[log in to see names]
Further to [log in to see names]’s writings above, [log in to see names] also passed on some background to me. This is what he says:
“[log in to see names] was a big-hitter with Argentes. I’m amazed to discover he was writing about them in 1957 because when I started reading Fur & Feather in 1962 he was still going on about them then. He and [log in to see names] went on hammer and tongs for weeks. I think [log in to see names] was from Leicester area and, of course, [log in to see names] was Yorkshire. You would have the impression that they would have a punch-up if they actually met. I’ll have to dig out their exchanges. Interesting reading. Perhaps people got more worked up in those days when there wasn’t such fast communication.”
I’m sure [log in to see names] is right about getting steamed up. I think F&F was weekly at that time, but festering grievances would still manage to build up plenty of aggression in that time. I think mouse fanciers are less passionate these days—I remember how members were in the 1980s, far more involved than now.
NMC Officers
Below is an updated list of NMC officers. We have a new Cup Secretary, [log in to see names], taking over from [log in to see names], and wish both incoming and outgoing officers much success in their choices. Since the list was published in the current yearbook we have a new Executive Committee member and four new judges. Welcome to all.
2021-22 Yearbook
Nobody is going to pay renewal fees this year, renewals will begin again in 2022. Now is the time to think about what will appear in the 2021-22 Yearbook. It will be smaller than last year as we have no show reports at all. The list of members will only include those who have agreed to have their data published—please remember to let me know your choices. Adverts of course will still be welcome, so get thinking about how best to promote yourself.
Top Twenty
Just as the shows ground to a halt we decided a new set of rules for the Top Twenty, and a new set of Rules & Standards was sent out to all members. We have not been able to test this system yet, in fact the changes couldn’t have happened at a worse time, but the theory is still good. We’ll have to see how things pan out—a definite challenge for our new Cup Secretary!
In June 2020 the Executive voted (by a narrow margin) to maintain the existing Top Twenty table when the shows started again. As chance would have it, the first show is the Annual anyway and will be the last show on the list. The new Top Twenty will start with the Anniversary Show. The current list appears in this magazine as a reminder, and the main winners at the Annual appear on the back page.