Phillip Glasier

Phillip Edward Brougham Glasier (22 December 1915 – 11 September 2000) was Britain's leading expert on hawking and falconry. Glasier initiated a new interest in falconry in both the UK and the United States of America. He spent much of his life involved with the conservation and breeding of raptors and bringing them to public attention through the foundation of the Falconry Centre (now the International Centre for Birds of Prey), Newent, Gloucestershire, as well as through books, lectures and public demonstrations. He founded the Hawk Trust (now the Hawk and Owl Trust) with John Burkett and the Raptor Breeders' Association.

Early life Glasier was born in Southfields in south-west London, where his father was a land agent. Around 1920 the family moved to Kent and later to Suffolk where he spent his childhood. A great influence on his life at that time was a step-uncle, Captain Charles Knight, a respected ornithologist and falconer who encouraged the young Glasier's interest in nature and wildlife. Charles Knight lived a short distance from Glasier's home outside Sevenoaks. As a child and teenager Glasier spent much time with his uncle learning about wildlife and in particular birds of prey. With his cousin, the actor Esmond Knight, he took part in a number of amateur films made by Charles Knight. Such was his skill at handling birds that when his uncle went away on an expedition he left his young nephew in charge of an African hawk-eagle.

On leaving school Glasier went to work in his father's land agency business.

Second World War

During WWII Glasier was an instructor in the Royal Armoured Corps. He was stationed initially at Bovington Camp in Dorset, and while waiting for a commission he became an instructor for arms and then tanks. He finally went to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as a gunnery instructor. Glasier was demobilised in 1950 after 6 years' service. This film starred James Robertson Justice who was later to invite Glasier to be his personal falconer. He was also responsible for the flying of falcons for the film Knights of the Round Table starring Ava Gardner and Robert Taylor.

In 1963 Glasier wrote the autobiographical As The Falcon Her Bells (title from Shakespeare's As You Like It, act III, scene iii.) recalling his early life and his influential uncle.

In 1965 Glasier went to Royal Navy Air Station Lossiemouth, Scotland to demonstrate how trained raptors could be used to prevent bird strikes on planes by clearing the runways of seagulls and other birds. This was the first time that falcons had been used in this way. His intention was that the public would have close access to raptors, witness their handling through flying displays and be more aware of their ecological value. At that time there was a general feeling that many raptors were destructive pests.