Jack (John James) Castling was born at the mouth of the Tyne, South Shields in 1927. He was evacuated to Wigton, Cumbria in late 1939 but returned to the North East in 1940.

Jean Margaret Bland was born in 1933 at her parents mixed-farm in Grayrigg. As the eldest of her two sisters and brother she began working on the farm as soon as she left school at 15.

Jeff Nichols, born in 1953, spent his early years in Silverdale. The farming community there played a large role in his childhood, however, Jeff’s first job was as a jobbing gardener and gamekeeper.

Jennie Massie was born in Maryport Cottage hospital in 1943. After living in Blennerhasset for some years her family moved to Newcastle, where she grew up. However, Jennie had already fallen in love with West Cumbria and managed to spend much of her time with her aunt Mabel in Caldbeck.

Jim Spedding was born in Milnthorpe in 1917. His mother came from a farming family near Lamplugh in the west of the County, and his father was originally from Ambleside. They farmed at Holmeshead, Skelwith Fold until 1933.

John Callion of Workington recalls his earliest introduction to natural history alongside his father on family outings into the west Cumbrian countryside.

Born in Heckmondwike W Yorkshire in February 1928, the son of a boot factory worker. John went to Heckmondwike Grammar School, then  Leeds University.
John’s first experience of the Lake District was as a teenager with a church youth group in 1944, followed by visits with his father and siblings.

John is a former director of Brockhole Outdoor Centre, Brockhole, fell runner, author on Lake District subjects and activity holiday leader.
John was born in North Yorkshire in 1928, and went to a grammar school in Carlisle, before going on to study at Durham university after doing his national service.
One of John's first experience’s of the Lake District fells was climbing Scafell Pike in 1943, after which he became a keen fell walker and runner, taking part in the 1st Lake District Mountain Trial when it started up in 1952.

Born in 1938 in Barnsley, Yorkshire, John Richardson moved to Cumbria when his father retired in 1953 and attended Keswick School. He took to exploring the local lakes and fells with enthusiasm and developed a keen interest in the wildlife, especially the birds.

Joyce Lowis was born in 1930 in Tebay village at her grandmother’s home. Her father came from a hill farming background and her parents took on the family farm at Borrowdale, where they lived and worked till Joyce was 14.