Award for Welsh flockmaster
One of the most successful and innovative sheep farmers in Wales, Tom Tudor of Llysun, Llanerfyl, Welshpool, Powys, has won the John Gittins Memorial Award for 2010 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Welsh sheep industry.
Born and raised on a 1700 acre open hill farm at Cwm Nant yr Eira in Mid Wales, Mr Tudor made an early decision at the young age of 18, following the death of his father, that his future would depend on sheep farming. Since then he has devoted a lifetime’s energy and enthusiasm not only to his own farming enterprise but also to a range of organisations connected to the industry which have benefited from his contribution.
In 1974 he became a council member of the Welsh Half Bred Sheep Association and five years later, in 1979, was one of the founders of the Welsh Mule Sheep Association, both of which made a massive contribution to the economy of Welsh agriculture, attracting buyers from across Britain to sheep sales in Wales to purchase the high quality stock on offer.
In 1981 he received the UK Joseph Nickerson National Sheep Husbandry Award and later served for four years on the Farm Animal Welfare Council updating the Sheep Welfare Codes and on the NFU Welsh Livestock Board for 20 years from 1979 to 1999. He was chairman of the board from 1983 to 1989 during the aftermath of Chernobyl disaster and its repercussions for sheep farmers in North Wales.
A former member of the board of Welsh Lamb Enterprise and Welsh Lamb and Beef Promotions he was actively involved in developing new markets for Welsh lamb at home and in Europe and in 1992 he was a founder member of the Waitrose Welsh Lamb Marketing Group.
Other offices held by Mr Tudor include chairman of the Montgomeryshire Agricultural Association Sheep Shearing Committee and Director of the Moredun Foundation for Animal Health and Welfare which has carried out research work on anthelmintic resistance in sheep. Since 2002 he has been the North Wales board member of the British Wool Marketing Board, representing the interests of producers during one of the most difficult periods for the price and marketing of wool.
Mr Tudor was one of 12 entrants for the award from across Wales who were nominated by the RWAS County Advisory committees, the Welsh Mule Sheep Breeders Association, the Wales NSA, NFU, FUW and CLA. The award is made annually in memory of another pioneering flockmaster in Wales, John Gittins who farmed in Montgomeryshire, and was a leading figure in the development and promotion of Welsh Mule Sheep.