Derek Tangye

The nature reserve was managed by a small group of trustees selected by Derek with the intention that at some point in the future they would hand over the reins to the charity organisation he had chosen Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

Tangye was reluctant to describe himself as a writer, but his simple literary style had appeal for a wide range of people who yearned to escape urban and suburban drudgery.

His books described the couple's life growing potatoes and flowers (predominantly daffodils) on a cliff top smallholding in far west Cornwall.

The donkeys and cats on their tiny farm all became "characters" in his books, and fans made a 'pilgrimage' from around the world, all eager to share – if only for a few hours – their rustic dream.

Invariably, Derek and Jeannie would uncork a bottle of wine and entertain visitors in their small, glazed cottage porch, where he was happy to regale them with tales of life at Minack and on occasion discuss matters of politics, environment and society in general!