NSA George Hedley Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to the UK sheep sector
NSA has presented the George Hedley Memorial Award annually since 1960 to recognise outstanding individual contributions to the UK sheep sector. It is given to honour the memory of George Hedley, a highly respected farmer from the Scottish borders who was involved with the NSA (then the National Sheep Breeders Association) for many years. It was while he was NSBA Chairman, travelling to a Council meeting in London on 26th January 1960, that he was tragically killed in a car accident.
Selection criteria. NSA annually considers nominations from within and outside the NSA network for the award. Nominations are written citations of up to 200 words describing an individual’s long-standing involvement in or association with the UK sheep sector and their significant impact to drive the industry forward and/or raise its profile. The award is typically seen as a lifetime achievement-type honour to a highly esteemed person within sheep farming who has made a sustained or momentous contribution. The list includes but is not limited to influencers involved in sheep-focused research/development, provision of out-of-the-ordinary services, industry promotion/profile raising, charity work, training/education or facilitation of best practice.
Nomination process. Between 1st July and 30th September each year, individual NSA members, NSA regional / ram sale / event committees, major agricultural organisations, farming unions, research/ educational institutions, NSA-affiliated sheep breed societies and (from 2025 onwards) NSA Corporate Supporters are invited to make nominations as a 200-word written citation. Nominations from individual NSA members must state a proposer and seconder, but this is not required for nominations from a committee or other group. NSA Trustees and NSA Vice Presidents can make nominations, as individual NSA members. Please email your written citation to enquiries@nationalsheep.org.uk. Submissions outside the nomination window will not be accepted.
Selection process. All citations are circulated to the NSA Vice Presidents, NSA Chairman and NSA Chief Executive, who meet in October to discuss nominations and put a forward a shortlist of two or more nominees to the NSA Trustees, who will make a final decision at the November Board meeting. As ruled by NSA on 17th February 1987, 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 and receives an Honorary Life Membership of NSA. A physical award - a specially sculptured statuette of a South Country Cheviot sheep mounted on a plinth carrying the name of the recipient and the words ‘For outstanding service to the sheep industry’ - is presented at an NSA or other appropriate industry event in the following calendar year.
