited to put on a display which was themed around events that have occurred in the 100 year life of one of those first trees.
Alice Holt Sign from Keeper’s Cottage
Brian Greig says gives an update on the saga of the Alice Holt sign from Keeper's Cottage, which was the subject of Simon Malone's recent article in Forest Forum and Brian’s subsequent letter in response. The sign came up for sale on the 26th March in the Auction Rooms of Andrew J. Smith, near Winchester. After a slow start the bidding quickly exceeded the estimated price of £300-500 and was eventually sold to Jamie and Jennie Awdry from Alice Holt. So after an absence of over 20 years the sign has returned to Alice Holt. Jamie and Jennie had a replica of the sign made and donated the original sign to the Rural Life Museum in nearby Tilford, where it will be part of a new forestry exhibition. The bulk of the purchase price was borne by Jamie and Jennie Awdry, with contributions from three local residents from the village of Rowledge, where the sign was originally located. Jamie Awdry was a valued member of the Silviculture Branch at the Alice Holt Research Station for his entire career. Jamie's dad, Michael, also worked for many years at Alice Holt in the Pathology Branch. Jamie Awdry is a collector of old forest tools and memorabilia and an article "Jamie's Tools" appeared in the Winter 2018 FCA Today.
Forest Fare Recipe Book
Tony Egan’s
Letter to the Editor about the Forest Fare Recipe book brought back memories for Simon Malone. He remembers purchasing a copy of the first edition, probably in 1969. The first edition was published to mark the 50th anniversary of the FC. He still has the original edition, much used, minus the back cover and in rather a sorry state now. After reading Tony’s letter, he made a quick search on Ebay and found a copy of the second edition as shown in his photographs. It cost him £4.99 including the postage.
From the Editor
Richard Toleman says “In this issue Charles has written an article outlining the future of the FCA. He also refers to FCA Today and our current newsletter Forest Forum. I've been editor since the first issue came out as FCRA News and as an insert to the world famous "Slasher" in September 1997, a year after my retirement. Issues continued to be paper inserts, having changed title to FCA Today, until issue 40 in March 2010. After that, we had no more support from Slasher editorial staff. With help from a member, we went on line with Diane Birkett our webmaster and producer of FCA Today, and later Forest Forum. She has done an outstanding job for the FCA and many have remarked on the high presentational standards she has maintained. We were so fortunate that she was recommended to me. So now the way ahead. The website will close in August 2023 and unless you make arrangements to save copies, nothing we have issued on line can be accessed. Charles and I agreed to give it one year so the transition from the national FCA to the remaining local groups can proceed smoothly. Also I'm hoping that, as we have only one year remaining, many will be keen to send final copy and be remembered as supporting our newsletter to the very end. Now there's something to go for! I don't know how many updates we'll be able to produce before August 2023, but the more copy I receive, the more opportunities for updates. So make the best use of our final year as both a national body and one which produces an on line newsletter. Ian Blake's Facebook page will continue to be a place where you can keep in touch with friends and colleagues.”
Obituaries
An obituary is included for Roger Bradley who died on 3rd February 2022.