Southgate District Civic Trust and Enfield Grammar School are combining to place a local blue plaque on the house where pioneer wildlife photographer Oliver Pike (1877-1963) lived with his family from 1882 to 1914, 96 Green Dragon Lane in Winchmore Hill, which was the location for his early natural history photographs and books. The plaque will be unveiled on 16 November 2014 at 2pm by two of Oliver Pike’s grandsons, Jonathan and Richard Dollimore.
Oliver Pike was probably the first professional wildlife photographer and pioneered the development of equipment and techniques in both still images and cine-film. Many of his films are held in the British Film Institute National Archive and more information can be found at www.olivergpike.info and in a booklet just published by the Trust, Oliver Pike: Birdman of Winchmore Hill.
In the course of his work Oliver Pike lectured and showed his films locally as well as travelling all over the country to photograph birds, often in arduous conditions. He campaigned for the welfare and care of wild creatures and his continuing influence is still felt today in the fields of conservation and protection, Sir David Attenborough regarding him as a “pioneering figure”.