I have had a life-long interest in birds, and many years' experience as a trustee of wildlife charities. In the 1970s I was the RSPB volunteer local rep for Burton upon Trent and started the Burton local members group. From the 1980s onwards I spent over 20 years (in two blocks) as a trustee of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and 11 years as the Hon Sec of the Royal Society for Nature Conservation (now the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts). I played a leading role in creating the Wildlife Trusts’ national role and profile. I have been a trustee of WMBC since October 2018 and a member for about 30 years. Professionally, I was a solicitor for 18 years and an Employment Judge for 30, including 15 years as Regional (i.e. Senior) judge for the East Midlands.

Tim's bio is coming soon...

I am originally from Northern Ireland, where I started to birdwatch as a child. I have lived for most of my adult life in the West Midlands. I have been a member of the WMBC for over 30 years. Having retired 2 years ago, I wanted to contribute to the Club I have previous experience of charity management with the Alpine Garden Society, where I was a committee member and Director of Tours for a number of years. I was a solicitor by profession. I worked for the Crown Prosecution Service for over 30 years. I have recently moved from Solihull, close to Earlswood Lakes, to Abbots Bromley, close to Blithfield.

I can’t remember a time when I was not interested in birds. My interest turned into passion in the mid 70swhen I was taken on my first twitch (Lesser Scaup at Chasewater), and I experienced bird ringing at Dungeness BO. My secondary biology teaching career gave me lots of opportunities to pass on some of that passion by taking students on lots of trips, mainly to Scottish islands. For about 30 years I took field courses to Lundy Island where, in April 1987 I was lucky enough to find an Eastern Phoebe-a first for Britain and Europe. I also became a committee member and eventually Newsletter editor of the Lundy Field Society. After teaching I took several senior education officer roles with LEAs which eventually led to my appointment to a small Audit Commission team producing reports for ministers on the performance of education authorities. This type of work has, I believe put me in a good position to carry out my current independent trustee role for the WMBC

Whilst always having a broad interest in nature, particularly birds, I only came to birding after my retirement in 2018, I joined the RSPB (where I carried out volunteer duties) and the WMBC. My learning curve was steep (and still climbing) and gained much of my birding knowledge talking to members (now friends). It’s a joyful experience to be out in nature with friends, sharing great birding experiences. I became an Independent Trustee in 2024, aiming to strengthen and advance the clubs progress. I spent my working life with GKN Plc (A global Engineering company), initially as an Apprentice, then Engineer, latterly in Senior (Director) positions in Operations Management. I’ve had the privilege of working and living in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and India. My last working role was the GKN groups Health, Safety and Environment Director.

Historically more of a fisherman, I joined the WMBC three years ago when I retired from full time work. Having some spare time to offer to a good cause, I started looking after Blithfield two years ago and was then fortunate to be able to join the board of trustees in 2024. I still have a huge amount to learn about birds, but certainly feel I am in the right place to build my knowledge Having trained in Mechanical and Production engineering, I have spent over 35 years in business. I have set up a business, been a shareholder and board director in a second business and for 18 years been the Head of UK Sales / Marketing for a multi €bn global German company, providing vacuum solutions to a broad range of industries. I have managed Group companies in Eire and the UK acting as General Manager. Currently, I am a self-employed consultant for my immediate previous employer taking the technical and commercial lead for a project within the nuclear industry.