TRIBUTES have been pouring in following the death of Teesdale’s celebrity naturalist Dr David Bellamy.
The 86-year-old died on Wednesday, December 11. Dr Bellamy’s association with the dale began when he moved to Bedburn, near Hamsterley, with his wife, Rosemary, and five children while lecturing at Durham University in the 1970s. He went on to gain national and international recognition for his TV programmes and conservation work. The conservationist was born in London on January 18, 1933. He recalled how the city was affected by the war when he was interviewed by the Mercury in 2014 to mark his family’s move from Bedburn to Hamsterley.
He said: “From our front door we could see the whole of London when it was on fire. We sat there all night, watching the flames go up. Once we got on our bikes and went to see what was happening.”
At the time his father was an air raid warden and the young Dr Bellamy was an “unofficial assistant” .
He later read botany at Chelsea College of Science and Technology and earned his doctorate at Bedford College. His career as a broadcaster began in the early 1970s with his celebrity peaking in the 1980s and 1990s. He wrote and appeared in dozens of books, videos and TV shows.
He inspired the comedian Lenny Henry to impersonate him in his “gwapple me grapenuts” sketch.
Despite his fame, Dr Bellamy remained an active part of the Hamsterley and Bedburn community and he took part in events such as concerts in Hamsterley and the High Lands carnival. The Mercury wrote extensively about how he spent his 50th birthday in Risdon Prison, in Australia, after protesting against the construction of a dam on the Franklin River, in Tasmania. Among his achievements was the establishment of a number of environmental groups including the Conservation Foundation UK.
He was also a founding member of Durham Wildlife Trust. Trust chairwoman Sarah Lister said: “David Bellamy inspired so many people with his passion for nature. So many naturalists developed an interest in the subject because of his enthusiasm and he will be sadly missed.”
Trust director Jim Cokill added: “David Bellamy was one of the main reasons why I do the job I do today. His TV programmes gave me a love of wildlife and the natural world from a young age and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to meet him in later life. He made a lasting contribution to nature conservation in the North East, the country as a whole and across the world.”
Dr Bellamy’s family loved to explore the North Pennines – an area he described as “England’s last wilderness” .
The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership’s director, Chris Woodley-Stewart, said: “Occasions like this are always sad. David Bellamy was something of a pioneer in conservation, and in communicating his passion for nature to the public he did a lot to bring people, especially of my generation, towards a love of the natural world.”
Moorland groups and the National Gamekeepers Organisation (NGO), of which he was a patron, also expressed sorrow at his death. A spokesperson said: “Dr Bellamy supported the great work that gamekeepers do in managing our beautiful countryside. Our thoughts go out to his family at this very sad time, he will be sadly missed.”
He famously once described man-made global warming as “poppycock” – a stance that led his TV work to stop almost overnight. But despite the angry letters and emails from those who disagreed, he stood by the statement. It didn’t stop Dr Bellamy being a regular guest at openings and at school projects across Teesdale. He was delighted when children took an interest in the environment.
Dr Bellamy said in 2014: “I remember one little girl saying to me, ‘We have planted all the flowers but the butterflies came on their own.’ Well, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?”
