Penny Clarke
Well-known member
This will be interesting as I don't expect there are many people left who did personally know him — or is there?????
As I am sure all the older Norfolk birders know, Richard Richardson was a great ornithologist and artist and lived at Cley in Norfolk with Mrs Dee (landlady) where he spent his time birdwatching and painting birds and many other subjects. He had a photographic memory and amazing eyesight and was loved by everyone he met, both young and old. He had a fantastic sense of humour! Very, very sadly Richard passed away after illness in 1977.
He illustrated several books including 'Collins Guide to Bird Watching; by the late R.S.R. Fitter and lots of his paintings he gave to friends as keepsakes.
He made annual trips to Fair Isle in June each year which he fell in love with and wrote an article in the 'Lynn News and Advertiser' on Friday September 9th, 1966 titled 'The Fair Isle Casts its Spell' which he illustrated with a birdwatcher being attacked by a bonxie and the Good Shepherd (boat) rocking in the waves! He was loved by the islanders there and made strong friendships, I met an islander this year (my 2nd trip to Fair Isle via Good Shepherd!!!) that knew him, I am sure there are several more people left on Fair Isle that knew him? Peter Jackson (another birdwatcher and family friend) used to travel with him to Fair Isle. I remember as a child/teenager lots of tales of Fair Isle and the 'Good Shepherd'.
I personally have very fond memories, he was my parents (Peter Clarke founder/warden of N.O.A. Holme Bird Obs. author etc) and Margaret's best friend. When ever he visited us at Holme, he would always take out of the pocket of his black leather trousers, 3 packets of smarties for my two sisters and I (We were very young then!). I remember him wearing his black beret, black leather trousers and jacket and a black and white squared jumper! Richard loved his motorbikes. I remember travelling to Cley as a child with father to visit Richard and we would go birdwatching for the day along the famous 'East Bank' and then back to Mrs Dee's for tea and cakes and then make the long trip back to Holme on father's Vespa scooter!!
Did you know Richard and have any wonderful stories to tell?
As I am sure all the older Norfolk birders know, Richard Richardson was a great ornithologist and artist and lived at Cley in Norfolk with Mrs Dee (landlady) where he spent his time birdwatching and painting birds and many other subjects. He had a photographic memory and amazing eyesight and was loved by everyone he met, both young and old. He had a fantastic sense of humour! Very, very sadly Richard passed away after illness in 1977.
He illustrated several books including 'Collins Guide to Bird Watching; by the late R.S.R. Fitter and lots of his paintings he gave to friends as keepsakes.
He made annual trips to Fair Isle in June each year which he fell in love with and wrote an article in the 'Lynn News and Advertiser' on Friday September 9th, 1966 titled 'The Fair Isle Casts its Spell' which he illustrated with a birdwatcher being attacked by a bonxie and the Good Shepherd (boat) rocking in the waves! He was loved by the islanders there and made strong friendships, I met an islander this year (my 2nd trip to Fair Isle via Good Shepherd!!!) that knew him, I am sure there are several more people left on Fair Isle that knew him? Peter Jackson (another birdwatcher and family friend) used to travel with him to Fair Isle. I remember as a child/teenager lots of tales of Fair Isle and the 'Good Shepherd'.
I personally have very fond memories, he was my parents (Peter Clarke founder/warden of N.O.A. Holme Bird Obs. author etc) and Margaret's best friend. When ever he visited us at Holme, he would always take out of the pocket of his black leather trousers, 3 packets of smarties for my two sisters and I (We were very young then!). I remember him wearing his black beret, black leather trousers and jacket and a black and white squared jumper! Richard loved his motorbikes. I remember travelling to Cley as a child with father to visit Richard and we would go birdwatching for the day along the famous 'East Bank' and then back to Mrs Dee's for tea and cakes and then make the long trip back to Holme on father's Vespa scooter!!
Did you know Richard and have any wonderful stories to tell?
) on the ubiquetous East Bank in 1964 on my first visit to Norfolk. It is surprising how much information I gathered in that brief first meeting, and how helpful he was. On future meetings it didn't matter how daft your ID's or questions were he always had the time to gently point you in the right direction. An all round cracking chap, particularly as he also rode a motorbike as well. I'm really glad to hear your Dad's still keeping active as he always made my day when I called into the Obs. ( although he did almost cause me to have a childish accident back in the 80's, when he fed me about 2 pounds of plums from his tree, and I had to walk all the way back to the village!!!!!!!!!!!!!! )
