Pigeon Network

2015 AGM Agenda here!
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com/wp-content ... s-2015.pdf


Full Meeting Report here!
http://www.rpra.org/wp-content/uploads/ ... y-2015.pdf

RPRA COUNCIL MEMBERS 2014

L Blacklock 32 Lonsdale St., Workington, Cumbria CA14 2YD 01900 62346 leslie.blacklock@btinternet.com
D Bridges Primrose Cottage, Dark Lane, Calow, Chesterfield S44 5UU 01246 206258 davehb@hotmail.co.uk
S Briggs 22 Innisfayle Park, Lisburn, Co Antrim, N Ireland BT28 2AS 02892 676400 sgbriggs@aol.com
F Bloor Dovecote House, Charlton Mackrell, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 6AN 01458 223621 fredintheloft@btinternet.com
R Carlton 49 The Crescent, Morton, Nr. Bourne, Lincs. PE10 0NX 01778 570434 rcarlton@btinternet.com
A Cowley Treetops, Pant-Y-Gof, Halkyn, Flintshire, CH8 8DH 01352 780192 ajcowley@btinternet.com
A Ewart 16 Peppers Lane, Burton Lazars, Melton Mowbray, Leics, LE14 2XA 01664 561475 alistair.ewart@btinternet.com
G Field 61 Hartland Avenue, Wyken, Coventry, CV2 3EP 02476 635608 fieldbirds41@gmail.com
J Gladwin 10 Smallholdings, Eastwoodbury Lane, Southend-On-Sea, Essex SS2 6UT 01702 542019 pamelagladwin@yahoo.co.uk
C Gordon Failte, New Road, Old Snydale, Pontefract, West Yorks, WF7 6EZ 01924 893933
R Harris 75 Colwell Drive, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX28 5NN 01993 704841
T Hawkins 42 Mount Crescent, North Park, Kirkby, Liverpool, L32 2BB 01515 472046 tomjhawkins@btinternet.com
D Headon 43 Ellerslie Road, Bickington, Barnstaple, North Devon EX31 2HT 01271 372194 dheadon06@aol.com
D Higgins 6 Billingwood Drive, Rawdon, Leeds LS19 6PZ 01132 504810 dk.higgins@ntlworld.com
J Hooper 42 Ferrier Avenue, Fairwater, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF5 3LB 02920 551138 hazel@hooper.uk.com
R Jones 20 Bancroft Lane, Blythe Bridge, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST11 9PE 01782 398912
A King 5 Park House Farm Way, Havant, Hampshire PO9 4AH 02392 450970 trucker.king@btopenworld.com
J Lawley 151 Wattle Road, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B70 9EU 07724 784796
D MacKay 80 Brown Edge Road, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 7AF 01298 77893 d.mackay-home@tiscali.co.uk
P Mitchell 16 Yarborough Crescent, Broughton, Brigg, North Lincs DN20 0EB 01652 655054
P Murray 32 Willow Fold, Droylsden, Manchester, M43 7BY 01613 708415 philipalexmurray@tiscali.co.uk
Dr G Richmond 179 Main Road, Underwood, Nottingham, NG16 5GQ 01773 717221 geoffrey.richmond@ntlworld.com
R Shirley Braywood, Hogsdown, Lower Wick, Dursley, Glos GL11 6DD 01453 810227 ronald@rs-architects.co.uk
B Tattersall Moorfields, Haslingden Old Road, Oswaldtwistle, Lancs. BB5 3RP 01254 382021 briantattersall@hotmail.com
S Thompson 59 Huey Crescent, Bushmills, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT57 8QZ 02820 731504 samuelthompson59@hotmail.com
B Walsh 170 Halewood Rd, Woolton, Liverpool, Merseyside L25 5LN 0151 4288210 joanwalsh7@yahoo.co.uk
T Wilkes 45 Cawdor Avenue, South Ockendon, Essex, RM15 5RF 01708 670153 bluepied121@aol.com

REGION SECRETARIES
CUMBRIA REGION
L. BLACKLOCK 32 Lonsdale St., Workington, Cumbria CA14 2YD 01900 62346
Cumbria, Isle of Man, Scotland leslie.blacklock@btinternet.com
DERBYSHIRE & S. YORKSHIRE REGION
D. H. BRIDGES Primrose Cottage, Dark Lane, Calow, Chesterfield, S44 5UU 01246 206258
Derbyshire and South Yorkshire davehb@hotmail.co.uk
DEVON & CORNWALL REGION
T. R. MALLETT Locarno, 51 St. Nicholas St., Bodmin, Cornwall PL31 1AF 01208 73016
Devon & Cornwall camjen7@btinternet.com
EAST MIDLANDS REGION
R. HOLMES Hollies, Rangell Gate, Low Fulney, Spalding, Lincs, PE12 6EW 01775 724354 (eve)
Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, dudley.emregionrpra@talktalk.net
Suffolk, Norfolk
IRISH REGION
Mr/s R. REID Monte-Vista, 131 North Road, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim. BT38 7QJ 028933 62051
Northern Ireland mrandmrsreidrpra@yahoo.co.uk
LONDON REGION
Mr T. WILKES 45 Cawdor Avenue, South Ockendon, Essex, RM15 5RF 01708 670153
Hertfordshire, Essex, Greater London, Kent, Sutton & Cheam, Kingston, Croydon, Carshalton, Thornton Heath BluePied121@aol.com
NORTH-EAST REGION
D. K. HIGGINS 6 Billingwood Drive, Rawdon, Nr. Leeds LS19 6PZ 01132 504810
Northumberland, Durham, Tyne & Wear, Cleveland, N. Yorks, W. Yorks, East Riding of Yorkshire, dk.higgins@ntlworld.com
N. Lincolnshire, N.E. Lincolnshire.
NORTH-WEST REGION
MR & MRS D. K. HIGGINS 6 Billingwood Drive, Rawdon, Nr Leeds, LS19 6PZ 01132 504810
Lancashire and Greater Manchester dk.higgins@ntlworld.com
SOUTHERN REGION
Mrs H. MARSH Oakley, Southampton Rd., Cadnam, Southampton, Hants SO40 2NF 02380 813618
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, Isle of Wight. hazelmay.marsh@btinternet.com
SOUTH-WEST REGION
K. HAINES 5 Rogers Close, Buckland Dinham, Frome, Somerset, BA11 2QU 01373 467507
Gloucestershire, Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset, Channel Islands keith_haines@btopenworld.com
WELSH REGION
Mrs A. FOLLOWS 6 Glanlliedi Terrace, Felinfoel, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA14 8BB 01554 757251
Powys, Dyfed, West Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan, Gwent annfollows1215@aol.co.uk
WESTERN REGION
J. WATERS 500 Woodchurch Road, Prenton, Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside, CH43 0SF 0151 513 9306
Merseyside, Cheshire, Clwyd, Gwynedd, Shropshire regionsec2011@hotmail.co.uk
WEST MIDLANDS REGION
Mrs C. A. COVINGTON 28 Avon Street, Stoke, Coventry CV2 3 GL 02476 444200
Staffordshire, West Midlands, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire a.covington@talktalk.net

Having been the SW Region Delegate for over 9 years, I have finally been removed from my position following the latest AGM. Prior to this 3 unsuccessful attempts had been made and the latest attempt was as a result of a letter from the NW Region ( Mr Higgins) and letter from the NE Region ( Richard Carlton). The letter from the NW Region was included in the Agenda for the meeting on 26 -28th February which I received on the 21st February. Rule 82(c) (1) indicates that 21 days is required to be given if “disciplinary proceedings” are to be taken against a member.

As a result Solicitors were consulted and legal opinion obtained and a request made that the item should be removed from the Agenda. Despite this the GM included the letter and I assume in conjunction with the AC decided to proceed with a hearing at the end of the Council AGM meeting on the 26th February. Having been selected to sit on the various sub committees I was extremely surprised that the newly appointed President allowed the matter to be heard. The outcome was 12 for my removal, 10 for my retention and 2 abstentions. As the SW Region now has 1465 members the President for the SW Region Fred Bloor was asked to leave the meeting.

My offence after 9 years on Council is that I have breached Rule 45 - no person shall be eligible for appointment as a Councillor if he has a financial interest in any trade or business involved with appliances, foodstuffs - this I most certainly do not have. Nor do I have a financial interest in “periodicals, newspapers or any other item”, for example shares in a printing company of Homing World. Solicitors view was that the action to examine me was misguided, and also in my view malicious. My “offence” was that I advertise in the HW Year Book.

I have offered a free service to many individuals – e.g. where lofts have been erected in rear gardens when they can be erected under the permitted development rules. This has been pointed out in articles prepared for the RPRA when no advice was given in the past. There are many fanciers who have benefitted from this. Other more contentious e.g. outside the curtilage or in Green Belt have been subject of planning appeals over the last 9 years – many have been won based on my expertise, including one with costs against a Leicestershire Authority.

Under the circumstances further legal advice will be sought, and the SW Region, who have no voice at Council, will need to decide how they wish to proceed. I have actively sought over my time as a Councillor to promote the sport and also try to help those who otherwise would have left the sport.

Ronald Shirley

From another site, well thought out for our modern era.

In an attempt to try to sort out this unholy mess, Council, if they were so minded, could use rule 142 a rule which I detest as it has been misused in the past, to add a rider to rule 45 something to the effect

"All councillors on attending the first AGM on which they are eligible to contribute to the business of the Association and every year thereafter, must declare all and any interests they have regarding financial involvement with Pigeon Racing. The Councillors who have made such declarations will be disbarred from taking part in any business that is connected in any way to their declared interests. Any Councillor, after investigation is found to be in breach of this requirement or fail to declare a financial interest will be disbarred from acting as a Councillor immediately and in perpetuity" Just a thought. Glyn

The SW delegates were treated appaulingly at the Coventry RPRA AGM. Last year they had two delegates Fred Bloor and Ron Shirley. This year however as their numbers had dropped below 1500 they were told they only had one. Fred Bloor said he would stand aside on health grounds leaving Ron as the delegate. He was appointed onto various committees, attended meetings and took part in decisions and votes throughout the day. However virtually when the business of the day had been completed a Councillor raised Rule 45 about Councillors not having a financial interest in pigeon related businesses. Ron as most will know, is an Architect and the ideal person to represent fanciers fighting Councils for Planning permission etc., There is a real need for his skills and as a fancier himself he is the best person to do it. In fact the RPRA could do worse than make him the official RPRA advisor in all disputed planning applications. A majority however voted for him to leave Council. Why was this? Other Councillors sell pigeons, in some cases hundreds of birds, and others also sell corn. They do this quite simply for financial gain. Where is the difference.
Years ago when John James was RPRA President he ran a number of transporters, but this was never questioned just conveniently overlooked.
It seems in fact more likely that Ron is being punished for helping the 'New Gang' seek legal advice in their recent dispute with the RPRA. Ron put us in touch with several useful contacts and also gave up a considerable amount of his time and effort for which we are grateful. What has this petty and hasty move achieved? Well the SW reserve delegate is 81years old and very unlikely to wish to travel to Coventry alone. So at a stroke the RPRA Council have in effect disenfranchised all SW Region members. Very few these days wish to spend days trapped in the Coventry Hills Hotel from Thursday to Saturday and those that do should be encouraged. Is this action really in the best interests of the RPRA. Do they look like a thoughtful and progressive body fit to lead our sport forward? You the members will have a view on that.
Dr.G.A.Richmond. (A deposed but Free Councillor).

SW Region Membership for 2014

I have obtained the following information from the SW Region Secretary

1411 members paid up at start of year
53 individual members paid up during the year
19 members affiliated to clubs paid up during the year
16 individual members paid up during the year
1 individual member paid subscriptions for 2014 & 2015 during February 2015 (SW 4374 Mr Frank Crutcher of Hamworthy)
1 individual member paid 2014 subscription in February 2015 (SW5719 Mr Stewart Wardop of the RPRA)

Total 1501 members = 2 councillors entitled to represent the SW Region.

All of these members should be on the database at the Reddings and all would have been known about by the RPRA prior to the February 2015 AGM if reasonable checking of the database had been carried out.

Since the AGM other individual members have paid overdue subs for 2014 and more are expected. This is normal with some individuals who, for whatever reason, don't wish to be members one year and then re-join the following year. In these cases they are charged for the 'missing' year before being accepted for the next year.

A Shame to see what is happening. Written Dec 19th from Somerset One Loft Race Letters Page.

I Feel it is time that the RPRA and it`s ajoining members I/E Regions, members, now took concern as to what is happening to our sport , the higher archy are ruining it , there is not a few problems that need sorting ,` the whole lot does` just this week in the fancy press there is discontent in the Bargoard area ` still to do with `control ` altho in Wales, , we have people being banned and outlawed because one person can read the rules to suite them , we have ther General Manager of the RPRA suspended by the South West Region ? the whole of the letters page is in a Negative mode , is that good to get New Members` Above all we have the WHOLE RPRA in conflict and destroying Pigeon Racing ! The paying members voted these people in, now it is time to vote them out and start again ! harse words but needs doing , you have people in areas that do not like so and so , and ban them , we have people in office be it RPRA , Region, Combine, Fed or what ever think having power makes them right !!! , not in any book does it do that , they crave power ` they crave the thought of stopping things happening to do better, they wear blinkers , as they are primed in how they got there , if you speak to some of them they are like , full of it and them selves , now some will say nobody else will do it , why not` , because the` in people` are setting a standard of `Power to make it run as they need it to , there is many things that can be said and it is an opion , this is my opion , as to what we are hearing and seeing happen to the pigeon world , the main decline is not enough youngsters coming in , not there fault as the things on offer are making them do nothing ! also very bad publicity by the pigeon organisations , it is now only now that the rpra are putting it out to juiors , about 25 years to late, what does the pigeon world offer them , small clubs , high keeping fees and high racing fees , and now all the childish bickering from top to bottom of the RPRA and organisations in there following , the talk in the letters pages in the fancy press are depressing `to put it mildly !! the so called top table has to be brought to book at to what is happening and the future can not be with any of the `IN people now , as they are carving there way to how they want to happen , most of the people involved in setting out the bits in an assoction are NOT bussiness people and only have a power link to wanting to run something , a proper bussiness will look at all aspects to start running , and will change to make it better over the time , remember someone starting up has there own ideas in the real world they have to change to progress, throwing money at new enterprisies is not the way , common sense , reliabilty , and HONEST people around you are needed , The `followers must respect and trust the Person in charge or it will not progress, the main person is the person who will try and take it on the chin and not pass the buck, that is how succesfull a bussiness can run , you then need the team to look at progress and move with the times , once you lose sight of the progress and the future you have lost your slot in the bussiness world , to me the rpra has had blinkers on for 30/40 years , only there because well , `` just there really ` not one has had the foresight to progress or move on I am sorry to say that the rpra is the broken back of pigeon racing as they are not Proffessional in there quest to goven a working persons sport , they have and had no idea how or what the pigeon person needed , and left it alone for to long , now that someone has come in and challenges the way it has been run badly for the past years they pass the buck and blame them , the past has a bad repution as can easily been seen , and the ones at fault are cowering in the `pass the buck mode` in the hope all will pass by, What we must remember is, it is the Pigeon fancier that is getting hurt , we can not help dieing , but we can help while still here, help to enjoy what we are doing , I again am sorry that the people in charge are short sighted and offer nothing to help , all they say is , `you come and do it`, time is needed and a lot of the peole in the poistion of `running the RPRA ` have a bit time on there hands and proberly enjoy all the things they do it for, but will say `you come and do it ` to pass the buck , why do they not stand up, arms up and say yep i messed up and will try and put it right , nothing wrong in that , only pig headed views and unproffessional knowledge is why they are angry and sad, and treat the pigeon fancier as a second class person to them , now i hear the phones going now and `who does he think he is ` , not all `in office are like this !! but the ones are will be the ones to pass the buck . `as to blame someone else or `all my fault`

What prompted this letter is we are a case of who is who,so brifly i will let you know , When we started the One Loft there was no rules on how or what should happen in One Loft Races , as we were one of the first in the last and this decade to start , there has been many trying to start up and in fairness they made a rod for there own back in not being respectfull to people , that is putting it nicly ` all of a sudden there was a rule bought out 133 One Loft Races then 133b appeared and in short , All one loft races had to hand over there prize fund to the rpra or region !! i disagreed to do so, one reason because there had and still is some naughty people that help thereselfs to the ` pot shall we say , in the South West there has been a couple of real Naughty bits happen , one was some 15 years ago or so , when the members money was `Laundered into holiday property abroad , the exact figure is not known but feared over £100,000 lost and wasted, the other a region sec doing as she pleased with her `power` I of course being in bussiness would not trust a 3rd party with my money let alone yours, any way I had to resign from the rpra or get suspended, and we were barred from the BHW pigeon paper ! we have now been going 9 years with no default , all except a couple of bad races , !!! we have waited for other One Loft races to start up, in 2014 saw a few have a go, did they abide by the rule 133b , NO THEY DID NOT, and they have writings in the BHW, is that `Democratic` the worse bit of all is the rule 133b have not been followed , i asked the question to the top table people , NO ANSWER from them, passing the buck , and not proffessional to do there job and most of the rules are over 100 years old and are not relevent to todays people. We have been legal on the matter and have been told the rpra has not a chance with there rules in place. they have people who manipulate them to suite there needs Let`s just take adversiting in the BHW, we have been banned from advertising in the BHW ,` why` because one person in the South West Region is on the committee of the BHW and just because i will not hand over your money to the region or abide by the rules that is not worth its` salt`they ban me rember all I have done is say they are not holding on to any money unless they under write the amount (That is Guarantee ) that is handed over , now any person would NOT hand over any money to as bunch of strangers without a Guarantee !!!. as they are unproffessional there only means of defence is to use `there means of power` come childish attitude. `just like my grand children do when we say no to a sweet !!! BUT here is another thing we can not trust with them or the rules we have and the LAW really agrees with us ! all we have done is looked after your money and been banned from writing in OUR sporting paper , There is people who race pigeons and did quite well and buying and selling birds all over and fanciers bought from them `altho ` i don`t know if the birds performed for anyone ? but they got caught smuggling / dealing and selling hard drugs on the street to people and oboviously kids as well , in Jail they went ` they were using PIGEONS / RPRA / BHW to LAUNDER there money ` They were and still are advertising there birds for sale ?? now to the rpra /bhw I am Worse than these people as I am being honest and looking after your enteries and giving children and Schools an insight of what pigeons are and made thousands of School children and disabled people smile and be happy !! , because I will not smile and nod to the rule I am barred from playing the sport we think needs honest people around , not barr them from it, as I have said it is unproffessional power they crave . Most of the rules especialy 133b are` not workable ` We tried to get the rule changed many times but as we ware not menbers now we have no say , we have asked clubs to help change the rule only for them to come against a brick wall , or better still a manipulater of the rules as i have stated , and are antiquated nonsense and a disgrace to the pigeon people , Right at theis moment January 2015 they are malipatating the rules to suite there needs as they are at logger heads , and I am sure who ever gets in from the old guard will have worked the rules to do so , best is to shut the lot down regions as well , and have a democratic vote for pigeon people to vote a new Committee ,no more Regions , 2 people elected from Counties and let them get on with it , that is if we need it !! there is many ways and that one will be scoffed at as they all can not get on it !! I have more to ruffle the feathers a bit but feel this is enough for this time as all we do is hit your head against a wall ! At The moment i am waiting for a request to come back so we can move on , The Rlues , The RPRA , The Structure and meaning needs complete over haul and really it needs to re-address the way it acts and is run , it is said the people in now are old hat , well beleive me there is young and forward thinking old heads out there that need to be brought in not `BARRED `

This soap box bit is a serious matter as the pigeon people need to know what is happening , not passed the buck by the rules in place , we should all be able to enjoy the sport and let the right people run the show , the way we want it run , not as they do .

Terry

Would all club officials please note that RPRA loft numbers are NOT allocated by RPRA HQ. Loft numbers are allocated by Region Secretaries when the member’s RPRA membership fee is paid.

Please ensure that all members (including new members/new partnerships) have a loft number BEFORE applying for a loft location or distances, to avoid delays in processing your request. Thank you.

Racing Support Office

BEYOND THE 2014 AGM - MEMBERS UPDATE. - Dr.G.A. Richmond.

The election of a new Top-Table at the 2014 AGM was a new opportunity to take a good look at how the RPRA was run and in particular its finances. The retiring President did not as usual remain on the top table as he did not receive sufficient votes. This in itself was unusual. From day one the new President said that he and the Vice-Presidents would work as a team and that operated from day one. I sat next to the GM after the election and he was distinctly unhappy and unusually quiet. His words were “I never thought this would happen”. He was right, neither did we! The appointment of a new group was readily accepted by the staff at ‘The Reddings’ and we made it clear that we were intent on moving the RPRA forward. Brian Walsh told them that they could contact any one of us, at any time if they had any concerns or ideas that would help us to improve their jobs. The finance officer made it clear she was anxious to discuss certain issues with us. The present system at ‘The Reddings’ is that the GM and the finance officer together sign cheques. For many years the President was always one of the signatures required, but this was altered when David Higgins took office. The President’s signature can still be used, but it is rarely requested. It is clear that with the Finance Officer having the GM as her direct line manager, the pressure to sign is great and it is difficult to question items and hard to refuse a signature.

The structure of the RPRA administration does make overseeing events within The Reddings difficult with the President and three Vice-Presidents living in different Regions. However with our new team we agreed that we would make a real effort at the expense of our own routines and our racing to monitor how the RPRA functioned. With this open approach it was not long before the President received two formal letters of complaint about the GM. These letters had to be investigated according to current employment law and this we did using advice given by the RPRA’s own solicitors, Rickerbys. The GM faced three charges, one of which he admitted. Another we agreed was valid and the third we dismissed. The GM was accordingly advised of our findings and told that as long as these valid complaints were not repeated during the next twelve months, that would be the end of the matter. He was advised of his right to appeal should he wish to take this up. Our GM however is not one who likes criticism and he found it impossible to accept these simple requirements. Instead he embarked on a one man mission to get all other Councillors on his side. I will not bore you with the details of this.

It is important for members to remember that this man is an employee of the RPRA, answerable first to the President and then to the Vice-Presidents. Beyond this group, yes, Council does have a place, but not as a permanent referee on any issue that the GM is not happy with. At times I felt that the GM actually believes that he is the RPRA and once on the telephone I felt it necessary to remind him that in fact, he is NOT.

I will move onto the meeting of 23rd October. Our President Brian Walsh had prepared documents answering all the issues raised in the GM’s personal letter to Councillors and also invited the solicitor from Rickerbys to answer any questions Councillors might have on the GM’s disciplinary saga. Les Blacklock made a proposition asking for non RPRA members to leave the room. This received a majority and she never returned. A proposition was then received of ‘No confidence in the top table’ and a caveat ‘That the officials be removed from office.’ I will not dwell on this except to say that it was a total disgrace. The manner of the attack on us was clearly premeditated and I believe orchestrated. Individuals were highly vocal, aggressive and unpleasant. The entire event was recorded and makes interesting listening. Individual voices are easily recognised and alarming in their aggression.


After some thought as you will all know we decided to challenge our dismissal through the courts and the outcome was sadly that we lost. This however was more because the hearing was only six weeks away from the AGM. The judge, who of course has ‘The Queen’ as his ultimate boss made it clear that in the interest of limiting disruption to such an eminent organisation as the RPRA, his main duty was to protect its stability.

SadIy the RPRA has lost the services of a team that would have undertaken a root and branch look at the systems operating within the RPRA. Its functioning has now returned to Les Blacklock and his new team. I believe the current President and his Vice-Presidents will not have the desire or be willing to give up the time needed to assess and correct the many problems. I hope that I am wrong.

In summary I will give you an insight into our GM which is where the difficulties lie. During our contacts with him several statements were made and our members have a right to understand the man who is in day to day charge of our sport. Of all the Councillors in office in 2014 he respects only one - David Higgins. When asked about why he had done appraisals on only two people since he was appointed his reply was that he judged the Council of the RPRA not to be mature enough to accept the consequences of a full blown appraisal system. He explained that he might have to ask one of Council’s favourites to do more and Councillors would not be mature enough to understand and accept this. With respect to money he accepted that he was lax in giving the monthly details of his credit card spending to the Finance Officer and with regard to ‘petty cash’ he explained that he drew out £1000 monthly for this use? Although annually Council decide on staff wage increases appropriate to annual trends and inflation, our GM simply uses this as a guide. During his formal interviews into the two letters of complaint from senior staff members, a staff member was present as a witness to events. This staff member was subsequently generously rewarded with £1 an hour wage increase. Another staff member was given an increase of 27% over a very short period of time. Queries were also made by the President Brian Walsh relating to an insurance claim made by the RPRA in 2013. The amount claimed on Insurance did not match the balance sheet figures for 2013. No explanation for this anomaly has yet been given although the new President Les Blacklock has been made aware that an answer is required

Financial issues are the key with the GM spending much the same year on year with less staff (about 1/3 gone) since he was appointed and membership falling along with BHW sales year on year. The GM also has an enlightened view on staff turnover feeling that there should be a healthy turnover of staff, with one third moving on each year. Once a staff member is full skilled and trained up he feels it is important they should move on to broaden their horizons and expand their skills elsewhere. This sadly is not a philosophy that he feels applies to himself.

As a General Practitioner for thirty five years our practice policy was to reward experience and talent and be sympathetic to individual staff problems. The more experienced, the more valuable staff were. Having observed our GM at close quarters in 2014 empathy and kindness are not qualities that I have noticed. Those on the G.M’s original selection panel really do have a great deal to answer for.
Dr.G.A. Richmond.

Brian Walsh letter for another site -

Having read the GMs report in the BHW on the 6th March I feel I must respond to his total inaccuracies, firstly he says that council were poorly advised by two councillors, the two councillors he refers to are myself and Geoff Richmond. I became involved with the Cope family after receiving a letter from the late Mr Cope requesting my help in getting the medal returned to him as he was very ill and didn't have long to live, contrary to what the GM states i did research how the RPRA obtained the medal, and I along with many other people feel that the RPRA has no legitimate claim on it and I give my reasons why.

In October 1998 the late Mr John James informed council that he knew were he could purchase a Dickin medal for £4,000 he was given permission by council to Pursue the purchase along with Major Camilleri the then GM. In Feb 1999 at the AGM council were informed that the medal had been purchased, this was the only information given to council.

When I made enquiries into how RPRA had obtained the medal it became apparent there were some discrepancies namely We did not have a bill of sale, receipt or providence for the medal, Mr Cope had the providence, and his family still have.

In the spring of 2014 he says he was threatened with suspension by me for refusing to attend a meeting with the RPRA solicitors this is totally untrue, as Mr Ray Harris will verify because he witnessed it.

He also stated that I and the VPs had decided to remove him from office and that I had coerced two members of staff, Mrs Griffiths and Mrs James to submit letters of grievance against him this is totally untrue, both grievance letters were sent to Rickerbys the RPRA solicitors and all dealings with these complaints were made by them, we took their advise every step of the way.

He goes on to say that not only was his removal planned but we already had a replacement lined up and had already spoken to someone about replacing him, well this is news to me and totally untrue.

He says he was harassed, victimised and bullied this is totally untrue as Geoff Richmond, Ray Harris and John Gladwin will verify, in fact if anyone tried to intimidate anyone it was him who tried to intimidate us.

He says his terms of employment were amended without his agreement this is totally untrue, his contract has never changed from the day he was taken on to this day.

He says the consequences of legal action needs careful explanation, as he is only an employee,who gives him the authority to authorise the RPRA solicitors to act on behalf of the defendants which could possibly have cost the RPRA up to £25,000. We took legal action after taking legal advice from a barrister because of the unlawful way we were removed from office on the 23rd Oct, the RPRA rule book was ripped up and thrown out of the window on that day by the four defendants and their co conspirators.

He says since we have been removed from office the vindictive campaign has still continued again totally untrue as Geoff Richmond and myself are no longer on council as we don't wish to associate with people who only have their own agendas. With reference to allegations of financial misappropriation what can you expect when the GM was complicit in the previous Presidents false expense claim for overseas travel totalling over £1,800. If the GM has nothing to hide surely an independent forensic examination of the accounts is the way to go forward especially as the RPRA ( The Reddings ) are running at a loss of £2,000 per week. Over the past three years the RPRA ( the Reddings ) have lost over £232,000 (how?)There are many more issues I could bore you with but I won't all I will say is that it has to be Stewart's way or no way

Brian Walsh ex President.

Some of you may have read the letter i sent into the BHW two weeks ago, the RPRA did not comment or answer any of the questions raised in it, however this is a copy of a letter i received in the post last thursday..there are no names and ive removed the address so please dont ask who or where its from, just form your own opinion...three words have been omitted/changed to protect the innocent, none of which have any bearing on the information received

Pete Jones

No reasons were given on the day but since then a list of erroneous statements and remarks have been published (see statement signed by Blacklock et al, in BHW March 20
Regional councillors voted on the motion of no confidence with no reasons given for the motion and no debate
Some may have had a mandate, Many did not.Agendas for meetings often arrive too late to get a mandate from region delegates.My own region "sounds out " region delegates to get an idea of what their thoughts may be with a full report back at the next meeting where questions are encouraged

There were two non disclosure documents secrecy agreements which they refused to sign until they knew what was in them . When they did know they still refused to sign. These documents were signed by the previous president, D Higgins and S Wardrop with no reference to council

The ETS which had been donated as an award for a young fancier , but never used , was used at S Wardrop's fathers loft for one of the secret agreements, They demanded its return to the Reddings.

The expenses claims were not excessive but were claims for money he was not entitled to and against the rules of the RPRA . The full amount has not been repaid. The cheques were signed by the general manager.

You have a right to mistrust and also the right to be disappointed.You also have a right , see Blacklock et al @.Any member can submit a question to council providing they submit it through the club and region,I would encourage you to use this avenue and also remind you that an RPRA member can submit questions and ideas directly to the future of the sport committee, be sure to send a copy to a member of the committee you trust.Things get lost .
After a query at the last BHW meeting, letters can be sent directly to that committee, again , send a copy