Grace Hickling

Grace Hickling’s interest in the Farne Islands was sparked while she was working as an intelligence officer during the Second World War. That was when she met the curator of Newcastle’s Hancock Museum (now Great North Museum), Tom Russell Goddard. She first visited the islands in 1940. 

She went on to play a major role in bird tagging at the Farnes for research purposes, culminating in directing the ringing of 187,600 birds for the Natural History Society. The work continues today to track migration routes. 

Grace devoted her life to the future conservation of wildlife habitats. Her pioneering fieldwork with grey seals expanded knowledge of the seal population and the effects of culling. 

She became the first woman sole secretary of the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN) and editor of its journal. She transcribed Goddard’s notes on Farne Island birds and added her own, producing 22 volumes.  

Her skills helped Lindisfarne achieve its national nature reserve status in 1964. She was also on the local committee of the National Trust for the Farne Islands from 1949, while she set up the meeting that led to the NHSN’s management of Gosforth Park Nature Reserve. 

She published books, including, The Farne Islands: Their History and Wildlife (1951) and Grey Seals and the Farne Islands (1962). She also revised Goddard’s A Guide to the Farne Islands (1963). 

She was awarded an MBE for her outstanding lifetime’s work. Her ashes were scattered at St Cuthbert's Cove, Inner Farne, following her death.  

Written by Our Past Your Future volunteer Maggie Davidson