Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 66 – June 1953
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.
Coronation Honours - And a Royal Visit to South Wales
Mr A.H.H. Ross, Conservator, North West England, who has served the Commission for 28 years and is soon to become Director, Scotland, has received an O.B.E.
Miss Ann Brooks, Higher Executive Officer at Edinburgh, has been awarded an M.B.E. for her long and meritorious service. She joined the Forestry Commission as a shorthand typist in 1926 and is the most senior woman officer in the Department.
Head Forester C.W. Redford, Thetford, East England, who led a large volunteer party of Commission employees on sea defence work after the disastrous floods early in the year, has received a British Empire Medal.
Head Forester A.N. Simpson, who has been with the Department for 32 years, during which time he has been continuously in charge of Tulliallan Nursery, in West Scotland, has received a British Empire Medal.
Mr Tom Brown, who was in charge of Eggesford, South West England, when the Commission's first-ever planting took place there in 1919, has received an M.B.E. He subsequently became a Head Forester but resigned in 1929 to take up a supervisory post at Dartington Hall.
Flight Lieutenant A.F. Carvosso, formerly an Executive Officer in the Office of Director, England, received the Queen's Commendation for services in the air.
The Department is officially commemorating the Coronation in several ways. H.R.H. the Princess Royal has been invited to visit South Wales this month, where she will give the name of Coed Morgannwg (The Forest of Glamorgan) to a group of our forests which lie in a great arc to the rear of Port Talbot. They include Margam, Michaelston, Dunraven, Cwmegwr and Rheola forests, which together cover some 34,000 acres, or more than 50 square miles. The ceremony in which Her Royal Highness will unveil a commemorative stone, will take place at a high vantage point which affords some impressive views of the units involved. Before undertaking this ceremony Her Royal Highness will name a forest road, which is to be known as Ffordd y Frenhines (The Queen's Way). Other Coronation ceremonies have taken place.
Tree Planting in West Scotland
On a site in Tulliallan Nursery, in the West Scotland Conservancy, trees were planted by children of Forestry Commission employees. Forester A.N. Simpson spoke and each local household was represented by a child of school age, who planted an ornamental species.
A ceremony was held at Devilla Forest, in the West Scotland Conservancy, where an avenue of flowering trees was planted by youngsters representing families from the local Holdings. Forester W. Fairbairn addressed the assembled children and parents. District Officer W.P. Thomson spoke at both events of the historical significance of the ceremonies, and each child was presented with a small gift.
A lead label, bearing the name of the child undertaking the planting, and that of the species, was affixed to each tree.
Local children planted ornamental trees around Leanach Hostel and the new Finnish houses at Strathlachlan Forest, West Scotland. District Officers S.M. Petrie and J.F. MacGarva were present and
the former spoke of developments in planting in rural areas and expressed the hope that the newly planted trees would flourish in the new reign.
To the Brave - The Fare! Or One Man's Meat
Grey squirrel was on the menu in the canteen at the Forest Research Station at Alice Holt Lodge.
Another dish was also available, but 26 people, including representatives of the local Press, chose squirrel. The creatures were supplied by Fred Courtier, the Commission's 'Squirrel Officer', who skinned 20 of them, providing approximately 10 lbs. of meat. Only the rear half of the carcase, less the tail, was used.
Mrs Clancy, the cook, combined two recipes, one for rabbit and one for hare, and included a Spanish sauce made of sherry and mushrooms.
Important Find in South Wales - Headstone of 700 A.D.
A monumental stone with an incised cross, believed to be related to the early Celtic church of Wales, was recently found in Pelena Forest, South Wales. It was turned up on the mountain by the plough, and its historical significance was recognised by Forester I.O. Evans who, in reporting the find, provided details for transmission to the National Museum of Wales at Cardiff. Dr Nash-Williams, Keeper of the Department of Archaeology, replied that the find was 'clearly of great interest' and he thought the stone, which may have been the headstone of a grave, to be of a date about 700 A.D. The stone is approximately three feet high, 15 inches wide at the base and about a foot wide at the waist, and is between three and three and a half inches thick. Its future home will be the National Museum of Wales.
Sartorial Elegance - A Note for Dean Ex-Students
Supplies are available of the Dean School blazer, scarf and tie. Ex-students requiring any of these items are asked to get in touch with Mr C.A. Webber, Messrs. Horne Bros., 90-92, Oxford Street, London, W.1.
The blazers are in two qualities and the price includes the badge: -
No. 1 quality single breasted, is 84s. 5d. for 35-inch chest; 89s. 11d. for 36-37 inch; 96s. 11d. over 37 inch.
No. 1 quality double breasted, in the same order of chest measurement, 90s. 5d.; 95s. 11d.; 102s. 11d.
No. 2 quality single breasted, 94s. 5d.; 101s. 11d.; 109s. 11d.;
No. 2 quality double breasted, 100s. 5d.; 107s. 11d.; 115s. 11d. The colour is fairly dark green.
The badge costs £1 in the 1937 design, reduced in size due to the high cost of embroidery and gold wire.
The scarf costs £1 5s. 3d. It is flannel and the design consists of two vertical gold stripes on a green background; it is 5' 6" long and nine inches wide.
The tie costs 8s. 6d. and the design takes in the school crest in gold, black and light green on a dark green background; there is a thin gold diagonal stripe between the crests.
A silk square, made up from the tie material, is available at £1 5s. 6d. It is about 2ft. 6 inches square and contains some 360 small crests and 19 stripes.
The Dean School is 50 years old in January next. A reunion and other celebrations are planned.
Valuing Timber in Ancient Wales - An Oak, Six Score Pence
Who were the first people to fix timber prices in Britain? A correspondent has come across the translation of an ancient Welsh law which he believes was passed by King Hywel Dda (Howell the Good) during the tenth century A.D. It runs as follows: -
A consecrated yew, its value is a pound.
A mistletoe branch, three score pence.
An oak, six score pence.
Principal branch of an oak, thirty pence.
A yew tree, not consecrated, fifteen pence.
A sweet apple, thirty score pence.
A sour apple, thirty pence.
A thorn tree, seven pence halfpenny.
Every tree after that, four pence.
We don't pretend to know what the pound was worth in those far off days, but it seems that timber was regarded as a valuable commodity. But why charge five shillings for a branch of mistletoe? The Druids used it, of course, but by the time this law was passed, the Welsh had been Christians for hundreds of years. Can it be that they needed it for their Christmas festivities? If so, it looks as though the "spivs" were already in the business!
A Post Office for Dalavich - An Asset For a Forest Village
The new forest village of Dalavich, West Scotland, which houses supervisory staff and workers from Inverliever Forest, has got a post office, which means the village community has become less remote.
The post office, which was built by the Commission, was opened recently by the Assistant Postmaster of Oban and it is understood that it can meet all requirements except a money order! It is at present serving 31 houses, but in due course this number will be greatly increased.
Miss C.A. Gillies, who for nearly 30 years has been a postwoman in the area, has become the first Postmistress. Her former occupation required her to walk and cycle something like 18,000 miles.
'Cuts By The Score' - Alleged Extract From a Report
The following has nothing to do with forestry and little enough to do with us as individuals. It may, however, encourage us to watch our step (or rather hand) when writing reports. Headed 'Cuts By The Score', it is alleged to be an extract from an O. and M. report, written after a visit to the Royal Festival Hall.
For considerable periods the four oboe players had nothing to do. The numbers should be reduced, and the work spread more evenly over the whole of the concert, thus eliminating peaks of activity.
All the twelve first violins were playing identical notes. This seems unnecessary duplication. The staff of this section should be drastically cut. If a large volume of sound is required, it could be obtained by means of electronic amplifier apparatus.
Much effort was absorbed in the playing of demi-semi-quavers. This seems an excessive refinement. It is recommended that all notes should be rounded up to the nearest semi-quaver. If this were done, it would be possible to use trainees and lower grade operatives more extensively.
There seems to be too much repetition of some musical passages. Scores should be drastically pruned. No useful purpose is served by repeating on the horns a passage which has already been handled by the strings.
It is estimated that if all redundant passages were eliminated, the whole concert time of two hours could be reduced to twenty minutes, and there would be no need for an interval.
The conductor agrees generally with these recommendations, but expresses the opinion that there might be some falling off in the box-office receipts. In that unlikely event, it should be possible to close sections of the auditorium entirely, with a consequential saving of overhead expense - lighting, attendance, etc. If the worst came to the worst, the whole thing could be abandoned, and the public could go to the Albert Hall instead.
Golf Championship
Divisional Officer C. Fairchild, of North Wales, has won the Shropshire Golf Championship. He won his first county championship (Caernarvonshire and District) in 1912. Since then he has twice won the Welsh Amateur Championship - in 1921 and 1925. We believe Mr Fairchild is the only player from Wales to take the Fotheringham Cup out of Scotland. Mr Fairchild is not the only county champion in the Shrewsbury Office. Clerical Officer Mr M. Jones, is the Shropshire County Table Tennis champion.
If Oak Be Out Before the Ash
Always a topical subject - the weather. A colleague was speculating as to the chances of a fine holiday for himself at the seaside. He recited the old adage: "If the Oak be out before the Ash, then Summer will be a splash. If Ash be out before the Oak, then Summer will be a soak".
Quaint Nameplaces
In England, on Forestry Commission land, there are the following quaintly named places: -
High Paradise; Peep-O-Day; Light Pipe. In the Tintern area, Wales, there is Botany Bay.
Newcomers
Executive Officer B.A. Hamilton to Chester;
Clerical Officer L.W. Thomas to Chester;
Clerical Officer G.E. Paddock to Shrewsbury;
Clerical Officer K. Hughes to Cardiff;
Clerical Officer K. Mayes to Cambridge;
Clerical Officer M. Donnelly to Aberdeen;
Asst. Engineer C.J. James to Cardiff.
Transfers
District Officer P.W. Morgan from Oswestry to Dovey Corris, N(W);
Forester W.B. Harbin from Chopwell, NE(E) to Wynyard, NE(E);
Forester A. Thomson from Dalbeattie, S(S) to Glengap, S(S);
Forester M.F. Carruthers from Glengap S(S) to Newcastleton, S(S);
Forester D.L. Shaw from Gwydyr, N(W) to Brechfa, S(W);
Forester G.W. Parker from Kielder to Chopwell, NE(E);
Foreman J.O. Webster from Tentsmuir, E(S) to Hallyburton E(S);
Foreman T. Johnstone from Allerston, NE(E) to Hambleton, NE(E);
Foreman . L.R. Kerfoot from Llanover, S(W) to Hay, S(W);
Clerk of Works J.A. Cowie from Morangie, N(S) to Glen Affric, N(S);
Clerical Officer T.H. Standen from Chester to Headquarters;
Clerical Officer L.M. Chilton from H.Q. to Chester.
Marriage
Miss Betty Taylor of the Shrewsbury Office, has married P.C. Tony Woodley, of the Shropshire Police.
Births
Twin daughters were born to Forester D.J. Cox of Charmouth Forest, South West England, and Mrs Cox.
A daughter was born to District Officer W.A. Johnson of West Scotland, and Mrs Johnson.
A daughter was born to District Officer B.W. Holtam, North Wales, and Mrs Holtam.
Retired
R. Butter, District Officer, North Wales has retired. He joined the Commission in 1923 and was Forester in charge of Haldon, South West England, and Head Forester at Coed-y-Brenin, North Wales, before being promoted to District Officer in 1940, since when he has been stationed at Corris and been in charge of the south west district of the North Wales Conservancy.
George Lees, Forester, The Dean has retired after 52 years with the Office of Woods and the Forestry Commission. He started work in the Staple-edge enclosure of the Forest of Dean when he was 13, and later attended the Forestry School at Parkend and became a Forester in 1927. Although he has retired, Mr Lees will still be frequently seen in the district, for he has changed his occupation from caring for young trees to shepherding young children, having taken over the job of school children's warden at Cinderford.
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