Illustrated Talks

As mentioned on the 'News' pages, I am now available to give Illustrated Talks to Natural History/Conservation Societies, Bird Clubs & RSPB Local Groups, Gardening Clubs, National Trust & Wildlife Trust Local Groups, U3A & Probus Groups and any other interested groups/organisations.

I am currently offering the following talks (with more in preparation):-

'Kingfishers - up close & personal' - This talk covers all aspects of the rather unique lifestyle of these beautiful but elusive birds.

It is based on my thousands of hours of close observations of Kingfishers over several years and is illustrated throughout with approximately 160 of my own photographs, some of which feature in the 'Kingfishers Gallery' on this website.

'Through the Year in a Nature Photographer's Garden' - This talk covers some of the flowers, plants, trees, birds, insects and other wildlife (including badgers, deer, foxes, grass snakes, etc) seen and photographed in our own garden throughout the seasons of the year.

It also features a section on the design and construction of our prize winning water feature/wildlife garden and is illustrated throughout with some 160 of my own photographs.

Both talks last about 55 - 70 minutes and I am happy to add a Q & A session at the end.

I will travel to venues throughout East Anglia and I am happy to step in at short notice if one of your booked speakers has to cancel at the last minute – subject to being available of course.

My all-inclusive fee for talks is negotiable and depends on a number of factors such as the audience size, distance to travel, etc. and no deposit or advance payment is required. Payment on the day may be by cash or by cheque.

I would also expect to bring along a small selection of mounted prints and photocard/notelets to have available for sale.

My talks are in the form of PowerPoint presentations for which a digital projector and screen will ideally be available at the venue, though I can provide my own if necessary.

Please get in touch via my Contact page or by 'phone on 07966 465775 to discuss bookings, fees, etc.

Jeff

FEEDBACK FROM SOME OF MY PREVIOUS TALKS -

    • Wed. 12 Jan. 2011 (7.30pm) - SOCS (Swavesey & Over Conservation Society) -
      "We want to thank you so much for your presentation on Wednesday - as I think I said at the time it was one of the best (if not the best) we've had in the eight years I've been involved. Your photographs, humorous talk and everything were absolutely superb" - SOCS Talks Organiser.

    • Thurs. 17 Feb. 2011 (8pm) - Sutton Conservation Society -
      "Thank you Jeff for a wonderful presentation to the Society on 17th February. Your talk was not only very informative, but also amusing, extremely well presented and accompanied by the most amazing photographs. One of the best speakers we have had, and from the comments received from members of the Society we really would be very pleased to see you again, hopefully early next year? Regards, Sally, Sutton Conservation Society."

      followed by my 'world tour' of Lancashire (my home county) -

    • Fri. 18 March 2011 (7.45pm) - Hornby Countryside Society -
      "Wow ! We saw kingfishers as we have never seen them for ourselves. Jeff is a naturalist first, with a lifetime interest in kingfishers, but a particular photographic interest over the last seven years. Qualified with all the appropriate licences, and very careful to avoid disturbance to the nesting birds, he has brought all the skill and patience of a professional wildlife photographer to obtain stunning photographs. We learnt to distinguish male from female by the underside of the bill. We saw the postures adopted during courtship, the offer of fish by the male and coy acceptance of the female, and the mating pair. We saw an intruding male and the fight with resident male. All this was delivered in a beautifully constructed talk, with clear delivery and excellent humour. David Newton, Hornby Countryside Society"

    • Mon. 21 March 2011 (7.30pm) - Preston Society (Birdwatching & Natural History) -
      "Jeff, Thank you for your talk last night at The Preston Society. I do not patronise, but you seem to have got it just right, with a good mix of information and humour. Good luck. Jim Dickinson"

    • Tues. 22 March 2011 (7.45pm) - Fylde Bird Club -
      "Jeff, Thanks for coming to talk at Fylde Bird Club last night, a fantastic talk with images to match. Would thoroughly recommend this Kingfishers talk to anyone, you will not be dissapointed ! Thanks again Jeff, I hope you will come and talk to us again soon. Paul Slade"

    • Tues. 10th May 2011 (7.30pm) - Stort Valley Local RSPB Group -
      "I attended the Stort Valley RSPB meeting on Tuesday 10th May where you gave a talk on kingfishers. I would like to say how much I enjoyed the evening and thank you for giving such an informative talk. I also found the taxidermy kingfisher fascinating. Thank you once again, Pat Parkes"

    • Mon. 4 July 2011 (8pm) - Hertford Association of National Trust Members -
      "......Jeff is one of the best speakers we have ever had......"

    • Thurs. 15 September 2011 (7.30pm) - Harlow Photographic Society -
      "Just a note to thank you in my capacity as Programme Secretary for Harlow Photographic Society for the excellent talk "Kingfishers - up close and personal" that you gave us a week or so ago...... there was very good feedback on your talk from our club members..... you set a very high standard for the start of the season that other visiting speakers will have to work hard to equal or exceed!.......... Once again, thank you for a most entertaining, informative and technically brilliant evening..... I am hoping to book one of your other presentations for our next season, Mike Steward"

    • Tues. 1 November 2011 (7.30pm) - Kedington Garden Society -
      "I am writing on behalf of the members of Kedington Garden Society to thank you for not only stepping into the breach at short notice but also for your most wonderful illustrated talk on Kingfishers. It's been a while since members hung around for so long after a meeting which I think shows the interest they felt. If you have no objections I will pass on your details to our local U3A, Marion Senior"

    • Tues. 6 December 2011 (2.30pm) - West Suffolk Association of National Trust Members -
      "What a wonderful and fascinating talk you gave us yesterday. We were all spellbound at seeing such marvellous photography. And your commentary! It was just like having David Attenborough with us! Hope to see you again next year, Monica Renouf"

    • Fri. 14 October 2011 (8pm) - Bishop's Stortford Natural History Society

    • Fri. 28 October 2011 (7.30pm) - Royston & Saffron Walden Association of National Trust Members

    • Thurs. 10 November 2011 (7.45pm) - Colchester Local RSPB Group

    • Tues. 10th January 2012 (7.30pm) - Friends of Welney - at Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) Welney Wetland Centre

    • Thurs. 12th January 2012 (7.30pm) - Huntingdonshire Fauna & Flora Society -
      "Thank you Jeff for a really enjoyable talk on Kingfishers which you gave to the Huntingdonshire Fauna and Flora Society last Thursday. The absolutely brilliant photography combined with your in depth knowledge of the birds, your clear speaking and humour made for a fantastic evening for us all. We were humbled by your deep appreciation of the kingfishers you photographed and your passion for wildlife as a whole. We will definitely be inviting you back to talk to us again. Thank you. Kirsty Drew"

    • Tues. 17th January 2012 (8pm) - Welwyn & Hatfield National Trust Association -
      "Jeff has just given his kingfisher talk to Welwyn Hatfield National Trust Association and he kept us spellbound with his story of these fascinating birds which was backed up with the most stunning photos. Paul Langston, Chairman"

      FUTURE TALKS -

    • Fri. 17th February 2012 (7.45pm) - Ely Wildlife Trust Group - at Ely Museum, The Old Gaol, Market St, Ely, Cambs CB7 4LS - Further details from Will Burdett at will.burdett@anglia.ac.uk (NB. This talk is "Kingfishers - up close & personal")

    • Mon. 27th February 2012 - Ely & District U3A Birdwatching Group - at Red Cross Hall, West Fen Rd, Ely - Further details from David Latham on 01353 610171 (NB. This talk is "Through the Year in a Nature Photographer's Garden")

    • Mon. 2nd April 2012 (7.30pm) - Steeple Morden Royal British Legion Ladies Section - at Steeple Morden Village Hall, Nr Royston, Cambs
      (NB. This talk is "Kingfishers - up close & personal")

    • Mon. 16th April 2012 (7.30pm) - Mepal Gardening Club - at Mepal Village Hall, Mepal, Cambs CB6 2AJ - Further details from Rowena Pleasance on 01353 777275 (NB. This talk is "Through the Year in a Nature Photographer's Garden")

    • Thurs. 19th April 2012 (8pm) - Sutton Conservation Society - at The Pavilion, Brooklands Centre, Sutton, Cambs - Further details from Sally White on 01353 778963 (NB. This talk is "Through the Year in a Nature Photographer's Garden")

    • Tues. 1st May 2012 (7.30pm) - Kedington Garden Society - at Royal British Legion Hall, Haverhill Rd, Kedington CB9 7NR - Further details from Madge Pelling on 01440 704844 (NB. This talk is "Through the Year in a Nature Photographer's Garden")

    • Tues. 3rd July 2012 (10am) - Bury St Edmunds Tuesday Probus Club - at Risbygate Bowls & Tennis Club, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 7EH (NB. This talk is "Kingfishers - up close & personal")

    • Tues. 17th July 2012 (2pm) - St Neots U3A - at The Priory Centre, St Neots PE19 2BH (NB. This talk is "Through the Year in a Nature Photographer's Garden")

    • Thurs. 19th July 2012 (7.30pm) - Friends of Holt Island Nature Reserve - at The Charter Hall, St Ives Corn Exchange PE27 5AG - Further details from Ian Jackson on 01480 385999 (NB. This talk is "Kingfishers - up close & personal")

    • Mon. 3rd September 2012 (8pm) - Hertford Association of National Trust Members - at Hertford Theatre, The Wash, Hertford SG14 1PS - Further details from Tony James on 01992 551967 (NB. This talk is "Through the Year in a Nature Photographer's Garden")

    • Sun. 9th September 2012 (11am) - Lakenheath Fen RSPB Reserve - at Lakenheath Fen Visitor Centre, Station Rd, Lakenheath IP27 9AD - Further details from David White on 01842 863403 (NB. This talk is "Kingfishers - up close & personal")

    • Tues. 25th September 2012 (8pm) - Mid Herts Local Group of Herts & Middx Wildlife Trust - at Howlands Baptist Church, The Commons, Welwyn Garden City AL7 4RS - Further details from Dave Laming on 01438 798213 (NB. This talk is "Kingfishers - up close & personal")

    • Wed. 26th September 2012 (7.30pm) - Huntingdonshire Local RSPB Group - at The Free Church, Market Hill, St Ives, Cambs PE27 5AL - Further details from Ray Houghton on 01480 464769 (NB. This talk is "Kingfishers - up close & personal")

    • Tues. 2nd October 2012 (7.30pm) - Rutland Natural History Society - at Oakham C of E Primary School, Burley Rd, Oakham - Further details from Dawn Whitefield on 01664 454578 (NB. This talk is "Kingfishers - up close & personal")

    • Tues. 16th October 2012 (7.30pm) - Bury St Edmunds Local RSPB Group - at County Upper School, Beetons Way, Bury St Edmunds IP32 6RF - Further details from Trvor Hart on 01284 705165 (NB. This talk is "Kingfishers - up close & personal")

    • Sun.28th October 2012 (10am) - Newton Village Gardening Club - at Newton Village Hall, Church Lane, Newton, Wisbech - Further details from Shirley de-Groome on 01945 870060 (NB. This talk is "Through the Year in a Nature Photographer's Garden")

    • Tues. 30th October 2012 (7.30pm) - Royston Wildlife Group - at Royston Town Hall, Melbourn St, Royston SG8 7DA - Further details from Don Shewan on 01763 244079 (NB. This talk is "Kingfishers - up close & personal")

    • Wed. 14th November 2012 (7.45pm) - Haverhill Local Group of Suffolk Wildlife Trust - at East Town Park Centre, Coupals Rd, Haverhill CB9 7UR - Further details from Sandra Cass on 01440 762801 (NB. This talk is "Kingfishers - up close & personal")

    • Tues. 20th November 2012 (7.30pm) - Fulbourn Gardening Society - at The Swifts, Haggis Gap, Fulbourn, Cambridge CB21 5HD - Further details from James Caesar on 01223 882051 (NB. This talk is "Through the Year in a Nature Photographer's Garden")

    • Mon. 3rd December 2012 (7.45pm) - Coton Garden Club - at Coton Village Hall, Coton, Cambs - Further details from Miss Skempton on 01954 211588 (NB. This talk is "Through the Year in a Nature Photographer's Garden")

    • Fri. 4th January 2013 (7.30pm) - Hitchin & Letchworth Local RSPB Group - at The Settlement, 229 Nevells Rd, Letchworth SG6 4UB - Further details from Gary Taylor on 0780 7736549 (NB. This talk is "Kingfishers - up close & personal")

    • Tues. 8th January 2013 (7.45pm) - Holywell-cum-Needingworth Gardening Club - at Needingworth Village Hall, Overcote Lane, Needingworth, Cambs PE27 4TU - Further details from Anne Thorn on 01480 493230 (NB. This talk is "Through the Year in a Nature Photographer's Garden")

    • Tues. 15th January 2013 (7.30pm) - Hardwick Gardening Club - at Hardwick Community Primary School, Limes Rd, Hardwick, Cambs CB3 7RE - Further details from Michaela McNeill on 01223 334777 (NB. This talk is "Through the Year in a Nature Photographer's Garden")

    • Fri. 22nd February 2013 (8pm) - Bishop's Stortford & District Natural History Society - at the National Trust's Hatfield Forest Office Meeting Room CM22 6NE - (NB. This talk is "Through the Year in a Nature Photographer's Garden")

    • Tues. 12th March 2013 (7.30pm) - Shelford Garden Club - at Shelford School, Church St, Great Shelford, Cambridge CB22 5EL - Further details from Rosie Cranmer on 01223 513572 (NB. This talk is "Through the Year in a Nature Photographer's Garden")

    • Wed. 20th March 2013 (2.45pm) - Melbourn & District U3A - at Melbourn Village College, The Moor, Melbourn, Herts SG8 6EF - Further details from George Howard on 01763 260686 (NB. This talk is "Kingfishers - up close & personal")

      NB. - Non-members of these organisations wishing to attend any of these events should contact me beforehand please to check that places will be available