The Noblest Forester

Sir Martin Wood (1927-2021) was a patron, companion, and friend whose philanthropy supported much of my professional career as a forester. In 2009, we cofounded Sylva Foundation together. I wrote a poem titled ‘The Noblest Forester’ to read as a eulogy at a celebration of his life with a gathering of family, friends, and colleagues held in Oxford today, 14th September 2022.

The poem is one of 30 in my latest book, Blough, published today to coincide with the celebration event. The book itself is also dedicated to the late Sir Martin Wood. Following its first public reading, I was pleased to present a dedicated copy of the book to his widow Audrey Wood.

Martin Wood was a truly remarkable man. Having developed the first commercial MRI scanner and global business, he subsequently became a prodigious philanthropist. I count his friendship and patronage as one of the defining elements of my own life. Listening to tributes from friends, family, and colleagues today, one word stood out among all others: ‘generous’. And, without exception, everyone touched by Martin’s unique spirit and energy, noted how ‘can’t’ was an alien concept to him.

Read more about Sir Martin Wood on Wikipedia

Blough is available from all good bookshops as a hardback or ebook, with signed hardback copies direct from my online shop (see below).

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