David Kramer
3 November 1945 – 22 May 2026
Sadly we have to report the death of David Kramer who died suddenly at his home in May. He will be very well known to all birdwatchers in Bedfordshire and beyond. In 1993 he was a founder member and first Honorary President of the Bedfordshire Bird Club and served for the next 30 years on various committees, including the Records and Research Committee.
In 1991 he published with Paul Trodd, ‘The Birds of Bedfordshire’ and his work has contributed to the new edition of ‘The Birds of Bedfordshire’ published in 2025. His contribution to the ornithology, and the history of ornithology of Bedfordshire has been enormous and he has published well over 50 articles and papers in addition to the book, all of which makes fascinating reading and encourages further work.
David became fascinated by birds at a very early age and it was watching the lapwings diving and wheeling in display that first caught his interest while he was still in primary school. This interest was encouraged by his junior school head teacher, Jim Burley, who was also an ornithologist and he introduced him to the Doncaster & District Ornithological Society where he was a member from 1957, aged 11. There, his interest was taken seriously, especially by Reg Rhodes, who took him bird-ringing, with other young bird-watchers. One of his early discoveries was a breeding colony of Little Ringed Plovers on the top of a disused Armthorpe Colliery slag heap at the back of Sandal Beat Wood. In 1991 he was able to send his mentors copies of ‘The Birds of Bedfordshire’ and thank them personally for their encouragement.
After his arrival in Bedford in 1974 David began to record the birds at Priory Park. He published a study of the effects of sailing on birds using the lake before and after the disturbance-free zone was introduced, and also wrote ‘The Birds of Priory Park, 1979-1989’, from the time when the original gravel pit was flooded. His major work lies in his daily records from 1990 to the present day, published as annual ‘Bird Reports’ of the birds in Priory Country Park, Bedford. He visited the Park in the early morning nearly every day and made many friends there. His last visit and post on BirdTrack was just a few days before he died. The Reports not only help young beginners but are a mine of continuous, accurate data for any students of avian population dynamics.
As well as his daily visits to Priory Park, David travelled widely in both the UK and abroad. As a young man he was a visitor to Spurn Bird Observatory and St Agnes on the Isles of Scilly and cut his birding teeth locally at Potteric Carr and Sandal Beat Wood in Doncaster. The Isles of Scilly was always one of David’s favourite places and for over 30 years from the 1980s he made annual October visits, often with Jon Palmer, Dave Odell and other ‘Beds birders’, in search of rarities. David, again with Jon Palmer, also visited and stayed at the bird observatories at Portland, Bardsey Island, Gibraltar Point, Fair Isle and North Ronaldsay.
David KramerFurther afield, David, mainly with Jon Palmer, made trips to destinations all across the world. He stayed at the Peter Scott Field Studies Centre in Mai Po Hong Kong, visited Thailand, The Gambia, Israel, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Spain and Turkey plus all parts of the USA from Washington State to Texas. Of particular note, whilst travelling to Cape May in New Jersey on 11th September 2001 (aka 9/11) to observe fall migration David and Jon’s flight was caught mid-Atlantic and diverted to Halifax Nova Scotia and they were transported to a Canadian army base for an enforced four day stay before resuming their onward journey. David was a very knowledgeable and experienced ornithologist and was always encouraging, friendly and willing to help and impart his knowledge to others.
David was the younger son of Elsie (nee Larder) a secretary and PA at Newton Chambers, Sheffield, before marrying John (Jack) Kramer, a cost and works accountant at the Doncaster Wagon Company, who both provided a loving and supportive home. He went to Beechfield Primary School and Doncaster Grammar School where he enjoyed basketball as his main sport and gained a trial for the England Schoolboys team.
He was the Science teacher for 23 years at the Robert Bruce Middle School, studying at the Leicester College of Education at Scraptoft and qualifying as a science teacher in 1968. His first teaching post was at the Beechen Cliff School in Bath in 1967. In 1974 David obtained a post at the Robert Bruce School in Bedford where he worked until his retirement in 2000. He was a committed and hard-working teacher. Many of his pupils have commented on his warmth, humanity and professional excellence. Students also benefitted outside the classroom in sport, and his help in theatrical productions. He enjoyed the arts and visited London galleries for exhibitions and concerts given by the Beds Music Society. We will remember him in the family as a kind and thoughtful friend, who played with his nieces and their children, came on family holidays and identified all our bird calls.
John Kramer and Jon Palmer
David’s funeral will be held on Friday July 3rd at 1.30 pm, at Bedford Crematorium, 104 Norse Road, Bedford, MK41 0RL. Members are invited to refreshments afterwards, venue to be advised.
