Charlie Ireland joined around 175 members and guests to mark Catherine and James鈥� 30 years of service to farmers in Ramsey and Whittlesey. They started as group secretaries there in 1994, when Ramsey and Whittlesey were separate branches.
With other past and present group secretaries attending, there was a combined 119 years of group secretary service in the room at Manor Leisure Centre, Whittlesey.
Charlie, who is James鈥� cousin, spoke about his background, his work as a farming consultant for Ceres Rural, and his involvement with Clarkson鈥檚 Farm, now heading for series four next spring. This will cover January to September 2023, another challenging period for weather.
鈥淪ince Jeremy started farming, we鈥檝e had the five wettest autumns, the two driest springs and even the windiest August,鈥� he said.
鈥淒uring my first 10 years in consultancy not a great deal happened. The last few years have been more turbulent and that鈥檚 the market we have got to get used to.鈥�
Charlie explained how he spent months working with researchers ahead of the first series of Clarkson鈥檚 Farm, briefing them about farming and helping to develop potential story lines, although the story lines became what was happening in farming.
He said that he was signed up to take part in the programme a week before filming started, as he was seen as being 鈥榮tereotypically brilliantly boring鈥�.
Earlier, James and Catherine thanked NFU members and customers for the loyalty they had shown over the previous 30 years. They were presented with flowers by Branch Chair Luke Abblitt.
James said that he was pleased to see some of the 15-strong farmer panel who interviewed him for the role in the room.
鈥淚鈥檝e enjoyed contributing and being part of the farming community. It鈥檚 the people make the job, so thank you for being who you are,鈥� he said.
Catherine said: 鈥淲e would like to thank all those who spent their time supporting and representing fellow farmers.
鈥淲e have lots of past chairmen who have gone on to be county chairmen, served on regional board and taken on other roles such as the chair of NFU Sugar. Thanks for giving up your time representing the farmers and members.
鈥淎nd a huge thank you to all those members who went on the mass lobby. 皇家华人is working tirelessly to overturn this grossly unfair family farm tax.
鈥淟ooking out over the sea of faces here tonight, there are so many families represented over so many generations. This is why it鈥檚 so important that we fight and work to help. It鈥檚 about you.鈥�