Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 299 - Winter 1979
The scanned images of the Slasher were produced by and courtesy of the Forest Research library staff based at Alice Holt, Surry, where the original copies are 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 2009.
Concern For World Timber - World Forestry Congress
The Declaration published by the Eighth World Forestry Congress has expressed its concern at the prospect of a serious shortfall in world timber production. Attending the Congress in Jakarta, Indonesia, were George Holmes, Forestry Commission Director General; John Kennedy, Director Forest Management Division; Gwyn Francis, Conservator, Harvesting and Marketing Division.
Picture: (1) Logging in Eastern Java – a team of white oxen pulling an 80 year old teak. (2) Director General George Holmes plants a tree during the World Forestry Congress in Indonesia.
Queen Honours Four Commission Men
George Stewart, Forestry Commissioner, Forest and Estate Management, has received a CB. He has served with the Commission for 31 years and has been a Forestry Commissioner for the past 9 years.
Michael Long, District Officer, North Moffat District (S) has been awarded an MBE. He served the Commission for 35 years, the last 20 years in his present district where he has directed one of the Commission’s biggest planting programmes.
Arthur Hazzard, Forest Clerk at Rhondda Forest S(W) has received a British Empire Medal. As a past President of the Rhondda Society, he has played a prominent role in the annual Rhondda Forest Project.
Edward Watts, Leading Research Worker, who has devoted his entire working life to Westonbirt Arboretum has received a British Empire Medal.
Wonderland
A poem on the forest in winter by T.G. Sharkey, Forest Craftsman, Ennerdale.
Jean Heralds "New Era" For Whitley Council
The Forestry Commission Whitley Council moved into a new era with the appointment of Mrs Jean Thompson as the first full-time secretary for the staff side. Jean has been with the Commission for eight years as a statistician at Northern Research Station, responsible for the design and analysis of experiments in silviculture and related sciences. She has been Secretary of IPCS since April 1978, a post she now gives up.
Tim Becomes Park Manager
Forester Tim Laker has become firmly established among those responsible for the interpretation and management of the countryside, since his appointment as Forest Interpreter and Deputy Park Interpreter at Queen Elizabeth Country Park three and a half years ago.
Richard’s the Champ
Richard Keddle, Forest Worker at Brycheiniog is the Brecon & Radnor Men's Golf County Champion.
Carol is the Birdie!
At the FC Golf Society annual meeting in Hawkstone Park, Duncan Stewart W(S) won the Open Championship Cup and Hugh McKay NW(E) won the Sutherland Cup. Carol Derrick of Alice Holt won the Ladies' prize. Bill Blake 'won' the booby prize.
New Head Takes Over
Peter Drumm has been appointed Head of Information.
Picture: Colonel David Rooke with his successor, Peter Drumm.
Forest Poet Wins £250
Dunnerdale Forest poet Dick Wilkinson has won the second prize of £250 for his poem entered in the Sunday Times - BBC2 Poetry Contest. The poem "The Nightingales of Madingley" is printed in Slasher.
Picture: Dick Wilkinson.
Book Review - European View
A review of the book Birds of Lake, River, Marsh and Field by Lars Jonsson, translated from Swedish by Roger Tanner,
In Brief
Congratulations to Ken Whittaker of Penninghame S(S) and Alasdair Cameron of Invergarry N(S) who topped their respective forestry courses for City and Guilds at Inverness Technical College. Alasdair also won the RSFS Duke of Buccleuch Memorial Cup.
The Commission are planting 300,000 trees by the M4 motorway. Peat for the planting holes has arrived in strong plastic bags (made from oil). The empty bags were saved and Forester Hugh Roberts gave them to Swansea City Council, to help in clearing away oil from the wrecked Christos Bitas.
Well done to the Ochil Forest squad E(S). Their Blairadam Forest Social Club donated £105 to Kelty Old Folks as a Christmas treat.
Kent District Officer Bob Waters is transferring to Alice Holt to take up an appointment as Census Officer.
A football challenge from East Scotland… Their Conservancy team have had 4 wins from 13 matches with “defeats of the odd goal variety”. Now they are willing to take on all-comers from other parts of the Commission.
In answer to a request for comment on an officer’s spelling, punctuation and grammar – “Spelling eratic”.
Hand Grenade Gives Jack The Shock Of His Life
When cutting gorse on the side of the M27 motorway near Southampton, Craftsman Jack Avery of the Ringwood Forest Motorway Gang, used a Husqvarna Clearing Saw, which struck a No 36 Mill’s Hand Grenade. Police attended and the grenade was sandbanked. A Bomb Disposal Unit was notified and the hand grenade was defused and removed the next morning.
Two days later, Craftsman Roger Hughes was operating the clearing saw when the blade struck an object in the gorse which turned out to be a horseshoe.
Picture: Jack Avery with the hand grenade after it was “checked out”.
"Delighted" By Award
Deerpark Cabins exemplify the high standard we seek to achieve in forest cabin development in other parts of the country said Mr Richard Illingworth who now leads the Commission's Forest Cabin team.
Picture: Set amid the tranquillity of the forest setting – the award winning cabins at Deerpark.
Major Award For Deerpark Forest Cabins
The Forestry Commission’s timber-built holiday cabin scheme near Liskeard in Cornwall has won a 1978 Civic Trust Award. Deerpark Forest Cabins, constructed in 1976, and extending over twenty acres in mixed woodland in Kernow Forest won the award. The scheme built on the site of a former gunpowder mill retains the atmosphere of its earlier associations. The mill pond has been restored, the mill wheel forms an attractive feature of one of the cabins and several derelict buildings have been sensitively utilised. The cabins were designed by architects Hird and Brooks of Cardiff who produced five basic cabin designs to meet the Commission's brief to devise a cabin system which would blend with varying woodland or forest environments. The success of the scheme is due to the combined efforts of the Forestry Commission’s Principle Land Agent John Gwynn who was the Project Leader, Graham Brooks, architect, Brian Jones, Forestry Commission Site Engineer and George Hawes, Forestry Commission Clerk of Works, and local forest staff who were responsible for landscaping work and laying of footpaths. The second forest cabin scheme using the same system as Deerpark and the same consultant architect opened at Keldy Castle, Cropton Forest in Easter 1978.
Picture: Architect Graham Brookes captured the “winter wonderland” scene at Keldy Castle forest cabins in North Yorks Moors.
Pram Trail For Sherwood
A new complex of recreational facilities for visitors to Sherwood Forest was officially opened at Blidworth by the Deputy Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire Captain R.F. Abel-Smith.
District officer Pat Winchester said “Construction started in 1975 but the gale on the night of 2nd January 1976 devastated large tracts of these woodlands, this was followed by the numerous fires of the dry summer of 1976. It took time to clear out the wind blow and make the area safe before inviting visitors to enjoy this part of Sherwood Forest”. Conservator John James said the complex at Blidworth Bottoms was the first in an ongoing programme of providing more facilities for the public. Also present at the ceremony were Senior Ranger Nick Myhill, Beat Forester Cecil Much, Chief Forester Jim Barrowclough and Head Forester John Harper.
A Slasher Illustration of the Annual Report
The Forestry Commission’s Annual Report for 1977-78 has been published this month. An illustration in “Slasher” gives the main points in the report.
Porcupines Are 'On The Loose' In Devon And Staffordshire
Porcupines are making themselves at home in the woodlands of Devon. They have adapted well to the climate and vegetation of the South West.
The story of the arrival of the porcupines goes back to 1969 when a pair of Himalayan or Hodgson’s porcupines escaped from a wildlife park near Okehampton. The animals had been acquired direct from Calcutta in India. No more was heard about them until 1971 when a number of quills were found and damage to young conifers by barking around the base of the trunk was first reported. It was then realised that a new alien mammal was at large in the English countryside and that they had multiplied in number. Head Ranger Jack Cockburn, Wildlife Adviser to South West England Conservancy said “We think there are still porcupines about but not in our woods, they appear to be in private woodlands and our Ranger has been called in to help find them”. Porcupines are also on the loose in Staffordshire, following the escape in 1972 of a pair of crested porcupines from botanical gardens.
Picture: Crested Porcupines in Edinburgh Zoo. This is the kind of porcupine on the loose in Staffordshire, similar, although slightly larger, than those breeding in Devon.
Details Of Birdwatching Holidays At Various Locations
Birdwatching holiday are being arranged by Trevor Gunton, Development Officer of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Marooned! Three Forest Workers Take To The Hills To Escape Floods
A report of a Ganger and two FC Forest Workers marooned at Shin in the North of Scotland when the River Oykel burst its banks, flooding the road up to 30 ft deep in places.
After many hours of continuous torrential rain, Shin Forest Office received a radio call from Ganger Roddie Macleod reporting unpassable flooding on the Rosehall-Ullapool county road. This was quickly followed by a call from Innes Macleod and Ian Cameron reporting that they were on the wrong side of a 30 ft flood chasm on the road to Benmore Lodge.
Radio instructions were passed for Innes and Ian to abandon their Land Rover and walk to meet Roddie at the Benmore/County Road Junction, returning to Lairg via Ullapool. But road flooding at Altnacealgach Hotel caused them to change course and they became marooned again just west of Oykel Bridge Hotel.
Chief Forester Hugh MacKay of Shin Forest set out from Lairg by Land Rover, keeping in radio contact with Roddie and Forestry Clerkess Cathy Fraser. Beyond Rosehall, the road was under two feet of water with Langwell Farm completely surrounded, the occupants were rescued an hour later by helicopter.
The River Oykel had risen 6 ft, with rocks and boulders tumbling around. The road just past Oykel Hotel disappeared under water, with only 5 or 6 feet of roadside telegraph poles in view. Roddie and colleagues took to the hills above the newly formed loch, eventually reaching Hugh Mackay’s Land Rover, soaked and exhausted.
The Vital Statistics
Bob Murdoch, Head Forester at Achnashellach, reports that on the day the three men were marooned – October 5th – he recorded a rainfall of 2.3 inches. His report gives details of rainfall and statistics for the Autumn of 1979.
Go Ahead For Planting At Beinn Ghuilean
The “go-ahead” has been given to the controversial planting of Beinn Ghuilean, a 1,153 ft hill behind Campbeltown in Argyll. Some local residents opposed the planted, but 600 residents signed a petition to Forestry Commission Director General, George Holmes, asking the Commission to proceed with the plans. West of Scotland Regional Advisory Committee were unanimously in favour of planting proposals. The design concept was prepared by landscape consultant Clifford Tandy and FC Landscape Architect Duncan Campbell, who was responsible for the detailed preparation of the plans. Oliver Lucas has been appointed as the second FC staff Landscape Architect.
Picture: Oliver Lucas.
Chugging Back To Happiness
Railway enthusiast Alasdair Taylor of Audit Branch is an active member of the Strathspey Railway Association, who have brought steam engines back to the Highlands of Scotland. Steam trains returned to Speyside last summer following six years hard work by association members who have restored to working order the five mile railway from Aviemore to Boat of Garten, in Inverness-shire.
Picture: Alasdair Taylor at work on a model locomotive – a replica of an engine on the Strathspey line.
Postbag
Letter from Mrs L. Yates suggesting trees are planted in specific places in memory of departed loved ones.
Letter from H. Duncalf who relates the tale of a mouse who joined them while they were sitting around a fire with snow on the ground.
Letter from A.L. Jones who enjoys receiving “Slasher” in South Africa.
Letter from J.H. Holroyd who left the Forestry Commission 13 years ago, but says his interest is still needle sharp and he regularly combs “The Slasher” for news. He gives details of his work since leaving the Forestry Commission and his plans for the future.
In a letter, Keith Wilson, Publications Officer says there was an enthusiastic response from staff wives to a call for recipes. Mrs Stewart edited and prepared the first edition, which was followed by two reprints. Now further recipes are wanted for inclusion in a new edition.
Appointments
Tim Laker, Forest Interpreter and Deputy Park Interpreter at Queen Elizabeth Country Park, which is jointly managed by the Commission and Hampshire County Council, has accepted the appointment of Park Manager on the County Council staff.
Retired
Lieutenant Colonel David Rooke, Head of Information, has retired after 11 years’ service with the Commission. In his efforts to increase public awareness of forestry and the Commission’s changing policies, he was responsible for producing the successful film “Woodland Harvest” and was instrumental in launching the new Slasher. Colonel Rooke has been appointed Public Relations Officer for the British Field Sports Society for the Glos. area.
Picture: Colonel David Rooke with his successor Peter Drumm.
Ernest Grimwood, Forest Craftsman, Kielder Forest, North East England, has retired after 44 years’ service with the Commission. In 1933, he worked as a lad for a farmer who hired him to the Forestry Commission to “lead” plants onto Whickhope Forest. He joined the Commission in 1934 at Smales Forest. During the 1930s, he worked at Smales, Chirdon and Whickhope Forests draining and planting. After war service, he recommenced work with the Commission at Allery Bank, Chirdon and moved to Kielder in 1947. He spent time harvesting, and in 1977 became a member of the Fencing Gang until his retirement.
Picture: Chief Forester Hugh Strickland presents Ernie Grimwood with a fly rod and reel.
Fred Belshaw, EO in the Estates Section of South Scotland, has retired after 25 years’ service with the Commission, all of which was spent in Dumfries.
Robert Blackwell, Leading Ganger, Kielder Forest, has retired after 32 years’ service with the Commission, all of which was spent in the North Tyne Valley.
Picture: Chief Forester Hugh Strickland and Bob Blackwell.
Ted Stones, Dalby Roads Squad has retired after 30 years’ service with the Commission.
Bob Fife, Head Forester at Mendip for the past 8 years, has retired. He went to Lynford FTS in 1948, and was posted as a Foreman to Collingbourne (Savernake), and then to Hartland, North Devon. He was a Forester at Fernworthy, then moved east to Taunton and Mendip Forest.
Peter Legard, Assistant Conservator, Dee Hills Park, Chester, North West England, has retired after 28 years’ service with the Commission. He served in Scotland, Wales and for the last 12 years at the Conservancy Office in Chester.
Agnes Campbell, Newton Nursery, Laigh of Moray Forest has retired after 30 years’ service with the Commission at Newton Nursery. She has been a Ganger during the past 5 years.
Picture: Agnes Campbell with Chief Forester Struan Stewart, Director General George Holmes and many of her colleagues.
Jim Reynolds, Senior Ranger, Dunkeld has retired after 25 years’ service with the Commission. Prior to moving to Dunkeld, he was a Forest Worker at Hallyburton/Kinfauns. His trips to Glen Prossan by motorcycle and sidecar became almost legendary.
John Osmaston, District Officer, has retired after 30 years’ service with the Commission, being based in the Forest of Dean, the Chilterns, Wales and North West England
Mansel Harris, Workshop Manager at St Hilary, South Wales, for the past 7 years has retired after 30 years’ service with the Commission. He joined at Chirk Depot, N(W), and was a Mobile Mechanic and Workshop Manager for 23 years before transferring to the St Hilary Workshop.
Albert Baker, Lorry Driver at St Hilary Workshop, has retired after 25 years’ service with the Commission at Tair Onen and latterly at the Workshop.
Lena Griffiths, Personal Assistant to John Zehetmayr, Senior Officer, Wales, has left after 14 years’ service.
John Rankin McFarlane, Research Division, Kilmun, has retired after joining the Commission in 1927. He worked in a number of forests in the West Conservancy (Scotland), including Barcaldine, Fearnoch, Inverliever, Lock Eck and Benmore.
Picture: John McFarlane.
Marie Purslow, Forest Clerk, Santon Downham Office, has retired after 30 years’ service with the Commission.
Fred Weston, District Officer in charge of the Pickering District, North Yorkshire, has retired after 30 years’ service as a District Officer with the Commission. On 1st December 1979, he planted an oak tree on the Commission’s viewpoint at Cowhouse Bank in Hambleton Forest.
Eddie Cavell, Forester, Thetford Forest, has retired after 24 years’ service with the Commission. During his retirement presentation at Brandon, he presented a painting of Bramwell Woods, where he worked in 1963, to the Forestry Commission.
Walter Smith (Wally Smith), Forester, Thetford Forest, has retired after 42 years’ service with the Commission. He intends to continue working as a Ganger.
Picture: Eddie Cavell at the presentation with District Officer John Kelly and Wally Smith.
Ed Ward, Tractor Driver, Wykeham Forest, has retired after 47 years’ service with the Commission. He has operated all types of tractors and bulldozers and his experience was in great demand in 1976 to help control the major fires on the North York Moors.
Obituaries
Arthur Christie, Assistant Conservator for Forest Management, N(S), has died. He joined the Commission in 1950 as a District Officer, NW(E). He left in 1956 to work for the Australian State Forestry Department and returned to the Forestry Commission in 1960, serving at Barnstaple SW(E) and Princes Risborough E(E). HE left again in 1965 to work in Zambia, returning to Britain in 1970 to become District Officer at Fort Augustus in N(S). He was promoted to Assistant Conservator in 1974 and moved to the Inverness Conservancy Office.
Maurice Christon, Forest Craftsman, Osmotherley has died aged 49. He spent the whole of his 22 years’ forestry service at Osmotherley.
Sir Richard Cotterell CBE, Forestry Commissioner from 1945-1964 has died aged 71. He was Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum for Herefordshire from 1945-1957. His woodland estate, Garnons, near Hereford won prizes as a showplace of well-kept woodland. He was appointed a CBE for his work as a Forestry Commissioner and recently served as Chairman of the Westonbirt Arboretum Advisory Committee.
Danny Lewis, who retired as Chief Forester at Brechfa in 1976 after 45 years’ service with the Commission has died. He joined the Commission at Brechfa in 1931, working at Tair Onen Nursery, Caeo, Tywi and returned to Brechfa in 1967.
Albert Minter, former Senior Executive in Industrial Establishment Branch has died aged 75. He joined the Forestry Commission in 1924 and was Private Secretary to the then Chairman Sir Roy Robinson. During the war, he worked with the Home Grown Timber Production Department and afterwards returned to the Commission.
George Munro, former Forester, Glenurquhart Forest, has died. Before his retirement in 1960, he served the Forestry Commission for 35 years.