ALAN Cawdron, wildlife enthusiast and former March shopkeeper, died at Peterborough District Hospital after a short illness. He was 76. Apart from a spell in the RAF as an instrument maker and a time in Kelling Sanitorium, Norfolk, recovering from tubercu

ALAN Cawdron, wildlife enthusiast and former March shopkeeper, died at Peterborough District Hospital after a short illness. He was 76.

Apart from a spell in the RAF as an instrument maker and a time in Kelling Sanitorium, Norfolk, recovering from tuberculosis, he lived his entire life in Nene Parade March.

He attended March Grammar School and, after his RAF days and when he had recovered from his illness, he opened a small grocery shop in Creek Road. Some years later he sold the shop and spent the rest of his working days as an employee of Ridgeon's, initially in Creek Road then at Hostmoor.

He had a flair for languages and was a talented artist and musician. His main passion, however, was wildlife, particularly butterflies. His butterfly collection extends to hundreds of examples from both the British Isles and around the world.

For many years he was a leading light in the local wildlife trust. In later days he enjoyed nothing more than standing watching the wildlife on the River Nene, right outside his front door. In his day he had swum in the river, fished in it, skated on it and, accompanied by his wife Elsie, boated on it.

Alan and Elsie, a railway employee from Norfolk, were married in March in May, 1962.

Alan became ill in July and spent the last few weeks in and out of hospital but died unexpectedly. His funeral took place at Peterborough Crematorium

He leaves his wife Elsie.