Page 11 - British Blue Yearbook 2023

Solway View Kesha & Solway View Pug.
The Society office is expanding area, Pedigree Livestock Services taking on several more livestock organisations and a couple of show secretarial work; however, my thanks must go to Andy & Diane for so efficiently keeping the “Blue” Society on a stable platform within the Pedigree and Commercial World.
Alongside Andy & Diane are the Council Members, who represent the membership and steer the Society into the future, a big thank you to their dedication and forward thinking. Please may I encourage any members, who think they may be able to avail themselves to Council, to consider putting their name forward for nomination at our Annual Elections. New blood and thoughts are always good for any organisation.
Our AGM was held on 13th May 2022, at the Shepherds Inn, Carlisle. This was the first time we had postal voting only, a vast improvement as it speeded the process up and reduced the risk of mistakes.
We welcome many new members to the society, who I hope will have as much pleasure as I have over the many decades, pleasure being the great enjoyment of working with blue cattle, but also making many new friends along the way of this great adventure. Whilst new members join, we unfortunately loose others and it is with great sadness that in 2022, we lost two of our past Presidents. Ted Haste
of the Stoneleigh Herd was one of the early founders of the breed; whilst President, he travelled the country during his term of office, covering many, many miles. Conn Williamson from Northern Ireland, a great volunteer of the Balmoral Show and an avid supporter of the breed. After his retirement from pedigree breeding, he would only graze British Blue store cattle on his land!
I know several of you will have lost loved ones and my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
It always amazes me that a breed of cattle, only introduced to this country four decades ago has had such an impact on the beef industry, both in the past and I am sure, in the future. British Blue cattle have over that time scale have been moulded by you, the breeders, to create the British Blue, a product which is now recognised worldwide.
It just remains for me to wish you a good 2023, a year of total normality for shows, sales and everyday life, where I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can, at different events throughout the year.
Graham Brindley
Chairman
www.britishbluecattle.org 9