Dave Shute

Dave was born in Meriden, Warwickshire but has lived most of his life in West London where he worked for the EMI music company in their Artist Royalties division before re-locating to Hampshire. An interest in birds began at an early age when he saw, the then, very rare Red Kite on a family holiday in Wales. The bird interest grew and has subsequently broadened to encompass all forms of wildlife and has been the prime motivator for extensive travel both in the UK and overseas to such places as Europe, Chile, New Zealand and Namibia but with a particular fascination for the Polar regions, North America and India. The first of these compliments his interest in early polar exploration which has included trips to see Amundsen's ship "Fram" in Oslo and Shackleton's open boat the "James Caird" as well as a landing on Shackleton's infamous Elephant Island. His ambition is to visit the Antarctic base huts of Shackleton and Scott! Nearer to home, Dave's interest in photography has seen him travel around the UK photographing plants and insects and he is a very active member of various conservation bodies for plants and butterflies helping to preserve their remaining precious habitats.