Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 201 - September 1964
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.
Retirement
Mr Frank Oliver, Conservator, East Scotland received many accolades on his retirement. Originally from Stonehaven, he dealt efficiently with serious matters such as the devastation caused by the great gale in 1953. Mr J.A.B. MacDonald, Conservator, South Scotland, paid tribute to his forestry skills and his sense of humour. He wrote about Frank Oliver joining the Commission after graduating in Forestry in Aberdeen and working for a period in Canada. His first chief was Frank Scott, followed by James Fraser.
Frank earned the respect and admiration of his seniors when he became a District Officer. A great sportsman, he remains a keen golfer. It is worth noting that he was one of three Vice Presidents of a unique organisation named the Inverness Ski-ing, Mountaineering and Glee Club, which had only one ordinary member! He was also a founder member of the Inverness Gliding Club. He had many anecdotes to relate to his colleagues and was the guest of honour at a retirement presentation dinner in the Douglas Hotel, Aberdeen. Seventy three of his colleagues and friends gathered to honour him including
Mr J. Dickson, Director of Forestry for Scotland; Professor H.M. Steven (until recently Professor of Forestry at Aberdeen University); Mr W.J. Riddoch, a very well known figure in the Scottish Timber Trade; Mr J.A.B. MacDonald, Mr H.A. Maxwell, Mr J.W.L. Zehetmayr, Conservators South, North and West Scotland respectively; and Mr G.E. Godwin, Conservator in the Scottish Directorate Office. On behalf of well-wishers, Mr W.G. Milne, Head Forester, presented him with a camera, watch and etchings and wished him a long and happy retirement.
Visits Abroad
FC Chairman Lord Waldegrave, Director General Sir Henry Beresford-Peirse and Mr B. Holtam of the Utilisation & Marketing branch recently visited forests and forest industries in Sweden.
After the visit to Britain last year by Mr Mihai Suder, Rumanian Minister of Forest Economy, Lord Waldegrave, Sir Henry Beresford-Peirse and Mr E.G. Richards of the Utilisation and Marketing branch visited Rumania to see research establishments, forests and the Game Protection Settlement in the Danube Delta.
Mr E.G. Richards had been in Hungary with Mr P.F. Garthwaite under the cultural exchange programme.
Commissioner in Debate
Alderman Gwynfryn Davies, a Commissioner and Chairman of the National Committee for Wales had a leading role in a debate on the Welsh BBC programme Heddin (Today) in which the subject was "Automation" in relation to the steel industry.
Woodchoppers' Gala
Forester A.C. Dover announced the highlights of the third Woodchoppers' Gala at Santon Downham, Thetford. There were many displays and children were invited to throw P. radiata cones at their headmaster, Mr M. Brighouse who was acting as Aunt Sally. The aerial rope-way was operated by Ganger A. McQuarrie.
There were various attractions including a fire fighting display, a demonstration by the West Suffolk Dog Training Association, maypole dancing by Brandon Junior School children.
The village church of St Mary was decorated with flowers. Forest Workers Mr H. Largent and Mr F. Sayer built a miniature forest. Mr Tiplady, Deputy Chief Constable of West Suffolk and Mrs Tiplady opened the Gala, which was organised by the Church Council and members of Forestry Commission staff.
Struck By Lightning
Roads Foreman Mr D.R. Jones almost died when he or something close to him was struck by lightning on Rhigos Mountain near Hirwaun, South Wales.
Drivers Mr T. Hamilton and Mr T. Morris were operating two machines, a D7 joined by a winch rope to a D6. Mr Hamilton was thrown backwards and Mr Morris also felt the effect of the lightning. All three workers made a full recovery.
Transfers
J.H. Huntly, District Officer, transferred from Dornoch N (S) to Stirling W (S);
J.A. Campbell, Forester, transferred from Working Plans W (S) to Working Plans HQ;
R.O. Price, Forester, transferred from Aber D (W) to Myndd Ddu S (W);
B.S. Thomson, Forester, transferred from Greystoke HQ to Gwydyr School;
D. Elgy, Assistant Forester, transferred from Alice Holt D (R) to Wark NE (E);
J.D.E. Wainwright, Assistant Forester, transferred from Working Plans D (E) to Fineshade E (E);
R.B. Ross, Assistant Forester, transferred from Inverness N (S) to Work Study, Edinburgh;
C. Ridley, Higher Executive Officer, transferred from Alice Holt to London;
A.W. Meyer, Executive Officer, transferred from London D (E) to HQ;
Miss C.M. Davies, Executive Officer, transferred from Chester NW (E) to Alice Holt.
New Forester Training School Postings
C.H. Blackwood, Assistant Forester, posted to Dunnerdale, NW (E);
T.J. Laker, Assistant Forester, posted to Kershope, NW (E);
B.D. Symes, Assistant Forester, posted to Thornthwaite, NW (E);
D.W. Watts, Assistant Forester, posted to Mortimer, NW (E);
M.J. Day, Assistant Forester, posted to Tarset, NE (E);
M. Hanafin, Assistant Forester, posted to Kielder, NE (E);
A.G. Little, Assistant Forester, posted to Bickley, NE (E);
N.R. Morley, Assistant Forester, posted to Wark, NE (E);
J.S. Smart, Assistant Forester, posted to Pickering, NE (E);
D.T.A. Hendrie, Assistant Forester, posted to Honeywood, E (E);
R.A. Nickerson, Assistant Forester, posted to Lavenham, E (E);
P.M. Reynolds, Assistant Forester, posted to Brandon Central Depot, E (E);
P.J. Humphries, Assistant Forester, posted to Bodmin, SW (E);
T.R. Sawyer, Assistant Forester, posted to Hereford, SW (E);
D.E. Yearsley, Assistant Forester, posted to Brendon, SW (E);
J.L. Budd, Assistant Forester, posted to New Forest;
G.W. Nicholls, Assistant Forester, posted to New Forest;
M. Richards, Assistant Forester, posted to Dean;
M.F. Wearing, Assistant Forester, posted to Dean;
A.R. Brown, Assistant Forester, posted to Strath Dearn, N (S);
J. Davidson, Assistant Forester, posted to Leanachan, N (S);
R.S. Ogilvy, Assistant Forester, posted to Torrachilty, N (S);
A. Sandilands, Assistant Forester, posted to South Strome, N (S);
M.J.A Smith, Assistant Forester, posted to Shin, N (S);
D. Cotton, Assistant Forester, posted to Clashindarroch, E (S);
B.L. Foggo, Assistant Forester, posted to Speymouth, E (S);
I.J. Keen, Assistant Forester, posted to Durris, E (S);
A.G. Kinnes, Assistant Forester, posted to: Rannoch, E (S);
J.D. Lindsay, Assistant Forester, posted to Rannoch, E (S);
J.C. Anderson, Assistant Forester, posted to Newcastleton, S (S);
P.R. Dewey, Assistant Forester, posted to Glentress, S (S);
W.I. Robinson, Assistant Forester, posted to Greskine, S (S);
H. Schreider, Assistant Forester, posted to Kirroughtree, S (S);
E.K. Barker, Assistant Forester, posted to Inverliever, W (S);
P. Delap, Assistant Forester, posted to Ardgarten, W (S);
D.A.T. Douglas, Assistant Forester, posted to Garadhban, W (S);
R.G. Rae, Assistant Forester, posted to Glenrickard, W (S);
P.R. Ratcliffe, Assistant Forester, posted to Inverinan, W (S);
B.R. Evans, Assistant Forester, posted to Dovey Corris, N (W);
C.E.G. Lawes, Assistant Forester, posted to Coed-y-Brenin, N (W);
P.J. Wetton, Assistant Forester, posted to Clwyd, N (W);
D.J. Whitmarsh, Assistant Forester, posted to Hafren, N (W);
J. Hunt, Assistant Forester, posted to Glasfynydd, S (W);
P.J. Noot, Assistant Forester, posted to Rheola, S (W);
D.W. Price, Assistant Forester, posted to Brechfa, S (W).
Marriage
Congratulations on their marriage for Mr R.J. Affleck and Miss J.B. Priest, both of Headquarters.
Obituaries
Mr Robert Crozier (Bob Crozier), Head Forester at Loch Ard, West Scotland Conservancy, died during an ordinary working day. He was aged 59 and was highly respected for his professional knowledge and sound judgement and was deeply admired for his qualities of character. He went to Benmore Forester Training School in 1930, after working on a private estate at Jedburgh, where his father was Head Forester. Following a short period of service as a ganger at Ae in 1935, he went as foreman to Glenbranter. In 1938 he took charge of the Achray section of Loch Ard, where he remained for ten years, until being posted to Inverliever. He was promoted to Head Forester soon after taking over Inverliever, and managed that forest during an interesting though onerous period in which techniques of exploitation were pioneered. In the spring of 1959 he returned to Aberfoyle, this time to take charge of the 15,000 acre main section of Loch Ard. He was a member of the Committee of the Royal Scottish Forestry Society and an Elder of Aberfoyle Church.
Forester E. Fairman of Walsham, East England Conservancy died a fortnight before retirement, while showing his successor Forester Raynor round the forest. He collapsed and died before reaching hospital. Mr Fairman went to Benmore Training School (1927-1928) and on leaving, served with the Commission for about a year before going to Patagonia and later, to Canada. Returning to this country, he rejoined the Commission in 1936 as a Foreman and was promoted to Acting Forester in 1941. Much of his service was in South West England, where he was stationed at various times at Collingbourne, Bodmin, Quantock, Wyre and Mendip. In 1959 he moved to East Anglia and took over the Walsham Section of Wensum Forest.