Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 245 - May 1968
The digitisation of the Slasher was undertaken by, and images courtesy of, the Forest Research Knowledge and Information Management staff based at both the Northern Research Station in Roslin, Scotland and Alice Holt in Surrey, where the original copies are currently located.
The content summary below was very kindly compiled by Diane Birkett, Bedfordshire. See PDF attachment link below the text to view the full document. A total of over 400 issues were produced between 1948 and the final issue in 2010.
New Appointment
The Commission's new Principal Information Officer Lt. Col. D.B. Rooke M.C. is now in post at Savile Row. He was previously in charge of the Press branch at the Ministry of Defence. Details are given of his service record and previous employment.
Obituary
Mr H.A. Fooks, former Commission Game Warden in Grizedale Forest, North West England has died.
Promotion
With the amalgamation of the South East England Conservancy and the New Forest Deputy Surveyorship, Mr H.W. Gulliver has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer.
Honour
Mr Frank Johnson, Senior Estate Clerk of Works, South Scotland has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year honours list. He received his medal from Major General Sir Aymer Maxwell, Deputy Lord Lieutenant at a ceremony which took place during a visit by members of the Dumfries and Galloway Region of the Royal Scottish Forestry Society to Dalbeattie Forest.
More than a hundred people were present, including Mr Johnson's wife and family; Mr J.E. James, Conservator South Scotland; Mr J.A.B. MacDonald, former Conservator; Mr R.R. Donald, former Assistant Conservator and members of the present Conservancy staff.
Retirement
Mr Charlie Brown, Head Forester in North East England, has retired after joining the Commission in 1928 when he started work at Barcaldine Forest.
Presentations and Tributes
At a farewell gathering at Savile Row to mark Mr Dennis Healey's retirement from the Commission, the Director General, Mr John Dickson paid tribute to his 21 years of service as Principal Information Officer. He was awarded the O.B.E. in 1961 and had received recognition from General de Gaulle for his work on behalf of the free French forces during the war.
Mr Healey thanked colleagues for their help and friendship during his service with the Commission and for his retirement gifts.
Mr Charlie Brown, Head Forester, North East England, retirement presentation at the social clubroom in the forest hamlet of Stonehaugh.
Mr George Murray, Head Forester of Glenlivet Forest, informal presentation at the annual dance in the Star Ballroom, Aberdeen, on his impending retirement.
Mr Ian MacIver, District Officer, South West England, presentation on his transfer to Scotland, at a meeting of Foresters from Devon and Cornwall, and dinner at Bideford.
Transfer
After 18 years in South West England, Mr Ian MacIver, District Officer, has been transferred to Scotland.
New Job for Sir Henry
Former Director General of the Commission, Sir Henry Beresford-Peirse has been appointed a member of the Nature Conservancy.
Inforesta Drama Group Tour
The Inforesta (Headquarters) Drama Group have undertaken their annual tour of forest villages and other centres with performances of the comedy "When We Are Married".
The Group were well received in the six locations they played, which were Kielder, Tirabad, Llaneglwys, Parkend, Ae (South Scotland) and Dovey (North Wales).
One of the founding members, Alan Chapman has decided to take a well deserved rest from drama activities.
The Star Ballroom
Staff of the East Scotland Conservancy held their annual dance in the Star Ballroom, Aberdeen. Conservator Mr G.I. MacKenzie welcomed over 100 people, including the following guests: Mr Sandy Hogg of Messrs Jas. Jones & Sons, Larbert, and Mrs Hogg; Mr Chris McRae of Timbuyers, Aberdeen, and Mrs McRae; Mr A. Grigor, Secretary of the local branch of the Royal Scottish Forestry Society, and Mrs Grigor; and the former Conservator, East Scotland, Mr Frank Oliver.
Wins Silver Wolf
Mr R.G. Sanzen-Baker, Deputy Surveyor, the Dean, who has been in the Scout movement for 40 years, has been awarded the highest honour the Chief Scout can bestow - the Silver Wolf, of which only around a dozen are distributed each year. He was made Forest of Dean District Scout Commissioner six years ago. Mrs Sanzen-Baker is the Forest of Dean Divisional Girl Guides Commissioner. Their two sons were Scouts and their two daughters were Guides.
A Commission Top Man?
The search is on for Commission employees living in the highest place (above sea level) in England, Scotland or Wales. The Commission's highest forest is probably Queen's Forest in the Cairngorms where the forest land rises to more than 4,000 feet.
Accolade for Clerical Officer
Congratulations to Miss Carol Justice, Clerical Officer at York who recently played with great success, the lead in York Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society's production of "Calamity Jane" in the 950 Seater Theatre Royal. Previously a member of the Rowntrees Youth Club Amateurs, she played a lead in "West Side Story", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Wizard of Oz", "Oklahoma" and "Carousel". Her great ambition was to play at the Theatre Royal.
Odd Spots
It is reported that in Corona, California, male members of a nudist colony helped fight a forest fire, clad only in their shoes.
A letter received at the Queen's House, New Forest came from an 11-year old boy considering joining the Commission and writing from this address: Sycamore, Hazel Road, Ash Green, Aldershot (Alder-shot).
An inquiry about camping facilities in Glenmore Forest Park - "My party are half boys and half girls".
The publication Hansard, reporting Mr Marcus Kimball, M.P. on the subject of Commission planting on peat after deep ploughing, said this was a growing practice where it is intended to grow citrus fruit (Sitka spruce?) very quickly.
Press notice from the Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestry Training Board referred to the Foshally (Faskally) Forester Training School. Issuing a correction, the board said "Please read Foskally, not Foshally".
Grizedale Forest Handcrafts
A BBC programme recently featured the Satterthwaite forest cottage industry, which makes high quality products from the hides of deer culled at Grizedale and other Lakeland woods.
The industry was started about eight years ago after Mr Martin Orrom, then in charge of the South Lakes district and now at Saville Row, had consulted the Rural Industries Bureau.
The industry works on a co-operative basis with each member receiving takings according to output.
Many of the products, labelled Grizedale Forest Handcrafts, are sold at the local deer museum, an integral part of the Wildlife Centre of Grizedale Forest.