THE dying wish of a North- East ornithologist has been fulfilled thanks to a fellow journalist and keen birdwatcher.

Brian Unwin, a former reporter with The Northern Echo, and long-time Birdwatch columnist for the paper, died after a long battle with cancer, in December, aged 66.

Despite his illness, he tried to put the finishing touches to a book on North-East England for the Best Birdwatching Sites series, which he had been researching and compiling in his last few years.

But, following his death, fellow birdlife writer Ian Kerr agreed to complete the unfinished sections of the manuscript in the style of the rest of the book.

Mr Kerr, who has also stepped in to compile the weekly Birdwatch notes in The Northern Echo, said he was happy to take up what was a labour of love for both lifelong “birders”.

“Brian’s dearest wish was to see this book completed and with the support of his wife, Jennifer, and children, Barry and Beverley, he worked right until his death.

“I know even in his final days he continued to make notes on things which still needed to be sorted out and points to be checked.

“After his death, Jennifer and David Cromack, of publishers Buckingham Press, invited me to finish the job on Brian’s behalf.

“I was delighted to do so.”

He described the finished book as, “a tribute to a very fine birder and old friend, whose courage during his long illness impressed everyone who knew him”.

Mr Unwin was born the son of a miner in Horden, County Durham, in 1945.

He joined The Journal, in Newcastle, as a trainee reporter in the Sunderland office, in 1964, before switching to The Northern Echo, under the distinguished editor Harold Evans, in 1965, working in east Durham, Sunderland and Durham City.

He worked as North-East regional reporter for The Press Association, from 1984 to 1998, before becoming a freelance reporter, writing mainly on wildlife issues, including The Northern Echo’s Birdwatch column, until shortly before his death, last December.

Mr Kerr added: “Brian’s work should ensure visitors can enjoy not just the many birding hotspots of the North-East, but also the quieter corners, particularly the Durham dales and moors, which, I suspect, were really his favourites.”

Mrs Unwin said she was delighted to finally see the book published and expressed her thanks to Mr Kerr for completing it in a similar style to her husband’s notes.

“A lot of work went into it and Brian didn’t want to see it wasted.

“He was very frustrated that he was too ill to complete it.”

  • Best Birdwatching Sites: North-East England is available from Buckingham Press Ltd, 55 Thorpe Park Road, Peterborough, PE3 6LJ, by email to admin@buckinghampress.com, or by ringing 01733- 561739. It costs £17.95 per copy, but readers quoting The Northern Echo will receive a £2 discount.