An Interview with our new Chair - Cecile Hunt Ed: Cecile, I believe that you are a Forester, can you let us know a few details about your family history and your family’s relationship with the Forest? I was not born a Forester but I am a part bred Forester. I was born in Surrey; and in 1959 with my two older brothers, Gra- ham and Paul, Mum, Violet Croad nee Worgan and Dad Walter Croad we came to live at Lower Oldcroft, Nr Lydney. My Father’s family came mainly from London and the Isle of Wight; but Mum had been born on Littledean Hill in 1915, whilst her father George Worgan was serving in France during WWI. Grandad, George Worgan was seriously injured at Ypres and eventually came home to a cottage Granny had rented at Soudley Mill, now the Dean Heritage Centre. Ed: How do you believe the Society has changed since it achieved Charity status? Since the Society became a charity it has gone from strength to strength. Charity status has help it to fulfil two high profile projects; The Miners Memorial and the GeoMap. Being ac- countable to the Charity Commission has meant that the society has had to become more pro- fessional in how it is run and draws up its yearly reports; this helps the society to continuously broaden its outlook year on year. Ed: As you start your time as Chair, are there specific goals you want to achieve Going forward, and building on the firm base laid by previous chairmen and women, I would like to try and get younger people more involved with the history and the heritage that sur- rounds them in the Forest. I would also like to see more members bringing their knowledge and expertise of history out into the open more; perhaps getting involved with past and future projects more and not being afraid to contribute articles to their quarterly newsletter and the New Regard. Ed: Are there any immediate challenges you face as Chair From I am starting my term as Chair with a very strong and dedicated committee but some of the po- ‘Overlooking the Wye’ sitions on the committee are crying out for volunteers. One of the main positions, due to me The Forestto at the Crossroads? moving into the Chairman seat is Treasurer – and here I appeal to our members! Is there any- body out there who would like to give it a go? If you are teetering on the edge of volunteering ‘Fixing the Furnace’ let me know and I will run through the not very onerous jobs it entails. Our Chairman talks to the Other positions that need filling are Notice Board Officer; Outdoor Meetings Officer and New Regard editor and assistant. You will not be left on your own to manage these posts; there is a We celebrateForestry the work Advisory of Panel lot of experience waiting to help anyone who volunteers for any of these posts. Help your soci- ety to continue to be vibrant and active, please consider joining us on your committee – we the OTW team! don’t bite – become one of the dedicated team that strives to steer your society ever forward! There are memories and personal accounts of battles, jungle warfare, comradeship, hu- mour and tragedy. There are stories too, of lasting friendships that began in Burma where Editors Notes men from the Forest would find joy in greeting, ‘ ‘ow bist owd’ but’ when encountering a fellow Forester. And when they returned, they set up the Forest of Dean Burma Star Asso- There have been a number of events this summer organised by ciation. Sadly, but inevitably, that Association was finally disbanded in 2005, sixty years the ‘Overlooking the Wye’ team which members have enjoyed, after Victory over Japan (VJ) Day. This book will serve as a record and play a part in pre- and some of which are reviewed in this issue. The cover cele- serving their memories for today’s and future generations.’ brates the outstanding work carried out by the ladies of the News ‘Overlooking the Wye’ team, and shows how their work now Tell Them of Us: Those of the Forest of Dean who served in the 1941-1945 Burma encompasses the Whitecliff Furnace, which is currently being Campaign ISBN 0946252824 Price £12.99 from all good book sellers. OCTOBER 2011 conserved under their direction. By the way, if you haven’t ex- perienced the Piercefield walks - go now before the trees grow up again and obscure the astonishing views! Voices for the Vote – Shire Hall – and the Next - an apology to those members who went to the Belle Vue Story of Chartism in South Wales Editor: Centre on 10th September to the meeting as advertised on the Keith Walker Membership Card. Unfortunately the management of the Belle Measuring 21cm. x 21cm.this new book is brimful 51 Lancaster Drive Vue Centre changed the use of the meeting room we used there, with illustrations, engravings, maps, modern pho- Lydney and it became unavailable to us earlier this year. A further re- tographs, and cartoons. GL15 5SJ minder therefore that the meeting on Saturday 12th Novem- 01594 843310 ber (3pm) that is advertised on the membership card as to Ruth Waycott and her editorial team have truly be held at Cinderford will now be held at West Dean Centre, trawled the Chartist archives. No Gallery, Library, Bream. The Committee is currently reviewing where the Socie- Museum or Heritage Centre has remained unvisit- ty holds its meetings. If you have a suggestion for a meeting venue please contact Mary Sullivan (see details left). ed in their unrelenting search for new material. This remarkable compilation is a great credit to the team’s endeavours. Under the intellectual leadership of Wales’ eminence Chair: grise of Chartism, Les James of Newport University, this 64 page booklet goes to the very Cecile Hunt Last, but certainly not least, I interviewed our new Chair, Cecile top of the growing pile of modern day books about the People’s Charter. Now, Monmouth 01594 842164 Hunt, for this edition of the newsletter, and you can read the in- terview on the back cover. You will see from the interview and is proud of its central role in the shameful Show Trial of 1839-40 .Even the late, great his- from the AGM Report that the Committee is seeking volunteers torian of Monmouth, Keith E. Kissack, spoke sub-voce of Chartism because he knew that Vice-Chair & Secretary for various posts, namely: Monmouth once viewed the Chartists as persona non grata. Mary Sullivan 01594 860197 New Regard Editorial & Production, Treasurer, Web Site Man- This splendid booklet, for the first time, goes into detail on who-was-who at the Mon- ager, Outdoor Meetings Officer, and Notice Board Officer. mouth Trial. The legal jargon of the time is fully explained, and the tone is never patronis- ing. The so called Newport Rising is closely examined and yet politely leaves us to make The Society URGENTLY needs help in filling these roles. If up our own minds about its significance. The Government of the day had no doubts and you think you can help, or you would like some further infor- therefore the last mass trial for high treason ever to take place in Britain swung into opera- mation about what the roles entail, please contact Cecile Hunt tion. or Mary Sullivan (details left). Website: But, why oh why, were 22 left dead in front of the Westgate Hotel with possibly 50 or more seriously injured? The highest number of fatalities ever “accomplished” in a civil Short pieces of news, views, and opinions for the Newsletter disturbance in mainland Britain. What had John Frost and the other leaders intended? Al- Registered Charity are always very welcome. Every effort will be made to repro- though Frost lived until 1877,dying in his 93rd. year, his autobiography was never written, No: 1094700 duce articles as presented but the Editor reserves the right to no explanation of his intentions in November, 1839, was ever forthcoming. edit as necessary. The Editor will assume that all necessary authorisation for attachments, photographs etc has been ob- Printed by Hanley Court tained and the FODLHS will not be held liable in the case of a Voices for the Vote – Shire Hall – and the Story of Chartism in South Wales Design and Print subsequent query. Price £4.99 available from Shire Hall Monmouth ISBN-10: 0956874509 Book Reviews AGM Report Lydney Memories by Barbara Steele, edited by Some 40 members attended the AGM on Saturday 15th Octo- Vicky Harper ber. Outgoing Chairman, Ron Beard, presented his annual re- port. He reminded members of the Society’s representations to Perhaps some of our older members will remember the Independent Panel on Forestry, and said that the Society Barbara Steele, formerly Yeatman, from her time teach- now awaits the publication of the Panel’s Preliminary Report ing at Viney Hill School, but more likely from her con- due this autumn. tributions to the local newspaper, for which she wrote Ron then thanked Averil Kear, who has left the Committee af- about her memories of growing up in Lydney in the ter many years of sterling work. He welcomed Simon Moore to years between the wars. Barbara died in 2005, aged the Committee as Averil’s replacement as Conservation Offic- nearly 90, and when her daughter, Vicky Harper, came er. It was then pointed out to the meeting that due to likely changes in roles and people leaving Vicky Harper with Lydney Mayor across a collection of her writings, she decided to edit the Committee, there will be vacancies for a new editorial team for the New Regard, vacancy Bill Osborne at the book launch and publish them, in memory of her mother.