I was extremely saddened earlier this week when I learned of the unexpected and untimely death of my former colleague Eric Meek who passed away on the afternoon of Thursday 16th February after a very short illness.
I first met Eric in 1980, and he then became RSPB Scotland’s Orkney Officer from early 1981 until retiring in 2012. His encyclopaedic knowledge of Orkney, especially its wildlife and in particular its birds was highly valued by all. He always sought to promote the case of conservation, and his wise and calm advice on conservation issues made them accessible and inspiring to others.
He was indefatigable in his pursuit of progressive, positive outcomes for Orkney’s most valuable habitats too, even when some sectors didn’t agree with his and RSPB’s objectives. In particular, his fight to get the moorlands on mainland Orkney made a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) after the 1981 Act was a brave step and not for the faint of heart; local farmers who wanted to ‘improve’ those moorlands and turn them into productive farmland, which would have also damaged their wildlife and biodiversity interest, burnt an effigy of Eric in protest at his efforts. He took such hostile protestations in his stride, and succeeded in promoting the objectives of RSPB Scotland and quickly building bridges again once the designation had been implemented. That he achieved this with his cheerful and calm manner is a testament to his character.
He will be greatly missed and my thoughts and condolences go to Aileen, his wife and to Sally and Terry, his children and their families.
Thanks for your comments, Mark. He was indeed a very fine man. I remember staying with him and going out in the evenings to listen to the waders drumming and chipping by his house. Sometimes a short eared owl, or hen harrier would drift past mobbed by lapwing and redshank. He was a man on the front line when agriculture was 'claiming' the moorlands, but the landscape of mainland Orkney would have been far poorer today without his tireless advocacy.
I was saddened to hear this news too. Eric achieved a lot for nature in his work for the RSPB, particularly on Orkney, and his work as a raptor worker and more generally. I have many fond memories of this very fine man.