He had a very wide general interest in birds, but especially in ringing and the results which can be gained from this technique. In the 1960s, trying to establish where birds went on their migrations was the prime reason for ringing birds and this remained a major interest for Chris all his life. In 1983 he published a book on the subject, Bird Migration. In more recent times ringing itself turned more towards population dynamics and Chris carried out several projects in this area too: Sand Martins (which actually combined the two main facets) in the 1960s, garden birds especially tits around the Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire, and Pied Flycatchers in Herefordshire and Wales. The recent publication of the BTO’s Migration Atlas (2002) to which Chris contributed species accounts for Swallow and Sand Martin, has brought this subject back to the forefront.
I first really came across Chris during three weeks we spent ‘atlassing’ on Mull and nearby parts of western Scotland in the summer of 1972, the last season of fieldwork for The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland (published 1976). This was not just birdwatching with a purpose; it also involved screeching to a halt on several occasions when Chris had spotted a bird taking food to its young near the side of the road, indicative that there were probably some young birds to ring, apart of course from a ‘Column 3’ record for the species in question.
Later he became a valued, albeit at times infuriating, colleague who was prepared to help with most things. Using what seemed like an almost photographic memory he was always the one to whom we turned to answer those questions to which nobody knew the answer. Who will we ask now?
He found time to do various other things: he was President of Suffolk Naturalists’ Society in 1994, Chairman of Seabird Group for some years, a member of EURING (European Union of Bird Ringing) for about 15 years and some other local societies. He was awarded the medals of the British Ornithologists’ Union, British Trust for Ornithology and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (one of the few to have all ‘the big 3’). He also continued his passions for jazz (especially Duke Ellington), watching rugby and motor racing, and local history.
Our particular sympathies go to V, Nell, Harriet and Miranda but we have all lost a friend and a passionate advocate for birds.
