Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 312 - Autumn/Winter 1982
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.
Madness In The Mist
Why did 500 people rise at dawn to tramp 14 miles in mist and rain with up to 30lb packs on their backs through Achray Forest? See Page 12.
Picture: Achray Forest yompers.
New Study Group
A new study group comprising Arthur D. Little Ltd., Forestry Commission, Scottish Development Agency, Highlands and Islands Development Board, Timber Growers (Scotland) Ltd., and the Scottish Economic Planning Department, has identified development opportunities for Scottish timber.
Latest On Disposals
From the passing of the Forestry Act 1981 until 21st September 1982, the Forestry Commission received £9.7 million from the sale of land and other assets. The area involved included 4,273 hectares of forestry land and plantations. Further details are given of land and assets in the processing of being sold.
New Management Structure In The Commission?
The Director General has appointed a Management Structure Review Group to review the effectiveness of the present management structure, and organisation of the Forestry Commission from Conservancy to Forest.
Royal Charter For Foresters
Details of the Royal Charter awarded by The Queen to the Institute of Chartered Foresters, which will identify people who are professionally competent in the subjects of trees and forestry.
Picture: Dr Bill Mutch (President), Mr Dallas Mithen (Vice-President), Dr D.C. Malcolm (Editor) and Margaret Dick (Secretary and Treasurer) with the Royal Charter.
The Forest Fare Recipe Book
Details of the availability and contents of the Forest Fare Cookbook which has 406 recipes. Editor Margaret Kennedy has praised the response from foresters and foresters’ wives. 130 cooks sent in their favourite recipes and the book has been widely acclaimed.
Let’s Have More Ideas Folks
Suggestions by FC staff including a Fixing Bucket and Arm to Digger/Loader; the Connection of Tug Lines to Haul in on Smith's Timbermaster; Improved wording on headed stationery.
Here’s Health
Head Forester Eric Rogers of Wensum Forest, North Norfolk received a job application addressed to Wensum Health Farm instead of Wensum Heath Farm.
£300 Award For David
David Lawson, Head Forester at Bareagle, South Scotland received £300 for his suggestion to use free ground nut meal as a fertiliser, instead of hop waste.
Picture: David Lawson, Head Forester at Bareagle, South Scotland, receives a cheque from Andy Neustein, Director FMD with Ian Richard and Brian Atwell of the Staff Suggestion Scheme.
£90M Investment At Workington
Director General George Holmes was a guest at the opening of Thames Board's 100,000 tonne integrated pulp and paper mill at Workington, Cumbria. £90 million has been invested to enable Workington's capacity to be trebled to 150,000 tonnes and will be fully operational next year.
Picture: Reels from the No. 2 machine which weigh up to 15 tonnes.
Distinguished Guests
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Very Reverend Dr John McIntyre visited Barcaldine Forest, West Scotland. Present during the forest tour were Billy Napier, Neil MacDonald, Donald McLennan, Tommy McKellar, Fred Webster, Malcolm Macpherson, Hugh McLarty, Pat Ferguson, Willie Sutherland, Angus MacDonald, Ian Munro, Andrew Walker and Duncan Gillies.
Pictures: (1) Dr John McIntyre being shown a Timbermaster Winch by winchman Billy Napier. (2) Forest Craftsman Neil MacDonald using a grass hook, watched by Dr McIntyre, Forest Craftsman Donald McLennan, Tractor Drive Tommy McKellar and Head Forester Fred Webster. Neil MacDonald made a walking stick for the Moderator.
Forest Tour For Europe Chief
M. Claude Baillet, Head of the European Commission's Forest and Environment Division visited Headquarters, NRS Bush, Stirling and Aberfoyle.
Picture: M. Claude Baillet watching clear felling in Achray Forest with Winchman Alastair Johnstone, Head Forester Ian Reid, District Officer Hugh Insley and West Scotland Conservator David Robertson.
Two Day Royal Visit
Prior to his new role as President of the Royal Forestry Society, the Prince of Wales visited Commission forests in Perthshire and Ardgartan Forest in West Scotland.
Pictures: (1) Prince Charles accompanied by Chairman Sir David Montgomery, Principal Forest Officer Roger Larsen and temporary Chief Forester Alastair Fraser of Drummond Hill Forest. (2) Prince Charles visiting Ardgartan Forest (W. Scotland) where 100 underprivileged young people from Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool and London had spent a fortnight building a footpath and a bridge in the park, aided by eight Army Sappers.
New Medical Checks For OP Users
Screening is recommended for workers who are regularly exposed to organo-phosphorus pesticides. The use of OP pesticides is confined to nurseries and from an examination of records of exposure provided by Conservancies, the Medical Advisor has concluded that usage tends to be between “regular” and “occasional”. The health surveillance system will begin in time for the 1983 spraying season.
John Is The Dahlia King
John Todhunter, Ganger at Bennan Forest, began growing dahlias nine years ago. He has 24 trophies on his sideboard.
Picture: John Todhunter, Ganger, Bennan Forest, posing with a table full of trophies awarded for his dahlias.
Accidents Up – Despite Drop In Workforce
Safety Officer Dan Bardy reported 8.6 accidents per 100 workers, up from 431 in 1980 to 479 in 1981, despite the decreased workforce.
Prize Draws
Prize draws are planned for recipients of awards from the Staff Suggestion Scheme.
BA Events In 1983
Notification of meetings to be held in 1983 by the Forestry Section of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
Well Done Lads
Running in the Edinburgh Marathon were Alan Tregoning, Garry Duncan, David Howard, Bill McLachlan, John Souden and Keith Ball. All completed the course. Bryn Lewis completed a marathon organised by the Clwyd Fire Service.
Fred The Ferret On Show
The Forestry Commission was featured at the Great Yorkshire Show. At Hookstone Wood, toys designed and made by Brian Cauwood and the estate staff at Dalby Forest were shown in a picnic area. A wildlife exhibit was run by Charles Critchley, Head Ranger at Pickering with his staff of Rangers.
Tom Potts and Jim Potts from Wark Forest gave an exhibition of chainsaw carving.
Picture: Charles Critchley introducing Fred the ferret to a young audience.
Ken Digs In – And Gets Himself Booked
Ken Moast, has been with the Forestry Commission for 45 years as a Forest Worker, Tractor Driver, Senior Ranger and Ganger. He was invited to plant a tree on the occasion of a visit by the local branch of the Royal Forestry Society to commemorate the Society’s centenary. Gravetye Manor was the home of William Robinson, renowned gardener and author of The English Flower Garden. A book about William Robinson has been published by Faber and includes a mention of Ken Moast.
Picture: Ken Moast is assisted by Head Forester Alan Freeth, in planting an English elm tree at Gravetye, St Leonard's Forest, to commemorate the Royal Forestry Society's centenary.
Facilities Open At Mallards Pike Lake
Mallards Pike Lake, designed and constructed by the Civil Engineering staff of SW(E) Conservancy was officially opened by The Viscount Bledisloe, QC.
Picture: Mallards Pike Lake
Tie Of Friendship
Seed Officer Douglas Clark presented a tie to Helmuth Barner, Director of the Danish State Forestry Service Tree Improvement Station during a visit to Denmark.
Picture: Douglas Clark and Helmuth Barner.
Arboricultural Accolade
Dr Hugh Insley was presented with an inscribed elm plaque and a selection of trees for his garden at the Arboriculture Association's 16th National Arboricultural Conference in Nottingham. Between 1976 and April 1982, he was engaged on the Department of Environment contract for arboriculture research at Alice Holt.
Picture: Dr Hugh Insley.
Alice Holt Christian Fellowship
Notification of Christian Fellowship meetings at Alice Holt.
Reflections
Welfare Officer Brian Atwell reflects on communications, relationships, expectations and an amusing tale of a custom passed on down the generations.
Picture: Brian Atwell.
A Present From The Hitch-Hiking Bees
Photographer Isobel Cameron took photographs of bees in a Commission tool box, which was on the back of a Sherpa pick-up awaiting repair at Crychan Forest Repair Bay. Mechanic Fred Eckton is a bee keeper and transferred the bees to one of his own hives. Chief Forester Angus Maxwell and his staff tasted the honey left by the bees.
Picture: Bee Keeper Fred Eckton removes the swarm from the pick-up.
Nature News - Bats
New rules on the protection of bats.
Picture: Pipistrelle bat.
The Battle Against The Beetle
Details of the battle against the Great Spruce Bark Beetle (Dendroctonus micans) and restrictions on the movement of Spruce wood. Each female lays up to 300 eggs a year.
Pictures: (1) The beetle is dark brown. (2) The eggs hatch into larvae which eat their way from the chamber round the trunk, often ring barking and killing the tree. (3) An infected tree is felled and stripped of its bark.
Heroine Hilda’s Big Day Out
Hilda Smith, a Clerkess at the Huntly Forest Office in East Scotland, was one of the "heroes" attending a reception in Edinburgh. Hilda alerted police to men stealing petrol from a Forestry Commission van.
Picture: Hilda Smith with Allan Stewart, Minister for Home Affairs and the Environment and the other Grampian area heroes.
Rally Charges Go Up
The Commission is raising car rally charges to cover the increasing cost of repairing damage to forest roads caused by car rallies.
Demonstration Day At Alice Holt
Around 200 foresters from the Forestry Commission and the Private Forestry sector attended Alice Holt to see various experiments and demonstrations of treatments by Silviculturists Richard Davies and Joe Gardener who are pictured during the demonstrations.
Pictures: (1) Richard Davies and Joe Gardener demonstrate the use of various treatments to control grass sward. (2) Graham Tuley explains how to erect plastic tree shelters and the materials to use.
Snooker Champ
John Griffiths, Production Forester at St Gwynno has been selected as a member of the Welsh International Snooker Team. He has been winning at a high level, and has beaten the current World Professional Champion Alex “Hurricane” Higgins, former champion Terry Griffiths and former World Amateur Champion Cliff Wilson. During the current year, he was a finalist in the Welsh Pairs Championships and a semi-finalist in the Singles.
5-A-Side Challenge
A report on the North Lindsey, Lincolnshire, five-a-side football team. Head Forester Bob Gladman obtained some FC badges from HQ to be stitched on the team's shorts. John Hendrie is organising the team who did very well in the “Glandford Fives” tournament and have been playing most weeks.
Postbag
Letter of thanks from David Bowser.
Letter from P.B. Martin suggesting wood chopping events.
Editor’s Footnote
Slasher Editor Gordon MacNeill is leaving the Forestry Commission to edit a staff newspaper in private industry.
500 Yomp In Achray Mist
The Sunday Post Newspaper in co-operation with the Forestry Commission arranged a trek through Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, Aberfoyle, to commemorate the 30 mile yomp by Commando Forces in the Falkland Islands. 500 yompers aged 16 to 60 set out from David Marshall Lodge, carrying packs of up to 30lbs in weight to tackle the course of just over 14 miles. The course was devised by Forester John Baird who was accompanied on the trek by his springer spaniel Murphy. Thousands of pounds was raised for charity.
Pictures: (1) The Buckingham Palace team leave the David Marshall Lodge at the start of their royal ascent. (2) John Baird and Murphy, his springer spaniel. (3) Two competitors reach the end of their 14 mile march.
Appointments
Captain Derick Forbes has been appointed part-time Forestry Commissioner.
Picture: Captain Derek Forbes.
Mr James Forbes has been appointed part-time Forestry Commissioner.
Picture: James Forbes.
Mr John Fletcher has been appointed Conservator for South West England Conservancy to succeed Lesley Troup who is to retire on 4th February.
Picture: John Fletcher.
Retired
David Johnston, Director of Research and Development since 1974 has retired. He joined the Commission in 1953 and served in South East and East England and was the Director of Management Services before becoming Director of R&D.
Picture: Mr & Mrs Johnson with Director General George Holmes.
Dick Butt, Building Handyman, Alice Holt, has retired after joining the Commission in 1950 as a Forest Worker in SE(E). He became a Ganger in 1955 and joined R&D in 1957.
Picture: Dick Butt with Mr Grayson, the Director of Research and Development.
Walt Fisher, Don Forest, South Yorkshire has retired after 25 years’ service with the Commission.
Steve Chapman, Chief Forester, Kings Forest, Thetford, has retired after 36 years’ service with the Commission.
Picture: Steve Chapman and his wife at the presentation with colleagues.
Johnnie Mackay, Forest Management, Shin Forest, North Scotland, has retired after joining the Commission in 1953.
Donnie Kerr, Senior Ranger, Shin Forest, North Scotland, has retired after joining the Commission in 1959 as a Keeper.
Stewart MacIntosh, EO, Inverness Conservancy Office, has retired.
Dorothy McHardy, Superintendent of Typists, Inverness Conservancy Office has retired.
Joe McConnachie, Superintendent of Works, Civil Engineering Branch, Inverness Conservancy Office, has retired.
Picture: Stewart MacIntosh, Mrs MacIntosh, Dorothy McHardy, Ken Roscoe; Mrs McConnachie and Joe McConnachie.
Duncan McGregor, Messenger, Inverness Conservancy Office, has retired after 10 years’ service with the Commission at Inverness.
George Johnstone, Ganger, Lammermuir, South Scotland, has retired after 30 years service with the Commission, all spent in the same forest.
Picture: George Johnstone with Head Forester Andrew Liddell, colleagues and friends.
Jean Crawford, Specialist Typist, has retired after joining the Commission in 1946.
Sam Caven, Dumfries, who joined the Commission in 1946 when North West (England) Office was based in Carlisle, has retired.
Jimmy Deacon, Elibank, Cardrona and Glentress, has retired after joining the Commission after War service.
John Bowen, Head Forester, Mynydd Du, Brecon District, has retired after being in charge of Mynydd Du for the past 11 years.
Roy Lewis, Head Forester, Tintern Forest, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission. He went to Gwydyr FTS, then served at Clocaenog, St Asaph, Myherin and Talybont Forests, before moving to Tintern in 1951. During his 30 years at Tintern, he was in charge of nurseries, South Beat, Chepstow Forest and since 1971, has been Head Forester, with special responsibility for Conservation, Recreation and Amenity.
Gil Davies, Head Forester, Glasfynydd, Brecon District, has retired after being in charge of Glasfynydd for the past 9 years.
Andy Oswald, Clerical Officer, South Wales Conservancy Office, has retired. He served at Glasgow, Inverness and Chapelhall Workshops before moving to Cardiff in 1967 on promotion to Higher Executive Officer, a post he held until two years ago, when he reverted to Clerical Officer on reaching retiring age. Andy was Conservancy Welfare Liaison Officer for many years.
John Goodwin, Chief Education and Training Officer, has retired from a career that took him all over the world. He joined the Commission as a Forest Worker in 1940 and after attending the Dean Training School, he went to Aberdeen to take his Forestry Degree. John’s career progressed via the Dean Training School and the development of Newtonrigg until he became Chief Education and Training Officer at Basingstoke, then Edinburgh.
Picture: John and his wife with Charles Simmonds.
George Jones, Road Foreman, Dalby CE Unit, has retired after 35 years’ service with the Commission. He joined the Commission in 1947 as a Lorry Driver, then transferred to Civil Engineering Branch. He was promoted to Road Foreman in 1962.
Cyril Wallace, Driver and Plant Operator, Durham Roads section of NE England Civil Engineers, has retired after 17 years as a Driver and Plant Operator.
Tommy Rogerson, Senior Ranger I, Redesdale Forest, has retired after 20 years’ service with the Commission, all on Ranger duties.
Picture: Tommy Rogerson.
Goronwy Williams, Forest Ranger, Coed-y-Brenin, has retired.
Emmanual Edwards, Forest Ranger, Coed-y-Brenin, has retired.
Nem Evans, Forest Craftsman, Coed-y-Brenin, has retired.
Bob Griffiths, Handyman, Coed-y-Brenin, has retired.
Pictures: Goronwy Williams, Emmanual Edwards, Nem Evans and Bob Griffiths.
Haydn Nicholls, Chief Forester, Dyfi Forest, North Wales, has retired after 35 years’ service with the Commission. He began his Forestry career in 1947 and after working through the ranks in South Wales, he went North to Dyfi Forest on promotion to Chief Forester in 1973.
Picture: Hadyn Nicholls at his presentation with Conservator Roger Bradley.
Evan Griffiths (Ianto Griffiths), Head Forester, Ceri, has retired after 45 years’ service with the Commission.
Brian Sutton, Head Forester, Gwydyr, has retired after joining the Commission in 1949. He served in South East England until 1972, when he transferred to Gwydyr where his duties were on Forest Management and more recently, Recreation.
Ossie Williams, Forest Worker, Gwydyr Forest, has retired after joining the Commission in 1953.
Len Spencer, Forest Management, Gwydyr Forest, has retired after having worked in Gwydyr since 1954, as a Lorry Driver at the Gwydyr Forester Training School, then on Forest Management duties.
Jack Richards, Forest Craftsman, Ystwyth Forest, has retired after 27 years’ service with the Commission.
Alistair McIntyre, Craftsman at Inverliever and Benmore, has retired after 28 years’ service with the Commission, with 6 years at Benmore and 22 years at Inverliever.
Picture: Alistair McIntyre riding home on his last day before retirement.
John Dyce, Forester, Genetics Branch, Newton Nursery, has retired after 33 years’ service with the Commission, mostly in North Conservancy, but during the past 7 years, he was a Forester in the Genetics Branch.
Ron Raisborough, Senior Clerk of Works, has retired after 27 years’ service with the Commission. He has served in the East England, West Scotland and East Scotland Conservancies.
Winnie Wilson, Clerkess, Research, Newton, has retired after 13 years’ service as a Clerkess with the Commission, the last 10 years at Research, Newton, after short periods at Teindland Forest (now part of Speymouth), and Laich of Moray.
Picture: Winnie Watson at her retirement presentation with colleagues.
Ernest Delaney, Ranger, Dean, has retired after joining the Commission aged 13. Apart from a couple of years with the Royal Marines during the War, he spent all his working life in the Dean.
Gordon Planting, Ganger, South West England, has retired after joining the Commission in 1934. After the War, he stayed on the Continent for a couple of years and returned to the Commission in 1947.
Joe Guest, Hereford Forest, has retired after 12 years’ service with the Commission.
Alfred Sparks, Tractor Driver, has left after 19 years’ service with the Commission.
Mervyn Fountain, Mendip Forest, has retired after joining the Commission when he was in his teens.
Albert Butt, HEO, Bristol since 1970, previously EO, Finance Section has retired. He has also worked in Chester, Aberystwyth and HQ offices.
Rowland Bultitude BEM, Head Forester, Okehampton District, has retired. He had been on PW work for some years, and also spent 4 years in Dartmoor Forest, where he wrote his well-known diary during the 1962/3 Winter.
David Percy, Head Forester, South West England, has retired. He was employed on PW work for some time. David spent the early years of his career in SE(E) and moved to the South West in 1973.
Donald Chainey, EO, Conservancy Office, South West England, has retired from the Conservancy Office after 31 years’ service. Since 1974, he has been EO on H&M and FM.
John Taylor, A&FO at Bristol, has retired after being A&FO at Bristol since 1968.
Harry Brooks, Craftsman, Alice Holt Forest, has retired after 35 years’ service with the Commission. He ran the Chiddingfold workshop from 1962-1970. He made buildings, delivered and erected them all over the Conservancy. In 1959, Harry constructed the first iron and concrete bridge in the Conservancy.
Obituaries
Sam Anderson, former Foreman, Dunkeld, who retired in 1968 has died. He planted the first tree in Keillour Forest, which is now part of Dunkeld.
Radford Bartlett, Regional Head Forester, Field Surveys at Mabie and posts at Cropton, Pickering, Wykeham and Thetford, has died.
Dan Cameron, who retired from Glencoe Forest in 1978, after nearly 30 years as a member of the original Duror Forest squad, has died.
Sir Arthur Gosling KBE, CB, FRSE, FRICS, Director General of the Forestry Commission from 1948–1962 has died. During his 43 years at the Forestry Commission, he served at every level from Forest Worker to Director General and in all three countries. He was Chairman of the Commonwealth Forestry Association from 1963-1972.
Mr S.W. Nichols, former Ranger, E (E) Conservancy has died aged 77. He retired in 1970 after 51 years with the Commission.
Mr Alec Pyman, Head of Forestry Department, Cumbria College of Agriculture and Forestry in Newton Rigg since 1963 has died.
Frederick Williams, who retired from Hazelborough Forest in 1975 has died.