Monday 21 February 2011

Yet more sad news

If losing Ray Turley was not enough, further devastating news came when I heard that Ian Prophet had also died last week - on Tuesday. Like Ray, Ian will be very well known on twitching circles, and although he was a very quiet and unassuming kind of guy, he was extremely well liked.

Ian was originally from Somerset and had spent time living in both Wiltshire and Dorset during his career. For over 20 years he lived in Poole, where he was to be a very regular feature of the 'Portland scene'. Like many of us, he also loved Scilly, and after he became diagnosed with cancer in 2008, he relocated to Cornwall and spent the last couple of years birding frenetically in that county.

Ian battled with his illness until the bitter end. Our last meeting was in October of last year, when I combined a visit to both Scilly and West Cornwall - he was his typical cheerful self despite his difficulties. A real birding gentleman lost.....

Please send any tributes to Ian to myself at LGREUK400@aol.com

Lee Evans