It is with great sadness that we announce that Major Iain Grahame died unexpectedly on Monday 4th September. A man of determination and great character, he moved to Daws Hall in 1965 and established the Daws Hall Nature Reserve in 1981. The Daws Hall Education Centre was to open a few years later and since then it has welcomed and educated over 100,000 young people.

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As Alan Titchmarsh noted in the foreword of Iain's final book (Birds, Bees and Butterflies, 2019); “Many people dream of owning a nature reserve, few of us can make it happen… but Iain Grahame has done just that, and this is the remarkable story of the patch of paradise he and his family have created in the English countryside.”

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His understanding of the natural world was second-to-none and he had a deep knowledge of it all; from moths to plants to badgers and everything in between. He was particularly passionate about roses, sometimes describing it as “a love affair” - and with 150 different varieties of old roses in the garden of Daws Hall, one can understand why. He leaves a wonderful and varied collection of trees, many of which have won awards and a collection of red-breasted geese that were his pride and joy.

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Iain’s wife Bunny will stay living at Daws Hall and would be very pleased to see any or all of you at the upcoming ‘Autumn Colours’ open days which take place on Sunday 22nd and Sunday 29th October. A book of condolence for Iain will be available to sign on both days.

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If you would like to make a donation in Iain’s memory, the bank details for Daws Hall Trust are listed below. Any donations will help us continue the work of the Trust that Iain set up, including maintaining the nature reserve, educating young people, and fundraising for a new education centre that is to be located on the nature reserve now that planning permission has been granted. This centre will form a key part of Iain’s legacy.

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Account Name: Daws Hall Trust. Account Number: 48676551. Sort Code: 60 21 03

If you would like further information about the work of the trust, or if indeed you would like to support in any other way, please feel free to email us on info@dawshallnature.co.uk

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Lastly, a memorial service will be held in Bures Church on Friday 17th November at 3pm. All are welcome to attend.

 

Very best wishes from The Trustees of Daws Hall
Tim Came, Andrew Marsden, Andrew Garthwaite, James Amos, Katherine Holder, David Guest, and Ian Gibbs.