William BaldwinWilliam was born in March 1925 in Lydney. He attended Lydney Craft School and left at 14 years of age working briefly for local builder Fred Hale (6 weeks), before working for Watts where he later returned to work until retirement. In his interview William describes in some detail his time working on the railways, first as an engine cleaner and eventually footplate man. He describes railway working practices, routes, the engines and other equipment, and recounts how he transported munitions during the Second World War.
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Bob BassettRobert George Bassett was born in 1923, son of William John Bassett and Kate Emily Evans. Bob worked at New Fancy Colliery, as a 'Bevan Boy' at Princess Royal, then at Orchard Colliery. In his interview Bob describes his family living on site at New Fancy Colliery and learning to manage horses at the colliery both above and below ground. His father, and brother Percy, were both ostler’s at New Fancy Colliery, whilst his sisters all went into domestic service working for the Wills tobacco family. He also describes how his father had an industrial accident that led to the loss of his leg.
You can access the full unedited interview here |
Joan BeavanJoan was born in June 1945 at the Dilke Hospital, Cinderford. Both of her parents had been married before, each having a son from their respective first marriages. Her mother’s first husband had died in a bombing raid on his workplace, Gloster Aircraft Factory in 1942. Joan's father’s first wife died aged 29 of throat cancer. Joan was brought up in Lydbrook, attending Lydbrook Primary School, then East Dean Grammar School. She worked in the Post Office whilst doing night classes to learn commercial skills. Then she worked in a number of posts in a PA / secretarial capacity at Rank Xerox in Mitcheldean. When the site began to wind down she was offered work with the company away from Gloucestershire, but chose instead to leave. Subsequently Joan worked in various roles, with Manpower Services on a Community Engagement programme, and for the Council. In the early 1980s she worked for a time at the newly opening Dean Heritage Centre. Away from work, as a young woman Joan performed as a dancer, and later in life enjoyed travel and raised a great deal of money for animal charities.
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James BevanJames was born at the Dilke Memorial Hospital in December 1944. His father and uncle were already in the transport business by the time of his birth having set up the Soudley Valley bus service. After school and training as an engineer James worked for them for a brief period, before starting up his own bus company, based in Lydney in 1967, when he was 23 years of age. In his interview James talks about his father’s business and describes the changing face of public transport over the intervening years, since setting up independently. He talks about a number of local companies to which he was contracted and the impact of changing legislation on how bus / coach companies operate. e.g. deregulation under Margaret Thatcher.
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Pam BoxPam was born at Lydney Hospital just after the commencement of World War Two. She grew up in Pillowell, the second daughter of the landlords of The Forester pub there. After attending Lydney Grammar School until the age of 15, Pat first worked in the offices of the Pin Factory at Whitecroft. She subsequently worked as a telephonist at the Lydney Telephone Exchange, and was on duty in the aftermath of the Severn Bridge disaster. She later worked at the exchange in Gloucester, before marrying, and thereafter working with her husband at his TV sales, rental and repair shop in Lydney.
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Gordon BrooksBorn in Lydbrook, "mining was strong on both sides of the family" says Gordon, with six uncles all working at Cannop Colliery. After completing his training at Cannop Drift, Gordon worked at Northern United Colliery near Cinderford. In his interview Gordon describes growing up in Lydbrook opposite Waterloo Colliery. He describes in detail the working conditions, the men he worked with, technical details of the work, and the layout and coal measures underground at Northern United, As the big Forest pits began to close Gordon followed the work to Wales, then returned to the Forest working in several freemines. Gordon was urged by his uncle O. B. Jordan to register as a free miner and he describes in detail the process for registering.
You can access the full unedited interview here |
Steve CooperSteve was born in Sheffield. He left school shortly before his 16th birthday, initially becoming a forest worker in woodland near to Sheffield. He went on to study at a Forestry School in Scotland, before taking up his first full time post within the Forestry Commission. Steve has worked in a variety of locations and roles during a long career within the Forestry Commission, including roles within research (monitoring tree populations and growth), recreation, and contracting. His work has taken him to Wales and Scotland, with two phases of his career in and around the Forest of Dean. On taking early retirement from the Forestry Commission in 1996, Steve continued for a time working on a consultancy / contract basis for the Forest Authority, before moving to Australia for a time. Since his return to the UK he again lives in the Forest of Dean.
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Ruth DaintyRuth was born in 1933, the fifth of six daughters to survive to adulthood. Leaving school at 15 years of age Ruth worked on the family small holding at Huntley for around three years. After this she moved in with a sister, and had a job in Gloucester at a grocery shop. Ruth disliked the job and after a year moved into the first of three nanny posts in and around Gloucester. In each case she lived in with the family, though the experience varied significantly. Marrying in 1957, she and her husband Doug moved into a bungalow owned by her father (he had bought eight bungalows in order to supplement the family income). The couple had two children, a girl and a boy. After her father’s death, Ruth and her husband had to purchase the bungalow, getting some reduction in the cost in lieu of her share of profits made from the sales of the bungalows. Once the children were at school, Ruth had a number of cleaning jobs for people in the village, several being elderly. (She would also take them to the shops, hairdressers appointment etc.)
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Mervyn FoxIn 1940, at 14 years of age, Mervyn started working at Robin Hood iron mine where iron ore and yellow ochre were mined. In his interview Melvyn describes in detail the work of iron mining, and compares the work and the different working relationships between iron and coal mines where he also worked. Melvyn remembers incidents during the Second World War including those relating to Canadian soldiers billeted at Coalway. Melvyn also worked at New Dunn iron mine, at Princess Royal colliery, and later at Watts Boilers.
You can access the full unedited interview here |
Glenda GriffithsGlenda was born at the Dilke Hospital, daughter of Sidney John Morgan Jones and Elsie Smith. She had three brothers, including twins who were exactly two years her senior. She and her brothers were brought up in Broadwell, attending the local village school and then Five Acres school. Glenda’s father served in the RAF in WW2. On his return, in order to get a job he enjoyed, the family relocated to Gloucester, where he worked as a taxi driver. Glenda transferred to a Gloucester school for her final year’s schooling but did not find the experience very enjoyable, being teased due to her connections with the Forest, and her wearing of her prior school’s uniform. On leaving school Glenda worked for W H Smith, at a distribution centre based at Gloucester station. She was given time off work to attend college, learning typing and shorthand. Some months after Glenda started work the family returned to the Forest to run the Bird in Hand Pub in Broadwell, previously run by Glenda’s grandparents. Glenda remained for a few months at W H Smith, then finding more local employment in the Forest. She worked at the Halifax Building Society and then at the Co-Op pharmacy (both in Coleford), then at the newly opened Meredith and Drew biscuit factory in Cinderford. When this company decided to relocate away from the area, Glenda found new employment on the switchboard at another factory, Rosedale’s, a manufacturer of plastic goods. Glenda married John Griffiths in 1960. Having her first child in 1964 she left work to raise her family. Subsequently Glenda moved to the Gloucester / Cheltenham area, taking on a number of jobs in locally run firms. These included Westbury Homes (a construction company), and Short, Graham and Company (auctioneers).
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Ivy GunterIvy was born in St Briavels in 1922, and was one of a large family, with an older sister and two (possibly three) brothers, one of whom had Down Syndrome.
Leaving school at 14 years of age, Ivy did casual work for a year, due to being small for her age. She subsequently went into domestic service, with families based in London (who also had a more local property in South Wales) and Cheltenham. During the War Ivy worked for the Timber Corps, alongside the men, felling timber for pit props. Her social life involved going to dances and the cinema. In 1944 Ivy married Dennis Biddle, the son of a local farming family. They later moved to the farm, which was primarily a dairy herd. The couple had three children. Dennis later suffered ill health, the couple selling the farm and moving into St Briavels village. At some time, subsequent to his death, Ivy remarried, now having the surname of Gunter. In her interview Ivy talks of life in the village and further afield, and of changes that have taken place there through her lifetime. You can access the full unedited interview here |
Pat HarperPat Harper was born at Lydney Hospital in 1947, the elder of two children. Her parents, Maurice and Ida Harper, lived in Viney Hill. As a young man, Maurice worked on a local milk round and as a gravedigger. He later worked for a time in Quedgeley, before moving to work locally for the MEB. In later life Ida developed Parkinson’s Disease. Pat recalls attending Viney Hill School, then transferring to Lydney for senior school, firstly at a mixed secondary school and later at the newly opened Girls’ Secondary School. Leaving school at 16, Pat worked in the dining room at Cheltenham Gentlemen’s College. She lived in a house owned by the college. Wishing to return home, she moved back to work at the Pin Factory. Pat worked in the factory, in a number of roles, until her retirement. Pat shares memories of life growing up in Viney Hill, and of working in both Lydney and Whitecroft. Pat enjoyed singing, through her local church. She recalls the funeral of the Gypsy Petulengro, a major event in the village, which took place whilst she was at school.
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Donald HarrisDonald Harris was born in Lydney. When he was called up for National Service he elected to join the Gloucestershire Regiment but was refused because he was found to be partially colour blind and instead served in the Royal Artillery. He trained at Oswestry and was later stationed in Germany. There he met his first wife, Johanna Maria Schmidt, who had lost three brothers in the Second World War. He returned to Lydney in 1953 with his wife and daughter Marian and lived with his grandfather at Railway Terrace, Lydney. The day after his return he was offered and started a job as a ‘Lamp Man’ on the railway. He later worked at Lydney Tin Plate Works, J. Allen Rubber Company and Sykes Pumps. After his wife passed away he remarried (to Carol).
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Edna HicksEdna was born in November 1918, shortly after the end of the First World War. She was the second of four children to survive to adulthood. Her father, George Hicks, was a Methodist Minister with his ministry taking him and his young family to places in South Wales, Devon and Cornwall, whilst Edna and her siblings were growing up. Edna’s mother came from Woolaston and her family kept one of the village shops for many years. In her interview Edna explains how she followed her older sister Ivy into a teaching career, with both of them training at Stockwell College, and both then teaching in Liverpool. Both sisters were evacuated with their pupils to different parts of Wales shortly after the start of the Second World War. On her father’s retirement just after the end of the War, Edna’s parents and brothers moved to Woolaston. After a short period working as a teacher in Liverpool Edna moved to Woolaston too, her older sister continuing to teach in Liverpool. Edna eventually became Deputy Head of the school. She has been involved in the local Methodist church throughout her life, acting as the organist until health issues led to her standing down in April 2019, after over 73 years.
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Mike HintonMichael Henry Hinton was born in Lydney during the Second World War. He was twice married and two of his sons, Nick and Paul, work in his company. He left school at 15 years old and had a variety of jobs including at the Lydney Tinplate Works, Pine End Works, J Allen Rubber, Stowfield and Shakemantle Quarries, and lorry driving. In his interview Mike describes the different work he did, including in some detail both the tinplate making process, and the making of plywood. Most of his family worked at the Pine End works until its closure. He eventually began his own business, Lydney Surfacing.
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George HoggGeorge was born in Parkend in 1926. His father was a gardener for the Deakin family and this guaranteed him a job at New Fancy Colliery. He worked as a blacksmith in the workshop, working at the colliery until it closed. He then worked at Princess Royal Colliery, Listers Engineering, Parkend Sawmills and Watkins Engineering at Sling. He subsidised his income with lave net fishing on the River Severn. He married Jean, and after she passed away he married her sister Margaret. In his interview George also discusses the murder of his brother.
You can access the full unedited interview here |
Mick HolderMick was born in Cinderford and is an established commoner who has run large flocks of sheep for many years. He is also a businessman and has had interests in road haulage and coal distribution. He is secretary of the Commoners Association, and has worked tirelessly to maintain the tradition of commoning in the Forest of Dean. He is also a member of the Sheep Liaison Group, a multi-agency group that addresses local issues around sheep commoning, and that established the Responsible Shepherding Agreement. He has also been the main point of contact for sheep related issues and runs a call-out service for sheep related problems that is widely appreciated. Chris, his wife is very active on the farm and with shepherding. They live at Pleasant View Farm, Blaize Bailey with panoramic views over the Severn estuary (at the time of the interview in 2016).
You can access the full unedited interview here |
Nigel IsaacNigel was born in Hucclecote in 1942. He had one younger sister. His father worked at the Gloster Aircraft Company as an aircraft inspector. After attending his local primary school Nigel went to a technical school in Gloucester. In his early days in the Gloucester school Nigel and a friend from Hucclecote were the subject of ‘teasing’ for their rural background by the city boys – requiring him to go to hospital once with a cut head. Nigel left school at age 15 and initially (on his father’s advice) had an apprenticeship at an aircraft factory - but was made redundant after the first 12 months. Deciding factory work was not for him, Nigel went to work on a local farm that was run on old-fashioned principles. After a 12-month course at Hartpury College, Nigel went on to work at other more modernised farms, one local to the area and the other (later a syndicate of 3 or 4 farms) near Tewkesbury. At the age of 29, Nigel opted for a change of career. He became a policeman, completing his two probationary years in Lydney and living and working thereafter in various Forest villages. He remained in the Forest throughout his career and retired in 1997. In his interview, Nigel talks about his time in the police force, commenting on how his role changed over the years, and also telling of several specific incidents he recalls across the years.
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Kelvyn JonesKelvyn was born at Blakeney in September 1951. He attended Blakeney school (as his father had done), then Lydney Boys' Secondary School. Leaving school at 15 years of age he went on to work as a panel beater, in pig farming, as a glove stripper, in foundry work, cam shaft manufacture. In common with his father and grandfather he kept sheep, cattle and pigeons. In his interview, Kelvyn talks in detail about commoning practices, his varied working life, and life in and around Blakeney.
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Sheila Llewellyn.Sheila was born in Thetford, moved to Dursley, and then by the age of 8 she was living in Cinderford. After attending East Dean Grammar School, she spent two years undertaking teacher training in Birmingham where she went on to teach for three years. Health issues prompted a return to Gloucestershire to live and work, teaching at Coney Hill School, in Gloucester, then Walmer Hill School where she worked until retirement at age 50. She was involved with the Guiding movement from age 10, and on into adult life. Sheila was also involved with acting for both the Wesley Players and the W.I and was a close friend of Elsie Olivey who as well as being involved in the same drama groups was also a key mover in development of the Dean Heritage Centre and the recording of Forest oral histories. Sheila lived next door to Forest author Harry Beddington for many years, and also ‘knew of’ author Leonard Clark who also originated from Cinderford.
You can access the full unedited interview here |
Valerie MatthewsValerie was born in October 1947, at the Dilke Hospital. She was the eldest of 8 children. Her father, who came from the West Midlands, worked as an engineer for Edwards’ Coaches. Valerie married Dave at Ruardean Church when she was aged 20, and they later had a daughter (Rachel, who is now married with two children). After leaving school most of Valerie’s jobs were local to Ruardean, for example Reeds Corrugated Cases in Lydbrook. However, she has had some jobs in Gloucester – including her last job prior to retirement, at the Co-Op Travel money exchange. Away from work Valerie has been involved in activities such as bell ringing and (through her daughter) brass bands in Drybrook and Gloucester. Since the Ruardean Carnival was reinstated, Valerie has helped in serving refreshments at the village hall. In later life Valerie has enjoyed holidaying abroad, and supporting her daughter and her family.
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Cyril MilesCyril was born in Ruardean in 1928. His father worked at Waterloo Colliery, and his mother worked as a cleaner and at Knight's Bakery. At 14 years of age Cyril started work screening coal at Waterloo, then working underground. In his interview Cyril describes in detail the haulage system at the colliery, including the use of horses. He later worked at Northern United, joined the Mines Rescue team, and was himself injured in an underground explosion. Cyril worked at Rank Xerox, and in the True Blue freemen where the coal was sent to Tetbury for use in dying.
You can access the full unedited interview here |
James OrpinJames Anthony Orpin was born in a tent at Crump Meadow "Gypsy"camp, Cinderford, in March 1948. His father, Wilfred, worked at various collieries, and at the tar depot at Steam Mills. James’ mother, Jessie Greenhouse, had grown up with the traveller community, her father being a travelling showman. James grew up at Crump Meadow and attended Bilson School, then Double View School. In his interview James talks about growing at Crump Meadow and about the relationship between the community there and the rest of the town. He talks about the work his mother did (work she also showed him how to do) to make a living. He describes how his family moved into a near-by house in 1959, and later to a house in Green Bottom leading to James attending Abenhall School. James describes his jobs and the work he did in various saw mills in the Forest, and his time spent working at Zeals, the Newnham thermometer maker. James also touches on the death of his sister in a car accident, and the strange circumstances surrounding his uncle’s death at Waterloo Colliery.
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Charlie PennCharles Syndey Penn was born in Lydbrook in November 1930, one of seven children. His working life included periods at both Waterloo and Northern United Collieries, as well as periods working in a drift mine and operating a freemine. In his interview Charlie describes his work at Waterloo after leaving school, and a brief period training at Cannop. He remembers the 1949 flood, describing what happened and how his father also escaped. Charlie later worked as a lorry driver, for Listers, and Rank Xerox. Charlie was also a sheep badger, starting at age 14 years of age with 5 sheep purchased from his uncle, and describes the practice of 'haunting' sheep which he did in and around Ruardean Woodside.
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Fred PensomFrederick Claude Pensom was born in November 1929. He was the son of George Charles Pensom and Minnie Beatrice Markey and had three brothers and one sister. In his interview Fred describes his early family life in Viney Hill, and his perceptions of his father and his work at the colliery. After attending Viney Hill School he went to the Junior Technical School in Gloucester. At 14 years of age he became an apprentice at Red and White Buses. He served in REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers),for his National Service and then returned to Red and White. He describes his work and the vehicles he worked on. He later owned and managed his own garage in Parkend, before driving coaches at the end of his working life. He also describes village life and his involvement in Parkend Silver Band.
You can access the full unedited interview here |
Margaret PhelpsMargaret Maria Hedwig Phelps (nee Seeger) was born in the east of Germany near the Oder River in May 1933. She was a child at the time of the Second World War and lived through the last years of the Third Reich, the aerial bombardment of Germany and the Russian invasion in 1945. She survived the deprivations of the post-war years and became a tailor. She eventually came to the west just as Germany was partitioned and married Maurice, a British Serviceman in 1961. She came to Worrall Hill, Forest of Dean in 1964, and raised three children. She later returned to tailoring as a supervisor at the Remploy plant in Parkend.
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Maurice PhelpsMaurice Phelps was born at Worrall Hill, near Lydbrook, in 1939. He had two brothers and a sister. He attended Lydbrook School, then East Dean Grammar School. Maurice left left school at age 15 years to work at Coleford Brick and Tile Company, before going into the army's Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in 1958. He was stationed in Germany where he met his future wife. On leaving the army he went back to the brickworks for two more years, and then spent 7 years working at British Nylon Spinners. He worked in maintenance at Rank Xerox, 12 years on staff, and a similar period doing contract work - 25 years in total. He was heavily involved in setting up and running the Worrall Hill social club. His wife worked for several years in a supervisory role at Remploy, Parkend.
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Thomas PreeceWhen he was a small child Thomas began helping his father shepherd sheep on the Forest and at 14 years of age he had his own flock. He combined commoning with working at the Princess Royal Colliery after he was conscripted as a Bevin boy during the Second World War. In his interview Thomas describes how he continued as a collier for twelve years until he became a full time commoner and farmer on land acquired in the Bream area. At one point he had extensive numbers of sheep grazing on Forest waste and maintained one of the largest flocks on the Forest. He commoned through the 1967 Foot and Mouth disease outbreak, but gave up after the 2001 epidemic. At the time of the interview in 2016 he continued to keep about 100 ewes at his farm in Saunders Green, near Bream.
You can access the full unedited interview here |
Alan PriceAlan was born in Pillowell in 1932. His father had an equine haulage business hauling coal from the pits, collecting goods from Whitecroft railway station and delivering groceries for his brother’s shop. He started ‘tushing’ in 1940 contracting with the Ministry of Supply for removal of woodland timber to the roadside. The War increased demand for timber and he kept three working horses. Alan helped his father from aged 10 years in 1942. The Ministry contract ended in 1946 and his father went on to work for the Forestry Commission until 1968 when machinery took over. Alan went to work at the Co-op Creamery in Gloucester and later took over his father’s Pillowell farm.
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Pam StratfordPam was born in February 1934 at Oldcroft. her father worked at Princess Royal Colliery and later as a caretaker. In her interview Pam describes life growing up, the cottage they lived in, and how the pig they kept was slaughtered and the meat processed. After Viney Hill School she attended Lydney Grammar School, leaving at 15 years of age to start work at the Whitecroft pin factory. Pam describes the social life in and around Oldcroft including chapel. Pam also remembers the poet and solicitor F. W. Harvey.
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Rosa TaylorRosalind Marjorie Taylor was born in November 1934 on Ruardean Hill. She cared for her mother and helped run the family home after leaving Abenhall School. She met her future husband driving her local bus and worked as a cleaner and help before taking on a village paper round because she enjoyed walking. She went to the Baptist chapel and was an active member of the village community.
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Meryl TeagueMeryl Teague, nee Lewis, was born in June 1935 at Sling, the daughter of James (Jim) Lewis a coal miner and Eunice Jones. Meryl attended Ellwood Primary School then Bells Grammar School, leaving at 17 to work in an office at Carters, ‘The Ribena Factory’. She participated in school performances of Gilbert and Sullivan Operas and was a member of Lydney Baptist Church. Later she joined Lydcroft Ladies Choir and is treasurer for local groups in Parkend including the carnival, and brass band which her daughters and grandsons all played in. In her interview she describes her life in an office where most work was done by hand and unusually for the time, of being a working mother. She describes how she moved to the offices at Typrod on Lydney Industrial Estate, then worked with Eric Chilvers, the local Baptist Minister and part time accountant and was finally self-employed doing books for local small business clients. She married Stanley Bernard Teague in 1958 and they had two daughters, Sharon and Hayley.
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Esmond ToveyEsmond was born 1924. He left school aged 14 years of age and worked at Lydney Tin Plate Works before and during the second World War. He was briefly sent to work at a forge in Smethwick. He served as a mechanic in Fleet Air Arm, based in Arbroath. After being demoted he worked briefly at the wagon works in Lydney, then at Albany Engineering for thirty years, working up to being the works manager there. He played rugby for Lydney, holding the record for highest score in a single season for around ten years.
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Anne VennerAnne was born in the Forest of Dean, the daughter of the manager of Foxes Bridge Colliery, who died when she was only three years of age. She attended Bilson School and later went on to train in Gloucester as a Nursery Nurse. Subsequently Anne worked for several years at The Dilke Hospital. After having her family Anne eventually worked for Marie Curie, caring for those with terminal illnesses.
You can access the full unedited interview here |
Bart VennerBart was born on the Isle of Wight, growing up during World War Two. On leaving school at 15 years of age he went to work in Parkhurst Forest on the Isle of Wight, subsequently being accepted for training at the Forestry School in Parked. His training also saw him spend time at Forestry Schools in Scotland and East Anglia. After qualifying Bart returned to the Forest of Dean, working on various beats as Assistant Forester, later taking responsibility for establishing / running Forest of Dean campsites and, later, in charge of timber contracts. Towards the end of his career Bart was placed in charge of dealings with private woodlands in the area. Across his career Bart and his wife have lived in various locations in the Forest, including Foxes Bridge, Cannop Cottages and St Briavels.
You can access the full unedited interview here |