Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 305 - Autumn 1980
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.
Slasher Special
Included in this issue of Slasher are details of the Government's Review of Forestry Policy; The Forestry Bill; The House of Lords Select Committee's Report on Forestry Research; The 1979/80 Annual Report and Accounts.
First Export Cargo Leaves Inverness
Pulpwood destined for Norway is loaded on the Norwegian cargo vessel Dalsland at Inverness Harbour.
Picture: Pulpwood at Inverness Harbour.
Westonbirt Wins Civic Trust Award
Westonbirt Arboretum's Visitor Centre has been selected for a 1980 Civic Trust Award. A Commendation has also been achieved by the FC's Keldy Forest Cabins at Keldy Castle, Cropton, near Pickering.
Picture: Westonbirt Arboretum’s award-winning Visitor Centre.
New Forestry Commissioner
Linda Whetstone who has a 250 acre farm at Bassetts Manor, Hartfield, East Sussex has been appointed part-time Forestry Commissioner to succeed Sir Ralph Verney.
Picture: Linda Whetstone examines a model forest cabin in EMD at headquarters.
First Purpose Planted Educational Wood Opened
Details of the Forestry Commission's Birsley Wood, near Alnwick, Northumberland which has been formally opened as Britain's first purpose planted educational wood. Tony Spencer, Conservator, North East England, and Councillor Mrs Anne Wrangham, Chairman of the Northumberland County Council Education Committee, opened a recently completed log cabin which was designed by local forester Colin Olsson and built by unemployed youngsters under a Youth Opportunities Scheme. The Forestry Commission supplied the timber for the hut. It was nearly 30 years ago that the Forestry Commission bought Birsley Wood. At that time it was overgrown and almost impenetrable. The Commission decided to clear the area and by 1955 the replanting, directed by the then District Officer Alistair Rowan, now Conservator (North West England), was complete and today the wood contains about 85,000 evergreen and deciduous trees. Among the 26 species are Oak, Ash, Beech, Larch, Cypress, Douglas Fir and Norway Spruce. There are also up to 50 types of wild flowers and a wealth of wildlife for youngsters to study including badgers, stoats, weasels, foxes, roe deer and red squirrels. Ben Wilson, with assistance from the Forestry Commission, will devise programmes to exploit the educational potential of Birsley Wood. Picture: Councillor Anne Wrangham, Conservator Tony Spencer and Forester Colin Olsson at the Opening Ceremony.
Go Ahead For Plans To Restore New Forest Lawns
A restoration programme is aimed at increasing the area of the New Forest lawns by 300 to 400 acres in the next six or seven years.
Le Tour De Savernake
A scheme for bike hiring in Savernake Forest has been implemented. Originally suggested by the forest staff two years ago when funds were not available, Chief Forester Mike Dunn agreed when Swindon teacher Andrew Wadsley purchased 10 bicycles and offered them for hire.
Picture of Thetford’s Newest Pub Named The Chase
Rod Hewitt, Conservator E(E) accepted an invitation to open "The Chase", Thetford's newest pub and to plant a commemorative tree in the grounds.
Picture: Rod Hewitt pulling a pint at The Chase bar.
Hole In One – With A Cricket Ball
The combined North Scotland Conservancy and Highlands & Islands Development Board cricket team played a match with the Isle of Eigg XI. Sid House hit a ball that went down a rabbit hole on the island's machair. When Sid and Alan Flynn had run leisurely up to the six, they assisted the Laird of Eigg, Keith Schellenberg to dig the ball out with a spade. The winners were the combined FC/HIDB team.
Safety Boot Saves Foot From Chainsaw
A photograph of a damaged reinforced boot which left the wearer uninjured after a chainsaw slipped, shows the importance of wearing safety equipment.
Wha Daur Meddle Wi’ Them?
Forestry Commission Tractor Driver Robert Simpson and Forest Ranger Robert Anderson won the Local Heavyweight Championship at the Rannoch Highland Games.
“Mix-Up” Sinks FC Team’s Chances
A South Kintyre Forest team steered logs in this year's Grand Challenge Raft race across Campbeltown Harbour. Forester Mike Read was the captain of the Forest Raft, his crew were Forest Craftsmen Jimmy Thomson (bow paddle), and Tony Martin (stern paddle), Forest Worker Peter McCallum (stern paddle / stroke) and Junior Forest Worker John Strang (pick-up). Despite winning their heat - and beating the raft which eventually came second in the final - an organisational mix-up prevented the FC team from competing in the final.
The Value of Privacy – An Amusing Tale
The following is reprinted from “A Forester’s Diary” in Forestry and British Timber.
A colleague was valuing a large mixed, rural estate in the West Country. He came to a block of six cottages, all let to various estate staff and pensioners, and determined to do the job thoroughly, he knocked on the door of No. 1. An old lady answered. My colleague explained his mission. Could he, he asked, come in and look over the cottage?
The old lady asked him in. Yes, she said, all six cottages were exactly the same – two up, two down and a kitchen at the back.
But something was missing, readily spotted by the astute valuer. “Where’s the privy?” he asked. The old lady pointed out a long outhouse at the end of the garden. “They’re all together,” she said. “First door’s mine, seeing as I’m No. 1, and so on down the line.”
“But there are only five doors,” said my colleague. “Aren’t there six cottages? Where’s No 6’s privy?”
The old lady’s tone were dismissive. “Him at number 6? He’s a forester, he don’t need one.” she said.
“Pass Me Another Ham Sandvick”
A misprint on papers in North Scotland Conservancy Office lists "sandwich clearing tools".
Forestry Policy
Details of the Government statement by George Younger MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, and Lord Mansfield, Minister of State at the Scottish Office.
What Price Steel Gates?
Forester David Parnall reports on the vandalism in Margam Forest, of a steel gate, which was sawn in half, with one half being removed. Some years ago, in St Gwynno Forest, when a scrap merchant came to a locked Forestry Commission gate, he took it off at the hinges with his acetylene burner.
The Way Ahead
Director General George Holmes comments on the Government’s review of Forestry Policy.
Picture: George Holmes.
Extracts from Hansard
The announcement of the Government’s forestry plans sparked considerable discussion in the Commons.
There are extracts from Hansard.
The Forestry Bill
Details of three clauses in the Forestry Bill which was introduced in the House of Commons on 12th December.
Lords Report on Forestry Research
The House of Lords Select Committee, appointed to conduct an enquiry into the scientific aspects of forestry in Great Britain, has published their second report.
Picture: Test tube trees – a new research development.
60th Annual Report and Accounts
Details of the 60th Annual Report and Accounts of the Forestry Commission.
Picture: The Chairman and Director General answer Press questions on the Annual Report.
Former Diplomat to Head Private Forestry Organisation
Arthur Ronald Williams has succeeded Lord Norton OBE as Director of Timber Growers Great Britain Ltd., which is the representative body for private forestry in England, Wales and Scotland.
Prizes Flock To Bertie’s Ewes
Forest Worker Bertie Cuthbertson of Craigenbay Holding, Clatteringshaws Forest, has won several prizes with his Blackface sheep at local shows.
Picture: Bertie Cuthbertson with his Blackface sheep.
Auction Raises £200,000
Chief Purchasing Officer Jack Wood reported the FC auction of vehicles, machinery and equipment at Newmains raised over £200,000.
The Dying Elm
A poignant poem about a dying elm by Roy Powell.
Annual Report of the Forestry Commission Benevolent Fund 1979/1980
The Annual Report of the FC Benevolent Fund, which is to relieve deserving persons who have been employed by the Forestry Commission or their dependants.
Patience Rewarded – with £100
A harvesting team at Coed y Brenin N(W) were awarded £100 from the Staff Suggestion Scheme. The idea for a Triangular Bucket taking out the haul-in and skyline simultaneously when setting up a skyline rig, was proposed by G.W. Humphreys, B.I. Pugh, J.I. Jones, E. Edwards and E.W. Davies.
Picture: B.I. Pugh and G.W. Humphreys receiving the cheque on behalf of the team.
Slasher Consultative Committee
Stan Cator, Ganger, Thetford, is the new Chairman of the Slasher Consultative Committee.
Picture: Alex Cowan, Stan Cator, Jimmy Wilson, Jean Thompson, Fred McLauchlan, Gordon MacNeill, Richard Westlake, Douglas Furneaux, David Robertson and Noel Blatchford.
Investiture of Miss Daisy Miller BEM
Miss Daisy Miller, a Forest Craftsman at Aldewood Forest, was awarded the British Empire Medal at Bromeswell Village Hall, near Woodbridge, Suffolk, by the Lord Lieutenant Sir Joshua Rowley, Bart.
Picture: Daisy Miller receiving the award from the Queen’s representative Lord Lieutenant Sir Joshua Rowley, Bart.
Life Before Life on Earth
Rock formation research in Mortimer Forest, Ludlow has received international recognition. In acknowledgement, Chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council, Sir Ralph Verney unveiled a commemorative panel on 6th November. The panel includes the fossil of a trilobite, an extinct animal which lived in the Silurian Sea and is typical of the many forms of marine life found in the Silurian rocks in Mortimer.
The success of the ceremony was largely due to the efforts of Chief Forester John Waite and his staff. Representing the Commission was John Kennedy, Commissioner for Forest and Estate Management. The event was a credit to the forest and a special mention is due to Roads Foreman Cyril Bromley; Forest Craftsman Harold Potts; Ranger Staff Gerald Springthorpe, John Speed and Martin Noble. Also supercooks Wendy Magrail, Jan Bedal, Liz Anderson and Sally Andrews who prepared an excellent buffet lunch.
Pictures: (1) Trilobite Calymene, an extinct marine animal related to the modern King Crab. (2) Sir Ralph Verney presenting Lisa Butterworth with a signed photograph of the fossil she discovered on a school outing earlier in the year. Looking on are Lisa’s classmates from Richard’s Castle Primary School. (3) A reconstruction of life on the Silurian sea-bottom in the Ludlow area 400 million years ago, including brachiopods, trilobites, corals, sea-lilies, starfish, sea-snails, bi-valves, nautiloids and sea-scorpions. (4) Young geologists fossil hunting under supervision. (5) A long coated fallow deer from a unique herd in Mortimer Forest. (6) Orthoceras Nautilus, which is like an octopus but with nearly 100 tentacles and a chambered shell.
Forest Sites Attract Rare Nightjars
Roderick Leslie writes about sightings and a Nightjar survey, which was contributed to by FC members of staff, including Senior Ranger Oliver Powell who observed a pair at Boltby, Senior Ranger Arthur Frankland who observed a pair at Ingleby and Senior Ranger Dick Lea who observed several Nightjar at Cropton.
Picture: Adult male Nightjar at Ingleby, North Yorkshire.
Jumble Sale for Charity
The N(W) Office Social Club, the Foresco Club held a Jumble Sale. Jumble and cakes supplied by the office staff produced takings of £88.14 of which £16 was made by the cake stall. Half of the profit goes to the local Bronglais Hospital, the other half will be put to good use by the Club.
Benefit Fund Reminder
Joe Russell, Welfare Officer, gives details of the distribution of funds from the Forestry Commission (Scotland) Benefit Fund which was wound up in March 1978.
Prizewinner
Forest Tractor Driver David Luke of Alltcailleach Forest won the Duke of Buccleuch Memorial Trophy for the best Stage 2 student on the City and Guilds forestry course at Inverness Technical College. Lord Kirkhill presented the prizes.
Postbag
Letter from R.T. Wheeler, Recreation Head Forester, with advice on arresting severe external bleeding.
Letter from E. Baldwin, C/F Silv. (N) with suggestions on appropriate vehicle number plates for forestry staff.
Letter from John and Irene Walker appreciating the work by forestry staff in the Aberdeen area.
Letter from Bill Wittering, Cambridge Conservancy, requesting contact from fellow stamp collectors.
30 Countries Attend Trinidad Conference
Five delegates, George Holmes, Arnold Grayson, Roger Bradley, John Everard and Alan Wilson, represented the Forestry Commission at the 1980 Commonwealth Forestry Conference in Trinidad.
FC to the Rescue of Skye TV Star
When Terry Nutkins, Animal Magic TV Presenter, became worried about the lack of water in a stream on Skye, used by Gemini, his California sea lion, John Pargeter, Forester for the South of Skye came to the rescue. With the help of Willie Sutherland, Forest Ranger, John delivered a fire water tank that could be spared temporarily. Terry will order a new specially made tank for Gemini.
Picture: Terry Nutkins and Gemini
Sports News
East England Golf Society members and their guests attended the Autumn Stableford meeting at Flempton Golf Club, Suffolk. Arthur Searle won the Matabele Cup with a score of 36 points. Play continued in the afternoon with Jim Field and his guest partner R.K. Wilson, winning the first prize and Geoff Southgate and M. Watts coming second.
100 Not Out
Rev. John E. Hamilton MC, who was a Forestry Commissioner from 1948-53, celebrated his 100th birthday on 2nd December at his Edinburgh home.
Picture: The Rev. John Hamilton with Chairman Sir David Montgomery and Director General George Holmes.
Photo Competition Winner
Don MacCaskill, Chief Forester, Strathyre, Perthshire, won the Slasher photo competition with his forest scene of larches in Autumn.
Isobel Cameron, who has recently joined the Commission as Staff Photographer / Photo Librarian at HQ will notify the photographers whose slides have been chosen for the library.
Pictures: (1) Don MacCaskill’s scene of larches in Autumn. (2) Isobel Cameron.
Marriages
Archie Paterson, Forest Foreman, Dornoch Forest, North Scotland, and Penny Sutherland were presented with a cheeseboard, tray and silver tea service. The presentation, on behalf of the Dornoch Squad was made by Forest Craftsman Duncan Sutherland to celebrate their marriage.
Picture: Archie Paterson and Penny Sutherland at the presentation.
Kevin Firth, Land Agent, South West (E) married Gill Hockey, who was EO in the Private Woodland Section for several years before her transfer to the Department of Energy last year.
Retired
Nora Mackay, Clerkess, Ratagan Forest, N. Scotland, has retired after 8 years’ service with the Commission. Her husband John Mackay, Forest Ganger, retired a few months earlier after 15 years’ service with the Commission.
Donald Stewart, Senior Ranger, Glengarry, N. Scotland, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission. He was also a qualified blacksmith and travelled to many forests, shoeing horses until the arrival of cable cranes for timber extraction.
Donald Fraser, Forest Worker, Ratagan Forest, N. Scotland, has retired after 12 years’ service with the Commission.
Jimmy Chisholm, Ganger, Black Isle, Scotland, has retired after joining the Commission in 1947.
Alistair Fraser, Ganger, Black Isle, Scotland, has retired after joining the Commission in 1949.
Ewan Cameron, Ganger, Glencoe, W. Scotland, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission.
Alistair MacInnes, Skilled Forest Worker, Glencoe, W. Scotland, has retired after 33 years’ service with the Commission.
John Wood, Head Forester, Kent, SE England, has retired after 31 years’ service with the Commission. He spent 20 years in the New Forest, before moving on to Private Woodland duties in Kent in 1970.
Picture: Conservator Charles Begley, Assistant Conservator Nicholas Banister, Tom Coulson (DO Kent), Derek House (C/F Bedgebury) and John Wood.
John James, OBE, Conservator of Forests for North West England, has retired after 30 years’ service with the Commission, the last seven years as Conservator.
John Batey Murray (Jacky Batey), NW England, has retired after 45 years’ service with the Commission in the Border Forests.
Andrew Thomson, Head Forester, Lammermuir Forest, S. Scotland, who retired recently, would like to express his thanks to his colleagues who contributed towards his presentation.
Pete Verney, Exeter Forest, SW(E) has retired after 42 years’ service with the Commission.
Ernie Hosken, Kernow, SW(E) has retired after 40 years’ service with the Commission.
Edgar Gwilliam, Senior Ranger, Dean, SW(E), has retired after 33 years’ service with the Commission.
Wallace Bedney, Ganger, Dean, SW(E), has retired after joining the Commission after War Service.
Norman Stutter, A&FO, Alice Holt, SE England, has retired after 32 years’ service with the Commission. He joined the London Office in 1948 as a Clerical Officer and was promoted to Executive Officer in 1949. He has worked in the South Wales Conservancy and in various Headquarter Offices.
George Newton-Edwards, Fitter, SE England, has retired after 30 years’ service with the Commission as a Fitter in the SE Conservancy.
Picture: George Newton-Edwards at the presentation with Bramshill Workshop Manager Harry Tapley.
Cyril Swann, Forest Craftsman, Walden Forest, East England, has retired after 26 years’ service with the Commission, the first 12 years at Ditton Forest and the last 14 years at Walden.
Ted Marsden, Mechanic Inspector, Santon Downham, East England, has retired after 33 years’ service with the Commission, all at Santon Downham.
Murray Hunter, Commissioner for Administration and Finance, Edinburgh HQ, has retired after joining the Commission in 1973. He was appointed a Forestry Commissioner in 1975.
Malcolm Shapcott, Deputy Establishment Officer, Edinburgh HQ, has retired after joining the Commission in 1937 as a CO in Finance in the London Office. After spells in Bristol and Woking, he returned to London as SEO in Estabs. in 1950 and became a Senior Principal in 1971. He was appointed Assistant Secretary in 1973 while stationed at Basingstoke and moved to Edinburgh in 1975.
Picture: The double celebration at HQ for the retirement presentation to Murray Hunter and Malcolm Shapcott.
Geoff Bowers, A&FO, has retired after 42 years’ service with the Commission, having joined at the London Office in 1938. He has served in various locations including Bristol Office, R&D Division at Alice Holt Lodge, North Wales Conservancy Office at Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth.
Gwilym Jones, Ganger, North Wales, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission.
Picture: Haydn Nicholls, Chief Forester at Dyfi, presenting Gwilym Jones with his Long Service certificate.
George Rawson, Coed y Brenin, North Wales, has retired after joining the Commission in 1949.
Gwilym Foulkes, Ranger, Coed y Brenin, North Wales, has retired after joining the Commission in 1935.
Obituaries
Kenny Beaton, former Head Forester, Private Woodlands, who retired in 1977 has died in a road accident.
E. Gwynfryn Davies, CBE, DL, JP Forestry Commissioner from 1959-73, has died aged 75.
Denis Derham, H&M Section, South West (E) Conservancy, who had served the Commission since 1968 has died.
David Dewar, former Industrial Worker, Craigvinean Forest, who retired 15 years ago, has died.
Mr W. Johnstone, former Forester, Allteailleach and Glen Doll Forests has died.
Mr F.W. Kirby, former Ganger, Bridgham Forest, Thetford Chase, East England who retired in 1979 has died.
Gwilym Thomas Lewis, former Ranger I, Newborough Forest, has died. He served the Commission for 42 years and worked in Gwydyr and Clocaenog Forests in North Wales and Arfon Forest (now Newborough).
Trevor Selley, Senior Clerk / Storeman, Exeter Repair Depot, died while playing cricket, his favourite game.
William G. Senior, former Ganger, Kesteven, England has died aged 78. He joined the Commission in 1932 and retired in 1967.