The report, entitled 'Living through avian influenza H5N1' sought to address the UK industry's preparedness for the disease, areas of practical management that require review and improvement, a review of all the parties involved, lessons learned and a blueprint for the future.

Peel Holroyd and Jeremy Hall

Presenting his report to invited guests at The Farmers Club in London, UK, Mr Hall said, "I consider it a privilege and an honour to be here and as a former student of Harper Adams who had the privilege of knowing Dr Temperton, this makes my being here all the more poignant.

"H5N1 changed the lives of many people in Norfolk and Suffolk in January/February 2007.

"The immediate demands on our staff, with the impact or working extremely hard under very demanding circumstances put enormous pressure on our team in a manner never experience before.

"On behalf of Bernard Matthews, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all those involved in solving the problems we faced.

"I continue to marvel at the dedication of so many people across the business, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the local authorities and elsewhere in the poultry industry who all persevered to arrive at and develop practical solutions for the future."

A summary of Mr Hall's report will be published on this web site shortly.

The Temperton Fellowship was established to commemorate the contribution of Dr Harold Temperton, who was Director of the National Institute of Poultry Husbandry at Harper Adams University College from 1951 to 1974. The Fellowship was established in 1989 and the first report was presented in 1992. Mr Peel Holroyd, Chairman of the Temperton Fellowship was unable to announce the recipient of the next Fellowship.