Tommy & Me
A tribute to Tommy Daniels
It was a bright Spring morning in 2016. I was on my rounds around Gartloch, part of the patch that I decided to work two years earlier.
I looked up and saw this random dude running down the embankment at the back of Gartloch village, literally waving his hands in the air. “A bit strange”, I thought and wondered what was going to unfold, and now thinking, "What have I done now?!”. His name was Andy and I later found out he lived next door to Tommy.
“Are you a birdwatcher?” Andy said. I thought, “That’s a strange question“, as I was wearing binoculars, carrying a telescope and as usual had my wellies on!, “Indeed I am”, I replied. “My neighbour loves birds and he’s always saying how he never sees anyone birdwatching here”, “Well you’ve got one now”, I said. Andy ran back up the hill, I waited, he then came back down, a tad slower this time with Tommy following behind. Introductions were made and of course those who know me, it doesn’t take much to get me talking, let alone about birds and wildlife. The rest they say is history. And that’s how my friendship with Tommy began.
Unlike me, I would say that Tommy, apart from being a total gem of a guy, was quietly spoken with excellent diction, polite and immediately and amazingly intelligent. We got on like a house on fire. As they say, opposites attract! I think he quietly liked my enthusiasm, abrupt sense of humour and of course we both had a massive love of birds and all things nature, especially around Gartloch.
By my own admission I can be a bit full on but I sensed with Tommy it would be prudent to try and be a bit more reserved and especially behave myself, as I was just as excited to meet a local who was passionate, not only about birds, but the local area, which I had fallen in love with.
Slowly our friendship grew and I realised through time just how knowledgeable he was, I learned loads!
Tommy had an unrivalled knowledge of nature including of course birds, but also mammals, flowers, trees and insects (butterflies being a favourite) and to be honest just about anything, he was a living, breathing encyclopaedia.
As time went on I learned that Tommy had been heavily involved in the SOC. He was a bird ringing trainer and countless people had been given an introduction to ringing and there was more. He had been one of the key players in the project to remove rats from Ailsa Craig with Bernie Zonfrillo and others. A true success story - the Craig now having breeding Puffins after decades of none as one example of the amazing work carried out on the famous volcanic plug in the Irish Sea.
But it was only when I started visiting his home for a chat and an excuse to have one of Anne’s (Tommy’s wife, who also was a wildlife guru!) amazing coffees, that I realised the other amazing talent of Tommy’s - art.
I was blown away with the pictures Tommy had painted, sketched and pencilled that adorned his home as well as the numerous sculptures. He was an awesome talent. I recognised one or two pictures on the wall and then realised that Tommy had been asked to draw some of the birds for the SOC 2007 Bird Atlas where no photograph existed.
Tommy unfortunately left us early last year (2023) after several years of illness but he remained upbeat and gentlemanly right to the end, despite his failing health.
I miss him very much and the world of conservation and nature, especially in Clyde, has lost one of its true gems.
As a tribute to Tommy, his son Brian has put together a website showcasing some of Tommy’s work which is still being added to.
Please have a look and enjoy the talent of Tommy Daniels, husband, father, grandfather, naturalist, ringer, and of course artist.
Donald Wilson, February 2024
I looked up and saw this random dude running down the embankment at the back of Gartloch village, literally waving his hands in the air. “A bit strange”, I thought and wondered what was going to unfold, and now thinking, "What have I done now?!”. His name was Andy and I later found out he lived next door to Tommy.
“Are you a birdwatcher?” Andy said. I thought, “That’s a strange question“, as I was wearing binoculars, carrying a telescope and as usual had my wellies on!, “Indeed I am”, I replied. “My neighbour loves birds and he’s always saying how he never sees anyone birdwatching here”, “Well you’ve got one now”, I said. Andy ran back up the hill, I waited, he then came back down, a tad slower this time with Tommy following behind. Introductions were made and of course those who know me, it doesn’t take much to get me talking, let alone about birds and wildlife. The rest they say is history. And that’s how my friendship with Tommy began.
Unlike me, I would say that Tommy, apart from being a total gem of a guy, was quietly spoken with excellent diction, polite and immediately and amazingly intelligent. We got on like a house on fire. As they say, opposites attract! I think he quietly liked my enthusiasm, abrupt sense of humour and of course we both had a massive love of birds and all things nature, especially around Gartloch.
By my own admission I can be a bit full on but I sensed with Tommy it would be prudent to try and be a bit more reserved and especially behave myself, as I was just as excited to meet a local who was passionate, not only about birds, but the local area, which I had fallen in love with.
Slowly our friendship grew and I realised through time just how knowledgeable he was, I learned loads!
Tommy had an unrivalled knowledge of nature including of course birds, but also mammals, flowers, trees and insects (butterflies being a favourite) and to be honest just about anything, he was a living, breathing encyclopaedia.
As time went on I learned that Tommy had been heavily involved in the SOC. He was a bird ringing trainer and countless people had been given an introduction to ringing and there was more. He had been one of the key players in the project to remove rats from Ailsa Craig with Bernie Zonfrillo and others. A true success story - the Craig now having breeding Puffins after decades of none as one example of the amazing work carried out on the famous volcanic plug in the Irish Sea.
But it was only when I started visiting his home for a chat and an excuse to have one of Anne’s (Tommy’s wife, who also was a wildlife guru!) amazing coffees, that I realised the other amazing talent of Tommy’s - art.
I was blown away with the pictures Tommy had painted, sketched and pencilled that adorned his home as well as the numerous sculptures. He was an awesome talent. I recognised one or two pictures on the wall and then realised that Tommy had been asked to draw some of the birds for the SOC 2007 Bird Atlas where no photograph existed.
Tommy unfortunately left us early last year (2023) after several years of illness but he remained upbeat and gentlemanly right to the end, despite his failing health.
I miss him very much and the world of conservation and nature, especially in Clyde, has lost one of its true gems.
As a tribute to Tommy, his son Brian has put together a website showcasing some of Tommy’s work which is still being added to.
Please have a look and enjoy the talent of Tommy Daniels, husband, father, grandfather, naturalist, ringer, and of course artist.
Donald Wilson, February 2024