From the Editor - fca-today.comfca-today.com/FCA Today-Spring 2013.pdf · From the Editor Don't...

www.fca-today.com FCA Today

The newsletter about former Forestry Commission employees Issue 48 - Spring 2013

Not an issue goes bywithout my appeal formore copy. Many thanksto those very few whohad a go over winter.I have just enough copyfor this issue but little

more. Just where is the interest in keeping ournewsletter alive?

I suppose all limited distribution newsletters haveeditors who live on a knife edge. When and fromwhere will the next copy come?How about writing up some of your more unusualactivities? You're sure of a response. “Surely heor she can't be into that sort of thing. He or shewas such a ******* character”. (Fill in the gap foreach contributor).

Richard Toleman

AGM 2013

From the Editor

Don't forget to put your name down for our AGMto be held at York on the 14th and 15th May. It willstart at 2.00pm in the Lady Anne Middleton’sHotel on the 14th. The next day we shall visitwoodlands and the nursery at Castle Howard.

Dorothy Munn is the Yorkshire secretary, youshould confirm your attendance with her.

Her e-mail is [email protected] details may be obtained from local groupsecretaries.

AGM venue: Lady Anne Middleton’s Hotel in York An evening view of York Minster

Do you have an interesting or unusual hobby? Tell us about it.

FCA Today Issue 48 - Spring 2013


Contents Page

FC

A T

od

ay

Website Message BoardIf you have any news,announcements or forthcomingevents, post or e-mail thedetails to the editor. Contactdetails are on the back page ofthis magazine.

www.fca-today.com

For the latest FCA news, check the Message Board on the FCA website atwww.fca-today.com

AGM 2013 Details 1

From the Editor 1

Sounds of the South 3

Book Reviews 4

Foresters’ Uniforms 8

Foresters’ Self Measurement Form 9

Forest Facebook 10

Kielder in the 1950s 12

Life After Work 16

Obituaries 18

Letters to the Editor 19

Contact Details 20

www.fca-today.com



Sounds of the SouthPhil Ratcliffe on Dunoon Community Radio 97.4 fm

In the Summer issue I asked readers for copyand Phil Ratcliffe really worked away at it. Ireceived three pieces from him, two of whichwent out in the Winter issue. This is his third.He is a presenter on Dunoon CommunityRadio. The transcript below is a taster of whathe gets up to.

Hello again. This is Dr. Phil welcoming youto another ‘Sounds of the South’ on DunoonCommunity Radio on 97.4 FM and world-wideon the web; Tuesday night, 20th Novemberfrom 8:00 – 9:00 UK time.

This week, I’ll be playing the usual variety of‘Sounds of the South, but tonight, as well ascontinuing to showcase some of the greatmusicians, many of whom have becomefriends, that I have encountered on my travelsacross the United States, I’ll be taking youthrough some of the early developments ofjazz with chat and music. There’ll also be asprinkling of country, some great blues andjust a hint of what some folks might call rock‘n’ roll.

I’m starting the show with a classic from thegreat Jelly Roll Morton and His Red Hot Pep-pers and during the proceedings, I will bedescribing some of the travels of the youngLouis Armstrong, as band leaders in far-offcities persuaded the juvenile virtuoso to jointheir bands. Not wanting to leave New Orle-ans, Louis was finally tempted to Chicago byJoe Oliver to join his Creole Jazz Band, oneof the most influential of the early bands.Later he was tempted to New York by Fletch-er Henderson where, in a very brief stay, hehad a massive influence on the direction jazzwas to go in, before he returned to Chicago tolay down the classic Hot Five recordings.

There’ll be some very early slide guitar blues,possibly influenced by the popularity of Ha-waiian music around the 1890s, some greatpiano blues from Leroy Carr and Scrapper

Blackwell, and the Memphis Minnie classic,‘Me and My Chauffeur Blues,’ played by ErinHarpe, the daughter of my buddy Neil Harpe.

I’ve got a great selection of Down Homemusic with ‘Buy It From The Poultry man,’from the Cedar Creek Sheik, and a wonderfulvirtuoso ragtime piece from Ari Eisinger, themodern day master of ragtime guitar, and anold Bukka White number, ‘Jitterbug Swing,’from my good friends from Memphis, Tennes-see, Andy and Larkin Cohen.

For classic country music, I’ll be playing avery early Carter Family side, a fantasticnumber from Jimmie Rogers with the Louis-ville Jug Band, and a contribution from HankWilliams and the Drifting Cowboys. I’ll finishoff with a tune that some folks might call rock‘n’ roll.

If you can join me.

Dunoon Community Radio 97.4 fm andworld-wide following the link fromwww.dunooncommunityradio.org or viahttp://dunoon-relay.celticmusicradio.net:8000/dunoon.mp3

So, why not join Phil on his website, you mayeven be able to have a request or send mes-sages about the “Old Days in the FC”.

Phil Ratcliffe

http://www.dunooncommunityradio.org



Book ReviewThe Australian University E Press has just published "Conquering the Highlands. Ahistory of the afforestation of the Scottish uplands" by Jan Oosthoek.

The book is freely downloadable from the ANU E Press website as an e-book athttp://epress.anu.edu.au/titles/world-forest-history-series/conquering-the-highlands

For the flyer, go to the History page on the websitewww.nwdg.org.uk/history_group_4.html

Conquering the HighlandsA history of the afforestation of the Scottish uplands

by Jan Oosthoek

ISBN 9781922144782 (Print version) £16.60

ISBN 9781922144799 (Online)

Published by Australian National University E Press (ANU E Press), February 2013

Deforestation of Scotland began millennia ago and by the early 20th

century woodland cover was down to about 6 per cent of the totalland area. A century later woodland cover had tripled. Most of thenewly established forestry plantations were created on elevated landwith wet peaty soils and high wind exposure, not exactly the conditionin which forests naturally thrive. Jan Oosthoek tells in this book thestory of how 20th century foresters devised ways to successfullyreforest the poor Scottish uplands, land that was regarded asunplantable, to fulfil the mandate they had received from theGovernment and wider society to create a timber reserve. He raisesthe question whether the adopted forestry practice was the onlyviable means to create forests in the Scottish Highlands byexamining debates within the forestry community about theappearance of the forests and their longterm ecological prospects.

Finally, the book argues that the long held ecological convictions among foresters and pressurefrom environmentalists came together in the late 20th century to create more environmentallysensitive forestry.

Available as a free e-book from the ANU E Press website. Print-on-demand copies can also bepurchased from ANU E Press.

http://epress.anu.edu.au/titles/world-forest-history-series/conquering-the-highlands

www.nwdg.org.uk/history_group_4.html





http://epress.anu.edu.au/titles/world-forest-history-series/conquering-the-highlands



Book Review

Roger Cartwright was one of very few forestersin England to train and qualify as a landscapearchitect and on completion of the landscapedesign course in 1965 he found that there wereplenty of job opportunities for people with thiscombination of qualifications.He had started work with the ForestryCommission in 1953 as a forest worker atQuantock Forest in Somerset and afterNational Service in the Army he went on toFaskally Forester Training School, at Pitlochryfrom 1956 – 1958. On completing his traininghe obtained a job as a forest assistant in theCentral African colony of Nyasaland where theForest Department had a wide role, rangingfrom the protection of natural resources - nativewoodland, savannah grasslands to productionof timber and the establishment of new forests.

Wind on the Hills is the story of this formativeperiod in his life.

After returning from Nyasaland (Malawi) in1961 he worked as an assistant manager withTilhill Forestry (Hereford) Ltd under BillDorrington. This combined with his previousforestry experience convinced him of the needto learn about landscape design and at the endof 1962 he became a student at the School ofArchitecture and Landscape, Cheltenham. Hegraduated in 1965 and initially inspired by ideasfor creating a better form of urban living, heworked for a short time on the earlydevelopment of Cumbernauld New Town inScotland and became an Associate of theLandscape Institute in 1967.

He then moved to Lancashire to work onlandscape and recreation policies for theForest of Bowland AONB. He also becameinvolved in landscape design for the restorationof derelict land and the provision of countrysiderecreation - his most satisfying job being thedesign for Beacon Fell Country Park in theForest of Bowland.

He was seconded to work on the planningteam for the Morecambe Bay Barrage for hislast year with Lancashire County Council andtook many of the ideas from this to Northum-berland where the value of landscape designwas appreciated and he was also responsiblefor tree and forestry advice for the wholeCounty Council.

Large-scale conifer afforestation, particularlyin the National Park was a contentious issueand the County Council managed to preventthe planting of many areas of visuallyprominent open country, heather moor andmosses in the Northumberland National Park.For more acceptable planting they worked withthe Forestry Commission and privatecompanies to improve the landscape designand this included the large new forests at:Uswayford, Roddam, Threestoneburn,Wellhope and Coe Crags at Thrunton Wood.This ad hoc landscape consultation waseventually incorporated into more formal andwider forestry strategy agreements with theForestry Commission. He also worked on otherlarge-scale developments such as quarries,opencast coal mining, new roads andreservoirs.

The most significant of these was the planning,landscape design and potential recreationdevelopment for the future Kielder Water andthis included drawing plans to mitigatedrawdown of the reservoir and working with theForestry Commission on a Management Planto change the emphasis from coniferproduction to environment and amenity in thesurrounding Kielder Forest.

He moved to Cumbria in 1974 to do similarwork and liaised with a succession of ForestryCommission officers on Structure Plan policiesfor trees and woodlands and innumerable for-estry consultations and was involved in the

A review of Roger Cartwright’s book Wind on the Hills is on page 7. But first, somebackground details of the author.

Roger Cartwright – Profile

Continued on next page



landscape design for the last two major affor-estation schemes in the county - at Dent Fell,near Cleator Moor and Ashstead Fell nearShap.

He was a member of the FC Regional Adviso-ry Committee for North West England and theEnvironmental Advisory Panel for the LakesDistrict of the Forestry Commission.

A continued interest in deer and wildlifemanagement has kept him involved in practicalforestry and conservation work on the groundand he has written a number of short articlesfor countryside and wildlife magazines and in1980 he produced a small booklet on the deer

of the Arnside Silverdale area but Wind on theHills is his first book.

He feels that after his training in landscapedesign he could have done a much better jobof establishing new forests in Nyasaland andwoodland management for private estates andsimilarly he has been a more effective andpractical landscape architect as a result of hisearly forestry experience.

He took the opportunity of early retirement fromlocal government to return to forestrymanagement, working as a sole practitionerwith a holistic approach to land managementand has been doing this successfully for thelast twenty years.

Book Review

Roger Cartwright – Profile continued

Continued from previous page

The final edition of the Forestry Commission Walesnewsletter Connect Cymru is available on theFCA-Today website.

www.fca-today.com

Bark! Internal news and views of the Forestry Commission

Check out the new FC blog at http://news.forestry.gov.uk

See the review of The Wind on the Hills on the following page

http://news.forestry.gov.uk



This engaging book is thepersonal story of RogerCartwright who trained as aForester in the UK and Africa.

It begins with his early life inthe 1950s and his experienceof the old rural ways of life inthe Hampshire village wherehe lived in the shadow of War.This early experience of thenatural world led to his decisionto train as a Forester and hespent time in the QuantockHills of Somerset. However,National Service intervenedand Roger spent 2 years inGermany where he seizedopportunities for swimming, ski-ing and horse riding. He finallycompleted his forestry trainingwith the Forestry Commissioni n P e r t h s h i r e a n dGloucestershire.

The second part of the book is about living his dream of becoming a Forester inNyasaland (now Malawi) and gives graphic descriptions of a fascinating life as aForester, hunter and naturalist in this beautiful, and then, little knownmountainous country. Roger describes what it was like living and workingalongside the African people during the political unrest and turbulence of the‘State of Emergency’. Interspersed throughout are tales of travel to Rhodesia,Kenya and Tanganyika where he climbed Kilimanjaro.

This book will appeal to people interested in the countryside, wildlife, forestry andgreen issues and personal stories of colonial history in Africa at the end ofEmpire.

ISBN: 978-1-904244-86-8No of pages: 454Hardback with black and white and colour photographsPrice: £25.00Available from: All booksellers or Book Source - Tel: 0845 370 0067

WIND ON THE HILLS



I recently found a copy of the form sent outby the FC when foresters were to be issuedwith the new itchy green suits with the redcollar. These took the place of the "RACman" uniforms!

My Forester and I had a good laugh whenfilling it in and I remember that the resultwas not too good either.

Eric couldn't find any photos of himselflooking suave in his official garb so I had torevert to the Forest Memories fashionmodel, Charlie Greenlees, who appeared inthe Summer 2012 issue. Ed

The FC Uniform Self Measurement form ison the following page. Do any of theillustrations fit your shape?

Foresters' Uniformsby Eric Rogers of Thetford

Charlie Greenlees models the foresters’ uniform in thisphoto reproduced from the website

www.forestry-memories.org.uk

View or download earlier issues of FCA Todayfrom the FCA website at: -

www.fca-today.com

http://www.forestry-memories.org.uk



“You’ll not be on Facebook” said the dapper, young salesman on one of the stands we visited atthe Scottish House Building and Renovation Show in Glasgow, at the end of last year. Hisexpression changed when I told him I was! “Just because I’m retired doesn’t mean I don’t keep upwith those technological advances, young man!” Keeping in touch with family, friends, formercolleagues, etc. is quite easy on Facebook even for me!

Anyway, thanks to one of my sons, I bring to your attention a Facebook page you may not be awareof: Forest Machine Operator Jobs. Just type forestmachineoperatorjobs into your Facebook searchbox and away you go.

Despite the title, there are loads of pictures, mostly from around Europe, of a wide variety of forestmachinery and practices from the past and present. Here are just a few of the many pictures postedby the site’s supporters recently.

“Days gone by . . . . .” Best described as “Whoops”


Forest Facebookby Peter Ford




“Being prepared for the worst!” “Big logs, tight corner!”

“Extreme felling!” “Stomach churners”

There’s a regular supply of new forestry related pictures that many of you will find of interest.Enjoy, if that is your “cup of tea”.

Forest Facebook continued

Do you have any pictures for our website gallery?

Post or e-mail them to the editor. Contact details are on the back page.

If pictures are sent by post, please indicate if you require them returned.

www.fca-today.com



In 1950 I was a newly appointed forest officerwith the Forestry Commission at Kielder For-est. At that time the large scale planting was inprogress and the striated patterns of plough-ing and the emerging young trees were chang-ing the landscape. Existing woods, mainlybirch and alder clung to river and streamsides. A small number of conifer woods, main-ly Norway spruce and Scots pine and original-ly planted for shelter, were more widelydistributed.

The road up the North Tyne Valley was narrowand winding and although it continued over theborder into Scotland the approaches to ahumpback bridge at Saughtree made it im-passable for vehicles larger than cars. Theroadside verges were very soft and the onsetof winter was marked by the emergence ofblack peaty sloughs where cars had left thetarmac to pass one another. One quicklylearned to keep on the hard road surface.Fence and telegraph posts were favouredperches for small-eared owls as the vole pop-ulation had increased with the removal ofgrazing.

The railway operated up the valley with threepassenger trains a day in each direction, con-necting to Bellingham and Hexham in onedirection and to Hawick in the other. Therewas also a goods service. Because of the riskof fires started by sparks from the steam en-gines, a system of rail and roadside grazingstrips had been introduced. Fencing, cultiva-tion, fertilising,and re-seeding were carried outon them and tenancies were let to favour cattleto keep the vegetation well grazed. Thisproved effective as small rail side fires could

be dealt with before they entered the planta-tions. They were in the thicket stage and wereextremely vulnerable with the accumulation ofmolinia and heather. A system of army surplusfield telephones linked foresters' houses, offic-es and fire lookouts and were invaluable formanagement, fire duty and social purposes.However with the advent of more GPO phonesthe system was superseded.

A portable phonewas available butas tapping into thelines involvedclimbing telegraphpoles, its use wasdaunting!

Mains electricity had not yet been extended upthe valley, so the pressure paraffin Tilley lampwas the best means of lighting although theparaffin wick lamps gave adequate light andwere quieter. Cooking was usually by coalfired range, open fires of wood or coal provid-ed heating.

The FC's objective at that time was dominatedby the requirement to provide a reserve ofgrowing timber. Both world wars had lead toan acute shortage of timber that was especial-ly serious because pit props were vital for coalproduction.

The decline in sheep farming in the NorthTyne valley, combined with the incidence ofdeath duties on large landed estates had ena-bled the FC to make large land acquisitions.

The Duke of Northumberland had ownedmuch of Kielder including the castle. This wasa policy that was repeated in other uplandareas in England, Scotland and Wales. One ofthe factors said to contribute to the decline ofsheep farming was the sheep brain disease'Looping ill' or Scrapie, the cause and the curefor which were then unknown.

Kielder Forest railway station around 1920

Kielder in the 1950sBy R.E. Crowther




The first plantings in 1926 were made directlyon the ground surface and were not success-ful. It was soon found that planting on up-turned turfs, that provided an area of localdrainage and some suppression of the grassand heather, was very effective.

Initially the turfs were prepared byhand using the traditional hill drain-ing tools. Turfs were cut with arutter to form a drain, then cut intotwo and pulled left and right with ahack to the planting position. Earlyplanting programmes dependedentirely on hand preparation, but assuitable tractors and ploughs be-came available, the process be-came mechanised. Initially turfswere cut and spread from theplough ridges by hand, but laterploughs produced turf ribbons at 5

foot planting spacing. A semi circular spadewas used for planting that produced a conicalplug out of the peat turf. The plant roots wereinserted into the hole, the plug replaced andfirmed with the foot.

Sitka spruce proved itself welladapted to upland conditionswhile Norway spruce was alsoused and proved frost resistant.On the limited freely drainingground, usually indicated bybracken, Japanese larch was planted. Onheathery ground Lodgepole pine was moretolerant than the spruces and mixtures of thetwo featured.

In the 1950s, the earliest plantings were ap-proaching the thinning stage and a start wasmade producing pit props. At the same timemany of the outlying woods were cleared.These were mainly windthrown and in somecases Norway spruce lying on the ground hadproduced sizeable stems from the branchesas they developed into an upright tree habit.The Manse Wood at Kielder, about 45 yearsold at that time, was one of the few examplesof older plantations. It was already sufferingfrom wind throw which extended with eachsevere gale. I saw this happening during thegreat storm of January 1952.

The planting was a labour intensive processand the looming thinning programmes lookedequally labour demanding.

The FC had built some houses before 1939 atKielder and had provided some small hold-ings. However these would not be enough,and a programme of house building was start-ed in the new forest villages at Kielder, Byr-ness and Stonehaughshields. The first phasewas ready for occupation in the early 1950sand was opened by Lord Robinson, Chairmanof the FC. Up to this time much of the workwas carried out by displaced persons. Thesewere men who had fled from Eastern Europeas the Russians advanced in 1945. Theywere of several nationalities,some Latviansbut mainly Poles. They had a wide range ofskills and some with professional qualifica-

Turf rutter

Kielder in the 1950s continued


Kielder castle

Timber harvesting in Kielder




tions. They were housed in Kielder Camp, aseries of corrugated iron huts established inthe 1930s as a rehabilitation centre for theunemployed. As well as the planting, manywere engaged on the forest road buildingprogramme that was opening up the forest.

As the new houses became ready the campwas closed, and the occupants dispersed toother jobs in various parts of the country. Afew who had secured permanent status asemployees stayed on. Victor Blankenburgswas one of these. He was employed as asurveyor and his collection of photographs

recording changes in the North Tyne is nowin the Newcastle Museum.

(It can be accessed on the following website:www.communities.northumberland.gov.ukEd.)

Today Kielder Water occupies the lower partof the valley. Whickhope Lodge, where Ilodged for two and a half years, is submergedas is the site of Kielder camp. The railwayclosed long ago and part of its trackbed liesunder the water. Other parts have becomeforest roads and walks. Electricity has comeand a new road follows a less tortuous routealong the reservoir shore.

Kielder in the 1950s continued


Kielder reservoir under construction in 1972



Visit the FCA Today website at: -www.fca-today.com

The Official FCS page ‘Enjoyscotlandsforests’is now active! Whether you are planning a dayout, want to know what’s on in your area, oryou want the latest news on wildlife, mountainbiking, walking, cycling, camping, stargazingor any of the other great activities taking place

in forest locations across Scotland, visit theForestry Commission Scotland's newFacebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/enjoyscotlandsforests

Forestry Commission Scotland on Facebook

Register for news releases on the Forestry Commission website and choose the topics that interestyou. Go to http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/newssubs.nsf/subscription?openformAll news releases are also on the main Forestry Commission website in the 'News' section.

Send your letters to the editor for publication in FCA Today

by e-mail to: [email protected]

by post to: Richard Toleman,Manuel Stables, Linlithgow, EH49 6JF.



An appeal from Richard Toleman for articlesrelating to post retirement activities undertak-en by retirees has prompted me into action. Ihave always found the “Slasher” and its on-line successor “FCA-Today” an interestingread. But perhaps there lies the answer to thelack of stories and comment being sent in toRichard, for inclusion in the online version. Iam of the opinion that the “Slasher” wouldhave reached a higher number of ex-FC em-ployees than its online equivalent now does,simply because not all retirees have accessto a computer. They can, of course, still sub-mit their stories and comments by post, butby not having access to a computer, theywon’t have the satisfaction of seeing theircontribution in print.

My post retirement activities have been veryvaried. I retired in 1989 after a very active lifein all aspects of forestry, but for the finaltwenty years I worked in the Radio and Elec-tronic Branch with my office at Inver nearDunkeld.Having moved from Stanley, seven milesnorth of Perth, in anticipation of early retire-ment in two years time, to Blairgowrie I want-ed a hobby which had a hands-on approachand which, had the possibility of being finan-cially rewarding.It wasn’t long before I discovered that there

were a lot of amateurartist groups and individ-uals living in the Blair-gowrie area. Thereinwas an answer to mysearch for a hobby. Iwould take up pictureframing.

What I had forgotten was that I had alreadysent Richard my story of setting up a pictureframing business. It had already appeared inthe newsletter in 1999. So much for memoryrecall! I retained the business for seven yearsand was able to sell it as a thriving enterprise.

It was a very interesting period during whichwe met some very talented people, and ac-quired some original pieces of artwork. It wasalso the beginning of membership of the As-sociation of Blairgowrie Craftworkers (ABC), anew group of talented local craft workersformed to encourage members to progresstheir hobby to a more professional standard. Ijoined as a picture framer but having sold offall my picture framing equipment, laterchanged my craft to wood turning. Nan and Iwere members for about twenty years, four-teen of which I served as Chairman.

It was whilst I was Chairman of the ABC, thatI was asked if I would serve on the BlairgowrieTown Hall Management Committee, to repre-sent the ABC which was a frequent user of theTown Hall, as the organiser of several CraftFairs. That was in 2006! I have been a Com-mittee Member ever since, taking on the posi-

tion of Vice Convener as well as beingProperty Convener, mainly as no one elsewanted to do it and that it is always difficult topersuade people to serve on such committees.

Blairgowrie Town Hall

Life After Workby Don Amer




Life After Work continued

This picture shows Don Amer in theRadio Branch office in 1988. There aremore details on the Forestry Memorieswebsite at: -

http://www.forestry-memories.org.uk/picture/number456.asp

Whereas the Town Hall is owned by Perthand Kinross Council who are responsiblefor the maintenance of the fabric of thebuilding, the Blairgowrie Town Hall Associ-ation (BTHA) Management Committee areresponsible for the hiring of the hall todrama groups, dancing groups, keep fitclasses, craft fairs, wedding receptions,birthday parties and many other groups.

The money raised by hiring out the hall tothese various organisations, is ploughedback into improving the facilities such asinternal decoration, upgrading the dress-ing rooms and installing new kitchen facili-ties, to name just a few.

Two years ago, having gotbored with doing nothing, Ipurchased a “Hobbys” match-stick kit to make a mantel clockwhich required cutting and glu-ing together 2000 matchsticks.It was quite a challenge but I

did complete it, and it now sits on a mantelshelf and keeps good time.

So what next? I did find time to write a smallbook about my 42 Years working for theForestry Commission, starting from when Ileft school aged 16 to retiring in 1989, in-cluding a period of National Service in theRAF. The book charted a journey fromForestry School at Gwydyr, then into theMensuration Branch – part of Forest Re-search – forest duties at Culbin, Kielder,Glentrool and finally joining the Radio andElectronic Branch, then in its infancy, andthen twenty years on, retiring in 1989. Sonow, apart from the Town Hall work, I don’thave any hobbies, but having reached theage of 83 years, I now spend my time oncomputer work, reading, listening to ClassicFM and watching TV - but then, there isalways my son’s Hornby electric train set,circa early 60’s vintage, to play with!


Blairgowrie Town Hall auditorium





OBITUARIES

I have been told by a friend of thedeath at Croydon of ANNE FROSTaged 94. I was given no details ofher time in the FC other that sheworked in London. This may havebeen Savile Row, but that wasmany years ago. She was an avidreader of Slasher and ournewsletter and when we wentonline, it was printed for her.

Roger Busby remembers SIMONHEWITT who joined the FC inOctober 1976 as Area Land Agentbased in Lyndhurst in the NewForest. In March 1980 hetransferred to East England, basedat Santon Downham, as Area LandAgent as well as Clerk of Works forNorth East England.

Three years later Simon waspromoted to Principal Land Agentin the Estate ManagementDivision in Edinburgh. InNovember 1985 he transferred toWest England as ConservancyLand Agent based in Bristol. Hisfirst task was to lead the officerelocation from Brislington tooffices at Cadbury’s chocolatefactory at Keynsham; an unlikelyForestry office location, but a verysuccessful one! Simon was tospend the next 8 1/2 years inKeynsham having becomeRegional Land Agent for ForestEnterprise W(E). During thisperiod Simon and his wife Marionbecame involved in taking groupsof disabled people to France.

Mark Thornycroft recalls thatSimon brought with him a newdrive to work the commercialpotential from non-forestrydevelopments on the estate, and

created amongst staff a morebalanced view by allowingdevelopment and increasedactivity on the estate, with thefinancial benefits that arose. Oneof his proudest moments was tobe accused in a complaint by alessor to the Minister of takingtoo commercial an attitude in hisbusiness dealings! Rod Leslieadded: “What a nice, balancedperson Simon was to work with”.

In March 1994 Simon waspromoted to Regional Land Agentfor Forest Enterprise Wales andmoved to Aberystwyth. JohnMorgan commented that, onmoving to Aberystwyth, theWelshness of the area did notseem to discomfort Simon and hisfamily in any way. They playedtheir part in local activities andSimon’s young son became afluent Welsh speaker.

September 1996 saw Simonchanging disciplines to becomeChief Conservator for the ForestryAuthority in Wales. Following onfrom devolution, Simon becameCountry Director and ForestryCommissioner for Wales in April2003. Simon was deservedlyproud to be the first land agent tobecome a territorial Director inthe Forestry Commission. Heretired on 31st May 2005.

Simon died on 10 October 2012after suffering from prostatecancer. He is survived by his wife,Marion, daughters Lynsey andSarah, and his son Jon.

FRED SAVAGE is no more. BartVenner told me of his death aged

86. He was well known to manyand a great supporter of the Deangroup where he delighted inhelping with Burns Suppers,adding to the atmosphere withpipes and storytelling. I have beengiven very few details of his careerbut initially he was involved inForest Management in North andWest Scotland. Later he moved tothe Dean where he become headof Private Woodlands.

Val Marsh has told me of thedeath of MICHAEL AYMES aged71, who worked in the MESWorkshops at Santon Downham.

Michael was born in Brandon andattended the Forest School Pri-mary and then Mildenhall HighSchool. He left school at 15 andjoined the workshops under man-ager Wally Rosher as petrol pumpboy. He then progressed to work-ing as a mechanic and finally wasthe chain saw specialist. If hecould not mend a saw then it wasclassed as unrepairable.

His interests away from workwere working with a local shoot,he was a member of Weeting gunclub, and also as keen fishermanin his younger days. His otherhobby was cars. He always likedto arrive at work with the latestmodel with which he was smittenand could speak very knowledge-ably about his new acquisition.He travelled to see Formula 1 andthe Le Man motor races.

Michael was a true countrymanat heart and was happy just tolive and work in the countryside.He almost completed 50 yearsservice when he retired in 2006.



Letters to the EditorRichard,I was interested to read the FCA newsletter,issue 46 summer 2012, discovered during aGoogle search.I was searching for information about mygrandfather, George Bodley Ryle, who died in1978 when I was 12. I was surprised anddelighted to see him standing at the front of aphoto of the foresters’ meeting at Hamsterleyin the late 1950’s or early 1960’s. As you will beaware, he was a long standing member of theFC – right now I’m wearing the Rolex watch hewas given upon his retirement in 1965 – theinscription on the back reads ‘GBR from FC1924-1965.He retired to the village of Bank in the NewForest and as I recall was a New ForestVerderer (although I’m not really sure what thatentailed). He made a great impression on meas a boy, with his great knowledge of thecountryside and outdoor life. I have many fondmemories of treks in the New Forest and mid-Wales, bird watching and collecting beetles,which were great passions of his. Having seenthe photo of the Foresters’ uniform in thenewsletter, I remember him wearing similarclothes, especially boots and the tie!His wife passed on many years ago also (late1980’s I think). I live in NZ now and I’m prettysure he visited New Zealand in connection withFC work, but I’m not sure when – certainlybefore I was born. Forestry and log export is ofcourse one of NZ’s major industries. Mymother cannot remember many details of hisearly life. She grew up in Aberystwyth in

Wales, when he was based there. His fourchildren are all still alive, in their 70’s and 80’s.I would love to find out more about him,particularly his work and his time in NZ. It wouldbe great if you have any more information.Best wishes,RobDr Rob CunliffeTauranga HospitalPrivate Bag 12024TaurangaNew Zealand.

Who can help Rob with more information aboutGBR's forestry life and work? I have alreadyreceived one offer from Arnold Grayson. Robsaid he can be contacted by e-mail atRobert•Cunliffe@bopdhb•govt•nz Ed.

The inscription on GBR’s presentation watch“G.B.R From F.C 1924 to 1965”

GBR is in the middle of the front row in the picture below



Peter Charlesworth (Chairman/Secretary)

David Parnall (Treasurer)

Charles Dickens (Group & FC Liaison Officer)

Richard Toleman (Editor)

ContactsFCA Today editor: -Richard TolemanManuel Stables

LinlithgowEH49 6JF

Telephone: 01506 845575e-mail: [email protected]

e-mail membership enquiries to: [email protected]

Forestry Commission AssociationManagement Committee

FCA Today is an FCA productionEditor: Richard Toleman, Manuel Stables, Linlithgow, EH49 6JF. Tel: 01506 845575. e-mail: [email protected]

The next issue of the FCA Today magazine will be available (depending on whetherwe receive any articles from you) on the www.fca-today.com website on 5th August2013.Articles for inclusion in the next issue of the magazine should be sent to the editorbefore 1st July 2013.

The new fixed publication dates of the FCA Today magazine are: -Spring edition: 5th April

Summer edition: 5th AugustWinter edition: 5th December

Visit the FCA Today website on these dates to download the latest edition of the magazine

Send your articles to the editor for publication in FCA Today

by e-mail to: [email protected]

by post to: Richard Toleman, Manuel Stables, Linlithgow, EH49 6JF.

FCA Today Magazine

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