Gwobrau i Ffermwyr Cymreig
A trio of leading figures in the sphere of agri-politics are among eight people in Wales who have been made Associates of the Royal Agricultural Societies. Gareth Vaughan of Dolfor, Montgomeryshire, has been president of the Farmers Union of Wales for the past five years, Peredur Hughes of Llanddeusant Caergybi, Anglesey, was president of NFU Cymru from 2002 to 2006, and Mrs Ionwen Lewis of Llangranog, Ceredigion, has been national president of the Women’s Farming Union for the past four years. The three new Associates are all noted for their outstanding service to the farming industry.
Gareth Vaughan’s active involvement in the affairs of the FUW began in the 1980s when he served as branch chairman. As time went on he became increasingly involved in the union’s work and represented the county on a number of the FUW’s central policy committees before being unanimously elected president of the union annually since 2003, a role in which he has been prominent in negotiating better terms for Welsh agriculture covering many issues.
Peredur Hughes was chairman of the NFU’s Anglesey branch in 1984 and was elected to the NFU Council and became a member of the NFU Cymru Council in 1990. He was elected vice-president of the NFU in Wales in 1998 and president in 2002, a period in which he made a significant contribution to the formation of policies influencing agriculture in Wales, the UK and Europe.
Mrs Ionwen Lewis has campaigned passionately to improve the understanding of farming, the countryside and the process of food production particularly among the urban public. She is now in her fourth year as president of the Women’s Food & Farming Union.
The other new Associates in Wales are:
John Homfray, who has remodelled the Penllyn Estate at Cowbridge, Glamorgan, which has been owned by his family for 160 years, into a flagship enterprise in terms of farming techniques, care of the environment and diversification. Innovations on the 1800 acre enterprise with its 1000 cattle and 500 breeding ewes include the use of industrial waste such as wood chips for bedding livestock and the recycling of municipal and kitchen waste as soil conditioners and fertiliser.
David Jones of Machynlleth, Powys, until his recent retirement, had been Regional Manager of the British Wool Marketing Board for 25 years. He was responsible for Wales, the south-west and southern and central areas of England, and is widely recognised as one of the most knowledgeable people in the country on every type of wool in the British wool clip. He has been described as a great ambassador for British wool.
Brian Rees of Abbeycwmhir, Llandrindod Wells, is widely known as a crusader for farm safety. Agriculture is an industry which claims the lives of more than 50 people a year in fatal accidents. His involvement in Health and Safety and Safe Practices in Agriculture started in the 1970s while a member of the YFC – an organisation of which he was later elected National Federation chairman. He has devoted himself to a career as a safety instructor and assessor training and examining farmers and training new examiners in the task of saving lives in the industry.
Mrs Eurgain Jones of Llansannan, Conwy, was awarded the coveted title of the NFU Welsh Woman Farmer of the Year in 2007, an honour which reflected her character and achievements since the sudden death of her husband 10 years ago left her with two teenage children to support and a 270 acre farm to run. She has specialised in breeding Texel sheep producing many show champions and winning the competition for the Best Texel Flock in Wales twice in three years.
Sarah Byford of Usk, Monmouthshire, was a lecturer in animal husbandry and farm management at Usk Agricultural College for nearly 30 years. She also managed the college farm from 1988 to 1992 and although she retired from mainstream teaching she continues as a tutor for the smallholders course at the college. She has been secretary of the Monmouthshire Grassland Society since 1972, was chair of the Federation of Welsh Grassland Societies in 2002 and in 2007 rejoined the British Grassland Society council as president-elect and became president of the society in July last year.
top printiwch