Blackpool Show Report - 2017
REPORT ON THE BRITISH PIGEON FANCIERS MEDICAL RESEARCH TEAM ON THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE RPRA/ BHW SHOW OF THE YEAR AT THE WINTER GARDENS BLACKPOOL ON THE 21ST / 22ND JANUARY 2017
The weather at Blackpool was extremely mild for the time of year, probably the best in our 40 years of attendances at the Show. The team members with their equipment arrived safely at various times throughout the day on the Friday.
THE TEAM
Dr Gavin Boyd consultant physician (retired) and Trustee, Dr Stephen Bourke consultant respiratory physician Newcastle Victoria Infirmary, Dr Mark Spears consultant respiratory physician Forth Valley Royal Hospital Larbert, Dr PP Lynch Larbert chairperson of the Trust, Dr Charles McSharry research director Trust, Dr Allison McSharry primary care physician Glasgow, Dr Stephen Johnstone research scientist, The research coordinators Ken and Jane Boyd and Mrs Mary Boyd
The research and data gathering was carried out as usual in accordance with the ethical guidelines of Glasgow University Biomedical Research Centre.
We are indebted to chairman Dave Trippet and the BHW Show Committee also to Ian Evans the new general manager of the RPRA and staff for their professionalism, support and seamless handover from Stewart Wardrop which ensured all our needs were in place to carry out our research and service activities for fanciers at the Show.
We had a busy research session over the weekend, 157 fanciers and family members attended the research stand and went through the process of questionnaire, blood tests, breathing tests counselling etc. Advice was given on preventative measures eg. – the use of a cap mask and coat when cleaning out and especially when with the birds if there is any degree of reaction to the pigeons. The avoidance of the hazards of the annual clean out of deep litter systems by wearing a mask and the need to wear a mask also on the return to the birds after a holiday to avoid a backlash reaction were highlighted. We remind the fanciers to check our website www.pigeon-lung.co.uk for further information. Due to the increased older age groups now prevalent among pigeon fanciers ( 6o +) the average fancier’s sons, daughters and grandchildren are usually the experts in computer skills and can keep them updated. We continue to endorse the longstanding RPRA/ BHW Puramask which is subsidized, efficient, cheap and disposable and continues to fulfill the minimum starting standard disposable mask grade FFP2 for routine use by fanciers.
The blood test results from Blackpool are scheduled to be out by the end of February.
We were pleased to see Alec Lothian former Trustee is still making progress after his stroke and still racing his pigeons with the help of Sam McFadzen present Trustee and others.
DONATIONS
The Research Team were pleased and honoured to receive a cheque for £10,000 from the RPRA/BHW Show of the Year Committee for the research of pigeon lung and the provision of the screening test for pigeon reaction in British pigeon fanciers and their families if there are any worries about health relating to pigeons. This donation continues to be our financial lifeline for which we are extremely grateful. The donation box at the Stand raised the sum of £ 275 .25p The Trust is grateful for the donation of £ 1,000 from the John Squib Memorial Fund . Thank you one and all.
The team were pleased to witness the wonderful financial support the Show Committee give to pigeon and non pigeon charities and worthy causes. It is a credit to the Fancy in the UK that the RPRA BHW Show of the Year continues to annually encourage and support these needy charities in the way they do, especially in the current economic situation.
On behalf of the Trustees and members of the BPFMRT team I thank the UK pigeon fanciers in general and the RPRA and BHW Show of The Year Committee in particular for their continued cooperation and financial support without which we could not exist.
We wish all British fanciers and their families good health and every success in the 2017 racing season and thank you all once again for your continued vital support.
Yours Sincerely,
Dr PP Lynch Chairperson BPFMRT