Jim has been involved with virtually every bird survey and birding activity in the county for the last 40 years and made a huge contribution to the strength of the Herts Bird Club.

After a wartime upbringing in NW Kent and service with the Royal Air Force Jim moved to Hertfordshire in 1958 to work on farms in Cottered and then Datchworth, primarily with livestock. He moved to manage a large dairy farm at Radlett from 1972-87. He and his wife Joyce live in Borehamwood.

Jim joined HNHS in 1970, becoming involved with first Breeding Bird Atlas, and all atlas and county surveys since as square steward for TL10, (until the present Atlas). He conducted the survey of wintering Lesser Black-back Gulls roosting at Hilfield Park Reservoir in 1978; lead the Corn Bunting Survey of 1985 and the first Wintering Plover Survey of 1991/92. His early work was with nest recording of waders and wetland species at Park Street and Tyttenhanger. He was extensively involved with the early work parties with the new Lemsford Springs and Stanborough Reed Marsh reserves and lead many Bird Club field trips. His Common Bird Census plot at Batlers Green, Radlett from 1973-89 was followed up with a Breeding Bird Survey for over 10 years at Woodhall, Shenley.

Since 1970s he has been the county organiser for the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT) surveys, now the WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey). In 1998 he became involved with the only remaining Tree Sparrow breeding colony, managed the Tree Sparrow recovery project until 2009 and still has an active interest.

Jim has been Secretary of Herts Bird Club, edited the Bird Club Newsletter/Bulletin and writes a section for Bird report. He was HNHS Vice-President in 1992.