Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 40 - April 1951
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.
Rescued Boy From Quarry
Forest Worker W. Moss, of Plym Forest, Devon, has deservedly received a letter from the Chief Constable of the county "in appreciation of the speed and efficiency" with which he rescued a 15-year old boy from a quarry. By so doing he "undoubtedly averted a tragedy".
The story starts with the boy lowering himself on a wire rope over the edge of the 100 ft. deep quarry, his object being to photograph a raven's nest. The lad lost his hold on the quarry face and swung in the air away from the over-hanging 'lip', powerless to help himself and at times upside down.
A friend summoned the help of Mr Moss and another Forestry Commission employee, Mr D. Tibbles, and of Mr A. Whitelegg, a timber merchant, and his brother. They found it was impossible to haul the boy up by his rope, for the end was entangled in a stunted tree some feet below the quarry edge. Mr Whitelegg then attempted a rescue on the end of the rope from a tractor winch, but owing to difficulty in controlling the rope and the fact that he was badly bruised, had to give up.
Mr Moss was then lowered by rope until he managed to find a precarious foothold on a ledge 20 feet down. He secured the boy's wire with the end of the tractor's wire, which he had brought down with him, thus preventing any further slipping. Then he untied his own rope and lowered it to the boy, who managed to grasp it and permit himself to be hauled slowly up to Mr Moss, who held him on the ledge while he recovered from a short faint. Thereupon the lad was secured to the rope and pulled to safety. The same rope was again lowered in order that Mr Moss could return to the top of the quarry.
Considering the ordeal he had been through, the boy recovered quickly and, after thanking all concerned in the rescue, walked away with his friend. We take this opportunity to proffer our congratulations to Mr Moss and his companions.
The Wonder Car
A Forester in South East England, whose hobby is motoring, owns a car which is fitted, with 34 separate switches, plugs and 'gadgets' of one kind or another. Some, obviously, were on the car when it was purchased, but most have been added by the Forester.
The car, an Austin, is now fitted with both a 12-volt and 6-volt circuit, thus permitting an extensive use of lights and plugs and other accessories, which include a cubby-hole light; two interior lights; light under the radiator; light in luggage compartment; switch to turn off main petrol supply; switch to reserve petrol tank; two horns (described by the Forester as "mild" and "dog-scarer"); switch for radio; pump which sprays windscreen when dirty; two windscreen "de-frosters"; two windscreen wipers; switch to cut out all lights except offside parking lights; plug for inspection lamp; switch for lighting floor ("just in case you drop your gloves"); switch to supply engine with upper cylinder lubricant; switch for boosting batteries; switches for two fog lamps and for reversing light; and a cigarette lighter.
New Forest Felony
"Elementary, My Dear Watson" might have been the comment of Sherlock Holmes, had he visited the scene of a recent felony in the New Forest. For the thieves had made certain of acquiring the contents of the Forester's safe by removing the safe itself!
‘Down Glentress Way’
A recent programme in the 'Down Your Way' series featured the Border town of Peebles. As the work of the Forestry Commission is evidenced by the pine-clad surroundings of the town, it was not surprising that Mr T.A. Robbie, who is in charge of the Glentress Forester Training School, Peebles, was asked to take part. Mr Robbie was invited to meet Richard Dimbleby, the interviewer, and John Shuter, the producer, with the result that the work of the Commission and of the Forester Training School in particular was discussed in a palatial suite of the Peebles "Hydro".
Questions asked of Mr Robbie were spontaneous, and a most enjoyable radio programme was forthcoming. It is of interest that one recording had to be scrapped and re-taken, due to the fact that while the initial operation was in progress the Galashiels-Edinburgh "express" went shrieking through the town.
Mr Robbie is to be complimented on the amount of information on forestry matters he was able to get across, and on his good "radio voice".
A New Tie?
We are informed by the 'stockists' that there has been a marked falling off in demand for Forestry Commission ties. Just in case you need a new tie (and have the "wherewithal" to pay for it!) you may be interested to know that the firm in question holds substantial supplies of the following; Reppe ties at 6s.6d.; non-crease weave at 9s.6d.; and all silk at 13s.6d. Orders, with cheques or postal orders including 3d. to cover postage.
Close-up View of a Buzzard
Forester J.E. Evans, of Beddgelert, North Wales, writes to say that he was especially interested in the story in The Slasher (February) about the fight between the hawk and the magpie. "I recently had a thrill", he writes. "Noticing a buzzard hovering above some traps baited with a dead sheep, I decided to return to the spot later to see if the bird had been caught. Surely enough, it was caught but appeared none the worse for the experience. Holding both wings as near the back as possible I retrieved the bird and took it home so that my family might inspect it. It was later released and flew to a tree about 100 yards away, where it proceeded to put its feathers right. It measured 4 ft. from wing-tip to wing-tip".
It’s the Little Things That Count
Here is a tip given by Forester E.J.D. Wilkinson, of Marden Forest, South East England.
It happens that gates are left padlocked for long periods. Then, when they are to be opened, the key won't move in the rusted lock. On the other hand, if the lock is packed with grease prior to the period of disuse it will respond without the slightest difficulty when, eventually, the key is inserted.
New Honour for Lord Robinson
On the occasion of the installation of the Rt. Hon. Tom Johnston as the new Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, four Hon. degrees of LL.D (Doctor of Laws) were conferred - one on Lord Robinson, Chairman of the Forestry Commission. The ceremony took place early this month,
Transfers
K.A.H. Cassels, District Officer, Edinburgh, transferred to Inverness;
J.B. Fell, Forester, Craig Nan Eun, transferred to Urray, N(S);
W.A. Fraser, Forester, Strathnairn, transferred to Inchnacardoch, N(S);
G.M.B. Rogers, Foreman, Loch Ard, transferred to Lennox, W(S);
R.E. Hughes, Assistant Engineer, Bristol, transferred to Halwill, SW(E);
A.A. Ward, Clerk of Works, Glengarry, transferred to South Strome, N(S);
B. Kinnaird, S.E.O., Edinburgh, transferred to Glasgow, on promotion;
T. Farmer, H.E.O., Glasgow, transferred to H.Q.;
Miss M.H. Liddle, C.O., HQ., transferred to Edinburgh.
Appointments
J.E. Leslie, District Officer, Dean;
G.F.D'a Savage, North Scotland;
E.G.A. Humphreys, Assistant Engineer, North West England;
Miss J.F. Terry, E.O., HQ.;
E.G. Wilcox, Clerical Officer, Research;
J. Angus, Clerical Officer, North Scotland.
The Tongue Twisters - Exchange of Publications
Our readers may be interested to hear that we have recently made a publications exchange agreement with the
SUOMEN
PUUNJALOSTUSTEOLLISUUDEN
KESKUSLIITON
METSATYONTUTKIMUSTOIMITO
And that all the literature it issues should, in due course be available at the Alice Holt Library.
Many will, of course, have realised that this is nothing other than the Forest Work Studies Section of the Central Association of Finnish Woodworking Industries; but even the Finns have a word for it, and call it METSATEHO, for short. Its special field is the study of efficiency in work in the woods, particularly in the felling and extraction of timber, a matter of great importance to us as our own thinning operations expand. And, for the benefit of those whose Finnish is a trifle rusty, the Association kindly appends English summaries to most of the articles.
Some More About Big Trees - Oak With a Girth of 44 ft. 8 ins.
Some time ago we gave some facts about the largest and oldest trees in the world. We give below a few more details, but first let us heed a few words from Mr F.C. Baldwin, of the office of Director, England, who writes, "The layman who is not very good at estimating heights, may not register the proper degree of astonishment at your earlier statement that the tallest tree in the world is believed to be a Redwood in California, the height of which was recorded in 1947 as being 364 feet. There can, however, be comparatively few people who have not seen St. Paul’s Cathedral, if only in a photograph, and it might, therefore be helpful if you were to say that the height of this giant tree is only one foot less than that of the top of the gilt ball on St, Paul’s measured from the pavement".
Mr G.D. Kitchingman, Librarian at Alice Holt, is responsible for some interesting new data. He writes, "An impressive tree is the common Oak at Newlands, in Gloucestershire. It has a girth, at five feet from the ground, of 44 ft. 8 ins. The "fattest" conifer is probably the Yew at Ulcombe, in Kent, with a girth of 44 ft. 7 ins."
The tallest tree in Scotland is the Silver Fir at Inverary, which measures 168 ft. (1949). For an "all round" tree it would be difficult to beat the Douglas Fir at Dawyck, South Scotland. Its girth is 16 ft., its height 101 ft. and its volume 674 cubic ft.
Mr H.L. Edlin, in an article on hardwoods, has referred to John Hunter's description in 1776, of the Cowthorpe Oak, near Wetherby, in Yorkshire. "Its dimensions," commented John Hunter, "are almost incredible. Within three feet of the surface, it measures sixteen yards, its height in its present and ruinous state, is about eighty-five feet. When compared to this, all other trees are but Children of the Forest".
We Asked For It - We’ve Got It
For forty months we have produced The Slasher, including a leg-pull here, and a leg-pull there, and sometimes recording 'howlers' which have come our way. And then, last month, we ourselves produced the howler of howlers. Remember? Page 1, under 'Mountain Rescue' - "The crossing of the Cuillins by dark is a feat which experienced climbers would find difficult in daylight."
To those readers who have written to pull our legs, for a change, we apologise. We are but human.
Congratulations on Exam Pass
Mr Denis Crabb, Executive Officer in the Cost Research Section, Finance, Headquarters, has recently passed the final examination of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants.
Retired
Mr H.E.H. Drake, Finance Branch Audit Section, Headquarters, has retired after a total of 34 years' service with the Office of Woods, the Interim Forest Authority and the Forestry Commission.
Mr T. Penny, Forester, Lennox Forest, West Scotland, has retired after 30 years’ service with the Commission. He joined the Forestry Commission in 1920 as a Forest Worker at Inverliever. He was promoted to ganger in 1925, to Foreman in 1931 and Forester in 1928. The whole of his service was in the West Scotland Conservancy.
Mr W.O. Moorman, Foreman, Parkhurst Forest, Isle of Wight, has retired after joining the Commission in 1922. He spent the whole of his service at Parkhurst Forest, Isle of Wight, becoming a Foreman in 1940.
Marriages
Mr J. Auld, Clerk of Works, Glenbranter, West Scotland, married Miss Bunty Aitken.
Mr T.J. Gordon, of the Glasgow Office, married Miss Sheila MacKay.
Mr E.G. Owen, Clerical Officer, Aberystwyth, married Miss Eirwen Evans, of the same office.
Births
A son was born to Mrs Griffin and Mr J. Griffin, Engineering Clerk, West Scotland.
A daughter was born to Mrs Anderson and Mr Tony Anderson, Senior Photographer, Alice Holt.
Twins, a boy and a girl were born to Mrs Bolam and Mr T.W.B. Bolam, Forester, Allerston, East England.
Obituary
Mr W. Cottenham, retired Forester, Rockingham Forest, East England has died. He joined the Forestry Commission soon after its inception in 1919 and spent the whole of his service in Rockingham Forest. He took over at Rockingham when it was a small area of devastated woodland and saw the forest develop and extend to nearly 6,000 acres.
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