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Memorial Keepers(1)
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Paul Clarke
Debbie Snelson
July 24th, 1955 - November 25th, 2022
July 24th, 1955 - November 25th, 2022
Adventurer, conservationist, needle-worker, mentor, connoisseur of African baskets, seamstress, collector of mammal skulls, Japanese calligrapher, ethologist, home builder and designer, sailor, trainer, and birdwatcher. At home in the mountains, on the sea, crossing forests and remote deserts. Student of yoga and Pilates, traveller, builder of communities across countries and pioneer of community conservation, conversationalist, mentor (worth saying twice), lover of diverse cultures, organiser. Loving and engaging sister, aunt, great-aunt (but very sad not to have met her newest family member, Jude) wife and friend. Always modest. All-round enthusiast, never without good cheer or a generous spirit.
Conceived in South Sudan, born in London, travelled to the USA on the Queen Mary liner at 6 weeks. Evacuated from Baghdad during the 1958 revolution. Spent her childhood between Rome and the UK. University in Edinburgh. Moved to Kenya in 1985. Came to New Zealand in 2001. Passed away far too soon.
Erstwhile researcher into animal behaviour, head of programmes for the African Wildlife Foundation, the representative of WWF (formerly World-Wide Fund for Nature) in East Africa, tourism development consultant, head of Volunteer Service Abroad, manager of Student Life Services for Massey University, with an all-too-brief retirement.
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Tributes
Share a favorite memory, send condolences, and honor Debbie’s life with a heartfelt message.
Mary Anne Jones
I, too, met Debbie at Greenfield House, Guiting Power. She was our Training Co-ordinator & everyone loved her. Special memories when she took me to Wimbledon when she won ballot tickets (four of us played tennis after work) & a very trendy hair salon in Bristol! I drove her to Cheltenham on the day she left to go to Nairobi. We did lose touch and it is so, so very sad to learn that she’s gone. Her love of coke was well known but I seem to remember Hellman’s mayo was a passion too! She made fab ratatouille! Rest in Peace Debbie; you certainly left this life far, far, too soon. Condolences to your family. Much love & happy memories. MAJ xxx
Karen
Dear, lovely Debbie, friend from 1987, such a kind and generous person, always interesting, fun and so bubbly and full of life. Photo from 2001, the year we all left Kenya xxx
Nicky Penford
I met Debbie in 1983 at Guiting Power in the Cotswolds when I was a fresh faced graduate starting my first job with Debbie at the WWF Education project. She was hugely supportive and great fun, the photo shows Debbie helping with a hedge laying course on a local farm. Later Debbie provided a welcome base for Ian and I at her lovely house in Karen in Kenya when we were working on various projects. She provided us with an invaluable insight into the reality of working in conservation in Africa, and was also generous in acting as a library for an interesting range of novels that were much appreciated during our time on field work. Debbie was so generous with her time and hospitality and I am sorry we lost touch over the years.
Ros Aveling
Postscript: Not long before she died, Debbie commented on an instagram post of mine about trees. She praised the Sweet Chestnut as providing sustenance in autumn/winter & shade in spring/summer. So in her memory, Helen Christian & I dedicated a Sweet Chestnut tree in my local Wandlebury Country Park near Cambridge. One spring evening Paul was able to come to Cambridge and we ‘planted the plaque’. Together with Annette Lanjouw & Joanna Elliott, we toasted wonderful Debbie with something sparkling & poured a libation of Diet Coke beneath her tree. I can only say that it helps to have such a positive, life-enhancing focus for grief. If anyone visits Wandlebury, the tree is just to the left as you face away from the main building towards Wandlebury Ring & the Dew Pond.
Lois Lux
For several years Debbie and I had neighboring flats in a converted horse stable on a Dairy Farm with a view of the Ngong Hills outside of Nairobi. And, lucky me, she had so much to offer...kindness, friendship, an amazing knowledge of wildlife. She was curious and always developing an interest in and learning about something new that she wanted to try, do, experience and sometimes change.She was an inspiration. I am so sorry she had to leave this earth so soon.
Joy And Peter
Joy And Peter published a tribute About a minute ago. Debbie was my room mate for 3 fun years at Edinburgh University - so we knew each other well and there were many laughs along the way! I don't ever remember a bad word - only good times, Diet Coke and Cadbury's chocolate cream eggs! We went our own ways on graduating but in 1984 I re-met our old flatmate, Peter Grey, from final year and we fell in love! In 1985 we married - here is the picture. Debbie was having nothing to do with wearing a bridesmaids dress - instead she suggested being, and was, our 'best lady' - and that she remained for the rest of her days! We were fortunate enough to spend a holiday with Debs in Kenya in 1987 - a holiday of a lifetime - all planned in meticulous detail by Debs. She introduced me to Kazuri beads and I came home with more than a few strings which I still love and wear to this day - always reminding me of Debs! We ate guacamole and chocolate cream eggs sitting on the shores of Lake Niavasha! Sureal - but that was the sort of thing that made time with Debbie so special. Everyone loved Debbie with her good nature, humility, warm character, care for others, her enormous zest for life and her curiosity about the world - especially the natural world. We are proud to be able to call Debs our friend - may she rest in peace knowing that she has left the world a better place. Our love and thoughts are with Paul, Niki and her family - Joy and Peter xxxx
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