Learn about the role of Emily Williamson in the protection of birds, and vote for the statue to commemorate her campaigning work.
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Category: THOSE WE HAVE LOST
Frank Hamilton 1932-2020
Frank Hamilton was a very early RSPB staff member, back in the 1950s when there were only a few handfuls of staff. He retired as Director, Scotland in 1993. Almost epitomising the early staff of the RSPB he (and most were male) was a keen birdwatcher with a huge enthusiasm for birds, nature and wildlife…
Sad news: Colin Wilkinson RIP
I learned today of the passing on Saturday of Colin Wilkinson, a former colleague at the RSPB. Colin worked first in the RSPB Central England Region (the cinderella of RSPB regions – lots of people, not so many birds) which morphed into the Midlands Region. He was based in the Banbury office and more recently…
Paul Andrew, 1953-2020
Mark writes: Paul Andrew was a birder and conservationist who went to the same school that I did; Bristol Grammar School. Paul was about to leave BGS when I arrived and so I can’t say I knew him well – he was one of those god-like older boys who could identify all birds. But I…
David Bellamy (1933-2019)
David Bellamy, botanist, naturalist and broadcaster, passed away yesterday. Bellamy was a wonderful enthusiast and advocate for nature. Back in the late 1960s to the early 1980s (at least) he was one of the most notable broadcasters on environmental issues. A characteristic voice (much imitated), bags of knowledge and great enthusiasm marked him out. I…
Adam Watson 1930-2019
Adam Watson. Photo: Ronofcam, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7303182 Adam Watson died on Wednesday. We have lost one of the grand old men of UK ecology and a towering figure in upland ecology. From his doctoral thesis on the life cycle of the Ptarmigan through to his long-term monitoring of Mountain Hares, Adam Watson was a…
Peter Melchett remembered
I attended a lovely memorial event for Peter Melchett this morning after two days in the Royal Courts of Justice battling against Natural England’s brood meddling licensing decision (a third day is needed – we don’t know when that will be yet (see short account in today’s Times, page 23)). I learned some new things…
Two sad losses
This week two of my former colleagues at the RSPB have passed away: Roy Taylor and John Lanchbery. They were both wonderful colleagues full of knowledge and good humour. They probably didn’t have huge amounts in common apart from their dedication to the environmental cause and their expertise and commitment to it. Roy Tayler. Photo:…
Timothy Richard Cleeves – 1951-2017
Tim Cleeves died suddenly on Friday night. He will be greatly missed by many friends, former colleagues and birders who came across him in the field. Tim was born on the outskirts of Bristol in Hanham, across the River Avon from where I spent my earliest years, and he kept a rich Bristol accent all…
Stephen Tindale 1963-2017
I learned earlier this week of the sad passing of Stephen Tindale. Stephen was one of the most thoughtful environmental thinkers of his generation and a skilled campaigner. Stephen was director of Green Alliance (1996-97), and from there moved to be Special Advisor for Michael Meacher (1997-99) when Michael was an environment minister in the…