OBITUARY 



Catherine Side 



Catherine died after a two year battle with breast cancer aged 58 on August 15th 2012. 



Catherine had an enthusiastic interest in natural history, particularly bird watching. All her nnany 

 trips in this country and abroad became opportunities to observe the birds and other wildlife. Her 

 knowledge of all types of birds was truly remarkable; she was able to make accurate bird identifi- 

 cations from the merest glimpse. 



Educated at Gloucester and Cambridge University, Catherine had many accomplishments. 

 Working in the food industry she had the distinction of being the first female master brewer. She 

 moved to work in the USA and Canada and became active in the Institute of Food Science and 

 Technology. 



m She moved to Pangbourne twenty years 

 )i ago and contributed to many local 

 ^ activities. A gifted musician, she played 

 - the double bass for local orchestras. She 

 would often bring leaflets along to society 

 walks to promote concerts. 

 Many members may remember the 

 interesting talk she gave with her 

 husband and New Zealander, Ray 

 Winger, in October 2010 on the wildlife 

 around Auckland. 



Catherine will be remembered for her 

 - friendly curiosity for all sorts of things, 

 including a passion for natural history. 



PRESIDENTIAL RAMBLINGS - 2012 IN RETROSPECT 

 Chris Bucke 



It is usual in Britain for some characteristics of the seasons in any year to be unusual, but 2012 

 was even more unusual than usual. If that sentence is familiar, the same was written in last year's 

 Presidential Ramblings about 2011 so perhaps 2012 was not all that unusual! The winter was 

 pleasant with some sunny days with snow on the ground providing ideal conditions for examining 

 animal and bird tracks. It was unusually dry, so much so that by the end of March many plants had 

 not made the growth normally expected and farmers were anticipating catastrophic drought. The 

 idea of transporting water from north Britain to the arid south through the canal system was revived 

 (and should not be forgotten). How things changed! In the remaining nine months there was 

 enough rain for it to be the second wettest year recorded. Temperatures were never high and 

 sunshine levels were low so some species did not thrive but molluscs, worms, mosses, liverworts 

 and ferns did very well. Grass grew abundantly so the grazier was able to leave his cattle in 

 Basildon Park into December. Chalk grassland species, challenged by lack of moisture in many 

 summers, provided spectacular displays of bloom. It was not a good autumn for fungi but the 

 conditions led to very fine autumn colours extending over a longer period than normal. 



The Society was as active as ever through the year. The winter evening talks were very varied and 

 well attended. Several new members and visitors were welcomed. The winter weekend and 

 Wednesday walks at the beginning of the year were well attended but the wet conditions restricted 

 numbers walking in the autumn. The summer outings were well attended and, in general, managed 

 to avoid really wet days. However one Saturday walk, from Long Wittenham, went ahead in a 

 spectacular thunderstorm with pyrotechnic effects, very memorably. As before, the team of 

 members led nature walks round Basildon Park on Friday mornings just about throughout the year. 

 National Trust members proved to be hardy, some walking in conditions that were much less than 



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