Q Which clubs have you been most involved with? Any official roles?
Alan Marchant: My two main clubs are North Staffs BS, where I am currently the chairman and treasurer, and South Cheshire BS of which I am the publicity officer. I am also involved with Lancashire, Cheshire & North Wales BS area society as a committee member.
Q Briefly summarise your career in birdkeeping.
AM: Originally, I had some colourful pet budgerigars when I was 13 years old and bred four to six pairs in an 8ft × 8ft (2.4m × 2.4m) garden shed. The cages were made from old car-part packing crates which my father acquired from work, along with some 1/2in wire netting.
I remember my first show as a junior; my birds were about half the size of the only other junior exhibitor who had purchased birds from a local champion breeder.
I moved on from the budgerigars after a couple of seasons and reared a nest of barn owls. I kept all sorts of other pets over the years such as hamsters and guinea pigs.
I rekindled my interest in budgerigars once I
