Review which appeared in The Western Morning News

Gordon Waterhouse - WMN 22 January, 2005

TWENTY-FOUR faces look out at us from a sepia photograph on the cover of David Jenks’ masterpiece of research, A History of Devonshire Ornithology.

They are members of the newly formed Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society, standing on the steps of Exeter University after a meeting, in 1938 or 1940; eight are women. Determination and good humour show on their faces, about to endure five years of Britain at war. Can anyone put names to these faces?

Dave Jenks, Society Archivist

DBWPS has now been continuously recording Devon's bird population for 80 years, and members can feel proud of the extraordinary database of Devon’s birdlife the Society has built in that time – probably unique for a county of the UK.

Gordon Vaughan (1933-2006)

Dave Jenks, Society Archivist

Gordon Vaughan was born in northeast London in 1933 and lived and was educated there during World War II. He had an inherent interest in natural history and before leaving grammar school had joined the North Middlesex branch of the British Empire Naturalists Association. On leaving school he commenced office work in the City of London and spent many a lunchtime studying breeding Black Redstarts on old bombsites. While on National Service at 18 years of age he volunteered for overseas posting and was sent to the Suez Canal Zone in 1951. Here, when time allowed he was able to study bird movements on one of the main migration routes.

Humphrey Sitters (born 1944)

Dave Jenks, Society Archivist

Humphrey Sitters joined the Society in 1959. He became Hon. Secretary in 1968, a post he held until 1980.

He was elected President of the society in 1981, serving to 1986. He had two terms of three years on Council. 1987 – 1989 and 1992 – 1994.

He edited and organised the Atlas of the Breeding Birds in Devon, published by the DBWPS in 1974.

Presidents & Chairmen

Dave Jenks, Society Archivist

Presidents