In memory of Anthony John (1941-2023)
Anthony John would normally have written our December/January nature article, but very sadly he passed away in August of this year. He had been contributing articles for Links magazines since the Autumn 2013 issue – so almost exactly ten years – and it was always a pleasure to correspond with him about his articles. Over the period he wrote about a wide variety of subjects, from bracken and lichen, to bats, bees and his concern at the decline of insect numbers. However his knowledge of birds was immense, and they were often his favoured subject for articles. A couple of years ago he asked me if I could send him a list of all his article topics. When he received it, he emailed to thank me saying, “It’s very helpful and reminds me not to cover birdsong too often!”
About Anthony
Anthony was born in Surrey on 29 September 1941, before his family moved to Leicestershire where his father worked as a rural GP. Anthony was later educated at Ampleforth College in Yorkshire, and studied at Nottingham University where he received an honours degree in biology and zoology. Newly qualified, he was appointed as a marine biologist to the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) survey, which was in Edinburgh at that time, and was the world’s most geographically extensive marine monitoring programme. Anthony became the principal trainer for new analysts – a role which took him to Australia, Ghana and the Côte d'Ivoire. In 1976, the survey was relocated to Plymouth Hoe, and so Anthony and his family moved to Devon.
Anthony was the author of more than 40 scientific marine publications, many of which raised concerns about plastics in the ocean. He also developed a lifelong interest in ornithology, and his contributions to the science of ornithology included several publications, and a period as editor of Devon Birds. He also became a qualified bird ringer and trained other people in the skill. However he was always at his happiest, when he was sharing his enthusiasm and knowledge, and this included dawn chorus walks, evening nightjar walks, and introducing friends and neighbours to moth traps. Anthony also enjoyed involving his grandchildren Toby and Reuben in nature activities, and even shared moth trapping and bird ringing with primary school children at Meavy and Walkhampton.
His love of nature, mountains and wilderness often led him to return to Scotland to walk in the highlands, and he managed to climb 241 of the 284 Scottish Munros. On his 60th birthday he climbed the Inaccessible Pinnacle which is notorious as the most difficult of the Munros, requiring a rock climb and an abseil. He also loved islands, particularly Fair Isle, the Hebrides, Bardsey and Lundy, and there were many family holidays on the latter. Anthony’s fount of knowledge in all aspects of the natural world and his generosity in sharing it left a positive mark in the hearts of people. He died peacefully at home in Devon on 11th August 2023, with Jane his wife of 55 years, and his daughters Frances and Emily, by his side. He leaves two grandchildren, Toby and Reuben.