Andy Chalmers retires after 60 years’ service to the industry

How time flies!!!
After 60 years of extremely varied employment in the UK Forestry, Timber Harvesting and Horticultural Industries, time has come to say ‘goodbye’.
I would like to say a very big and loud ‘Thank You’ to all of the people who helped and encouraged me throughout my varied and most interesting career, including work colleagues, customers, suppliers, competitors and many friends along the way,

My career can be summarised as follows:
Left Sanford Street Secondary Modern school ‘B stream’, 1966 then:

  • 1966 – 1968 – Trainee forester, Forestry Commission, Dunkeld, Scotland
  • 1968-1970 – Apprentice, COSIRA / Fountain Forestry Ltd, SW England
  • 1970 – 1972 – Sawmill trainee, Heinrich Harling, Bergen, North Germany
    Sawmill trainee, Gebruder + Weber, Bischweier, South Germany
  • 1972 – 1973 – Farmhand, Callington, Cornwall
  • 1973 – 1974 – Timber Harvesting Contractor, Tilhill Forestry Marketing Ltd, South England
  • 1975 – 1979 – Area Manager, Tihill Forestry Marketing Ltd, South England
  • 1979 – 1982 – Divisional Manager, Forestry Thinnings Ltd, East Anglia & Home Counties
  • 1983 – 1990 – Divisional Manager, Economic Forestry Group, UK
  • 1991 – 2026 – Sales & Marketing Manager, then Managing Director and Chairman – Melcourt Industries Ltd, Tetbury, Gloucestershire


In addition to various forestry qualifications, I also achieved:

  • Diploma in Industrial Management
  • Diploma in Marketing
  • Queens Scout Award

I look back with fond memories and few regrets.
Finally, despite my humble beginnings, I have tried my hardest, been honest and respectful, always keen and wanting to learn.
Fortunately, I came out on the right site.