Pictured: Rob Balland and Natalie Ball at the launch of
"Africa, Animals and Alison"
A Birmingham businessman who ploughs all of his profits into
charities to conserve wildlife in Africa has published a Safari
travel book in memory of his late wife.
Rednal-based HR and management consultant Rob Ball, who also
owns an ethical travel business, Naturally Concerned, has written
"Africa, Animals and Alison", capturing the exploits of his family
on safari in Kenya, South Africa and Zambia. All net profits go to
wild animal conservation in central and southern Africa.
Naturally Concerned was set up in 2008 by personnel and
management expert Rob Ball, who previously held senior director
positions at GKN and before that at MG Rover. He established the
company in memory of his wife Alison who died from brain cancer.
All profits from Naturally Concerned go to Alison's favourite
wildlife charities. She was passionate about animal conservation in
Africa and travelled there often.
The book, co-written with his daughter Natalie, contains
recollections of his African adventures with Alison and includes
many of her photographs of big cats and other African animals in
their natural environment.
Rob Ball said his wife loved being in Africa observing and
photographing animals in the wild and she was enthusiastic about
helping animals under threat.
"When you lose a spouse it causes you to pause and re-examine
your priorities in life. Having spent more than 25 years in the
corporate world I decided it was time to use my expertise in a more
constructive and thoughtful way. That's how Naturally Concerned was
born. Alison's passions were travel and animals, so it was natural
to preserve our experiences in book form," he said.
"Seeing these magnificent animals in the wild, observing them
and photographing them is a joy. Being in Africa is truly amazing
and I wanted to share those emotions. The animals are under threat
in numerous ways. I hope by reading this book people will
understand that they are too beautiful and important to lose. We
can enjoy them and fight to save them simultaneously," he said.
The book relives adventures in the Mala Mala Reserve which abuts
the Kruger National Park, the Masai Mara and Savannah Lodge among
others. "Africa, Animals and Alison" is available from Amazon, or
from Naturally Concerned at www.naturallyconcerned.com.
Rob Ball is a former director and head of HR development at MG
Rover. He was made redundant when the company collapsed in 2005 and
soon after was appointed HR director with GKN
Autostructures.
He left there to set up Naturally Concerned following his wife's
death in 2008. Naturally Concerned Travel also promotes travel as
an employee benefit for other organisations.
Aged 57, he is president of the Warwickshire Cricket League,
president of Bournville Cricket Club and a former committee member
at Warwickshire County Cricket Club. He is also a graduate of
Common Purpose, the people development charity which encourages
managers to become better leaders at work and in society.
His daughter Natalie - a professional actor who trained at
Bristol Old Vic - co-wrote the book.