Former NFU vice-president honoured by Princess Royal
Gwyn Jones with the Princess Royal and his grandson Jake Budd (left) and his wife Lorayne Jones (right) © Lloyd Sturdy Gwyn Jones, the animal health advocate and former NFU vice-president, has received a prestigious award for supporting and driving positive change in the dairy sector.
The Princess Royal Award is presented each year to an individual in recognition of an outstanding lifetime contribution to the dairy sector. The award was presented by Anne, the Princess Royal, at a ceremony on Friday 24 February.
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Mr Jones was a dairy farmer for more than 35 years and managed a 750-cow herd, also operating one of the first 1.5MW anaerobic digester (AD) plants in the UK.
He now runs a mixed farming enterprise in West Sussex and retains a number of board roles.
These include the Animal Health and Welfare Board, the new BVD eradication group for England, the Ruminant Health and Welfare Group and the Food Industry Initiative on Antimicrobials.
Previously he was NFU vice-president and the union’s National Dairy Board chairman.
He was also chairman of the Copa-Cogeca Animal Health and Welfare Working Group and chaired the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture group.
Mr Jones said he was honoured to receive the award.
“I’ve always been passionate about the dairy industry and cattle, particularly the health and welfare side of things. I’m keen to show how good dairy farming is in this country,” he said.