THE AUTHOR
Derek was born in Chiswick in 1939 and from an early age
had an interest in birds looking at their nests and watching them in
flight. Following National Service in the RAF, Derek worked long and
hard hours in the exhibition trade for some twelve years. Eventually he
moved to Shepperton with his wife Patricia and their two children.
A change of job in 1975 gave him time to take up his
childhood interest and go back to bird watching. He invested in a second
hand camera and spent as much time as possible observing and
photographing birds in their natural habitats. Derek has traveled to
Wales, Scotland and its Islands, France, Florida and even Portugal to
photograph birds.
Derek has written five books on birds and has produced
wildlife calendars featuring his photographs for the Shooting Star
Children's Hospice and given the proceeds to help the charity at its
home in Hampton, Middlesex, UK.
He has also given illustrated talks to clubs and
societies all over the south of England as well as having written a
monthly column on bird watching for The Surrey Herald newspaper.
This book contains a selection of Derek's photographs
featuring his favourite birds and he records a scene which sadly is
seeing a loss of habitat with fewer sightings of some birds such as the
ringed plover, corn bunting and sedge warbler.
My thanks to everyone who has
supported me
Derek Belsey
Footnote: - Over the last two years Ian Allan Printing
has used Derek’s wildlife pictures for publicity calendars with a run-on
specially designed for The Shooting Star Children’s Hospice. These have
raised £5,000 to date and in spite of his progressive illness he has put
in hand the next two years selections on the same basis. Whilst in the
past Derek has been a much sought after presenter at many Club’s and
organisations such as ProBus and Rotary, he sadly has to decline any
future engagements because of his health situation.
