'Tall and strong is our Forest tree

And our woodland ways are fair to see:

Acorn, sapling and tender shoot,

And a mist of blue at the spreading root;

Summer's glory and autumn's gold,

Beauty that changes and grows not old;

So in our school time glad and gay,

Grown we in strength from day to day.

CHORUS

Strong as an oak to reach the light,

Firm in our faith, we stand for right:

Free as the air, and straight and strong,

Joy in our hearts, on our lips a song:

Steadfast in our honour, fair in our name,

Glad shall our lives be, high our aim,

Year after year our school stall stand

A mighty force in our Forest land.

Deep are the mines where, age by age,

Out fathers toiled for their heritage;

Darkness conquered and danger past,

And the Forest's treasure found at last;

So shall we in our days of youth

Seek strange depths in the mine of truth,

Bring to light, when toil is done,

A soul possessed and a treasure won.'

I am a proud Forester and former pupil of East Dean Grammar School in Cinderford. I sang this song proudly and will remember it till the day I die.  You would do well to read these words and then perhaps you will understand why Foresters will not give up without a fight and will never forget, over generations to come, how you let us down.  It is not too late to support us and win back some respect.

Yours in hope.

– Susan Skinner (née Guest), Sedbury.