NSA Bob Payne Memorial Award for Unsung Hero

NSA has presented an Unsung Hero award since 2008, initially on an intermittent basis, but moving it to an annual award from 2022. It is exclusively for NSA officeholders, committee members volunteers, supporters and staff members who go above and beyond for the good of NSA. It was renamed the NSA Bob Payne Memorial Award in 2016, to honour the memory of Bob Payne, an NSA Trustee from Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire, who lost his battle with cancer in August 2015. Bob was himself a recipient of the award (in 2014, pictured), as an exceptional individual in NSA Central Region who, with his wife Anne, demonstrated incredible loyalty and tireless service to NSA.

Nomination process. Between 1st July and 30th September each year, NSA regional / ram sale / event committees are invited to make nominations as a 200-word written citation. Nominees must be an NSA member or staff member who does essential but often unseen work. Please send your written citation to enquiries@nationalsheep.org.uk. Submissions outside the nomination window will not be accepted.

Selection process. All citations are considered by the NSA Chair and NSA Chief Executive and a decision put to the November Board meeting for NSA Trustees to approve. As ruled by NSA on 17th February 1987 for the George Hedley Memorial Award, canvassing for support of a candidate will result in automatic disqualification of that candidate for the current year. Unsuccessful candidates may be re-nominated in future years.

The winner. The winner is announced each December. A physical award - typically a piece of cut glass engraved with the name of the award - is presented at an NSA or other appropriate industry event in the following calendar year.