Catalogue

Interview
2345, NH/21
Natural Heroes

Speaker: Ballard, Dennis, 1921 - 0, Interviewee, Male, Retired engineer
Speaker: Hyde, Colin, Interviewer, Male

Summary of interview item: Talks about childhood interest in environment. Tells of dislike for school but enjoyed sport especially rugby playing for Leicester Harlequins. Summarises education attending evening classes in engineering. Briefly mentions WII. Mentions interest in the outdoors and recalls attending evening classes with wife. Mentions starting Groby Archaeological Society (GAS) and survey work on hedge dating. Talks about Steve Woodward and books on Swithland Wood and Groby parish landscape. Describes being taught by Jack Otter on botany and other classes on animal bones, astronomy, history and geology. Delivered leaflets for Leics & Rutland Wildlife Trust (LRWT). Specialist interest in bryophytes - mosses, liverworts & hornworts. Retrieves books from shelves on this and Woodward and others. Briefly mentions his own book on 'Leicestershire Bryophyte Flora' available on British Brylogical Society (BBS) website and organising field meetings. Describes attending residental course to learn more. Tells of local natural interest especially Swithland Wood and parishes around Groby. Likes trees and flowers. Explains his admiration for Jack Otter, Sue Page, Philip Jackson and Ian Evans. Is recorder for BBS in Leicestershire. Hip replacement has stopped work on bryophytes. Specimens held in office and has 17,000 moss records on computer, database held at The Museum and Wildlife Trust.
Place of birth: Leicester
Education: National Certificate, Higher National, City & Guilds teaching certificate.
Marital Status: Married, Children: Yes
Father's Occupation: Finisher
Mother's Occupation: Machinist
Location: County: Leicestershire
Location: Town/Place: Groby
Periods Covered: 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s
Language:

Recording Date: 12/11/2007
Playing time: 1 hr, 33 mins, 52 secs
Access Restrictions: Full Consent Item Copyright: LCC
Summary: Yes
Transcription: No
Copies:
Cross Reference:

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Last updated: 08/05/02 East Midland Oral History Archive Web maintainer This document has been approved by the head of department or section.