AN Antarctic scientist who hails from Wyre Forest has been appointed by the Irish Government to a national body set up to advise and develop policy on environmental and heritage issues. Antarctic scientist Dr Simon Berrow who has been given a top

environmental appointment by the Irish Government.

Dr Simon Berrow, 37, from Chaddesley Corbett, who successfully battled testicular cancer four years ago, has joined the 14-strong Heritage Council, an independent, Government-funded organisation which aims to protect and promote Ireland's built and natural heritage.

"It came out of the blue," Dr Berrow, a former pupil of Haybridge High School, Hagley, told the Shuttle/Times & News.

"I was only back in Ireland six months. It was a surprise and a great compliment."

As the sole biologist, he will serve a five-year term, along with archaeologists, archivists and other experts, advising on matters affecting flora and fauna in Ireland.

"The council is very well-funded, the budget increases by a million pounds every year. There's nothing like it in Britain. In Ireland it's a fairly major thing."

Dr Berrow moved to Ireland in 1986 when he went to Cork to study for a PhD in marine biology.

He began working with whales and dolphins, his major interest, a year later.

It was while he was working in South Georgia, that he was diagnosed with cancer and flown back to Britain for an operation and chemotherapy at Kidderminster Hospital.

After spending the millennium on a US-led whale survey, he went back to Ireland last February and was appointed project manager for the Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation.

As well as developing an educational and research centre at the European nature reserve in the Shannon estuary, he is also promoting a whale 'stranding and sighting' scheme.

"Everyone is sick to death of the doom and gloom, you have to look positively at things," he added.

Simon's mother, Judith Berrow, of Tythe Barn House, Chaddesley Corbett, said: "He has worked very, very hard against all the odds.

"Simon was treated at Kidderminster General Hospital within 10 days of the diagnosis being made.

"Now he is one of the few people I know who is leading his life the way he wants to."