Woke up to sad news today of the passing of Doug Allan while on a trekking trip in Nepal.
I know that he was all due to speak to the RGS Hong Kong branch in a month's time at an event to celebrate the 100th birthday of Sir David Attenborough - somebody that Doug worked with in a long and remarkable career as a wildlife cameraman where he won a great many awards. The BBC piece explains more about their connection.
I first met Doug at the SAGT Conference in Stirling some years ago. I arrived at the hotel the day before the conference to find the organising committee about to head out for a meal. They kindly invited me to join them and I ended up sat opposite Doug and he shared his stories through the evening.
A year later, he came to do our school prize-giving and talk about his work and I was able to give him a tour of the school and have lunch with him again... and he gave a lovely talk before handing out prizes. It included something I remembered and still use to remind students where polar bears and penguins.
If you meet a Polar Bear you have to look up to see it... up is North and when you meet a penguin you look down to see it... and down is South....
Condolences to Doug's family, friends and colleagues.
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