Pioneers of the Peak
75 years of extraordinary people
From the spark of an idea amongst a bold and ambitious few, to the inspiring personalities bringing the joy of National Parks to the masses today – people have always been the heartbeat of our protected landscapes.
An impossible task to include everyone who has made a positive impact to this special place, but see below a selection of pioneers who helped make the Peak District what it is today.
- Alderman Norman Gratton CBE (1889-1982) - 'Man of the people'
- Ethel Haythornthwaite (1894–1986) - Environmental campaigner
- Fred Heardman BEM (1896-1973) - First unofficial information officer
- John Dower (1900-1946) - The Father of UK National Parks
- Pauline Dower (1905-1988) - A National Parks commissioner
- Tom Tomlinson (1908-1995) - First warden
- Benny Rothman (1911-2002) - Leader of the Kinder Mass Trespass
- Harold 'Harry' Brunt MBE (1919-1980) - Deputy Peak District National Park Officer 1951 to 1980
- John Foster CBE (1920-2020) - Peak planning pioneer 1951 to 1968
- George Challenger (1937-2021) - Local historian, naturalist and former National Park landscape architect
- Dr Derek Yalden, BSc PhD (1940-2013) - Naturalist
- John Thompson (1948-2022) - Champion of access and recreation