A tribute to our friend Doug Allan

We were deeply saddened to hear about the recent death of our friend Doug Allan. 

Doug could be described as nothing short of a legend. An award-winning cameraman, for over 40 years he created some of the most stunning and iconic photography and television footage ever captured. From his beginnings as an avid diver, to graduating with a degree in biology, to a chance meeting with David Attenborough in Antarctica that would launch his career in wildlife filmmaking - he was driven by a remarkable blend of unique skills and passions.

Doug receiving the RSGS Mungo Park Medal from former RSGS Vice-Chair Alister Hendrie. 

As Sir David Attenborough once told us: “Doug is not like other men. He seems impervious to cold... He delights in company - particularly if he can find someone who has not heard his jokes - yet he can tolerate, even welcome, long periods of total solitude. And he has that mixture of physical bravery, technical skill and zoological expertise that you need if you are to be one of the greatest of natural history cameramen. Which he is.”

Doug speaking for RSGS at Perth Concert Hall in 2022

RSGS Chief Executive Mike Robinson spoke for everyone at RSGS when he said: “We've lost a friend. Doug was an RSGS Mungo Park Medallist, a Fellow of RSGS and a regular and popular speaker. He was a tireless and generous supporter of our charity for many years and a great fan of geography and our work. He was one of the family, a proud Fifer, always generous and welcoming, and it was a joy spending time in his company. We shared a deep passion about wildlife loss and climate change, witnessing both, as he did, at first hand. He was a dynamo, full of adventures, which is why he has his own chapter in Jo Woolf's book - Voices of the Earth. We were so pleased to host him as a speaker at A Wild Night In just this past December alongside his friends and colleagues Gordon Buchanan, Mandi Stark and Libby Penman. He regaled the 900-strong audience with a customary twinkle in his eye, his stories full of humour, self-deprecation and drama. Every one of the other film makers featured on the night spoke of how much he inspired them in getting started. His enthusiasm for meeting people, helping others and sharing his stories was infectious. We will miss him dearly."

Doug signing his chapter in Voices of the Earth

Doug with Mandi Stark, Libby Penman and Gordon Buchanan at A Wild Night In in December 2025