Philippa Scott was the widow of the late Sir Peter Scott, who founded the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust in 1946.
Lady Scott remained passionate about and heavily involved with WWT for more than 60 years, starting in 1947 when she joined the staff as Peter Scott’s secretary and, in latter years, as Honorary Director.
She married Peter Scott in Iceland in 1951 on a trip to find the breeding grounds of the pink footed goose. They have a son, Falcon, who is a civil engineer, and a daughter, Dafila, who is a scientist and an artist. Lady Scott was also very close to Sir Peter’s elder daughter, Nicola.
Lady Scott was a crucial player in the development of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. She has been an active member of WWT Council and lived in the grounds of WWT Slimbridge in Gloucestershire in the home which was made famous by Peter Scott’s television broadcasts for Look. From the studio overlooking the lake Peter and Philippa were able to start their famous studies of the Bewick’s swans overwintering on the lake, identifying unique bill patterns for each one.
The series Faraway Look took Sir Peter and Lady Scott around the world, as did his international conservation work. She was a keen and talented professional photographer: an associate of the Royal Photographic Society, her photographs illustrated the books Far-away Look I and II and Animals in Africa and three volumes of Travel Diaries of a Naturalist – all of which were written with or by Sir Peter Scott. She was an accomplished author – first publishing a collection of her late husband’s paintings shortly after he died in 1989 – The Art of Peter Scott. She has since published two volumes of her autobiography – Lucky Me and So Many Sunlit Hours, and recently published a completely revised edition of The Art of Peter Scott which was launched at her 90th birthday party in 2008 by Sir David Attenborough. She donated all proceeds to WWT.
Lady Scott was also a keen scuba diver and Honorary Member of the British Sub-Aqua Club and President of the Cotswold Branch. She was Patron of the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and President of the Society for Wildlife Art of the Nations. Lady Scott was born in Bloemfontein in South Africa and spent her childhood on a farm on the high veldt of South Africa, spending holidays with relations in England and Scotland. She became a keen mountain climber in her younger days and spent carefree holidays in Europe between the wars.
When the Second World War came, she volunteered for the Land Army but after three years had secured a job in intelligence at Bletchley Park, before then getting a job with the Foreign Office in Belgrade. On returning from her year in Belgrade, she found herself back in Britain, unmarried and with no qualifications. Out of the blue, a friend called to offer her work with Peter Scott. Perhaps surprisingly, the name Peter Scott meant nothing to her (Peter Scott was already famous as a wildlife artist at the time). But the call resulted in a job, as personal secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Severn Wildlife Trust (now WWT) and, a few years later, to her marriage to Peter Scott.
In tribute to Lady Scott, Martin Spray, Chief Executive of WWT, said: “There is a saying ‘behind every great man is a great woman’ and this was never more true of Lady Scott. She remained committed to and passionate about the work of WWT, holding the post of Honorary Director up until the end of her life. She will be sorely missed by staff, volunteers and members of WWT.
Sir David Attenborough, speaking at Lady Scott’s 90th birthday celebrations in November 2008, said: “Sir Peter and Lady Scott are true greats in the conservation area. I believe that in decades to come, the name Scott will be revered and honoured even more around the world than it is today, because the Scott partnership put conservation on the map. This was at a time when conservation was not a word that more people understood, especially not in a natural history context.”
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07/08/10 BRIAN TANSEY: Lady Scott, sadly I did not get the chance to meet her, but when I visited Slimbridge three years age I bought a signed copy of her book So Many Sunlit Hours. I enjoyed it very much and wrote to her, and sent her a copy of James Herriots biography signed by its author his son Jim Wight. Lady Scott sent me a lovely hand written letter thanking me which I will always treasure. Phillipa Scott will be missed by so many, quite clearly a lovely lady in all senses of the word.
31/03/10 Christian Dau: My wife Carla and I had the pleasure of meeting Sir Peter and Lady Scott only once (15 Dec 1977) and have an enduring memory of their friendship and hospitality. They are gone but never forgotten. We shared our joint love of Alaska and his visit to the Yukon Delta in the 1960's and their daughter Dafila's visit in 1976. We are happy to have known them.
11/02/10 Neill Clark: I feel rather guilty that I only read of Lady Scott's passing yesterday. As a fan, if that is the correct term, of Sir Peter Scott for as long as I can remember we have sadly lost another representative of the era when conservation was in it's infancy and as much a preserve of amateur naturalists as well as professional scientists. My warmest condolences.
25/01/10 Wendy Griffiths: It is very sad that Lady Scott has passed away, but now she is reunited with Sir Peter. We had a lovely day today at the WWT at Arundel, and they both leave behind a true legacy.
18/01/10 Chris Hardie: I have fond memories of visiting Slimbridge with my parents in the early 50's when I was about 8 yrs old. I Thank You all for the good work. My deepest condolences to her family. Chris
17/01/10 Jemima Parry-Jones : I was lucky enough to meet Lady Scott a number of times in her home, she was endlessly kind and enthusiastic and never anything but a consummate lady. WWT will miss her, and so will I.
17/01/10 Sue Earle: My sympathy to you all on losing Phil. She was a great inspiration, a good friend and a wonderful partner for Peter. I have happy memories of the times when they stayed with us on their visits to Hong Kong - and of sitting in the studio window at Slimbridge watching swans. Condolences.
17/01/10 derek marsden: I never met Lady Scott but the work she and Sir Peter did was fantasticly dedicated to the wildlife we have today. I last went to Slimbridge in 1997, that was the first time I went. The amount of work that was put in was amazing so r.i.p. Lady Scott and you have left fantastic wildlife centres. We will miss you and your input on wildlife. God rest your soul.
16/01/10 John Bescoby: A great loss to the WWT family and to the whole world.
14/01/10 Andy Parker: I met Lady Scott a few times when I walked her dog with Nick. I enjoyed talking with her on these occasions, and she always showed interest in my work at the time. She was a forward thinker, and between her and Sir Peter, they inspired many as WWT has proved down the years
11/01/10 Andrew Stock: I will always remember her gentle kindness and support for both the SWLA and myself in recent years. As well as her immense contribution to conservation, Lady Scott remained committed to Sir Peter’s passion for art inspired by the natural world, and her interest and encouragement will be deeply missed by artists and illustrators alike. My condolences to her family and friends.
11/01/10 Anthony Chapman: I recall first meeting Philippa Scott over 40 years ago when, with a mutual friend, she and Peter kindly invited me to their home and I was very fortunate to be able to watch Swan Lake, in my wheelchair, from their studio. She was as charming as her husband on subsequent encounters. My condolences to their family.
11/01/10 Kate Humble: Lady Scott was a pioneering conservationist right up until the end of her life. Her energy and enthusiasm never dimmed and she tackled everything with a combination of steely determination and a wicked sense of humour. I adored her.
10/01/10 Sigþrúður Jónsdóttir: Lady Philippa Scott participated in the first expedition to Thjorsarver, Central Iceland in 1951, the largest breeding place of the pinkfooted goose in the world. She followed and supported the campaign for the protection of this oasis, which has been ongoing for the last 50 years. The NGO group Conservation of Thjorsarver will remember her and sends her family and friends its condolences.
09/01/10 Paul Barrow: Sir Peter and Lady Scott were a great part of my early life - watching the TV programmes they made. What they have done for conservation is immeasurable and Lady Scott along with Sir Peter will be sorely missed. Long may they be remembered throughout the world. My condolences to her family and all those that knew her well.
09/01/10 Mike Daw: Lady Scott was a wonderful person and I feel very privileged to have worked with her at WWT. She will be greatly missed both as a charming friend and as the honorary director who kept WWT true to the vision of Sir Peter. My deepest condolences to her family, Mike
08/01/10 Severn Wildlife Carvers: Severn Wildlife Carvers: Our group would like to send our condolences to her family, and all who knew and/or worked with her. Lady Scott showed a great interest and was supportive of our carving group over many years. I am sure that alongside Sir Peter that Lady Scott will continue to be an inspiration to both WWT and conservation for many years to come.
08/01/10 dingbat: A great Lady, We were saddened to hear of her loss, and our condolences go to all the family and friends who knew her. We hope her memory is a continuing source of inspiration to all staff and volunteer teams at the WWT slimbridge
07/01/10 Charlie Liggett: I found Philippa was always interested in what you had to say and was a charming person. She was absolutely devoted to WWT and to conservation in general.
07/01/10 Paul Walkden: A truly amazing person, who will be sorely missed. She dedicated most of her life to WWT and other conservation causes and interests. It has been a great pleasure to have worked with and known her. She was so helpful and kind when I was working on my book about Peter and Slimbridge. She was also very supportive to the friends group at Slimbridge. My condolences to all the family and others who knew and loved her.
07/01/10 Neal Rollason: A truly great woman who continued to inspire many after the death of Sir Peter. Many Conservationists, Environmentalists and wildlife lovers the world over will miss her. My condolences to her family, and all who knew and/or worked with her. Neal
07/01/10 Stephanie Hamilton: We wish to send our deepest sympathy to the Scott family. The Hamilton family