New British Goose Producers chairman

Eddie Hegarty, partner in the country’s best known gosling hatchery Norfolk Geese, has been elected chairman of British Goose Producers.

He took over from Judy Goodman at the group’s recent annual meeting, hosted by the Goodman family at its Great Witley farm near Worcester.

Mr Hegarty, who was previously vice-chairman, said Judy Goodman had been a “tremendous tower of strength” who had worked tirelessly to promote the goose sector and to make its voice heard at the British Poultry Council.

Further praise came from John Reed, recently elected BPC chairman, who said that her sound practical approach and promotional zeal had served the sector well for many years.

The new vice-chairman is John Franklin, a BGP council member for many years, who rears geese and other free-range poultry at Thorncote Green, Sandy, Bedfordshire.

About 70 BGP members and guests took part in the visit which included a tour of the farm where the Goodmans – runners-up in the recent Poultry Farmer of the year category at the Farmers Weekly Awards – rear about 4200 geese and more than 4000 free-range bronze turkeys.

During the event Mr Hegarty presented the John Adlard Memorial Award to new goose producers, William and Lucy Weaver of Perrinpit Farm, Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire.

They have introduced 30 geese this year as their own Jolly Goose venture on the 500-acre mixed family farm. “We’ve a friend who has started producing Christmas turkeys and we thought we’d go for geese so as not to compete,” said Mr Weaver.

The award, which includes a donation of goslings and specialist support through the first year, is made annually to encourage new goose producers, commemorating the BGP founder chairman John Adlard.