Bill Oddie has passed away at the age of eighty-five.
I suppose my first introduction to 'Britain's most famous birder' was when he voiced one of my favourite cartoons as a child - Bananaman.
Yes, I came along somewhere in between Oddie's stint as part of The Goodies and his other ventures which came after his time as the comedy trio.
One of Oddie's paths led to being in pantomime with a friend of my family. She invited us over to London to see a performances one December weekend during the late 80s. We hung out with her after the show and Oddie came by. He didn't stay, though. My memory of that experience is of Oddie walking away as a few people came by requesting his autograph.
That recollection is corrupted, however. As I sit here thinking back, I am envisioning Oddie still in the costume of the character he played - Sarah the Cook from Dick Whittington and his Cat. That cannot be how it truly went. He must have been in his regular clothes.
Anyway, back to modern day.
Oddie's work with birdwatching is what I'll remember the most. He served his audience well by teaching them about one of nature's most magnificent, and intriguing, creatures.
He made people laugh and then let them learn.
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