John Alec Baker exhibition in Chelmsford will explore writer's life

John Alec Baker's most famous book saw him follow the story of two peregrine falcons in Essex

Items detailing the life and work of one of the UK's most treasured wildlife writers have gone on display.

John Alec Baker's most famous book, The Peregrine, charted the story of a pair of falcons he tracked around the Essex countryside.

The book was awarded the Duff Cooper Memorial Prize after its publication in 1967.

The Restless Brilliance exhibition is due to run at Chelmsford Museum until 3 November, organisers have said.

'Profound influence'

Items on display from the JA Baker Collection, held by the University of Essex, include personal photographs and ornithological diaries.

The collection includes an extract from the Sir David Attenborough-voiced audiobook of The Peregrine, as well as recordings of Baker's poetry and correspondence.

Co-curators Dr Sarah Demelo and Sarah Harvey said Baker, who lived in Chelmsford, had a "profound influence" on the survival of the peregrine in the UK.

"Nearly 60 years later, his prose continues to inspire, and yet we know relatively little about the man himself," they added, in a joint statement.

Baker died in December 1987.

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