Transcript Historical Minute Book 1952 to 1965
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1952 - 1965 The Annual General Meeting of the Commoners duly convened by notice posted on the principal doors of the churches of the parishes and Ecclesiastical Districts to which the Forest extends, and by advertisement in the “Sussex Express” and the “Kent and Sussex Courier” and by notice to each Commoner more than fourteen days prior to this date and held at the Village Hall, Forest Row a 1.30 p.m. Mrs. H. Ashdown, Messrs. G. Card, J. Card, J. Clease, J.R. Coulthard, W.D. Gilham, Miss H.C. Hett, Lt. Commdr. H.R. Hardy, Messrs. W.D. Knott, S.J. Marsh, T. Mountain, W. Mitchell, Mrs. P.A. Mosse, Mr. J.R. Owen, Miss M. Parsons, Mrs. J. Rowe, S.L. Smith, K.C. Smith, N. Stephens, I. Walker, Mrs. M.H. Warren. 1. Chairman . On the proposal of Mr. Coulthard and seconded by Mr. Owen it was unanimously resolved that Mr. Marsh be elected Chairman. 2. Notice of Meeting . The Clerk read the notice convening the meeting. 3. Minutes . The Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting were read, approved and signed. 4. Election of Conservators . The Clerk reported that it was necessary to fill the three vacancies occasioned by the retirement of Messrs. J.R. Owen J.P., Trevor R. Mountain and John Card. On the proposal of Mr. J. Rowe duly seconded by Mr. Coulthard it was unanimously resolved that the three retiring Conservators be re-elected to hold office for the three years ending December 31st 1955. 5. Election of Recreation Ground Superintendents . The Chairman expressed thanks to the Superintendents for their services during the past year. On the proposal of Mr. Owen and seconded by Lt. Commander Hardy it was unanimously resolved that the following be re-elected. Nutley Mr. S.J. Marsh Chelwood Gate Mr. Trevor Mountain Colemans Hatch Mr. J.R. Owen J.P. Fairwarp Mr. A.K.L. Harvey. Forest Row Mr. Wolfson in place of Lt. Commander Bristowe. 6. General Business . The Chairman informed the meeting that a war memorial erected to the troops stationed on the Forest during the 1934-1918 war near the Ladies Old Golf Club had been very badly neglected and, on inspecting same, he had found it was completely hidden from view by undergrowth. He had instructed the Rangers to clear the ground round they memorial and this work had now been completed. The Chairman stated that he had been unable to discover who had erected the monument but he advised the members present that it was well worth a visit. The Chairman then gave an account for the various work done by the Board of Conservators during the year ending December 31st 1952 and reported that the work filling in the trenches and gun pits was well advanced. He was now able to give the meeting the result of the experimental seeding in connection with the restoration of the Forest. An experimental plot on the temporary aerodrome near Chelwood Vachery had been divided into two sections. One section had been disc-harrowed, fertilised and sown with grass; the other section had been disc- harrowed and sown. The latter section had been a complete failure while the former section had been entirely ruined by rabbits. He added that the Board had received the advice of various experts on that matter and was continuing to obtain any information it was possible to get. At the conclusion of the meeting Mr. Owen proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman. [signed] S.J. Marsh Chairman. A Meeting of the Conservators duly convened and held at The Village Hall, Forest Row, on Wednesday, December 10th 1952, at 2.30 p.m. Miss M. Blount M.B.E., Messrs J. Card, J.R. Coulthard, W.D. Gilham, Lt. Commander H.R. Hardy, Messrs. S.J. Marsh, W. Mitchell, Trevor R. Mountain, J.R. Owen J.P., E.W. Pye, J. Rowe, Mrs. M. Ridley, Messrs. H.A. Warburton and A.C. Wolfson. Apologies for absence were received from Mrs. S.M. Looker, Colonel Clarke M.P., and Mr. J.H. Griffin. 1. Minutes. The Minutes of the last meeting of the Board as printed and circulated were taken as read and signed. 2. Matters arising from Minutes . The Clerk reported that the Vice Chairman and the Chairman of the Maresfield Committee had visited the sites of the saw-benches on the Forest with him. At their request, notice to determine Messrs. Kirby and Vinton’s Licence had been given and the Ranger had reported that all timber and debris had been cleared from this site. A letter had also been written to Mr. C.E. Walter asking him to remove a part of a shed attached to his premises which it was decided constituted an encroachment. Mr. Walter had not yet complied with the terms of this letter. 3. Rangers’ Reports. Ranger Day Reports . 7th December 1952. Golf Course . The Golf Secretary complained of Mr. Porter, Butlers Bank, driving across the Golf Course with his motor car. I visited Mr. Porter asking him to cease this practice. Timber, Kidd’s Hill Messrs. W. Brown, Crowborough have hauled timber across the Forest to Kidd’s Hill. On finishing, ruts have now been satisfactorily filled in. Saw Benches Ford’s Green . I attended a Maresfield Committee meeting that inspected saw benches at Ford’s Green and Dodd’s Bank. Forest Fires . I have attended and assisted to extinguish Forest fires at Stone Hill, Kidds Hill and Fairwarp. Work on Forest . I have commenced to cut a fire cordon round trees at Wych Cross and cleared undergrowth from the war memorial near Green Hall Toll. Forest Rates . I have collected a part of the Forest rates, making inquiries of changes of ownership and division of properties. GILBERT DAY, Forest Ranger. Ranger Stanton Reports . 18th December 1952. 1. On November 5th I investigated a complaint made by Mrs. Hazeldene of Yards Green, Nutley, concerning the use of her boundary hedge and surrounding bushes as a latrine. Mrs. Hasledene states that in the summer during the cricket season and winter during the football season, members of the public who watch matches played Upon Fords Green Recreational Ground use her hedge as a latrine. 2. On Friday November 7th I attended a meeting of the Maresfield Committee on a further inspection of the saw benches in Nutley. Kirby and Vinton have now removed their dumps and have cleaned up the Forest ground used by them. C. Walters of Holly Cottage, Nutley, has not yet taken down the shed which he had been instructed to remove. 3. Mrs. Hazeldene and Miss Appleby have complained of the condition of the track that borders their property at Fords Green, Nutley. They say that Kirby and Vinton use a tractor and trailer and that in wet weather it becomes almost unusable on foot. This is the sole access to Miss Appleby’s property. 3. Ranger Day and I have started clearing the undergrowth from around the war memorial that stands on the disused part of the Ladies Golf Course, Forest Row. D. STANTON. Ranger. 4. Home Guard and the use of the Forest . The Clerk reported he had received a complaint from Ranger Day that he had found several cars used by the Home Guard on the Forest and they were more than fifteen yards from the verge. The Clerk asked the Board if they could give him a ruling on this matter as no doubt the Home Guard would be using the Forest again in connection with their Training. The Chairman thought that the rules which had been drawn up for the Army should apply equally to the Home Guard. It was pointed out that in the last war the Home Guard had had no occasion to drive cars across the Forest. It was proposed by Mr. Wolfson and seconded by Mr. Warburton that the Clerk should meet Colonel Sales, the Officer commanding the Home Guard, and come to an understanding in the matter. 5. Complaint received from Mrs. Hazeldene - Fords Green. The Clerk reported that Mrs, Hazeldene had complained that the spectators at football and cricket matches played on Fords Green Recreation Ground had been using her boundary hedge as a latrine. The Chairman stated that there was some talk of building a Pavilion on the Recreation Ground as a memorial of the Coronation and if this were done some additional lavatory accommodation might be provided. 6. Complaint received from Mrs. Hazeldene and Mrs. Appleby. The Clerk reported that Mrs. Hazeldene and Mrs. Appleby had complained that Kirby and Vinton's lorry was continually using the track past their properties and causing ruts, etc. The Chairman pointed out that this was a recognised track and that Messrs. Kirby and Vinton ware within their rights in using it. 7. Appointment of Conservators by East Sussex County Council. The Clerk read a letter stating that the East Sussex County Council had appointed the following to serve on the Board of Conservators for three years ending the 3lst December 1955: The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Lewes O.B.E. Miss M. Blount M.B.E. Colonel R.S. Clarke M.P. Mrs. S.M. Looker O.B.E. and Mr, G.A. Warburton. 8. Overhead Wires near New Lodge, Newbridge . The Chairman reported that he had visited the site and that the South Eastern Electricity Board could equally well carry these wires over private property without crossing the Forest. He had asked the Clerk to inform the Board accordingly. 9. Pipeline - Weir Wood through Wych Cross to Nutley .