David Raymond MBE Saunders

Published on 17/10/2023

SAUNDERS David Raymond MBE Ornithologist and Historian. David of Laws Street, Pembroke Dock passed away peacefully at Withybush Hospital on Tuesday 10th October after being suddenly taken ill. David was born in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire then moved to Pembrokeshire in 1960 and was the first warden of Skomer Island nature reserve until 1967. After his time on Skomer, David lived for a number of years in Marloes, Rosemarket, Milford Haven before residing in Laws Street. David was one of the leaders of Operation Seafarer (1969-70) which provided the first comprehensive account of the numbers and distribution of seabirds around the coasts of Britain and Ireland. He was the director of the West Wales Naturalists Trust from 1976 to 1994 which has since gone through a number of changes and is now known as The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. For a number of years he was also the editor of the Gallipoli Association magazine "The Gallipolian". He then spent a number of years lecturing on cruise ships and across the counties of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire. He was the author of number of books and his book "Where to Watch Birds in Wales" has recently been printed in its 5th edition. He continued to be a regular contributor to a number of publications. He was awarded the MBE in 2003 for services to nature conservation in Wales and in 2014 a Lifetime achievement Award from the Welsh Ornithological Society. David is survived by his wife Shirley, children Robert, Rachel and Catherine, grandchildren Rhys, Huw, Sian, Owen, Eve, William and Emily and great grandson Leo. There will be a small family only service at Parc Gwyn with family flowers only. Donations in lieu of flowers in David's memory may be made to The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales at https://www.welshwildlife.org/donate.

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