Forestry Memories

Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 332 - December 1987

The scanned images of the Slasher were produced by and courtesy of the Forest Research library staff based at Alice Holt, Surry, where some of 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.

The Chairman's Message
A message from Sir David Montgomery, Chairman of the Forestry Commission, who says 1987 has been a year when life in the Commission has been more settled than in the recent past, except for the gale in the South East. Sir David welcomed the formation of the Forestry Industry Committee of Great Britain and their report “Beyond 2000”.

Windblow - Gloria and Daughter Play Their Part
Broadcasting personalities Gloria Hunniford and her daughter Caron Keating linked up with the Forestry Commission to help reinstate the storm ravaged famous trees of the Kent town of Sevenoaks. The October gale that brought down an estimated fifteen million trees in the South and South East of England laid low six of the seven century old trees which gave the town its name.

The day after the storm, Forestry Commission officials contacted Chief Executive Brian Cova to offer seven locally grown trees which would replace the damaged trees. East England Conservancy took over the ground preparation and planting. A ceremony attracted thousands of people to the Vine Cricket Field at Sevenoaks on a cold December Sunday. Gloria Hunniford, who lives in the town, and her daughter Caron, from BBC TV’s Blue Peter programme, braved the icy winds to plant the first two trees and supervised the planting of the others, under the watchful eye of Dick Pearson, Weald District. The planting ceremony was accompanied by a full scale “Hurricane Fayre” which raised thousands of pounds for tree planting programmes in the area.
Pictures: (1) Gloria Hunniford and Caron Keating shelter with officials in the mobile display unit at Sevenoaks. (2) The tree planting in Sevenoaks.

Your Ideas Wanted
The United Kingdom European Year of the Environment Committee plans a Woodland and Forestry Week from 6-12 March. Frazer Lindsay, FC Principal Information Officer is to act as co-ordinator.

Here’s to Romance
Carolyn Hurd and Mark Potter, both working at Alice Holt were married in September. Before her marriage, Carolyn was Assistant Environment Officer W(E) and she and the Commission’s photographic library helped in the preparation of a two-page feature for the 1988 Cub Scout Annual. The article covered the high risk times for forest fires and the damage that could be caused.
Picture: Carolyn Hurd and Mark Potter at their wedding.

Coal Rundown
The FC’s Brandon Central Depot in Norfolk is to close at the end of February due to a rapidly declining market for mining timber which is the main product of the depot. Thirty eight Commission employees will be redundant. Brandon depot has produced timber for British Coal since 1947. Closure will not affect production of timber from the nearby Thetford Forest.

Quite Frankly, Frank Loves It
Gloria Hunniford received a hug from Frank Stevens of Alice Holt Research Station, as they sheltered from the icy blasts at Sevenoaks.
Picture: Gloria Hunniford and Frank Stevens.

Magnificent Response by Task Force
The Windblow Task Force based at Alice Holt, set up after the October gales is coping with the mammoth clear-up operation. They have received over 1,000 calls from people wanting advice on how and when to start clearing damaged trees, which contractors to use, when to start replanting and with what species. Team Leader Jim Dewar has much praise for the team, including their efforts to provide emergency aid to speed up restoration of electricity supplies in parts of East Anglia. F.S. Bettle of Eastern Electricity, Ipswich also thanked and praised the team.
Picture: Devastation in Suffolk Forest District after the gale.

To Iceland from Moray
A Scots pine Christmas tree from Moray District Forest was gifted by Aberdeen Tourist Board to the American Naval Air Base at Keflavik following a sales mission to Iceland. Seeing the tree off at RAF Kinloss were Aberdeen “Queen of Light” Andrea Scott and Forest District Manager Sandy Cram, seen with Nimrod captain Squadron Leader Dave Knowles and his crew.
Picture: Andrea Scott, Forest District Manager Sandy Cram and Squadron Leader Dave Knowles and his crew.

Roddie Gets Round Import Rules
Roddie Burgess, Deputy Plant Health Officer at HQ says Christmas tree imports are a seasonal headache for FC plant health inspectors. Around 1.5 million trees come in from Europe in the weeks leading up to Christmas and the aim is to check one in four for plant health requirements – basically that they are less than three metres high, and are not “tops” and are generally clear of pests. In addition, a dozen large trees are covered by import licences which are allowed in under strict control for public display. The Trafalgar Square tree is perhaps the most famous of these, gifted by the people of Norway in recognition of British support during the war years.
Recently, Roddie had to solve a problem concerning Swedish trees destined for Jersey – and halfway across the North Sea without a plant health certificate. Normally, they would have been refused entry, but the trees were a gift to the people of Jersey, which requires no import licence. The ship carrying them ran aground and had to be diverted to Dundee, where two lorries waited to haul them to Plymouth to meet the ferry to Jersey. But first they had to be wrapped in plastic sheeting to avoid anything being blown off en route.

Don't Smoke!
All future meetings of the Forestry Commission Whitley Council, Trade Union Side, will be non-smoking. Ted Radford, TUS Secretary said they were determined to lead on the “no smoking” policy which has been accepted, so all joint Whitley and general purposes committee meetings will also be non-smoking.

Stopping the Neglect
Wales Conservancy staff have been involved in a series of farm woodland demonstrations organised in conjunction with ADAS. The aim is to promote the management of neglected woodlands, and farmers were able to see the progress of work being undertaken by owners and occupiers, including timber production, shelter for stock, wildlife and landscape conservation. Each event featured demonstrations of planting, weeding, thinning, pest control, wildlife management, timber values and marketing.

Parliamentary Matters
The regular feature giving a selection of Parliamentary questions and responses on forestry matters at Westminster. The article includes a table listing numbers of applications, objections and decisions.

Appointments
Colin Spillane joins the Forestry Commission next month as Controller of Finance and will head the Finance Division. He is currently Accountancy Advisor at the Welsh Office in Cardiff and has served in the Department of Trade and Industry, the Professional and Executive Recruitment service and the Export Credits Guarantee Department.
Picture: Colin Spillane.

Graham Robertson has been appointed to the newly created post of Technical Secretary to the Forestry Training Council, based in Edinburgh. He joined the Commission at Cannock in 1962, spent 15 years in North Wales before joining the Education and Training Branch at Thetford. He has been Training Officer for FC Education and Training Branch, East England, since 1979. The new job involves the co-ordination of training and education for the forestry industry.
Picture: Graham Robertson.

Beyond 2000
The Forestry Industry Committee of Great Britain has called for the establishment of Forestry Industry Development Group as part of a long-term strategy. In a 76-page report “Beyond 2000: The Forestry Industry of Great Britain”, it points to unprecedented new investment and the rising value of British timber output, and how the industry relates to national and rural economies. It also highlights the need for long-term contracts between UK producers and processors. The Forestry Commission, which is studying the report before giving advice to forestry Ministers, says it provides a helpful balance to other recent reports on forestry.

Eagle Owl in Dorset
Head Ranger of Conservancy W(E), “Jock” Cockburn rounded a bend in a ride in a block at Wareham (South) and came face to face with an eagle owl (Bubo bubo), nearly two and a half feet in height and displaying a wing span approaching 5 ft. It appeared to be in very good condition and was not ringed. It may, therefore, have been a wild bird and not an escapee from a collection – perhaps, it carried north from the mountains of Northern Spain on the hurricane Flora which struck the South coast five days previously. As a sika deer rut was at its height in the block, the sighting was kept secret to avoid an invasion of “twitchers”.

Campsite of the Year
The North York Moors Forest District have won the prestigious AA campsite of the year award (Northern Region), for Spiers Campsite which opened in 1980 in Cropton Forest, near Pickering.
Picture: Thelma and Jack Mitchell, the new wardens, receive the award from David Coley, Head of Information, Northern Region, Automobile Association. Also in the picture are Tom Wilkinson, Area Land Agent; Brenda Jackson, Area Estates Clerk; Brian Cauwood, Estates Clerk of Works; Judith Stead, Area Engineers Clerk.

MP Drops In
Dafydd Wigley, Plaid Cymru MP for Caernarfon, visited Gwydyr Forest in October. He met the Llanrwst Forest District staff and Dr G.J. Mayhead, FDM, gave a short presentation on the Forest District followed by a tour of the north end of Gwydyr Forest, where the MP saw various activities and viewed a Kockums Forwarder and the big FC dozer working.

Ranger on Target
Graham Dallyn, Senior Ranger 1, Cornwall and North Devon District, won the Rangers Rifle Shooting Cup during the annual W(Eng) Rangers’ training day. He scored 67 out of a possible 70. With previous victories in 1982 and 1983, Graham becomes the first to win the Cup three times since it was donated for competition in 1970 by Jim King, then Wildlife Forester SW(Eng).

Game Set and Match
There were two notable successes for Commission Rangers at the Game Fair which was held at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire. A pewter plate for the best exhibitor went to Sherwood Forest and other district rangers. A gold medal was won by Andy Parsons, Senior Ranger, Chiltern Forest District, for antlers. Richard Prior made the measurements and awarded an overall score of 58.5 points for the antlers, which were from a mature Muntjac shot by Andy in 1985. The deer was “culled” as it was old and deteriorating and had a malformed hoof.
Picture: (1) The pewter plate award at Chatsworth is presented by Mr J.H.M. Norris, President of the Country Landowners’ Association, to some of the FC staff who manned the exhibition: Trevor Banham, Ranger, Thetford; Derek Stocker, Ranger, Sherwood; Andrew Poole, Forester, Sherwood; J.H.M. Norris, C.L.A.; Jim Alexander, Ranger, Northants; Andy Patmore, Ranger, Northants; Steve Carter, Ranger, Chilterns. Two other Rangers not in the picture are Len Cropper, Sherwood and Des Green, Thetford. (2) Andy Parsons with the winning antlers.

A First and a Second Draw Crowds
Suffolk Forest District held their first Open Day, which marked the launch of the Scotland Heath Habitat Trail. The event was judged to be a tremendous success. The trail was opened by Burt Ling, a Forest Craftsman for over 30 years, who cut a ribbon at the beginning of the trail. A thousand visitors watched demonstrations and exhibitions and many went on the two and a half mile walk along the new trail in the Sandlings Forest, guided by foresters.
Picture: Burt Ling marks the opening of the Habitat Trail.

Tony Russell, Forester, New Forest, reports on the Open Days in the New Forest, where the displays were relating to the European Year of the Environment, and in particular, the Forestry Commission’s management of the New Forest environment with its many diverse habitats. Wilverley Inclosure was the setting for the Open Days, an area of uneven-aged plantations of both broadleaves and conifers bordered by heathland and grassland habitats.
Visitors gathered in a reception area and information marquee, where they talked to local staff. Displays of New Forest conservation activities ranged from heathland management to river and streamside clearance. A one-mile trail was specially established for the event. It passed through young Western hemlock and Douglas fir stands with brashing and thinning operations in progress, including extraction by Mini Bruunett Forwarder, then on through two felling sites where there were opportunities for the public to view and discuss Japanese paper pot-planting of conifers, and broadleaved planting in tree shelters. There were many other activities on display including Oak and Sweet Chestnut cleaving showing traditional ways of producing fencing material using an axe and froe, and by contrast, modern production using McConnel Sawbench and Peeler. Another interesting topic was the work of the New Forest Agisters, who are responsible for the welfare of the commoners’ stock, such as the ponies and cattle that roam the Forest. This was the second time the New Forest had Open Days and it drew 5,000 visitors over two days. While the general public were able to attend on both days, the second day was reserved primarily for school and other organised parties. More than 1,000 schoolchildren visited the site.

Reunion Time Again
The sixth reunion of the Dean School of Forestry’s 1951-1953 course, took place in Monmouth. They are usually arranged for every five years. Beth Dunn organised the reunion, and a party were taken on a short tour led by Dave Langford, to see a few of the items of the Forest of Dean Sculpture Project.

Open Air-Life's the Thing!
A joint effort has involved Forestry Commission workers and boys from a residential home.

Terry Brooks, one of the team who help to run Throxenby Hall, a North Yorkshire County Council home for boys in the Scarborough area, called on the FC office in Low Dalby, Pickering, for help. His lads had produced 3 paper tube models of climbing frames, so he sought FC advice on the best method of building the frame, considering safety and available materials. The basic design was agreed, the materials were found and the boys did the cutting, shaping and peeling to form the frame. Now the Throxenby Hall lads are enjoying its use. Throxenby Hall has a long association with the North Yorkshire Moors Forest, using the camping site at Jingleby, the orienteering routes around Dalby Forest, and making use of the walks and nature trails in the forests.
Picture: The lads enjoying the frame they helped to make.

Timber Topics - From Out of Dark Days - A Success!
John Oakley says the gales which felled many trees in South East England coincided with the crash on Wall Street and the world stock markets. The dollar, the international currency of the wood processing industry, was nose-diving. But he looks on events showing the brighter side of the current decade. He concludes his article by saying that when he joined Harvesting and Marketing Division in 1980, the director commented “you arrive in exciting times”. What a masterly understatement! I consider myself fortunate to have been involved in the events of the past seven years.”
Picture: John Oakley, who signs off from his regular contribution in “Slasher”.

Gold Medal for Stan
The Transport and General Workers’ Union has conferred its highest award, a gold medal, on Stan Cator BEM, who retired from Brandon last April, aged 62. Stan joined the Commission aged 14 and after War service, he returned in 1948. He took over the TGWU branch at Brandon in 1962/63 and is still Branch Secretary. He was Vice Chairman of the local joint consultative committee and was Chairman of the Slasher consultative committee. He was also a magistrate for 20 years. Arthur Mills, TGWU District Official and National Forestry Officer, said “The gold medal is not given lightly – and very rare for a Branch Secretary”.

Welsh Honour
Wales Conservancy Forester B.D. Robinson, of Llanrwst District, has received the British Red Cross Society Badge of Honour, for his services to the society over many years. The award is one of the highest to be given and carries with it life membership of the Red Cross Society.

Pool Champion
Arwel Thomas, Cartographical Draughtsman in the Wales Conservancy Office has won the Welsh Civil Service pool championship for the third time. He also won a major Welsh singles tournament in May before going on to be selected for his county team. Recently, he received his first cap for Wales.
Picture: Arwel Thomas.

Tony's Gold - Swimming
Tony Summers, Wales Conservancy Civil Engineer, has recovered from a car crash earlier in the year, to win several medals for swimming. He won a silver medal in the English Masters backstroke contest in July; a silver and a bronze in the European Masters in September; a gold and a silver in the British Masters held in Aberavon in October. In the European Masters, the silver was achieved in the 200 metres backstroke event at which he was beaten by the world professional champion record holder.
Picture: Tony Summers.

New Members
The Arboricultural Association have increased their membership from 804 at the end of 1980 to the current membership of 1204. The Association celebrates its 25th anniversary in 1989 and plans a Silver Jubilee conference at St Catherine’s College, Oxford in September 1989.

Winners All
Barbara Grigor and Val Pragnell judged the entries for the new arts competition. On show were 19 paintings, ten pieces of woodcraft and three specialist entries. The best oil came from John McClory of Selkirk; best other painting from Bryce Reynard, NRS; woodcraft from Mick Dinning, Cambridge; Stewart Mitchell from Peebles won the other class. Highly commended were Mike Coutts, NRS; Aileen McCabe, HQ; Barry Hearse, HQ; Colin King, Alice Holt. Commended were Peter Gow, Dunkeld; R.E. Crowther, Farnham. Full details and more pictures will be in the next edition of “Slasher”.
Picture: Judges Barbara Grigor and Val Pragnell.

Chance to Win
The Hedges and Butler group have offered “Slasher” some bottles of alcohol-free Eisberg German wine which can be won if the listed three questions are answered correctly.

In the Picture
A photograph of a spider’s web by Richard Wood of Lochaber Forest has been declared the overall winner of the photographic competition. He wins a Pentax Automatic PC333 camera. Retired Forester F.W. Thick of Carburton, Worksop, Notts wins an exhibition mounted enlargement plus £10 of colour film for his photograph, which principal photographer Douglas Green said was simple, but nicely framed, “the sort of view we walk past frequently but never think of photographing”.
Pictures: (1) Photograph of a spider’s web by Richard Wood. (2) Photograph of a view by F.W. Thick.

In the Garden
Forestry Commission engineers are working to make the Glasgow Garden Festival a success. They are creating a special fire tower, bridge and cliff. Also foundations for mature trees, which will be cut like flowers in the forest and planted at the FC site in Glasgow. Geoff Freeman said “If our calculations are correct, there should be no windblow at the garden festival”.
Picture: Forestry men bringing the forest to the city for the Glasgow Garden Festival.

Winning Ways by the Angels of Aberfoyle
The team of Shaun’s Angels came out top at a Scottish Council for Spastics sponsored assault course, raising £408 out of a total of £9,200. The FC team of Mike Steward, Shaun Mochan, Diane Morrison, Rhoda McGregor and Rae Brown were presented with a trophy by Glenda Mackenzie, Appeals Organiser, at Dukes Point, Aberfoyle.
Picture: Shaun’s Angels receiving the trophy.

Safety Conscious
At the annual safety liaison meeting, Drew Ferguson, Forest Craftsman, Lockerbie, was voted by his colleagues as the most safety conscious person in the district. Joe Meehan, District Manager, presented him with the safety shield.
Picture: Drew Ferguson.

How You Can Help Others
A suggestion to donate to charity through the give-as-you-earn scheme, which incorporates tax relief.

Retired
Ken Baker, Research Head Forester, SW England, has retired after joining the Commission in 1949. After attending Dean Forester Training School, he worked in research in the Forest of Dean until moving to Exeter in 1959. He became Head Forester in charge of Research SW(E) in July 1965 and remained at Exeter until retiring.
Pictures: Ken Baker’s retirement dinner with his wife, colleagues and T. Calvin Booth, who regaled the party with his “Digger” Booth rendition with a “fly-flicker” corks hat.

Archie Paul, Ganger, Lothian and Tweed Forest District, has retired after over 39 years’ service with the Commission.
Picture: Archie Paul.

Dick Cleland, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission in the South Scotland Conservancy. He joined the Commission at Mabie Forest in 1953 and moved to the old Selm Muir Forest (later to become part of the Clydesdale section of Lothian and Tweed Forest District), where he remained for the rest of his service.
Picture: Dick Cleland.

Rod Stephens, Messenger/Paperkeeper, Cambridge, has retired after 4 years’ service with the Commission.

Dick Lea, Senior Ranger 1, North York Moors, has retired after over 14 years’ service with the Commission. He served first at Hambleton, then Cropton Forest.

Peggy Wright, Personnel Section, M(S), has retired after 20 years’ service with the Commission in Mid Scotland.

Harry Watson, Forest Craftsman, Border FD, has retired after 30 years’ service with the Commission.

Mike Maggs, Dartmoor, has retired after nearly 50 years’ service with the Commission, with a break for War service. He started his career in forestry with the Timber Supply Department, aged 16, before enlisting with the Marine Commandos during the War. After demob, he returned to Dartmoor and was involved in H&M and FM functions during his career.

Gordon Morris, Chief Forester, Rheola Forest District, has retired after over 38 years’ service with the Commission.

David Robertson, Conservator, Wales Conservancy, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission.
Picture: David Robertson presented with retirement gifts on behalf of colleagues by Personal Secretary Brina Evans.

Arthur Wyn Jones, Coed y Brenin, Dolgellau Forest District, has retired after 39 years’ service with the Commission at Coed y Brenin, mostly on forest management.
Picture: Arthur Jones.

Bob Roberts, Forest Craftsman, Clocaenog Forest, Ruthin Forest District, has retired after 32 years’ service with the Commission at Clocaenog Forest.
Picture: Bob Roberts.

Lyn Jenkins, Tanker Driver, Rheola District, has retired after 24 years’ service with the Commission in South Wales, mostly involved with timber extraction.

David Thomas, Senior Storeman at St Hilary Workshop for 21 years has retired.
Picture: David Thomas with colleagues. Spence Thomas, Workshop Mechanic, presented David with fishing tackle on behalf of workmates.

Eddie Dann, Senior Ranger, Moray Forest District, has retired after 40 years’ service with the Commission at Glenlivet and Moray.

Sandy McKenzie, Forest Craftsman, Moray Forest District, has retired after 45 years’ service with the Commission at Newtyle and Moray.

Picture: Eddie Dann and Sandy McKenzie with colleagues at their retirement presentation.

Mrs Bethia Thompson, Newton Nursery, Moray Forest District, has retired after 28 years’ service with the Commission at Newton Nursery.
Picture: Bethia Thompson with colleagues and Nursery Manager Sandy Macintosh.

Gordon King, St Helens, Dunwich, Suffolk Forest District, has retired after 40 years’ service after joining the Commission in 1947 at Dunwich Forest, where he has remained ever since.
Picture: Gordon King with his colleagues, and being presented with his Long Service certificate by Forest District Manager R.G. Hands.

Paul Goodson, Forester, South Downs, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission.
Picture: Paul Goodson and his wife Joyce with Conservator Michael Dinning.

George Tyler, Sherwood, has retired after 35 years’ service with the Commission at Sherwood.

G.R. Morris, Risca, Gwent, has retired after 22 years’ service with the Commission.

Bob Howard, Farigaig Forest, has retired after 35 years’ service with the Commission, mostly in N(S) after his first few years in Wales.

Hamish Reid, Skye, Scotland has retired from the Commission.

Obituaries
George Beilby, former Ganger, who retired in 1977 from York Forest has died. He joined the Commission in 1949 from Escrick Estates, continuing the family forestry tradition of his brother and father. George started as a Forest Worker and eventually became a Ganger. He ran the nursery operations at Wheldrake for 28 years and was awarded the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 for services including developing new nursery methods and pioneering the Sharp Lining-Out Plough.

Tommy Robson, former Skilled Forest Worker at Newcastleton Forest, has died aged 79. He worked on forest management duties for 48 years until his retirement in 1973.

Wat Thomson, former Forest Craftsman in Craik Forest, until his retirement in 1982, has died aged 67.

Dennis Eales, Forest Craftsman, New Forest, has died aged 60. He joined the Commission in 1955 on harvesting, then joined the marking and tariffing team in 1978 and moved to driving duties in 1982.

Ray Owen, Production Craftsman in Rheola Forest District, has died aged 48. He worked at Rheola for 13 years.

Bill Morris, former Warden Ranger at Micheldever, who had worked with the Commission for 42 years has died aged 74. He joined the Commission as a Forest Worker and became a Forest Ranger for the last 19 years before his retirement.

John Jobling, PSO, Research Division, has died aged 62. He had worked at Alice Holt since arriving as a DO11 in 1950.

Arthur Kirby, who joined the Commission in 1982 as a Messenger in York has died.

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