Leendert Cornelis (‘Leen’) Dronkers Sr. (1885-1955): Creation and nature
Leen Dronkers is my grandfather (and the father of my mother, see Personalities 6). From him I learned a love for nature and respect for Creation. He was born in a little village in the southwest of the Netherlands (Nisse, Zeeland, see also Pictures, 14). As the son of the local baker he had limited possibilities for development. Social mobility was uncommon in those days. One of the few ways to achieve this was to become a schoolteacher. That was what he became and what he really was, with all his heart and soul. I was his favourite grandson and when my grandparents moved to Eindhoven to live close to their children and grandchildren I went every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon to see him. I got taught how to grow herbs and plants in the garden, how to pick apples and other useful things, or we went out of town (nature was still close to the place where we lived). He could tell endless and interesting stories about trees, wild plants, mushrooms and butterflies (both still abundant). He knew the names of all the species. If I found a plant that he did not know the name of I got paid ten cents. I almost earned some money with what turned out to be ‘witte rapunzel’ (Phyteuma spicatum). This was because he was very surprised that is was growing in the Eindhoven region and not because he did not know the name of the species. Opa (the Dutch name for grandfather) was also a Calvinist with strong patriotic feelings. He thought that it was very well possible that one of the ten lost tribes of Israel had turned up in Zeeland. He was proud of the Republic of the Seven United Provinces (from 1677 - 1795, the glory days of the Netherlands). His sense of duty was even stronger: “Work till you have finished it. “There is always more to learn. “If you can walk for ten kilometres do not compromise for five. He was not optimistic about society but nevertheless he always wanted to look forward: “From the past you can learn little.
国际会议
The 4th International Conference on Waste Management and Technology(第四届固体废物管理与技术国际会议)
北京
英文
158
2009-11-28（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）