My first contact with David came when he looked after my Springer Spaniel, but I then came to know him through our shared interest in wildlife.

I was a manager of the photographic department of H. A. Baker in Lewes, where David had his films processed and as soon as he knew I was interested in wildlife we would often talk about our sightings etc.

I even sold him a camera or two over the years, as well as lending him one of my own cameras when he went on some of his long trips. He would always want a backup camera in case his broke down as there were no camera repairers in the middle of a mountain range!!

One evening to thank me for lending him a camera he arranged for me and Penny to come to his home for a meal, followed by a slide show. After the heavy, but wonderful meal and a little wine the slide show started and within 10 minutes Penny had fallen asleep. David fortunately didn't take offence at all as he said it showed she was really relaxed!!

David very kindly helped me see many rare orchids over those early years and even gave me a map with many sites for rarities in Kent. I still think of him when I see the Monkey Orchid in Kent.

In 2013 I found a hybrid orchid Common Spotted/Frog hybrid which he had never seen in Sussex. After sending him a photo of it he was really keen to come and see it, it gave me great pleasure to be able to take him to the site for him to see it, and I was really surprised to see he was still using a Yashica 35mm film camera, probably one that I had sold him all those years before.

Afterwards he came back to my Seaford home for a cuppa and biscuits before he left for home. This was the last time I saw him although I did contact him more recently when Matt found a rare pink form of his favourite orchid, The Burnt Orchid.

A very inspirational person and I am proud to say I knew him.