NFU / NatWest Welsh Rural Champion Award winner announced

Tudor Gethin, from Llanfaredd, Builth Wells, has just been announced as the winner of the 2011 NFU Cymru / NatWest Rural Community Champion Award.

The competition, in its third year, recognises the hard work farmers do off the farm in order to help their local town or village community, with the Award winner receiving the top prize of a hand-crafted slate clock and ’500 and the three runners-up receiving ’100 each.

Tudor Gethin from Maengowyn Farm, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells was nominated by his wife, Retha. He is involved in so many community projects and committees she doesn’t know how he manages to find enough hours in a day. She adds that Tudor is a true ambassador for the community and has vision and driving force and the ability to motivate others.

Tudor is chairman of Llanelwedd community council, chairman of the jubilee hall management cttee, chairman of the regeneration project, past chairman of the Badger face Welsh Mountain Sheep Society and organiser of the grass cutting team at the local church. Retha says he is a true ambassador for the local community. He is also involved with the local male voice choir and the local primary school, which his two children attend and has judged Badger face Welsh Mountain sheep at the Royal Welsh and county shows.

NFU Cymru Deputy President Stephen James said, ’All the judges were agreed after meeting Tudor that he is an extremely worthy winner of this award. The irony is the award is being presented to him on his ’patch’ as he is chairman of Llanelwedd community council which the Royal Welsh showground lies within! The contribution Tudor makes to his local community is absolutely outstanding and well deserving of this award.’

This year there are three runners-up, who will receive ’100 each. They are John James from Felingwm-Uchaf, Carmarthenshire. Selwyn Evans from Llanddarog, Carmarthenshire and John Lougher from Pyle, Glamorgan.

John James, Fferm Tyllwyd, Felingwm-uchaf, Carmarthenshire. He is President elect of the Young Farmers Clubs in Carmarthenshire; he is a community councillor, has been secretary of the male voice choir for 20 years, a Cothi Bridge Show steward for 45 years, a comprehensive and primary school governor, secretary of the local eisteddfod and chairman of Felingwm community centre.

Selwyn Evans, Coedhirion Farm, Llanddarog, Carmarthenshire. Selwyn is the current chairman of the community council, he is heavily involved with the YFC locally, he is a member of the local church and a past warden. Selwyn is a past president of the Rotary club, past chairman for Village of the year, a school governor and PTA chairperson. He is the current Chairman of the Royal Welsh Show Carmarthenshire Advisory Cttee and past chairman of the village hall cttee.

John Lougher, Tytanglwyst Farm, Pyle, Bridgend. John is a well-respected member of both the farming and local community. He supports the local YFC. As a dairy farmer he is very active in helping the children in the local community understand where milk comes from by providing a cow to visit schools. He also helps out with events such as Open Farm Sunday, Farmhouse Breakfast Week events and helps with stock judging and educational displays at local shows.

Andy Woodthorpe, NatWest’s Director ’ Rural Wales Banking said, ’All of the finalists were outstanding and I am pleased that each will get a prize as all of them work very hard for the good of their local communities.’