Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 354 - December 1991
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 and assisted by staff at Forest Research, Roslin. Brian Mahony has been instrumental in locating many missing editions and continues the searches to locate all the earlier publication numbers.
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 420 issues or publications were produced between January 1948 and the final issue in 2009. To read the full edition please see the PDF link below this text.
Fort and Forest - A Royal Link
When Fort William celebrated the 300th anniversary of the fort, the Forestry Commission played a prominent part. An exhibition, ‘The Lochaber Experience’, presented by various industries was visited by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Picture: The Queen is accompanied by Lord Strathclyde, the Forestry Minister and Paul Biggin, the Lochaber FDM.
Trees Galore in New-Look Sales Drive
Details of the Forestry Commission’s Christmas Tree Sales Centres.
Picture: Santa Claus with his team of helpers from Aberfoyle FD and Glasgow Conservancy on their way to visit the Sick Children’s Hospital in Glasgow.
Great Idea Wins £2500
Jimmy MacDonald and Roddie Munro, Processor Operators at Loch Awe FD have been awarded £2,500 under the Staff Suggestion Scheme for a proposed work method which improves harvesting efficiency and leaves the site in a better condition.
Picture: Commissioner David Foot and Conservator Graham Hamilton congratulate Jimmy MacDonald and Roddie Munro.
Fancy a Trip?
The Forestry Commission is considering having a permanent pool of experts who would be available for secondment to developing countries. Donald Thompson and Ken Charles, Harvesting and Marketing Division are examining the options.
Trio of Conservators
James Ogilvie, FOI, Kielder FD, has been appointed Conservator, Northumberland and Durham.
Ken Buswell, Work Study, has been appointed Conservator, West Country.
Brian Hibberd has been appointed Assistant Chief Conservator, England, Cambridge.
Bob Dunsmore, FDM, Easter Ross has been appointed Conservator, based at Dingwall.
Roger Muhl, FDM, Lothian and Tweed becomes FDM, Inverness.
Panto time is here again - In the case of Punters v FC Board
In the TUS Diary, Kenny Murray imagines a courtroom scenario, suggests rumours of a split of the FA/FE and looks for a positive message for the year.
Picture: Kenny Murray.
How to Treat an Oiled Bat
Petter Eccles, Head Ranger, Kielder FD reports on a breeding colony of Pipistrelle bats, which had lived in a chemical store for some years, decided to move into an adjoining oil compound. Foreman Ernie Swailes saw several bats, some still alive, had dropped into a shallow oil drip tray. Ranger Michael Sanderson and Clerkess K. Wilson from Bellingham Office cleaned two surviving bats with a mild cleansing gel. They were put into “intensive care” by Hugh Watson of the Northumbrian Bat Group, and one was nursed back to health and released.
Picture: Ranger Michael Sanderson with one of the bats.
Spirits of the Forest
Glasgow Arts Centre hosted the ‘Spirits of the Forest’, aimed at broadening perception of woods and forests and the ways in which they inspire imagination and creation. On show were wood sculptures, live performances of dance, magic, theatre, music and chainsaw carving by Lorne FD craftsman Duncan Gillies.
Pictures: (1) An eye-catching figure. (2) A skeletal chair. (3) Chainsaw carving of a squirrel.
Thanks Jack!
Jack Mitchell, Warden at Spiers House Campsite in Cropton Forest, North York Moors, received a letter from a young boy’s mother asking if a jumper had been found. It was and Jack received a letter of thanks from the boy.
Paws For Thought
Ae Forest District organised a family fun day “Four by Paws” which attracted amateur and professional teams to a four-wheel-drive challenge in aid of the National Canine Defence League. Val Shipp, Nithsdale FDM explained some of the challenges along the route.
Intrepid Duo Continue Their Diary - Pints at the High Point of the Trek
Daily report from Keith Gliddon and Ken Milsom of Headquarters, who conclude their trek on the Pennine Way.
Pictures: (1) Keith Gliddon and Ken Milsom at the Tan Hill Inn bar. (2) Progress on the 265 mile Pennine Way.
My Dream Life - by Peter Beale BEM
Peter Beale, Leading Ranger for Conservation and Recreation in West Downs FD, was presented with the British Empire Medal at Alice Holt by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Sir James Scott. Peter looks after between 120 – 130 conservation areas in the district.
Picture: Peter Beale, his wife Nellie and the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Sir James Scott.
Postbag
Grant-in-aid: A letter from D.M.B. Yorke, Forest District Manager, Dolgellau, Gwynedd.
Hilarious: A letter from Silvana Hewitt (and the girls in the Pool) on the diaries of Keith and Ken on their Pennine Way journey.
It's all in a Name: A letter from Carol Gill, Slasher Correspondent W(E) shares a notification addressed to S.F.O. District Officers and Foresters dated 20th January 1951, regarding the carrying of slashers.
That Flagpole Again: A letter from Bryan Evison, Chirk, North Wales, with memories of Jack Low, ex-CME of North Wales and an accident with a flagpole.
Keeping Doctor Away: A letter from Jim Clark, Spalding, Lincs. who was interested in reading Mr Nimmo’s letter in ‘Slasher’ and recalls meeting Maurice during his Forester training in the Dean in 1930/32, and Jack Nicholson who was one of his assistants at Fineshade, Northants in 1957/64.
Accolade: A letter from Jeffrey Livingston, Chapelhall Workshop, Airdrie, Lanarkshire who enjoys reading ‘Slasher’.
Collared!
Staff at York Conservancy witnessed an aerial battle between a sparrowhawk and a collared dove.
Now You're Talking Turkey
Turkeys are being reared in FC woodlands in the Hambleton Hills, Yorkshire, as part of a unique arrangement between the FC and Farmers’ Glory, a Northallerton based poultry farm. The company is renting space from the Commission to expand its free range turkey rearing operation.
Picture: Turkeys in the woods.
Christmas in Glasgow
Picture: FC staff bring gifts to the Sick Children’s Hospital in Glasgow.
Snakes Alive!
Hugh Clayden, PF&EO, M(S) brought a male Northern pine snake into the Glasgow Office, which formed an attachment to Catherine Houston.
Picture: Glasgow Office staff and the Northern pine snake.
Challenge
A Christmas Crossword.
Curator Hugh 'Bends Ze Knees' … Then Comes Back to Earth
Westonbirt curator Hugh Angus took to the skies in a hot air balloon, organised as part of a Royal Mail celebration of new stamps commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Ordnance Survey. Passengers were told to “Bend ze knees” on landing.
Picture: Hugh Angus in the Royal Mail hot air balloon.
Tony Gets His Sea Legs
Picture: Tony Summers’ photograph of the 22 foot yacht near the end of their return from Wicklow to Aberystwyth after 27 hours continuous watch at sea.
Kielder Team Pass Stiff Test
A team of six from Kielder FD came fifth in the Inter-Company Challenge consisting of eight tasks of mind bending complexity and the agility of a monkey. The team comprised of James Ogilvie, Mike Strachan, John Tewson, Bill Burlton, Mike Toland and Mike Sanderson.
Picture: The Kielder FD team.
High and Handsome
Berry Stone (Lydhurst) designed the 30 foot Wildlife Totem which was the central attraction in the FC display area at the New Forest and Hampshire Show. Forest Craftsman Roy Cox carved the windblown Douglas fir.
Picture: The Wildlife Totem, representing the diversity and value of forest wildlife.
Magnificence - It's the Only Word for it
Brina Evans, ‘Slasher’ Correspondent in Wales enjoys the magnificent view of Coed-y-Brenin.
Pictures: Coed-y-Brenin Forest Park.
No Better Tribute Than This
Rev. Mrs Arderne Gillies praises the Coed-y-Brenin Visitor Centre and Forest.
Ode to Loch Awe
Loch Awe have started a four-year renovation of their holiday cabins and one visitor, looking forward to the improvements, replied to a questionnaire in verse.
Good Guys - And One Not So Good!
ITV commandeered the Rest and Be Thankful picnic spot for a new series of “The Good Guys”. The BBC were 500 metres away recording a new series of Rab C. Nesbitt, the obnoxious, string-vested Glaswegian.
The Eagle Has Landed!
Argyll Forest Park, established in 1953 has claimed the title of the oldest Forest Park. It was officially reopened by Rae Michie MP at Cowal FD’s Forest Festival Day.
Pictures: (1) Rae Michie reopens Argyll Forest Park. (2) Chainsaw carvings by Pete Bowsher, Dornoch FD, which were auctioned for Tree Aid. (3) Tony Rees tries out the death slide on the assault course set up by members of the 24th Argyll Scout Group.
The Amazing Show Maze
The Royal Welsh Show set attendance records with the forestry section hosting 220,000 visitors. Of particular interest was the “Amazing Woods” exhibit designed by Wales Recreation Planning Officer, Bryan Pulford.
Pictures: (1) The Amazing Woods exhibit. (2) Duncan Sykes entertains Young Foresters with an owl. (3) Liz Cookson and Mary Brego welcome customers to the Forest Bookshop at the Royal Welsh Show.
Deliver the Goods Says Lang
Ian Lang, Secretary of State for Scotland, visited HQ to launch a new publication setting out the Government’s forestry policy.
Picture: Director General Robin Cutler and Ian Lang study the new booklet.
Beaus and Belles
Wales Conservancy Office Staff performed Robin Hood at the Aberystwyth Carnival.
Picture: Eiri Jones, Claire Owen, Gary Hopkins, Mike Over, Kerry Rattray, Jeff Evans, Cerys Phillips, Jane Evans, Sioned Davies, Karen Williams and Susi Knight.
Appointments
Three Top Posts Announced
Chief Conservators for the Forest Authority appointed for England, Scotland and Wales are respectively R.O. Smith, Conservator E(E), J. Atterson, Conservator N(S) and D.M. Hughes, Assistant Conservator Operations in Wales.
Other Appointments
Regional Directors (Forest Enterprise)
S.A. Neustein, Conservator N(E) will become Regional Director N&E(E), then on retirement next May, he will be succeeded by G.R. Hatfield, Assistant Conservator Operations in E(E) on promotion to Grade 5.
R.J.N. Busby, Conservator W(E) will become Regional Director S&W(E).
G.J. Hamilton, currently Conservator M(S) will become Regional Director N(S).
G.M. Cowie, currently Conservator S(S) will become Regional Director S(S).
J.F. Morgan, currently Conservator Wales, will become Regional Director Wales.
Heads of HQ Divisions – Policies and Services
P.J. Clarke continues as Secretary to the Forestry Commissioners and Head of Secretariat Division.
C.W. Simmonds who retires in February will be succeeded as Director, Personnel by J. McGough, A&FO in N(E) on promotion to Grade 5.
E.K. Arthurs continues as Director, Business Systems Division.
Dr S. Harding, Director Development, will head the new Policy Studies Division.
W.G. Prest, Budgets Officer and Head of Finance Branch A, will head the new Parliamentary Accounting Division.
J.F. Lindsay will continue as Head of Public Information Division.
J.F. McSorley will continue as Head of Internal Audit Division.
Forestry Authority
A.H.A. Scott, Director Environment will head the new Advisory & Extension Division.
D.A. Burdekin will continue as Director Research.
R.C. Herbert, currently A&FO in E(E) will become Head of Grants and Licences Division on promotion to Grade 6.
Forest Enterprise
R.P. Illingworth will continue as Director Estate Management until retirement in mid 1992 and will be succeeded by P.C. Rankin, currently Conservancy Land Agent in E(E) on promotion to Grade 5.
S.E. Quigley, Director H&M will head the new Business Enterprise Division.
C.T. Spillane, Controller of Finance, will head the new Enterprise Finance Division.
R.M. Hay will continue as Director Engineering.
J. Dewar, Head of Silviculture, will head the new Forest Management Division.
Further Appointments
B.P. Easton, SEO, PW Branch, will become Personnel & Administration Officer, England, Cambridge.
A.W. Stephenson OSO N(S) will become Forest Management and Environment Officer, Inverness.
T.R. Sawyer, FOI, FDM Marches will become Operations Manager, W(E), Bristol.
C.M.A. Taylor, FOI, FDM Perthshire will become FDM Tayside, Dunkeld.
T.A.G. James, FOI, Morgannwg will become FDM Morgannwg.
Mrs S.M. Nelson, SEO Personnel Division will become Personnel & Administration Officer, N&E(E), York.
N.H. Clayden, PF&EO M(S) will become FDM, Aberfoyle.
J. Simpson (promotion from Grade 7 to Grade 6) will become Regional Land Agent N(S) Inverness.
Retirement Association Reports - A Visit to Jail
There are Christmas get-togethers for various Retirement Association branches after a year of a wide variety of events and outings, including a visit to a jail.
Trees For Life Wins Top Award
The Findhorn Foundation’s Trees for Life project to regenerate the Caledonian Forest has won the Natural Environment category of The UK Ford Conservation Awards 1991.
Pictures: (1) David Bellamy with a group of workers in 1990. (2) David Bellamy in front of the last gate.
3000 Tested by Arrochar Alps
Over 3,000 competitors raced in the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon over two days. The FC Ardgartan campsite was the control centre and car park.
Handyman Mike Wins Top Photograph Honour
Mike Young, Caretaker and Handyman at Alice Holt, was awarded the Licentiateship (LRPS) of the Royal Photographic Society.
Photographs: (1) Close-up of a spider’s web. (2) Fungi in the woods. (3) A black and white study of the forest wildlife.
Good Idea Brigade
A meeting of the Central Staff Suggestion Committee agreed awards for £52, £65 and a £50 interim payment.
Capped for Scotland
Glenbranter Workshop Storeman Alasdair Paterson was appointed Captain of the Scottish Shinty Under 21s team. Cowal FD Forest Craftsman Fraser MacDonald is also a key player in the team.
Picture: The Scottish Shinty team with Alasdair Paterson and Fraser MacDonald.
Retired
Tom Fitzgerald, FDM, Cornwall and North Devon FD, has retired. After many years’ service with the Commission, Tom had been the FDM for three years.
Picture: Tom and his wife with Conservator Roger Busby.
Gordon Richards, Cornwall and North Devon FD, has retired after 39 years’ service with the Commission. Before joining the Commission, Gordon had worked for British Rail and thus changed from an organisation which ran the steam trains through the plantations at Halwill and started many fires, to an organisation which spent all its time putting them out! He worked for several years as a tractor driver with the harvesting teams but latterly, acted as a Storeman in the Central Depot.
Picture: Gordon Richards with his Long Service certificate.
Charlie Walker, Kielder FD, has retired after nearly 42 years’ service with the Commission. His record includes planting over 1.5 million trees – about 1 per cent of the FD, and he is one of the few people to plant a bare hill and then 40 years later, restock the same ground.
Picture: Charlie Walker with acting FDM James Ogilvie of Kielder.
David Elliot, Ganger, H&M, has retired after 37 years’ service with the Commission. David and his wife Vera moved to Byreness village in Redesdale in the Fifies and were the last FC employees who have been in the village from the beginning. They took a keen interest in the area and can still name all the children who were taught at the Primary School. Recently, David supervised the felling of the 500 hectares Stewartshiels block before it transferred to the Otterburn training area.
Picture: David Elliot and David Jardine, Harvesting Officer.
Jimmy Fryer, South Lakes FD, has retired after 37 years’ service with the Commission. He joined the Commission in 1953 and during his time could, and did, do almost everything. Most of his time however was spent on skidders.
Picture: Jimmy Fryer presented with his Long Service certificate by FDM Brian Mahony of South Lakes FD.
David Blandford, Head of Radio and Electronics Branch, has retired after 23 years’ service with the Commission. He was instrumental in the creation of a section of Engineering Division, solely responsible for providing the Commission with its radio communications needs and established four operational workshops around the country and one of them, Dunkeld, became his well known second home. Originally located at Bristol, he relocated to Tayside in 1974.
John Renwick, Dornoch FD, has retired after 28 years’ service with the Commission in the Shin area.
Rob Anderson, (Naver section), Dornoch FD, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission. He was once rated by work study as one of the fastest fencers in the Commission.
Picture: Rob Anderson of Dornoch with his Long Service certificate.
Alex Williamson, Inspector, Heathhall Repair Depot, has retired after 26 years’ service with the Commission.
Walter Nichol, Mechanic, Heathhall Repair Depot, has retired after 17 years’ service with the Commission.
Sam Wright, East Roads Dept., Heathhall Repair Depot, has retired after 23 years’ service with the Commission.
Everard Martin, Inverness FD, has retired after 31 years’ service with the Commission. His first forest was Queens then he went to Strathdearn and finally to Culloden Forest.
Picture: Everard Martin (Inverness) receives his Long Service certificate from Alasdair MacLeod, District Forester FM.
Tommy McLaughlin, Turner, Chapelhall Workshop, Lanarkshire, has retired after 18 years’ service with the Commission. He is well known in mechanical engineering circles for his traditional skills on lathes and other machine tools.
Fred Menzies, Forest Ganger, Strathyre, has retired after 43 years’ service with the Commission.
Ernie Michie has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission. His first posting with the Commission was to Nottingham, then moving northwards to Carlisle, where he managed Border forests, and to Fort Augustus. He spent time in acquisitions at Inverness, and moved to Dornoch, a massive district with the sea on three sides, and a ferry crossing over the treacherous Pentland Firth when PW inspections were due in Orkney. Ernie said the trick was to drop an anti-seasickness pill over the side of the ferry and the waves died away to mere ripples. Promotion to Grade 7 brought a move to Castle Douglas at the time of the 1984 reorganisation. Ernie is a former British Lions and Scots rugby international player. At his retirement presentation, he received a set of out-of-print volumes of a “History of Scottish Forestry”, sourced by Katrina Crocket, ending his 20 year search for them.
Picture: Ernie Michie presented with the “History of Scottish Forestry” volumes, a local print and a painting by the famous Galloway artist Donald Watson, presented by Conservator S(S) Gordon Cowie in Castle Douglas.
Rex Howell, Head of Statistics and Computing Branch at Alice Holt for more than 22 years, has retired after a total of 41 years’ service with the Commission. After National Service, Rex began his forestry career as a forest worker trainee at Lynford Hall Forester Training School from 1951-53, then was appointed as Ex-school Ganger, then as Assistant Forester at Farnham Regional Office. During this period, he studied for and passed all the examinations of the Institute of Statistics, becoming an Associate of the Institute in 1957. The next year he was posted to Edinburgh Regional Office as Statistician and regraded to Scientific Officer. In 1963 he was promoted to SSO. When John Jeffers left the FC to become Director of Merlwood Research Station in 1967, Rex was posted back to Alice Holt as Head of Statistics and Computing Branch.
Picture. David Burdekin, Director Research (holding a picture of Rex computing under an umbrella!), Rex and wife Pat, and David Mobbs, Principal Statistician (with a card based on the rose theme).
Charles Wilde (C.G. Wilde), Llandovery FD, has retired after 38 years’ service with the Commission, all in Wales. After completing training at the old Gwydyr School, his initial posting as an Assistant Forester was to Rheola Forest. Since then Charles has spent his service at Slebech and Glasfynydd Forests, then at Ebbw, before moving to Preseli as Head Forester in charge. In 1983 when Preseli became part of Brechfa, he joined the Private Woodlands section and then in 1989 when Brechfa and Llandovery FD amalgamated, he remained as Private Woodlands Officer for the new Llandovery FD.
Picture: Conservator John Morgan with Charles and over-sized cheque.
William Davey, Llandovery FD, has retired after 30 years’ service with the Commission, joining in the old Llanddowror Forest, which in 1973 became part of Slebech Forest. All of his service has been on forest management activities, including agency work for the Welsh Office, and he has been actively involved in helping with the landscaping of most of the large by-passes in West Wales, and in the establishment of seed orchards in Slebech. In 1984, all of this unit became part of Brechfa and more recently part of Llandovery FD.
Ron & Sally Maiden, whose familiar figures will be missed around Headquarters now that they have retired.
Picture: Ron Maiden and his wife Sally Maiden.
Obituaries
Leslie Troup OBE, Conservator, South West England for 10 years until his retirement in 1983, has died. After his retirement, he continued to champion conservation matters and in 1987 became the first Director of Tree Aid. George Holmes, former Director General of the Forestry Commission writes: It was my pleasure and good luck to have been a close friend and professional colleague of Leslie and his family, for more than 40 years, since he joined the Commission as a District Officer in South East England. His courage and good humour helped him to bear the setbacks of recurrent illness and the untimely death of his wife Muriel, and their handicapped daughter Lynn. He became a founding member and Chairman of the Home Farm Trust, which now has a countrywide network of highly successful homes for handicapped children. He was staunchly supported by his second wife Anne and son Geoffrey. He was an outstanding forester throughout the exciting times of the 50s, 60s and 70s – as a District Officer at Farnham, Bristol; for eight years as Chief Work Study Officer; and finally as Conservator SW England for 10 years. Leslie was appointed to the England committee of the Nature Conservancy Council.
Picture: Leslie Troup.
Jock Gunn, Perthshire FD, died on 30th September aged 67. He started work with the Commission in 1947 in Keillour Forest before moving to Craigvinean following amalgamation. He became Senior Ganger and was well liked and respected by all staff.
Neil Drummond, Perthshire FD, died on 29th September aged 67. He began his career as a Senior Ranger on Christmas Day 1959 at Strathord Forest before expanding his duties to cover Craigvinean.
Donald Gairns, Perthshire FD, died on 5th October after 7 years of retirement. Born in 1921, Donald started with the Commission at Keillour in 1956 and spent his career there as a Forest Craftsman, retiring in 1984.
Jimmy Bain, died on 7th November aged 65. He hailed from the island of Papa Westray and worked as a Bevin Boy at the Lindsey coal pit in Fife before joining the Commission in 1947. Trained as a Forester at Benmore, his career took him to many of the old forests in East Scotland – Ledmore, Rannoch, Inglismaldie, Fetteresso, Tentsmuir, Hallyburton and finally Durris. Jim retired 7 years ago to Crathes, near Banchory where, working as a consultant / contractor, he was able to pass on his wealth of practical experience to those in the private sector.
Charlie Hart, former Head Forester in Scotland West Conservancy, died in September in Moffat, Dumfries-shire. He retired in 1982 after serving at Loch Ard Forest, Aberfoyle for several years. On leaving Benmore Forestry School in 1950, Charlie's first posting was to Carron Valley and this was followed by forests at Eredine, Glen Duror and Glencoe before Loch Ard. He will be remembered for his special talents in music and art.
John Higgins, former Forest Craftsman at Llanrwst FD, died on 11th September. He was medically retired in May aged 58.
Norman Terry died in August aged 79. He joined the Commission in 1948 and worked in Plashetts Forest, North York Moors, then continued working in the surrounding area before becoming Head Forester in charge of Don Forest. He retired in May 1972.
Eric March died in September. He was in his eighties. He joined the FC after the war and worked in Northumberland before moving to Selby Forest, where he spent the majority of his working life, then to the Stang as Forester-in-charge.
H.W. Gulliver, who retired from Woking office in 1970, died in September. He joined the Commission in 1926 and was Chief Clerk at Lyndhurst until 1947 when he transferred to Woking.