256 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 13: 2001 



were once tender shoots which could so easily have withered away. From 1960 to 

 1970, during this formative period, Brian was the Berkshire Secretary to the Trust. It 

 was through his efforts and gentle personality, and the generosity of a local 

 landowner, that the lovely Moor Copse Reserve was bequeathed to BBONT and I 

 can think of no better memorial to Brian's name and memory than this particular 

 event. 



Brian had a long association with Pamber Forest where he collected or studied 

 insects over many years. How well he approved of the management plans recently 

 introduced to bring this area back to its former glory. He would recall many of his 

 trips to this area but I often heard him say, rather sadly, that it was a pity it wasn't in 

 Berkshire as he couldn't use the records in his book! The last time that I saw Brian in 

 Pamber Forest he was sugaring the same oak trees from which he had recorded 

 Catocala promissa (light crimson underwing) many years ago, anxious to know if this 

 magnificent moth was still present in the forest. 



The notes above detail just some of Brian's achievements but many lepidopterists 

 today will have other, more personal, memories of this remarkable man. I first met 

 Brian in 1984 when I moved to Reading from Derbyshire, and I was immediately 

 impressed not only by his knowledge but by the friendly and enthusiastic manner in 

 which he introduced me to some of the many interesting sites around Reading. At the 

 Woolhampton reed beds he proudly showed me the old bunker in which he spent 

 many nights whilst surveying the moths of the area during one busy season. He 

 teased post-hibernation larvae of Diachrysia chryson (scarce burnished brass) from 

 rank vegetation like a conjurer producing rabbits from a hat, and showed me how to 

 find freshly emerged Hydraecia petasitis (butterbur) clinging to the underside of 

 leaves along the river bank. He was always much more interested in hearing about 

 other people's captures or records than telling about his own. He actively encouraged 

 an interest in all aspects of natural history in all he met and showed so much patience 

 when explaining things to people with much less knowledge and experience than 

 himself. 



His study at his lovely home in Caversham was an Aladdin's cave of treasures for 

 all those with an interest in butterflies and moths. Cabinets, breeding cages, setting 

 boards, books, paintings, spent matches and pipe cleaners filled the room and it 

 would have taken a full week of careful study to have done justice to his collection. 

 Each insect in his collection seemed to tell a story of a particular field trip, a success 

 in the breeding cage or his memories of finding the larva after many hours of patient 

 field work. 



Brian will be remembered with affection and respect by all who knew him, and 

 with gratitude by those whom he helped and inspired. Our sincere sympathy is 

 extended to Heather, to Mark and Anne and all members of his family. 



David Young 



