Tell us a little bit about yourself
I was born in England, trained in horticulture, was a volunteer in the SAS (Special Air Service), cycled from London to Athens, worked on an oil tanker, paid off in the US, bicycled from Portland, ME, to Los Angeles, CA, via Canada, returned to England on a Swedish freighter, hitchhiked to Bihar, India, and worked with "untouchables" sinking irrigation wells for 2 years, where I met my wife, Nancy, under the Bhodhi Tree. Returning to the US, I volunteered at the Schuylkill Valley Nature Center, attended "MontCo", UPenn and UPenn Grad School of Ed, taught for 3 years at Miquon. I then traveled with Nancy around the world again, returned and spent 5 years as director of the Norris Square Neighborhood Project (Kensington). Since 1987 I have taught science at Friends' Central Lower School. We have a son and daughter, two delightful in-laws and a granddaughter.
You've been a donor for 20 years this year, serving on Riverbend's board from 1998 through 2006, what inspired you to stay actively involved?
Every community needs a "Riverbend"!
Laurie (Executive Director) and her amazing staff are inspiring! Riverbend has seen some tough times. It was their great strength and that of some outstanding board members and volunteers that pulled them through.
What have you most enjoyed at Riverbend?
I love the amount of energy there. Riverbend just gets better and better. The installation of the deer fence, clearing invasives, and the construction of the bird observation area (Alec Williamson Bird Observation Center) were all great steps forward in creating a thriving habitat. I have also enjoyed being the Halloween storyteller for many, many years.
In your spare time, what do you enjoy doing?
For quite a few years I have been trail master for BTA (Bridlewild Trails Association), am on their board and the board of Saunders Woods. I love to garden and am working to establish an extensive new children's garden at FCS Lower School. I like to fly fish, travel and read. I've begun writing my memoirs and various stories. My wife reminds me to enjoy myself and relax but I'm happiest when I'm working.
We're striving to make things more ecofriendly. In other words, we strive to do more--with less. Tell me about a way you strive to do that in your life.
We drive energy efficient cars, keep our thermostat low, do not have air conditioning but use fans. We have a high efficiency, log-burning fireplace insert to heat the house, have created a water garden to minimize storm water runoff and have planted a wide range of plants with birds and butterflies in mind. (Ditto at school) We also feed the birds both at home and at school and have put up nesting boxes.
What is your favorite part about nature? Do you have a specific memory that stands out and if so, can you tell us about it?
Nature is connected to me. I fell in love with it as a kid. My family was known as the "River Family." For 380 man years my family has been connected to the River Wey (a tributary to the Thames). It's in my blood. I grew up surrounded by trees and I would often stand in the garden and watch the animals all around me. My family didn't have a car, TV, telephone or refrigerator but we were still so happy and I have so many great memories of a happy childhood outside. In later years, we've walked the Milford Track, the Pilgrim's Way, the Inca Trail, and have climbed Kinabalu.
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