16
Profile of a Naturalist
Geoffrey Arthur Pyman MBE (1920 - 1999)
CHRIS GIBSON
1 Dove House Cottage, Oakley! Road, Dovercourt, Essex CO12 SDR
Introduction
'..one of the most able alt-round naturalists ever to have lived in Essex.'
Dr Simon Cox, in A New Guide to the Birds of Essex (1984)
This paper was conceived as a living tribute to one of the great names of Essex wildlife and
conservation, Geoff Pyman. Sadly, its original purpose has been overtaken by events, with the tragic
news of Geoff's death on 20 November 1999 after a short illness.
Only a week before his death, Geoff was as active as ever, participating fully in the annual meeting
of the Essex Lepidoptera Panel, a group he was instrumental in founding as a specialist advisory
panel to the Essex Wildlife Trust. Sitting in his living room, surrounded by an incredible array of
books and journals covering every facet of natural history, I recall a sense of awe at this tangible
evidence of the breadth of his interests and skills. And how freely his knowledge was imparted to
anyone who shared his love of the natural world; Geoff may have been taken from us, but his
inspiration and achievements live on. Our deepest sympathies are extended to his wife Eileen, and
son Trevor and family.
The early years
As a relative newcomer to Essex, I am indebted to other published obituaries for the details of
Geoff's formative years, notably those by Nick Green in British Birds (93: 201) and the Essex Bird
Report for 1998, and Joe Firmin in the Essex Moth Group Newsletter Issue 15.
Geoff Pyman's interest in natural history developed during his school years at Maldon Grammar
School. His history teacher, Gus Edwards, was a great influence, first introducing him to the butterflies
of the Danbury Ridge, although Geoff always maintained that his phenomenal skills were self-
taught.
His working life was spent in Essex County Council, which he joined in 1937, rising by the time of
his retirement in 1980 to Principal Administrative Officer. His retirement was marked by the award
of MBE, which he justifiably regarded as recognition of his services to conservation as much as his
civic duties.
Normal work was of course interrupted by the War. He joined the Essex Yeomanry in 1939 and
spent six years in the Middle East, taking part in the siege of Tobruk and the battle of El Alamein,
before moving to Syria. During the German retreat, Geoff was able to acquire a pair of German
binoculars, which allowed him to investigate the bird life of the region. Again, his motivation to
learn stood him in good stead given the lack of good field guides. W.E. Glegg, author of A Histoiy
of the Birds of Essex (1929), had lent him a copy of The Birds of Europe and North Africa by R.G
Wardlaw, but its description of museum skins and lack of illustrations meant for a considerable
identification challenge.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)