Marsh Award for the Promotion of Lepidoptera Conservation

[NickMorgan]

Well done Pete, and it is certainly deserved. Thank you for all of the time and effort you put in for others to enjoy.

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks Lee, Gary, Nick - your comments are appreciated!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Pete Eeles]

My thanks to Nigel Symington for sending me through a few photos of the day ... I've hesitated to write this note of thanks since I just know I'm going to omit someone significant! Anyway ...

Jim Asher (BC Chairman), Sara Oldfield (representing the Marsh Christian Trust) and yours truly

Pete, Sara Oldfield, Rob Petley-Jones (who won the Lifetime Achievement Award)

First off, the award was presented on the basis of UK Butterflies, my involvement with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight branch (where I also served as chair for a couple of years) and also the creation of the Garden Butterfly Survey website (http://gardenbutterflysurvey.org). But it is the UKB aspect that I am most proud of On that note, I do want to thank quite a few people, some of whom were mentioned in my acceptance speech.

First off, I would like to thank Gary and Lisa Richardson, Guy Padfield, Vince Massimo, Mark Colvin, Kevin Doyle and David Moore - the "behind the scenes" UKB team (Mark tries to remain anonymous whenever he can, but not on this occasion - especially since he helped kick-start our publishing arm ... Dispar!). Gary, Lisa, Guy and Vince are long-standing members of the team and have been instrumental in helping UKB, to all intents and purposes, start up, and I can't thank them enough. While still on the topic of UKB, I would like to thank all of the contributors, but especially those that contribute regularly. There are so many of you that I'm not going to thank you individually (primarily because I'm bound to forget someone!), but you know who you are! Again - my thanks for making UKB the vibrant community that it is. I would also like to thank all of the past team members.

Secondly, while I consider myself BC branch-agnostic, I would like to thank the various members of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight branch of Butterfly Conservation that I've worked with over the years, especially those that sat on the main committee when I was chairman. Again, there are too many to mention, and includes some that have since moved on to pastures new. However, of these individuals, I would like to single out Tim Norriss, Dave Green and Andy Barker, since their knowledge and enthusiasm reignited my passion in butterflies after a lengthy absence.

Thirdly, I would like to thank Martin Warren (BC Chief Executive), in particular, for his encouragement while UKB was getting going. Most of you won't know this, but I met with Martin over a decade ago at BC's head office in East Lulworth, where we discussed the relative merits of BC's website and UKB, and what content should live where. The end of the conversation allowed me to use the "In association with BC" moniker and really spurred me on to do my best to encourage others to take an interest in our Lepidoptera. In addition, I should also thank all of the BC team (many of whom I've had a direct interaction with) since, again, they've always been very supportive of the work we do at UKB.

Fourthly, I would like to thank all of the experienced enthusiasts and conservation professionals that have given freely of their time as I picked their brains. Again, there are just too many to mention, but time spent with them is always an education.

Last, but not least, I'd like to thank my wife, Karen, who has learned to tolerate my passion for butterflies and all that goes with it.

Cheers,

- Pete

[bugboy]

Just noticed on the Board Index, Happy Birthday Pete

[Pete Eeles]

Just noticed on the Board Index, Happy Birthday Pete

Darn - I hoped I'd gotten away with it! I mean ... thanks, Paul

Cheers,

- Pete

[Padfield]

Happy birthday, Pete! Again, congratulations, but more importantly, thank you for everything you do for butterflies. If they only knew they would be serenading you with androconial showers, but as they don't, we have to say thank you for them.

Guy

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks Guy!

Cheers,

- Pete