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Left: Roya obtusa (Bréb) W.&.G.S.West 1896 Above: Micrasterias oscitans Ralfs 1848 Two desmids species from Thursley Common, Surrey, UK collected by the author. |
Microscopy-UK
contributor's |
A brief biography.
| William (Bill) Ells had six years in the
army from 1940-1946 and fifty years in the building trade, the last forty self-employed on
decorating and house maintenance. He said his greatest achievement was designing and
building his own bungalow in his spare time, taking three years (with help from wife and
friends). He spent several years on the committee of the Maidstone Art Society; as
treasurer and chairman although he described himself as a mediocre artist. A microscope was purchased in 1976 and he started studying freshwater algae; this soon took over from art, and within a short time he was concentrating on the study of the desmids. However he still took an interest in anything unusual he found in fresh water. |
Micscape articles on desmids; the author's special interest.
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Left: Roya obtusa (Bréb) W.&.G.S.West 1896 Above: Micrasterias oscitans Ralfs 1848 Two desmids species from Thursley Common, Surrey, UK collected by the author. |
Freshwater microscopy - a 'world within a world'.
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Practical tips and other aspects of amateur microscopy.
Other wonders
of the microscopic world:
Insects, diatoms and prepared
slides.
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| Bill Ells was an amateur microscopist based in
the UK. Image right: the author in his friend Don Bruce's study.
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Editor's notes: Bill Ells was one of the very first contributors to Micscape when founded in November 1995. As the above wealth of material illustrates, Bill generously shared his expertise and enthusiasm with others on the Web since then and we will miss him now he has passed away. His own website www.desmids.com is to be maintained by his family. For those that knew Bill, his grandson Richard has prepared a page where messages can be left. |
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