Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 29 - May 1950
The scanned images of the Slasher were produced by and courtesy of the Forest Research Data and Information Team staff based at Roslin, where some of the original copies are located. The Forestry England Information Knowledge Management Team and New Forest Heritage made available copies of The Slasher from their collections. Brian Mahony of the FC Retirement Association devised and coordinates the Slasher Project and has been instrumental in locating many missing editions and coordinating the searches to locate all the earlier publication numbers.
The content summary below was again very kindly compiled by Diane Birkett, Bedfordshire. See PDF attachment link below the text summary to view the full document. A total of over 420 issues or publications were produced between January 1948 and the final publication in 2010.
Twiglees Forest and the Rule of Three
Three new houses were completed in January at Twiglees Forest, South Scotland. They were occupied by three ex-Service men and their wives, all three of whom are named Jean. In the first three months of occupation three children were born, one to each of the three Jeans. To Forest Worker and Mrs Jardine, a daughter, Sandra; to Foreman and Mrs Maxwell, a son, David; to Driver and Mrs. Paxton, a son, Colin.
Story of the Small Stone Disc - Forester’s Interesting Finds
Forester R.J. Jennings of St Asaph, North Wales, gives details of an antiquarian finds: -
"In 1940, during ploughing operations at Dovey Forest, I picked up a small stone disc with a hole in the centre. It eventually travelled with me from Montgomeryshire to Merionethshire to Shropshire. Eight years after it was turned up by the plough, I took it to the National Museum of Wales at Cardiff, who declared it to be an ancient spindle whorl used in Wales before the Middle Ages and subsequently attached to the end of the spindles. To quote the report from the museum, the whorls gave a twirling motion required for spinning thread. They are occasionally found in spots remote from modern or known habitation and were doubtless lost by women who spun while watching sheep.
"During the past thirteen years in Wales I've found on Commission property an old English coin at Clocaenog Forest, an old Irish coin in a wall at Cwm Einion Forest (probably brought across by an Irish harvester who came to work in gangs in Wales), and two Neolithic flints."
Essays Invited from Commission Staff in Wales
W.D. Russell, Conservator, South Wales, will be one of the judges for the best essay on 'The Value of trees, woodlands and shelter belts on a Welsh hill farm'. Monetary prizes of £5, £3 and £1 are offered in the competition in connection with the Forestry Section of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show.
Ancient Monuments on Commission Property
Forester C.P. Carr gives details of ancient monuments on Forestry Commission property. At Coed Clwyd in North Wales is the famous Jubilee Tower, situated at the top of Moel Famau at a height of 1,852 feet. It was built in 1809 by the people of Flintshire and Denbighshire, to celebrate the 50th year of the reign of King George III. The subscription list was headed by £105 given by the Prince of Wales. The structure originally had a base of 60 feet and a total height of 150 feet, and the design was Egyptian in character and was carried out by a Mr Harrison of Chester.
The opening ceremony was carried out by Lord Kenyon, together with the Sheriffs of Flintshire and Denbighshire. The four corners at the base had heavy square buttresses, while in the centre there was a tall tapering pinnacle. This, however, was never quite completed, for it was damaged by a storm. Repairs were put in hand but some 20 years later, another storm severely damaged the structure, bringing down the central pinnacle and one corner of the base.
Visitors to the locality are always keen to climb to the Jubilee Tower where, on a clear day, they can see the whole of the Vale of Clwyd; the Denbighshire Hills; the Wrekin, Shropshire; Rivington Pike near Bolton; the Cumberland Hills; Snowdon; Cader Idris and the Isle of Man.
The Beauty of Eggesford - A Coniferous Panorama
Mr L.W. Carter, Bristol, South West Conservancy, England, extols the beauty of Devon and describes the area in and around Eggesford Forest, which he believes combines beauty with practical needs.
The Story of a Field May Have Given its Name to the Oval
When cricket enthusiasts at Alice Holt Lodge decided to make use of a local field, oval in shape, for cricket, they discovered that according to a booklet published by a local historian, the field gave the name to the famous Oval in Kennington.
Be that as it may, there is no doubt that it was a renowned cricket ground one hundred and fifty years ago. In 1808, it was the scene of a Surrey v. England match.
A famous local cricketer, Silver Billy Beldham and his team from Farnham and district played many games there. "Silver Billy", so called on account of his blond hair, was described as "the king of bats". John Nyren, son of the famous Richard Nyren of Hambledon, praised both his batting and bowling. It was said that Beldham used to "cut with the speed of thought"; Beldham lived to the grand old age of 98. What a pity he did not get his century.
Transfers
G.J.L. Batters, Conservator, N.E.(E), transferred to the office of Director, England.
E.E. Dixon, District Officer, Carlisle, NW(E), transferred to Woking, SE(E);
F.F.G. Parsons, Forester, Gardiner, SW(E), transferred to Wareham, SW(E);
R.B. Gilson, Forester, Clipstone, NW(E), transferred to Hope, NW(E);
C.N. Simpson, Forester, Smales, NE(E), transferred to Chirdon, NE(E);
A.M. Morris, Forester, Cranwich, E(E), transferred to Fermyn, E(E);
R. Walton, Forester, Fermyn, E(E), transferred to Cranwich E(E);
O.R. Barsby, Forester, Hope, NW(E), transferred to Clipstone, NW(E);
G.I. Morgan, Foreman, Drummond Hill, E(S), transferred to Drumtochty, E(S);
J.F.B. Wood, Foreman, Burley, New, transferred to Ringwood, New;
P.H. Ainsworth, Foreman, Mounces, NE(E), transferred to Chirdon, NE(E);
G.W. Preston, Assistant Engineer, Thornton-le-Dale, NE(E), transferred to Pickering, NE(E);
J. Outerson, Clerical Officer, HQ., transferred to Office of Director, Scotland (Edinburgh).
M.V. Laurie, Chief Research Officer, transferred to Headquarters (Savile Row).
Marriages
S. Forrester, District Officer, North East England, married Miss Aline Sharp.
Bill Elliot, Office of Director, Scotland, married Miss Maud Fox, of the Board of Trade. After a presentation by colleagues, they were provided with a horse-drawn carriage to take them from the office.
Births
Twins were born to Mrs Young and Mr R.E. Young, Forester, Rosedale, N.E. England.
A son was born to Mrs Swinburn and Mr K. Swinburn, Clerical Officer, York office.
A daughter, Frances, was born to Mrs Poole and Mr W. Poole, Clerical Officer, Office of Director, Scotland.
Retired
Mr F.W. Hamilton, Secretary of the Forestry Commission since 1947, is to retire. He has served with the Commission since its inception. His successor will be Mr H.A. Turner, formerly an Assistant Secretary at the Treasury.
Obituaries
Mr Tom King, H.C.O., Office of Director, England, who joined the Commission in 1927, died on 30th April. During a period of evacuation to Bristol, he sustained an injury in the blackout, and the effect upon his health proved permanent.
Donald Ace, Forester, Brechfa Forest, South Wales, has died aged 53. He joined the Commission in 1929 as an Acting Foreman.