Obituary Richard ffrench
This obituary was taken from The Guardian, Sunday 6th June 2010.
Richard ffrench, who has died aged 80, was a distinguished neotropical ornithologist whose Guide to the Birds of Trinidad & Tobago, first published in 1973, was an outstanding achievement for a non-scientist teacher of humanities. Richard arrived to teach in Trinidad in 1958, when David and Barbara Snow were at the New York Zoological Society's field station in the island's Northern Range, carrying out their groundbreaking studies of bellbirds, oilbirds and manakins.
Trinidad is a small island, with many birds but (at that time) few birdwatchers; Richard soon discovered the Snows and began helping them with their research. Gradually he became more than just a keen birder, and with the help of his wife, Margaret, began his own studies. These covered migrant shore birds, tropical terns, the scarlet ibis (Trinidad's national bird), dickcissels in rice fields, and the nesting of the tiny pearl kite. The existing local field guide (written by GAC Herklots) was out of date and rather poorly illustrated. Richard began work on his Guide to the Birds of Trinidad & Tobago in collaboration with David Snow, who subsequently withdrew from the project when he left to work in the Galapagos in 1961.
The preparation of the text required meticulous attention to detail, and contact with many overseas museums to track down specimens from the islands. The value of the book was much enhanced by Richard's observations, but he also drew on the work of other researchers, mainly professional scientists, who often became friends. The book was well received on its publication by Cornell University in 1973; a second edition followed in 1991. Richard also wrote many articles for local journals and newspapers (as "Birdman"), to raise public interest in wildlife and conservation. In the early 1970s, I benefited greatly from his knowledge and friendship, as did many others, whether temporary residents or Trinidadians.
Born in Aldershot, Hampshire, Richard was the son of a major in the Indian army, and he spent his early years in India before entering Blundell's school at Tiverton, in Devon. His national service (1947-50) included a year in Malaya in the education corps. He went on to Balliol College, Oxford, graduating in 1954 in classics, history and philosophy. He gained his PGCE the following year. He met Margaret Southern at Oxford; they married in 1953 and went on to develop a lifelong passion for birdwatching.
Richard's Caribbean adventure began after he failed to get a job in Britain. He taught classics in Barbados from 1955 to 1958. A lengthy holiday visit to Trinidad and Tobago opened his eyes to the glorious birds of the tropical rainforest and the diverse habitats of the twin islands. The ffrenches then moved to Trinidad, to teach at St Peter's, the school at Pointe-à-Pierre owned by the Texaco refinery. Richard taught arts subjects, notably music and history, eventually becoming deputy headteacher.
In 1956, Richard visited the Springhill Estate, in Trinidad, and met its eccentric Icelandic owner, Asa Wright. Asa became ill in 1967, and the estate was established as the Asa Wright Nature Centre to safeguard its wildlife. Although president of the board of the nature centre from 1970 to 1971, Richard was never at heart a committee man, and was often at odds with the Americans who dominated the board at that time. In recent years, Richard helped to promote the centre at the annual bird fair at Rutland Water nature reserve in the East Midlands.
Richard was known in Trinidadian society as an inspirational teacher, musician and conductor. A teacher of the "old school", he was a great believer in extracurricular activities as an essential part of school life. He spent a great deal of time running various groups, particularly the school choir, and the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme expeditions. A small madrigal group eventually grew to become the Orpheus choir, with Richard as conductor and director. The choir put on many concerts and participated successfully over many years in the biennial competitive music festival in Trinidad.
Everything for the ffrench family changed in the mid-80s when the Trinidad and Tobago government nationalised the oil refinery, and the school closed. They returned to Britain, latterly living near Dumfries. Having retired from teaching at the relatively young age of 55, Richard soon began leading birding tours for the travel company Abercrombie & Kent in Trinidad and Tobago, and elsewhere in central and south America, until ailing health forced him to retire aged 75.
Richard was awarded the Chaconia medal (silver) by the government of Trinidad and Tobago, and appointed MBE for "services to education and culture" in his adopted home. He is survived by Margaret, two sons and two daughters.