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MICHAEL PARKER
The Essex Field Club has last a valued member
and past President by the death of Michael
Parker on 15th February, 1989.
Michael's funeral took place in the beautiful
church at Fryerning. The service was attended
by his friends, including many from the Field
Club.
He is buried in the churchyard not Tar from
Mill Green where he spent many leisure hours
watching birds and listening to their song.
He was Recorder for birds tor thirty years.
He was not only an expert ornithologist, but
had a wide and deep knowledge of where to find
the rarer species in Essex and the surrounding
counties. This Knowledge he was always
willing to share.
Michael was an excellent member of Council,
always willing to undertake the hard work which
goes into organizing field meetings. Virtually
alone he arranged and led all the bird meetings
in the 1960's and 1970's. In recent years,
when illness restricted his activities, he
still served the Club well by undertaking the
exacting job of Membership Secretary.
Ha was a master at Brentwood School, where he
taught biology. He encouraged his pupils to
join the field meetings of the Club to
experience the pleasure of the practical side
of their studies.
In all these activities he was wonder fully