Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 272 - March/April 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.
Forest Museum Opens in Kielder Castle
Television and radio men joined guests at the opening of the Forest Museum and tearoom in Kielder Castle on 29th March 1972.
The museum, an addition to the Commission's recreational facilities in the Castle, was opened by Miss K. Morrison-Bell, a County Alderman and Northumberland National Park Committee Chairman.
Mr G.E. Godwin, the Conservator said recreation was very much to the fore of Commission activities.
The museum is housed in three rooms of the Castle, which also acts as administrative offices and Border fire protection centre. Exhibits include chainsaw carvings and a stuffed eagle owl, a badger sett and a show of small animals.
Acting Chief Forester William Bartholomew said the museum was an exhibition of forestry up-to-date.
The tearoom, fitted out in period style is run by the wife of Head Forester Wilfred Howell.
New Chief Engineer
When Mr E.H. MacMillen retires in June, Mr E.F. Granfield will succeed him as Chief Engineer.
Work Study Graduation
After three years' study, Mr Geoffrey Bland-Flagg, Forester, Southern Region Work Study Team, Brockenhurst, Hants., has become the first member of the Work Study Branch to qualify for graduate membership of the Institute of Work Study Practitioners.
Millionaires
On the first working day of 1972, the total cash receipts in the current Financial Year passed the £1 million mark for the E (E) Conservancy. By 14th January, receipts for produce sales alone reached £1 million.
Safety Boots
Mr F.T. Cowperthwaite, Superintendent of Works S (S) reports that due to the wearing of safety boots, no accidents have occurred among his men engaged in quarrying in the last two years.
In draining too, these boots are proving their worth. Mr G.W. MacDonald, forest worker in Craik, was rutting the side of a drain when his spade slipped, cutting into the rubber toe-cap of his safety boots. The metal lining prevented him from losing his toes.
Dutch Elm Disease
The Ministry of Defence has joined the battle against Dutch elm disease. They are aware of the detrimental effect an infestation could have on Salisbury Plain and the surrounding areas, particularly the Avon Valley from Durrington to Upavon.
A course was arranged for the Lands and Technical Officers of the Ministry at the Defence Land Agent's office at Durrington. Organised by Mr Jim Wilkinson, an MOD Lands Officer, and Mr Brian Painter, Head Forester, both of the Land Agent's staff, it was attended by officers from many areas. There were demonstrations of affected timber and the scolytus beetles and their larvae.
Tribute to John Williamson
Chilean foresters have paid tribute to the late John Q. Williamson, in the Santiago newspaper "El Mercurio".
Obituaries
Sir Frederick Bawden, Director of Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Hertfordshire and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Forest Research has died aged 63.
Mr Charlie N. Simpson, Chief Forester, North Kielder NE (E) has died aged 52.
Mr Jimmy Tait, Head Forester, Plashetts Beat until his retirement in 1969 has died.
Mr E.J. Jones, Forester of Tywi (W) has died aged 56.
Mr E.C. Saunders, Foreman Mechanic at Conservancy Office, South Wales until his retirement in October 1970 has died aged 57.
Mr O.L.B. Hall, retired Clerical Officer in HQ (London), has died.
Safety Advice From The Ministry of Agriculture
Extracts from an article on farm safety by Mr J.C. Weeks, Chief Safety Inspector, Ministry of Agriculture.
Commission on Television
The Commission has assisted in the production of a BBC television series by David Bellamy of Durham University. The programmes are "Deeper in the Mire", filmed at Rothbury Forest, Northumberland and "You Can't See the Wood", filmed at Thetford Chase.
Appeal From Hungary
Dr F. Beldi, Vice-Rector of the University for Forest and Timber Industry, Spron, Hungary, has sent an appeal on behalf of the 16-year old daughter of his friend. The girl is studying English and would like to stay in England with a family who have a daughter of their own. This girl could then pay an exchange visit to Hungary next year.
Cri De Coeur
There have been two helpful responses to the plea in the last issue of Slasher, for suitable footwear or symmetrical feet by Gordon Griffiths, Field Surveys Branch, Brechfa, S (W).
The experience of Keith Wilson, DO II, Northampton, during a 6 weeks' survey in the Highlands last summer, led him to wear snow gaiters over a pair of well dubbined hiking boots. The gaiters are made by Dunlop in heavy duty nylon and have Velcro side fastenings, thus doing away with troublesome zips.
When Jack Jennings, Hereford, was tidying up a farmhouse in the Vale of Clwyd in the late 1940s, he found a pair of men's boots with elastic sides. They were not shaped for either left or right foot. He later learned from a girl they were her grandfather's "Sunday Straights", constructed on a special last by the local cobbler. The boots were sent to the National Museum of Wales.
On Camera
Mr Alexander Lauritis, a civil engineering assistant with the Commission in South Wales has invented a camera which allows panoramic photographs to be taken from virtually any angle without distortion. He says it would be an asset in surveying with undistorted photographs of up to 360 degrees of buildings or land. Though the camera has received high praise, it may not be commercially viable.
Shipwrecked on Spadeadam
Tractor driver Ted Armstrong was digging a drainage ditch in Spadeadam Forest NW (E), when his eight-ton tractor began to sink beneath the glutenous peat bog mud. It took much time and effort plus three heavy vehicles to salvage the tractor and nearly as long to clean it.
Poets' Corner
Commission Publications Officers H.L. Edlin says around 1930 the first Dutch elm disease outbreak inspired poetess A. Ruth Fry to write "An Elegy On Elms".
An Elegy on Elms
Oh, well-aday for you, our quiet friends!
If you should perish, what should make amends?
England and Elms - The two words run together
Like sun and happy thoughts in summer weather.
When one without the other cannot be.
What child of England, driven to foreign realms,
Brooding on home, but pictures English elms
In the green meadows, or along the lane
The homeward path he yearns to tread again?
Or sees their branches 'gainst the winter sky
Snow laden, woven in delicate tracery?
Beeches are noble ladies, oaks are kings,
Birches are fairies with green silken wings,
Alders are wise and sad, and pollard willows
Are gnomes and sprites among the misty shadows
Threatening us thro' the mists the river sends,
But oh! The elms, the elms are all our friends!
As dear to us as to the kine who browse
In their cool shade or munch their lowest boughs.
Oh stealthily it swept across the seas
And crept along the land, that dark disease,
And on our trees it laid its withering hand,
And now, where'er you go throughout the land,
You find a tree with branches sickly yellow
And one that should have been its flourishing fellow
Thick with ten thousand leaves, all green and quick,
It points to heaven a leafless, lifeless stick.
Strangers have come from many a foreign shore
And some who claimed to have lived with us before,
And to our landscape only have been lost
Through long continuance of untimely frost.
Hemlocks and thuyas and the cypresses
In every garden plot they take their ease
And o'er the woodlands, high and ever higher
The Noah's Ark tree points its growing spire,
And they are welcome - these new foreign trees,
But not the best, and not the host of these
Could they our land with verdure overwhelm
Would comfort us for our familiar elm.
If elm should perish, what should greet the spring
With crimson clouds on sunny evening?
What trees at Hallowe'en would light the land?
Oh, not as trees, as very saints they stand
Shining in glory like the holy ones
With raiment borrowed from the setting suns!
But now the wind, whirling the leaves around
Has laid the lovely garment on the ground.
If elms should perish quite from shore to shore
England would be the land we know no more.
Two poems reproduced from "Everyweek", a children's paper. They were chosen by the daughter of Mr G.N. Berry, Work Study, Inverness.
The Oak Tree by Janet Stephenson, Pendower Junior School, Newcastle
Alone on a hill an oak tree stands,
Its branches reaching high,
Its leaves together in clust'ring bands,
Black against the sky.
Last night an awful storm arose,
It tore and rent the skies,
The oak tree gave a creak and groan,
Now in a ditch it lies.
Machines by Graham Pell, Ecclesfield Comprehensive, Near Sheffield.
Machines to saw up timber,
Machines to pick up trees,
Machines to smash the forest,
The smell,
The fumes,
The echo,
Noises ringing in my ears,
Machines, yellow in colour,
Move through mud
Like it was not there,
Dragging their prey behind them.
700-Year Tradition
A replacement Cank Thorn, planted ceremonially on Cannock Chase marks the boundary between Staffordshire County Council and Forestry Commission land and symbolises a new spirit of co-operation between the two biggest Chase landowners.
In the past 700 years, there have been several Cank Thorns at Broadhurst Green marking the meeting point of the old Cannock, Rugeley and Penkridge Manor boundaries.
It was thanks to Forester W.H.S. Tyler, who took the cutting, rooted and nursed it and Charles Venables, a member of our RAC who was the driving force behind the ceremonial planting as a joint effort.
The actual planting was done by Councillor Harry Walton, assisted by Chief Forester C. Lewis of Cannock Forest.
In a tradition dating back to 1671, Mrs Sheila Walton, wife of the Vicar of Brocton, read a "gospel at the thorne" - a psalm.
More Than a Tree - A Treat
A roadside tree near East Claydon, Buckinghamshire is encircled by a seat, protected by a thatched roof built around the protruding branches.
Northern Research Station Event
One hundred and twenty members and guests of the Northern Research Station Sports and Social Club dined and danced at the Navaar Hotel, Penicuik.
Retirements
Mr C.J. Cottrell, Superintendent of Works, Mortimer has retired after 24 service.
Mr J. Clark, Superintendent of Works, Thornthwaite has retired after 25 years' service in the Lake District.
Mr Alex Harker, Head Forester, Salcey has retired after working in forestry in Northampton throughout his career.
Resignation
Mr Peter Newman, Foreman Mechanic, Exeter Repair Bay, who has worked for the Commission since 1963 has left the Commission for a job with a chainsaw company.
Presentations
Mr Alex Harker, Head Forester, Salcey retirement dinner at Northampton's Westone Hotel.
Mr C.J. Cottrell, Superintendent of Works, Mortimer retirement buffet supper in the Compasses Hotel, Wigmore.
Mr J. Clark, Superintendent of Works, Thornthwaite retirement buffet supper in the Ravenstone Hotel, Bassenthwaite.
The departure of Mr Peter Newman, Foreman Mechanic, Exeter Repair Bay, was marked by a party at Dartmoor's Highwayman Inn.