The last of the "first generation" parks officers from Zimbabwe, Willie de Beer died on Sunday of an apparent heart attack. He was well into his 80's. Appart from being my tutor for my PH license, willie was a ledgend in Parks, and carried more scars than anybody I knew! He was scalped by a lion, tossed by rhino and buff, swatted by an elephant... If ever anybody needed advice, willie had been there, done that the wrong way, and then survived to do it right many times more! He was always willing to help- anybody. RIP old friend.

I didn't know him personally but I heard many interesting stories about him. I would have liked to meet him.