In Retrospect, LIPU-UK, 1989 – 2026
David Lingard, LIPU-UK Delegate
The British branch of LIPU, the Italian BirdLife Partner, was founded in 1989 by Roger Jordan and his wife Jill, in Chelmsford, Essex and none of what followed would have happened without their early work.
The branch was thriving when Roger’s health forced him to step back and seek a replacement for the unpaid role of UK delegate. After a career in the RAF I should have known better than to volunteer, but I did and I have not had a moment’s regret ever since. It has been a privilege to help the members of this branch support the work of LIPU in Italy.
Soon after finding my feet, LIPU appointed a new Conservation Director, Claudio Celada, and this started a close business partnership that has continued to this day. I’ll not follow a route of mutual admiration but will just say that our work would not have succeeded were it not founded on complete openness and trust which developed into true friendship.
Our work together settled into a routine where, in October, Claudio and your trustees would discuss and choose the projects LIPU would like us to support in to following year. The aims and budgets of each would be examined and agreed; LIPU in Italy would get on with the work and we would attend to raising the necessary funding.
The transparency I mentioned became clear when, in a number of years, Claudio reported an underspend in one or more projects and suggested a diversion to other work or to carry the funds over to the next year. Your trustees found this degree of openness to be remarkable and, as you can imagine, the trust and confidence in our friends in Italy grew and grew.
All that remains is to thank all those, past and present, who have contributed to the success of the venture. Trustees have been essential to the management and compliance with charity law. Translators and our copy editor, without whom the quarterly Ali could not have been produced but, above all, our loyal and generous supporters without whom nothing could have been achieved.
I thank you all.
David Lingard (LIPU-UK), Fernwood, Doddington Road, Whisby, Lincs, LN6 9BX, UK.