Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 302 - Autumn/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.
It's Our Diamond Jubilee 1919-1979
On the 29th November 1919, the Forestry Commission came into existence. A letter of congratulations and best wishes was received from the Queen.
Tribute to John Mackie
John Mackie has completed his three year term as Chairman of the Forestry Commission.
Picture: David Johnston; Dallas Mithen; John Zehetmayr; Ralph Verney; Murray Hunter; John Mackie; Lord Gibson-Watt; George Holmes; John Pollock; George Stewart; Captain David Bowser; Dennis Hicklin; John Kennedy; Peter Clarke.
Cuts - How They Affect Us
Planned cuts by the Government show the previously planned level for 1980-1981 has been cut by £5 million to £57 million. The cuts will fall most heavily on the funds for acquisition of land which are reduced by over two-thirds (about £2.5 million) to £1 million.
245-T Raised At ITC Meeting
At a meeting on 13th November of the AFC Industrial and Trade Council, a request was made by the Trade Union side for an immediate halt on the use of weedkillers containing 245-T. The Forestry Commission management side stated they relied on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on pesticides in the use of all chemicals in the forest. This committee has reviewed the use of 245-T eight times since 1967 and as recently as March 1979, published a report which confirmed that 245-T offers no hazard to users, general public, domestic animals, wildlife or to the environment generally, provided that it is used as directed. The Trade Unions were not successful in persuading the Forestry Commission, the biggest single user in Great Britain, to ban the use of 245-T. In consequence the Trade Unions within the FC Joint Council, agreed to recommend to their respective Executive Committees, that members employed be instructed not to use 245-T until further notice.
Visitors Flock To Rheola Open Days
Open Days at Rheola were a great success and attracted 6,000 visitors.
Pictures: (1) A group of visitors walking under mature Larch in Rheola Forest. (2) Brian Wycherley and Dai Sandry demonstrate extraction by skyline. (3) Demonstrating training in the use of hydraulic hoist for loading and unloading timber.
'Welcome' Drop In Accident Rate
A small but welcome drop in the number of accidents is recorded by Safety Officer Don Bardy in his annual report for 1978 with a reduction from 464 to 443 accidents.
Near-Miss!
A report of a dramatic “near-miss” at Inverliever Forest in West Scotland. Chief Forester George Francey said “Jimmy Duffy, a skilled operator, was engaged in a clear felling operation. During snedding, he stepped forward into an unseen hole. He fell forward with the chainsaw racing and put up his left hand to save his face. On contact between the chain and the back of the gloved hand, the saw stopped, severely lacerating the glove, but causing Jimmy no injury other than slight shock”.
Picture: The damaged glove.
Newly-Weds At Risk
Newly-wed operators may be taking more risks in order to earn more money, warns Safety Officer Don Brady in his report.
Facing The Firing Squad
South-West England Rangers line up for their annual competition for the Rangers’ Rifle Cup, held this year at the Royal Navy’s Langport Ranges in Somerset. The Cup was won by Edwin George, the Senior Ranger at Wyre Forest, with a score of 81 out of a possible 100.
Picture: Jock Graham (Head Ranger); Edgar Gwilliam (Dean); Aubrey Neale (Dean); Steven McCartney (Wareham); Brian Price (Hereford).
It's A Long, Long Road
Work Study Forest Officer Mark Haworth and his wife Carolyn completed a 190 mile walk from St Bees Head, Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire in 12 days. Sponsorship worth £610 was raised for Addenbrooke’s Hospital Cancer Scanning Appeal Fund.
Tair Onen's Special Walk
Craig Y Parc Spastics School for children is a mansion adjoining FC woods at Tair Onan Forest near Cardiff. A pathway has been created to give the children access to the woods and an accessible log cabin and picnic place have been added.
Congratulations
Ron Elliott, HEO, Personnel Branch, achieved 11 As, 4 Bs and 2 Cs in the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants examinations this year.
Handyman G. Williams, Estates Branch, Rheola, had his fourth win in the local Onion Show. His 3.25 lbs onion was the largest and he also took the trophy for the best collection in the show.
Bob Orrell, former Ranger in charge of Whinlatter Visitor Centre has completed his journey on horseback through the Scottish Highlands.
Forest Management Division had the correct answer to a Help the Aged quiz question “How many fence stobs do we have in Scotland?” – five million.
New Appointments
Mr John Kennedy has been appointed Forestry Commissioner to succeed George Stewart, Commissioner for Forest and Estate Management, who retires at the end of this year.
Mr Gwyn Francis, Head of Harvesting and Marketing Division has been promoted to Director.
Mr S. Andreas Neustein will be the new Head of Forest Management at Conservator level.
Westonbirt "Outstanding"
The new visitor pavilion at Westonbirt Arboretum has received a commendation from the Royal Institute of British Architects. The architect was Andris Berzins with Nicolas Scarfe and the design and interior display was by Bob Jones, Forest Design Branch.
Slasher Editor Leaves
Nigel Hawkins, Editor of Slasher, left the Forestry Commission this month to take up a new post as Press Officer with the Scottish Sports Council.
Ferry Shipwrecked
Harry Barron, South Scotland’s Conservancy Mechanical Engineer and Jim Dewar, Moffat District Officer were on board the Danish owned ferry, Winston Churchill, when it ran aground on rocks off Gothenburg, Sweden on 26th August. Harry Barron tells the story.
The Diamond Jubilee
Looking Back To The Old Days
Memories and photographs of past times from B.H. Hammond, A.E. Walker, Maurice Nimmo, Jack Jennings and T.R. Morgan.
Pictures: (1) Lodgepole Pine planted at Borgie in North Scotland in 1920, picture taken in 1931. (2) Rockingham Forest staff in 1938. (3) Loading timber – Loch Broom, 1932. (4) Burning a four foot fire line with a Primus flare at Culloden in the 1920s.
Photograph: South Wales Division Staff in May 1939
Front row: T.E. Little; T.H. Lewis; L.T. Edwards; G.B. Ryle; T.D.H. Morris; A.H. Cameron; A.H. Jones; D.H. Farrance; G.H. Richards; T. Caddy; J.F. Cowe; Back row: S.J.C. West; R.E. Pallett; C. Adams; W.D. Haldane; D.M. Morgan; P. Harrison; D. Ace; E.H. Bradford; R. Cowell Smith; G.W. Backhouse; T.G. Saunders; H.C. Young; A.T.G. Gunter; A.C. Evans; L. Butter; C.V. Squires; T.N. Browne; A.J. MacKenzie.
5/- Cycle Allowance
The books for Mildenhall Forest in East England show an expenditure of less than £20 for May 1934. The forest’s monthly cycle allowance of 5/- was the same until July 1937.
Pioneering
Some prose by retired Chief Forester Jack Jennings.
One Week’s Holiday a Year
At 93 years old Lachlan Cameron of Fort William, looks back over a number of years in the West Scottish Highlands where he worked since the turn of the century.
Picture: Lachlan Cameron
Train Started 46 Fires
Morag Bruce retired clerkess at Leanachan Forest Office, recalls the days when after each train went by on the neighbouring Glasgow to Fort William line, a forest worker would be despatched on a bicycle to follow the train and put out any fires that were started through flying sparks. Tom MacBeath, A&FO at Inverness, remembers one train which passed through Achnashellach Forest on the Kyle to Inverness line starting 46 separate fires. When a forest road was built beside railway lines, a Land Rover could chase the trains, dropping off a forest worker, with a fire broom at each outbreak. It became a source of forest revenue when British Railways paid 2/6d for each outbreak.
Women’s Forestry Service
Picture: Young ladies of the Women’s Forestry Service at work at Graffham in Sussex in 1918.
A Slasher
Retired Forester T.R. Morgan, who is now 91 years old, remembers his late father carried a Slasher with a long wooden handle for walking purposes.
The Computer Of 1937
Picture: Alex Mackenzie, using a Fuller’s Calculator in 1937 while working on sample plots in the North of England.
Photograph: The Dean Forestry School 1930-31
Back row: D.H. Farrance; N. Smith; P. Harmston; T.G. Saunders; G.A. Jenkinson; M. Oongur; S. Kamitsis; J.F. Clark; W.L. McCavish; F.F.G. Parsons; Ll. Jones; D.M. Morgan.
Second row: J. Rowland; D.M.D. Davies; N.D. Tearle; D.W. Gillmore; Ch. G. Michaelides; J. Wetherell; T.C. Bowdler; A.L. Mitchell; G.T.S. Gwilliam; W. Pearson; R.D. Smith; N.J. Lingwood; W.T. Smith; W.E. Mason.
Seated: G.S. Davies; C.W. Redford; Mr D.N. Williams; A.H. Popert; D.W. Young; R.G. Broadwood; R. Bailey; B.H. King; T.J.R. Rees.
Front: J. Hirst; John Ch. Mouskos.
Looking Forward To The Next 60 Years
Sir David Montgomery, Chairman of the Forestry Commission considers the past 60 years and the next 60 years.
Picture: The first Chairman of the Forestry Commission – Lord Lovat, who was Chairman in the formulative years between 1919 and 1927.
The Race To Grow
The history of the Forestry Commission which began 60 years ago, when two tree planting ceremonies took place, one on a hillside in Morayshire in the North of Scotland, the other on a moor in Devon. This article tells of the first ten years, Churchill’s support, a second historic tree-planting ceremony, with a tree planted by the Queen to mark the planting of the millionth acre of new forests by the Forestry Commission. S. Forrester, Principal Forest Office also tells the tale of the race to plant the first tree on 8th December 1919.
Tom's Encounter With Lord Lovat
Former Head Forester Tom Anderson encountered Lord Lovat in the 1920s while Tom was working in Clipstone Forest near Nottingham. He received a telephone call from Lord Lovat, who was shooting on a neighbouring estate and wanted to see establishment work at Clipstone. He asked Tom how he travelled about the forest and when Tom said Head Foresters used bicycles, Lord Lovat said surely you would prefer something better than a cycle. Tom said he would prefer a motor cycle and side-car. Several weeks later, a motor cycle and side-car duly arrived – issued by the Forestry Commission.
Picture: Tom Anderson (88) tends the roses in his garden in Thornton Le Dale, Yorkshire.
Trees
Picture: The present Chairman of the Forestry Commission, Sir David Montgomery.
Family's 300 Years Of Service
Charley Adams is a member of the Forest of Dean Adams family of foresters which have clocked up 300 years of service.
Picture: Charley Adams (77) in his garden with a view of Margam Forest, South Wales.
In Our 60th Year
Collecting Our Forest Heritage
Jack Wilson, until recently Head Forester in charge of Arden Forest, is collecting tales of British forest heritage in material and document form. He began his collection many years ago and visitors saw the exhibition and craft demonstrations that he arranged so successfully in Arden Forest. Today his task is to record the story of forestry and its products, including the use of forest tools and the working conditions of foresters through the ages.
Britain Should Take A Fresh Look At Countryside Policies
Talking at the British Association for the Advancement of Science Conference in Edinburgh, Director General of the Forestry Commission George Holmes said looking beyond the year 2000, Britain should be able to continue expanding the forests while maintaining agricultural production. Many other speakers contributed to the conference, including David Seal, Chief Research Officer, North, the Chairman of the Forestry Section of the BA Conference and Donn Small, Deputy Surveyor of the New Forest.
Picture: Director General George Holmes.
It’s a Double Celebration!
Brenda Smith, CO Estabs SE(E) reports on the double celebration of the year 1979 in SE(E) – the 60th birthday of the Forestry Commission and the 900th anniversary of the New Forest. The occasions were marked by FC staff, their friends and families, with a barbecue held at Millyford Bridge in the New Forest. Brian Tipping (A&FO) lit the fire and he, Mrs Tipping, Berry Stone (Drawing Office), Trevor (Berry’s cousin) and Liz Broadley (Estates) were principal chefs.
Honour
Arthur Hazzard, Forest Clerk at Rhondda Forest, received a British Empire Medal from Henry Knight, Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan and Chairman of South Wales RAC. The award was for services to forestry and the community including his work for Treherbert Boys’ Club.
Picture: Arthur Hazzard receives his BEM.
Diamond of Trees
A diamond shaped group of white flowering gean has been planted in Halton Wood, Chiltern Forest, East England. Jubilee commemorative planting was carried out during the visit by the National Committee for England and taking part were members of the Committee, local authority guests, the Conservator Mr Rod Hewitt and Commission staff.
Picture: Forestry Commissioner George Stewart, who retires at the end of this year, plants one of the young gean.
Sir Ralph Leads Visit To China
Forestry Commissioner Sir Ralph Verney has invited China to send a forestry delegation to Britain next year. The invitation was made to Vice-Premier Wang Zhen at the People’s Palace in Peking during a three-week visit to China by a delegation representing British forestry.
Roger Lands Deer Trophy
Roger Larsen, former head of the Conservation and Recreation Branch at the Forestry Commission has been awarded the Balfour-Browne Deer Trophy for this year.
Tywi Starts Production
Tywi Forest, in the upper reaches of the Tywi and Camddwr Valleys in the Cambrian Mountains, where tree planting began in 1953, is now the largest forest in Wales with 7,300 ha of woodlands. The forest is now entering a new stage as the earliest plantings reach the thinning stage, and timber is beginning to feed the local sawmills to provide pulpwood for papermaking and fencing for forest and farm use.
Pictures: (1) The Camddwr Valley. (2) The first thinnings from Tywi.
Well Done Jock!
John Martin (Jock) of Barcaldine Forest, West Scotland received a British Empire Medal which was awarded by Lord MacLean of Duart and Morven, Lord Lieutenant of Argyll, at a ceremony in Barcaldine Hall. Jock, who retired this November, has looked after plant and machinery since the 1950s and the handicap of an artificial leg has never deterred him from going out in all weathers.
Picture: John “Jock” Martin.
Commission Wins Tourism Award
The Forestry Commission has received a plaque for its contribution to tourism in Britain. The award was made by the British Tourist Authority.
Nostalgic Visit
To mark the new phase in the history of Tywi, the South Wales regions of the Royal Forestry Society visited the forest this year to see the first tree crop being harvested and to enjoy the splendid scenery under the guidance of Ian Watt, District Forest Officer and Dai Morris, Chief Forester.
Nature News - Life-Rafts For The Divers
In liaison with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, conservation and ranger staff of West Scotland have been building floatation rafts on some of the hill lochs in an effort to help the breeding success of the Red-throated (Colymbus stellatus) and Black-throated (Colymbus arcticus) divers.
Picture: Black-throated Diver at nesting site (West Scotland).
Elm Disease Marches On
New legislation reflects the spread of Dutch elm disease in areas in the North Midlands and Wales. Some areas are being rescheduled as “heavily affected”.
Popular Bulletin
The Forestry Commission has produced a large number of scientific and technical publications on a wide variety of forestry subjects. A popular and valued item has been Bulletin 14 - Forestry Practice, first published in 1933, the 9th edition has just been issued.
Palestine Service
Certain service in the Palestine Police Force may now count as one-half for pension purposes.
On The Plodgy Trail With David Bellamy
Over 2,000 visitors turned up when the Forestry Commission and Durham County Conservation Trust held their Open Day at Hamsterley Forest under the title of “The Hamsterley Forest Workshop”. The idea was the brainchild of Dr David Bellamy, who lives at Hamsterley and was organised jointly by John Oakley (DO Durham) for the Commission and Julie Gamon (Administrative Officer) for the Trust.
Pictures: (1) David Bellamy on the “plodgy” trail. (2) Enjoying a champagne breakfast.
Snow Put Out The Fires!
Frank Wood started his career in forestry as a farming and forestry student on the Earl of Egmont’s Cowdray Estate in Sussex. In 1937, he joined the Forestry Commission working at Michaelston (now Margam) Forest. During the war, incendiaries landed in the forest, and snow helped to put out the fires. In 1942, Frank moved to Crychan and in 1947 he moved to Glasfynydd Forest. From 1956, he managed the Llandovery Co-operative Woodlands Society for 20 years. At 84 years of age, he has continued to act as Forestry Consultant to the National Trust in West Wales, as well as managing Welsh woodlands of a Surrey Estate. Mr & Mrs Wood hope to continue in forestry for many years to come.
Picture: Frank Wood and his wife.
Retired
Peggy Bisset, has retired after 40 years’ service with the Commission. She started in the London office in 1939 and has worked as Personal Secretary to Sir Arthur Gosling, an earlier Director General. She worked in the Edinburgh office and became HEO in Office Services.
Picture: Peggy with husband Jimmy and friends at headquarters.
Bobby Cameron, Leading Ganger, Sunart Forest, North Scotland, has retired after 30 years’ service with the Commission. He spent all of his service at the Glenhurich section of Sunart Forest, starting as a Forest Worker in 1949, then a Lorry Driver, a Ganger and a Leading Ganger for the last eight years.
Picture: Bobby at the presentation.
Alastair Morison, Head Forester, Queens Forest, Glenmore, has retired after joining the Commission in 1949 as a Foreman at Clunes, becoming a Forester in the Black Isle Forest in 1955. He moved to Queens Forest, Aviemore on promotion to Head Forester, where he took charge of the Glenmore Forest Park.
Graham Cook, Conservancy Mechanical Engineer, has retired after 31 years’ service with the Commission all spent in E(E).
Dougie MacKenzie, Ganger, Torrachilty Forest has retired after 41 years’ service with the Commission.
Izydor Szmytkowski, Ranger, Torrachilty Forest has retired after 31 years’ service with the Commission.
Marian Kracewicz, an ex-Polish Army employee, has retired after 31 years’ service with the Forestry Commission. In the Russian occupation of his own country during the war, he was arrested by the KGB and imprisoned at Samarkand. He came to England and joined the Commission in 1947, working on one of the Thetford Beats and was transferred to Brandon Central Depot in 1972.
Ray Young, Chief Forester, Santon Downham, has retired after serving with the Commission since 1946. After leaving the Parkend School, he moved to Pickering NE(E), then to Kielder as Forester in Charge. In 1959 he was transferred to SW(E) on Private Woodlands duties, and later transferred to Wyre Forest on promotion to Head Forester. In 1970 he became Chief Forester, Santon Downham Forest E(E).
John Williams, Forest Craftsman, Hazelborough has retired after joining the Commission in 1938.
Roddie Matheson, Head Ranger, Ardross, North Scotland, has retired after 40 years’ service with the Commission. He worked on Redcastle Estate in 1932 and was a ghillie at Kildermorie until 1938. He entered permanent Forestry Commission service in 1939.
Ted Rutherford, New Forest Estate Craftsman, has retired after 39 years’ service.
Tom Kipling, District Officer, has retired after a career that spanned 40 years as a professional forester. After war service in the 129 Forestry Company, Royal Engineers, he spent 14 years in the Sudan Forest Service and finally 24 years in the Forestry Commission in East and South East England.
Albert Cullen has retired after 31 years’ service with the Commission on the Isle of Wight.
Christopher Macrae, Ratagan Forest, North Scotland has retired after 25 years’ service with the Commission.
John Allan Macrae, Ratagan Forest, North Scotland has retired after 25 years’ service with the Commission.
Gordon Macrae, Ratagan Forest, North Scotland has retired after 40 years’ service with the Commission.
Angus Stewart, Ratagan Forest, North Scotland has retired after 42 years’ service with the Commission.
Picture: Christopher Macrae; John Allan Macrae; Gordon Macrae; Angus Stewart.
Mr R.F. Jones (Bob Jones), Forest Craftsman, Gwydyr, has retired after 29 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr J. Williams, Forest Craftsman, Gwydyr, has retired after 31 years’ service with the Commission.
Mrs E. Brookes, Forest Craftswoman, Delamere Nursery, NW(E), has retired after 50 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr G. Steele, Tractor Driver, Blengdale, NW(E), has retired after 19 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr A. Dear, Foreman Mechanic I, Sherwood Depot, NW(E), has retired after 26 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr W. Marshall, Building Craftsman, Kershope, NW(E), has retired after 28 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr L. Moss, Forest Craftsman, Grizedale, NW(E), has retired after 20 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr J.A. Wood, Chief Forester, Delamere, NW(E), has retired after 30 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr W. Robson, Forest Craftsman, Kershope, NW(E), has retired after 33 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr J. Dixon, Ranger Grade I, Thornthwaite, NW(E), has retired after 31 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr G. Underwood, Ganger, Inglewood, NW(E), has retired after 32 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr E. Hanking, Forest Craftsman, Kershope, NW(E), has retired after 26 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr L. Chapman, Forest Craftsman, Thornthwaite, NW(E), has retired after 32 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr T.J. Attenborough, Forester, Shropshire Hills, NW(E), has retired after 33 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr V.J. Brandon, Forest Craftsman, Cannock, NW(E), has retired after 32 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr J.T.R. Little, Forest Craftsman, Kershope, NW(E), has retired after 31 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr B.J. Jordan, Forest Worker, Kinner, NW(E), has retired after 31 years’ service with the Commission.
David Campbell, Ganger, Drummond Hill Forest, East Scotland, has retired after 33 years at Drummond Hill.
Peter McDonald, Ploughing Tractor Operator, Glentrool Forest, South Scotland, has retired after 27 years’ service with the Commission. He was involved in the early development of the Long Wide Country Tractor and it is estimated he has ploughed 10,000 acres.
Picture: Peter McDonald and Conservator John Davies.
Obituaries
Margaret Barbour, former CO, West Scotland Conservancy from 1970-1977 has died.
Charles Bloor, former Head Forester, Yardley, Northants District, East(E), has died.
Horace William Fowler, Kesteven Forest, East(E) has died.
Walter Legg, former Ganger, Banchory Forest, East Scotland has died.
Stanley Matthews, former Forest Craftsman, Banchory Forest, East Scotland has died.
Charles McDowell, former Head Forester, Pitfichie Forest, East Scotland has died.