The Judith Buckle Award 2025

Awarded to Alan Lane

This year Behçet’s UK are presenting the Judith Buckle Award to the wonderful Alan Lane, our incredible Honorary Treasurer.

Alan became a Trustee, and Honorary Treasurer, in 2011 after Kathryn Proudlock, who was Vice-Chair at the time, spotted his financial talent when he worked for his local County Council on a new computerised financial system for schools. Kathryn was also working for the Council and approached Alan to ask if he would be interested in helping a small charity called Behçet’s Syndrome Society, as it was then known, that needed an Honorary Treasurer. As Alan put it himself – he couldn’t exactly deny that he didn’t have the financial skills to do the job and, despite not knowing anything about Behçet’s, agreed to help! Fifteen years on and Alan is the longest running Trustee, continuing to dedicate his time to keeping the Behçet’s books balanced.

Shortly after Alan joined the charity he started mapping where the members were from … and probably chasing those lapsed memberships, too! This was a hugely beneficial exercise as the movement towards setting up the 3 Centres of Excellence gathered speed. Knowing where the members were from, and how many, helped shape the bid for the Behçet’s Centres of Excellence. After the success of the bid and the establishment of the Centres of Excellence, Alan helped to set up the Charitable Company and became the Financial Director for the Behçet’s Patients Centres, which has 3 lots of financial reports to keep on top of.

Alan will always give his time, even when on holiday. Jan Mather remembers Alan, with his wife Jane, coming to visit them while they were on holiday in France … via a tractor track rather than the road?! A SatNav issue?!  Bit of a bumpy journey for Jane! Jan was working on the re-tender for the Behçet’s Centres of Excellence. Alan, with his incredible work ethic, got stuck in and they finished the re-tender, which was successful.

Alan has a very steady approach to managing and maintaining the financial reports for both Behçet’s UK and the Behçet’s Patients Centres. He is always considering what is best. When it comes to Behçet’s UK he explains the quarterly financial reports in a way that we can all understand, steering us towards spending (when we can) and putting on the brakes (when we can’t). His approach to problem-solving is a lesson in itself – diplomatic, measured and solution focused. This is probably due to his past life as a teacher and Headteacher.

Alan always presents his Financial Reports at these AGMs with a little sprinkle of humour. He is aware that this is your Charity and that we, as your Trustees, have a responsibility to use any income wisely. He will tell you where the money came from, what we used it for, and what the outcome was. He will also remind you how you can become a Member, or renew your Membership, if it has lapsed. He’ll be sat at his table during the breaks ready to welcome you into the charity … or help you return!

There is so much good in Alan. He adores his wife, Jane, and their family. They have had their share of difficulties and health challenges, most recently with Alan’s health. Just last night he was making me laugh with, as he put it, his recent ‘excitements’ … A&E visits, medication side effects, Military doctors … all told with great comic timing and an ease possibly so we wouldn’t worry too much. His humour within storytelling is such a gift.

Those who have the pleasure of working with Alan were asked to describe him – you can see for yourselves that everyone thinks the world of Alan and he is such a deserving recipient of the Judith Buckle Award.