Trustees & Officers

TRUSTEES

Pam Taylor

 President

My childhood interest in bird-watching expanded over the years to include plants, mammals, butterflies and finally in 1986, dragonflies. My husband was made Warden of Upton Fen, an excellent reserve for dragonflies, in that year and this coincided with surveys for a Norfolk dragonfly atlas. I became a County Recorder in the mid-1990s, then a BDS Trustee in 2000. I took over as Dragonfly Conservation Group Convenor in 2001, before being elected BDS President in 2008. My main interests remain with dragonfly conservation and all the work I do is aimed at protecting their habitats and making people more aware of this fascinating group of insects.

Henry Curry

Secretary

As a child I was fascinated by insects and natural history. Though my career took me into electronic engineering and telecommunications, I retained my interest in entomology, taking a mixed science degree with the Open University followed by an uncompleted MSc at Birkbeck Polytechnic. A keen interest in photography led me to look more closely at dragonflies, and I am proud to have been involved in the Dragonfly Sanctuary, the Dragonfly Museum and the Dragonfly Project at Wicken Fen prior to joining the Board of Trustees of the BDS in 2006. I have been observing and studying dragonflies for over 20 years and  my wife Lynn and I enjoy travelling to see and photograph them all over UK and abroad.

Brian Walker

Treasurer

I am a Chartered Mechanical Engineer who became a bird watcher while at school and gradually developed an interest in other wildlife.  I was drawn into the dragonfly community when I bumped into someone looking at Variable Damselflies at Hatchmere in Cheshire and was recruited to help with the Cheshire Atlas and into BDS.  I subsequently moved to Oxfordshire and became more involved while retaining my broader interests. 

Dave Smallshire

Convener of the Dragonfly Conservation Group

I am a retired agri-environment adviser with a keen interest in all aspect of wildlife. I have been an avid birdwatcher for 45 years, but my interest in dragonflies intensified about 30 years ago. I have led led countless dragonfly training events, which resulted in co-authoring the acclaimed Britain’s Dragonflies. I have pioneered dragonfly-watching holidays in various exotic locations. In my home county of Devon, I am heavily engaged in bird, dragonfly and other ecological surveys and conservation, and have organised events for the Devon Group for nearly 20 years.

Alan Nelson

Ordinary Trustee

From the age of 3, apparently, I had and still have a keen interest in all aspects of natural history (forever asking what’s that!). My interests then focused on birds, hoverflies, butterflies, orchids, photography and of course dragonflies. Studies include Countryside Management which fulfilled many of my interests in landscapes, habitats and its management. I also get involved in bird surveys including WeBS counts, bird ringing, bat surveys and I annually undertake dragonfly surveys across the UK, not just in Buckinghamshire. I’m the Vice County Recorder for Buckinghamshire and regularly run dragonfly walks and training days. Since 1995 I have been directly involved with younger people, co-leading a RSPB WEx group and I run an RSPB Phoenix group for teenagers.

Mick Parfitt

Ordinary Trustee

My interest in dragonflies began in the early 1990s at the (now closed) National Dragonfly Museum at Oundle and it has continued ever since. While at the Dragonfly Museum I worked in the gift shop, guided people around the site, became involved in habitat management and helped to build platforms and paths in the main dragonfly areas. I continue to raise public awareness of dragonflies today by leading guided walks, giving talks and helping with events at Wicken Fen nature reserve in Cambridgeshire where our Dragonfly Centre is now based.

OFFICERS

Claire Install

Conservation Officer

I joined the BDS as Conservation Officer in July 2009.  I have been interested in natural history since an early age and decided then that I wanted to work in conservation.  I gained a BSc (Hons) in Zoology from Cardiff University, during my degree worked at a zoo and safari park.  After graduating I worked for an ecological consultancy.  Since joining the BDS, I have been able to expand my knowledge of dragonflies and share my enthusiasm with others.

Steve Prentice

Dragonflies in Focus Officer

After a career in computing working for international banks and financial institutions I was made redundant.  It was then I saw the light and took a degree in Conservation Management at the University of Hertfordshire.  After graduation in 2006 I spent a year working for the Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service as a Data Analyst.  When the post of Dragonflies in Focus Officer came up I jumped at the opportunity because the job combines my many years experience in computing with my love of nature.