In 1937, 20 years before I was born, my father brought his first air gun. Little did he know it would become one of my most treasured possessions and initiate a lifelong love of shooting. In those days, issues of the Shooting Times were eagerly sought, they carried the words of George VI, “The wildlife of today is not ours to dispose of as we please. We have it in trust. We must account for it to those who come after.” Those early days initiated a lifelong interest in shooting and conservation, and I have participated in most forms of shooting since. In recent years, I have focused on game shooting and deer stalking and became an instructor with the St Hubert Club’s LANTRA-recognised training scheme.

Those childhood influences led to a career in agriculture, voluntary work in conservation and eventually a professional career as an ecologist working on The Humber European Site, and recently, the Internal Drainage Boards. This work includes supervising the ecological aspects of maintenance operations and representing the industry via DEFRA on regulatory issues such as the eel regulations, wildlife licensing for badgers and water voles and strategies for improving SSSIs.

BASC’s current vision is fundamentally the same as that of George VI which has shaped my life. Delivering it requires investment in the association’s professional staff and generating wider support within the shooting community. I can contribute to this as a board member, my experience includes 21 years as a trustee of the Lincolnshire Naturalist Union charity. Professionally, I report to my employer’s board preparing papers, being answerable for my actions and delivery within budget while providing advice on legislation and policy. I sit on numerous partnership projects at board level, building strong teams that have secured over £2.4 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund for project delivery.

Now I have the time, expertise and experience, it’s time to give something back and serve BASC and contribute to the development of our association and its pivotal role in defending and growing our sport. The best days in the field are often when the generations mix, grandparents and grandchildren sharing their sport and knowledge in a jovial atmosphere.

Today the urgent challenges are Wild Justice, a trio who are creating mischief and, alas, causing DEFRA to waste substantial sums of taxpayers’ money on legal challenges; the partial breakdown in firearms licensing that is damaging our sport and the gun trade while the hiatus caused by Covid/bird flu and the changes to the new Environmental Stewardship schemes are causing a period of uncertainty. However, our association is securing cross-party political support and delivering its mission – tasks that need energising in perpetuity as new MPs are elected and our sport expands across the generations. With your support, I will contribute to delivering our vision ready to pass our cherished sport onto future generations.