AGM Report - 2017

BRITISH PIGEON FANCIERS MEDICAL RESEARCH TRUST (BPFMRT )
TRUSTEES REPORT OF AGM HELD ON 7th FEBRUARY 2017



Trustees present - Dr PP Lynch, George Pollock, Bill Frame, Ian Noble, Apol. Mary Pryde, Dr Gavin Boyd, Sam McFadzen
Others present - Dr Charles McSharry Research Director of the Trust, Dr Stephen Johnstone research scientist.

Hosting Facilities - The Trustees thank the SHU and secretary Linda Brooks and staff for the usual excellent free hosting facilities provided at the AGM of the Trust in the SHU offices Wishaw, Lanarkshire.

The minutes of the previous AGM were accepted by the Trustees and the Press Report on the RPRA BHW Show of the Year at Blackpool was approved for publication on the Website and the pigeon Press The Show was as usual a very successful and busy research exercise. The Trustees were grateful to receive a cheque for £10,000 from the RPRA BHW Show Committee. We are grateful to the new RPRA General Manager Ian Evans and his efficient staff who together with the BHW Show Committee and staff ensured that the excellent Show location and the Research Stand's needs were freely provided.

Accounts ended 31st December 2016


The balance sheet was approved by the Trustees. It was as usual expertly presented by George Pollock hon. Treasurer who drew attention to the fact that the steady demand for our services and research costs resulted in a deficit of £ 7,561.96 in 2016 thus underlining the fact that financially we continue to live from year to year only The RPRA BHW Show donation continues to be our major financial lifeline, without it we could not exist. We are also grateful for the regular and continued financial support from the SHU, SNFC and the NEHU and all individual fanciers and organisations who contribute from time to time.

We are grateful to I.A. Stewart & Company, Chartered Accountants, New Lanark for their continued free services and Independent Examiners Report which continues to be a mandatory regulation by the Scottish Charity Regulator - Ref SCO13181 The free donation of their time, enthusiasm and expertise by the senior members of the Research Team and the Trustees continues at no cost. On behalf of the Fancy the Trustees wish to thank the Team for their continued voluntary efforts on our behalf. The voluntary partnership of British pigeon fanciers and their research team in the research of pigeon lung and the service they provide to fanciers on the funds available, continues to be a credit and testimony to the goodwill and charitable aims of British pigeon fanciers and their research team.

Dr Charles McSharry
Research Director BPFMRTrust and Senior Research Scientist.
Biomedical Research Centre Glasgow University. ( Annual Report attached )

Service to the Fancy throughout the year


The research team continue to be available to the Fancy throughout the year as a free service for advice and support - by telephone, by e -mail and by further communications via our website The trustees approved the token payment of £2,000 to the research coordinators Jane and Ken Boyd for the administration and coordination of the data bases relating to the Show blood results also the activities throughout the year including managing the website www.pigeon-lung.co.uk and coordinating the responses of the team members to the frequent questions asked by fanciers and non fanciers on our website in the role as webmaster.

The shatter proof blood packs resourced and purchased from Royal Mail have continued to be a great success. They fulfill Health and Safety regulations both at home and abroad. We continue to provide the service of a free blood check for pigeon reaction in British fanciers and their families if there is a worry about health. The pack and blood test is free to all fanciers in the British Isles and including Southern Ireland.

Thanks to all our supporters


The Trustees and Research Team are greatly encouraged and thankful for the support of British fanciers and their organisations especially the RPRA through their BHW Show of The Year, the SHU the SNFC and the NEHU for their regular annual donations and all the other pigeon fanciers and pigeon organisations who support us whenever they can. In truth this voluntary and charitable research activity by British pigeon fanciers and their research team continues to be unique in the international pigeon world and much envied in the scientific one. Our joint efforts on a limited and reduced budget enables us to continue to search for a cure for pigeon lung and in the same process strive to provide a service in support of the good health of all pigeon fanciers and their families. We thank you all once again for your vital support and wish all pigeon fanciers and their families good health and every success in the forthcoming racing season.

Yours sincerely, Dr PP Lynch chair BPFMRT