Dr Alan Buckle, the chairman of the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) and, until recently, the Rodenticide Resistance Action Group (RRAG), was awarded BPCA Life Membership award at the association’s virtual AGM.
Dr Buckle began his long career in pest control at Royal Holloway College, University of London, where he conducted research into a small beetle living on and with Apodemus sylvaticus (Wood Mouse).
He began working on anticoagulant resistance in Norway rats as head of the MAFF Welshpool labs, a theme that has featured strongly throughout his career.
His research with rodents continued, as he then went to work for the Centre of Overseas Pest Research conducting studies on the Rice Field Rat.
A spell in government research with the Pest Infestation Laboratories was followed by some time working with Syngenta, researching novel methods for the control of public health pests.
Throughout his career Dr Buckle has published numerous papers, and has been involved in a variety of projects that included the elimination of immigrant rat populations on remote islands.
On receiving the award, Dr Buckle said: “When your letter came through my letterbox, I’d been sitting in my chair at my computer for the 14th consecutive day in a row writing up the five-year report for CRRU and the Stewardship Regime to go to the Government Oversight Group.
“I was feeling a bit fed up with it, so your letter was a wonderful thing to receive and a great boost to me. I’d like to thank everyone who nominated me and supported that nomination.”
BPCA president Phil Halpin said: “Life Membership is the highest award available to recognise the enormous contribution of individuals to the association and the pest management industry.
“It is therefore only awarded by the BPCA Executive Board in exceptional circumstances and I think we can all agree that Dr Buckle’s work for the industry has been exceptional.
“Without his work and international influence our lives as pest control contractors would be very much harder and our environments and wildlife far worse off. We’re delighted to award him with BPCA Life Membership, a truly well-deserved honour.”