One of Minsmere's familiar faces sadly passed away recently. Heather Maclean was a popular volunteer guide, and I'm sure many of you will have met her over the years. Fellow volunteer and close friend Avi Wells has written a lovely tribute to Heather in our volunteer newsletter, which with her permission I have written, in full, below.
Heather, who died last week, was a familiar face to Minsmere regulars, having been a volunteer guide here for nearly 15 years. Her association with the Suffolk coast goes back almost 30 years when she bought her cottage in Sizewell. After ending her computer programming career fixing the Millennium Bug for many City systems she came to live here fulltime in 2000. Shortly after Heather became one of the first six hide guides, or ‘lurkers’ as we styled ourselves then. The task being to aid visitors wanting help with bird identification, but without pushing oneself on people not wanting it, was ideal for Heather as that was exactly her style. Soon this group were also leading twice-weekly walks and her excellent ear for bird song and calls made her early morning spring walks a hit, always sold out, and leading to a devoted group of fans who returned year after year. Apart from the Suffolk Coast the place that was special to Heather was the Luangwa Valley in Zambia which she and Liz visited several times and the one place she was determined to go back to after she was diagnosed with a serious illness. In fact the last two and half years were busy with visits to many places and events that were important to her. Looking for wallcreepers in The Pyrenees, cranes in the Champagne area of France, a fun-filled day at Wimbledon Centre Court to watch Roger Federer, the Dressage Final at the London Olympics, The London Eye and regular theatre visits to Les Miserables. Her last trip abroad was in August to look for blue whales off Monterey, California. All the time keeping up her commitment to Minsmere visitors and making regular trips to her house in Spain, for birding and horse riding, the twin passions of her life. Latterly Heather had helped with the project to tag turtle doves and follow them on migration, her Sizewell garden being a daily feeding stop for five or six birds. Even when she became unwell and was in hospital she was following their progress with interest, as indeed she was following Federer’s in the tennis on TV.
I first met Heather on a birding tour to Hungary in 1992 and was immediately taken with her open, easy manner and her infectious pleasure in watching wildlife. One evening had us laughing with delight when thousands of cranes came in overhead to roost. There was also a memorable day in the Hortobagy when the local cowboys jokingly offered us their horses to ride - Heather climbed up and expertly galloped off across the Puszta, much to everyone’s astonishment. Ever since, her generosity, kindness and sense of fun, as well as her strong championing of causes dear to her heart, made her a much valued friend to me and many others. We shall all miss her. Avi Wells
Minsmere's konik Polskis were always popular with Heather, combining her love of horses and wildlife
That is very sad to hear the news
J