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Outgoing Chief Justice produces calendar of his nature photography

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Sunset over Hamilton Harbour by Chief Justice Richard Ground

Retiring Chief Justice Richard Ground has made what many might consider an unexpected contribution to Bermuda before his return to England.He has donated a collection of his photographs to the Bermuda National Trust the images now grace the pages of the charity’s 2013 calendar.Mr Ground, a keen wildlife photographer, was asked to photograph various Bermuda scenes and wildlife by Trust co-ordinator Patsy Phillips.He spent the past year collecting shots from around the Island, that would be suitable for the Trust’s fundraising effort.Mr Ground was introduced to photography by his wife, Dace.The couple published a book of photographs featuring wildlife in the Cayman Islands in 1989 when Mr Ground was that country’s Attorney General.They followed with a second book in 2001, ‘Birds of the Turks & Caicos Island’. On each occasion, proceeds from the book were donated to Cayman’s National Trust.Mrs Phillips, a retired Trust president, started producing calendars for the charity as a fundraiser a few years ago.“I choose someone who is a good photographer, the Chief Justice is a brilliant photographer,” she said.“Actually, this is the second one he’s done for me. This calendar is more lightweight so that it can be mailed. Someone bought it and sent it to England and, Colin Coxall, [Bermuda’s former] Commissioner of Police, e-mailed me to say it is the best photography that he’d seen.”According to Mrs Phillips, it takes about a year to get the photographs for the Trust calendar together before the production process begins.“The photographer would go out and take pictures through the year and we chose the pictures and put them in a temporary binder,” she explained.“I then go and sell to different sponsors and they sponsor a page. After it was all put together the Chief Justice wrote about each picture so that it is an educational calendar. Judy McKirdy, a graphic artist, puts it together and it goes to the printers.”Companies who have come on board as sponsors to make the calendar a reality include BAC, BCM McAlpine, Bermuda Waterworld Ltd, D&J, Aberfeldy Nurseries, Dunkley’s, Bermuda Pest Control, Lindo’s, Pembroke Paint Company, SAL, Gorham’s and Capital G.Among the wildlife pictures featured in the calendar are a male bluebird prospecting a nest-box, a Gulf Fritillary butterfly and a longtail nest containing a mother and chick. The latter image was taken in a nest-burrow in the cliffs at Spittal Pond, the National Trust’s flagship nature reserve.The calendar is now on sale for $10 in Trustworthy gift shops and other outlets across the Island, with the proceeds benefiting the Trust’s many programmes.Mr Ground has also contributed the photographs to the Garden Club’s book ‘Bermuda, A Gardener’s Guide’ (2002) and ‘Birds of Bermuda’ (2002). He first came to Bermuda in 1992 as a judge before leaving in 1998 to become Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Island. He returned to Bermuda in 2004 to take up the post of Chief Justice. He is retiring at the end of this month and will move to Derbyshire, England.

Mrs. Patsy Phillips and Chief Justice Richard Ground are shown with the National Trust?s Calendar for 2013.Mrs. Phillips is the Chairwoman of Trustworthy, the National Trust?s retail arm, and the co-ordinatorfor the calendar. The photographs for the calendar were taken by Chief Justice Ground over the past year, and depict a variety of Bermuda scenes and wildlife.( Photo by Glenn Tucker )
Two longtails are seen in a nest in this photo by Chief Justice Richards Ground taken for the 2013 Calendar
A bluebirds checks out a nest-box. Photo by Chief Justice Richards Ground
A Gulf Fritillary butterfly by Chief Justice Richard Ground