Simon Roberts, who has died aged 47 from a brain tumour, was a radio and TV producer at the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol. He joined the BBC as a sound engineer in the mid-1980s and spent much of his career at Radio 4.

Simon's radio highlights as a producer included the final edition of The Natural History Programme, from the Galápagos, in the late 90s; Nature: Our Accidental Moon (2003), revealing his passion for astronomy; and the week-long Migration event in 2005, which tracked Bewick's swans as they travelled from arctic Russia to Slimbridge, Gloucestershire. His television work included several programmes with Bill Oddie and Incredible Journeys, presented by Steve Leonard.

Simon was born and raised in north Somerset and attended Backwell school, where he developed his passion for all things musical. He gained a degree in physics and maths from Leeds University and became passionate about conservation and the environment while a student.

Simon was a fine musician, eco-warrior, traveller, practical joker and dear friend. He was a good listener, a lover of non-malicious gossip and was at his best in one-to-one conversation. When you parted, you always wished you had spent more time with him.

Simon was diagnosed with a brain tumour in the early 90s and given less than seven years to live. He never showed self-pity and defied this forecast for well over a decade. Always quietly unconventional, he was buried in a casket made of water hyacinth leaves, beneath a newly planted oak tree, at the Memorial Woodlands near Bristol.

True to form, he had one final joke to play. Tucked away on the back page of the funeral service booklet was a message, reminding us that even though Simon may have moved a few miles up the road, he is still expecting visitors. It simply read: "Change of Address: Oak Tree Plot, SP 79-57, Memorial Woodlands."

Simon is survived by his mother, Pat, his siblings, Sue, Chris and Rich, his nieces Annie and Beth, and his close friend Bridget.

By Stephen Moss.


Source:-
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2010/nov/15/simon-roberts-obituary