Ted Ellis (1909-1986) - Widely regarded as Norfolk's greatest naturalist, and was from 1928 to 1956, the keeper of Natural History at the Castle Museum in Norwich. He had long studied the nature of Wheatfen alongside former owner Captain Cockle, and the Ellises finally moved into the pair of marshman's cottages in 1946. In October of that year, Ted started writing daily nature articles for the Eastern Daily Press, which he continued to do until his death in 1986. In the 1960s he started his first radio broadcasts, and finally appeared on television when he joined presenter John Mountford's "Weekend" programme, produced by BBC Norwich. In the early 80s, Ted's regular television audience was estimated at half-a-million. As Phyllis Ellis said "people would stop him in the street, and speak to him as if they were life-long friends, wheareas they'd not met him before". Following Ted's death, Phyllis came to the fore, strongly promoting the setting-up of the Ted Ellis Trust to study and conserve his beloved Wheatfen. Despite watching most of Ted's television broadcasts, and collecting as many of his writings as possible, I never met Ted in person - something I'll always regret. Phyllis said that, after Wheatfen, Buxton Heath was one of Ted's favourite places, and this thought was in my mind when I founded BHWG.
As one write-up of him says:
[Edward Augustine, called 'Ted']. 1909-1986. Naturalist, writer and museum curator, author of The Broads (1965). Self-taught natural history all-rounder, Keeper of Natural History at Norwich Castle Museum 1928-54, Daily diarist for Eastern Daily Press for 40 years; from 1964, monthly diarist in The Guardian and regular broadcaster on radio (BBC Midland's 'Nature Postbag') and, latterly, on local television.
From 1945, lived by Wheatfen Broad, which he preserved as a nature reserve, becoming a popular venue for school parties and excursions. Sometime president of both Norfolk and Suffolk Naturalists' Trusts. Conferred DSc Honoris causa by University of East Anglia, 1970. A local hero: 'the people's naturalist'
Cottage, archive and surrounding fen now preserved as a field centre by the Ted Ellis Trust. Like many great all-rounders, he had a speciality - micro-fungi - discovering a number of new species. A charming and lovable man; bird-like features; smoked pipe; wore hat made of coypu fur; memoir: The People's Naturalist (1988).
As one write-up of him says:
[Edward Augustine, called 'Ted']. 1909-1986. Naturalist, writer and museum curator, author of The Broads (1965). Self-taught natural history all-rounder, Keeper of Natural History at Norwich Castle Museum 1928-54, Daily diarist for Eastern Daily Press for 40 years; from 1964, monthly diarist in The Guardian and regular broadcaster on radio (BBC Midland's 'Nature Postbag') and, latterly, on local television.
From 1945, lived by Wheatfen Broad, which he preserved as a nature reserve, becoming a popular venue for school parties and excursions. Sometime president of both Norfolk and Suffolk Naturalists' Trusts. Conferred DSc Honoris causa by University of East Anglia, 1970. A local hero: 'the people's naturalist'
Cottage, archive and surrounding fen now preserved as a field centre by the Ted Ellis Trust. Like many great all-rounders, he had a speciality - micro-fungi - discovering a number of new species. A charming and lovable man; bird-like features; smoked pipe; wore hat made of coypu fur; memoir: The People's Naturalist (1988).
Phyllis Ellis MBE (1913-2004) - One doesn't really know how to begin describing the late Phyllis Ellis - she was such a phenomenon, and someone I regarded as conservation royalty. When I showed an interest in practical conservation in 1990, it was Phyllis who welcomed me whole-heartedly to Wheatfen, and our association and friendship became long-term. She reluctantly accepted her MBE in 1996, awarded in recognition of her conservation work and for setting up the Ted Ellis Trust, but said afterwards "I don't feel I've done anything. I just give other people a boot up the behind".