RSPB BIRMINGHAM

Unfortunately Birmingham RSPB Local Group closed in April 2015.

This was principally due to dwindling numbers attending group meetings resulting in the group no longer being a viable concern.

There are however still RSPB Local Groups in Sutton Coldfield and Solihull – Please refer to the main RSPB website for full details of all RSPB Local Group activities.

Former members of Birmingham RSPB Local Group may be interested to read the following text from the speech presented by Jean Summers upon the closure of the group, looking back on it’s 40 year history:-

Birmingham RSPB 19 March 2015 – Penultimate group meeting and 40th Anniversary Cake.

 Good Evening Everyone.

Before the Group is consigned into the history books,
I believe it is important to look back and reflect on past events and achievements of the Group, and in so doing,
hopefully re-awaken memories of service given,
good friends past and present, and to highlight happy times.

I have obtained my information from many different sources,
but in particular I wish to acknowledge my gratitude to Paul HOBBS
for sharing with me his wealth of knowledge… I’ll let you into a little secret – Paul has kept every Programme since the Group began.

INDOOR MEETINGS: There have been 4 venues

1975 – 1980 Dr Johnson House

1980 – 1999 Archbishop’s House, St. Chad’s

1999 – 2013 Salvation Army Citadel

2013 – 2015 the Nautical Club

It would take too long to mention everyone who over the years has given freely of their time to help run the Group. But it is only right that we thank those who made our tea and coffee as well as those who for example like Margaret ROBERTS, was Secretary for many years.

I’ll start with current names and work-backwards:

Sandra BOURNE: volunteered to be Group Leader at the 2013 AGM even though she was aware of the fact that the Group was struggling to survive. She has tried her best to revitalize the Group but to no avail.Linda HOBBS: has worked tirelessly on the committee and Out-&-About.

Mike BOX: Treasurer x2; Evening Bird-watch Contact & Web-site Editor.

John BAILEY: was Group Leader for some 14 years. His smile/humour his trademark. He always kept a good atmosphere at the Indoor Meetings.

Ron FARMER: as Public Relations Officer attended countless fetes and I’ve been informed that at one of these, he was so zealous selling straws for the game ‘Find the Bird’ that there were none left for the next day!

Other people who have made a significant contribution to the Group:

Pete MORGAN: Treasurer

Geoff WALL: Regular volunteer and he supported the Group at fetes.

Bob BAGBY: Field Trip Organiser and Volunteer, and

Bob GRANGER: Secretary and Volunteer

Paul HOBBS: Yes. Paul HOBBS. I think most of you will agree with me that Paul has always been a key-player in the Birmingham Group. He is our longest-serving, hard-working stalwart member.
Paul has served as Group Leader; Treasurer; Field Trips Organiser for Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield and, in addition has ably supported the committee. Most importantly … and I’m sure Paul won’t mind me saying – as general dogs-body, he has never been too proud to lend a hand whenever needed, whether it was helping at fetes, supporting his wife Linda, to being in-charge of the lights and putting-out the chairs!

I think it’s fair to say – Paul has been the ‘cement-between-the-bricks’;
so, I ask you to join me in saying a special ‘THANKS’ to Paul… CLAP

Now – some of you will have noticed I have yet to mention a particular person. You will all be pleased that both Paul & Mike asked me to give special mention of Alan REDMAN. Alan was Group Leader from 1982 until 1990.

Paul told me:

“Alan was both a natural leader and speaker. And it was a pleasure to be on his committee. He gave the RSPB and the Group everything in his time as Group Leader. He had the audience in his hands”.

Mike told me:

“In my opinion Alan was the best Group Leader we ever had. He was hard-working, charismatic, enthusiastic, organised and respectful to all. He did a splendid job as front man, also a lot behind the scenes, particularly arranging sponsorship for the Group from several companies. He also regularly for several years attended our stalls at fetes, being particularly adept at engaging with the public and

getting interest in the ‘Find the Bird’ fund-raising game”.

To everyone, who, over years have shown passion, dedication and commitment to making the Group a success for 40 years, Thank you. CLAP

EVENTS:

Here I briefly want to highlight 3 things, BEFORE I end by talking about something very special.

1988 Pre-Centenary of RSPB Interim Programme. November meeting at Adrian Boult Hall
Special event – Magnus MAGNUSSON, President of RSPB: “Iceland & its Birds“.

1989 RSPB Centenary.

On a personal note … nearly all of you will have seen my Talk on Kenya, which was made-up from 2 trips:
1990 I went to Kenya with Mary MacMILLAN.
[Mary was Secretary of the Group from 1979 to 1993.] And
1993 I went to Kenya with Diane ATKINS, our late friend from the RSPB Sutton Coldfield Group who died last year.
RSPB ‘Operation Osprey’ @ Loch Garten.

I will never forget the wonderful reaction of you all, when I gave my Talk “Operation Osprey”. The atmosphere in the room was electric – it evoked so many happy memories of volunteering at Loch Garten. Everyone came alive… everyone was smiling and the banter was full-on! It was an experience like no other and one I will always treasure.

So much so, it got me thinking – There is one single, common denominator which links so many of us in the Group… Yes, I am talking about being a volunteer to guard the Ospreys at Loch Garten.
2009 Sue ORR and I guarded EJ and ODIN.

1990 Margaret ROBERTS and her son Stephen volunteered; and later
Margaret volunteered one year with Paul and Colin DAVIS. Margaret recalls being tasked to search the forest when the female went missing. Fortunately the male continued to provide fish and successfully reared the young.
1978 Paul HOBBS started his first of 3 consecutive years and he even
volunteered twice in one year! Linda says Paul volunteered at least 11 times. On one such occasion, Paul woke-up to SNUFFLING outside his tent – Ummm.

1980s. There was a ‘mass-exodus’ from the Group up to Loch Garten – i.e., The Birmingham Group were the 1^{st group to provide all 9 volunteers for the week. [In those days there were 9 volunteers p.w., c/p to the current 6.]}

Apparently Alex BAIRD was the man who generated interest in ‘Operation Osprey’, and got everyone hooked on it… including Alan REDMAN, Paul HOBBS, Mike BOX, Bob BAGBY, Ron FARMER, Sam WARD, Don CORFIELD, Pete and Simon KELLY, Malcolm BEACH and Geoff WALL.
1987 Paul HOBBS presented a £1,000 cheque on behalf of the Birmingham Group to Stewart TAYLOR, who was in-charge of Loch Garten at that time.
Marina DENNIS, Roy DENNIS’s wife, was working for the ‘Strathspey and Badenock Herald’, and she covered the event.
The Birmingham Group 9 at that presentation were:-
Paul HOBBS, Mike BOX, Mike JOHNSON, Josie HUGHES, Derek CHAMBERS, Martin HARRISON, Steve TIPPER, Chris PENMAN and Russell TONKS.

Lastly, my research has highlighted 2 further facts worthy of note:

In the early days the living and working conditions were austere in comparison to those of today – accommodation was tents and small basic caravans, and a tap supplied cold water for ablutions.Some of you paid to have matching blue jumpers & sweatshirts + polo shirts made with the words ‘RSPB Birmingham’ emblazed on them. Linda to display … happy memories.

The strong camaraderie between you forged friendships which still exist today.

We have a cake to celebrate the
“40th Anniversary of the RSPB BIRMINGHAM Group“.

Please – gather around the cake for final Group photographs.