Rex was a
farmer and naturalist who early in his career was resident in the Howgill Fells,
near to Cautley Spout. From there he moved to middle Lancashire and 26 years
ago came with Edna and their four children to Galgate. Close by is Duchy of Lancaster
land and here Rex loved to roam, photographing the wildlife with great sensitivity.
He had considerable heart problems but he never once let that get him down, even
to the very end. I'm sure his hobby helped to keep him ever-cheerful, for in
1984, with the formation of Heart Concern, he began in earnest to raise awareness,
concern and joy for our lovely countryside by giving talks on the subject up and
down the whole of Lancashire and beyond. The whole of the very considerable takings
was given to Heart Concern. Nothing was too much trouble. He always put in endless
effort to get the best pictures and I remember well being invited to climb twelve
feet of scaffolding to photograph a pair of Sparrowhawks with five young just
twenty feet away! The church at Ellel was packed for his funeral, surely testimony
enough to the life of a true country gentleman, so kind of heart. May he rest
in peace
