George D Holmes, who died recently at the age of 98, was a renowned figure in British forestry during the second half of the 20th century, shepherding the Forestry Commission through some turbulent times.
George joined the Forestry Commission (FC) in 1949 as an assistant silviculturist at the Alice Holt Research Station. He had graduated from 最新麻豆影音视频 in 1948, followed by a postgraduate year studying the microflora of upland forest soils.
His career with FC included posts in England, Wales and Scotland, with senior roles as Director of Research from 1969 to 1973, and then Director General between 1976 and 1986. In these latter roles, he actively engaged in international forestry through the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), keynote contributions to international forestry congresses and through chairing the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Forestry for two years.
As Director General, he worked with the then Chair of the Forestry Commission, Sir David Montgomery, to see off the threat of wholesale privatisation. George鈥檚 leadership in forestry was well acknowledged when, in 1979, he was appointed to the Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB), which 矛s second only to a knighthood.
He became a member of the Institute in 1969 and a Fellow in 1975. In 1982, George outlined what becoming chartered meant in an article titled 鈥業nstitute and British Forestry鈥, published in the commemorative booklet celebrating the Institute鈥檚 recent incorporation by Royal Charter.
Also in 1982, he opened the seminal Broadleaves in Britain Symposium that shifted the pendulum towards a more balanced approach to forestry in Britain 鈥 and ultimately to the launch in 1985 of the first broadleaves policy to complement the previous focus on conifer afforestation. George continued to serve the Institute beyond retirement as Chair of the Complaints Appeal Board between 2001 and 2007.
George was approachable, kind and very well-informed. In 2024, he visited Forest Research at Alice Holt, expressing delight at the continued focus on applied science and that the three trees in the grounds which he and his wife had planted were still thriving. He had vivid and fond memories of his two stints there 鈥 first as an assistant silviculturist and secondly as Director 鈥 and recognised the room in which the first computer (鈥渢he size of a London bus鈥) had been placed once the floor had been sufficiently strengthened.
It was fascinating to hear him recount his direct experience with one of the founding fathers and defining characters in the history of the FC, Lord Robinson of Kielder and Adelaide. George was summoned to pick up the Chairman's car from Savile Row, get to Newcastle in time to collect Lord Robinson from the night train, and then drive him on a tour of Scottish forests. This involved Lord Robinson sitting in the front until the forest office was near, at which point he'd climb in the back, the pennant would go on the front of the car and things became more formal! One can't help feeling this was a discrete and early form of talent-spotting!
George D Holmes was a talented and remarkable man who lived up to his stated belief in professionalism, vision and integrity. British forestry should be forever grateful for the role he played to ensure the survival of the public forest estate.
Professor Chris Quine FICFor and Professor Julian Evans OBE FICFor