South Yorkshire Times February 28, 1959

Mr J Hudson F.R.E.S.

Recognition for Wombwell Man

Mr Joshua Hudson, of 69, Milton Street, Wombwell, historian and naturalist, has been elected to a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, London, this in appreciation and acknowledgement of his work in the field of nature studies.

The election took Place in London on Wednesday of last week and he was notified of distinction following day.

Mr. Hudson who frequently contributes articles as a specialist to the “South Yorkshire Times, ”told a Times reporter, “I consider this a very great honour.”

To achieve this recognition Mr Hudson had to be supported by three Fellows testifying to his abilities and knowledge

Mr. Hudson is a native of Wombwell and has lived at his present address for 52 years. He spent his working life at Mitchell Main and Cortonwood Collieries, and will attain the age of 70 next June. He retired from pit life in 1954.

Mr. Hudson’s most notable contribution to nature study has been in the field of lepidoptery. He has. one of the finest collections of butterflies and moths to be found in the North of England, and thousands of people have visited his home to inspect them, among them being students and teachers as well as naturalists. His collection totals 3,500 and embraces no fewer than 2,000 British and foreign varies many of the rarest of which have been taken in the fields and woods around Wombwell.

His largest butterfly is the ornithoptera alexandrae from New Guinea, which has a wing span of eleven inches, and the smallest the zizera -zizera from India which is no larger than a threepenny bit.