Golden Eagle
Winner Chris Packham
lifetime achievement award for outstanding services to the outdoors
Peter Gillman
T
“
“
We admire Chris
for his strength and
determination, and
for his willingness
to put his head
above the parapet on
causes we hold dear.
he guild has presented Chris Packham with
its prestigious Golden Eagle award, made for
outstanding services to the outdoors. Chris
– naturalist, author, wildlife photographer and TV
presenter – was voted the award by Guild members
for his campaigning activities towards protecting the
environment and wildlife. The presentation was made
on November 12 by guild chair Peter Gillman and his
wife Leni, Guild meetings secretary (above). Chris said
he was “flattered and honoured” to receive the award –
the guild had been “very kind” to him.
Presenting the award, Peter said that guild members
had made the award to Chris for his prominent role
in boosting public awareness of vital environmental
issues. He was an outspoken champion of causes such
as opposing badger-culling, baiting, fox-hunting,
driven grouse shooting, the slaughter of migrating
birds on Malta and the illegal persecution of raptors. He
has also spoken out in the face of powerful opposition
and had been courageous in using his own high public
profile to take a stand on a range of key environmental
concerns.
The award consisted of a water colour by guild
member David Bellamy – an evocative painting of
Clougha Pike in the Forest of Bowland, with a hen-
harrier gliding just below the summit. Chris was
delighted with the painting: “I’m very impressed and
very grateful – it’ll look great on the wall.”
The presentation was made at Kensington Town
Hall, where Chris was presenting an evening devoted
16
14 Outdoor focus | winter 2018
to wildlife travel and photography in tandem with Paul
Goldstein of Exodus Travel. Chris made clear that he
was determined to step up his campaigning on wildlife
and environmental issues, and that morning had met
Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton, with
the aim of working in a more strategic way across the
environmental sector. They were hoping to bring NGOs
together “so that they act in a unified way. I’m trying
to be the umbrella, get them into a room together and
show them that there is commonality.”
Chris clearly felt that the task was ever more urgent.
“We’re back to the days of the mass trespass on Kinder
Scout. We’ve got to make people listen. Everyone out
there needs to empower themselves. We got to get up
and make a difference.”
Chris also spoke of his activities in promoting
awareness of Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism
which can make it difficult to interpret other people’s
feelings or to understand body language, among other
effects. Chris, who revealed that he had the syndrome
last year, in his biography Fingers in the Sparkle Jar, said:
“It can be very difficult to articulate what it is like to
live in that world… So if I can help people have a broader
understanding of that, then the gestures that will help
improve people’s lives can be made.” In reference to
his own public role, he added: “What are you here for, if
you are not out there trying to make things better?”
The Golden Eagle nominee list is prepared by the OWPG
committee, and awarded by a vote of the OWPG membership