BCT Hall of Fame

Alan Wragg

Year of Admittance: 2021

Making a difference through outreach, training bat workers, Derbyshire Bat Conservation Group, bat care and monitoring bats

From the nomination form "Alan was doing bat work before BCT became BCT; was Chair of Derbyshire Bat Conservation Group and is still on the committee; conducts bat walks for the general public, inspiring many to get involved; he has been monitoring bats for at least 20 years. He is a committed bat conservationist."

Ged Ryan

Year of Admittance: 2021

Making a difference through schools and other public outreach, bat care and training

From the nomination form "Ged has been working with bats for over 30 years in lots of areas. He has been into numerous schools; getting the children interested in nature especially bats. He drives miles to rescue baby bats and also does bat training. Through his years of experience he has developed an amazing knowledge of bat species and everything batty. Ged is definitely a bat enthusiast and even has a bat door knocker."

James Shipman

Year of Admittance: 2021

Making a difference through training as well as conservation projects in the UK and Gibraltar (GibBats)

From the nomination form "James has an incredibly infectious enthusiasm for bats. James is able to balance dedication with a fun approach, always a smile and a welcome for anyone. He has given so much of his time to bat work that he is known throughout the UK and further afield for his professionalism as well as his great personality. He has an incredibly generous and encouraging approach to training and is an inspiration to many."

Maggie Brown

Year of Admittance: 2023

Making a difference through bat care, West Yorkshire Bat Hospital, training, outreach, author of the Bat Care Manual and co-organiser of the Bat Care Conference

From the nomination form “Maggie Brown is one of the country’s foremost bat carers, having provided rehabilitation for thousands of bats over 40 years at the West Yorkshire Bat Hospital. A passionate advocate for bats and their welfare, Maggie has continually strived to identify and provide best practice in terms of bat care, sharing her knowledge and expertise with vets and other carers through advice, training courses and as author of the Bat Care Manual - an invaluable reference guide for new and experienced bat carers. She is also a key part of the West Yorkshire Bat Group, undertaking education and outreach activities in the local area as well as helping to organise the National Bat Care Conference”

Nick Tomlinson

Year of Admittance: 2022

Making a difference through

From the nomination form "A passionate and well-respected bat specialist, with boundless enthusiasm for bats and their habitat, a natural ability to motivate people to contribute to bat conservation and a thirst to want to know more. Nick is always thinking of new innovative projects as an active member of the Dorset Bat Group and always very willing to share all his knowledge and skills with new and experienced bat workers within Dorset and further afield. Nick is now the chairman of the Dorset Bat Group and continues with his long-running swarming project which is providing invaluable information about the swarming activity on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset. Nick also runs the BCT Advanced Survey Technique course to a high standard and has supported many BCT funded research projects, providing his expertise and ideas as well as training opportunities to many volunteers, both old and new. An inspiring and greatly admired fellow bat worker whose contribution to bats has been invaluable."

Nils Bouillard

Year of Admittance: 2021

Making a difference through public engagement, the Big Bat Year, International Bat Night, training, monitoring bats, facilitating networking and knowledge exchange between bat workers.

From the nomination form "Nils is always looking for new ways to engage people with bats. His Big Bat Year helped raise awareness of the diversity of bats; he organised the Bat Acoustics Online conference and hosted the International Bat Night broadcast featuring more than 60 experts from 40 countries. His enthusiasm for bats, creativity and determination to share his knowledge and help others share their knowledge is an inspiration. He is making a difference for bats, connecting bat enthusiasts across continents, supporting people at every stage of their bat journey and challenging us to share bats with everyone."

Richard Crompton

Year of Admittance: 2022

Making a difference through training, advising other ecologists, helping develop technical guidance and sitting on review groups

From the nomination form "A knowledgeable, passionate and well-respected bat specialist, an all-rounder, who has made a significant contribution to bat conservation. For many years, Richard Crompton has delivered training and provided advice and support through his work as an advisor and consultant for ecological projects. Richard is also BCT’s ‘Ecologists Anonymous’ wise host/agony uncle, he was a BCT Trustee, is the current President of the Cardiff Bat Group, sits on a range of review groups and prepared the new infrared camera technical guidance. This covers only a fraction of what Richard does for bat conservation and his dedication and his unwavering support deserves this nomination and our thanks. His willingness to share his knowledge and skills means many will get to learn from one of the best."

Roger and Sylvia Jiggins

Year of Admittance: 2023

Making a difference through training bat workers, Essex Bat Group, supporting Chelmsford Diocese and the churches of Essex and outreach

From the nomination form “Roger and Sylvia have dedicated many years to helping bats in Essex and across the country. They don’t just undertake surveys as VBRVs, they also help to train others, spreading knowledge and confidence so that more people can be involved in bat conservation work. Their work with the public aims to inspires others to appreciate the bats around them, to get involved in bat work and to encourage bats in their area.”

Shirley Thompson

Year of Admittance: 2021

Making a difference through outreach, bat care, monitoring bats, Kent Bat Group, Honorary Education Officer at BCT from its inception, produces the Young Batworker Magazine. First person to receive an MBE for her contribution to bat conservation.

From the nomination form "When people meet Shirley they never forget, her knowledge of bats and passion for their conservation is quite simply contagious. She is a truly inspirational figure who champions the bat conservation cause more than anyone."

Steve Parker

Year of Admittance: 2022

Making a difference through training, bat care and VBRV activities as well as bat conservation overseas as well as in the UK

From the nomination form "Steve has been involved in bat conservation for over 20 years. His passion and commitment to bat conservation not only spans across the UK but also internationally such as Trinidad and Zambia.

Steve’s dedication to assisting and promoting bats at every opportunity is evident with the number of bat rescues completed each year. Visiting countless homes to collect grounded bats at all hours, while all the time enthusing how amazing bats are.

Steve also arranges workshops to bring fun and education to all members of the group. Steve has been a BCT Trustee and assists on the Natural England Train the Trainer course as well training new volunteer bat roost visitors. It is fair to say Steve lives and breathes bat conservation.”

Susan Kerwin

Year of Admittance: 2021

Making a difference through bat care, founding Bat Rehabilitation Ireland and public engagement through media appearances

From the nomination form "Susan is the founder of Bat Rehabilitation Ireland; opened the first ever fully dedicated bat hospital in Ireland in 2019 and since the official opening has cared for over 400 bats. She has built two large bat flights (first in Ireland) for the rehabilitation of bats and has inspired bat carers in the north and south of Ireland. Susan has raised the standards of bat rehabilitation and managed to get a very positive message of the importance of bats to a healthy eco system through many TV and media appearances."

Timothea Armour

Year of Admittance: 2021

Making a difference through art and writing to engage people with bats

From the nomination form "Timothea Armour is an artist and writer and uses different approaches to engage people outside the bat community using art and humour in a way that's approachable and not technical. Having previously collaborated on The Neighbours are Bats, in 2021 Timothea went solo and exhibited at the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop with ‘This is Moth Death’, a radio drama set in a pub where the audience eavesdrops on a band having a post-rehearsal pint. All of the band members are bats. Timothea demonstrates how art is a powerful tool in introducing the public to bats"

Tom McOwat (posthumous)

Year of Admittance: 2022

Making a difference through long-term monitoring of greater horseshoe bats and his contribution to research on the effects of climate change, essential for future conservation.

From the nomination form "For 43 years Tom monitored greater horseshoe bats in Pembrokeshire consistently. In the 1970’s the bats he ringed led to the discovery of the nursery roost at Stackpole with Bob Stebbings and later roosts were all monitored and have thrived with his careful conservation plan of minimal interference.”