Wokingham

The country’s leading expert on E. coli and other bacteria bestowed his Wokingham words of wisdom on more than 60 environmental health professionals to ensure that Berkshire remains a safe place to live, work and visit.

Professor Hugh Pennington, who penned the widely-circulated ‘Don’t Pick Your Nose’ article on MRSA, was Wokingham guest speaker at the county’s annual environmental health conference - which aims to provide professionals across Berkshire with a forum to discuss current issues or ones that may arise in the future.

Professor Pennington addressed more than 60 environmental health officers from the six Berkshire councils when he stopped by the conference held at Wokingham Borough Council’s Shute End offices last month.

Steve Richardson, health and protection manager for Wokingham Borough Council, said: “To have a guest speaker with as much experience as Professor Pennington is a real coup – it’s like getting the environmental health equivalent of David Beckham to come to Wokingham and share his wisdom!

“The conference was absolutely packed with professional environmental health officers from across the county wanting to soak up some of his knowledge. It was a fantastic event and one that will ensure we have some of the brightest and most up-to-date environmental health officers keeping Berkshire safe.”

Professor Pennington is credited with being one of the country’s leading experts in E. coli bacteria and chaired the public inquiries into the E. coli outbreaks in South Wales and Scotland.

He also acts as an expert in microbiology and food safety for the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments and recommended that the UK government set up the Food Standards Agency.

Cllr Liz Siggery, executive member for Wokingham corporate services, said: “I’m pleased that someone so knowledgeable was able to provide environmental health officers with important information that could help safeguard our residents and visitors from unpleasant illnesses in the future.

“I hope that everyone who attended the event found the professor’s words of wisdom useful and beneficial in furthering their knowledge.”

Wokingham Borough Council