Tributes to wildlife film-maker hailed a ‘true rural character’
WILDLIFE PRESENTER Johnny Kingdom has been described as “one of the last true characters of rural Britain” following his death at the age of 79.
The film-maker, photographer and author, inset, who specialised in his local area of Exmoor and north Devon, died on Thursday.
Emergency services were called to reports that a digger had rolled over in a field on Mr Kingdom’s land near Wadham Cross in Knowstone, Devon at about 9pm. Mr Kingdom was pronounced dead at the scene.
Paying tribute, his TV agent Hilary Knight said: “Today we have lost one of the last true characters of rural Britain. Johnny Kingdom embodied all the attributes that are associated with true countrymen. Born and bred an Exmoor man through-and-through he loved his Devon patch and all the flora and fauna within.
“He lit up our TV screens with his enthusiasm and passion. He became a very proficient photographer and cameraman and his work became very sought after. He will be sadly missed.”
Mr Kingdom’s earlier working life involved being a farmer, quarryman, forestry worker, gravedigger and poacher.
His passion for recording wildlife came to the fore when he was lent a video camera after a tractor accident and such were his achievements since then that in 2006, the BBC screened a 10-part series about his life.
Mr Kingdom wrote an accompanying book, A Wild Life On Exmoor, followed by Bambi And Me, and West Country Tales. He was well-known for taking pictures of red deer – particularly stags – and badgers. His literary agent, Jane Turnbull, said: “Johnny Kingdom could have been the model for Rooster Byron in Jerusalem. “A man of tremendous energy, charisma, kindness and passion for his native moor, he embodied a way of life that will soon be gone forever.” In a statement, Mr Kingdom’s family asked his fans to continue his love for Exmoor. They said: “Johnny would want you all to continue with his love for Exmoor as you all meant so much to him.” In signing off, they added: “As the loving man himself would have said: ‘Farewell to all you lovely people’.”