J. srnall Anim. Pracr. (1981) 22,483-486.

News and Comment

2 4 ~ ~ ANNUAL BSAVA CONGRESS; 3RD-5TH APRIL 1981 AT THE CUNARD INTERNATIONAL HOTEL, HAMMERSMITH, LONDON

It is a never-ending source of wonder to me that the BSAVA manages to stage a bigger and better Congress each succeeding year and all with a happy band of amateurs who produce such a professionally managed Congress.

Scientifically and socially the Congress has always had a great deal to offer each year, although the formal social programme did not get off the ground quite as fast as the scientific side. Those days are long since past and it may well be argued that this year’s record attendance of 1,425 registered delegates, 118 of whom came from overseas, is a reflection of last year’s success. In which case, next year should see registrations pass the 1,500 mark. Little wonder then, that the President, Mr E. A. Chandler, claimed this Congress to be the biggest veterinary scientific congress outside the U.S.A. Regular delegates will be well aware that the current venue has had a seemingly continuous building programme ever since Congress was held there in 1976 for the first time. The Cunard will have to keep up the good work if the Congress is not to outgrow the hotel.

This report does not make any attempt to cover the scientific programme. In the first place it would take up too much space and many of the papers will be published in due course. Secondly, there is no substitute for attending them yourself. What this report hopes to do is whet your appetite if you did not go, and inform readers of some of the news that came out of Congress.

Thursday 2nd April Although the Congress proper did not start until Friday morning, a thoughtful Congress Com- mittee under the chairmanship of John Bower catered for the evening needs of delegates arriving on Thursday with a mediaeval banquet

at ‘The Beefeater’ in the vicinity of the Tower of London. The President had been rather busy beforehand, as a kind of training session for the three arduous days that were to ensue, welcom- ing overseas delegates at a cocktail party to break the ice. Future potential overseas visitors need never fear being left out in the cold, as BSAVA members are a friendly lot, especially at Congress. That social event was closely followed by a second at which representatives of the commercial exhibitors were regaled with liquid refreshment as a mark of appreciation.

Friday 3rd April The opening ceremony gave the President his first opportunity of waving the flag of the BSAVA. He reported that membership was fast approaching 2,700 which meant that half the veterinary surgeons in practice in the U.K. are now members of the Association. Mr Chandler referred to his theme for his Presidential year, the improvement of standards in small animal practice, and the part played by the Association in continuing education and the innovatory first Surgical Forum held during the year.

He announced the introduction that day of a new BSAVA Manual, A Guide to Diagnosfic Radiography in Small Animal Practice, and the impending publication of a surgery textbook as a companion to the successful Canine Medicine which had already brought in royalties of f6,000 to the Association.

The official opening was performed by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Ronald Gardner- Thorpe, who paid tribute to the small animal practitioner. He referred also to business skills, a field in which he had particular interests. Reports from those on the stands, indicated that this business knowledge was well to the fore

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484 NEWS AND COMMENT

Oflciul Opening Ceremony by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Ronald Gardner-Thorpe and (left to right) Councillor William Smith (Mayor of Hammersmith), Alderman Jolliffe (High Sheriff of London) and Mr E. A. Chandler, B.Vet.Med., M.R.C.V.S., President, BSAVA.

when the Lord Mayor opened the Commercial Exhibition and toured the various exhibits.

The evening social event was in two parts; a reception at the Science Museum followed by dinner at the Cafe Royal. The President’s guests missed the Science Museum part of the evening as they were invited by Mr Chandler to a reception at one of the city livery company halls. Appropriately enough, it was the Tallow Chandlers’ Hall, although some might balk at a possible association of ideas. One of the alleged attractions at the Science Museum was the opportunity to browse through the new Wellcome Medical History Gallery, prior to dining at the Cafe Royal. Appetites seemed unimpaired however.

The disco dancing that followed dinner saw most couples tripping the heavy fantastic as the evening wore on; no doubt because the DJ increased the decibels when he observed too much conversation at the tables, so that only those with the ability to lip read were able to indulge in verbal interchange. Saturday was already one hour old when the coaches started out on the return journey to the hotel.

Saturday 4th April Saturday dawned, literally, with a repetition of last year’s innovation but this time called the Super Vets’ Jog ’81. By 6.30 am more than a coachload of sponsored joggers were ready to leave for the White City and they were closely followed by the lie-a-beds. Between 7.15 and 9 am about 170 sponsored joggers raised over f7,000 for the BSAVA Clinical Studies Trust Fund. Credit must go to Michael Samuel because it was his brainchild and to Pet Plan Limited for getting the jog so well organized, and presenting the prizes.

The BSAVA Annual Awards were presented during the morning. The Blaine Award for outstanding contributions to the advancement of small animal veterinary medicine or surgery went jointly to Dr Harold Thompson and Dr Irene McClandish of Glasgow University Veterinary School for their unique work in advancing knowledge of Canine Parvovirus. The Bourgelat Award went to Professor M. J. Bojrab of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Missouri for really oustanding contributions to the field of small animal practice. The Melton

NEWS AND COMMENT 485

Award for meritorious contributions by veterinary surgeons to small animal practice was deservedly presented to Ian B. Hughes, a past-President of the BSAVA.

A busy, and for some of us, a long day was crowned by the President’s Evening-a glorious dinner-dance that followed last year’s precedent of including only one speech, which was light-hearted and an entertainment in itself. Each menu bore a number, the one which was lucky belonging to the Registrar of the RCVS, a certain Mr Porter. He deserved his luck, as he had sponsored several joggers to the tune of &5 each that morning. Various prizes were distri- buted to successful joggers and dancing fol- lowed until Sunday was upon us.

Sunday 5th April One can hardly describe the BSAVA Annual General Meeting as a social event. But apart from the pleasure of seeing the new faces of

members who emerge from the relative obscurity of the mass membership and place their feet on the small-animal political ladder, t’lere is usually little but routine business. It is remarkable that the Association always seems to have members with talent waiting in the wings to take on the onerous tasks involved.

This year, however, there was considerable interest in the Hon Treasurer’s report, when John Sutton explained the item in the accounts ‘Copyright Settlement f 1,500’. This referred to an out-of-court settlement of that sum to the Association in consideration of the inclusion of BSAVA copyright material in ‘The TV Vet’s Junior Book of Pet Care’ by E. C. Straiton.

It was proposed from the floor that news of the settlement for breach of copyright be suitably publicized so that any future plagiarist who purloins BSAVA copyright material will realize what it may cost. It was finally resolved that this would be considered by Council.

A Busy Scene at the C.S.T.F. Sratid in the Commercial Exhibttion Area

486 NEWS AND COMMENT

The BSAVA CSTF stand did a roaring trade in the Commercial Exhibition, raising f380 from a raf€le for a gallon of whisky and several donated prizes, f487 from sales of pottery and furry animals, El30 in donations and 2170 from collecting boxes, totalling f1,167.

So the 24th Annual Congress came to an end. Halfway through Congress I found John Bower, Chairman of Congress Committee looking worried. ‘Nothing has gone wrong’ he said, ‘it usually has by now.’ That must be something of a record in itself! Of course, there will always be the slight hiccough, like last year’s debacle when the new ‘Room 2’ sessions were held in a room

far too small for the demand for seats. This year, ‘Room 2’ was much larger, though on one or two occasions it still proved barely adequate for the demand. But that is a measure of success, not failure.

It is difficult to imagine that next year’s Silver Jubilee Congress could be bigger, better or have any more innovations, but I would not like to bet on it. Our new President Mr G. A. Kluth took over the reins on 5th April and he together with his Congress Committee already have the event in hand. I’ll be there to find out; why don’t you join me?

A. M. R. NELSON

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