New UK Butterflies team member

[Pete Eeles]

Hi all - I just wanted to announce that Gary Richardson ("Gruditch") has kindly agreed to join the UK Butterflies "team" (see http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/contact.php), and will formally help with the running of the website (in particular, all photography-related items). He's already been a big help in responding to photography queries on the forums (in his no-nonsense manner!) as well as producing the 2009 calendar that we hope to produce this year.

I'd also like to take the opportunity to thank Mike Young, who previously held this position. Unfortunately, Mike is no longer able to commit the time needed and I would like to thank him for supporting the website over the last 12 months, and wish him all the very best.

Cheers,

- Pete

[Neil Hulme]

A great 'signing' in the John Terry mould. Competent, committed, hard-tackling. If you disagree he'll send the owl round.
Neil

[Trev Sawyer]

Excellent news!
Gary obviously doesn't do things by halves (his resume shows he throws himself into all sorts of projects... each with a fanaticism which is jaw-dropping - if not verging towards "dangerously high on the bonkers scale". ). I, for one, am hoping he will let slip a few of those little nuances which are hard to describe, but make an average photographer into a good one. Glad to know he is fully signed up anyway Pete... Thank God the "transfer window" has now closed

Trev

[Denise]

Congratulations Gary. I'm sure that you will add something of yourself to this already excellent website.
Your write-up ain't none too shabby, really quite interesting.
(Magdalen is looking really buff now.)

If your reading this Mike Young, I wish you all the best in the future. It was a pleasure to meet you earlier in the year, and you gave me a lot of great advice and encouragement for which I thank you.

Cheers
Denise

[eccles]

OMG! The Canonista is increasing its stranglehold.
Seriously, this is a great appointment of a genuinely nice bloke.

[bugmadmark]

Can we now expect to see a renaming of the site to CanonUKbutterflies? Glas you are doing this - youve been quite inspirational and always helpful with your advice! Mark (Canon worshipper)

[Pete Eeles]

Believe it or not, this isn't a photography website

Cheers,

- Pete

[Padfield]

Welcome, Gruditch!

GUy

[Gwenhwyfar]

Looking through his profile, he is correct that the trophey cabinet was full, but he neglected to mention that two thirds of them were mine!!

Neil who is John Terry?

[Pete Eeles]

I suspected that was the case, but didn't want to say anything

John Terry is the Chelsea (and, sometimes, England) captain. Not sure if he uses a Canon, though

Cheers,

- Pete

[Gwenhwyfar]

Opps he hates football, he's all Rugby, Rugby, Rugby! it used to be Boxing, Boxing, Boxing.

[Pete Eeles]

Which, presumably, followed Cycling, Cycling, Cycling ... based on his profile

Sounds like an obsessive character to me - good job you like photography and butterflies

Cheers,

- Pete

[Gwenhwyfar]

Boxing, Rugby, Cycling in that order, I only did the cycling + Photography, I couldn't really see myself on the rugby pitch, as I'd only get flattened and Boxing hurts!

He had a go at full contact medieval re-enactment, just to let off some steam, but after a while no one would fight him, so he gave up!!

[Neil Hulme]

Hi Lisa,
I knew he was into rugby from the 'Rogues Gallery', but had to draw this analogy as the only other sport I'm passionate about (apart from angling) is Women's Wrestling
Neil

[Pete Eeles]

He had a go at full contact medieval re-enactment

That'll be where people kill each other, then

but after a while no one would fight him

I guess "Rigor mortis" had set in

Cheers,

- Pete

[Gwenhwyfar]

Women's Wrestling

Neil you are so bad! something tells me, that we should leave this comment well alone!!

and very funny Pete

[Tony Moore]

Welcome, Gruditch, I'm sure you'll continue to do a great job. Please, whence 'Gruditch'?? It seems a rather gruff name, which does not to fit with your beautiful photographs, or am I just being thick? Do tell.

Tony.

[Gruditch]

As usual due to my painfully slow key board skills, the tread has drifted miles away before I could compile a response.
Thank you to all for a warm welcome to the Team, and I echo Denise in thanking Mike for his hard work, and hope to see him back soon.

Welcome, Gruditch, I'm sure you'll continue to do a great job. Please, whence 'Gruditch'?? It seems a rather gruff name, which does not to fit with your beautiful photographs, or am I just being thick? Do tell.

Tony.

Gruditch is a Two foot long Common Carp that I keep with my Koi, but the name originated from a character I made up in a RPG computer game, a Half Orc with a bad attitude if memory serves. Incidentally spell check always wants to change Gruditch to Crutch.

Am I banned from the comps now

Gruditch

[Pete Eeles]

Am I banned from the comps now

Absolutely not! As you know (team mate!), using the information in the website database, I've spent some time looking for voting patterns, people who vote for themselves, and "suspect" registrations who seem to only vote ... for the same person!!! On that note - anyone reading this should take note that we'll be clamping down on persistent offenders who vote for themselves ... you know who you are (and we do too!). So please take heed.

So I think the voting will be fairer than ever now and everyone can participate!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Shirley Roulston]

Congratulations and enjoy your new role Gary. Regards Shirley