Farmers Club WINTER 2021 • ISSUE 291
www.thefarmersclub.com
INSIDE Chairman’s Comments p3 Club News p4 Borders Tour p6 Inspiring farms p8 Harvest Supper p10 Beef Letters p12 Club Room Launch p13 Roddy Loder-Symonds p14 Craig’s Corner p15 Pinnacle Awards p16 Farming figures p18 Golf Society p18 Chef’s page p19 Under 30s p20 Club Info p23
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Club bounces back Normal Club activities return in London and across UK
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Farmers Club Serving the farming industry for 178 years 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL Patron – Her Majesty The Queen
Contents
FRONT COVER Normality is returning to Club activities, including the Chairman’s Tour to The Borders, several farm show receptions, London activities, the 2021 Pinnacle Awards and the Club’s Harvest Festival & Supper. Disclaimer: The articles published in The Farmers Club Journal do not necessarily reflect the views of The Farmers Club. No responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in the magazine can be accepted by the publisher. Advertisements are included in good faith. All rights reserved.
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Chairman’s Comments Chairman Keith Redpath takes a look at all that is happening in the Club and the industry beyond
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Club News Club activities go from strength to strength as members enjoy activities at 3 Whitehall Court and around the country
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Chairman’s Tour The Borders region hosted a fabulous series of farm walks and cultural visits
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Farming Focus Impressive farming enterprises opened their doors to welcome Club members
10 Har vest Festival & Supper Annual harvest-home event in London proves very popular
12 Letters to the Editor Our article on beef eating quality stimulated plenty of debate, including these Letters to the Editor
13 Club Room Launch
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The new Club Room is now fully open for functions
14 Roddy Loder-Symonds Obituary for influential past Chairman of the Club
15 Craig’s Corner Member Experience Manager’s top tips
16 Pinnacle 2021 Farm business management students compete
19 Chef ’s Page Foraging is a fine way to find flavoursome ingredients
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20 Under 30s Event plans and a welcome return to Dinner at the Club
21 Rare Breeds Supporting rare genetic diversity in farm livestock
22 Club Info All your key Club information in one place
24 Food & Beverage Staff pressures mean necessary changes to services
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Chairman’s Comments • Keith Redpath Group and the innovative progress in their food and flower business. Each visit was memorable, made even more special by the warmth of welcome by our hosts. In addition, we incorporated one or two cultural visits into the tour and learned about some of the history of the Scottish Borders. Summer shows On 15th August a group of us enjoyed an excellent day at Henley Regatta. We are indebted to Brenda Copas who kindly made this a great day out centered around their family hospitality facility on the banks of the Thames. Andrei and I also visited the Westmorland Show on 8th September where we hosted a reception for 50 Club members and friends. It was an incredibly hot day with temperatures reaching 30 degrees. Sadly, we had to pull out of holding a reception at the Royal Ulster Show, but we are committed to being back there next spring.
Chairman’s Comments “It continues to be a concern that we have as yet very little detail on what new support our governments across the UK are offering. This information is vital so we can plan for the future and continue to feed the nation, as well as maintain a prosperous agricultural industry.”
HOW things have changed over the last three months. We are now able to meet up more freely. Our confidence is growing as we attend a growing number of events as we come to terms with what I believe is the new normal, living with Covid 19. The four nations of the UK are moving out of restrictions at different speeds. Lessons have been learned about how to deal with protecting our health and well-being. A buzz in the Club Over the past three months I have been at the Club almost every week. It has been good to meet many members there. It is also encouraging to see business at the Club returning to pre-covid levels. Increasingly, accommodation has been fully booked and, at the same time, we have had functions going on which have made the public areas very busy, creating quite a buzz. On your behalf, I would like to thank our team for working so hard, with many of them multi-tasking when necessary to ensure we provide the level of service we have all come to expect. As you will know, the hospitality industry is under severe pressure at the moment and employing people to fill vacant positions is extremely difficult. Let’s hope this problem eases and we are able to recruit the number of staff we need to be able to operate efficiently. Borders visit Grace and I were delighted to welcome a lovely group of members to our home area in the Scottish Borders. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. I would like to thank Colin & Jill McGregor from Coldstream Mains, the Robson family from the Chain Bridge Honey Farm, and Jim Shanks and family for the visit to Standhill near Hawick. It was also good to have a talk from Gus Armstrong about the Greenvale
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Our final show visit this year was to Chelsea Flower Show on 23rd of September. It was the first time it had been held in the autumn. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there, rounding the day off with a Dinner back at the Club in the evening. Peter Seabrook was our after-dinner speaker, entertaining us with a humorous and informative talk about his life in horticulture. Harvest home The weather was kind to us during summer2021, which enabled us to complete harvest in good time. Most crops have been of good quality and here in the Scottish Borders moistures were lower than normal. Prices remain strong which will hopefully help us cope with the huge price increases we are facing for seed, fertiliser and chemicals as we plant next year’s crop. However, it continues to be a concern that we have, as yet, very little detail on what new support our governments across the UK are offering. This information is vital so we can plan for the future and continue to feed the nation, as well as maintain a prosperous agricultural industry. A wonderful year I have thoroughly enjoyed my year as Chairman over what has been a challenging time. It has been great meeting so many members that I have not known previously. I would personally like to thank Andrei, Virginia and the team for making me so welcome. It has been a pleasure working with you all. I am sure John will enjoy his year as Chairman in 2022. May I take this opportunity to wish him all the best. And now, may I wish each one of you a Happy Christmas and a prosperous 2022.
@thefarmersclub
The Farmers Club Page
www.thefarmersclub.com • 03
Andrei Spence • Club News
Club News
Relief as Club bounces back The cautious optimism I espoused in the last Journal in August has been broadly replaced by a sense of relief, writes Chief Executive & Club Secretary Andrei Spence. Increasing numbers of members are staying, eating and attending events, and a growing number of businesses/ organizations are holding meetings at the Club. Together with a surge in anniversary, birthday and wedding celebrations, plus more member experiences, this has had an enormous and positive financial impact, mitigating some of the effects of the past 18 months. As London slowly gets back into gear there is a palpable feeling of energy and vitality returning. There is a long way to go, but it is all moving forward. The only dragging anchor is the paucity of manpower to fill positions we have been trying to fill for the past three months as business picked up dramatically. This has caused very severe pressure on our existing team, particularly F&B and Housekeeping, and critically in the Kitchen. We have had some success recruiting into the former two departments, but absolutely no joy attracting a single trained chef at any level since re-opening in May – we remain 40% light in this department.
This is now having a very serious effect on our ability to maintain even our current level of offering and service to members and business customers alike and is resulting in further restrictions in service. However, the quality of produce, excellence of preparation and service, and the Club ambience will not be affected, only the capacity to which we can operate. The Club has 40-85% occupancy until the end of the year on current bookings. I have to thank the membership in particular for their outstanding support, which has been instrumental in limiting our losses to more manageable proportions and making our current position so much more positive than we could have expected, relatively speaking. In general terms, it has been clear that members have been very confident to come back to the Club and feel comfortable being here. Couples, families and guests have left extremely good feedback on the quality of what we offer and the safe environment they have felt around them. Recent announcements and the commencement of booster inoculations will, I am sure, increase confidence for all, along with many younger people now coming forward for vaccination.
Charitable Trust In September the Farmers Club Charitable Trust held its AGM in the newly re-decorated ‘Club Room’ (ex-Forty Room, p13) discussing among many items the ways in which the Trust could expand its outreach into education and leadership within the farming community.
UP-COMING EVENTS At time of writing we are looking forward to Club events including dinner and Shostakovich at the Barbican, the Ladies Lunch, Harvest Festival Service and Supper, London Symphony Orchestra with Sir Simon Rattle, Beauty of the Ballet, Champions Tennis, Van Gogh Exhibition, Christmas at Kew and Cirque du Soleil, all of which I will report on in the next Journal. We have also just learned of an exhibition to be held at the V&A highlighting the work of the Russian Imperial Jeweller, Carl Fabergé. Watch out for details.
Roddy Loder-Symonds Following the very sad news of the death of former Club Chairman and Chairman of Trustees, Roddy Loder-Symonds, I attended his memorial Service at St John’s Church, Barham near Canterbury. There were many Club members in attendance to join a packed church (and outside marquee where the service was streamed via TV) in remembrance of a stalwart Club member and gentleman. His obituary is on p14.
Old War Office Work at the Old War Office continues at a frenetic pace and non-noisy work is now continuing pretty much around the clock in order to make up for time lost during the pandemic. I expect the pressures have increased further with manpower shortages and logistics supply chains hugely stressed as rooms and apartments are being fitted out.
Marlene & Lynne AS I highlighted in my second September e-newsletter we celebrated with Reservations Manager, Marlene Abrahams, as she chalked up 20 years of loyal service with the Farmers Club. A very well-known member of the team to the majority of the membership. In late October we said farewell to long-serving Finance team member, Lynne Wilson, who retired after 23 years of service with the Club in a variety of departments. We thank her for her long and loyal service and wish Lynne, and husband Colin, a long and happy retirement.
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Club News • Andrei Spence
Wonderful array of events The past three months has seen a number of Club events, including an unforgettable trip to Kensington Palace for members to see an exhibition tracking ‘Royal Style in the making’, followed by dinner at the Club. In mid-August we took a large party to the Henley Royal Regatta, and despite almost constant rain on the coach journey there the sun broke out almost as soon as we arrived, and stayed for the rest of an exceptional day. After the sad death of Tom Copas it was a pleasure to be able to meet his widow, Brenda, who joined us in our marquee to hear a fitting tribute to Tom for his facilitation of many Farmers Club days at Henley over the years. How we miss his unforgettable riverboat commentaries! The end of August also saw the Under 30s hold their first dinner in over 20 months, a small gathering but hopefully it starts the ball rolling as the Under 30s seek to breathe life into their upcoming programme. September started in quite busy fashion with a morning tour of London’s Globe Theatre, expertly guided by our very own Craig, who having previously worked there gave our members a very insightful and extensive tour. After an early supper we returned for Romeo & Juliet at this incomparable venue.
Club Calendar Diary Dates
See Club website for information about Club events Following the disappointing news that we had to cancel the Balmoral Show dinner this year, owing to factors outside our control, it was tremendous that the Chairman and I met up at the Westmorland Show on the first day of the first ever two day show in Westmorland’s history. We met a large number of Club members during the day, the Chairman spending the morning judging at the food stands before a reception for 45 members and their guests in the President’s pavilion, addressed by Club member John Dunning CBE – very thought provoking. Under a baking hot sun we all had a tremendous time.
BUSINESS AWARDS
September was rounded off by a Club trip to Chelsea Flower Show in a most unfamiliar Autumn slot. The show was tremendous and the exhibitors had shown exceptional horticultural expertise to produce stunning exhibits beyond the usual growing season. The party spent the afternoon inspecting exhibits before returning to the Club for dinner and a talk from Club Member, broadcaster, writer and author, Peter Seabrook MBE. An excellent day.
THE Pinnacle Awards made a very welcome return in mid-September, with eight short-listed candidates competing for Gold, Silver and Bronze awards (p16). Particular thanks go to our partners ADAS for selecting the candidates, CAVE Foundation for providing financial support and the selection panel of Tony Turner, Charles Abel, Keith Redpath and Chairman of the panel, Jimmy McLean.
www.thefarmersclub.com • 05
Charles Abel • Chairman’s Tour
Magnificent Borders “For success, attitude is equally as important as ability” Sir Walter Scott
“The will to do, the soul to dare” Sir Walter Scott
Cutting-edge farming efficiency, innovation, Club fellowship and culture characterised a fascinating Club tour to Scotland’s Borders region. Charles Abel reports THE Scottish Borders region around Kelso provided a stunning backdrop for the 2021 Chairman’s Tour, hosted by Keith and Grace Redpath. It proved to be a very welcome return to more normal Club activity after the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic. From some of the most technically progressive farming in the UK to artisanal honey production the Borders Tour was packed with insight, and a host of cultural interludes, including the stunning Floors Castle near Kelso, Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford House near Melrose and a gala dinner in the Victorian Conservatory of the fabulous Schloss Roxburghe Hotel. Home for our stay was the classically-styled Ednam House Hotel, with a glorious lawn overlooking Kelso’s wonderful River Tweed – perfect for winding-down over a glass of chilled fizz following a busy day investigating the local area. With members joining the tour from all parts of the UK, including several former Club chairmen, the conversation flowed freely as the Borders revealed some of Britain’s best farming and cultural gems.
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Farming efficiency For a glimpse into the future of super-efficient combinable crop production it would be hard to beat Colin McGregor’s Coldstream Mains in the Tweed Valley. Gleaming Quad-Tracs seemed to pop out from behind every hedge, while three huge Claas Lexion combines dominated an immaculate yard ready to get back to barley harvesting duty, while two giant Agrifac Condor self-propelled sprayers demonstrate the latest spraying technology to minimise environmental pressures and boost crop performance. The ethos is simple – “we’re in a service industry and a professional service is what our clients expect, and it what they get,” said Colin. Harnessing the best technology through a meticulously managed farming operation based around in-house expertise, has seen the business grow to almost 3500ha (8600 acres), with a reputation for superbly managed contract farming agreements (see p8). Further evidence of the rich innovation agenda in Borders farming was shared by Kelso-native Angus Armstrong, Chief Executive of Produce Investments, which includes major potato packer Greenvale at Craigswalls, Borders, and businesses supplying daffodils, Jersey Royals, and Alzheimerslowing drug galantamine (see p9).
Chairman’s Tour • Charles Abel Artisanal excellence By stark contrast Chain Bridge Honey Farm has pursued an artisanal approach to honey production, giving consumers what supermarkets just can’t – a real passion for the product, great taste, Borders provenance, a short supply chain and an unmatchable day-out experience. The farm takes its name from Europe’s first ever chain suspension bridge across the River Tweed at Horncliffe, near Berwick-on-Tweed. Currently dismantled for refurbishment the bridge is due to be back up in 2022 – well worth a look. Wise farm owner Willie Robson has invested prudently in the bee business, including a determined loyalty to “better” native black bees, a diverse range of honey and wax-based products, and a supply network of over 400 retailers. Effervescent daughter Francis is now over-seeing the next phase of investment ready for a post-covid business re-bound. Tomato triumph Returning to high-tech innovation Standhill Farm is the unlikely dairy enterprise in a small valley near Hawick with a very big secret. Jim and Kerry Shanks, and Jim’s parents Jim Senior and Annie Shanks, have created a stunning tomato enterprise, using heat and CO2 from an anaerobic digester fed with slurry from the 180-head milking herd to produce methane and electricity for the national grid. The enterprise was inspired by an article in The Farmers Club Journal describing British Sugar’s ground-breaking tomato enterprise using heat and CO2 from Wissington sugar beet factory, visited during Chairman Paul Heygate’s Norfolk tour in 2012. Trips to the Fens, then a Nuffield Scholarship supported by the Treharne Trust, saw Jim investigate on-farm energy production in Australia and across
the EU, leading to the current carefully tuned system (more on p9). Castles & Culture Cultural depth was added to the tour at Abbotsford House, a stunning Scots Baronial castle outside Melrose, built for literary genius Sir Walter Scott, born 250 years ago, and author of Ivanhoe, Lady of the Lake and Waverley. Scott oversaw the creation of Abbotsford’s beautiful gardens, had an eye for environmental protection and did much to establish Scottish identity. The house has over 10,000 artefacts, including a cast of Robert the Bruce’s skull. The Tour’s final night gala dinner at Schloss Roxburghe Hotel celebrated the best of local ingredients, many grown in the hotel’s own kitchen gardens. The group was joined by Barclay Forrest, a former Club Chairman and Chair of Trustees, who lives close by, and Ray Jones, former Chief Executive of the Royal Highland Agricultural Society.
For a grand finale, uniting culture and farming, it was back to Kelso for magnificent Floors Castle, Scotland’s largest inhabited castle, set in a vast landscaped park beside the stunning River Tweed. Built exactly 300 years ago, and now home to 11th Duke of Roxburghe Charles Innes-Ker, the castle’s rooms tell the story of an historic estate made wealthy by wool before embracing the assets of an American banking heiress. Today Floors hosts 30,000 visitors a year and oversees a dynamic 54,000 acre farming estate (see p9). Driving back from the Tour no participant could have doubted the quality of the farming or the culture, the warmth of the welcomes, or the organisational skills to deliver such a great tour so soon after the rigours of the 2020-2021 pandemic. Thank you Chairman - a true triumph!
www.thefarmersclub.com • 07
Charles Abel • Borders Farming
Borders does it best Investing in innovation and efficiency were recurring themes on the Chairman’s Tour of the Borders region of Scotland. Charles Abel reports
“We’re looking after somebody else’s asset, so we’ve got to get it right.” “The slurry is as valuable as the milk, it’s certainly making as much money.”
FARMING EFFICIENCY MOBILE phones, modern machinery and precision farming transformed arable farming, says Colin McGregor. Now McGregor Farms delivers an exceptional contract farming operation across almost 3500ha (8500 acres) of the fertile Tweed Valley. What Vaderstad’s drill started, by raising daily outputs from 40 to 100 acres a day, today Claas Lexion combines have continued, with a flexible 42ft belt-fed header raising output by 20% and 30% in wheat and oilseed rape respectively. At £435,000 each they must earn their way, which McGregor farms ensures they do. The dedicated team includes CFA-standard accountancy, delivered by wife Jill, and in-house agronomy. “With no scope for diversification we have to rely on pure farming, and contract farming is our diversification,” says Colin. Key to retaining 15 agreements is a reputation built on trust. “Economics is the driver, not politics, Brexit or anything else. And we’re looking after somebody else’s asset, so we’ve got to get it right.” A life-changing Worshipful Company of Farmers course in 2001 triggered the business expansion, with arable technical manager David Fuller joining from Yorkshire’s JSR Farming in 2008. Annual rainfall of 686mm (27 inches) and increasingly extreme weather means weather windows must be fully exploited. Investment in infrastructure includes a 4000t potato cold store and 10,000t grain store. People are invested in too, to retain a stable team. And the best possible innovation is captured through up-to-
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date machinery. “Depreciation is our biggest cost, but without the kit we couldn’t do the job. We’re investing in the ability to work shorter and shorter weather windows,” Colin says. This September’s drilling goal was 1000 acres/ four days. That’s do-able with multiple Quad-tracs and high output drills on a 12m Controlled Traffic Farming system to cut fuel use, limit soil damage and raise yields. If precision farming is going to work anywhere it will work here, with Tweed valley soils varying hugely, both within and between fields. McGregor Farms has been mapping since 1996, with electrical conductivity mapping now offering even more opportunity. Variable rate seed, backed by variable rate P, K, lime and N-sensor guided nitrogen applications, ensures crops hit optimum populations with eyewatering evenness, despite what lies beneath. “It’s a slow burn, but over a long period of time it works, and it gets us up the learning curve on new farms faster too,” says Colin. Technology should help with the worrying decline in crop protection options too. The 36m Agrifac Condor self-propelled sprayers have individual nozzle control to prevent overlaps, electro-charging pattern control and “green on brown” computer-aided targeting of weeds on bare land, and “green on green” targeting of weeds in crops a real prospect. “It’s expensive technology, but the savings are there,” says Colin. You’d back McGregor Farms against any farm anywhere in the world to extract the best efficiency gains – truly inspiring.
Borders Farming • Charles Abel
TOMATO TRIUMPH MANAGING a complex enterprise harvesting energy from cow muck and biomass for the national grid and a 4-acre glasshouse growing succulent tomatoes in rural Scotland is no mean feat. But for Jim Shanks it continues five generations of investing in innovation at Standhill Farm, including a cheese-making venture by his parents, and a nascent tomato wine enterprise by wife Kerry. Tweaks to optimise output have been key, especially with the Borders receiving 30% less light per year than south coast competitors, and each 1% of reduced sunlight translating into 1% less yield. Slurry from the year-round housed Holstein dairy herd feeds an anaerobic digester to generate renewable electricity, with surplus heat drying woodchip for boilers to deliver glasshouse heat and year-round RHI and FiT payments. Methane output is enhanced by adding 3000t of crop to the 7000t of slurry.
Producing milk for Tesco now takes a disproportionate amount of time. “The slurry is as valuable as the milk, it’s certainly making as much money,” says Jim. CO2 from the biogas is supplemented with bought-in bottled gas, its greater purity helping drive tomato output. Similarly, diffuse glass ensures better light transmission into the lower crop canopy. And lower temperatures in the Borders allow night-time crop stressing to stimulate flowering. The sophisticated growing system, using precisely fed plants grown in rockwool to up to 45ft in length in a season, produces vine and cherry tomatoes for Morrisons and Asda. All staff are local – quite a triumph in UK ag currently. The net result? Standhill crop output matches southern competitors. It’s working so well Jim is tempted to invest in another glasshouse. But where to put it in this tight Borders valley. Be assured, if it can be done Jim will find a way of doing it.
PRODUCE INVESTMENTS KEEP agribusiness innovation in private hands, suggests Angus Armstrong Chief Executive of Produce Investments, after the firm’s 8-year spell with LSE AIM listing revealed the City’s aversion to rain, drought, retail supply and volatile short-term returns. The group supplies 150,000t/year of potatoes as Greenvale, exports seed to N Africa and provides Crop4Sight digital agronomy and novel ethylene-based storage solution Restrain. It also supplies 20,000t/year of PDO Jersey Royals, 23million daffodil bunches (worth £1 each in the UK, but €1.99 in Europe), 80 acres of daffodils to produce Alzheimer-slowing drug galantamine and 10 acres of Jersey Fine Tea. An impressive diversified agri-business.
ROXBURGHE ESTATES THIS thriving 54,000 acre commercial estate includes Tweed-side fishing, a sensitively managed 9,500 acre grouse moor, conservation projects for mountain hare, black grouse and wild grey partridge, 16 hill farms averaging 1500 acres each, and a wind farm powering 80,000 homes. With an eye to farming’s long-term future the estate has in-hand and tenanted farms producing prime Scottish beef and lamb, malting barley, oats, potatoes and more from the grassy slopes of the Cheviots to the heather-clad Lammermuirs, with the fertile Tweed valley between. Gillon Bloodstock is going from strength to strength.
www.thefarmersclub.com • 09
Charles Abel • Harvest Supper
Locusts & Lilies A well-attended Farmers Club Harvest Festival service at Saint Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London was followed by an excellent supper at the Club. Charles Abel reports
Keith Redpath, Club Chairman, and Karen Mercer, newly installed Master of the Worshipful Company of Farmers
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Revd Grace Redpath, church service speaker
Harvest Supper • Charles Abel GETTING back to normal Saint Martin-inthe-Fields church in London welcomed Club members from far and wide to a superb Harvest Festival Service, followed by a delightful Harvest Supper at the Club. On a fine Autumn afternoon, members were joined by Masters from a number of the City’s Livery Companies, including newly installed Master of the Worshipful Company of Farmers, Karen Mercer, a long-time Club member. To celebrate harvest home five trugs of farm produce were carried to the front of the church by committee members. The magnificent surroundings of the church reverberated to some amazing singing by St Martin’s Voices choir, with the Club’s Honorary Chaplain Reverend Dr Sam Wells leading powerful prayers for the rural community and a captivating sermon from Chairman Keith Redpath’s wife the Reverend Grace Redpath. Back at the Club food ingredients from UK farms took centre stage in a wonderful Harvest Festival Supper, including Suffolk Pork Belly and Toasted Hazelnut Slice, all created by Head Chef & Director of Food Paul Hogben and his team. Times of crisis As the nation emerged from the covid pandemic Revd Grace Redpath took us back 20 years to another time of major crisis, when dust and ashes surrounded the horrors of 9/11 in the USA and, closer to home, foot-and-mouth ravaged the UK. As that virus wrought devastation across the countryside UK farming experienced one of its most stressful years in recent agricultural history.
Back in the days of Bible prophet Joel locusts could destroy a whole year of crops, a whole community’s livelihood, a whole nation’s survival – in minutes. At such times of challenge people naturally question God, as they have done during the pandemic. And God is not silent. Joel’s people were comforted by a promise of restoration, something new rising from the ashes: “I will restore the years the locusts have eaten.” At a personal level, do we too hear God saying he will restore the years the locust has eaten in terms of our regrets, failures and mistakes? That he will gently recreate, reshape and re-form us? Rather beautifully the Japanese kintsugi method for repairing broken pottery uses special lacquer mixed with gold, silver or platinum to join the broken pieces – with no attempt to disguise the brokenness. What were once cracks become an integral part of the bowl, reflecting the beautiful bonding agent, with stunning results. More beautiful “When our lives are shattered by a terrible trial or tragedy, rather than conceal the damage, out of his compassion for us God puts us back together, creating something more beautiful than before,” Revd Grace reflected. Matthew’s gospel talks of the futility of worry, despite it seeming impossible not to worry, especially after the 19 months we’ve just experienced. But God loves and values us, even above the birds of the air. One of Jesus’ suggestions to counteract worry is to “consider the lilies” – to take time to stop, gaze, notice the detail, reflect, contemplate. Just as poet Wendel Berry urges (panel). We get to know God by the things he makes – his fingerprints are everywhere.
CLUB AWARD WINNERS It was a great pleasure on Thursday 7 October, postlockdown, to attend the Farmers Weekly Awards Dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London, with Club Chairman Keith Redpath as my guest. There were over 900 guests, including many Farmers Club members, several of whom were finalists, one an award winner, and one a judge! In the Club Bar prior to leaving for the black-tie event it was nice to meet fellow Club member Matthew Curry, an independent FW Awards judge this year. Paul Temple who has been a member of the Club for 14 years won the Mixed Farmer of The Year Award in recognition of his efforts to move his large beef and arable farm near Driffield, Yorks to conservation agriculture, reducing overall nitrogen use by 25% and reducing chemical inputs to help maximise soil biology efficiency. Fellow Club member Ed Brown, of HL Hutchinson in Shropshire, was a finalist in the Arable Advisor of the Year, while Warwickshirebased Club member Edward Burman of Hemp Whole Foods was a finalist in the Environment Champion of the Year Award. Congratulations to all! Anthony Snell, Farmer, FC Committee Member and 2020 FW Diversification Award finalist.
“And so, as God has promised to restore the years the locusts have eaten in the larger story of our lives, Jesus is offering daily restoration, healing and hope to us through paying attention to the short-lived beauty of the lilies – an antidote to the anxious, preoccupied lives we sometimes lead,” Revd Grace concluded.
THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS, by American poet, environmental activist and farmer Wendell Berry When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound… I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives, with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars, waiting with their light. For a time, I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
www.thefarmersclub.com • 11
Charles Abel • Letters to the Editor
LETTERS... to the Editor Beef Q Report THE majority of those directly involved in the production and processing of beef (farmers and meat processors) felt the beef industry needed to evolve from the current EUROP system to a system of assessment and reward for eating quality. Views on how such a system should be implemented varied, with an extension to the current EUROP grading system slightly more favoured than its complete replacement. Implementing such a system at a UK national level was preferred, either by levy bodies or an independent organisation. There were concerns about cost/benefit fairness within the supply chain. A quarter of respondents felt consumers were not confident in beef eating quality.
YOUR VOICE Send letters for publication to editor@ thefarmersclub. com or post to 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL
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Dear Editor,
Claire Powell in her excellent piece “Beef is for eating …” made many pertinent and important observations about beef eating quality and consumer expectations. The BeefQ Wales project is an RDPF/ Welsh Government funded three-year collaboration between six partners: Aberystwyth University, Birkenwood Pty Ltd, Celtica Foods Ltd, Hybu Cig Cymru, Menter a Busnes and Queens University Belfast. This pre-competitive project is assessing beef eating quality in the Welsh Beef supply chain, with the aim being to increase the eating quality and value of Welsh beef production through the testing and demonstration of an enhanced carcase grading system based on the Meat Standards Australia model. It started in 2018 and although somewhat delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the sample preparation,
consumer testing, data collection/ correlation, and consumer and producer surveys are now complete. Initial outcomes have been published and are available at www.beefq.wales In the UK we produce some of the best grass-fed beef in the world, something I am sure time and science will demonstrate is the most environmentally sustainable means of producing highly nutrient dense beef of excellent eating quality. Time surely then to have a means of accurately measuring this quality, enabling us to provide valuable data and reward back to the producer, and perhaps most importantly enhancing the eating quality experience, confidence and trust of the consumer. Yours sincerely,
Tim Rowe, Celtica Foods Ltd
Dear Editor,
I’d like to congratulate you for publishing quality can be rewarded by premium Claire Powell’s thought provoking article prices. It is mainstream beef producers about beef eating quality (Journal that need a new signal – niche beef 290). With our market about to open marketeers are already connected to up to ‘eating quality graded’ US and their customers. Australasian beef, it will not be enough for us to hope that our high welfare and Yours faithfully, environmentally responsible beef will be the preferred choice of UK consumers. We need to keep up the pressure for a change to the EUROP grid so those of us who are investing in breeding and producing animals which focus on eating Hawkley Red Angus
Robert Whitcombe,
Club Room • Virginia Masser
The Farmers Club launches the
CLUB ROOM The Club Room formerly the Forty Room has been launched!! Virginia Masser explains
This room, a popular Club function room, was formerly called the Forty Room. The name was based on The Forty Club, a worldwide Wandering Cricket Club who used the room regularly for their meetings between 1969 and 2021. Whilst we have re-named it the “Club Room” the Farmers Club retains its strong links with The Forty Club, who will continue to use the Club’s function rooms. The Club Room, the function room on the Upper Ground Floor overlooking Whitehall Court now hosts an array of Farmers Club memorabilia. This includes The Farmers Club Cup, The Last Officers Board that was on the wall in the Upper Ground Corridor pre Project CREST in 2016, the Farmers Club Pavilion plaques, one from when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother opened the Pavilion on 9th July 1964, club signage from days gone by and some memorable moments that have been recorded in our Visitors books. This wonderful history is now on show for you all to see, to reminisce about historic Club events, special moments in time and to recollect your visits to the Club. The Club Room is a function room that can hold 14 people around a boardroom table for a meeting, lunch or dinner or 25 for a stand up cocktail reception.
Virginia Masser General Manager
To book your function in the Club Room contact Liza: functions@thefarmersclub.com or 020 7925 7100 www.thefarmersclub.com • 13
Andrei Spence • Obituary Chartered Surveyor Never a man to let the grass grow under his feet, in 1967 he joined Knight Frank & Rutley and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor specialising in property development in Australia and leisure development in the UK. In 1973, Roddy joined the team at Strutt and Parker and indeed opened the Canterbury office which he ran becoming an equity partner in the company, ultimately heading up the Farming Department and later the Marketing Department to boot, before retiring in 1999. Outside his professional farming and surveying life Roddy was involved with numerous organisations and charities in and around Kent, including being a former Governor of Canterbury Christ Church University for 14 years, former Chairman of the Canterbury Festival, a role he undertook for seven years and acting as High Sheriff of Kent in 2000/2001.
Roddy LoderSymonds Club Chairman in 1976 “Generous with his time…. Roddy was a distinguished member of the Farmers Club and immensely fond of its camaraderie and mixing with people with whom he had a natural interest.”
IN November 1938 Roddy was born into the family that had owned the Hinton Waldrist estate near Faringdon for several generations. After his father died, on the last day of the Second World War, his mother married again and the family moved to Lower Pertwood in Wiltshire. It was here that Roddy’s interest in farming flourished. After completing his education at Radley College, Roddy wanted to follow his father’s footsteps into the Army, but was rejected on medical grounds, and so, undeterred, he took a boat out to Australia and New Zealand where he spent 3 years working on various farms. He returned to the UK whereupon his stepfather, Colonel Jack Houghton Brown, a former Farmers Club Chairman, persuaded Roddy to go to the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, rather than returning abroad. Upon graduating from Cirencester, Roddy set about his first venture into agriculture taking over a 500 acre hill farm on Exmoor where he managed an extensive reclamation programme and built up a flock of 1000 breeding ewes.
14 • The Farmers Club Winter 2021
Generous with his time, in addition to these many commitments, Roddy was a distinguished member of the Farmers Club, having joined in October 1959, and was one of the Club’s longeststanding members. He was immensely fond of the Club, its camaraderie and mixing with people with whom he had a natural interest. Youngest Chairman Sitting on many committees in his early years, Roddy was elected as Club President and Chairman in 1976, the youngest ever Chairman at 37 years of age, and readily recognisable by his striking resemblance to the DC Comics hero, Superman, as he was affectionately referred to by his close friends. During his year he was very proud to have as the Guest of Honour at the Farmers Club Annual Ball, His Grace, The Archbishop of Canterbury Donald Coggan. Roddy became a Trustee and Director of the Farmers Club Leasehold Company in 1993, which amongst other duties assists the management of the Club’s long term financial assets. Roddy was instrumental in moving the Club’s assets from poorly performing endowment policies (which collectively came to a sad end a few years later) to a better managed and profitable equity portfolio. He was Chairman of Trustees 2003-2006 and until his death was a Club Honorary Vice President. A true gentleman in every sense of the word, having time for everyone and a fantastic person just to sit and listen to, he will be sorely missed by his wife, Caroline, his three children Sacha, Robert and James and his seven grandchildren. Andrei Spence Club Chief Executive
Club Services • Craig Barclay-Godfrey
My favourite time of year has arrived - the season of scarves, hot chocolates and dazzling lights. As Halloween and Bonfire Night come and go, thoughts are now turning to the Christmas period. Having stopped myself writing a full-on festive Newsletter, I’ve focused on the Razzle & Dazzle of this time of year, as we move towards Christmas and the New Year. Circus 1903 Circus 1903 brings the spectacular thrills and daredevil spills of the golden age of the Big Top. Expect sensational puppetry, putting elephants back in the ring as never seen and step back in time.
Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! Sadler’s Wells Matthew Bourne has created a fresh and charmingly irreverent interpretation. Expect a colourful candy twist to this traditional seasonal favourite.
Winter Pop-up Cinema
Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore
Nestle down in a deck chair to enjoy a screening of a holiday classic in this snug, cosy pop-up cinema tucked away in the Circus Bar by the River Thames.
The London Coliseums Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera HMS Pinafore, a hilarious tale about a clueless Captain and his pompous petty officers.
The Lord Mayor’s Show - 13 November 2021 It is difficult to be certain of anything this year but the Lord Mayor’s Show has survived over 800 years of turbulent London history including plagues, fires, bombs and floods. If London is not locked down in November, as we hope and expect, the Show will go on.
Ice Rinks London’s wonderful temporary ice rinks are beginning to pop up at some of London’s iconic venues including Somerset House & Queen’s House – be sure and ask me to book!
Craig Barclay-Godfrey Membership Experience Manager
When the Captain’s daughter falls for a lowly sailor she’s torn between true love and her desire to honour her father’s wish for her to marry the First Lord of the Admiralty. TV entertainer Les Dennis will be making his operatic debut in this satirical take on the British class system.
Faberge: Romance to Revolution This exhibition will explore the master goldsmith, Carl Fabergé – whose internationally recognised firm symbolised Russian craftsmanship, luxury and elegance.
Please contact me at memexpmanager@thefarmersclub. com or call me on 0207 930 3557, option 2 and I will help you plan, book and ensure you all have a great time.
www.thefarmersclub.com • 15
Charles Abel • Pinnacle Awards
“Understanding the frailties and strengths of the existing business is vital” Tony Turner, Pinnacle Judge and ADAS Senior Consultant
Pinnacle performers Farm business management skills were under intense scrutiny in the 2021 Pinnacle Awards judged in the Club this Autumn. Charles Abel reports RESPONDING to the challenges of declining support payments was a key theme in the 2021 Farmers Club Pinnacle Awards for farm business management students. Sponsored by the Cave Foundation and run with consultancy firm ADAS this prestigious competition drew entries from colleges and universities across the United Kingdom. Overall winner was Harry Davies of Harper Adams University, with Jacques Luckins of Bridgwater & Taunton College placed second and Rory Oliver from Newcastle University third. Coping with BPS cuts The competition champions realistic projects and people capable of driving rural businesses forwards in uncertain times, with the judges keen to see in-depth plans to help farms cope with Basic Payment cuts, backed by a strong awareness of cashflow, profit and capital, and how they link together. After a bit of a hiatus last year, caused by the covid pandemic, the awards returned to a more normal format this year,
16 • The Farmers Club Winter 2021
with interviews, presentations, an awards ceremony and celebration dinner all held in the Club in September. Jimmy McLean, Chair of the judging panel, commended the finalists for their dedication in a difficult year. “With studies disrupted, and students unable to meet farmers and lecturers face-to-face, this year’s projects have been more difficult to develop than usual. It really is a tremendous achievement to get to the finals.” The judging panel also included ADAS principal business consultant Tony Turner, Farmers Club Chairman and Kelso farmer Keith Redpath and Farmers Club Journal Editor Charles Abel. Key criteria for the awards are precise project reports, with a succinct explanation of the business case, backed by robust financial analysis. “Some of the home truths around declining support are going to be very difficult to swallow for many farm businesses, so projects do need to look at this and where we are going as an industry,” noted Mr Turner. The keenly contested competition saw ADAS draw up a shortlist of 8 entries from 15 submitted, with finalists interviewed in the Club in midSeptember. Choosing the winners was not easy, the judges deliberating for over an hour before arriving at a final decision. Clear covid impact The impact of covid was evident, highlighting the value of personal contact and site visits when developing business plans, noted Mr Redpath. “If you can’t see a farm and meet the farmer, you’re really working with one hand tied behind your back. It’s a tough ask to be given figures to work with, without access to the actual farm.” Uncertainty around the future of farming was another recurring theme. “There was an awareness of changes coming, especially reductions in Basic Payments, but frustration at the lack of detail,” noted Mr McLean.
Pinnacle Awards • Charles Abel Farming frailties It highlights the need to address what can be influenced, urged Mr Turner. “Understanding the frailties and strengths of the existing business is vital. There is a lot that can be done around capital repayment schedules and technical efficiency, for example, to prepare a farm business for the future. Working those plans up now is essential. It’s probably the most exciting time for farm consultancy since the 1980s, with some very significant responses possible if farmers and landowners can be convinced to make the right changes.”
it isn’t always enough,” Mr Turner added. Benchmarking has value, but ensure comparisons compare like with like, so strengths can be capitalised on and weaknesses removed with confidence.
The judges were keen to see a stronger focus on practical farming. “Diversification has its role, but when core business viability is threatened
See finalist reports at: www.thefarmersclub.com/library/pinnacleawards-reports
“One piece of constructive advice is to check data and make sure the basics are right,” advised Mr McLean. “Do a truth test: ‘would this make sense in the real world?’ It’s important, because if basic errors have slipped through your business plan it is going to put real doubt in a lender’s mind.”
“In-depth thinking about how farmers are going to cope with BPS changes is crucial” Jimmy McLean, Chair of Pinnacle Judges and Farmers Club Trustee.
Pinnacle Awards 2021
HARRY DAVIES,
JACQUES LUCKINS,
Pinnacle Gold, Nickerson Cup, £2000
Pinnacle Silver, £1000
Robust plans for a low-risk added-value diversification enterprise, leveraging customer skills from an existing farmshop, without impinging on a strong core farming enterprise. Detailed market analysis revealed significant demand for secure premium-priced caravan storage. Full-costings, including occupancy and price sensitivity, loan amortisation, P+L and crucially, cashflow analysis. Robust approach to planning approval and pricing. A realistic proposal with confident interview and presentation skills.
Investigation revealed forage-based sucklers or grass/maize-fed finishers were a no-go for the college farm. But detailed costings, with cashflow and sensitivity analysis, showed carbonfriendly rose veal could work. Crisp presentation, good practical awareness, including NVZ and specialist ration plans, and realism in the face of declining support.
Harper Adams University
Bridgwater & Taunton College
RORY OLIVER, Newcastle University RORY OLIVER, Newcastle PinnacleUniversity Bronze, £600
Moving to block cropping on three farm Pinnacle Bronze, £600 units more than 20 miles apart would Moving to block three farm units minimise travelcropping time andon fuel costs, while more than 20 machinery miles apartcost would minimise maximising savings, to travel timeBPS andcuts. fuel costs, while maximising counter Financial data allowed machinery cost savings, to counter BPSto for agronomic implications, a move cuts. Financial data allowed for agronomic min-till and adoption of Enhanced Overimplications, a move to min-till and adoption wintered Stubbles. of Enhanced Over-wintered Stubbles.
Runners-up (all finalists receive one-year free Club membership). Roy McColm, SRUC Ayr
Emily Mosley, Harper Adams University
Tom Procter, Newcastle University
Madeleine Twidale, Nottingham University
Organic yoghurt from unusual White Galloway cattle backed by a strong Dumfries and Galloway provenance story for local food outlets. Detailed plan, good marketing ideas and charismatic presentation.
Converting a derelict stone barn into two accessible holiday lets close to Chatsworth House. Detailed plans and strong financial analysis – justifying a brave, but correct, ‘not now’ recommendation.
Detailed data crunching for a dairy-based mixed farm, using a range of analytical tools to understand strengths and weaknesses. A forensic approach, great detail and useful recommendations.
Analysis of an existing arable farm rotation, re-mechanisation at lower cost, plus plans for new calf-rearing and goat-meat enterprises. Ambitious, costed and enthusiastic.
www.thefarmersclub.com • 17
Martin Shaw • Golf Society
Farming Figures A look at… the changing face of farming… told through statistics
16%
UK self-sufficiency in fruit, 54% fresh veg, 71% potatoes, 86% beef/veal, 89% eggs
24,300+ subscribers
Farming vlogger Olly Harrison’s YouTube audience earning him £2438 in July
1,000 lambs/yr
Gower Salt Marsh Lambs win first Protected Geographical Indication status since Brexit
2,178 farms
Defra/RPA Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot applicants, just 5% of eligible farms
0.00018%
Methane in atmosphere, with global warming potential 28x CO2 over 100 years
£250,000
Annual AHDB funding of Red Tractor food assurance scheme, cut by £40k this year
Golf Society The relaxing of some Covid restrictions in Spring 2021 allowed outdoor activities and hospitality to resume, starting at the enchanting New Zealand Golf Club in Surrey, where Captain Neil Stoddard was delighted with a resounding victory against EPICS in late April. Sadly, matches against the NFU at Newbury and Crookham, New Club at Luffness and HCEG at Muirfield were cancelled due to Covid restrictions. But in mid-May a most enjoyable day against the British Vets at Llanymynech Golf Club brought a 5-3 Club win. Our match against XL Club was eight-a-side due to Covid restrictions and with the British Open at Royal St. Georges the match was hosted by Rye Golf Club. History repeated with a Club win, the first since last visiting Rye in 2011.
16,000 licences
Our winning run ended on a beautiful summer’s day against the very competitive West Riding NFU with a 2-4 loss at Thryberg (Rotherham). The Club Championships at Blackwell Golf Club, Bromsgrove saw 28 golfers and guests play. The course and greens were again in excellent condition, with fine weather ensuring an enjoyable day. Stephen Gordon won the Farmers Club Putter (32 points), Hazel Byford the Eric Wilson Trophy for ladies (30 points), Geoff Matthews the John Roberts Trophy for men over 70 and William Harrison the visitors prize. My thanks to all members who have supported the society and Captain Neil so far this season. Members not on the mailing list and wishing to play please contact me directly. Martin Shaw Secretary Farmers Club Golf Society martin.edwardswale@gmail.com
Facing abstraction fee rises as Env Agency anticipates +23% water demand by 2050
£2M
Paid for 120ha Essex arable/woodland farm by Ground Control to showcase rewilding
51p/litre
From left to right: Neil Stoddard, Allan Stevenson, John Davis
Minimum price Spanish retailer Mercadona will sell milk at. It has a 30% market share
From left to right: Graham Ball, Edward Golland, Mark Jones
Half
Slump in Young Farmer Club membership due to covid, making recruitment a priority
18 • The Farmers Club Winter 2021
From left to right: John Hardman, Stephen Gordon, William Harrison
Head Chef & Director of Food • Paul Hogben
Free to When l was a child we spent many summers on holiday in Devon and Cornwall staying on farms, where my brother and l spent hours herding cows for milking. Those were the days when health and safety wasn’t the be all and end all. We could help out with everything from herding to aiding in the births of calves and piglets. Sadly, we always missed the lambs and could never understand why until later in life when we learnt about the lambing season! Days were spent on beaches wading through rock pools and gullies looking for shrimps, crabs, plaice, flounders and the infrequent lobster that we occasionally caught as they hid under the seaweed banks hoping we wouldn’t discover them. They always tasted better having caught them ourselves. Our family foraging habits didn’t end there. In the autumn we would go blackberrying, mushrooming, chestnut harvesting and sloe picking. I didn’t call it foraging until l was much older, but by then the habit was well entrenched and there are few things I like more than heading out into the countryside to see what I can find. Nowadays, it’s the wild garlic that kicks the season off. I live in west Kent and by early May the hedgerows are thick with delicate white garlic flowers. It’s a voracious,
delicious plant. We have a tried and tested recipe for wild garlic soup that’s quite delicious and also make various versions of wild garlic pesto using hazelnuts and cobnuts from a local farm. As June gives way to July, I wait anxiously for the elderflower blossoms to be exactly right to make cordial. We’ve been making elderflower cordial and occasionally Champagne for a few years at home. Foraging is wonderful when you know what to look for; dandelions, nuts, sorrel, nettles, mint, mushrooms, parsley, crab apples, blackberries and sloes – but it’s more than free food. It’s about making a connection to the wild world, reminding us that foods begin with growing something, nurtured by soil, sunlight and water and is the ultimate antidote to pre-packaged, processed food. During World War II, rosehips were gathered for their vitamin C content, and today foraging continues to play a vital role in the ‘real food’ renaissance: after all, there is a no more direct connection between our plates and the natural world.
“Foraging is wonderful when you know what to look for.” “There is a no more direct connection between our plates and the natural world.”
Enjoy! Chef
www.thefarmersclub.com • 19
Eleanor Kay, Chairman; Alice Hind, Vice Chairman • Under 30s
Chairman’s Jottings
After many months I’m overjoyed our Journal pages include event write ups. Following the reopening of the Club and the lifting of the majority of restrictions the Under 30s have held several dinners at the Club (see write up from our first two dinners right). As Chairman I am enjoying organizing speakers, menus and table plans. While the flurry of activity is welcome, I am also conscious that I am in the final months of my premiership. On a happier note, this also means we will shortly begin our search for new Committee members. I encourage any Under 30s member that is interested in understanding more about the Committee operations to get in touch. Work continues to be busy, but I am enjoying the return of drinks receptions, in person meetings and networking events. I like to tell myself by attending I’m doing my bit to support the London hospitality sector. I look forward to seeing many of you at our Winter Dining Evening on 26 November.
Summer Dining Evening The first Under 30s event of 2021 finally happened on 20 August. Disappointingly, a positive Covid test prevented our planned speaker from joining us. Despite this members enjoyed their return to Club hospitality.
tart dessert. The meal finished with coffee, Chefs treats and port.
The evening began with drinks on the Terrace and then members moved through to the Farmers Suite to enjoy a Scotch Egg starter, followed by a delicious pork main course and a heavenly raspberry
In light of our smaller numbers, and the six per table rule, we did some ice breaker activities and played some table games. With our rusty small talk skills, the games did wonders to calm nerves.
Events Winter Dining Evening: 26 November 2021 (booking opens 19 October)
Upcoming Activities
Contact Eleanor for more information: Eleanor Kay UK Agricultural Specialist, London Under 30s Chairman 2020/21 07964 909108 • eleanorkay@live.co.uk
20 • The Farmers Club Winter 2021
We were spoiled with excellent service and fantastic food once again. Members were able to catch up and share all the things missed during our unwanted hiatus.
New Members Weekend and AGM 2022: 25-27 February (booking opens 17 December)
Look out for details on the Under 30s Annual Oxford Farming Conference Scholarship. Committee applications will open in early December, with voting in early February and successful applicants announced at the AGM on 26 February. Look out for details on the next Jill Willows Scholarship for the 2022 Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
Under 30s • Eleanor Kay, Chairman; Alice Hind, Vice Chairman
Rare Breed Survival The Under 30s were back in fine form for the Autumn Dining Evening. Eleanor Kay reports Our second Dinner of 2021 took place on October 1st. It was great to see more members back at the Club and looking forward to hearing from our guest for the evening, Christopher Price, Chief Executive of the Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST). The evening began with drinks in the bar, hopes of squeezing the most out of the clement weather being dashed by a cold wind. Members then moved into the Farmers Suite for a wonderful three-course dinner of Club-favourite Scotch Eggs, then delicious native breed lamb, essential considering our speaker, with raspberry tart to finish. Tea, coffee and Chef’s treats accompanied our speaker for the evening. We learned that the RBST’s purpose is to secure the continued existence and viability of native farm animal breeds in the UK. Since it was established no UK-native breed has become extinct, an excellent achievement. The work of RBST and support of the membership ensures a watch list of rare native breeds of cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, goats and poultry is maintained. There is also an approved list of farm parks which provide important outreach to the UK consumer. Christopher discussed the value of rare and native breeds to farms and ecosystems, not just through the profit from meat in livestock but also their valuable role in conservation. He spoke about the role native breeds
should have in rewilding projects, considering their genetics are suited to extensive systems and they have evolved to cope and thrive in the UK weather. He raised excellent points about the trend in some rewilding projects which want to bring in non-native Bison and Konik ponies, noting that this was disappointing when many UK native breeds evolved from exactly the sorts of landscapes these projects seek to return. Considering the news of supply chain issues affecting abattoirs and supermarkets, plus the Government announcement on gene editing, talk inevitably, turned to policy. After explaining the new post-Brexit schemes available for English farmers, we heard about the positive role policy can play in helping rare and native breeds, but also where issues exist. A question-and-answer session followed, including marketing and the value chain for rare and native breeds. Christopher was also asked to give the Under 30s information on the unusual Chillingham Cattle, a feral herd of wild cattle which have been enclosed since the 13th century and has had no outside influence since the mid-1700s. He explained that while the Chillingham herd is unusual and not a commercial herd it provides interesting examples of natural behavior in cattle. That could prove useful as animal sentience receives increased focus in Parliament. The conversation moved through to the Bar and continued for quite a few more hours.
www.thefarmersclub.com • 21
The Farmers Club • Club Information
Club Information 020 7930 3557 • www.thefarmersclub.com @thefarmersclub The Farmers Club Page
Office Holders
Patron – Her Majesty The Queen HONORARY VICE PRESIDENTS Barclay Forrest OBE, Sir Mark Hudson KCVO, Peter Jackson CBE, Mrs Susan Kilpatrick OBE, John Parker, Norman Shaw CBE
Craig Barclay-Godfrey your Member Experience Manager During the pandemic we launched a new membership benefit.
PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN Keith Redpath
Craig Barclay-Godfrey whom many of you may have known as our previous Conference & Banqueting Manager, is now the Member Experience Manager and he offers a bespoke concierge style service.
TRUSTEES Nicki Quayle (Chairman), Tim Bennett, Peter Jinman OBE, Jimmy McLean
When you next visit maybe you’d like to;
VICE-CHAIRMAN John Lee OBE DL
• have a car to pick you up at a main line station and bring you to the Club
HONORARY TREASURER Richard Maunder
• have a table booked in the Restaurant
THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB 2021 VICE PRESIDENTS Paul Heygate, Julian Sayers
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN Allan Stevenson
• go out for the day but you’re not sure what to do, what’s open or where to go
CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND SECRETARY Andrei Spence
• arrange tickets to visit galleries, the theatre or some other activity
CLUB CHAPLAIN The Reverend Dr Sam Wells
• have Champagne and flowers in your room on arrival for a celebratory surprise
COMMITTEE Elected 2018 to serve from 2019 to 2021 inclusive: Fiona Fell, Meurig Raymond CBE DL, John Hardman, Andrew Brown JP (re-elected) Elected 2019 to serve from 2020 to 2022 inclusive: Sue Bullock, Sarah Cowlrick, Kevin Beaty (re-elected), John Lee OBE DL (re-elected), Karen Mercer (re-elected), Christopher Riddle (re-elected) Elected 2020 to serve from 2021 to 2023 inclusive: Alan Plumb, Anthony Snell, Tony Bell, Ian Bell OBE (re-elected) Co-opted: Eleanor Kay (Chairman Under 30s), Alice Hind (Vice Chairman Under 30s) THE FARMERS CLUB CHARITABLE TRUST TRUSTEES Stephen Fletcher (Chairman), Vic Croxson DL, Meryl Ward MBE, Des Lambert OBE, Nick Green, James Squier, Christine Tacon CBE, The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Club (ex officio). Patron Mrs Stella Muddiman
NEXT ISSUE The next issue of the Farmers Club Journal, due with members in January, will report on the Winter Monday Evening Lecture, the latest Club Events, a range of topical farming issues and Club plans for 2022.
22 • The Farmers Club Winter 2021
to name but just a few requests. Watch out for Craig’s regular e-newsletters, “Craig’s Corner” for ideas of what to do when you are next in town and if you need his assistance, please contact him on; memexpmanager@thefarmersclub.com or 0207 930 3557
We were very impressed with everything and, in particular, Craig’s services helping with activities etc!
Craig was brilliant at telling us what to do in London!
Love the newsletters and I keep storing up tips for future visits.
Your help with planning our two days was invaluable.
Club Information • The Farmers Club Deaths It is with regret that we announce the death of the following members: Mr J Bird Glamorgan Mr H Frost Northamptonshire Mrs H Hescott Gloucestershire Mr R Loder-Symonds Kent Mrs M Metson Surrey Mr G Ogilvie Suffolk Mr J Peake Dorset Mrs S Sloane Suffolk New Members The following were elected: UK Members Mr N Allan Mr R Bond Mr D Burwell Mr T Casson Mr J Coleman Mr J Fleming Mrs G Hobson Wilkinson Mr J Kittow Mr N Laister Mr B Mayhew Mr C Moore Dr A Pierce Mr A Richards Mrs L Richardson
Kent Devon London Hampshire Essex Sussex Durham Cornwall Yorkshire Kent Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Cornwall Norfolk
Lady D Rowland Mr S Silvester Mrs H Sleight Mr N Wyatt Baroness B Young of Old Scone
Suffolk Kent Worcestershire Warwickshire Bedfordshire
Overseas Members Mr J Mcloughlin Mr H Von Hesse Under 30s Mr F Craven Mr W Dracup Mr J Lister Mr H Lister Mr A Lyster Whitehall Court - Associate Mr A Ball Professor J Hagendorff
London London
Correction from Last Journal Mr W Montague
Staffordshire
Honours and Awards The Chairman and Members of the Club congratulate the following members whose names appeared in the Queen’s Birthday Honour’s List: CB Professor Guy Poppy
Hampshire
CBE The Hon. Robert Quayle
Isle of Man
THE SHAW ROOM can be used for meetings of up to three people. Electronic devices may be used but must be set to silent and vibrate. No calls can be received or made in this area.
Phone Calls Members are advised that using mobile calling platforms such as Skype, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts etc can facilitate mobile phone calls (over the Club’s wi-fi) in areas of the Club where mobile phone calls are permitted, including in the Business Suite.
Book Your Christmas Function At Your Club Call Liza on 020 7925 7100 or email functions@thefarmersclub.com
3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL
Lincolnshire Devon Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Essex
No electronic devices can be used in the hallways, Bar, Lounge or Restaurant, unless for the purpose of quiet reading. No calls can be received or made in these areas. Calls can be taken on the Terrace.
Some members have reported that they are not receiving Club emails into their inbox. If this is the case, please visit the Club website for guidance to help resolve this issue www. thefarmersclub.com/news/ missing-club-emails
Serving the farming industry for 178 years
Ireland Germany
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Missing Emails
Club Contacts THE FARMERS CLUB
Chairman 2021: Keith Redpath
Chief Executive and Secretary: Andrei Spence
Club Email: generaloffice@thefarmersclub.com Reception reception@thefarmersclub.com Bedroom Reservations reservations@thefarmersclub.com Restaurant Reservations Option 3 restaurant@thefarmersclub.com Conference & Banqueting Sales Manager Liza Keoshgerian direct line: 020 7925 7100 functions@thefarmersclub.com General Manager Virginia Masser direct line 020 7930 3751 generalmanager@thefarmersclub.com Head Chef & Director of Food Paul Hogben direct line: 020 7925 7103 chef@thefarmersclub.com Financial Controller Zarreena Neeson financialcontroller@thefarmersclub.com Membership Mark Fairbairn direct line: 020 7925 7102 membership@thefarmersclub.com PA to Secretary Claire White direct line: 020 7930 3751 generaloffice@thefarmersclub.com Bedrooms ext: 3+ [two digit room number] eg. ext 301 for Room1 Whitehall Court Porters 020 7930 3160 Fax 020 7839 7864
Website: www.thefarmersclub.com @thefarmersclub The Farmers Club Page THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Editor and Advertisement Manager: Charles Abel 07795 420692 E-mail: editor@thefarmersclub.com Designed and produced by: Ingenious, www.ingeniousdesign.co.uk No film or film processing chemicals were used. Printed on Lumi Silk which is ISO 14001 certified manufacturer. FSC® Mix Credit. Elemental chlorine free (ECF) fibre sourced from well managed forests
www.thefarmersclub.com • 23
IMPORTANT NOTICE Food & beverage services at the Club
Further to the Chief Executive’s Newsletters and recent e-marketing you will be aware that due to critical staffing issues in some areas of the Club caused by COVID and BREXIT, our food and beverage offering in the Club has changed for the foreseeable future. We are working hard to try to improve the staffing situation and hope to increase services as and when we are able to do so. In the meantime, please refer to the website (www.thfarmersclub.com) for the latest details.
Thank you
