Dedication

Abstract

These Transactions are dedicated to Dr Reginald Rainey, the Organizer of this Discussion Meeting on Migrant Pests. Reg died on January 18th 1990 after an illness which had severely restricted his physical activities, satisfied, I believe, that his meeting had been successful, lively and well attended, and that every possible action had been taken to ensure that the dead-lines of the Transactions’ Editors were being met. Reg spoke to me as early as January 1987 about his wish to follow the 1977 meeting on Migrant Pests ( Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B287 ) by a further one to highlight progress, problems and potentialities. This was at a time when his previous robust health was beginning to decline and when he was much engaged with his book, Migration and Meteorology (published, happily, before he died and on display at the Meeting). Despite this preoccupation and his deteriorating health, Reg completed heroically all the correspondence relating to the meeting, did more than his fair share of preparing our joint paper, and finalized and proof-read his book, though largely confined to his chair and handicapped by cataracts on both eyes for much of the time. I had many telephone conversations with him during this period and his cheerfulness, clarity of thought and quickness of response disguised from me the seriousness of his condition. It was only towards the end of the year, when Reg’s messages were sometimes conveyed by Margaret, his wife, that I became aware that only Reg’s determination and dedication had made it possible for all the preparations for the Meeting to be completed.