Knighthood for former NFU president Peter Kendall

Former NFU president Peter Kendall has received a knighthood in the 2015 New Year Honours list.

The Bedfordshire farmer, who is now chairman of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, was made a Knights Bachelor.

During eight years as NFU president from 2006-14, he helped change the image of farming from a problematic old-fashioned industry to one that is innovative and forward-looking.

See also: Farmers Weekly Farming Champion of the Year 2014: Peter Kendall

Sir Peter, who is also the 2014 Farmers Weekly Farm Champion of the Year, said he was “very, very honoured” to be knighted.

“Massive thanks to NFU members and staff who gave me the chance to, and helped me, ‘champion farming’,” he wrote on Twitter.

Other notable farming and rural related awards include:

CBE

Miss Margaret Anita Clark, OBE, chairman, Hastoe Housing and Plunkett Foundation, for services to rural communities (Dorchester, Dorset).

CBE

Sonia Clare Phippard, director of water and flood risk management, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for services to the environment and flood risk management.

Henry Cotterell © Leon Csernohlavek Photography

OBE

Henry Richard Geers Cotterell (pictured above), lately president, Country Landowners’ Association, for services to the rural community and to charity.

OBE

Dr John Damien Fay, director, College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise, Northern Ireland executive, for services to agri-food education.

OBE

Dr David Alasdair Hamley, lately director of horticulture and learning, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, for services to horticulture and education.

OBE

David Reynolds, farmer and director, Camgrain, for services to agriculture and the community in the East Midlands.

MBE

Michael Bowden, president, Camborne Agricultural Show and trade stand manager, Royal Cornwall Agricultural Show, for services to agriculture, tourism and the community in Cornwall.

MBE

John Stewart Broomhall, committee member, Nantwich Agricultural Show, for services to agriculture, the rural economy and the community in Nantwich, Cheshire.

MBE

Janice Davinson, lately organiser, Cumbria Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, for services to farming and rural communities in Cumbria.

MBE

Catherine Mary, Mrs Meredith, Herefordshire rural hub co-ordinator, for services to rural communities.

MBE

James Frame Warnock, farmer, Sandilands Farm, Lanark, for services to education and agriculture in Scotland.

BEM

Dr Elizabeth Anne Edwards, research scientist, John Innes Centre and volunteer, Norfolk Wildlife Trust, for services to the environment and the public understanding of science (Norwich, Norfolk).

BEM

Ms Evelyn Mills, administrative officer, department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and waterways volunteer, Canal and River Trust, for services to inland waterways.

BEM

David John Monaghan, company secretary and director, Fermanagh Community Transport, for services to rural transport in Northern Ireland.

BEM

Anthony Richard Perry, flood and coastal risk manager, Environment Agency, for services to the environment and flood risk management and to the community

BEM

Christopher James Willder, groundsperson, Brooksby Melton College, for services to horticulture and land-based education.