Family launch fundraising campaign in memory of Scarborough police officer who founded bird ringing group and led wildlife tours

The family of former police officer Peter Dunn, who has died of coronavirus, has set up a memorial fund to raise money for a cause close to his heart.
The late Peter Dunn whose family have launched a fundraising campaign in his memoryThe late Peter Dunn whose family have launched a fundraising campaign in his memory
The late Peter Dunn whose family have launched a fundraising campaign in his memory

Mr Dunn, who lived with his wife Kathy and daughter Jennifer in Cayton, served in the force for 23 years in Scarborough and Malton, ending his career as a sergeant in Filey.

A keen bird and wildlife expert, he helped set up and run Filey Brigg Ornithological Bird Watching Group and also set up the East Coast Ringing Group.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Peter had a full life being involved with Filey bird group and ringing group. In his honour we would like to purchase a Heligoland bird trap for the ringing group to keep his memory alive," said his sister Carolyn Weedon.

Also paying tribute and helping to raise funds is wildlife holiday company Naturetrek. Mr Dunn led tours for 20 years. He travelled the world including to California and the Antarctic.

"Peter was a dear member of the Naturetrek family, sharing his love of birding and wildlife with many hundreds of our clients, leaders, staff and locals alike, from Yorkshire to both ends of the Earth … and a great many places in between," said a spokesman.

"We will always remember him as a deeply knowledgeable, kind, generous and patient colleague, tour leader and friend to us all.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"He established a wide variety of ringing methods within the bird observatory, many of which are still being used to collect data today, and many of the ringers now operating at Filey were trained by Peter.

"All this ringing data helps to build a larger picture of bird migration, longevity, and survival, which in turn helps determine national trends and establish where conservation efforts and funding should be focused.

"One of Peter’s dreams was to build a Heligoland trap within the observatory. A Heligoland trap would greatly increase the flexibility of the small ringing team and allow data to be collected when conditions are unsuitable for using mist nets. It would increase the number of birds, and the diversity of species, on which data is collected, helping to further bird conservation and strengthen the observatory’s scientific observations," he said.

Filey Bird Observatory is a small, self-funded organisation with 150 members and projects of this magnitude are usually out of reach.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Naturetrek has created a page to support Mr Dunn's family's fundraiser.

"Ttogether we might offer a small token of thanks from all of us who were lucky enough to have worked, travelled and birded with Peter over the past 20 years," said the Nutracheck spokesman.

Mr Dunn began to feel ill on the run up to Easter weekend. Back pain he had been suffering from for some time worsened and was hospitalised.

"Following a cat scan cancer was found with a tumour popping one of his vertebrae and also in two other places. While in hospital he caught the Covid-19 virus which he fought with all his strength but, unfortunately, overtook his body," said Mrs Weedon.

Peter passed away at St Catherine's Hospice, Scarborough, on Friday May 15.

You can donate at justgiving hereOr go to the Naturetrek page here