THERE is to be an election to decide who will become a new verderer for the Forest of Dean. When nominations closed on Tuesday there were two candidates, former deputy surveyor Rob Guest, and local historian Ian Standing.

Both men have played significant roles in local affairs. They will address freeholders of the county at the election to be held at Gloucester Cathedral on Tuesday, November 29 (11am) after which there will be a vote by a show of hands.

The appointment of a new verderer follows the death of Mr A Melville R Watts.

Verderers have been appointed for the past seven centuries and there are four for the Forest of Dean. The sitting verderers are Mr R. W. Jenkins, of Christchurch; Mr Ray Wright. of Edgehills, and Mr Maurice Bent of Ruardean Hill.

A qualification is that they must own land within or near the Forest of Dean and be in good health.

• Verderers are elected for life.

• They receive no fee, salary or perquisite, although anciently it was a buck and a doe annually.

•A verderer cannot be put on assizes or juries, nor act as a coroner.

The verderers now meet four times a year when they consider issues of relevance to the vert (the woodlands and open lands) and the venison (the deer) within the Statutory Forest.

They advise the deputy surveyor and his staff on topic issues and also make representations to other administering bodies on issues affecting their interests. Additionally, they oversee sheep grazing by being represented on the multi-agency liaison group.