Pictured (l to r) standing: John Wragg, Geoff Hammond, John Hutchinson, David Mullins,
Mr Graham Cartledge CBE, Terry Clayton, Derek Parkin, Kevin Bray, Peter Winn.
(l-r) seated: Jane Kitchen, Yvonne Hewitt, Mrs Fox, Julia Blant

Newark & Nottinghamshire County Show celebrated an extraordinary number of years' dedicated service to agriculture in a special presentation ceremony. Nineteen men and women, who between them have worked in the industry for almost 800 years, were presented with Long Service (single farm) and Service to Agriculture medals by the show's president Mr Graham Cartledge CBE.

Four of the group have each worked for one employer ¡V and are still working. Geoff Hammond from North Clifton was presented with first prize and a gold medal in the Long Service Awards following 46 years working for P&A Croft at North Clifton. In joint second place with silver medals for 42 years¡¦ service were Richard A Pearson from Mansfield who still works for J Bealby and Sons Ltd and David Mullins from Weston who is employed by Weston Mill Farming Company, Sutton on Trent. Paul Thurman from Car Colston received a bronze medal for his 40 years working for Forman Hardy at Hall Farm.

Two gold-plus, three gold, four silver and seven bronze Service to Agriculture medals were also presented by Mr Cartledge. The two recipients of gold-plus medals are also still working despite having achieved a mammoth 126 years between them. Derek Leslie Parkin from Weston has worked in agriculture for 64 years and is currently employed by Weston Hill Farming Company while John Hedley David Hutchinson from Southwell is currently working as an NPTC assessor after 62 years in the industry.

Receiving a second gold medal was Geoff Hammond and he was joined by John Wragg of Great Gonnerby (53 years) and Terry Clayton from Collingham (50 years).

Silver medals were awarded to four workers ¡V all currently employed by the Foljambe 1996 Trust on the Osberton Estate; Stanley Ashley and Trevor Harris ¡V both from Worksop and with 44 years service each and Miss Yvonne Emily Hewitt  and William Smith, both from Retford with 40 and 36 years service respectively.

As a poignant reminder that working on the land is not always easy, the widow of Christopher Fox ¡V who tragically died in an accident in November 2009 while working on the Osberton Estate ¡V was presented with his bronze medal for 33 years service.

Other bronze medal recipients were Peter Thomas Winn from Barnby in the Willows (34 years); Kevin Bray from Balderton (32 years); Philip Underwood from Radcliffe (29 years) and Mrs Jane Kitchen from Retford (25 years) who also works on the Osberton Estate.

A very well kept secret, especially from Julia Blant was the presentation of a bronze medal for 25 years service. Julia, from Burnstump is the founder member of the ¡¥Ladies in Pigs¡¦ organisation and she was supported at the ceremony by several ladies smartly dressed in the company¡¦s red and white outfits.

In a separate ceremony, professor Jenny Saint was presented with a bronze medal for 33 years service during the president¡¦s lunch the previous day. Professor Saint is Dean of School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences at Brackenhurst, Nottingham Trent University. She retires this summer.