Who am I?

After researching acoustics at Southampton University, I worked as a scientist at what was known as the Royal Aerospace Establishment for 3 years. I then worked as a technologist / software developer for 11 years in the aerospace industry in Derby before returning to the West Country. I now work freelance as a web developer. The companies who I work for have no connection with cattle farming.

In my spare time, I regularly visit an award winning, family-run, small, dairy farm which first became restricted due to bovine TB in 2008. During these visits I have gained some insight into the issues which dairy farmers face when their herds become restricted.

So why do I monitor bovine TB? I am appalled by the misplaced effort which in the last 40 years has gone into tackling bovine TB in the UK. The lack of will by successive governments to properly address bovine TB and the impact which bovine TB is having on both farmers and animals is why the subject is so interesting to me. In fact I set up www.bovinetb.info to try to raise awareness of issues which are not always given good coverage in the press.

My aim as of December 2015 is to gain a better understanding of (a) why bovine TB is not being properly addressed and (b) what needs to happen for the government of the day to implement a framework which is resilient enough to address the problem.