C. Naylor from West Derby Group

Mary became the West Derby Group chair in 1989, holding the position for several years before taking over the role of secretary, a position she held until her death earlier this month.

She has always shown a great and unceasing interest in all forms of wildlife, especially birds, regularly taking holidays in this country and abroad with small groups of like minded people to observe the local wildlife and spending many happy hours birdwatching

She was involved in various organisations, and had been a Trustee of the Wildlife Trust in the past, as well as serving on several committees. naturally, the work of the RSPB was of great interest to her. The National Trust was also on her agenda. She served as steward at Sudbury Hall while also holding the post of Meetings Secretary for the National Trust at Landau Forte College.

Away from Wildlife and historical interests, she really enjoyed folk music and was a member of the Derby Music Club. She was also a keen quizzer, and was regularly seen at local fund raising quizzes, as well as pitting her wits against paper based quizzes. CAMTAD also played a significant part in her life, as she gave lip reading lessons and gave advice about hearing aids.

Mary made marmalade every year, which she would bring to the West Derby Group to sell, donating the proceeds to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.

She was a keen gardener and had build a small pond to encourage more wildlife into the garden. Mary had planned to convert half of her back lawn into a wildflower meadow this summer, a plan which, regrettably, she did not live to carry to fruition.

Mary was a very active and enthusiastic member of the local community, and is and will be very much missed by us all.

A Chairman’s Tribute to Mary Bayntun - Dave Gibbons

From 1976 I was appointed Resident Warden at Lonsdale Hall at the Rowditch, as well as being a full time lecturer at the College. I rarely went out to any meetings until, in late 1991 I found out that most of Lonsdale Hall was to be demolished. I therefore had to find somewhere to have 3 ponds and a greenhouse. After moving in in early 1992 I began to realise that there were interesting things happening, and started to go to West Derby Branch of the DWT, where Mary was the Chairperson.

After a few meetings Mary asked me to stand at the front to do her job. I asked why she had chosen me, to which she replied ‘I have been to all your evening classes and know how good you are in front of a group of people’! It also meant that my wife and I were co-opted on to the committee.

I was somewhat taken aback by all this, but took my place at the front of the group. Mary became secretary and provided me with a set of notes to read out at the start of the meetings. I soon had problems reading some of what she had written and this became the start of humorous exchanges between us which the group seemed to enjoy. Sometimes I made up that I could not read something to joke and relax the audience. Mary seemed to enjoy the repartee.

From that point until her recent death she remained secretary and, when Pat and Gerry Gatenby retired, I asked Mary to coordinate the suggestions of speakers for the group from the rest of the committee and others, which she did very well. We also became trustees of the Trust and shared car travel. She also did a great deal at the Trust.

I know I shall miss her as will others in the group, and I hope we can continue as well without her as we did with her.