John Dolwin passed away on 17th August 2022, aged 89.
Following graduation from Bangor with a Forestry Hons degree in 1959, John worked in Tanzania as Silviculture Research Officer and then District Forest Officer, from 1960 to 1964/5.
On return to the UK, John secured a post as i/c the woodlands of Sir William Pennington-Ramsay at Ravenglass, Cumbria.
After a few years John moved to East Sussex to work with Tilhill Forestry. He then went on to achieve his ambition of running his own Forestry business, when he and Don Gray formed Dolwin and Gray, tending estates in Sussex and surrounds, with Forest Nursery, Forest maintenance, Consultancy, Tree surgery and Landscaping sections. When Don Gray died, John kept the firm going very successfully for many years, eventually selling on to 3 of his experienced workers.
During his career, John did a lot of work for the Department of the Environment; consultancy work across the UK on a large number of issues. Dolwin and Gray won a contract to clear a large area in Sussex in preparation for making Ardingly Reservoir. In his late 60's, John was awarded a Doctorate for his research into methods of detecting wood-rot in standing timber.
John was an active Scout Master in Rotherfield who organised many village functions, raised money to build a new scout hut and was instrumental in organising the establishment of The Millennium Green, a much-valued beauty spot in Rotherfield.
John's life was rich and well-lived.
John Dolwin (Forestry, 1959)- obit
John Dolwin (Forestry, 1959)