Wcf Newsletter Spring 2017
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- Newsletter - Spring 2017 The Worshipful Company of Farmers Spring Newsletter2017 Inspiring, encouraging and developing excellence in the management of UK agriculture The Worshipful Company of Farmers Advanced Course in Agricultural Business Challenge of Rural Leadership on pages 6/7 Management on pages 4/5 Education Special inside 2 The Annual Livery Banquet 3 Inter-Livery Events 4/5 ACABM 2017 6/7 CRL 2017 8 News on new Educational offers 10 Oxford Farming Conference 11 Alumni Update 12 Events and Announcements ACABM The Class of 2017 - The Worshipful Company of Farmers 2017 Annual Livery Banquet November 2013 holding the rank of Lieutenant General and having been Commander of NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Force from February 2011. He is currently CEO of Weybourne Partners, the The Worshipful CompanyFamily of FarmersOffice of Sir James Dyson. Sir James professed a certain nervousness over speaking about farming in front of an assembly of industry professionals. His address was however both amusing and insightful. He urged us to grasp the opportunity that comes with changing times. An unusual and fun element was added to proceedings The Master and Wardens and their partners via the ‘post horn chase’. This saw four Over 200 Liverymen, partners and to expect under our invited guests, gathered In a near able watch of our most capacity Goldsmiths’ Hall for for the excellent Clerk, superb. 2017 Annual Livery Banquet. During his speech, the Master spoke Dinner in the Grand Hall was opened passionately about the by Senior Warden Julian Sayers current state of the who welcomed Liverymen and farming industry and guests. To the accompaniment of made it plain that he sees the London Banqueting Ensemble, the role of the Company dinner was served with the menu and its educational choices, presentation, cooking and offerings, as being accompanying wine, as we have come more, rather than less, important and relevant as we move forward into a rapidly changing, Post-Brexit environment. Sir James Bucknall chats to RAU’s Professor Jo Price The Company’s Silver Salver was members of the London Banqueting presented, for a most unusual second Ensemble competing against each time, to Liveryman Richard Halhead. other on the post-horns for pre- It is a measure of just how popular eminence of both pitch and virtuosity this decision was, that when the – running at full pace. presentation was made by Mr Meurig As is tradition at the Annual Banquet – Raymond, President of the NFU, that the Loving Cup was passed and shared, the applause was loud and sustained. with varying degrees of proficiency The principle guest speaker was Sir but a great deal of enjoyment, to the James Bucknall KCB, CBE. Sir James accompaniment of the singing of ‘To be A packed Great Hall at the Goldsmiths’ retired from the British Army in a Farmer’s Boy’. 2 - Newsletter - Spring 2017 Flipping Good Effort but No Prizes On Tuesday 28th February our team The format for the day, marshalled and near me! But even this wasn’t enough battled 23 other Livery Companies controlled by the Poulters, is a series of to get him into the Master’s Final – with and City institutions in the annual heats for the Masters, followed by the only the 5 fastest from the heats in Inter-Livery Pancake Race. With the Liverymen, ladies and then finally the each category making it through the Master leading from the front our the Novelty event. Master was sadly eliminated. team comprised Senior Warden Julian The Master, his face a picture of Sayers, Liveryman Nick Padwick and concentration and determination, It was a similar story for each of The Worshipful Company of Farmers representing the ladies Verity Harvey. stormed into an early lead in his heat our team. Fast but not fast enough! Perhaps the unluckiest of our intrepid band was Verity, who like the Master Farmer got off to a flying start in her heat, only to slip at the treacherous ‘pylon turn’ and come crashing down – ruining her chances of what had seemed an almost certain semi-final appearance. Nick Padwick did advance to the semi- final but was eliminated at this stage. So no success to report again this year but for Julian, a learning experience. He now has the bit between his teeth for the 2018 event and is determined to lead a winning team – so prepare Verity Harvey approaches the treacherous ‘Pylon Turn’ yourself for the call-to-arms once he With a full-house of entries and many and was never headed, eventually takes over as Master. other Companies waiting in the wings winning by a considerable margin and for an opportunity to compete, the earning himself the epithet - The Flying event seems more popular every year. Farmer - from a member of the crowd Inter Livery Ski Championships 2017 Hugh Wykes reports that this year Our thanks go to Ironmonger the Farmers had a full team of four Christopher Hudson for the efficient Liverymen in attendance for the and friendly way the event was 8th running of the Inter-Livery Ski organised, no mean feat with 167 Championships. The team who competitors.” says Liveryman and our gallantly spent the 28th and 29th on the spot ski reporter Wykes. January sliding down the Morzine Next year the competition will be held slopes trying to outpace the other 25 on the 25th and 26th January. If you Companies taking part comprised Alick enjoy skiing why not come and join the Jones, John Ward, Richard Whitlock team, either just for the competition, and Hugh himself. or for the week beforehand to get some practice in. Bring the family and “There are no major mishaps to report if they are competitive they can race and although there were no trophies as guests. For further information either, by the end of the prize giving contact Hugh Wykes. Email: hugh@ dinner, thanks to Richard, everyone in wykeslodge.co.uk Mobile: 07831 the room was aware of the Farmers’ 186471. Or visit www.liveryskiing.com Hugh Wykes, Richard Whitlock, presence. for more information. Alick Jones and John Ward 3 - The Worshipful Company of Farmers Education Special Report The Advanced Course in Agricultural Business Management The Master on Education As Master I have been keen to are starting a one week, entry level develop a positioning statement management and development that all members of the Livery, programme to be held at Keele as well as the wider industry can University. The purpose of this understand. And we have now new venture is to prepare young agreed it - ‘Inspiring, encouraging, managers for leadership and and developing excellence in the management responsibilitiesThe Worshipful and it Company of Farmers management of UK agriculture’. will contribute to the growth of the You will see this appearing on wider rural sector. every aspect of our work and communication. Education is Of course, farming and food of course at the very heart of businesses are becoming this and having spent time with increasingly complex and our two flagship leadership and carry enormous risk. We have management courses over the last recognised that we need to provide few months I can assure you we support beyond our existing are truly living up to these core business management delivery objectives. and we are now committing to sponsoring a delegate every year The words we hear repeatedly on the Cranfield Business Growth from the delegates of both courses Programme. are: ‘a life changing experience’, ‘inspirational delivery’, ‘developed Together with the Cranfield MBA bonds for life’, ‘ready to start the next programme, which we inherited chapter in my life’ and perhaps most from John Beckett a few years importantly ‘thank you for developing ago, the Worshipful Company the courses and for the financial of Farmers will now have the ACABM The Class of 2017 support that has made it possible for most comprehensive leadership me to attend’. and business management and As we look forward to 2020, farming development programmes within will undoubtedly experience UK farming. We have always led enormous change. There will of the field in this area and I believe course be both challenges and that we should be justifiably opportunities but what is clear proud of both is that we will need to prepare these new more and more people to lead our developments industry into a vibrant, positive as well as and profitable future. Our existing what we have educational programmes, so ably achieved over lead by John Alliston and Richard the last Soffe, are without doubt world class 60 years. and have stood the test of time with 67 ACABM courses and 21 CRL courses now behind us. So we believe now it is the right time to widen our educational reach and in October this year we Discussions at the 2017 ACABM 4 - Education Special Report Education Special Report Newsletter - Spring 2017 The Advanced Course in Agricultural Business Management the success of the course. The delegates gave a summing up Adding to the dynamics presentation and answered questions of the group were two from the Company. All of us who delegates from Germany attended came away impressed. and one from Australia. Some of the concluding comments, The aim of the course is that seem to reflect the overall The Worshipful Company of Farmers to develop the managerial impression of the whole group were … skills of the individuals and ‘The RAU is an excellent venue’, ‘The the understanding of the course was all I had expected and management of land based more besides’, ‘The leadership and businesses. This is achieved organisational skills of John Alliston’s through enhancing present team were first class’, John Alliston must knowledge by the use of have a truly impressive ‘Little Black Book’ a range of educational of contacts and speakers, the ones he techniques and exposure to chose for us were first class’.