NSA Northern Region Report

26th March 2012

The northern region Annual General Meeting was held on 8th February at The George Hotel, Piercebridge, North Yorkshire. Geoff Lawn was re-elected Regional Chairman for his second year, Adam Watson re-elected Regional Vice Chairman for a second year and Eddie Eastham was also re-elected the regional Treasurer.  All three were then elected to represent the northern region on the new English Committee. Geoff Lawn was also unanimously elected to be the NSA northern region representative, on the newly formed NSA Management Board. The fourteen elected members, from all of the regions of the NSA, will be the Directors of NSA as a company limited by guarantee and the Trustees of NSA as a registered Charity.  These individuals are ultimately responsible for NSA and everything done in its name. John Geldard had been the northern region member on the management board, but on being elected national NSA Chairman, was unable to represent the region.  We all congratulate John Geldard, on his election as the national NSA Chairman, another in the long list of northern region farmers to take on the important and highly prestigious national role.  

Guest speakers were the Chairman of the British Wool Marketing Board, Malcolm Corbett, who gave a very interesting and informative presentation on the work of the BWMB.  Phil Stocker, newly elected NSA CEO gave an update on the NSA’s work, and was welcomed to the region by the Chairman.

The T I Allinson Memorial Award presented by NSA northern region for outstanding contribution to the northern farming industry was awarded to Arthur Yeates, Bardon Mill, Northumberland. Arthur was nominated for his work with the formation and running of the Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breed, who celebrate their 50th anniversary this year.

The date for NSA North Sheep 2013 has been confirmed as Wednesday 5th June 2013. The venue for the event will be confirmed in the next issue of Sheep Farmer.  Planning for the event will start in autumn 2012. – www.northsheep.org.uk