Colin Bashford

Me too. Colin

That is good news for who ever might be instructed to represent either party. I understand that the London Bus case evidence is now under 25 to 30ft landfill in an as yet unknown site!!!! Thank heavens for photographic evidence. Colin

Bob and all you guys and gals out there, whilst of course my heart and sympathies go out to the family, relatives and friends of the little girl, it seems that some need reminding NOT to destroy the evidence, when clearing up. I know that it is obvious to most but with the tragic case of the bus/tree incident in London the tree was cut up and taken to the tip. Police etc are now trying to retrieve it from the land fill site. Investigations often need to recreate the tree and the failed part. It is fine and obviously necessary to cut the tree up to remove it but the sections and essentially the 'failed' parts should be stored for future investigation if necessary. Colin

:wave:Good man Lee I am in. Colin

Happy Birthday Steve. Now I realise why the celebrations were just getting going at the Pied Bull as we left. Good to meet you and others. Hope you have a great time at Capel today. Colin:birthday:

Hi guys I have received the copied email today via a fellow member (Jeremy Chancey - Brazil) of the ISA International Board. If any can assist please email Travers on [email protected]. Knowing the generosity of Jeremy this could lead to a cheap trip to Brazil. Thanks guys. Colin Hi Colin, My name is Travers McNaught I am Australian and moved to Brazil about 10 months ago I got your contact from Jeremy Chancey as he is involed with the ISA chapter in Brazil and a friend of mine here. I currently work in Brazil for a small tree care company as a tree climber and I am looking at starting tree climbing courses for local companys in Brazil. The reason that I am contacting you is that I am traveling to England in september to go to my best friends wedding so I am also looking to do a bit of tree work if I could maybe for about 2-3 weeks just get a bit of experience and see how tree workers in England are getting the job done and maybe learn some new tricks that might help me along the way. I started an Arboricultre course in Australia but only completed half the course until me and my Brazilian wife moved to Brazil since then I have been study to sit the ISA Arborist Exams and I am also a ISA member. If you could help me in anyway or put me on to some one that might be able to find a bit of work for a few weeks around the start of sep that would be great.

Hi Stuart and the rest of you climbers out there. I can advise that the UK/I are about to announce a probable 25% reduction in this years joining fee, seeing that a quarter of the year has already gone. That would mean that on joining now for a likely fee of around £64 you will get your reduced entrance fee of £25 for climbing comps and all other benefits. In addition in following up my support of you gals and guys, who form by far the greatest percentage of our profession I am proposing to the Chapter that we have a 'climbers and treeworkers' section of our membership that will cater for your specific needs and will be without some of the other bells and whistles currently offered. In that manner I see a lower joining cost and the opportunity to have a considerable 'voice' in our profession. Hope that this is encouraging for you but would like to hear your comments as these issues will be raised at the UK/I AGM at Capel Manor and at the Celebration of Trees. Best wishes Colin

Even the old man would like one of these. Please count me in Steve.

Thank Tony this is one of the best explanations I have heard since we wrote 5837. Colin

This appears to be one of the worst and most horrific cases that I have come across in a long career. My sincerest thoughts and wishes go to Scott's wife, family, his friends and his work mates who I know must be finding life currently very difficult. I have read all postings with interest and must comment on the amazing camaraderie that you guys and gals show for each other. As I have said before you climbers worldwide are an amazing bunch, please all take extra care and God bless you. Colin Bashford ISA Vice President.

I agree with all that has been said and totally applaud Steve's magnificent efforts. The prizes are surely worth it but that value bears no comparison to the pleasure and joy we can help to bring to the kids who should all have health, comfort and happiness. So come on guys let's see a surge in raffle ticket sales and at least hit the £1000 mark. Happy new Year to you all. Colin

I absolutely agree with and understand the comments that have been made since my last email. We all need to learn from experiences good and bad, but we should not be seen to be prejudging the outcome of any case. Sure it is a public forum and a very good one, but so are newspapers for example and they have to be subject to restraint over assessing who or what might be wrong in any particular case. I will watch with interest. Colin

I really do not want to sound as an absolute bore on this interesting thread, but a very serious word of caution. Such cases and I have three running at this moment almost inevitably come to Court and therefore all these issues must be treated as sub judice at this stage if you do not want to damage the potential case of either the likely claimant or the likely defendant. You will be aware that similar cases can involve mega bucks but if a Court/Judge thinks that a case or an expert witness has been pre-judged or influenced by prior discussion such as on this excellent forum then a case which may take years to come to Court can be ruined. Please in the interests of all likely parties to a possible case or claim, do not therefore discuss this particular case in detail. Please however may I add my concern to those that are suffering. Cheers

Another very useful photo Steve. If you do come across the earlier photo even better. Mind if I use this for demonstration purposes? Colin

Thanks. that would be great. I think from the evidence of your photos thus far that the detail would be of great help in work that I am doing following a couple of Court cases. Colin

Steve A very difficult choice but 'Alfie' sold it for me. Colin

High Scale Do you by chance have close up photographs of both sides of the top side of the tear scar on this split Oak? If you do or have other photographs i would very much like to see them. If you like they could be sent off forum to [email protected]. Colin

Count me in please.

I hope you are right for there are a large number of good 'tree guys' out there who can do just a good a job as the AA approved contactor but cannot afford the time and money to become approved, and under your belief with what benefit. Colin

Great competition, great photographs and great organisation. Well done to all.

Big A I hope that you will not be disappointed with the ISA and its UK/I Chapter. We really are trying to assist and represent those at the sharp end of our profession. I am keenly interested in finding out what is required by those at the grass roots level. In respect of the ISA Certified (I hate that term) Arborist I can advise that accreditation is by examination but that it is not a difficult exam and 'course work' can be done at home. The accreditation is subject to Continuing Educational Units (CEU's) to ensure you keep up to date. Obtaining CEU's can be as simple as reading selected articles in the ISA News letter and answering a set of questions from multiple choice answers. This can be done in a lunch break in the cab of your van. These are then sent off. You also get CEU's for attending seminars, lectures, trade shows and demonstrations. When you acheive Certified Arborist status you have a badge and an identification card to show clients and employers that you are qualified. In that way we can ensure that those purporting to be tree surgeons, really do have appropriate knowledge and experience. That would help to put paid to the gypsy fraternity that knock on doors and show that one man bands and of course their dog can produce high quality work. Check it out with the ISA UK/I office and talk to Jean McDermott, or otherwise ask me the questions and if I do not know the answers I will find olut for you. Cheers Colin:beerglass:

I believe that it is true. Certainly they the AA have been talking about it for a long time. I however have some problems with the AA scheme. An AA approved contractor is only as good as the staff that they have at any one time. The tree company can become approved and then a couple of weeks later lose all their good climbers and be staffed with crap! That does not quarantee a good or a safe job for the client. Much better is the ISA Certification scheme were it is the climber/worker that is 'approved', then you should always get a good job for the client. Colin

Surely this is why there should be insurance to cover all eventualities. Colin

Cheers Big A

That's cool, but what is with this Mr Bashford? Thanks for the permission I will try to let you know which ones I use. Colin