Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 271 - January/February 1972
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.
Chairman's Report and Address to the Press
Forestry Commission Chairman Lord Taylor of Gryfe addressed a Press Conference at the Commission's headquarters convened for the 51st Annual Report. He described the work of the Commission and the balancing of conifers with hardwoods, depending on the landscape.
Lord Taylor said "The objective of the Commissioners is to perpetuate by active management the living character of the woodland landscape for future generations to enjoy."
Retirements
Mrs Mary E.A. Alison MBE, who was P.A. to Lords Radnor, Robinson and Waldegrave and Sir Arthur Gosling has retired after 33 years' service to the Commission.
Mr Jim Halliday OBE, Area Civil Engineer, Border, has retired after joining the Commission in 1961.
Mr George Backhouse, Conservator, E (E) has retired after 37 years with the Commission.
Mr Bill Wilbraham MBE, Commission Welfare Officer, who will be remembered for his long service on the Staff Side of the Departmental Whitley Council, has retired.
Mr Tom Fox, Chief Forester, Kirroughtree, South Scotland, retired in February after joining the Commission in 1936. He returned after a break during the war years.
Mr Arthur Biggar, Head Forester, Edensmuir has retired after serving the Commission from 1929-1933 and returning in 1947.
Mr Donald Campbell, Forester, Achray Forest, has retired after 45 years with the Commission without taking any sick leave.
Presentations
Mrs Mary E.A. Alison MBE, retirement presentation.
Mr Jim Halliday OBE, Area Civil Engineer, Border, retirement presentation and darts match at the Rose and Crown, Bellingham, Northumberland on 12th November.
Mr George Backhouse, Conservator, E (E), retirement presentation in Cambridge.
Mr Arthur Biggar, Head Forester, Edensmuir, retirement presentation.
Mr Donald Campbell, Forester, Achray Forest, retirement presentation at Altskeith Hotel, Kinlochard. Said a colleague: "Donald knows every inch of Achray Forest from Ben Venue to Flanders Moss and his faithful wee dog must know every tree!".
Appointment
Mr John Wright joins the Commission after working with the Government Information Service at the Ministry of Defence.
New Year Honours
Mr George Backhouse, retired Conservator, East England, has been awarded an O.B.E.
Col. J.F. Williams-Wynne DSO, former Forestry Commissioner, has been appointed a C.B.E.
Services to Horticulture
Mr A.W. Westall, Head Forester, Bedgebury Pinetum, has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Veitch Memorial Silver Medal and a £50 prize for his services to horticulture, particularly his work at Bedgebury.
European Post
Mr R.B. Verney, Forestry Commissioner, has been appointed a Counsellor of the Confederation of European Agriculture.
Training Council
The Forestry Training Council has been appointed for three years from 22nd November 1971.
Chairman: Professor J. Matthews, Department of Forestry, Aberdeen University.
Members (with their nominating official body shown in brackets):
Mr T.J. Healy (TGWU)
Mr H. Crawford (TGWU)
Mr I. Edwards (TGWU)
Mr J.H. Hose (NUAAW)
Mr F.H. Peachey (NUAAW)
Mr R. Pierson (NUAAW)
Dr C.J. Taylor (Society of Foresters of Great Britain)
Mr J.R.S. Bulford (Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestry Industry Training Board)
Mr J.B. Hendry (RSFS)
Mr R. Rowland (RFSEW)
Mr A.G. Phillips (Association of Professional Foresters)
Captain D.S. Bowser (SWOA)
Mr R.G. Sangster (SWOA)
Lord Norton (TGO)
Mr R.M. Harley (TGO)
Mr A.G. Pyman (DES and Scottish Education Department)
Mr W. Steel (DES and Scottish Education Department)
Mr N.W. Tulloch (DES and Scottish Education Department)
Mr R. MacDonald (DES and Scottish Education Department)
Apology and Correction
In the last issue of Slasher, a brief biography of Philip Gough included reference to "the late Alec Mackenzie". This was disputed by Mr Mackenzie who assures us he is alive and well.
Major Commission Shows
The Commission exhibited in London at the International Caravan & Camping Show, Earls Court in November 1971, and the Camping and Outdoor Life Exhibition at Olympia in January/February 1972.
Forester Blackwood and Mr Whitehead from Mayswood Forest Centre, Arden Forest NW (E), demonstrated their craftsmanship.
The Show unit will also make an appearance at the Birmingham Boat & Leisure Life Exhibition in February and the Manchester Boat Show in March.
Show venues for 1972 are listed for the two Forestry Commission Show Units.
Sandwell Valley
Mr William Stott, retired Head Forester from SW (E) has taken on the job of First Warden of West Bromwich's 900 acres of Green Belt land that is to become the nature reserve Sandwell Valley.
Dying Forestry Skills
A centre has been created at Mayswood, Arden Forest, Warwickshire, with displays of old and new tools and woodland crafts.
Head Forester W.J. Wilson, Arden NW (E), is hoping to acquire items for the Mayswood Centre and also details of craftsmen's skills. He says chair bodgers, who worked in our woodlands, making chair legs and plied the skill of turning long before the Saxon invasion, have completely disappeared. In eighteen months' time, the last of the two Swale basket makers retires, and with him will go a trade that has been part of the woodland scene since the Norse invasion.
Produce Sales
Head Forester J.S. Law of Bramfield E (E), is claiming the earliest Christmas tree sale of 1971. One of his customers is a London firm which supplies props for film and television companies and Christmas advertisements are made in mid-summer.
Mr Law tells of the demand for two 12-foot Californian pines for a desert ranch house scene with rough, distorted Scots pines with short yellow-tinged needles. Then he had to find grass tussocks for 'Dr Who' and a birch tree to fall on Marty Feldman's head. Not to mention trees without leaves in summer and trees with leaves in winter for seasonal advertising films.
Supplying small LC and RC trees to set off jumps at horse shows and for scenery at other shows and displays around London, gives a steady source of income.
Top Dog
Pembroke Corgi Champion Kaytop Marshall won the title of Best Male Pembroke Corgi at Crufts for the fourth successive year. He also won the Best of Breed and Best of the Working Group. Owner Mrs Leila Moore is a Clerk at Hampshire District Office.
Judo Referee
Miss Sheila Horsburgh, a 20-year old typist in Peebles District Office is the first woman in Scotland to qualify as a judo referee. She took up the sport six years ago and is now a Black Belt First Dan and Gold Medal winner in the North-West Area Ladies' Championship in Chester.
Farm Safety
Farm deaths in England and Wales last year numbered 118, compared with 105 in 1970. Twenty three of the dead were children under 15, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Overturning tractors killed 28 people and remained the largest single cause of fatalities. None of the tractors involved had an approved safety cab.
Since 1956, 1,823 people have died in farm accidents in England and Wales.
Arboriculturists' New Appointments
Earl Jellicoe has been elected as the new President of the Arboricultural Association. He has been the Vice-President for the past four years and succeeds the first President, Mr Arthur Skeffington, who died last year.
Other appointments announced are: Lord Kennet, Mr Duncan Sandys, MP, and Mr John Parker, MP, Vice-Presidents; Mr Peter J.D. Wilson, Chairman; and Mr W.R. Lewington, Vice-Chairman.
The Association has formed branches in the South-East, the West Country and the Midlands. A recent meeting in Leeds was attended by 250 people. The inaugural gatherings of a Northern branch and a Scottish branch are being held in February.
Overseas News: Forestry in Nepal
An article on working in Nepal by Mr Malcolm Shirley, a former District Officer in Dorchester.
Book: Forest Service
The Commission's former Deputy Director General, George Ryle's book 'Forest Service', the story of the first 45 years of the Commission published by David and Charles in 1969, will be available soon in a paperback edition.
Spring Lilacs in New York
The first conference of the International Lilac Society will be held 19th - 21st May in Rochester, New York.
The society's purpose is to sponsor lilac research, exhibits, flower shows and to supply information on cultivation.
Obituaries
Mr Stanley Longhurst CBE, Forestry Commissioner 1951-56 has died.
Miss Eileen Niven, former EO in Harvesting & Marketing HQ (L), who retired in 1968 after serving the Commission for over 40 years has died.
Mr G.L. Leech (Larry Leech), Foreman Mechanic at Thornthwaite Repair Depot, NW (E), who spent 22 years at Thornthwaite has died.
Tribute
Mr Tim Healey, former Principal Information Officer pays tribute to John Q. Williamson, MBE, who died recently.
Two Left Feet Required
Gordon Griffiths, Forester, Field Surveys Branch, Brechfa, S (W), believes it would have been of considerable advantage in his job to have two identical feet.
He walks up and down hills all day long and with the extremes of ground, from heather covered mountains to the steamy damp areas by rivers and streams, he has the dilemma of deciding which footwear to use. Should it be boots for the hills or wellingtons for the damp boggy surrounds of streams?
He considers wearing a leather boot on one foot and a wellington boot on the other and changing them depending on the terrain.
Low Flying Squirrell
Mr B.L. Jones, Forester at Slebech recounts the tale of two young squirrels who approached forest workers Len Thomas and Stephen Evans.