Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 246 - June 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.
Birthday Honours
Mr Francis Parsons, Chief Forester at Wareham, Dorset who joined the Commission in 1926 as a Forest Worker, has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) in the Birthday Honours.
Mr Henry Stocks, Ganger with the Research Division at Tulliallan has been awarded the British Empire Medal. He joined the Commission in 1923 as a Forest Worker.
Staff Transfers
Mr J.L. Reid moves from Basingstoke to Aberdeen with the grade of S.E.O.
Mr J. Steele moves from Aberdeen to York as C.E.O.
Mr L.A. Chaplin moves from York to Chester as S.E.O.
Mr J.W. Elliott moves from Chester to Aberystwyth as C.E.O.
Mr P.A. Merker moves from Aberystwyth to Savile Row as S.E.O. for duties in O. & M. Branch.
Mr K. Mayhew has resigned from his present position at Aberystwyth and will be re-engaged as disestablished H.E.O. in the same office.
Staff Promotions
Promoted from Clerical Officers to Executive Officers when the opportunities arise:
Mr D.T. Baker, Alice Holt Lodge
Mr I.S.T. Hatton, Basingstoke
Mr B.F. John, Cardiff
Mr E.M. Keir, Cardiff
Mr S. MacKintosh, Inverness
Mr G. Patterson, Chester
Mr W.H. Pitt, York
Mr K.J. Pratt, Cambridge
Mr R.W. Soars, Basingstoke
Mr G. Stone, Bristol
Mr R. Varney, Aberystwyth
Promoted from Executive Officers to Higher Executive Officers when the opportunities arise:
Mr D.A. Aitken, Aberdeen
Mr R.J. Bell, HQ Edinburgh
Mr A.A. Butt, Bristol
Mr J. Chapman, York
New Appointments
Mr Malcolm Dunbar has joined the Commission's Information Branch as Senior Information Officer after serving for three years as Command Public Relations Officer, staff of the C. in C., Royal Navy, Portsmouth.
Mr R.B.M. Williams, S.E.O. HQ (L) transferred in from the M.O.D.
New Use for Bark
Recent trials suggest a new use for bark, pulverised by machine could replace sedge or sphagnum peat.
Retirements
Mr Maurice Nimmo, Alice Holt Lodge has retired.
Mr J.E. Watts, Executive Officer at Chester, NW England has retired after serving the Commission for 21 years.
Mr Jimmy Watson, M.B.E., Chief Forester, Dalbeattie Forest, South Scotland Conservancy, has retired after joining the Commission in 1921 at Tentsmuir Forest E (S).
Mr R.A. Jamieson (Bobby Jamieson), Chief Forester, Forest of Ae, South Scotland Conservancy, has retired after joining the Commission in 1925.
Mr J. Gordon, Forester, North Scotland has retired.
Mr J. Rose, Forester, East Scotland has retired.
Presentations and Tributes
Tribute to Mr Maurice Nimmo on his retirement. Also sympathy on the sudden death of his wife.
Mr J.E. Watts, Executive Officer at Chester retirement presentation.
Mr J. Watson, M.B.E., Chief Forester, Dalbeattie Forest, South Scotland Conservancy, retirement presentation at the Maxwell Arms Hotel, Dalbeattie.
Mr R.A. Jamieson (Bobby Jamieson), Chief Forester, Forest of Ae, South Scotland Conservancy, retirement presentation.
Long Service
After the reference in a recent issue to Mr A.J. Slade of Halwill Forest retiring at the age of 72, notification has been received of Mr H.E. Fishenden who retired from Bedgebury Forest at the age of 75 years and two months.
Appeal for Tools
A further appeal for old tools and equipment used in forestry or woodland crafts, and ancient farming implements or tractors that could have been used in forestry.
The equipment is required for the Commission's Jubilee Exhibition which will be held in Edinburgh in June 1969.
Forest Roots
Two tales of people searching for their ancestral homes on farming land, one looking for "Jericho" in the Midlands and the other for Ardrishaig in Argyll. In both cases, the farms had failed and trees had been planted on the land by the Forestry Commission.
Regarding tracing the roots of family trees back to the forest, at one time, the Forester grade was recruited mainly from the Forest of Dean.
There were well known "dynasties" of Adamses and Astons, with two or three generations serving the Commission at the same time.
Maybe some Slasher readers can contribute accounts of families born in the New Forest or the Dean, who can trace their roots back to William the Conqueror. William employed a forester in the New Forest in the year 1086 and the Domesday Book gives his name as Herbert. It is believed Herbert's family later took the surname of "Lyndhurst".
A charcoal burner named Purkess found the body of the murdered King William Rufus and people named Purkess are still found in Brockenhurst today, though nowadays they bake cakes, not wood.
Badgers
The Council for Nature reports on the decline in the number of badger litters. A reason for the decline could be the reproductive process being affected as a result of feeding on earthworms which have absorbed organochlorine pesticides from the land.
Hydrostatic Extraction
A request received by the Alice Holt Research Information Section was from a descendant of Joseph Bramah (1748 - 1814), inventor of the hydraulic press, ingenious locks, the water closet and beer pump. Bramah is credited with pulling out 300 mature oaks from Alice Holt Forest for the Royal Navy in about 1805, and we were asked how he had done it. The Science Museum in South Kensington found records showing he used a "hydrostatic press" for uprooting the oaks, and also for pulling out trees in Hyde Park.
Congratulations: Birth
Congratulations to Alan Meyer, E.O. at Savile Row, and Janet Meyer on the birth of their daughter, Lesley. Until recently, Janet was a C.O. at HQ, London, latterly serving in the Harvesting and Marketing Branch.
Transfers
Mr D.R. Johnston, Conservator from Cambridge E. (E) to Alice Holt HQ (Mgmt Services) Tr. on promotion.
Mr J.A. Spencer, Asst. Conservator from HQ (P & E) Alice Holt to HQ (B) Forest Management.
Hewitt, R.M., Asst. Conservator from London HQ (H & M) to New. Transfer on promotion.
Mr K.P. Thallon, Asst. Conservator from Reading S.E. (E) to Cambridge E. (E) Transfer on promotion.
Mr J. Atterson, D(F)O I from Edinburgh D (R) to Dornoch N. (S).
Mr M.E.S. Dickenson, D(F)O I from Godalming S.E. (E) to Bellingham N.E. (E).
Mr S. Forrester, D(F)O I from Cairnbaan W. (S) to N. Devon S.W. (E).
Mr I.F. MacIver, D(F)O I from Barnstaple S.W. (E) to South Cowal W. (S).
Mr W.T. Waters, D(F)O I from Lincoln E. (E) to Dovey N. (W).
Mr K.W. Wilson, D(F)O I from Kielder N.E. (E) to Godalming S.E. (E).
Mr A.C. Alexander, D(F)O II from Helmsley N.E. (E) to Bellingham N.E. (E).
Mr W. Norrie, D(F)O II from Kilmun W. (S) to Woodbridge E. (E).
Mr F. Stephenson, Head Forester from Ampleforth N. (E) to Hamsterley N.E. (E).
Mr J. Campbell, Forester from Queens W. (S) to Fort Augustus HQ (W/S).
Mr J.W. Chree, Forester from Fort Augustus N. (S) to Queens N. (S).
Mr G. Green, Forester from Wykeham N.E. (E) to HQ (A.S.U.).
Mr J.T. Hill, Forester from Swynnerton N.W. (E) to HQ (A.S.U.).
Mr R.L. Howard, Forester from Culloden HQ (I.T.S.) to Inchnacardoch N. (S).
Mr D.C. McIntosh, Forester from Port Clair N. (S) to Borgie N. (S).
Mr I.C. Morrison, Forester from Balblair N. (S) to Ferness N. (S).
Mr A. Sandilands, Forester from Borgie HQ (I.T.S.) to Culloden HQ (I.T.S.).
Mr K.A. Kernahan, T.W.G.II from HQ (O/S) to HQ (W/S).
Mr E.J. Eley, Supt. Works (T.W.G.III) from Ruthin N. (W) to Llandovery S. (W).
Mr R.B. Shearer, L/C. E.A. from Secondment Overseas to Aberdeen E. (S).
Mr P.J. Clarke, S.E.O. from HQ (L) to HQ (B) return from detached duty.
Mr E.G. Roberts, S.E.O. from Aberdeen E. (S) to Edinburgh HQ (S) return from detached duty.
Mr J. Rawson, E.O. from HQ (Edinburgh) to Chester N.W. (E).
Terminations
Mr E.E. John, L/C E.A. North Wales.
Mr J.F. Cunningham C.E.A., East Scotland.
Staff Commencing or Returning From Overseas
Mr R.B. Shearer, L/C. E.A. returned from a period of secondment in Zambia.
Mr D.G. Pyatt, D.O.I. Visit to Northern Ireland to do a soil survey for the Government of Northern Ireland from 29th April - 3rd May.
Mr R. Lines, D.O.I. Nuffield Foundation Travelling Fellowship, Japan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand from 15th May - 30th November.
Staff Commencing or Returning from Extended Training Courses
Training in General Accountancy for Executive Staff. South West London College 13th May - 7th June: -
Mr R. Chappell, E.O. HQ (B).
Mr J.S. Threadgill, E.O. E. (E).
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