Patrick, along with his wife Sue, was an early supporter of Scottish Wild Beaver Group and helped to guide us through our strategy in dealing with legal and policy matters in the first years of our campaign. While Sue was a much valued Trustee, Patrick was often at her side, ready to pass on advice from his wide knowledge and experience, both as a lawyer and as the Secretary of the Scottish Raptor Study Group. Although principally a raptor specialist and expert on Peregrine falcons, Patrick understood the importance to Scotland of all of our native species, and was an outspoken ally to the beaver at a time when its presence in Scotland was even more controversial than it is now.
In spite of his cautious character, and old fashioned good manners, Patrick was quietly radical. He was a courageous man, prepared to stand up for his beliefs and deep commitment to wildlife, often in the face of opposition from his neighbours, family and oldest friends. His long years of witnessing the activities on Scotland’s grouse moors prepared him to help us deal with the opposition to beaver reintroduction, both by vested interests, and by the foot dragging of government processes. His advice to us was invaluable and helped to give us the courage and clarity to carry on with the early campaigning that has led to the far more positive beaver news that we hear today.
Patrick died peacefully at Old Kippenross, his home near Dunblane on Friday 7th November 2025. He will be greatly missed by his family and wide circle of friends, including many of us in the world of environmental campaigning in Scotland.
Here he is with Paul Ramsay, receiving an award for SWBG in 2014.
