RETURN TO . . . Emsworth Wildlife - Homepage. . Havant Wildlife Group -main page DAVID SAVAGE (died 3 May 2019) On Friday 3 May Heather Mills passed on the very sad news that she had just spoken to Sylvia Savage to enquire after David and Sylvia told her that Dave had sadly passed away within the past hour. Heather passed on our sincere sympathy and told her how much that he will be missed. Dave was a long standing member of the Friends of Wildlife Group (formerly Havant Wildlife Group) and here are a few memories and tributes from colleagues. from Heather Mills Dave has been a warm and respected member of our group over a good few years as a selection of photos reveals. Dave always enjoyed looking for unusual plants on our many outings and was a knowledgeable and reliable source for our group to appeal to for information, especially how to identify the orchids and violets that we came across. He travelled across Britain extensively to find the rarer varieties of orchids. A very quiet, gentleman who loved nature. We will miss him tremendously. Here are a few group walk photos featuring Dave. Dave is on the far left on the following photo from Fay Durant Dave was a very kind, gentle man with a quiet sense of humour. He was a keen botanist, very knowledgeable and was always very willing to identify any specimen presented to him. I think the last walk Dave came on, was one I led at Cams Hall. We had started off, when we turned round to see Dave's smiling face. It was an area he knew well. It was such a pleasure to see him again and on our return, Dave showed us a lovely path through the woods back to Cams Hall. Dave will be greatly missed. Dave on the far left again from Jean Hildersley I have several good memories of David. He was a regular supporter of our Saturday morning walks on which he and Ros often discussed the name of a flower. I recall one occasion when I led a walk on Hayling Island, it was a bitterly cold January day and only Ros and Dave turned up in the Station Road car park. Ros had travelled on buses and David had driven there from his home near Fareham to be there at 9am. Despite the cold wind, the three of us decided to persevere, but we didn't complete the walk as the wind was very strong as well as being cold. David, too, was concerned about not leaving his wife too long, as she was not well. Dave on the far left at a wet looking Langstone from Jo Herman So sad that Dave has died. He has been with the group for many years and was so self effacing but helpful in identifying plants, still photographing them even when he had tremendous problems with his balance in the last few years. He seemed to really enjoy each outing. I will miss him and his gentle approach. Guess where Dave is on this photo? from Caroline French Yes, this is very sad news about Dave. I didn't know him very well, but he was always very friendly and cheerful and happy to share his botanical knowledge. Here is a nice photo with Dave in a typical relaxed mood. from Brian Fellows I have lots of memories of Dave mostly associated with the Havant Wildlife Group (now renamed Friends of Wildlife). Dave was a keen botanist and always eager to share his knowledge with others. I recall one occasion during a walk in Hollybank Woods in April 2009. We were on Longcopse Hill heading for the Early Purple Orchids when Dave spotted some Three-nerved Sandwort and pointed out to us the three conspicuous veins on the underside of the leaves. That was a plant I had never even heard of at the time and frankly don't recall having come across again in any other spot. This was close to the patch of Wood-sorrel which some older members of the group may remember. So thanks Dave for that. Another memory, also in Hollybank Woods, was in March 2010 when Dave and I went looking for the Alpine Squill which at that time grew on Longcopse Hill. Does it still? We found a little cluster of 4 plants of Alpine Squill in bud, but not in flower in front of a fallen tree covered with King Alfred's Cakes - older members of the group will remember this tree trunk as it provided a nice resting spot for a coffee break. Here's a few photos of the groupwalk in Hollybank Woods on that occasion including one of the group resting on this very log during the walk in April 2009. Dave is on the far right this time Dave looking for birds in Hollybank Woods with the group - in centre with bins Dave gingerly making his way down the slope to cross the stream to get onto Longcopse Hill Another vivid memory was in February 2008 when I had arranged to meet Frances Sweeney a local reporter with The News at Nore Barn. She wanted to write a piece about the famous Spotted Redshank. Well who should turn up but Dave with his new Kowa scope, so Frances took a picture of the two of us admiring the Spotted Redshank in the stream. And it is still coming after 15 years! Thanks for everything Dave. You were a good friend.