| Rabbits
have been around for a very long time - they were
introduced by the Normans! The showing and exhibition
of rabbits - known as "The Fancy" - started
more than 200 years ago! By the middle of the nineteenth
century there were many Local Clubs which had formed
with the objective of holding regular shows for their
Fanciers to enjoy. By the end of the 1800's Specialist
Clubs had formed who were devoted to the improvement
of individual breeds of rabbit. This structure still
exists today with The Fancy still going strong, the
number of recognised breeds steadily increased up
to the beginning of the 1914-18 war but all of them
were 'Fancy Breeds' with just two 'Fur Breeds'. During
war time rabbit keeping was enjoying popularity and,
coupled with the improved travel available, it meant
that many Fanciers went overseas and saw many new
breeds - not known in Great Britain - which had been
developed.
Today there are over 50 recognised breeds
and over 500 varieties! By the end of the 1914-18
war the most important Fur rabbit was the Beveren.
This inevitably led a group of Beveren breeders in
May 1918 to set up, in Birmingham, a new National
Club called The Beveren Club. In the words of its
seventeen founders, it was established "in an
endeavour to raise the dignity and status of rabbit
breeding with the best fur breeds."
Today, The British Rabbit Council continues
to raise the profile and status of rabbit breeding.
As new breeds were developed during the 1920's, they
were standardised and adopted by The Beveren Club
until the society had become a general fur breed club.
To recognise its new status, it had two name changes,
first to the British Fur Rabbit Society and then later
to the to The British Rabbit Society. By 1928 the
Society had 13 different fur breeds under its jurisdiction.
It also managed its individual members, a number of
Clubs and Agricultural Societies. However, things
were happening in the rabbit world! There was at this
time great deal of interest in Angora wool production
and attempts were made to found an Angora wool testing
centre. Although this idea was backed by a number
of influential people, not only in the rabbit world
but in the agricultural and scientific worlds, the
idea was eventually abandoned. However, the meetings
held did give rise to a new national organisation
for rabbit breeders with the resounding title of......
The National Rabbit Council of Great Britain and her
Dominions. Like The British Rabbit Society already
in existence, this organisation became a forerunner
to today's British Rabbit Council. The new organisation
grew very rapidly but strife developed between the
two national bodies. This eventually led, in 1934,
to the two organisations merging with approval from
all sections of the rabbit world and the affiliated
societies.
The British Rabbit Council was born!
There had always been a need for the
permanent identification of rabbits with the numbers
being registered with a central organisation. A scheme
was started in the late 1920's when the British Rabbit
Society arranged for the formation of a National Rabbit
Marking Council. This Council carried out a ringing
scheme for a number of years but in 1938 The British
Rabbit Council took over the ringing scheme with Fur
& Feather handling the distribution of the rings.
This arrangement was not entirely satisfactory and
in 1946 the British Rabbit Council took over the whole
matter - an arrangement which continues today. Until
1960, the British Rabbit Council was concerned not
only with the showing of rabbits but also with the
commercial farming of rabbits. The Commercial Rabbit
Association was formed for commercial rabbit keepers
and this organisation took over responsibility for
the rabbit farmers. Today, The British Rabbit Council
recognises that the rabbit is an enormously popular
domestic animal and Britain's third most popular pet.
It is a much loved part of many children's childhood
as parents chose a rabbit to help teach their children
about responsibility and commitment. The British Rabbit
Council has made the decision to encourage the pet
owner to join them so they also have access to good
advice and that the Council can aid the welfare of
the rabbit. The British Rabbit Council's objectives
today do not differ too much from the original Beveren
Club as the Council "promotes the breeding and
showing of rabbits and helps pet owners with the welfare
of their rabbits." Throughout its history, The
British Rabbit Council has used its influence to help
on a number of issues. For example, during the war
regulations prevented landlords from prohibiting the
keeping of rabbits. After the war, the association
was largely responsible for having this particular
wartime regulation put into permanent legislation
thus insuring that rabbit keeping was not prohibited.
Also, when there was considerable transit of rabbits
by rail to and from shows, The British Rabbit Council
played a large part in getting compensation from the
Railways for delayed transit and hence loss of entry
fees and rail fares. Other examples include a stock
transfer scheme if rabbit breeders lost their entire
stud in terrible flooding as they did once on the
East Coast; the administration of the bran rationing
scheme for the Government after the war; the provision
of lecturers for Local Club meetings, and so on.
Today, The British Rabbit Council encourages
research into diseases etc. amongst other topical
issues. As the role of the rabbit has developed into
a popular pet, the British Rabbit Council actively
encourages good rabbit keeping amongst pet owners.
The Newark Head Office receives many hundreds of letters
or calls each month asking for advice or information
on an extremely wide variety of topics concerned with
the rabbit. These are not confined to individual people
but are sometimes from official bodies, Governments
or overseas.
In the late 1990's representatives from
The British Rabbit Council have attended international
conventions to secure the British Rabbit Council's
place as a leading European rabbit organisation. Alongside
all this extra work, the Council is still the governing
body for The Fancy and has established over the years
a comprehensive set of Show Rules. Each year approximately
1000 shows take place throughout Great Britain! Today
sees a structure of District Advisors who give their
time to help people in their regions. These are well
respected members of great experience appointed by
the Council to give advice locally. At shows, awards
are available from the Council. The basis of these
is the Challenge Certificate which is awarded to the
best rabbit of its particular group.
The 'bible' of rabbit showing
is the Breeds Standard Booklet. There is also a library
consisting of a considerable number of books relating
to the rabbit. It is difficult to sum up an organisation
with such a long and interesting history - and bright
future -as The British Rabbit Council. One thing,
however, is very certain. The British Rabbit Council
is made up of its members and exists to help all rabbit
breeders and keepers. Most members consider that it
is not only a pleasure to be a member but perhaps
also a duty which allows him or her to give back a
small part of the happiness he or she has gained from
the Fancy. |
