Brian Tear (21 April 1932 – 3 December 2024)

We regret to announce the death of Brian Tear, Vice President of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. Brian died on Tuesday 3 December 2024 in Grantham Hospital, at the age of 92.

Brian Tear was active in the Trust from the 1960s as a Trustee; appointed Chair of the Education and Public Relations Committee in 1969; founder and along with his wife Anne acted as secretary of the newly formed Lincoln Area Group; volunteered at the Wildlife Gift Shop in Lincoln for 30 years and appointed Deputy Chair in 1998 before being elevated to Vice President in 2013, a post he held until his death.

As well as a pioneer for the Trust’s people work Brian was a champion for Whisby Nature Park, a place close to home which he loved.

The late Ted Smith in his book, Trustees for Nature (2007) described Brian as a “popular pioneer and promoter of education” and “an outstanding teacher with a gift for lively presentation, made the education and publicity work of the Trust his special interest, one which he has pursued with unflagging enthusiasm”.

The “gift for lively presentation” was often demonstrated at meetings, particularly gatherings of volunteers which he was proudly one of for sixty years.

Brian was a proud father and grandfather. Our thoughts are with his wife Anne and family. He will be deeply missed by the Trust.

I had the privilege to be interviewed by Brian when I was appointed CEO, a conversation held with a large teapot on the desk. We subsequently shared many conversations over a cuppa, accompanied with his favourite pink wafer biscuits.

Paul Learoyd
Chief Executive