Unique virtual KC AGM

Topping the poll was Dr Ruth Barbour (557 votes) who returns as a Director after an eight year absence. She stood down as a Member of the General Committee in 2012 after serving the KC in many senior positions for a period of some 23 years. The other two new Directors are Mark James (385 votes) who has been elected for a three year term and Jenny Campbell (309 votes) who is elected for a two year term. Mark James was originally an Old English Sheepdog exhibitor, then moved on to Bouviers and is now very involved with Tibetan Terriers.

Mr James judges 12 breeds at CC level along with Best in Show and the Pastoral and Utility Groups. Jenny Campbell is an exhibitor of Flat Coated Retrievers. She brings with her a very strong business background and amongst other things has been a ‘dragon’ on the BBC 2 Dragon’s Den TV programme.

She has recently been helping with the KC Assured Breeders Scheme. The following Directors who were standing for re-election were voted in for a three-year term: Paul Eardley (497 votes) , Liz Stannard (494 votes), Hector Heathcote 444 votes), Paul Harding (420 votes), Wilson Young (397 votes) and Robin Newhouse (390 votes). Vacant Seventeen candidates had stood for election to the nine vacant positions.

Six retiring Directors were re-elected and the three new Board Members took the positions which had been vacated due to the resignation of Professor Dick White, the retiral of Pat Sutton and the standing down of Steve Croxford. All other ballots went through with the Auditors being re-appointed. All Vice Presidents were re-elected – namely The Earl of Buchan, Lord Fairhaven, Mr Peter James, Lord Kirkham and Sir John Spurling.

Hon Life Members who had been members for forty years were elected - Mrs Angela Cavill, Mr M C James, Mrs Dagmar Kenis Pordham and Mrs Gil L’Estange West. And ex Board Member Mrs Jan Wood was also elected as an Honorary Life Member ‘in recognition of her dedication and service given to the Club over the years.’

A more detailed report on any other significant business transacted at the AGM will be given in next week’s issue. New CEO on the way? Sources suggest that a new CEO has been appointed. The process has been handled through a recruitment agency and although no details are available at this moment in time, OUR DOGS believes an announcement will follow about him shortly.

With a new Board in place and the imminent appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer the Kennel Club should now be in a strong position to look forward to the challenges over the next year from both COVID-19 and the many other issues that it faces.