Ralfe Whistler
Ralfe Ashton Whistler (9 August 1930 – 29 April 2023) was a British naturalist.[1][2]
Biography
Early life and education
Ralfe Ashton Whistler was born in Hastings on August 9, 1930.[3] His father, Hugh Whistler, served with the Indian police in Punjab and was known for his ornithological contributions.[4] Ralfe's mother was Margaret, daughter of Thomas Ashton, 1st Baron Ashton of Hyde.[4] The family returned to England from India due to social complications arising from Margaret's peerage.[4] His upbringing involved exposure to an extensive collection of stuffed birds, which were later donated to the Natural History Museum.[4]
Whistler attended Eton College and later Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he met Jane McCarthy.[3]
Career
Throughout his career, Whistler held various positions, including a colonial officer role in Northern Rhodesia and a stint with the Hudson's Bay Company in Winnipeg.[3] He also developed a universal litter-picker and contributed to the "Keep Britain Tidy" campaign.[3][4]
In the 1960s, he undertook a two-year service in Northern Rhodesia.[4] Later, a property acquisition in Vermont in 1978 faced residency complications, resulting in its lease to Richard Ford.[4]
In the 1980s, Whistler was involved in the restoration of historical buildings in England, notably the Brightling Observatory.[3]
Whistler owned several properties, including one in Vermont and another in British Columbia.[3]
References
- ^ "In pictures: Sussex shrine to extinct bird the dodo". October 15, 2013 – via BBC.
- ^ "Grandpa Dodo's study in extinction". The Argus. August 6, 2001.
- ^ a b c d e f "Ralfe Whistler obituary". September 21, 2023 – via The Times.
- ^ a b c d e f g Obituaries, Telegraph (May 9, 2023). "Ralfe Whistler, expert on the dodo whose projects included pub tables and litter-pickers – obituary" – via The Telegraph.