[robinm]

Just heard that Bob Scott has died. He will be greatly missed.

My condolences to his family.

[Steve Dudley]

Bob passed away last night. He was one of those great guys who wore so many hats you lost count! His loss will be felt widely across Britain, Europe and a few corners of the world too. Personally I owe Bob a great deal as he gave me my first job in birds/ornithology as an assistant warden at Fairburn Ings RSPB reserve in the 80s - just to shut me up he used to say - and as he reminded me frequently! I loved his infectious enthusiams of birds and the way he never stinted in sharing this with other.

[mikfoz]

I know this may be seen as disrespectful, and I assure you it's not, but could somebody more in the know inject into the thread a bit of info as to who Bob Scott was, as some of us just plain will not know.

[Steve Dudley]

R.E. (Bob) Scott worked for the RSPB since the 1960s and retired as Head of Reserve Managemen. His only departure from RSPB was as Dungeness Bird Observatory Warden in the 60s. Although orignally from Surrey, I think many, certainly from his early days consider him a Man of Kent. He also held many honorary posts including Chairman the Cambs Bird Club and Vice President of the BOU. He was also a well travelled tour leader and a pivitol figure in Bulgarian birding. I should of course mention that Bob was very much one half of a couple as he and his wife were inseperable, especially since their respective retirements from the RSPB.

[stuartelsom]

Just to add to what Steve has written, Bob was also heavily involved in promoting Birdwatching in the Po Delta, Italy; was a Director of British Birds Magazine and also one of the original members of St.Neots Bird & Wildlife Club. Bob & Ann also promoted the activities and conservation work of the Polish Tour Guide, Marek Borkowski.

Bob also wrote several books including The Birdwatcher's Key and The Atlas of British Birdlife.

As a 9 year old boy I attended Bob & Ann's Birdwatching classes at Grafham Water in 1978. It seemed amazling to me that when in 1999 I was considering becoming the chairman of St.Neots Bird and Wildlife Club at the age of 30, that Bob was there, offering encouragement and support which he continued to do throughout my chairmanship.

He was a warm and charismatic person to be around, very generous with his bird knowledge and was a great tour leader, lecturer and raconteur. I am deeply saddened by his death and both my wife Jill and I will miss him very much as I'm sure many many others in the Birding World will.

Stuart Elsom
Chairman, St.Neots Bird & Wildlife Club 1999-2006

[John Cantelo]

Stuart's got there before me, but all the well deserved accolades for his contribution to birding/bird life shouldn't distract from the fact that the key thing about Bob Scott was that he was simply an exceptionally warm and generous man. Along with the recent death of Eric Simms, another sad loss for British ornithology,

[mikfoz]

Thanks, guys. I feel sad now that I'm a bit too late into birding to meet/know the man. He seems to have been well-loved.

[Neil Stephenson]

Bob's death is such sad news. Ann our thoughts are with you, Bob will be missed by so many in the birding world. Bob's enthusiasm and his humour was infectious to all those fortunate enough to know him. Our trip to Bulgaria with Bob and Ann was unforgettable.
Neil and Barbara Stephenson.

[foxsparrow]

Originally Posted by stuartelsom

Just to add to what Steve has written, Bob was also heavily involved in promoting Birdwatching in the Po Delta, Italy;

That it's true, and Bob had friends in Italy too. I met him various times during the visits he payed at our land, while last time we met in Rutland Water together with Ann. We will miss him a lot.

Menotti Passarella
Po Delta, Italy.

[rollingthunder]

I am very sorry to hear that Bob has passed away - i havent seen him for a long time but i remember his enthusiasm and all-round down to earthiness when i worked with the BTCV over several weekends at the new RSPB reserve of Northward Hill in North Kent - we spent a few weekends felling dead-Elms in the 70's and he was fretting as to whether the Herons would move from the traditional Elms to the nearby Oaks - needless to say they did - i dont know whether NH is still the largest heronry in Britain but it was at the time - my thoughts to his wife, family and friends...

[Vectis Birder]

There was a full-page obituary in the Times the other day. I have to admit I'd not heard of Bob Scott before now, but the obituary made interesting reading.

Here it is: Bob Scott: ornithologist

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Here's Stephen Moss's obituary for Bob in the Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environmen...uary-bob-scott