Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 338 - December 1988
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.
Thanks for Your Help, Sailors
The Forestry Commission office in Aberfoyle, Scotland, presented 30 Norway spruce trees to decorate the Royal Navy base, HMS Gannet at Prestwick, Ayrshire, over the festive season. Andy Ferguson of Comrie, handed over the trees, helped by his Aberfoyle colleague Bert Campbell. Some time earlier, Andy was carrying some fencing materials on a Garron all-terrain vehicle at Balquhidder, when the vehicle turned over on rough ground and was badly damaged. Bruised and shaken, Andy made his way down the hillside, leaving behind a totally immobilised Garron. The Navy heard about the problem and, as a training exercise, they flew in a Sea King and winched the Garron up on to a Commission lorry.
Picture: The Navy’s Sea King helicopter arrives with its crew to collect the trees from the David Marshall Lodge.
Christmas Tree Sales
David Jardine, Harvesting and Marketing, reports on the rising income from Christmas tree sales.
Durham office supplied a number of 20 ft trees for the Metro shopping centre at Gateshead. The St. Nicholas shopping arcade in Aberdeen got their tree from Kirkhill, Gleneagles Hotel had a tree from Blairadam. The demand for non-spruce trees continued to increase with many people preferring to buy Scots and Corsican pine or Noble fir. At Newton Stewart, District Office staff were busy organising the selection and cutting of Noble fir foliage for the West German market. Over £20,000 worth of foliage has already been sold to the continent.
Our Many Friends
An end of year message from Forestry Commission Chairman Sir David Montgomery.
Privatisation - "No Foundation" Minister Answers Reports
Suggestions that the Forestry Commission is to be privatised have been in the headlines again recently and have been firmly rebutted by the Secretary of State for Scotland. The most recent calls for privatisation came from the Adam Smith Institute in a report “Pining for Profit”, which said many of the Commission’s activities in tree planting and forest management were uneconomical and which also called for an end to planting subsidies to private forestry. However, Secretary of State for Scotland Mr Malcolm Rifkind, the Government lead spokesman on forestry, announced in a letter to Mr Alick Buchanan-Smith MP, “The Government has not drawn up any plans to privatise the Commission, nor has it made any proposals that might lead in that direction. I can assure you that the central role played by the Commission in an expanding forestry industry is well recognised.”
Kartoon Korner
Circles of trees in a cartoon.
Retirement Club is Branching Out
Preliminary groups have been set up in readiness for the official launch of the Retirement Association in March. The steering committee met at HQ in October when representatives from the various Conservancies reported an encouraging response throughout the country. The target is a branch in every Conservancy before the end of March, the month of the official launch. The following groups have been set up: West England, East England, North England, Wales, South Scotland, Mid Scotland, North Scotland and Headquarters.
Picture: Retirement Association representatives.
Just a Reminder of Times Past … And More Fun to Come Next Winter
The facilities at Glenmore are proving popular. At a cost of £2 for a half day ticket, skiers can be towed 200 yards up a gentle slope by a small 8 hp engine.
Picture: Skiers on Glenmore nursery slope.
The TUS Diary by Kenny Murray
In his regular column, Kenny Murray mentions Annual Staff Reports, car leasing and various other topics. He also bids farewell to Trades Unionist John Hose, who has retired from Sherwood Forest.
Picture: Kenny Murray.
Dear Santa
Kenny Murray, TUS, makes some ironic requests and suggestions to Santa for Christmas presents.
Wooden Runway for Bristol
In a “not too serious” anonymous article, a Forestry Commission spokesman denied all knowledge of a proposal for a new runway at Bristol Airport to be made of wood. A spokesman for the airport director said the wooden runway would be constructed for half the cost and in half the time. He also said aircraft carriers had always had wooden flight decks and the timber runway would result in much softer landings.
Peter's on Target!
Peter Mackay, Senior Ranger, Easter Ross Forest District N(S), has won many trophies in 11 years of clay-pigeon shooting. Among his shooting successes are: - Scottish open (down the line) winner in 1986 and 1988; Scottish open (single barrel) winner in 1981; Third in British open in 1981; Fourth in British open in 1985; Scottish team (down the line) member from 1979-1988; Scottish Berreta Grand Prix winner (down the line) in 1986; North of Scotland champion three times; North of Scotland runner-up three times.
Picture: Peter Mackay with his trophies.
Tony's in the Fast Lane
Record breaker Tony Summers, Conservancy Engineer based at Newtown in Wales until his retirement on 16th December 1988, clocked up a record of 26.5 seconds for the 100 metres backstroke in the Amateur Swimming Association’s 60-64 aged group. Tony won his first swimming medal aged 12, later representing Britain at European and Olympic level and won both the Welsh Junior and Rhodesian Senior titles. As a pilot with the RAF during the War, he flew Spitfires and Tempests.
Picture: Tony Summers.
Slasher Correspondent Note
We hear from “Slasher” correspondence FAO Miss B. Evans, of an oddity of the postal strike. An account was presented to John Roberts at Gwent FD by a representative of a quarries company, who made a special journey to Abercarn in a Mercedes, with a request to settle the debt for tuppence! Needless to say, John settled the account from his own pocket!
Pocket Money
Wales Conservancy Office raised nearly £80 for the return of their A&FO Iain Miller and Area Land Agent David Adamson, who were “kidnapped” and held hostage by Dyfed Fire Brigade. Bank managers, company directors, an income tax inspector, police officer, and civil servants were put on the hydraulic platform of the fire engine and lifted above the houses, while FC staff tried to raise the ransom needed.
Bench Will Honour Cyril's Memory
A fund has been arranged to mark the memory of Cyril Fletcher (Josh Fletcher), of Alice Holt, with a commemorative bench in the grounds of the Forestry Centre. Cyril died in August aged 53. He had been with the Commission since 1952. The article on Cyril includes tributes and an appropriate verse from the poet Tennyson.
Award For FC in Scotland
The Forestry Commission has received an award for work in the north of Scotland. The Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland has awarded FC engineers a Certificate of Merit for the sensitive way their structures, especially roads and bridges, blend into the environment. The award was given for the design of roads, paths and bridges at Lael in Wester Ross; at Dog Falls, Glen Affric in Inverness-shire; and at Rumster Achairn in Caithness.
Roger Hay, Head of the Commission's engineering team, said they were delighted with this recognition from the respected APRS. Chairman of the panel, John Foster FRSA, said the Engineering Division's use of sympathetic materials is particularly noteworthy.
Picture: Chairman Sir David Mongomery with Geoff Freedman, Engineering Division, and Ken Davidson, Area Civil Engineer, Inverness.
Award For FC in Wales
The Automobile Association's coveted Campsite of the Year Award went to Snowdonia Forest Park at Beddgelert, which had already been judged best campsite in Britain in 1980 and 1982.
AA inspectors particularly commended its attention to detail and friendly family atmosphere. The FC site has 280 pitches, split equally between campers and caravanners, and has been attracting campers to the Welsh mountains since 1932. The campsite has been run for more than 20 years by the husband and wife team of Adam and Beatrice Easton, and the site regularly copes with 60,000 camper nights a year. According to the local manager Paul Tabbush, this year's award is of special significance for there has been quite an extensive refurbishment since the last two AA awards. This latest accolade rewards all the hard work that has been put in.
Beddgelert Campsite is just one of 32 FC camping and caravan sites around Britain. A further five sites are leased to the Caravan Club and three to the Camping and Caravaning Club. 53 sites are set aside for youth organisations. The Commission also has 177 forest cabins and houses for holiday renting. Other facilities include 10 forest drives, 19 visitor centres, 21 arboreta, 646 picnic places and 709 forest walks and trails.
Picture: Husband and wife team, Adam and Beatrice Easton with local Forester Dave Downes in a Snowdonia setting.
Kick-Off Time for Forest FC
The Mid Scotland Conservancy Office football team are competing in the Second Division of the Strathclyde Civil Service League. In the team are some members of the M(S) Conservancy Office, associated Government departments and friends.
Picture: Stuart McRae; Richard Leacock; Tommy Kelly; John Morton; John Gair; Liam Pidgeon; Howard Davies; Kevin Pidgeon (Manager); Jim Monaghan; Andy McGarvey; Gerald Pidgeon; Robert Skilling; Steve McLeod; Andy Wallace.
Colourful Crew!
An intrepid FC group braved the autumnal cold of Guy Fawkes Day to compete in the Kielder Water Raft Race, helping to raise money for BBC’s “Children in Need”. All five teams taking part had to build their raft from the material supplied, paddle a set course, return to shore, and dismantle their raft. The two Forestry Commission teams led first and second for most of the course. The FC teams came second and fourth with a total sum raised for the event of £350.
Picture: Chris Cloy, Keith Allison, Michael Strachan, Graham Caygill and James Ogilvie.
Tipping the Balance - Red Before Grey
A survey is under way to establish the level of the red squirrel population in forests in the Midlands. In Cannock Chase, near Birmingham, red squirrels have always been present, but their numbers have declined over the past 30 years, while grey squirrel numbers have not. In 1986, no sightings of red squirrels were reported and it was feared they might have become extinct. However, sightings were made in 1987. A survey undertaken by student, Jonathan Eason, from Birmingham, will confirm their presence and determine if they are confined to particular areas.
The Forestry Commission project will also assess the suitability of the habitat for red squirrels in terms of forest structure, tree species and food supplies and will lead to recommendations that will benefit red squirrels and promote their long term survival.
Coniferous trees are the most important habitat for red squirrels and the 3,000 hectares being surveyed has 40% Scots pine, 60% Corsican pine. The Scots pine not only regenerates better than the Corsican pine, but its cones contain a greater number of seeds as a food supply. The age structure of the forest is also an important factor in the number of cones being produced. The grey squirrel cannot survive on coniferous seeds alone, and the survey area contains a proportion of broadleaves such as oak, beech and sweet chestnut, the fruits of which are required by the more heavily bodied greys.
Harry Pepper, Forestry Commission Wildlife Branch, who is in charge of the project, said management aimed at tipping the balance in favour of red rather than grey squirrels, presents a challenge and its success will have wide-ranging benefits. During the survey, modified tunnels leading to feed hoppers will comb out squirrel hair for inspection. Drey counts will be made and felled trees will be inspected for dreys, which will be dissected for species identification by lair. Radio telemetry may also be used.
The Fact Finders
Richard Ryder, Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, visited Kielder Forest recently with his Private Secretary, Frank Strang, on a fact finding visit. Their guides were the Forestry Commission Chairman David Montgomery; Conservator for North England Andy Neustein; District Manager Dr Robert McIntosh; and local Management Officer James Ogilvie.
They were given an overview of the forest, from early establishment of the tree crops to the final harvest at clear-felling. Of particular interest was the topic of ‘restructuring’ - a name given to the patchwork of felling areas designed to improve the appearance of the forest for the future. The uniform nature of some of the early planting is being ‘broken up’ into felling coupes more in keeping with the landscape. These will use permanent features such as streams as their boundaries. In turn, these streams will be improved for conservation purposes through greater planting of broadleaves. Wildlife and visitors will benefit from this enlightened policy. The end result will be an area of 4,000 hectares of additional broadleaf woodland, more than has existed at Kielder within the last millennium.
Picture: Richard Ryder; Frank Strang; Sir David Montgomery; Andy Neustein; Robert McIntosh; James Ogilvie.
'Nest-egg' of Goodwill For the Owl
The Forestry Commission is committed to safeguarding the wildlife of our forests.
Mick Canham, Senior Conservation Ranger in North Scotland says 1988 has been a better breeding season for birds of prey in the North. After the wet Springs of 1986 and 1987, the vole population has reached high number again, providing birds of prey with a bumper food supply.
Species that have done particularly well are kestrels and short-eared owls (whose main prey items are voles). Other species like long-eared owls, peregrines and hen harriers all fledged good broods.
Picture: Many kestrels – like this one from a brood of six reared in a nest box provided by the FC Wildlife staff in the North – benefit from the good stocks of voles.
John Westlake, Conservation Officer, Aberystwyth, Wales, tells a saga of a long-eared owl. He reports: In May 1987, (while working as an H&M Forester in Ruthin FD), a contractor arrived at my door one evening, with a cardboard box which emitted extraordinary hissing and clicking sounds. When I opened it, I was confronted with an immense pair of orange eyes and distinctly unfriendly beak. Hasty checks in the bird book confirmed it was a long eared owl fledgling. As the entire area that it came from was being clear felled, I decided to pass the bird on to Malcolm Ingham, Head Ranger for Wirral Council, who runs a wildlife rehabilitation centre. He took the bird and reared it successfully in a wild aviary (so that it did not become tame). This year the bird was transferred to a purpose built aviary in Clocaenog Forest to be “hacked-back” into the wild. Local Conservation Ranger Iolo Lloyd fed the owl daily with dead day-old chicks while it got used to catching its own food. Eventually a hatch in the roof will be opened for the owl to fly free. Iolo will continue to feed the owl until the food is no longer being taken.
Pictures: (1) Long eared owl chick. (2) Sandy Fraser with two of the brood of six short-eared owls he found while planting trees in Dornoch Forest District. (3) Iolo Lloyd of Ruthin feeds the owl, a daily task until it gets to catching its own food. (4) Close-up of the owl, soon to be released into the wild.
In Pickering, through September and October, two tawny owls have roosted in a lime tree outside the District office within feet of the busy main Scarborough to Thirsk road (A170). It is the second year the owls have used this tree. District Forester Peter Green’s theory is that warmth from the centrally heated office encourages the tree to retain its leaves longer than the others by the roadside, and this shelter and warmth is what attracts the birds.
Home and Away - by Tram - by Coach
Mid Scotland Conservancy staff took a trip to Loch Awe in Argyll. They were welcomed at Lochgilphead by Mr P. Quelch, District Manager for Loch Awe Forest. The party toured the offices at Whitegates; visited the new workshops and stores complex at Cairnbaan; had a picnic lunch on a hill high above the Crinan Canal; saw a scarifier at work alongside Loch Awe, plus other modern harvesting machines; visited a new wildlife project at Add ponds which will provide an ideal habitat for many forms of wildlife in the area; and rounded off the trip by coach with a visit to the forestry quarry at Bridfield.
Loch Awe and Kintyre District staff did the journey in reverse, and visited the Garden Festival, which lies on the doorstep of Mid HQ.
Another mode of transport, the old tram, was one of the attractions which caught the eye of the girls from Loch Awe and Kintyre District staff when they came down to Glasgow on the annual “educational” tour.
Pictures: (1) Loch Awe staff with the old trams in Glasgow. (2) Staff posing by the coach. (3) Amanda and Diane of Loch Awe sit with Para Handy at the Garden Festival.
Man-Made Islands Aid Rare Birds
Rare black-throated divers are recognising artificial islands in the Scottish Highlands as safe breeding spots. It is estimated there are about 150 breeding pairs in Britain, most of them in North-west Scotland. These birds spend most of their time at sea, but come inland to breed on Scottish lochs during April to July with the female usually laying two eggs. Breeding success is relatively low, with a fledgling rate of only 0.27 per cent, according to one report. The divers move with difficulty on dry land and their nests, very close to the water's edge, can be flooded. There is also the problem of disturbance by anglers, which, though it may not always cause failure, will keep birds off their nests, leaving eggs vulnerable to predators.
To ease these threats, FC Wildlife Rangers have developed floating islands which would provide safer nesting places. Initially these were made from three pieces of expanded polystyrene blocks, 8 ft by 4 ft, enclosed with wire mesh, then covered by turf to make an island 12 ft by 8 ft. These nesting grounds were located on suitable lochs, anchored by two concrete filled five-gallon oil drums. Later designs have used wooden boards top and bottom, with the polystyrene centre being chamfered at the edge to provide easier access for the birds. The first were located in 1985, others in the following two years brought the total to eight. “Our aim was to provide a safe nesting place that would stand up to the rigours of the northern weather and where it would assist the birds to hatch their first clutch of eggs before anglers appear,” said Mike Canham of Dornoch Forest District. “The first years were disappointing, but this year a pair incubated one egg on a small loch in Sutherland and we had more good news when a red throated diver hatched two chicks on one of our first islands. We also had reports of success from one of the islands that the RSPB provided after studying our designs.”
Pictures: (1) A typical Highland home for the black throated divers. (2) One of the artificial islands in use.
Reptiles and All That
A meeting is being hosted by the National Amphibian Survey on 28th January at Leicester Polytechnic, Scraptoft Campus. The aim is to bring together all those with an interest in herpetology, both amateur and professional, to exchange information and ideas. Presentations will include a progress report on the NCC National Amphibian Survey and reviews of herpetofauna surveying methodology and organisation. Project funding, habitat management, specific case histories and national issues will also be discussed.
Those Magic Statistics
27th September 1988 was “Dismantling Day” for The Glasgow Garden Festival. Some statistics: 3,300 bags filled with pine and spruce needles; 1,300 rooted trees between one and seven metres high, lifted; 4,000 square metres of woodland grass, bracken, heather and blaeberry turf lifted. There was the dismantling, transporting and reconstruction of 6 metres of drystone dyke, the supply of a gallon of tadpoles, eight 22” diameter twisty oak or birch branches, a lorry load of dry bracken stalks and long dry grass, 2,500 bags of bark, mossy stones and many more items. The audio-visual show “Under Heaven” is now housed and running in the David Marshall Lodge.
Pictures: (1) A peregrine falcon model is boxed up for its “flight” home from the miniature forest. (2) The Ancient Forester makes his exit.
Retired
Martin Orrom, PF & EO, West England Conservancy Office at Bristol, has retired after 35 years’ service with the Commission, having served in the old NW England Conservancy, HQ and SW, now W England.
Picture: Martin Orrom.
Sid Hayes, Handyman, Low Dalby Estates, North York Moors, has retired after 38 years’ service with the Commission. At his retirement presentation, he told many tales of his working life. He spent time planting at Pexton and felling in Allerston Dale, and travelled by motorbike from Thornton Dale when the gang were working in Bawtry. Sid’s wish was for retirement donations to be given to the “Save the Children” fund.
Picture: Sid Hayes with friends and colleagues and the Fox and Rabbit display from the pub with the same name in Dalby.
Mary Reed, AO, West England Conservancy Office at Bristol, has retired after 15 years’ service with the Commission, mainly in the Estates section and latterly in Private Woodlands.
Dorothy Edmondson (Doe Edmondson), Environment, West England Conservancy Office at Bristol, has retired after 46 years’ service with the Commission. Recently, Doe was a member of the Private Woodlands section, but her last two years were spent in Environment.
Arthur Scott, has retired after 47 years’ service with the Commission in Rothbury, Northumberland.
Picture: Arthur Scott with his wife Doreen on the seat made from Northumberland oak.
Bill Kitcher, Ganger, Forest Management, Lyndhurst, has retired after 44 years’ service with the Commission in the New Forest. He has been employed in every section of the District.
Picture: Bill Kitcher, his wife and colleagues.
Ken Harding, Grader Driver, Civil Engineering Branch, E(Eng), New Forest, has retired after 44 years’ service with the Commission.
Paul Kurowski. As reported in the last issue of “Slasher”, Paul Kurowski has retired after 31 years’ service with the Commission.
Picture: Paul Kurowski surrounded by friends and colleagues of Brechfa Forest District.
Willie McKeand, Aberfoyle, has retired after 50 years’ service with the Commission, mainly spent in the felling team after a short time on forest management. At his retirement presentation, he was given a garden seat made from a 50-year old West Red Cedar he had felled earlier in the year, believing it was destined for the Garden Festival. Willie also believed the photographs of him felling the tree were for evening and school talks. He was presented with a framed photograph of him felling the tree.
Revel McKeand, Aberfoyle, has retired after 43 years’ service with the Commission, with a short spell in the Roads Engineers, before joining the felling team. Revel was the local trade union representative from 1963 and spent 12 years on the JITC.
The McKeand brothers come from a forestry family. Willie and Revel’s father Woodrow worked in Corrie Nursery and Loch Ard Forest for 10 years. Their brother John retired a few years ago after 40 years’ service, ending as a Head Forester at Carradale in Kintyre District. Their sister Margaret was a Land Girl in Loch Ard Forest for eight years towards the end of the War before marrying a Forester, Alistair Morrison, who also recently retired as Head Forester at Tighnabruaich in Cowal District.
Harry Mee, Forest Craftsman, North York Moors, has retired after 32 years’ service with the Commission. He joined the Commission in the old Hawnby Beat of Hambleton District.
Bill MacKintosh, Easter Ross, has retired after 29 years’ service with the Commission. He went to Faskally School before working in many locations in North Scotland and spent the last 15 years in the Black Isle.
Harry Grainge, Senior Ranger 1, Torrachilty, has retired after 22 years’ service with the Commission.
Picture: Harry Grainge with colleagues at Torrachilty. He was presented with a makeshift fishing rod consisting of two garden canes, taped together and with string and a bent nail, which was immediately replaced with an attractive split cane fishing rod. Harry was delighted with both.
Sandy Sinclair, Ardross, has retired after 37 years’ service with the Commission.
David Foster, Ardross, has retired after 10 years’ service with the Commission.
Alex Sutherland, Black Isle, has retired after 40 years’ service with the Commission.
James Skinner, Black Isle, has retired after 33 years’ service with the Commission.
Ray Cole, PTO (Surveyor), Llandovery Roads, has retired after over 27 years’ service with the Commission. He worked in the Drawing Office in Cardiff, then spent a few years at Neath Roads before transferring to Llandovery Roads.
Picture: Ray Cole with Tony Summers.
Tony Summers, Conservancy Civil Engineer, Newtown, Wales has retired.
Cyril Daniel, FO111, District Forester H&M, has retired after 43 years’ service with the Commission. He began his career at Delamere before going to Benmore Training School. After a spell at Clocaenog, he served at Ceinog, Gwydyr, Corris and Kerry before the amalgamation in 1984.
Picture: Cyril Daniel with the fireproof trousers made by Brian Williams and presented by District Manager John Naisey.
David John Vile (Big Jack), has retired after 25 years’ service with the Commission, the last three years with the Department of Transport Agency.
Picture: David Vile at his retirement presentation.
Mary Campbell, EO, Mid Scotland, has retired after 44 years’ service with the Commission. She joined the Commission in 1943 as a Trainee Typist and worked for the last 10 years as EO, Operations Section, Mid Scotland.
Hugh Tilney-Bassett, FDM, Chilterns, has retired after originally intending to retire in July. He was asked to stay and his six extra weeks culminated in three visits by the ICF annual tour, which was based in Oxford and concentrated on lowland forestry in the Chilterns. Hugh has 38 years’ service with the Commission, since graduating from Edinburgh, first as an Assistant Education Officers at Gwydyr, then to South East England Conservancy, and then to East England (first at Thetford, then North Norfolk, Lincolnshire and finally at Chilterns).
Dai Owen, Forest Craftsman, Dyfnant, has retired after 37 years’ service with the Commission.
Aneurin Roberts, Forest Craftsman, Dyfnant, has retired after 40 years’ service with the Commission.
Cyril Jones, Forest Craftsman, Ceri, has retired after 32 years’ service with the Commission. Starting his career as a trapper in 1947, he travelled to work on a motor bike with his terrier, either in a planting bag or riding on the petrol tank. He later joined the harvesting gang but left the Commission in 1966 to work in private forestry and local factories. He rejoined the Commission in 1975 and after a period on production, joined the FM gang until retirement.
Eric Little, Handyman, Llanrwst, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission.
Roderick Jones, Llanrwst, has retired after 47 years’ service with the Commission. He worked on forest management on the former Betws and Llanrwst beats.
Vic Pugh, Llanrwst, has retired after 47 years’ service with the Commission. He worked on forest management on the former Betws and Llanrwst beats.
Emerys Hughes, has retired after 42 years’ service with the Commission. He was the sole remaining member of the former Hafod Fawr team. Emerys had worked on most aspects of forestry but was latterly involved on maintenance work at Beddgelert Campsite.
Stan Jones, Ruthin, has retired after 40 years’ service with the Commission, starting in what was then Goror Forest. He was involved in establishment operations, particularly associated with the nursery at Goror and Maelor. More recently, Stan has worked on trunk road agency work.
Picture: Stan Jones receives his Long Service certificate from M.D.M. Hughes, Assistant Conservator, Operations.
Obituaries
Tony Anderson, the Commission’s Chief Photographer serving at Alice Holt Research Station for 38 years until his retirement last year, has died.
Jack Fettis BEM, Head Forest Warden of Wadworth Wood, has died. He became a Forest Warden in the 1950s and since his retirement in 1971, spent most days, including weekends, patrolling the woods from dawn till dusk. His dedication to his duties earned him a BEM in 1983.