Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 317 - Summer 1984
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.
Tuneful Finlay Is Top Of The Pipes!
District Officer Finlay MacRae could soon be a star in Top of the Pops. The sound of his bagpipes, usually to be heard in the forest near his Dingwall base, is to feature on an album due to be released this summer.
The album “Airs and Graces” is the work of his son-in-law Phil Cunningham and folk group Silly Wizard, whose albums outsell those of the Chieftains in America.
Picture: Finlay MacRae piping.
It's Bellamy Down In Our Model Forest
David Bellamy planted 100 trees in the Model Forest at The Liverpool Garden Festival, with the assistance of youngsters from Toxteth primary schools.
Picture: David Bellamy
£1m Blaze Havoc In Forests
The Forestry Commission suffered its worst ever spell of forest fires during April and May with the cost of lost plantations and emergency fire-fighting measures put at more than £1 million. Almost every Conservancy reported long periods of high and extreme danger conditions and for the first time ever, South Wales closed its forests to the public. Conservator Alan Rix said “There were times when we thought the whole of South Wales was aflame”. At the peak of the fires, all available staff were mobilised to help in the coalfield forests with support teams brought in from other forests. The RAF and Army sent in troops, the Home Office called in green goddess fire engines and other organisations lent vital support.
An account of the fire-fighters, details of trouble spots, and these quotes: -
“When the helicopter went to pick up water from the lake, those fishermen were incensed - shaking fists at the pilot, shouting and waving him away. The fire front was half a mile long and a quarter of a mile away. I reckon they hadn't noticed.” Duncan Lee, Afan.
“Ivor came running out of the thicket. I've never seen him move so fast or look so scared. The fire was catching up on him.” Owen Rees, Llanwynno.
“The noise was terrific. Both men dived into the cab of the fire tender and the fire went past on both sides like an express train.” Owen Rees, Llanwynno.
“That new helicopter pilot prefers to be filled by bowser rather than dunk in the lake. I've just found out that he can't swim.” John Hunt, Llanwynno.
“Those two helicopters worked on two minutes turn around delivering about 3,000 gallons each, per hour. One took off and flew under the HT cables up to the fire, while the other came in empty over the HT cables. Magnificent but crazy. They were working from the rugby field with the fire only 200 yards away. The Brigades were hard pressed to keep them in sufficient water.” Stan Heaven, Afan.
“The Brigade found an underground reservoir to supply the helicopter. We lowered the level so far and so quickly the air got into the Water Authority electric pump and it burned out. Ton Pentre water supply is cut off and the water man is in a thunderous mood.” R.V. Wills, Llanwynno.
Pictures: (1) Smoke covers the area. (2) A helicopter arrives to help beat back the flames.
Tale Of The Fire Falcon
Austin Jones, Forest District Manager, Ayrshire FD, reviews the fiction book “Fire Falcon” by Duff Hart-Davis, which was serialised on BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime earlier this year. The plot is about a man taking revenge on the Forestry Commission for planting conifers in the Scottish Highlands, thus interrupting the migration patterns of the red deer between the hilltops and the warmer low ground. There are many subtle references to the Forestry Commission including the protagonist being a MacDonald (the Director General of the Forestry Commission is a Campbell).
New Picnic Spot Opened
The Cefn Coed Forest Walks and Picnic Places in Crynant Forest, a joint venture between the Forestry Commission and the West Glamorgan County Council, were officially opened by Alan Rix, Conservator of Forests for South Wales.
Fish Replaced
South Scotland Conservancy is to restock a tributary of the River Tweed which was contaminated by the insecticide Gammacol, killing hundreds of fish, which happened when trees for planting in Glentress were placed in the Kirk Burn to stop them drying out.
New Plans To Save Woodland
The aims of “Broadleaves in Britain”, a paper published by the Forestry Commission, which gives proposals for a national policy for safeguarding the future of Britain’s broadleaved woodland.
Ted Takes Over
The non-industrial unions have appointed CSU member Ted Radford as their new Trade Union Side Secretary.
Picture: Ted Radford.
Three New Health Orders
The Forestry Commission has introduced three new Orders to aid the prevention of the spread of Dutch Elm disease.
Spearheading New Bid To Control Sawfly
A programme of research by staff of the Institute of Virology at Oxford has led the Forestry Commission to adopt new methods of using a virus to control the Pine sawfly (Neodiprion sertifer).
Three Royal Honours
Ian Grant from Morayshire, former Conservator E(S) was awarded the OBE. He started forestry work on Altyre Estate in 1941. A graduate from Edinburgh University with a BSc in forestry, Ian joined the Commission at Dingwall before moving to Kielder, Alice Holt and West Scotland.
David Aneurin Jones N(W) was made an MBE. He worked as a Clerk at Dyfie Forest for 27 years before a transfer to Aberystwyth where he became EO in 1972.
Valery Vasilieff, Ganger S(S) was awarded the British Empire Medal. He was born in Russia, transported to Germany during the War and later moved to Czechoslovakia. At the end of the War, he cycled back to Germany to become a displaced person and settled in Britain, becoming a citizen in 1958. He has played a key role in the large afforestation programme at Clatteringshaws.
Elm Painter Wins Contest
A painting of an Elm by Anna Turner of Box Highlands School, Corsham, was selected as the winning entry in a competition launched by Westonbirt Arboretum for a school information pack cover.
Awards For Slasher
The Scottish Region of the British Association of Industrial Editors awarded two prizes to “Slasher”. A feature on former Chief Forester Don MacCaskill (Strathyre) and his photographic work earned second prize in the annual awards list, and a commendation for the headline “Mister magic with a camera”.
Fellowship Plan
Following the initiative of the Welfare Branch, a small ad hoc committee met in Headquarters for the first time to look into the feasibility of a Forestry Commission Retirement Fellowship. The Committee comprises Mrs U.A. Farrelly, Mr E.G. Owen, Mr K.B. Harvey, Mr I.A.D. Grant, Mr I.R. Marshall, Mr E.G. Richards. Mr Ian Grant was elected Chairman.
Here's A Model Of Forest Ingenuity
A report on the Commission’s Model Forest exhibit at the Liverpool International Garden Festival.
Much credit is due to Forester John Lyon who supervised the work, and with a team of young people from Merseyside employed under the MSC Community Programme, transformed the site in six months. The MSC team were Caren Drayton, Paul Rasmussen, Don MacRitchie, Peter Thompson, Walter Halpin, Paul Norris, Andrew Rushton, Wayne Moores and Rob Davison. Thanks are given to a list of contributors to the Model Forest project.
Dame Sylvia Crowe, the Commission’s first Landscape Consultant, praised the exhibit. She had recently been awarded the first Honorary Fellowship of the Institute of Chartered Foresters. Dame Sylvia, aged 82, has just returned from a lecture tour of Pennsylvania, to complete her project as Designer of the British Pavilion Garden at Liverpool.
Pictures: (1) Panoramic view of the Model Forest from the observation platform. (2) The Model Forest showing a clear felling and extraction site and a forest cabin development. (3) The team at the work site. (4) The design team Mark Clark, Julie Barrowman and Simon Bell. (5) The real country house. (6) The country house in the Model Forest. (7) Dame Sylvia Crowe at the Model Forest exhibit.
On Yer Bikes… 10 Mile Trail Is A First
Scotland’s first forest cycle trail was opened at Achray Forest, Aberfoyle by Sandy Gilchrist, one of Scotland’s foremost cycling stars. At the opening ceremony were Conservator W(S) Jim Atterson, District Officer Brian Roebuck and Head Forester Ian Reid, who were all formally pedal power Foresters.
Picture: Among the cyclists are Ian Reid, Jim Atterson and Brian Roebuck.
Wilderness - And It's By Design!
The Forestry Commission has announced major developments in nature conservation in the 10,000 hectares Forest of Dean. At a ceremony at the Speech House, an agreement was signed over the future of Lady Park Wood.
Forestry Beyond The Year 2000
“Forestry beyond 2000” was the theme of the biennial meeting of the FAO’s World Committee on Forestry in Rome at which the Forestry Commission Director General George Holmes was elected Chairman for 1984-86.
Picture: The Chairman and Secretary at the conference.
Ten Redundant
Ten Craftsmen associated with the Yorkshire Forests of Jervaulx, Fountains and Knaresborough were made redundant after the Dales Forest amalgamation.
Conservator J.A. Spencer presented Long Service Awards to Arthur Dickinson (32 years), Dennis Nicholson (31 years) and Bob Longbottom (30 years).
Transfer
Margaret Ramsay, Forest Clerk at Redesdale for the past 8 years, has been regraded as CO and transferred to York Forest Office on the creation of Kielder Forest District.
Moving On
Peter Davison, Roads Foreman, Dalby Engineers, NE(E), has left the Commission after over 23 years service, to work on his Holding, and looking after his sheep.
Retired
Jim Staniforth, Redesdale, has retired after working in North East England for many years, first as a Forest Worker at Redesdale, then Ploughing Team Operator Mechanic, and latterly at Redesdale Forest Centre as Storeman, Handyman, Mechanic, Inventor.
Margaret Elliot, Forest Clerk Grade I, has retired after 18 years at Newcastleton.
Steve Cox, has retired. He was originally recruited for the Roads Squad and later transferred to the Redesdale Forest Management Team.
Peter Thallon, Chief Field Survey Officer since 1974 has retired. He joined the Commission in 1950 at Northerwood House on educational duties. He has served as District Officer at Helmsley and Reading, Assistant Conservator for Forest Management and Harvesting and Marketing at Cambridge then a final move to Alice Holt.
John Christie, Chief Forester, Mensuration Section, Alice Holt, has retired. He joined the Commission in 1946 as a Forest Worker at Alice Holt. John was given a bicycle and sent to Scotland to measure sample plots, Eighteen months later, he went to Gwydyr Forester Training School, and was then posted back to Alice Holt in the Mensuration Section. His name is on many publications, and he is best known for his involvement in the Forest Management Tables published in 1966, 1971 and 1981.
Jim Bain, Forester, Banchory, has retired after 36 years’ service with the Commission, mostly spent in E(S). During the retirement presentation, Head Forester Bill Brown recited his own composition called “Jimmy” (to the tune of “Maggie”).
Picture: Head Forester Jimmy Allan; Senior Forest Craftsman Jimmy Reid; Chief Forester Duncan Menzies; Forester Jim Bain; Forest District Manager Arthur Cuthbert; Mrs Bain.
Alex Cowan, Senior Principal HQ Budgets Officer, has retired after joining the Commission in 1946 as CO W(S). His subsequent roles with the Commission have been as EO E(S), HEO S(S), Principal (CEO) S(S) and Principal HQ Industrial Personnel Officer until 1981.
Picture: George Murray giving golfing hints to Alex Cowan.
Emily Rachel Ward, Clerk, Wykeham Forest, NE(E), has retired after 42 years’ service with the Commission in Wykeham Forest.
Kenneth Collinshaw, Wykeham Forest, NE(E), has retired after 32 years’ service with the Commission.
Mrs E.A. Brown (Nancy Brown), Chopwell, has retired after 25 years’ service with the Commission.
Tom Bassey, Area Civil Engineer, North West England, has retired after 36 years’ service with the Commission. He joined in 1947 as an Assistant Clerk of Works at Hamsterley and progressed through Clerk of Works at Kielder to Area Civil Engineer at Bellingham and finally Area Civil Engineer at Northallerton, looking after Durham, Yorkshire Dales and Hambleton Districts.
Marian Ibbotson, District Office Clerk at Bakewell for the past 10 years, has left on the same day as the closure of the Bakewell Office. The new Forest District is now run from Sherwood.
Harry Hood, Ganger, Rockingham, has retired after joining the Commission in 1938. After War service, he was transferred to Herodsfoot Forest in Cornwall, then transferred again to Rockingham in 1953, where he stayed until retirement.
Bob Chandler, Rockingham, has retired after joining the Commission in 1955 as an ex-school Ganger at Waveney Forest. Bob moved to Pytchley, then Bardney, Aldewood and finally Rockingham.
Harry Searle, District Officer for Suffolk, Essex and Cambridge for the past 20 years has retired. He joined the Commission in 1951 and served as District Officer in Lincoln, Thetford, Cambridge and Woodbridge.
Jimmy MacDonald, North Area Civil Engineering, North Kessock, North Scotland, has retired. Jimmy joined the Commission in the Munlochy (Black Isle) saw-mill, shortly after the War. He became Bulldozer Driver on road construction and has been working on road maintenance in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross for the past 15 years.
Roddy MacLennan, North Area Civil Engineering, Scalpay, Off Harris, North Scotland, has retired. He has worked all over the Highlands, particularly in Skye and Sutherland, opening up forests for harvesting, specialising as a shotfirer and driller.
Billy MacKenzie, North Area Civil Engineering, North Scotland, has retired.
Peter Connon, Forest Craftsman, Banchory Section of Kincardine Forest District has retired after 35 years’ service with the Commission. He started at the (then) Fetteresso Forest in 1947 and moved to Banchory in 1975.
Dick Jackson, Forest District Manager, Tay Forest District, has retired after joining the Commission in 1951 as a District Officer in East Scotland.
Hamish (James Hector) MacDonald (Hamish MacDonald), Inverliever Forest, Argyll, has retired after 46 years’ service with the Commission. He worked in Fernoch, Inverinan and Inverliever.
Ian Grant, R&D Division, has retired after 30 years’ service with the Commission.
Don Jones, Head Forester, Brecon Forst District, has retired after 32 years’ service with the Commission. He joined as a Forest Worker at Margam in 1952, attended the Gwydyr FTS from 1953-1955 and returned to Margam for a further 14 years. On promotion to Head Forester in 1969, he moved to Ebbw and had charge of Talybont from 1974.
John Bell (Jock Bell), Strathyre (previously St Fillans), has retired.
Colin Ferguson, Ganger, Achaglachgach Forest, has retired after 30 years’ service with the Commission.
W.H. Jones (Bill Jones), Head Forester, has retired after 44 years’ service with the Commission. Bill spent the whole of his career in North Wales in Hafren, Ceri, Dyfi, Myherin (Ystwyth), and for the past 12 years at Gwydyr.
Alan Freeth, Head Forester, Private Woodlands, West Sussex, for the past 15 years, has retired. After starting in the Isle of Wight, he studied at both Dean and Benmore FT Schools, then served in the Royal Navy, before working in the New Forest and Hursley Forest and going to Southwater Forest, where he remained for the rest of his career, continuing to live there when he transferred to Private Woodlands.
Margaret McIntyre, Clerk, West Galloway District Office, has retired after 19 years’ service with the West Galloway District Office, Newton Stewart, although her first association with the Commission was as a Forest Clerk at Kirroughtree Forest.
Margaret Gebbie, Forest Clerkess, has retired after over 31 years’ service with the Commission, mainly at Elibank and Traquair Forest and more recently at Glentress.
Paul Butterworth, Forester, Radnor, has retired after 35 years’ service with the Commission, the past 30 years spent at Radnor.
Fred Williams, Ganger, Tarenig Beat of Ystwyth Forest, has retired after 32 years’ service with the Commission, all spent at Tarenig.
Tom Johnstone, Chief Forester, Wark Forest for over 12 years, has retired after 37 years’ service with the Commission, nearly all of it spent in North East England. In retirement from the Commission, he will be surveying Wark Forest for his new role with Field Surveys as an assistant.
Mr R.G. Thomas (Bob Thomas), has retired after 50 years’ service with the Commission at Gwydyr.
Picture: Bob Thomas planting an oak tree near the Forest Office, with Head Forester Bill Jones and colleagues.
John M. Jones, Forest Craftsman, Ystwyth Forest, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission at Ystwyth Forest.
Mr E. Elvin Thomas, Dyfi Forest has retired after 37 years’ service with the Commission.
Mr W. Dan Davies, Gwydyr, has retired after 47 years’ service with the Commission at Gwydyr.
Clifford Berry, Dalby Engineers, NE(E) has retired after 31 years’ service with the Commission.
Hugh Gwynant Jones, Head Forester, has retired after 38 years’ service with the Commission, all of which was served in the North Wales Conservancy.
Cyril Staines, Ganger, Challock Forest, has retired after joining the Commission in 1975. He was involved in all aspects of forest work.
Arthur Puxty, Bedgebury Forest, has retired after joining the Commission in 1947.
Arthur Haynes, Bedgebury Forest, has retired after joining the Commission in 1947.
Bill Hickmott, Bedgebury Forest, has retired after joining the Commission in 1947.
G.O. Williams, South Wales Conservancy Land Agent, has retired after 35 years’ service with the Commission, all but a year, spent in South Wales. He joined the Commission in 1949, was promoted to District Officer (Grade I) in 1956 and became Conservancy Land Agent in 1970.
Bob Latter, Forest Craftsman, Arundel, has retired after 38 years’ service with the Commission. He joined in 1947 in Kent as a Mobile Bulldozer Operator and moved to Slindon (as it was then) in 1955.
W.E. Powell (Sandy Powell), Forest District Manager, Llanwynno, has retired after 36 years’ service with the Commission. He joined as a Forest Worker at Kershope, Cumbria in 1947. After Gwydyr FTS, he spent the rest of his career in South Wales, the first nine years at Rheola, then St Gwynno in 1960, where he stayed for the remaining 24 years as Forester, Head Forester, Chief Forester and latterly as Forest District Manager.
R.O. Morris, Forest Craftsman, Gwydyr, has retired after 37 years’ service with the Commission in Gwydyr Forest.
Obituaries
Charles Begley OBE, has died a few weeks before his retirement. He joined the Commission as a District Officer at Carlisle in 1950, moving to London in 1954 and took charge of the Surrey District in 1960. He was Education and Training Officer 1965-1970.
John Arundel, Ganger at Reidlands Forest District, has died aged 58.
John Armstrong, Forest Craftsman at Blengdale Forest until his retirement three years ago, has died.
Angus Sinclair, has died aged 73. He started working at Glenbranter Forest soon after the estate was purchased from Sir Harry Launder. Some years after War service, Angus returned to Glenbranter in 1952 and was the Ganger in charge of horses before becoming a Lorry Driver in 1965 and a Forest Tractorman in 1971. He retired in 1978 after nearly 40 years’ service with the Commission.
Donald McGregor, Chief Forester at Glenlivet Forest from 1972 until retirement in 1981 has died. His main service was at Strathyre in W(S), being involved in the holiday village there, until he transferred to E(S) on recreational projects.
Frederick Allen, former Craftsman, Challock, has died aged 66. He joined the Commission in 1954 and left on the Job Release Scheme in 1979.
Hugh McMillan MBE, former Head Forester, Kirroughtree Forest S(S), has died aged 85. Hugh was awarded the MBE in 1963 when he retired after 40 years’ service with the Commission. He spent 27 years at Kirroughtree, developing the nursery from 1 acre to 58 acres, and the forest from 600 acres to 6,500 acres.
William Fairbairn MBE, has died aged 76. After Beauly FTS, he served at various forests before moving to Devilla in 1944.
Danny Urquhart, Forester in charge of Bin Forest (now part of Huntly), until his retirement in 1970 has died.
J.A.M. Kennedy (Jimmy Kennedy), District Officer, Moray District, until his retirement in 1968 has died aged 83.
Victor Masson, who saw service at Durris, Blackcraig, Kemnay and Craigellachie Forests and became known as a Training Forester towards the end of his service, has died.
Albert William Smith, Ganger at Altwood Forest E(E) until his retirement in 1979 has died.
Jim Bark, Senior Ranger II, who worked at Sherwood for 31 years, has died aged 57.
Allan Will, Forest Clerk, Roads Branch at Drumtochty from 1947-1953, then Forest Clerk at Drumtochty Forest (later re-named Mearns Forest), from 1953 until retirement in 1975 has died aged 72.
James Steele, formerly of Thornthwaite Engineering Branch, has died aged 63.
Mrs Elizabeth Pettigrew (Betty Pettigrew), Draughtswoman at Edinburgh from 1949 until her retirement in 1976 has died.
Reg Withers-Lancashire, has died aged 70. With his wife, Reg joined as a Campsite Warden at Longbeech in the New Forest in 1974, later moving to Ashurst and Setthorns before retiring.