AGM Looks to Future under New Chairman

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The NGO held a short, business-like annual general meeting on April 26th near Coventry, with more than 40 people in attendance. The AGM was the first to be chaired by Liam Bell, the Shropshire gamekeeper who took over as Chairman in August last year.

Opening the meeting, Mr Bell paid tribute to the work done by previous Chairman Lindsey Waddell who he said had ably chaired the organisation for a remarkable 10 years. He also thanked the Regional Chairmen for their input and the NGO's team of staff and advisors who he said helped the 12,000 strong memebership organisation 'run by gamekeepers for gamekeepers punch well above its weight'.

Political advisor Charles Nodder reflected on a busy year which had included work on bird flu, the parliamentary grouse debate and lobbying at Westminster and Cardiff on firearms, and enviromental and gamebird management issues.

Sarah Read, Development Officer for the North, announced that the NGO would have two members joining the Moorland Association's committee baord, which would help give keepers an added voice among moorland owners. Tim Weston, Development Officer for the South, thanked all the NGO's sponsors for their huge support during the year and reminded members of the significant discounts available on all Ford vehicles. He said that the BBC Countryfile Live Show had been an amazing opportunity to showcase gamekeeping to a largely non-sporting audience and said that the NGO would look forward to meeting keepers at shows around the country this coming season.

National Secretary Ann Robinson-Ruddock said that the membership was strong and stable and that a new family membership category had been introduced this year, at £100 for 4 people at the same address, that juniors remained half price and that student gamekeepers were free.