----- Original Message -----
From: ...

Originally from: "Andrew Stephens" <...>
To: <...>
Sent: Sunday, December 08, 2002 5:29 PM
Subject: Re: [farmtalking] Putty Medals and Rotten Fellows?

Hi

The 'best' that can be said of Sibley I suppose is that – like any 'good'
union leader – as President of the British Cattle Vet Association he
represented what he (mistakenly in my opinion) perceived to be his members
interests most assiduously. He undoubtedly revels in being perceived as a
'player' too.

Had the BVA and RCVS not proved so ineffective and utterly spineless, and
had the vast majority of TVIs not proved to be so unthinking and so easily
led, the self-regarding and ambitious Sibley (and his celebrity seeking
acolyte Carl Padgett) might never have achieved the prominence they did
(and so little deserved) in the media.

To reward his behaviour in this way – not to mention that of the
ego-monster Anderson – is quite bizarre, but not a great surprise. It's
much easier for the RASE to believe/accept that what was done was 'right'
than to face up to any alternative view/interpretation of the handling of
FMD UK 2001.

Of course such awards make it ever less likley that things will be any
different next time.

Regards

Andrew

---

Andrew Stephens BVetMed MRCVS
41 The Causeway, Isleham, Ely, Cambs., CB75TA
Tel: +44-(0)1638–781468 Fax: +44-(0)870–1337217
Email: ...
Web: http://www.mediavets.co.uk

---

– At 17:29 08/12/2002 +0000, you wrote:

Sorry Jill

I meant to answer that before.

The trouble with Sibley is that he wanted to have it all ways. He said

"The

key success measure in controlling foot-and-mouth disease is bravery in
leadership. You have to say ruthlessly that animals have to die." and

then

he added "But I think in hindsight there has been overkill," That was

in

June 2001 when he spoke to Reuters.

He likes to be noticed. He got into the UK government's Foot and Mouth
Disease Scientific Group. He said that 100 farms in Britain had been
infected in February 2001 before the authorities became aware of the
disease, blaming that and the cut in the SVS on the government's failure

to

control the disease.

He also blamed 'public opinion for controlling animal disease'...but I

have

no idea what he meant by that.
"Then, because public opinion began to control animal disease and science
lost out, the disease continued to spread," he said, when addressing a
conference in Wicklow organised by the Animal and Plant Health

Association

He said at the same conference that Blair chose culling because of the
upcoming election. "The contiguous slaughter policy proved unpopular,
unworkable and perhaps unnecessary in many areas. The target of

slaughtering

infected animals within 24 hours was rarely met," ...so at least he got
that right.

He said the computer models used to develop the extended culling policy
were based on faulty data. BUT he ALSO maintained that all the

draconian

killing was 'the price we had to pay' – and being so influential lots and
lots of farmers believed him.

He wanted to have his cattle cake and eat it too.

He said if Britain was to change policy and opt for control rather than
eradication, then vaccine would have to be used. He was opposed to the

use

of vaccine because it "would lock British exporters out of world

markets."

That was what stuck in the minds of those who are influenced by his

charm

and charisma – they assumed he must know what he was talking about abd

had

everyone's interests at heart. In fact – like so many others who thought
their position alone gave them knowledge about FMD – he hadn't much of a
clue – and he probably did more harm than good. Like Roy Anderson, (and

he

is like him in lots of ways it seems) he has an uncanny way of ending up
with his bum in the butter – as my old granny used to say.

Mary

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jill Britten" <...>
To: <...>
Sent: Sunday, December 08, 2002 4:00 PM
Subject: Re: [farmtalking] Putty Medals and Rotten Fellows?

I couldn't agree more. My memory serves me ill and maybe someone can

remind

me of the part Dick Sil bey played in this ugly drama. Next thing you

know

we'll be reading that Ben Gill has been sainted for personally seeing

off

vaccination. Jill
----- Original Message -----
From: <...>
To: <...>
Sent: Sunday, December 08, 2002 9:50 AM
Subject: [farmtalking] Putty Medals and Rotten Fellows?

The Royal Agricultural Society of England has seen fit to present

awards

to

Prof. Roy Anderson and the vet, Dick Sibley.

To bestow these accolades on two such 'rotten fellows' surely reduces

them

to no more that mere 'putty medals'.

As far as I can remember, both these gentlemen were keen supporters of

the

policy of slaughtering healthy animals to control FMD in 2001 and

against

vaccination as an alternative.

Dick Sibley was certainly very 'active' with his campaign to promote

the

slaughter of healthy sheep to save his beloved cattle.

While Prof. Anderson's flawed model most certainly 'galvanised' the

Govt

into adopting a cruel and illegal policy.

The actions of both men contributed to the most appalling suffering of

both

the human and animal population. Not to mention the huge financial

loss to

the country.

Why such deeds merit any sort of award is quite beyond my

understanding.

http://www.rase.org.uk/communications/rev2002/awards.html

RASE Awards for science and hard work

The work of key scientists has been recognised throughout the year by

the

Society's awards programme.

As the RASE's Year of Science kicked off in February the Research,
Technology and Bledisloe Veterinary Medals all went to people engaged

in

animal science and animal health. Veterinarian Dick Sibley received

the

Bledisloe Veterinary Medal as one of the most active and important

vets in

the campaigns on BSE, TB and FMD. His colleagues praised his

leadership

and

courage during the FMD outbreak.

At the Royal Show four new Honorary Fellows were appointed, all of

whom

have

contributed to science and scientific education. Professor Roy

Anderson is

the epidemiologist whose forecast of the spread of the FMD virus

galvanised

the Government's eventual plans to control the outbreak. Professor

Chris

Bostock also accepted Honorary Fellowship for his work as Director of

the

Institute for Animal Health during which time BSE, scrapie and TB have

been

important areas of research.

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