Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 301 - Summer 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.
World Timber Shortage In 20 Years - Double Our Forests
Professor John Bowman, Director of the Centre for Agricultural Strategy at Reading University says Britain’s forest area should be doubled in size to help the country get through the world timber shortage predicted for the year 2000.
Fiona Meets The Princess
Fiona McGrath met Princess Anne at the Forestry Exhibit at the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston, near Edinburgh. Fiona, daughter of Mrs Christine McGrath, Clerkess at the Glentress Forest Office, presented the Princess with a tiny Rowan tree and a Forestry Commission Tee-shirt for her son Peter. Assistant Conservator Richard Chard (South Scotland) who was Chairman of the Joint Forestry Exhibit Committee, explained the exhibits.
Pictures: Fiona aged 8, presents a Tee-shirt to Princess Anne, watched by Chairman John Mackie.
Review Of Staff And Costs
The Forestry Commission has been subjected to restrictions in staffing to meet the additional cost of recent pay awards within this year’s cash limits. There is a three month ban on recruitment of staff to fill the posts of people who leave.
True Love At Dalavich
Dalavich Production Worker James Bell married Karen Hunt from Bedford. They have moved to Sherwood.
Picture: James Bell and Karen Hunt cutting their wedding cake.
Queen Honours FC Staff
The Queen’s Birthday Honours List for 1979 has awarded honours to Part-time Commissioner James David Gibson-Watt (Baron); Director General George Holmes (Companion of the Bath); Leading Ganger W.H. Dennis of Bodmin, Cornwall (B.E.M.); Mechanic J. Martin of Barcaldine (B.E.M.); North Wales HEO Roy Fisher (M.B.E.).
Picture: Roy Fisher and some of the ladies at North Wales.
Tree Men Of The Motorways
The Forestry Commission’s Midland Motorway Landscaping Unit is based at Arley, near Coventry and will deal solely with Department of Transport agency work of tree planting and maintenance on motorways and trunk roads in Staffordshire, West Midlands and Warwickshire. In the team are Walter Adams, Dave Wall, Barry Hughes, Andy Radcliffe, Peter Bray, Len Fisher and Ian Hencox. Head Forester John Webster is in charge of the Unit, assisted by Forester John Hill.
Desmond Is Back
Desmond Dugan, Ranger at Fearnoch Forest, West Scotland, has returned home safely after taking part in Operation Drake’s historic crossing of the Isthmus of Panama in Central America.
Our "Wildlife Theatres"
The natural history television programme “World About Us” examines coniferous plantations and their contribution to wildlife in the film Highland Story to be televised on Sunday 23rd September on BBC2.
Ponds Scoop Award
The Jubilee Wildlife Conservation Area in Greystoke Forest, North West England, has been awarded a Certificate of Commendation in the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors / Times Conservation Awards for 1979. The project was the brainchild of former Conservator Jack Chard, who is now Wildlife Consultant to the Forestry Commission.
Well Done, Richard
“Slasher” has received a Certificate of Merit from the British Association of Industrial Editors for the article “End of an Era” by Richard Westlake of North Scotland, about the last horseman employed by the Forestry Commission.
Timber-R-R - Silver Fir Topped With Explosives
When two Silver Firs planted in 1720 by the Duke of Argyll at Camsail House, near Rosneath village, died and decayed into a dangerous condition, the Royal Navy used explosives to blow the top off one of the trees to make it safe. The two identical trees in Garelochhead Forest, West Scotland, are known as Adam and Eve. Approximately 20 feet of clean trunk remains as a reminder of the past and visitors can walk in safety around the two old trees. It is proposed to open a forest walk in the Camsail block of the forest and the perpetuity of the two old trees will be assured by the planting of two Silver Fir youngsters named Cain and Abel.
Picture: (1) Navy men arrive to blow Eve’s top off with explosives. (2) Explosives are fixed in a ring around the top section of the tree. (3) With a big bang, Eve’s top crashes to the ground.
Farming And Forestry In Upland Britain
The future roles of agriculture and forestry in upland areas of Britain will be discussed during the Forestry Section of the British Association for the Advancement of Science Conference in Edinburgh in September.
Big Hill Search - Len's Men Thanked
Forestry Commission staff and members of the Galloway Search and Rescue Group have been thanked for their “rapid response” when an American Buccaneer aircraft crashed into the Cairnsmore hills on a cold winter's night, killing two crewmen. District Officer Len Simpson, who is Chairman of the Galloway Search and Rescue Group has received a letter of appreciation from the President of the USAF Accident Investigation Board.
Forestry Commission Central Auction
The next Forestry Commission central auction of vehicles will be on 12th September 1979 at Newmains, Wishaw, Lancashire.
Ladies "Ahoy on HMS Conifer
The men in Dalby Workshop crafted a new pedal-powered raft, HMS Conifer Mark II for the RNLI Raft Race on the River Ouse. The crew were Liz Benton, Katy Blakesley, Alison Press and Sue Rawson. As an all-lady crew, they obtained a five minute start on the men and mixed crews and finished fifth overall, raising £40 for the RNLI.
Picture: The girls peddling on HMS Conifer Mark II.
Trees For All Seasons – Westonbirt Arboretum
Picture: The front cover of the first Forestry Commission calendar – “Trees for all Seasons 1980”.
From Silviculture To Sylviaculture - Landscaping Our Forests
Forest landscape pioneer Dame Sylvia Crowe, said with the present shortage of land in Britain, we cannot afford to separate our land space into ugly production areas on one hand and landscape reserves on the other. “We must combine production with landscape values. Forestry has proved exceptionally adaptable to this policy” she declared at a press conference in London to launch her new Forestry Commission Booklet No 44 “The Landscapes of Forests and Woodlands”.
Pictures: (1) A landscape of very strong form has had an unsympathetic pattern of forestry imposed on it (Foel Dinas, Dyfi Forst, Snowdonia – an example from the booklet). (2) Analysis. (3) Solution. (4) Forest Landscape pioneer Dame Sylvia Crowe eyeing the landscape from New Fancy View in the Forest of Dean.
(5) Another example of a hillside and plantation in Wales. (6) Analysis. (7) Solution.
Our Debt To Dame Sylvia - Booklet
In a Foreword to Dame Sylivia Crowe’s booklet, John Mackie, Chairman of the Forestry Commission refers to Dame Sylvia’s experience and expertise.
Nature News: The Wild Goats Of Kielder
Wilf Howell writes about the wild goats in Kielder which have been there since the Middle Ages.
Picture: Wild goats at Kielder photographed by Barry Auld.
Commission praised for its "Humanity"
During the opening of Placket Walk in Abbot’s Wood, Wilmington Forest, East Sussex, Alf Morris MP praised the Forestry Commission for providing facilities for disabled visitors.
Picture: Alf Morris MP wheels Roy Henstock from Hailsham along the new path for the disabled, accompanied by Michael Jennings, Peter Gladwin, John Mackie and Tim Rathbone.
Deer of the World
Heads of 30 of the 42 possible species of deer in the world were exhibited by Cannock Head Ranger Gerald Springthorpe at the Caravan and Camping Exhibition at Earls Court in London.
Picture: The exhibition.
Fort William Pulp Mill Hopes
Talks are continuing with four companies interested in developing a newsprint operation at Wiggins Teape’s Fort William pulp mill said Group Chairman Patrick Best, when he met The Society of Graphical and Allied Trades in London.
Motorway Tragedy
A tragic accident took place when a vehicle carrying five members of the motorway planting gang from Micheldever Forest was involved in a collision with a car. Craftsman Peter Gates died in hospital some days later and Craftsman Reg Jones died many weeks later. Craftsman Charlie Elliott has been able to return to work, but Ganger Eric Wilmot and Craftsman Fred Messenger are still recovering.
Postbag
“Brasher” from Glen Etive, Argyll, asks why there are no signs advising visitors not to park caravans or pitch tents in plantations off minor public roads. A response from R.T.F. Larsen, Conservation and Recreation Branch, says it is a question of balance and not plastering the countryside with signs.
Doreen Holland approves of the planting “Trees in Memory”.
Retired
Roy Fisher, HEO, North Wales, has retired after joining the Forestry Commission in Aberystwyth a year after War service. He worked at Shrewsbury and York before returning to Aberystwyth when the North Wales Conservancy office moved there in 1965.
David Campbell, Ganger, Drummond Hill Forest, Perthshire for most of his 33 years’ service with the Commission, has retired.
William Leslie, Bennachie Forest, Aberdeenshire has retired after over 40 years’ service with the Commission.
Frank Cowie, Laigh of Moray Forest, Morayshire, has retired after 31 years’ service with the Commission.
William Duncan, Laigh of Moray Forest, Morayshire, has retired after joining the Commission in 1937 at Alltcailleach Forest.
Edwin Abbott, Newcastleton Forest, South Scotland has retired after nearly 33 years’ service with the Commission.
John Dick Denovan, Strathyre Forest, Perthshire, has retired after nearly 33 years’ service with the Commission.
Benedetto Tortolano, Lorry Driver, Loch Art Forest, Perthshire, has retired after 33 years’ service with the Commission.
Picture: John Mackie, Chairman of the Forestry Commission at the Long Service Certificate presentations with recipients David Campbell; William Leslie; Frank Cowie; William Duncan; Edwin Abbott; John Dick Denovan; Benedetto Tortolano.
Henry Dennis, Leading Ganger, Kernow Forest, has retired after 42 years working in Kernow Forest. Henry helped train many trainees entering the Commission from the Forces, stationed at Doublebois Hostel. Many of those trainees are now Head and Chief Foresters. He was a Union Representative for many years and serves on the S/W Region Advisory Board.
Dave Pittendreigh, Workshop Superintendent in East Scotland has retired. Known as “Mr Fixit”, he joined the HGPTD in 1940 and came to the Commission in 1946. He took over the Conservancy’s Mechanical Repair Depot at Blackhall Garage, Banchory, which was a large Nissen Hut on the site of a former Canadian Lumber Camp. In latter years, Dave moved with the repair depot to Aberdeen. In 1977 he received the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal.
Picture: Dave Pittendreigh and Conservator Ian Grant at West Tullos Repair Depot.
Gordon Young, SW(E) has retired after joining the Commission as a Clerical Officer in Bath in 1949.
Maurice Winter, Skilled Forest Worker, Mendip Forest, has retired after 33 years’ service with the Commission.
Bernard Cutliffe (Cutty Cutliffe), South West England, has retired after 33 years’ service with the Commission. He joined as a Clerical Officer in July 1946 in the Conservancy Office at Exeter and moved with the office to Bristol soon afterwards. He was promoted to EO in 1948 and served in most sections of the Conservancy Office. He has been a long-standing member and Officer of the St John Ambulance Brigade and has given many First-Aid lectures in the Conservancy. When a vacancy occurred in the HQ office of St John in Bristol, he was offered and accepted the job.
Vic Wood, Craftsman, Hereford Forest, has retired. He spent 19 years with the Commission at Hereford Forest.
Steve Meaney, Forest Worker at Dunkeld, East Scotland, since 1953 has retired.
Tom Wilkinson, Chief Forester, known as "Mr Show Unit” has retired.
Picture: Tom Wilkinson with Stan Bridges who worked with Tom on the unit over 20 years ago.
Jim Lackie, Ganger, Dunkeld Forest, East Scotland, has retired after starting work at Craigvinean Forest in 1958.
Mr W.J. Stevens (Steve), Head Forester, Caeo, Llandovery District has retired. He has been in charge of Caeo since 1972. Most of his service was in Wales, having served at Margam, Crychan and Brechfa before taking charge of Coed Gwili in 1967.
Picture: Steve Stevens and Conservator John Zehetmayr.
Edgar Yerbury, Head Forester, Irfon Forest, Llandovery District, has retired. He has been in charge of Irfon Forest since 1967. He was in charge of Parkhurst, Isle of Wight, for 14 years.
Picture: Edgar Yerbury, Conservator John Zehetmayr and District Officer Ian Watt.
Geordie Stephenson, Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire, has retired after 50 years’ service with the Commission. He joined as a Forest Worker in Dalby Forest in 1929 and served there for 10 years, being transferred to the Home Grown Timber Producers’ Association at the outbreak of war until 1946. He returned to Dalby to serve under Head Forester Lenny Snowden. In 1962 he was accepted by the Civil Engineering Unit at Dalby.
Duncan Fergusson (Dochy Fergusson), Barcaldine Forest, West Scotland, has retired after over 40 years’ service with the Commission. He has worked at Barcaldine Forest since 1951 and worked as a Horseman for many years, helping to drag timber from early thinnings and taking fencing material to the hill. When horses were replaced by tractors, Dochy was promoted to Ganger.
Charlie Allan, Senior Ranger, Cropton Forest, North East England, has retired after 25 years’ service.
Herbert Holliday, Ganger, Cropton Forest, North East England, has retired after 27 years’ service, most of which has been spent on the Newton Dale section.
Joe Hodgson, Cropton and Wykeham Forest has retired after 31 years’ service with the Commission. He was mainly involved in forest protection at Wykeham since leaving Cropton in 1957.
Ike White, has retired after 21 years’ service with the Commission. His first appointment was to Pry Rigg Workshop, then to Ampleforth Forest, as a Mobile Mechanic. When the Workshop was closed in 1969, he transferred to the Conservancy Office and took charge of Transport Inspections and Training.
Lew Weatherley, Forest Craftsman, Falstone Forest, has retired after 38 years service with the Commission.
Teofil Tomas, Forest Craftsman, Kidland Forest, has retired after 26 years’ service with the Commission.
Obituaries
Frank Baldwin, former HEO with the previous Director, England has died aged 76. He joined the Forestry Commission in 1927 and retired in 1963.
Gerry Cameron, former Foreman, Inshriach Forest, North Scotland has died. He joined the Commission in 1919 and worked at Laggan, Clunes and Stromeferry before moving to Inshriach in 1939. He retired in 1967.
Sandy Campbell of Inverliever, who started as a Keeper with the Commission in 1930 and served until 1959 has died aged 85. During his retirement, he supervised the issue of permits for FC fishing, acting as a Warden of Inverliever Lodge, and teaching many youngsters fly fishing, shooting and enjoying the outdoors.
Harry Clarke, former Head Forester, Cotswold area, has died. He worked in the Cotswolds area, including planting work on the M5 motorway between Birmingham and Bristol, from 1963 until his retirement in 1975.
Glynn Phillips, former Forest Craftsman, Coed Deufor, has died. He retired in 1977.
Charles Russell, former Head Forester, Dean has died. Born in 1910, he joined the Forestry Commission in 1948 and worked in the Highmeadow and Edgehill Beats until his retirement.
Peter Gates, Forest Craftsman, Micheldever Forest, died in hospital a few days after an accident when he was in a vehicle carrying five members of the Motorway Planting Gang from Micheldever Forest.
Reg Jones, Forest Craftsman, Micheldever Forest died a few weeks after an accident when he was in a vehicle carrying five members of the Motorway Planting Gang from Micheldever Forest.