Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 313 - Spring 1983
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.
Wanted: Words From The Past
Jeremy Williams, Editor of “Y Coedwigwr” (The Forester), the journal of the Forestry & Wood Science Society at UCNW appeals for articles, letters or notes from former students of the Department.
Information Is The Conference Target
The Director General, George Holmes is to open the first conference of the new International Union of Forestry Research Organisations which is to be held in Edinburgh in July 1983. Conference organiser is David Seal, Chief Research Officer (N).
It's Definitely Lucky For Some!
The Commission’s Sports and Social Club have arranged a dinner dance in the Caledonian Hotel, Princes Street, Edinburgh on 13th May.
You're Beautiful And It Shows
Two Forestry Commission campsites have won regional awards in the search for the campsite of the year, organised jointly by the AA’s magazine “Trail” and the British Tourist Authority’s Beautiful Britain Campaign. They are the Snowdonia Forest Park camping ground, Beddgelert, Gwynedd, Wales and the Glencoe campsite at Ballachulish, Scotland.
Roadworthies!
John Thompson of Carron in Moray, a Scottish car rally enthusiast had his car stolen shortly after he arrived at a Lake District site to watch the action. He was grateful for the co-operative Forestry Commission marshals who were on duty.
Green For 'Go' And The Jobs Roll In
The Forestry Commission have given their blessing to a Finnish company’s decision to build a multi-million pound integrated pulp and newsprint mill at Shotton in North Wales.
Concern Over Disposal Of Plantations
The correspondence is printed between Mark Yorke, District Officer, Cefn-y-Maes, Brithdir, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, and Director General George Holmes, about the concern among Commission staff regarding the disposals programme.
A Forrest Who Sees The Trees
Dr G. Ian Forrest, biochemist and member of the Genetics Branch team at the Northern Research Station, has been awarded the Institute of Chartered Foresters Silvicultural Prize for 1983 for two papers published in “Forestry” on variation in the monoterpenes of the Scottish pinewoods and certain European Scots pine populations. Monoterpenes are a group of compounds forming the volatile resins of conifers, and can “finger-print” individual trees and the probable ancestry of populations.
Benevolent Fund Plea
The Civil Service Benevolent Fund, reporting on its case work laments: “It is a pity that some younger civil servants mistakenly associate the Fund with help in retirement when so much Fund help goes to sick and disabled civil servants”. Over £100,000 was spent helping these colleagues in difficulties in 1982.
Target For Scots Industry
A strategy to develop Scotland’s forest product industry aims to attract £300 million of investment in the next 15 years.
Snake Puts The Bite On A Ranger
Senior Ranger Mr A.D. Frankland NE(E) had his hand bitten by an adder on the Whorlton Moor in North Yorkshire. He has recovered after spending four days in Northallerton Hospital.
Drop A Line To Ghana
Augustine Blay, a student in Ghana has appealed for Pen pals. His opening sentence in requesting pen pals was “By God, I hope you are in good condition ….”
Oops! Signs Of A Slip Showing
A spelling mistake on a Forestry Commission sign.
Picture: “No unauthorised Veaicles”
New Post
David Danbury, is now Head of Department of the Cumbria College of Agriculture and Forestry, Newton Rigg. He was formerly Senior Lecturer in Forestry and succeeded the late Alec Pyman.
It's Up, Up And Away
A hot air balloon is being used by the Forestry Commission for a conservation study of the Black Wood of Rannoch, a remnant of the ancient Caledonian Forest, Scotland. Roger Larsen, Principal Forest Officer said they would be flying at only 200 ft and will be anchored at strategic points for prolonged observation and photography.
Pictures: (1) The balloon begins the ascent. (2) The Black Wood of Rannoch.
Here's A Touch Of Glass - History Discovered In Queen Elizabeth Forest
Glassmaking in the 16th century was concentrated in the Weald of Sussex and Surrey among the oak woods which supplied fuel for the furnaces. Mr J. Chapman of the Forestry Commission at Lyndhurst, Hants, gives details of long forgotten uses and occupations which are reflected in place names. A booklet on the forest glasshouses at Queen Elizabeth Forest by the Curator of the City Museum at Winchester will be published.
Streams, Rivers: A Warning - Foresters Beware Of The Fish
In the latest edition of “Y Coedwigwr”, the journal of the Forestry of Wood Science Society at the University College of North Wales, an article by Alan Pottinger suggests forest operations carried out on a river catchment can severely reduce the survival chance of fish living in the water downstream. He says careful planning of forest operations is the answer to the problem. Mr Pottinger has now left UCNW for an MF, specialising in forest genetics, at the University of New Brunswick, Canada.
Census Of Woodland and Trees - Oak Still At The Top Of The Tree In South East England
While the total area of woodland in South East England has increased slightly since the end of the Second World War, the area of broadleaved woodland in the region is virtually unchanged, accounting for 73% of the total volume. Oak remains the dominant broadleaved species accounting for just over one third of the region's total volume of standing timber. But it is being challenged in the younger age and size classes by species such as ash, birch, poplar and beech.
A £2,000 Touch Of Magic
A plaque unveiled by Brigadier C. E. Tryon-Wilson on behalf of the Langdale Partnership, will hang in the foyer of the Theatre in the heart of Grizedale Forest in recognition of financial support given to the partners in the timeshare development at Langdale. The inscription reads “Sharing a common interest in the beauty of the Lakes, the Langdale Partnership is happy to continue its support for the excellent work of the Theatre in the Forest”. The Partnership, whose development of timeshare lodges and the newly opened Pillar Club are donating £2,000 to the Theatre.
Prince Talks Of The Future
Prince Charles attended the recent conference in London of the Royal Forestry Society, of which he is the patron. The theme of his address was “sound forestry practise can go hand in hand with sensible conservation”. The Prince stressed that he wanted to stay on good terms with the patron of the Royal Society of Nature Conservation, the patron of the British Deer Society and the patron of the Men of The Trees – all of whom are himself.
A Royal Visit To Remember - Ron Picks Up Top Honour
Ron Brown, Chief Forester at the Alice Holt Forestry Commission Research Station attended Buckingham Palace to be awarded the MBE in the New Years’ Honours List. The honour is a tribute to his work as a spokesman for the Trade Union movement within the Commission in pursuit of the interests of forestry and the extension of forests in Britain.
Picture: Ron Brown dressed up in tails with a topper for his visit to Buckingham Palace.
Day For Tree Planting
The Duke of Buccleuch, now confined to a wheelchair following a riding accident several years ago, watched as Mr A.J. Grayson planted the sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) he presented to Westonbirt Arboretum to mark the visit to Gloucestershire by the Commonwealth Forestry Association. The sycamore is the progeny of the tree growing at Drumlanrig, which is the tallest sycamore in Scotland.
Also planting a tree, a Pin Oak, was David Johnston who, until retirement was Director of Research, which included Westonbirt as one of his responsibilities, and he later became Chairman of the Association.
Five Reasons Why We Should Be Left Alone
Five reasons why the Forestry Commission should be left intact are argued by Mrs Jean Thompson, Trade Union Side Secretary in this article.
It's Back To The Days Of Tradition - History Takes Fiona's Fancy
Miss Fiona Macfarlane, who works as a draughtswoman in South Scotland Drawing Office, has been chosen as one of this year’s principals in the Dumfries “Guid Nychburris” festivities held in May and June to mark the burgh boundaries.
Picture: Fiona Macfarlane and horse.
Looking Good Is The Name Of The Game
David Nickson, Chairman of the Countryside Commission, is encouraged by the Forestry Commission’s policy in landscaping. He expressed this view at a meeting of the Royal Scottish Forestry Society in Edinburgh and added that the commercial interests of private forestry groups should not be allowed to override amenity interests in the countryside.
Praise For Commission
The Forestry Commission has been praised for the action taken at the military orchid site in Breckland, which is run by the Suffolk Trust. M.J. Penistan of Gloucestershire, writing to a conservation journal, says “What has been done has been splendid but due credit ought to be given to the management and staff of the Forestry Commission on whose ground the orchids grow. It is they who have provided, erected and maintained the perimeter fence and have designed and set up the very decorative sets of bridges and steps to give this delightful site a most pleasant aspect and to save the plants from over-enthusiastic plant lovers’ careless feet.
Life And Times Of The Beetle Hunters
Peter Ralph, a Dean Forester, relates his experiences leading a survey team with students Rod and Andy and Dave, a survey assistant, in Mortimer Forest NW(E), looking for a newly discovered beetle, dangerous to spruce trees. The beetles, a quarter of an inch long, were first noticed in the Dean by Stan Waite of the Recreation staff. In the Crabtree Hill Enclosure, he spotted a resin tube on a roadside tree which decided the starting point for the search. The survey team were visited on the first full day of the beetle hunt by a BBC “Points West” cameraman, who immortalised Rod’s right hand holding a beetle. The article contains details of the areas of infestation.
Lord Hands Over Award
Former NUM president, Joe (now Lord) Gormley congratulates Mr J.N. Kennedy on accepting the major commendation won by the Forestry Commission for the development of the Loch Awe Forest Cabins. The occasion was the presentation of the Business and Industry Environmental Awards.
Picture: Mr J.N. Kennedy accepting the award from Joe Gormley.
Signal Honour For A Knight Of The New Forest
On the retirement of Sir Dudley Forwood as Official Verderer of the New Forest, an ancient track between The Old House and Tuft Croft, where he has often ridden, will be named in his honour as “Sir Dudley’s Ride”. Donn Small, Deputy Surveyor of the New Forest Verderers’ Court described Sir Dudley as “a worthy successor in a long line of distinguished gentlemen who have served this Forest in this post”.
Bob's In A Spin About A Dryer
As a fell/marathon runner, often in wet weather, District Officer Dr Robert Farmer received the welcome gift of a spin dryer when left the Lothian and Tweed District of South Scotland to become Deputy Chief Work Study Officer at Alice Holt.
District Officer David Balfour has left the Lothian and Tweed District for a new role with A. & R. Brownlie, the saw-milling firm.
Laws Of The Land
Phil Evans, postgraduate wood science student at UCNW gives some tongue-in-cheek “laws of research” when researching the properties of wood.
Two Years In The Tropics?
Opportunities are offered for spending two years in the tropics with the Voluntary Services Overseas.
Reunion Time
A reunion of old Glentressians is proposed.
Lecturer
David Ward has been appointed Senior Lecturer at Inverness Technical College in succession to Mr A.P.B. Hamilton who has retired.
Showstopper - That's the Forest Theatre
Ken Dodd, Arthur Negus, George Melly, the Royal Shakespeare Company, pianist John Lill, naturalist Phil Drabble and the Welsh National Opera Company have appeared along with hundreds of others at the Forest Theatre in Lakeland’s Grizedale Forest. The “Theatre in the Forest” is the brainchild of Bill Grant, who was Chief Forester at Grizedale until he retired last year.
The Deer Numbers Game
Over the past five years, Philip R. Ratcliffe, the FC Wildlife Research Officer at Glenbranter, Strachur, Argyll, has been studying the ecology of red deer and has developed methods for estimating their numbers in Scottish commercial forests. The article gives details of research, monitoring and management of red deer.
Picture: A red stag in the forest.
Snowdonia Forest Park Has Won AA Award Again
The Forestry Commission’s Snowdonia Forest Park at Beddgelert in Wales has won the Automobile Association’s top award for being the “campsite of the year”.
Opportunity Knocks in Scotland
Fountain Forestry, an independent company, require a part-time Health and Safety Officer for their Scottish Division.
Retired
Betty Ettinger, the last of the New Forest Land Girls has retired after 42 years as a Forest Worker.
Leslie Troup, Conservator, SW(E) for the past 10 years, has retired.
Bill Gordon, Lorry Driver, Speymouth Forest, has retired after 30 years’ service with the Commission at Speymouth. Earlier in his service, he transported men to and from work on Speymouth and to neighbouring forests such as Aultmore and Glenlivet. During the final 10 years of his service, Bill was employed on the hauling of fencing timber.
George Rodkiss has retired after 35 years’ service with the Commission. He joined the Commission in 1947 as a Forest Worker at Wauchope Forest, then became a Ploughing Tractor Operator until recently.
Arthur Damerell, Senior Principal in Secretariat, HQ, has retired after joining the Commission in 1946 in Exeter. His previous job was Apprentice Draughtsman with the Admiralty. On his first day at the Forestry Commission, Arthur was ushered into the presence of the District Officer, the late Gilbert Vallance, “He thought I was a trainee Forester, I thought he was the Chief Clerk, and we had a totally incomprehensible conversation”. After a spell in Bristol and 10 years in Cambridge, Arthur joined Headquarters in Audit in 1961. Then he moved to Secretariat, where he was to stay for the next 20 years.
Picture: Arthur Damerell, wife Janey and Director General George Holmes.
Tom Farrelly, Dozer Driver, Neath Roads, has retired after 47 years’ service with the Commission.
Arthur Bramwell, Assistant Conservator FM, has retired after joining the Commission in 1962 as a DO II in West Scotland. He went on to serve in North Wales before being posted to North Scotland in 1979.
Sam Nicholls, North Wales Conservancy, has retired after 35 years’ service with the Commission. He began as a Forest Worker in 1946.
Picture: Sam Nicholls with District Officer John Williams.
Jock Thomson, Glentress, has retired. After the War, in which he was awarded the DCM in Italy, Jock went to Glentress for training, then worked in several forests throughout South Scotland, latterly at Elibank and finally, Glentress, through the amalgamation of forests in the Tweed Valley.
Picture: Jock Thomson and Conservator John Davies.
Fred Underwood, Senior Ranger, Wymersley Forest, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission.
Douglas Spencer, Forest Craftsman, Wymersley Forest, has retired after 19 years’ service with the Commission.
Jim Robson, Leading Research Worker (Supervisor), has retired after 35 years’ service with the Commission. He joined the Commission in 1947 at Kielder. After six years, he transferred to Kielder Research.
Fred Egerton, Area Engineer, Llanrwst, has retired after 35 years’ service with the Commission in North Wales.
Picture: Fred Egerton at his retirement presentation with Roger Bradley, Senior Officer of Wales.
William Nicholson, former Chief Forester for the Black Isle, has retired after 35 years’ service with the Commission. His forestry career began in the Black Isle over 40 years ago, when he came from his native Skye to work at Blackstand. After the War, where he served with the Royal Engineers in a bomb disposal unit, he returned to North Scotland to work in Torrachilty Forest. Willie served in every Conservancy in Scotland and returned to Skye for eight years before his retirement.
Eddie Heal, Ganger and Beat Steward, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission. He joined the Commission in 1949 and helped to replant Chawton beat after the wartime fellings. As a Driver for 30 years, he transported his colleagues through the forest.
Peter Langley, Alice Holt Lodge, has retired after 32 years’ service with the Commission. He joined the Commission as a District Forest Officer at Kielder and later served in Lincolnshire before joining the Education and Training Branch at Headquarters.
Robin Raban-Williams, South Scotland Conservancy Land Agent, has retired. After leaving the Royal Navy, he worked on various private estates from 1949 until 1958. He became District Estate Officer I at Hexham and moved to Bellingham, where he served until 1976, and was promoted to Conservancy Land Agent and transferred to Dumfries.
Jack Wood, Chief Purchasing Officer, has retired after 8 years’ service in the position with the Commission.
Alec Graham, Mechanical Inspector, Kielder, has retired after 47 years’ service with the Commission. He joined the Commission in 1935, working with the Nursery Gang at Kielder. He moved to Falstone in 1938 for two years before going into the Army for War service. In 1946, he returned as a Tractor Driver and became a Mechanic at Kielder in 1955, being promoted to Mechanical Inspector in 1968.
Picture: Alec Graham at his retirement presentation.
Harry Tapley, Manager, Bramshill Workshop, has retired after 32 years’ service with the Commission. He joined the Commission as a Mobile Mechanic in 1951, was made Foreman in 1967 and Workshop Manager in 1975.
Maimie MacDonald, Clerkess, Inverliever, has retired after rejoining the Commission in 1942 in Timber Control. She was originally employed as a Forest Worker at Inverinan in 1940, but was paid off at the end of that summer for “moral reasons”, because she was the only girl on the all-male squad. Her service as Clerkess lasted for 16 years.
Dick Grenfell, Eggesford Forest, has retired after 35 years’ service with the Commission. In 1981, he was appointed Head Forester i/c at Eggesford Forest until last October.
Derrick Mason, Forest Clerk, West Somerset (previously Brendon), SW(E), has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission.
George Ford, West Somerset (previously Brendon), SW(E), has retired after 29 years’ service with the Commission.
Bill Puckey, Kernow Forest, SW(E), has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission.
Ivan King, Mendip, SW(E), has retired after 18 years’ service with the Commission. He has driven the workers’ transport vehicle for the past ten years.
Mr G.A. Shears, SFW, Cleveland Forest, has retired after 25 years’ service with the Commission at Cleveland Forest.
Mr A.S. Blanchard, Forest Craftsman, Scarsdale, East Yorkshire, has retired after 36 years’ service with the Commission. He began as a Forest Worker in 1947 and became a Forest Craftsman in 1964.
Tom Daniel OBE, District Organiser of the NUAAW in Hampshire has retired.
Arthur Nichol, Handyman and Storekeeper, Chopwell Wood, Sunderland, has retired after 36 years’ service with the Commission.
Peter Parson, Head Forester Kernow, SW(E), has retired.
Obituaries
Arthur Raine, former Forest Worker at Osmotherley Forest from 1965-1977 has died aged 70.
Gerald Foulds, Executive Officer, Harvesting and Marketing, East England Conservancy, Cambridge, has died aged 58. Gerald joined the Commission in 1948. He was promoted to Executive Officer in 1966 and moved to a post with Headquarters Audit Branch at Basingstoke. Then he spent three years with the Acquisitions and Disposals Division and in 1973 he moved to Santon Downham District Office. In 1978, he returned to Cambridge, in the Conservancy Office as EO in charge of Estate Management. He moved to H&M in 1981.
Frederick Williams, former Tractor Driver, Hazelborough Forest, has died. He joined the Commission in the Production Gang, Felling, in 1951 at Hazelborough Forest. He became a Tractor Driver in 1958 and retired in 1975.
Charles Thomson, former Building Labourer, who worked for Yorkshire Durham Estates from 1945-1973 has died aged 74.
Harry Gee, who worked at Solway Forest for 33 years has died.
Dan Cameron, who retired from Glencoe Forest in 1978, has died. He spent nearly 30 years as a member of the original Duror Forest Squad.
George Hince, former Warrener at Radnor Forest, North Wales, who retired about 10 years ago, has died.
Eric Whiting, retired, New Forest, has died.
Deaglan Toibin, has died aged 60. He joined the Commission in 1948 and retired in 1971 after 23 years’ service at Wentwood, Slebech, Pembrey and Cymer Forests.
Trevor Jones, former Forest Craftsman, Rheola Forest, until retirement in 1979 has died. He joined the Commission in 1948 and spent all of his 31 years of service at Rheola.
Monica Elliot, District Office Clerk, Pickering, NE(E), has died after 33 years’ service as District Office Clerk in Pickering.
Peter McLelland, Forester, Glentrool, who joined the Commission as a Forest Worker at Glentrool in 1948, has died aged 59.
Tommy Bell, HEO, Inverness, has died aged 53. He joined the Commission aged 17 and served in York and Cardiff, then Inverness, where he became HEO in 1974.
Ike White former Mechanical Instructor, Kielder Workshop, has died. He joined the Commission in 1957 at Sproxton, near Helmsley in North Yorkshire as a Mobile Mechanic. He was promoted to Foreman Mechanic in 1964 and moved to Conservancy Office as Mechanical Instructor in 1968. He continued at Kielder Workshop until he retired in 1979.
James Wilson (Willie), former Conservancy Land Agent, York, until retirement in 1978, has died aged 67. He joined the Commission in 1947 at Bristol and served at Woking, London, Inverness and Chester.
Nan Drysdale, former Matron at Faskally Forester Training School has died. She was in her eighties and in reasonable health until a few days before her death. After her nursing training in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, she entered private nursing before joining the Faskally Training School. “The Matron” was also known to other students when she visited other Forester Training Schools.
Danny Jones, EO Harvesting and Marketing, South Wales Conservancy, for 14 years until his retirement in 1981, has died. He joined the Commission as a Clerical Officer in 1950.
Alec Pyman, Head of the Forestry Department at Newton Rigg College, has died. He used to be with the Commission and he came to the SW(E) Office each year with the College Principal to conduct the annual interviews of pre-OND students.
Harold Watkins, Forestry Commissioner 1967-1973 and a member of the National Committee for Wales, Forestry Commission 1967-1973 has died.
Sidney Atkinson, Senior Ranger I has died aged 56. He joined the Commission in 1963 as a Warrener at Hambleton Forest.
Edith Nolan, Basingstoke Office, until retirement in 1974 has died. She worked on the Reception desk at the Savile Row HQ before moving to the Basingstoke Office.
Douglas McNaught, former Head Forester, Craik Forest, has died. Douglas started with the Commission at Benmore School in 1940 and joined the South Scotland Conservancy at Dalbeattie Forest in 1946 as a Forest Worker. In 1950, he moved to Dalmacallan Forest and in 1955 he became a Forester. In 1956 he moved to Arecleoch Forest and became Head Forester in 1965 and moved to Craik Forest where he remained until retirement in 1979.
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