Phillip Glasier

Phillip Edward Brougham Glasier (22 December 1915 – 11 September 2000) was Britain's leading expert on hawking and falconry.

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.

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.

He was also responsible for the flying of falcons for the film Knights of the Round Table starring Ava Gardner and Robert Taylor.

[4] Shortly after this Glasier and his family moved to Black Isle, Inverness, Scotland to take up James Robertson Justice's offer of employment.

In 1963 he undertook an overland trek to the Middle East and India in search of Hodgson's hawk eagles (Nisaetus nipalense).

[5] In 1966 Glasier moved from Dorset to Gloucester, opening the Falconry Centre in May 1967[6] 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.

[3] In 1982 Glasier retired to Scotland to escape the newly passed Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981: he continued to fly his birds and also wrote another autobiographical book, A Hawk in the Hand.