Michael Ralph Lubbock

Mike and I spent our late childhood/early teen years together during school holidays wandering the Mendip hills and Somerset wetlands. We both had dogs (He: an Afghan Hound called Khyber and me: a rough haired fox terrier called Trusty). Mike was a fount of knowledge about birds and wildlife and many happy hours were spent climbing trees to look into bird nests, shooting pigeons and trapping moles. He made himself a moleskin waistcoat from some of the pelts. We found an orphaned fox-cub...

I was at Kestrels boarding prep school with Michael Lubbock, the pupils were aged between 7 and 12. I have always remembered him as, with the approval of Mr Stapledon, the headmaster, he came with two ferrets that he looked after wonderfully. I have spent a lot of time looking for a photo I have of him as an 8 year old holding his ferrets but unfortunately it has not come to hand.

Please accept my sincere condolences on Mike's passing. I saw him only months ago for the MBE award - but I am glad that he was able to receive this profound honor before his passing. My wife (Sue McRae) and I will miss him greatly.

We were school friends, in the same cricket teams (he bowled left arm spin) and kept in touch over the years as he became world famous. A great environmentalist in a unique way.