Bruce Wilson-North

It is with regret that the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) announces the death of our Director General, Bruce Wilson-North, aged 53, following a short illness.

CLA President David Fursdon said: "Bruce retained a love of the countryside and was never more at home than with his working labradors. He joined the CLA at a difficult time and was instrumental in guiding the Association forward with a combination of management skill, strategic vision, common sense and approachability. Bruce had an infectious enthusiasm for rural issues and will be sorely missed by all of us, not just as an excellent Director General of the CLA, but also as a wonderful person."

Bruce joined the CLA as Regional Director East Midlands in August 2002 and was then asked to take up the role of Acting Director General, before being was appointed Director General in October 2003.

He was raised in suburbia the son of a countryman. After a first degree in economics he worked in industry for over twenty five years. At the tender age of 49, thirty years after starting his first degree, he went back to college to take a post graduate course in Land Management at Harper Adams.

There will be a memorial service later in May to celebrate his life and achievements. Details of this will be made available as widely as possible.

A special project will be developed by the CLA Charitable Trust in Bruce's memory.