If you have not heard this already, unfortunately we are not able to provide a mouse section at Real London this year. We found ourselves without a show secretary at short notice. [log in to see names] stepped up to run the show, but she could not find any judges. [log in to see names] then agreed to judge, but after discussion with [log in to see names] it was felt better to cancel the show, since current entry levels deemed it not worth all the effort involved for the secretary, the judge, and those exhibitors who did turn up. With reluctance, therefore, we have cancelled this year’s mouse section. We plan to be back at full strength in 2023, and the Real London committee are eager to welcome us back.

We have a new Cup Secretary, [log in to see names]. Thanks go to [log in to see names] for taking on the role, and I can report that he is enthusiastic and very capable. Show secretaries can now send the Cup Sec paperwork direct to [log in to see names]. His first report is on Page 5.

In the June issue I reminded everyone that subscriptions were starting up again on 1 July. This is because shows are once again up and running.

You will receive an email when your subs are due. If you don’t renew, this will be your last issue of NMC News.

After the Annual, which marks the end of the NMC year, the ballot will take place for next year’s officers. There is still time to put your name forward for any of the offices, the Executive and the Judging panel, providing you have three years membership under your belt. The closing date for nominations will be 15 September.

The closure of this group caused disappointment to many fanciers, so I am pleased to announce it will soon be starting up again, with some new criteria in place to ensure only appropriate conversations take place. Keep an eye on Facebook to see it reappear. This time, we hope to keep the posts appropriate for the NMC.

I must apologise to [log in to see names]: last month, not only was his name missed off under his article, but I also managed to spell it wrongly in the index. Sorry, [log in to see names]!

On the back cover, as always, is the NMC show calendar. This month it has a new look, as the LSCMRC table shows have also been printed. (Table shows are not supported by the NMC and are open only to members of that particular club.)

[log in to see names] has been poorly in hospital for 3 weeks with a mystery illness (mystery even to the doctors), but is now home again. We wish him a speedy recovery.

As I write this, we are supposedly on the last day of the current heatwave. I have lost mice in the heat (3 as I write) and I know other fanciers are having the same problem. For those of us with a cellar—it’s the best place for mice in the hot weather. And in the cold weather, come to that.

I’m afraid there are no new photos for this issue, so I have added a couple of old ones. Some of the faces you will know, others not, as they are from 2010. I hope agricultural shows will increase again, as we all enjoy them, and they are good shop windows for the mouse fancy, not in my experience leading to new members, but making us appear more normal than we probably are!