British Tinnitus Association

The British Tinnitus Association - registered charity no: 1011145

Meet the Trustee Board and Vice Presidents of the BTA

Dr Ewart Davies PhD - BTA Chair

Dr Ewart Davies is a pharmacologist recently retired from Birmingham Medical School where he spent some 15 years researching into tinnitus. He conducted several tinnitus drug trials including trials on Gingko Biloba, lamotrigine taurine and some homeopathic preparations. He lives in Birmingham, has a grown up family and spends some time in Spain and on the golf course.

Eric Trowsdale - BTA Deputy Chair

Along with Maurice Bluck, Eric Trowsdale started the Birmingham Group in 1981 soon after which he became involved with the BTA. Currently Eric is Chairman of the Birmingham Group and Deputy Chairman of the BTA. He also acts as Counselling Advisor to the BTA and oversees their Counselling Training events. At a personal level Eric's background is in Social Work/Probation, Psychology, and Training. His interests include music, walking, and reading. Eric also dabbles in watercolours but finds that time is short nowadays.

Barry Wyton D Hyp (Distinction), PDC Hyp, MBSCH - BTA Treasurer

Barry has had tinnitus since around 1980. He was a contact on the BTA’s Younger-Person’s Helpline for a few years and became a Trustee in 2001. Although his background is in accountancy he also works as a hypnotherapist, having qualified at Diploma level in 2001 and subsequently at Practitioner Diploma level. As a hypnotherapist, he was contracted to the National Phobic Society for a year and now works with a wide variety of patients and conditions. His CD-based self-hypnosis treatment for tinnitus sufferers is generating positive feedback from sufferers who have found the programme to be very helpful.

Terry Buffin FRCS - Trustee

Born (1930) and educated in Cheltenham, I matriculated at Oxford University (Pembroke College) in 1948. After pre-clinical medical studies I entered the school of natural philosophy studying animal physiology and biochemistry, graduating in 1952. My clinical training was completed in the Oxford Clinical Medical School, where I qualified in 1955. An interest in Ear Nose and Throat Surgery began soon after qualification and included periods of training in Oxford, Manchester and Sheffield including Sheffield Children’s Hospital. In 1967 I was appointed Consultant ENT Surgeon with duties in Chesterfield and Sheffield. In particular, in Sheffield I also had responsibility for the Paediatric Audiology Services at a time when diagnosis of severe childhood deafness was generally late and when medical rehabilitation was unsatisfactory. In 1976 Audiological Medicine was recognised as a new medical specialty, and I changed my contract in order to develop these services in Sheffield.

My interest in tinnitus developed increasingly from about 1980. At that time a local branch of the BTA was formed with which I worked closely to improve services. In 1993 I was invited to attend meetings of the National Council of the BTA. I joined Ross Coles and Jonathan Hazell in their internationally renowned tinnitus course in Nottingham from the early 1990s to 2000. Within the BTA I have served as a medical Advisor and also as first chairman of their Specialist Advisory Committee from 1999-2003. I have also supported Eric Trowsdale for a number of years speaking at the BTA Counselling Training Seminars. I retired as Consultant Audiological Physician in 1994, but continued as a part time locum until 2000, and still maintain an active interest and play an occasional role in tinnitus services.

Bill Morris - Trustee

After serving in HM Forces for 9 years Bill went into Industry and spent 27 years with an International Company. The last 15 of those years as an Operations Director. Early retirement 4 years ago has enabled Bill to spend time working with several Charities, while still leaving time for hobbies and pastimes. Bill has had acquired hearing loss and tinnitus for over 12 years and is active in assisting others to ‘live without their tinnitus’. He is studying BSL this year and hopes to be able to continue studying to level 2. Bill lives in Huntingdonshire with Libby his wife of 38 years.

Ann Perry - Trustee

Married, had tinnitus for 26 years. I became a member of the Birmingham & District Tinnitus Group (B&DTG) committee when Eric Trowsdale formed the Group, was first involved with fundraising and eventually became newsletter editor. Within the envelope of the group’s efforts to raise tinnitus awareness, I have spoken to professional health workers, and done Guest Speaker slots for various community organisations as well as the deaf or hard of hearing groups. I have always been passionate about information for those who harbour tinnitus - especially those new to tinnitus - believing that knowledge disperses fear of the unknown and is the quickest road towards coping. Although I returned some years ago to live close to the Leicestershire border, I endeavour to remain supportive of B&DTG by editing the group’s newsletter and participating in whatever committee duties I can including helping with the organisation of our recent ‘Study Day’ held to celebrate the group’s first 25 years.

Michael Standerwick - Trustee

Mike Standerwick worked for IBM for 32 years before joining the BTA as a Trustee in March 2005. He held jobs in marketing, planning and sales and concluded his career as Relationship Executive for IBM's largest client in Europe. He is also a Director and Trustee of the Help & Care charity based in Bournemouth and is locally involved with crime reduction and minority support issues. He lives in both London and Poole. He wants to see the development of web based services to help both doctors and their tinnitus patients.

David Taylor MP - Trustee

Details will appear soon.

Geoffrey Bates OBE - BTA Vice President

Geoffrey’s business career covered 32 years with Shell International, then industrial financing in Saudi Arabia and consultancy work in the UK. From 1996 to 1999, he was Hon. Treasurer and Trustee of the BTA and then Company Secretary until September 2002. He was elected as a Vice-President in February, 2003. He is also involved with the Cardinal Hume Centre in London for homeless young people.

Jack Shapiro - BTA Vice President

Deaf from childhood but increasingly since WW2. Welfare work for the children who survived Nazi Concentration Camps. Profession: Financial Consultant. Member of RNID Board of Trustees. Chairman RNID Medical, Scientific & Technical Committee. Honorary Treasurer RNID now Vice President and holder of the RNID Medal of Honour. Helped to found British Tinnitus Association and has served as Chairman and now as Vice President. Also Chairman of the Sino-British Council on Disability and Rehabilitation a counterpart to the China Disabled Persons Federation. Initiator of a series of Seminars that led to the founding of the British Seminar on genetics and deafness as well as on tinnitus, "The Cost of Deafness" etc. Written many articles on tinnitus & deafness. Formed and Chaired NW London Tinnitus Association. Have spoken to nearly every tinnitus self help group in UK.

[15 November 2006]