Queen's Verderer Cyril Edwin Hart, OBE, was considered the fount of all knowledge on the Dean's history and customs. He was born in the Royal Forest of Dean, and has lived there all his life, apart from 5 years' service in the R.A.F.

Mr Hart, who lived in Coleford, died at Lydney and District Community Hospital last weekend.

The former chairman of Forest of Dean Newspapers was believed to be in his 90s and leaves a daughter Judith and son Anthony.

From an early age, Dr. Hart has had a great interest in forestry and land management in general, and in the history of the Royal Forest of Dean in particular. He matriculated in botany etc. at London University and has obtained an M.A. at Bristol, an M.Sc. at Oxford and a Ph.D. at Leicester. Contemporarily, by examination, he became a Chartered Land Agent and a Chartered Surveyor, being a Prizeman in forestry. Subsequently, he has acted as examiner in forestry and land economy for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the University of Cambridge.

Dr. Hart obtained his forestry and land training under the late Major C. P. Ackers of the Huntley Manor Estate, acting as land agent, and later as Managing Director of the associated companies of Forest Products Ltd., and Woodland Improvement Ltd., at Huntley. In addition, he has managed forestry estates in England, Scotland and Wales, and has lectured in forestry and estate economy at the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester. Dr. Hart was elected a Verderer of the Royal Forest of Dean in 1952, and for most subsequent years has been H.M. Senior Verderer. He has acted for many years as the Chairman of H.M. Inclosure Commissioners of Dean Forest, and has served as a member of the B.B.C. Regional Advisory Council, and the South West Regional Hospital Committee. Dr. Hart was awarded the O.B.E. in 1982.

Being born in the Dean gave Mr Hart a natural interest in trees which lasted throughout his life.

He wrote many books on Forestry in general and the Forest in particular.

Being born in the Dean gave Mr Hart a natural interest in trees which lasted throughout his life.

He went on to become Forestry Lecturer at the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester and wrote many books on Forestry in general and the Forest in particular.

In November 1952 he became the youngest person in recent history to be elected as a verderer.

The Crown's representatives have been elected to uphold the Forest's own laws at a special court for centuries and Mr Hart was the senior verderer.

His memory will live on through the Cyril Hart Arboretum near the Speech House, which was named after him about a decade ago.

The former Bells Grammar School pupil was involved in organisations ranging from the Rotary Club to the church and news of his death was greeted with great sadness.

http://www.fweb.org.uk/dean/towns/colefordproject/people/hart.html

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>