User:Ian Rabjohns

User: Ian Rabjohns (d.o.b.15th April 1963) Ian's details:

Ian was born on 15th April 1963, the third son of Michael & Valerie Rabjohns. He was born in Parkstone, Poole, Dorset. He has two older brothers (Alan & Philip) a younger brother (Graham), and a younger sister Jacqueline. Ian attended Trinidad Infants School (Parkstone, Poole, Dorset), then Hamworthy First School, Hamworthy Middle School and finally Herbert Carter Secondary Modern School (in Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset).

After leaving school Ian's jobs included: Trainee Gardener with the Borough of Poole, Clerical Assistant at Bovington Camp (MoD), Dorset, A Traffic Warden (based at Poole Central Police Station, Dorset) Whilst working at Bovington Ian became--Ian Rabjohns (talk) 09:00, 12 June 2010 (UTC) a Special Constable, based at Poole Central Police Station, Poole, Dorset. However, ill health and oncomming disabilities meant Ian could not fulfill his dream of becoming a full-time regular, Police Officer.

Eventually Ian was unable to work, and became a wheelchair user due to dabilitating spinal problems. Ian was also to suffer 2 heart-attacks, and his general health just plummeted. However, during 1992 Ian was asked by wardens of Ham Common Local Nature Reserve (Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset), if he would consider becoming the reserve's Bird Recorder. This voluntary post meant Ian logged all birds recorded by himself, and all other observers, and created annual reports. However, Ian decided not just to record the avifauna, so in 1995 Ian became Ham Common's Butterfly Recorder also. (Ian, in fact, records all wildlife at Ham COmmon LNR!)For several years Ian did record wildlife for the Borough Council at 5 other nature reserves/Borough sites. During May 2004 Ian founded 'Poole Bay Cetacean Watch' - to record and study all cetaceans that apear from time to time at Poole Bay, Dorset. The membership is steadily growing and the groups Honorary president is the well known Marine Biologist: Doctor Caroline Weir (of Ketos Ecology) BSc Hons, MSc. Both Ham Common LNR & Poole Bay Cetacean Watch have websites built by Ian.

Ian has been married to Judith for almost 28 years, and has two grown up children, Matt, who is 27, and Ian's paid carer, and Davina 25, and 2 grandsons: Joel William Michael Rabjohns & Noah Kyle Ian Rabjohns- Davina's sons. Ian & Jude celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary on 22nd June 2010.

Ian is a very keen, but amateur, wildlife photographer. Many of his photographs appear in the Poole Bay Cetacean Watch newsletters. Ian takes photographs from his electric wheelchair/electric mobility scooter or even his 'Motability' vehicle. One of Ian's photographs of a Fin Whale (photographed in the Bay of Biscay) was published in the 'Whale & Dolphin' magazine, after the magazine staff saw a copy of his photograph and asked Ian if they could publish it!