Vale John Gamblin

[Bill Stent <>]

This morning our friend John Gamblin passed away, after a lengthy illness.

I first emailed John after having read one of his typically off-beat posts
to Birding-Aus.

The conversation lasted 15 years.

Like many of us, I can say I've never met anyone who had such a different
on-email and in-person demeanour.  Receiving emails from John was equal
parts hilarious and baffling. In person, John was thoughtful, lucid and
caring, but always with a Goon Show-esque sense of humour.

The moderation team were lucky enough to spend Australia Day with John, who
shouted us the entire barbecue. He was at that stage in palliative care, and
was in fine form.  He was just as chirpy on Saturday when I last saw him. He
was chuckling cheekily about the prospect of Tony Russell ever seeing the
Crested Honey-buzzard in Perth. I'm attaching a beautiful portrait of John
taken by Ruth on Australia Day. I hope Ruth doesn't mind.

Good bye, John, I am honoured to have been your friend.

Bill

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