Biographical Details

My grandfather was born on 17th February 1891 at Sayell's Farm in Sundon, Bedfordshire. My memories of him stem from the latter part of his life, when he lived in Dunstable, where he died in 1975. He came from a Sundon family - my great-grandfather ran the village Post Office at Sayell's Farm until he died. Grandpa Frank had one brother, Harold, who died in 1923.

He married my Grandma Margaret ('Maggie') on 24th January 1917. I don't remember Grandma Margaret at all as she died when I was a baby. Shortly after marrying Maggie, my grandfather joined the Royal Engineers. He was posted to France and Belgium on the 10th March to fight on the Western Front towards the end of the First World War. He still managed to keep up his interest in natural history, collecting eggs and going on many nature rambles during his time in the Department Pas-de-Calais. We still have many of his rambling diaries complete with many pressed flowers and other memorabilia from his time as a soldier. On being de-mobbed on 11th November 1919, he returned to his home stomping ground and spent the majority of his working life at E.W. Hudson & Co Engineering Works in Luton.

Despite his career in Engineering, Grandpa Frank was an academic at heart. The notes for each clutch of eggs include a wealth of information about the plant life and moths and butterflies that he encountered while collecting. In addition to his encyclopaedic natural knowledge, he also quoted Shakespeare at will and had a fondness for Brer Rabbit! He wrote incessantly: nature notes, diaries, articles ... for himself and for others, it wasn't important. He was an extremely talented artist, his drawings accurate to the smallest detail, skills all of his grandchildren have inherited to varying degrees. I can only hope that this is some small way to commemorate those skills.

Thursday, 27 March 2008

Reed Bunting (Emberiza schaenictus) - (2) - England, 1927

Small pollard willow stump. The nest was placed on the stump, among the growing branches, which were about 8ft high, the stump itself 1ft high.

The colour of the nest and eggs harmonized perfectly with the surroundings, and were a perfect example of protective colouration. About 20 yards from the bank of River Great Ouse, between Willington and Great Barford, Bedfordshire, May 8th. I found no other eggs on this trip, which I made on the pillion of Ron's Triumph. A perfect day in every respect. We had lunch on river bank, watched the fish and fed a swan with bread to induce him to come and sit for his portrait, which he did very nicely. 19 swans on river. Saw common sandpiper, yellow wagtail and plenty of moorhens. Everything dry, wanting rain very badly. Lots of Small Tortoishells, a Peacock, and many Whites on wing. Took a few Whites for collection. Saw no kingfishers. We went through Elstow going, and returned via Cardington, Cotton End, Dead Man's Cross and Shefford. I found a warbler nest ready for eggs, and bullfinch nest ready for eggs in hedge near cottage. Hedge garlic in full bloom. Saw first Orange Tip. May 7th, first swifts Winsdon Road. Redbacked Shrike near Gipsy Lane, Sundon, May 8th. Usual place.

River Great Ouse, Bedfordshire, May 8th.
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