West Midland Bird Club

Margaret Surman

Margaret was an active member of the Club and a good friend to many of us, so news of her death in November was received with great sadness. She joined the Club in 1972 and became the Permit Secretary in 1980 — a position she held for the next 24 years. This in itself is a record — no other officer having served in a single post for so long.

At times she was issuing almost 2,000 permits a year for members to visit Club reserves — a task she accomplished with an exemplary degree of efficiency. She was also a loyal supporter of the Club's activities, regularly attending indoor meetings in Birmingham and joining field trips to places far and wide, most notably the annual weekend trips to Devon and Norfolk. Although an infrequent visitor to the Harborne reserve, she was nonetheless a staunch supporter of the work undertaken there.

These facts are indicative of the selfless generosity with which she gave her time and energy to the Club and for which she was made an Honorary Life Member. But cold facts alone do not do justice to Margaret — it was her warm personality and wicked, but lovely sense of humour that endeared her to us all.

Her reports to the Club's Committees were always succinct, clear and precise — which was often in sharp contrast to the rest of the proceedings! More than once she brought an interminable debate to an end by innocently inquiring why we didn't pursue a certain course of action? Usually this was one so blindingly obvious that we wondered why no one else had thought of it! Secretly, she derived a great deal of pleasure from mischievously putting the male-dominated Committee in its place! Likewise, if she had an issue with any of us, she would wait until we telephoned and then say I'm glad you rang… before going on to rebuke us in her mild, teasing manner about whatever was concerning her.

She loved her birding and especially adored visiting Scotland and Lakenheath. An accomplished birdwatcher, she had a particular aptitude for recognising songs. Her love of music no doubt helped her develop this skill, but it was probably refined through the frustration of her failing eyesight, which perhaps meant she could hear more than she could see. Whatever the reason, it was an attribute much appreciated by others. Margaret was a very popular companion, with an army of friends only too keen to take her birdwatching or lend a helping hand when her eyesight failed her. One abiding memory of birdwatching with her was the bag of Fox's glacier mints that she always carried to share with her friends. She also had an interest in the more scientific aspects of birds and for several years attended extra-mural evening classes at Birmingham University.

Apart from being excellent company, Margaret was a reliable, trustworthy and much valued friend, who always had time for others. I occasionally met her whilst out birdwatching and recall that these chance encounters were always a pleasurable experience — even when the birds were disappointing.

Margaret touched our lives in many different ways. Some will miss her companionship, others her dry humour or her no nonsense, commonsense approach. Above all, our abiding memory will be of a much respected, true lady, whose departing will leave an empty gap in all our lives. Our sympathies go out to her family and close friends.

Graham Harrison

Margaret Surman passed away on 4 November 2006. The funeral was held on Friday, 17 November at St George's Church , Birmingham.

Our picture shows (left to right) Alan Richards (Vice-President), Daphne Dunstan, Margaret Surman and Jim Winsper (then-Chairman), at The Club's Annual General Meeting on 20 May 2003, when Margaret was awarded life membership.