HawkTalk Issue 94 Summer 2023

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HAWKTALK SUMMER 2023 ISSUE 94

A tribute to Marion Paviour It is with great sadness that we share the news that our former Chairman, Marion Paviour, died earlier this year.

‘I first met Marion in 1976, when she became a friend of my family and helped us with the work of the Hawk Conservancy. My father’s last request to Marion was to keep an eye on his family, and she stayed true to that promise and was by my side as a wise counsel for many years. She always thought big, and wanted the Conservancy to grow into an international conservation organisation and was the driving force in helping us achieve my father’s ambition for ‘The Hawks’, as she affectionately called us, establishing it as a charitable trust and becoming its first chairman. As with all her passions Marion was determined and would fiercely fight for what she thought was right. She could also be very fiery and was not afraid to deploy it for effect, for which she had a reputation. On one occasion, after I had been in discussion with the County Council for nearly two years about having new tourist board signs erected, eventually I said if things didn’t progress, I would have to pass it onto our chairman. When he asked who that was, I informed him it was Mrs Marion Paviour. His reply was “Thursday, I will have the signs up by Thursday.“ Marion was one of a kind; an independent lady who was so proud of her family and all they achieved, and fiercely protective of those she cared for.’ Marion was a champion of young people, rooting for them, offering support and providing opportunities. It is from this legacy that the Marion Paviour Award was created in 2018 to support early-career researchers working towards conserving birds of prey. Most recently this award has supported the study of Martial Eagles in Malawi. Marion touched so many people’s lives, making lasting impressions, and inspiring so many. We will miss her.

Marion was Chairman of the Board of Directors from the inception of the Trust in 2002, until she stepped down from this position in 2017. Marion’s vision for the Trust from its outset was to create a world leader in bird of prey conservation, and she worked tirelessly to achieve that. Under her guidance the Trust transformed into a highly-regarded conservation charity with international impact, and a visitor attraction that has gone from strength to strength. Ashley Smith, Life President and Founder of the Hawk Conservancy Trust, reflected back on Marion’s dedication towards the success of the Trust:

WINNER

Congratulations to Bernadette Grima, the overall winner of our 2022 photography competition! Her stunning image of Boe, our Egyptian Vulture, aptly named ‘Handsome Profile’ was selected as the winning image by Hawk Conservancy Trust President, Chris Packham! An exhibition showcasing all winning and highly commended images from the 2022 Photographic Competition is on show now in Feathers Restaurant. You can also purchase our 2024 calendar that features all these beautiful images from the Trust shop and our online web shop. If you would like to enter your photographs in our 2023 competition to be in with a chance of winning a private experience at the Trust, head to our website today!

enter 2023 competition here