Eric Arthur Simms,
DFC (24 August 1921 – 1 March 2009) was an English ornithologist, naturalist, writer, sound recordist, broadcaster and conservationist, as well as a decorated wartime Bomber Command pilot/ bomb-aimer.
He was born on 24 August 1921, the youngest of three brothers, in London, where his father was head gardener at the private gardens in Ladbroke Square.He won a scholarship to Latymer Upper School and in 1939 began to read history at Merton College, Oxford, where he also took up bird ringing and joined the University Air Squadron, and, without completing his studies, was sent for aircrew training in Canada and the United States in 1941. He was called up, joining the Royal Air Force in 1941 and by 1943 was a Leading Aircraftman, and was then commissioned as a pilot officer on probation in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 19 March 1943, serving as a bomb aimer and second pilot in Lancaster bombers, in which he flew 27 raids over Germany. On 14 November 1944 he was awarded Distinguished Flying Cross, the citation praising his "skill and determination which have been an inspiration to the crews with which he flies" and a "complete disregard for danger in the face of the heaviest enemy defences".After demobilisation, he worked as a teacher in Warwickshire, and served on the research committee of the West Midland Bird Club.He then worked for the BBC, initially as a wildlife sound recordist, before making more than 7,000 radio broadcasts and hundreds of television appearances. He was a passionate believer in bringing natural history to a wider audience, and was a resident naturalist at the BBC. He is credited with starting the Countryside radio programme in 1952. As a guest on Desert Island Discs in 1976, one of his eight choices was a recording of a blackbird he had made near his London home.Simms also appeared in Sir John Betjeman's 1973 TV documentary Metro-land, about the Metropolitan Railway line running northwest out of London. He was featured birdwatching in Gladstone Park, near to his home in Dollis Hill.
In 1980 he and his wife Thelma (who was Section Officer Thelma Jackson, WAAF, when they married) retired to South Witham, near Grantham, Lincolnshire. He died on 1 March 2009. Thelma had died in 2001. They had a daughter and a son, Amanda and David, and four granddaughters.
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Some of their strengths
Eric Simms has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Curious, Creative, Sophisticated, Organized, Kind, Passionate, and Strong.
Smart and Sophisticated
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Eric Simms is someone who is a smart, sophisticated, and organized person who displays kindness and grace in every day interactions, and who also has a passionate soul. A person who is known for being a good communicator.
Helpful and Supportive
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Eric Simms well know them as someone who can be accepting, supportive, and productive, like a garden.
Inventive and Clever
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Eric Simms as someone who is flexible, intelligent, and quick-witted.
A person who likes to be creative, and to be recognized for their artistic talents. Who possesses intelligence, mental discipline, and ambition, and who does well in relationships and partnerships.
Stable and Creative
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Eric Simms is someone who thrives in volatile situations, and who tends to be a source of stability and comfort for others who are experiencing challenging times .
They are also someone who is curious, dynamic, and positive, and who enjoys inspiring and communicating with other people.
Altruistic and Purposeful
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Eric Simms tends to be someone who has a desire to be of service to a higher calling and who is always trying to perfect things. Who can be practical and polished, reserved and methodical, and who tends to trust internal judgment before trusting anyone else at face value.
Some of Eric Simms's challenges
While Eric Simms has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Eric Simms can be Selfish, Difficult, Perfectionist, Stubborn, Idle, Emotional, and Standoffish.
Difficult and Perfectionist
One of Eric Simms's key challenges is that they are someone who can be difficult and too much of a perfectionist.
Unfocused and Indecisive
Eric Simms is someone who can be scattered, restless, and insensitive, be distracted by fluctuating professional interests, be a workaholic, and who can be arrogant and have difficulty accepting advice.
Critical and Bossy
Finally, Eric Simms also can be too focused on the small details of life, try to control whatever is happening, and be finicky and demanding.
