Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 306 - Winter 1981
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.
Campsite Of The Year
The Automobile Association has chosen The Snowdonia Forest Park Camping Ground at Beddgelert as the AA Campsite of the Year. Resident warden Adam Easton and his wife Beatrice have run the campsite for the last 16 years. Their children Robert and Freda have assisted in maintaining the site’s commendable high standards.
Pictures: (1) The Snowdonia Forest Park Camping Ground at Beddgelert. (2) AA Regional Director Wales and West, Derek Fothergill presenting the Campsite of the Year Award to Adam Easton and his wife Beatrice. Also representing the Commission at the ceremony were John Zehetmayr, Senior Officer, Wales and Alan Powell, Chief Forester, Beddgelert and Mrs Powell.
New Forestry Commissioner
George Murray, Assistant Secretary with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland has been appointed Forestry Commissioner (Administration & Finance) in succession to Mr J. Murray Hunter.
Picture: George S. Murray.
What Is The Well-Dressed Forester Wearing This Year?
Details of the new uniforms for Rangers and Foresters on page 5.
Picture: The new Forester uniform.
The Interaction Of Forestry And Farming - The Mutch Report
Details of a report by W.E.S. Mutch and A.R. Hutchison of the University of Edinburgh who record the experiences of 13 case studies of interaction between forestry and agriculture.
What's In a Name?
Arnold Grayson gives many examples of anagrams for names and trees.
Congratulations
Forest worker Keith Clifford, Northern Research Station, has been studying for an Open University degree and has graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Picture: Keith Clifford.
Brian Singleton of Torridge Forest, SW(E), won a top prize in the annual National Farm Safety Award competition for agricultural and forestry workers, organised by ROSPA.
Chief Forester David Anderson of Huntly Forest was awarded the MBE.
Senior Ranger Edwin George of Wyre Forest received the British Empire Medal.
The Forestry Commission’s solicitor and legal adviser Mr G. E. Gammie was awarded the CB.
Miss Jean Balfour, Chairman of the Countryside Commission for Scotland received the CBE.
Alan Cooper, Field Survey Drawing Office, HQ, has been awarded the SCOTEC Higher Certificate at A award level in Topographic Studies at the Glasgow College of Building and Printing.
Senior Staff Appointments
Mr C.W. Simmonds has been appointed to succeed Mr Malcolm Shapcott in the post of Deputy Establishment Officer, on promotion to Assistant Secretary.
The post of Personnel Officer (non-industrial) has been regraded to Principal and Mr E. G. Parker has been appointed to succeed Mr Simmons as Personnel Officer, on promotion to Principal.
David Burdekin, presently Head of the Pathology Branch at the Forestry Commission’s Alice Holt Research Station near Farnham, Surrey, will succeed Donald Phillips when he retires in April as Chief Research Officer (South).
Aberdeen Darts Team Issue a Challenge
The East Scotland Conservancy office darts team are challenging all other offices to test their skill against them at darts or football.
Picture: John Smith, Gordon Hendry, Alan Cormack, Keith Gliddon, Alan Duncan, John Walker, Jim Milne and Athol McDonald. Regulars Jeffrey Sharp, Davie Aitken and Jim Chalmers were not available when the photograph was taken.
BBC Man Examines Land Use Policy
The relationship between farming and forestry was also the subject of comment in BBC Scotland's Farming News programme. In this article, reporter Ian Morrison gives his personal view on the use of our hill and upland resources.
Border Forest Darts
Tom Johnstone, Chief Forester at Wark Forest, reports that the annual Border Forest Darts Competition was held in Stonehaugh Social Club. Eleven teams competed from most of the Commission units in the area and the overall winners were the “Wark Troublemakers” Edwin Stubbs (capt.), Edward Jeffreys, Tommy Hogg, Geoff Bell and Tony Little. The Chirdon team took second place.
Horses Make A Comeback
Horses are making a comeback as logging machines in United States forests, according to the magazine “American Forests”. It says the US government is taking another look at horse logging, especially the little harm it does to the environment.
The Dangers Of Hunting
Deer hunters in Nova Scotia have been warned by the Forestry Commission to be sure their lavatory paper is coloured. The instructions follow an incident when a hunter concealed himself in the undergrowth to answer the call of nature. Another hunter saw a flash of white lavatory paper, mistook it for the tail of a deer and shot him dead.
Pay Award For Forest Workers
Details of a new pay award for forest workers which has been agreed between the Trade Union and Official Sides of the Forestry Commission Industrial and Trade Council.
The Forestry Bill
A report of the Forestry Bill being debated at the Fourth Sitting of the Standing Committee.
Festive Fun - At Alice Holt
A tradition for the R&D Division’s Christmas celebration at Alice Holt is to start off with a mixed hockey match and a collection taken from spectators in aid of the FC Benevolent Fund. This year £6 was raised.
Picture: The team were Carolyn Derrick; Sue Hayward; Steve Hankin; Sarah Worman; Corinne Howard; Jo Gardiner; Bill McCavish; John Williams; Andy Peace; Brenda Mayle; Mike Wheeler; Kate Fielding; George Gate; Ron Melville. The match was refereed by Nick Fielding.
Festive Fun - At Headquarters
Over seventy children of HQ staff attended the annual Christmas party held in the Corstorphine Road canteen. “Aunties” in charge of the children were Alison Rae; Kay Beattie; Doreen Ward; Susan MacLeod; Moira Burnside; Elaine McCathie; Cathy MacKay; Madge Buchan.
Picture: The children’s Christmas party at HQ.
House Sales - Tenants May Get Discounts
Tenants of many houses the Commission considers to be surplus to requirements, will now be able to buy them under special discount terms. To qualify, tenants must have occupied Forestry Commission or local authority housing for over three years and the discount increases with the length of time the tenant has lived in publicly provided accommodation. Details and examples of qualification and discount are given.
Rents Review
The rents paid by most Commission tenants are due for reassessment this year and work on this will be undertaken shortly. Any rent increases which result will normally take place after October.
Cartoon
A cartoon of two ladies referring to a forest picnic site sign, was drawn by Mr H. Harries, a teacher at Penglais School, Aberystwyth. The cartoon is included in a book “Fun for Funds”, which is raising money for the school.
The Forest Heritage
The Forestry Commission is taking the initiative in developing a permanent, comprehensive collection of forestry folklore by establishing an independent charitable trust to be known as The British Forest Heritage Trust. It is proposed to appoint a body of Trustees, reflecting a wide range of forestry activities and heritage interests, to develop and administer the Trust and a heritage centre. A site in West Woods in the ancient forest of Savernake in Wiltshire has been selected.
In June 1979, Head Forester, Jack Wilson who already had a special interest in forest heritage was appointed Curator (Designate) of the British Forest Heritage. Since then, Jack has been collecting an archive of original data; written, photographic and taped. He has amassed a collection of over 1,000 items of equipment.
Pictures: (1) Wilfred Barker uses oak from Grizedale Forest to make traditional Swill baskets. (2) An early Cundy Debarker in Oxfordshire. The sons of the firm’s founder has offered to restore debarkers to “showroom” condition. Mr Cundy has traced the first diesel debarker to Cheltenham, where it was still in use by the Severn Trent River Authority, who are now donating it to the Centre. (3) Jack Wilson demonstrates the ancient woodcraft of making tent and clothes pegs using a stock knife. (4) A spade which has been through ten forging stages is being tested for shape and balance. (5) A traditional forest practice rarely seen today - the forester is squaring a gatepost by hand. The log is marked with a taut string dipped in chalk.
New Uniforms For Foresters And Rangers
Ranger Desmond Dugan of Fearnoch and Richard Barker, a Newtonrigg student doing his sandwich year at Inverliever, model the new Ranger and Forester uniforms which FC personnel will be wearing this year.
Chief Purchasing Officer Jack Wood chaired two small working parties to select the style and material of the new uniforms. On the Rangers’ Committee were Nick Myhill (North West England), Desmond Dugan (West Scotland) and Roger Bell (Industrial Establishments). The CSU representatives on the Foresters’ Committee were Sandy Powell (South Wales) and Peter Harrison (North Wales) with Ron Elliott from Establishments.
Picture: Ranger and Forester uniforms.
A new uniform badge for Foresters and Rangers has been produced by Design and Recreation Branch.
Picture: Forestry Commission badge.
Forging Ahead
One of the most interesting finds Jack Wilson uncovered on his travels for the Forest Heritage was the derelict building in North Wales. It was the site of Lloyd's foundry, which farmer Lloyd set up beside the River Vyrnwy at the end of 1690 to smelt iron ore using charcoal. The ore was imported from Sweden to Dolgellau and carried over the mountains on pack ponies to the forge. The smelted iron ore was then taken to Welshpool and shipped to the Black Country to be turned into farm and forestry tools. This began during the very early days of the Industrial Revolution - before Ironbridge. Farmer Lloyd's two sons both inherited his business expertise, one founded Lloyds Bank and the other Stewart and Lloyds, the steelmakers. The forge is still in the forest, sadly now only used as a wet weather shelter.
Picture: The forge.
Wilf Steams Ahead With His Hobby
Bulldozer driver Wilf Smith grew up next to a contractor’s yard where mighty traction engines were used daily, and it has given him a lifelong love of steam power. He began building his own scale models 30 years ago. He has built several more since then. Wilf and his wife Joyce are both keen members of the Three Counties Steam Preservation Society.
Picture: Wilf Smith with his scale model of a traction engine.
New Men At The Top
The new President of Timber Growers England and Wales for 1981 is Roger Parker-Jervis, succeeding Michael Harley, who held the office for the past three years.
The new Vice President of TGEW is Charles Woosnam, who as an owner and agent manages 4,000 acres of woodland in South Wales.
Adrian Phillips is to become Director of the Countryside Commission, succeeding Reg Hookway who retired recently.
John Dye and Oliver Lucas Converse in Verse
When John Dye, CEA, Scotland, was drawing a map, someone suggested he used symbols available from the Conservancy Office. He wasn’t impressed by the symbols and sent a poem.
Oliver Lucas replied in verse, on behalf of Design and Recreation Branch.
Geoff Was Last To Leave London
Geoff Seal, Information Branch, Savile Row, was the last member of London Office staff to leave before the move of HQ to Edinburgh. He left the Commission on 5th January on transfer to HMSO.
Picture: Jack Applegate, A&FO at the farewell presentation with Geoff Seal.
Betty Landimore, who previously worked at Savile Row, now works as HEO in the Lord Chamberlain’s office.
Hildegarde Sanderson, who was CO at Savile Row, has transferred to the Department of Education and Science.
Retired
Glad Jeffreys, Skilled Craftswoman, New Forest, South East England, has retired after joining the Commission at the end of the War. Before joining the Commission, she was a Land Army girl working in the New Forest during the War and transferred to the Ministry of Supply’s Women’s Timber Corps. Flowers were presented by Beryl Ettinger, dressed in her original Land Army uniform.
Picture: Glad Jeffreys with other ex-Land Army girls, Donn Small and Ron Watkinson.
Bob Hyslop, Head Forester, Private Woodland, Sussex, South East England, has retired after joining the Commission in 1948. He spent 17 years in Aberdeenshire, at Clashindarroch, Blackhall and Kirkhill, before moving south to Sussex.
Ron Barrow, Tractor Driver, Bedgebury, has retired after 20 years’ service with the Commission.
Picture: Ron Barrow at his retirement presentation with District Officer Tom Coulson.
Eileen Empson BEM, Telephonist, Alice Holt Lodge, has retired after joining the Commission at the Lodge in 1949, soon after it opened.
Jim Empson, Pathology Branch, Alice Holt Lodge, has retired after joining the Commission at the Lodge in 1949, soon after it opened. As caretaker, he has been responsible for the security and maintenance of Alice Holt Lodge, and will continue in this capacity.
Picture: Eileen and Jim Empson.
Harold Ford, Brendon Forest, South West England, has retired after 33 years’ service with the Commission. He began his FC career in the Nursery at Brendon. He was a Tractor Driver, then had a spell with Roads Branch as a Dozer Driver. For the past 12 years, he has worked with the FM Squad.
Jock Graham, Ganger, Moffat Forest, South Scotland, has retired after 44 years’ service with the Commission, all spend at Greskine Forest, now part of Moffat.
Alec Mundell, Moffat Forest, South Scotland, has retired. He worked in Greskine Forest, now part of Moffat, for 24 years, after many years of farm work.
Mr A.L. Stowell, Clerical Officer, Forest Management Section, Chester Conservancy Office, North West England, has retired.
Mr B.E. Brownrigg, Forest Craftsman, Greystoke Forest, North West England, has retired after 31 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr E.W. Price, Forest Craftsman, Mortimer Forest, North West England, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr C. Pottinger, Forest Craftsman, Sherwood Forest, North West England, has retired after 28 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr W. Arthur, Forest Craftsman, Sherwood Forest, North West England, has retired after 27 years’ service with the Commission.
Len Evans, Superintendent of Works, Newtown, N(W), has retired after joining the Commission in 1940 as a Forest Worker at Dyfi Forest. After War service, he returned to the Commission and was transferred to the Roads Branch as a Compressor Operator/Shot Firer, He was promoted to Roads Foreman in the early 1960s and to Superintendent of Works in 1974.
Picture: Len Evans and his wife with their presentation gifts.
Meurig Jones, Head Forester, Rheidol Forest, Wales, has retired after joining the Commission as a casual worker at Myherin Forest in 1939.
Picture: Meurig Jones and District Officer John Henderson.
Mr T. Evans, Forest Craftsman, has retired after 43 years’ service at Gwydyr Forest, which includes 5 years War service.
David Anderson, Chief Forester, Huntly, Scotland, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission.
Picture: David Anderson and his wife Jessie, and Aberdeen Conservator Ian Grant and his wife.
Michael Fearon, Forest Craftsman, Tulliallan Nursery, Ochil Forest, Scotland, has retired after joining the Commission at Tulliallan Nursery in 1937 on a casual basis. After service in the army, he was re-employed on a permanent basis in 1947 and has had 34 years continuous service with the Commission since then.
Willie Shorthouse, Senior Ranger I, Rannoch Forest, has retired after 22 years’ service with the Commission.
Dave Mitchell, Camp Warden of Kilvrecht Camp Site, has retired after 16 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr J.D. Clark (Jocky Clark), Superintendent of Works, Civil Engineering Branch, Newton, Scotland, has retired after joining the Commission in the Nursery at Newton in 1933. With a break for War service, he spent his career with the Commission based at Newton Office.
John Bartram, Forest Worker, Cropton, North East England, has retired after 32 years’ service with the Commission.
Picture: John Bartram receiving his Long Service certificate from Conservator Mr J.A. Spencer.
George May, Lorry and Tractor Driver, Coed Preseli, has retired after 23 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr R.T. Hughes, Forest Craftsman, Tywi, has retired after 19 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr R. Price, Forest Craftsman, Talybont, has retired after 24 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr D. Roberts, Forest Craftsman, Tywi, has retired after 19 years’ service with the Commission.
Obituaries
Archie Bowes, former Foreman at Kershope has died aged 81. He joined the Commission in 1932 as a Forest Worker.
Michael Brown, former Ecologist at Alice Holt, who joined the Commission in 1948 and retired in 1972, has died.
Will Davies, former Ganger, Pembrey, has died. He joined the Commission at Brechfa in 1935, transferred to Pembrey 10 years later, and retired in 1973 after 38 years with the Commission.
Gwynfryn John Jones, Forest Craftsman, Rhondda Forest, has died aged 48. He joined the Commission at Rhondda in 1964.
David Pittendraigh, former Workshop Superintendent, East Scotland, has died.
Bill Young, Chief Forester in charge of the Pathology Advisory Service, Alice Holt Lodge, has died. He joined Pathology Branch in 1955.